Category Archives: WisCon 43

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

Discounted rooms on the 6th floor available for WisCon 43

Leave a comment

Jess Adams
Affordability

 

WisCon is pleased to offer a limited number of discounted rooms on the sixth floor of the Concourse Hotel.  Because there are so few discounted rooms available — this year we have 5 — we’re offering them via a lottery.

The discount applies to specific rooms on the sixth floor of the Concourse.  This is the floor where many parties happen in the evening and also where the safer spaces and the Con Suite are.  This means that these rooms are subject to more noise generated by foot traffic, elevators, and so on. If you are someone who needs a very quiet room with not many people passing by at all hours, then the discounted rooms may not be a good fit for you.

How can you enter the lottery for a room?

We are accepting requests until  April 22 (closing at 11:59pm Central Time). After the request window closes, we will get in touch to let you know if your name was drawn in the lottery to be granted a discounted room.

There is one catch! To be eligible to receive the discount, your reservation must be for at least Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night of the convention. (You may, of course, be staying longer, but you must have reserved these three nights.)  

To request to be entered into the drawing for a discount, send an email to affordability@wiscon.net, with the subject line: ROOM RATE DISCOUNT.  To be eligible for entry, your request must include the following details:

  • The first & last name your hotel reservation will be under
  • Your arrival and departure dates
  • The number of people in your party
  • Any accessibility needs you have.
  • The best email address to contact you.

Entries which do not supply the needed information will not be entered into the lottery. Please limit submissions for the discount lottery to one entry per party.

See you at WisCon!

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

Dessert Salon Changes for WisCon 43

2 Comments

This year we are implementing some changes to how we handle entry to the Salon!

Beginning at 6pm Sunday, ticket holders can stop by the second floor Registration Desk to get a number which will correspond to a place in line for themselves or their group. At 7:30pm we will start to show folks into the Salon in number order.

The lowest numbers will be reserved for people who need the help of assistive devices or staff to get seated. There will be chairs available near the door as in past years for people who need to sit until their number is called.

If you miss your number, simply let the door person know, and they will include you in the next group. We will also be able to give approximate estimates of when a number is likely to be called when you pick your number up, allowing you time to relax, eat dinner, and socialize anywhere in the hotel.

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

WisCon 43 Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey and AV Requests Deadline is TOMORROW!!!

Leave a comment

Panel Survey closes closes tomorrow, March 24, 2019 at 11:59p.m. Central Time.  It’s your last chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43.  The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year!  If you want to more about how panel programming works, please view this post for a quick overview.

WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions.  The current list of tracks are below:

  • Feminism and Other Social Change Movements
  • Power, Privilege, and Oppression
  • Spirituality, Organized Religion and Politics
  • Science and Technology
  • The Craft and Business of Writing
  • Reading, Viewing, and Critiquing Science Fiction
  • Fandom as a Way of Life
  • Interactive Storytelling and Media

You will need to a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey.  If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page.  For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page.  You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!

This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.

AV Requests for WisCon 43

As previously stated, the Panel Survey closes tomorrow, March 24, 2019 at 11:59p.m. Central Time.  However, some of you fine folk put in requests for AV equipment when you submitted your proposed panel ideas. If your proposed panel ideas for which you requested AV equipment made it onto the Survey, we ask that you confirm that you still require said equipment.

The Madison Concourse provides conference rooms with projector screens and projectors with HDMI ports for your laptop. We recommend that you bring your own HDMI cables or Macbook converters for your laptops, and any external sound amplifier equipment, as we cannot guarantee that the Concom will have equipment like that available on the spot.

To confirm, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “AV Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and what type of AV equipment you require in the body of the email by tomorrow, March 24, 2019 at 11:59p.m. Central Time.

In order to streamline this process, we ask that only those who submitted the panels which made the survey email us with these requests. To view the entire list of panels, please log in to your WisCon account, click “Sign Up For Programming”, then click the full list of proposed panels link.

We cannot guarantee that AV equipment will be available for you if you do not submit an AV Request to us by March 24, 2019 at 11:59p.m. Central Time.

Hand-Staffed Panel Requests for WisCon 43

You may have noticed that certain panels allow for only a “I would like to attend this panel” option. That is because those suggesters had requested that these particular panels be staffed with those folk who best fit with the marginalized identities about which the panels will discuss. If you have not already contacted us about hand-staffing your proposed panel, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “Hand-Staff Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and who you would like to be on your panel in the body of the email by tomorrow, March 24, 2019 at 11:59p.m. Central Time.

Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.

Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

WisCon Kids’ Programming Needs You!

Leave a comment

This year, WisCon Kids’ Programming is trying a new approach. Kids’
Program activities have their own track in the Panel Signup. For more information on how to sign up for panels, check out this post on our blog.

We’re hoping to get different people to volunteer for each hour of Kids’ Programming, to enrich the activities we can offer our kids, and to share the work so that Kids’ Program volunteers get time to enjoy
WisCon themselves.

WisCon is full of people who have learned how to do a few cool things! Some of you would enjoy the opportunity to teach one of those things to an interested group of kids. Kids’ Programs can offer you an hour and fifteen minutes, a small group of kids (6-11 years old), an adult assistant, and whatever materials our small budget can cover. Sign up for Panel Programming, in the Kids’ Programs track, and send email to kidsprograms@wiscon.net with questions or a description of what you’d like to do.

If you don’t want to run an activity, you can be the second adult in
the room. In this role, you have to be flexible. You might be
assisting with materials for a craft activity, or building Legos or
jigsaw puzzles with the kids who don’t want to do the main activity,
or firmly redirecting the energies of a kid who doesn’t want to do the
main activity and is trying to have a swordfight in that space
instead. To volunteer for this role, sign up for a panel in Panel
Programming, in the Kids’ Programs track, but don’t click the button
that says you volunteer to moderate this panel.

If you want to do more to help create a welcoming space for kids at
WisCon, consider joining the Kids’ Programming Team on ConCom. Share the work and the decision-making that make WisCon happen!

Volunteering at WisCon entitles you to the Volunteer Gift.
Volunteering for six hours entitles you to a rebate of part of your
membership fee.

If you have any questions, email kidsprograms@wiscon.net.

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

One Week Left for WisCon 43 Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey and AV Requests!!! Deadline to Submit Survey and AV Requests – March 24th

1 Comment

You have one week left! Panel Surveys are open until March 24th  Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43.  The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year!  If you want to more about how panel programming works, please view this post for a quick overview.

WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions.  The current list of tracks are below:

  • Feminism and Other Social Change Movements
  • Power, Privilege, and Oppression
  • Spirituality, Organized Religion and Politics
  • Science and Technology
  • The Craft and Business of Writing
  • Reading, Viewing, and Critiquing Science Fiction
  • Fandom as a Way of Life
  • Interactive Storytelling and Media

You will need to create a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey.  If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page.  For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page.  You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!

This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.

AV Requests for WisCon 43

As previously stated, the Panel Survey is currently live and will close on March 24th. However, some of you fine folk put in requests for AV equipment when you submitted your proposed panel ideas. If your proposed panel ideas for which you requested AV equipment made it onto the Survey, we ask that you confirm that you still require said equipment.

The Madison Concourse provides conference rooms with projector screens and projectors with HDMI ports for your laptop. We recommend that you bring your own HDMI cables or Macbook converters for your laptops, and any external sound amplifier equipment, as we cannot guarantee that the Concom will have equipment like that available.

To confirm, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “AV Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and what type of AV equipment you require in the body of the email by March 24th.

In order to streamline this process, we ask that only those who submitted the panels which made the survey email us with these requests. To view the entire list of panels, please log in to your WisCon account, click “Sign Up For Programming”, then click the full list of proposed panels link.

We cannot guarantee that AV equipment will be available for you if you do not submit an AV Request to us by March 24th.

Hand-Staffed Panel Requests for WisCon 43

You may have noticed that certain panels allow for only a “I would like to attend this panel” option. That is because those suggesters had requested that these particular panels be staffed with those folk who best fit with the marginalized identities about which the panels will discuss. If you have not already contacted us about hand-staffing your proposed panel, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “Hand-Staff Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and who you would like to be on your panel in the body of the email by March 24th.

Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.

Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

Want to come to WisCon for FREE?*

1 Comment

* Some conditions** apply.

** Okay, the condition*** is that you are a Red Cross certified lifeguard, or willing to become one before May 15.

*** Sorry, the other condition is that you’re 18 years old or older before the beginning of WisCon.

You probably already know that WisCon’s venue, the Madison Concourse Hotel, has a terrific pool. What they don’t have is a lifeguard, and a lifeguard is something we need to have when our Kids’ Program participants visit the pool before lunchtime on Saturday and Sunday. You won’t be in charge of the kids, though — just their safety. A volunteer will be with them to bring them to the pool, supervise while they are there, and take them back to the sixth floor afterwards. You’ll be poolside wearing a swimsuit or whatever clothes you’d be comfortable jumping into the water wearing, on the very slim chance that becomes necessary.

This is not a volunteer role, but you aren’t disqualified if you’re also a WisCon volunteer! If you are our lifeguard, your registration is free, and we will also pay you for the time you spend on duty, approximately three hours total. If you’re willing, we may also discuss holding family or all-ages lifeguard-monitored swimming sessions, which could add up to another three hours of paid work.

If you already are lifeguard certified, hit us up! If you know someone who has a certification, lives in the area, and might want to try WisCon out, send them this post! If you don’t have a certification but might want to get one, you can learn more here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding Unfortunately, we cannot pay for the certification or reimburse you for that cost, so we only suggest that you do so if you might find it useful in other parts of your life.

If this sounds like you or you want more details, please email personnel@sf3.org and let us know.

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

Two Weeks Left! WisCon 43 Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey Is Open!!! Deadline to Submit Survey – March 24th

Leave a comment

You have two weeks left! Panel Surveys are open until March 24th  Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43.  The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year!  If you want to more about how panel programming works, please view this post for a quick overview.

WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions.  The current list of tracks are below:

  • Feminism and Other Social Change Movements
  • Power, Privilege, and Oppression
  • Spirituality, Organized Religion and Politics
  • Science and Technology
  • The Craft and Business of Writing
  • Reading, Viewing, and Critiquing Science Fiction
  • Fandom as a Way of Life
  • Interactive Storytelling and Media

You will need to a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey.  If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page.  For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page.  You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!

This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.

Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.

Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

Art Call for Souvenir Program Book

Leave a comment

The Souvenir Program Book is currently looking for artwork for its cover. (Just like last year, the Souvenir and Program Books will be combined!)

Dimensions–8×10, 300 dpi
Works in all media that can be easily scanned/laid out in an 8×10 cover are welcome!
Please send a proposal and 3-5 work samples.
We pay $100!
Deadline for consideration is March 30.
Please send proposals for consideration to souvenirbook@wiscon.net.
Official Announcements, WisCon 43

AV & Hand-Staffed Panel Requests – Do You Need A Special Request For Your Proposed Panel?

Leave a comment

AV Requests for WisCon 43

As you probably know, the Panel Survey is currently live and will close on March 24th. However, some of you fine folk put in requests for AV equipment when you submitted your proposed panel ideas. If your proposed panel ideas for which you requested AV equipment made it onto the Survey, we ask that you confirm that you still require said equipment.

The Madison Concourse provides conference rooms with projector screens and projectors with HDMI ports for your laptop. We recommend that you bring your own HDMI cables or Macbook converters for your laptops, and any external sound amplifier equipment, as we cannot guarantee that the Concom will have equipment like that available.

To confirm, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “AV Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and what type of AV equipment you require in the body of the email by March 24th.

In order to streamline this process, we ask that only those who submitted the panels which made the survey email us with these requests. To view the entire list of panels, please log in to your WisCon account, click “Sign Up For Programming”, then click the full list of proposed panels link.

Hand-Staffed Panel Requests for WisCon 43

You may have noticed that certain panels allow for only a “I would like to attend this panel” option. That is because those suggesters had requested that these particular panels be staffed with those folk who best fit with the marginalized identities about which the panels will discuss. If you have not already contacted us about hand-staffing your proposed panel, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “Hand-Staff Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and who you would like to be on your panel in the body of the email by March 24th.

Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.

Later Days,

Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
C.J. Hawkins, Panel Programming

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

WMAF Nomination Deadline is March 8

Leave a comment

WisCon is a wonderful weekend, and is the type of convention that can come to feel like a kind of “home” for regular attendees. But, of course, attending WisCon requires many folks to stay in a hotel room for several nights, to travel long distances, and to incur other costs that can be significant enough to prevent one from attending at all.

But maybe you’re someone who could attend WisCon, if only you got a little bit of financial help. If this sounds like you — or someone you know — the WisCon Member Assistance Fund may be able to help.

The WMAF is a pool of money which exists to help folks attend WisCon. Anyone can apply to request funds that can be used to cover airfare or other travel costs, hotel costs, childcare, or any other prohibitive expense. Members may also nominate friends or others who they know would like to attend WisCon but who may need a bit of help to do so.

One of the aims of the fund is to promote diversity and to give folks a way to join us if they’ve been unable to do so in the past. If you’ve never attended WisCon because the cost kept getting in the way, we strongly encourage you to nominate yourself for the Fund! Whether you’re an established industry professional, a long-time reader, or a brand-new fan, we’d love to have you. Whether you want to be on panels, give readings, or sit quietly in the back of a conference room, we want you at WisCon.

If you’re a regular attendee but things are looking tight this year, we also encourage you to apply to the Fund. We recognize that peoples’ needs and circumstances can change from year to year, and want to make it clear that the WMAF is not only for new attendees, but for everyone with a need that we might be able to help with.

If you have attended WisCon via Member Assistance Fund monies in the past, you can be nominated or apply again. If funds are limited, we will give priority to people who have not previously received assistance — but we do try to help as many nominees as we possibly can.

This year, we’ve extended the WMAF deadline to Friday, March 8. If you were considering applying for yourself, or nominating someone else, now is the time! For more details and specific instructions for nominating or applying to the WMAF, please see the WMAF information page. We look forward to hearing from you, and we hope to see you at WisCon 43!

Official Announcements, WisCon 43

WisCon 43 Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey Is Open!!! Deadline to Submit Survey – March 24th

Leave a comment

Panel Surveys are open until March 24th.  Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43.  The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year!  If you want to more about how panel programming, please view this post for a quick overview.

WisCon Panel programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions.  The current list of tracks are below:

  • Feminism and Other Social Change Movements
  • Power, Privilege, and Oppression
  • Spirituality, Organized Religion and Politics
  • Science and Technology
  • The Craft and Business of Writing
  • Reading, Viewing, and Critiquing Science Fiction
  • Fandom as a Way of Life
  • Interactive Storytelling and Media

You will need to have a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey.  If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page.  For those with an account already created, go to the “Log in to My Account” page.  You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!

This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.

Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.

Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming