Hello from the chairs!
In case you haven't heard, Madison recently broke a record. This winter is now the snowiest on record (well, records dating back to the 1800's, anyway). Just last week, we edged out the previous record level of 76.1 inches/1.93 m. from the winter of 1978-1979. According to NOAA's National Weather Service Forecast Office in Milwaukee/Sullivan, Wisconsin, we've received 85.2 inches/2.16 m. between December 1, 2007 and February 21, 2008. And winter isn't even over yet!
You might be thinking - "Hmmm…interesting." And (pick the most applicable):
To which we reply either:
You may also be wondering if these comments are directly related to WisCon in some way. To which we say: Of course. We bring this up for several important reasons:
Gee, I know there were more items you'd want to consider, but sorry…brain is freezing from the wind chill.
Carrie
For Betsy Lundsten and Carrie Ferguson, WisCon 32 Co-chairs
Nominations for WisCon 33 Guest of Honor open on Sunday, February 24, 2008, and will be collected through 11 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, March 9, 2008. Please email your suggestions to concom32@wiscon.info. Include the name of your nominee and a short paragraph explaining why they would be a great choice for Guest of Honor in 2009. ANYONE may nominate guests of honor.
On Sunday, March 16, 2008, an electronic ballot listing all nominees, with supporting paragraphs, will be sent to the ConCom and the Programming lists. In cases where the same candidate is nominated by more than one person, that fact will be noted on the ballot, and the supporting paragraphs will be condensed to a single one that covers all the highlights.
Only those individuals currently involved in the planning and execution of WisCon 32 are eligible to vote. Voting will run from Sunday, March 16, 2008, through 11 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, March 30, 2008. Ballots may be emailed, snail-mailed, or brought in person to the March 30, 2008, ConCom meeting at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Calls will be made inviting the top two candidates to WisCon 33, and the guests' names will be announced at WisCon 32.
Lori Selke and Aaron Lichtov, our intrepid Program Chairs, are working feverishly with WebMistress Deb Stone and Assistant Steven Schwartz to put the final polish on Program Sign-Up for WisCon 32. Watch for updates soon - we'll issue a special edition of eCube, probably within the next day or two, to announce that they're ready for you to sign up!
All of our sixth-floor party suites have been allocated. If you didn't move quickly enough on your party suite request, you could still throw a party in your hotel room. In fact, you could have your already-reserved hotel room designated for the sixth floor, so your party would get as much attendance as the suite parties! Contact rooms32@wiscon.info if interested.
I'd like to try to sell your publisher ad space in the WisCon 32 Souvenir Book. Please send me a name and contact information (preferably an email address) for your publicist or whoever you think is the best person for me to talk to, and I will send them a lovely cover letter and the ad rate sheet. Send this info to Jeanne Gomoll at souvenirbook32@wiscon.info.
Would you like to get your palm or Tarot cards read, have your hair braided, make a memory book for autographs and notes, or get a sneak-peak at the goodies available at the Tiptree auction? Then join us for the Gathering on Friday, from 1-4 pm. Reconnect with old friends, and make new friends while you enjoy the activities, relax, and sit down to gossip over coffee, tea, and cookies.
We have already confirmed some fabulous activities, but there's still time to volunteer your special talents and add to the fun! If you have an idea for a fun activity, please write us at gathering32@wiscon.info.
As you may recall, Kestrell, one of the Access Co-Chairs at WisCon 31, is unfortunately unable to attend this year's convention. While we'll all miss Kestrell, we are pleased to report that Julia, who you may know as "starkeymonster", will be Jesse the K's Access co-chair for WisCon 32.
Julia describes herself thus:
I'm a mixed race, queer, geek girl who loves reading, trashy TV and forcing friends to eat delicious cupcakes that I bake. I've been a voracious reader of sff books for most of my life. I first found fandom as a college student, but got more involved in fandom after college through attending smaller fan run cons and the magic of the internet. I navel gaze and rabble rouse in my livejournal (sparkymonster.livejournal.com). I am also applying to library school and work in the IT department of a college library system.
I was introduced to WisCon by Susan Groppi, who is not just the editor in chief of Strange Horizons, but also my former college roommate. I had an amazing time last year, and was really impressed by how accessibility issues were handled, that I wanted support WisCon this year as Accessibility Co-Chair. I can be easily recognized by my mop of wild curly hair and my loud cackling laugh.
Please check the eCube Archive for previous issues of eCube (at http://www.wiscon.info/progressreports.php)
For quicker response, contact the department directly:
Update your Mailing Address: maillist32@wiscon.info
Academic Programming: academic32@wiscon.info
Access: access32@wiscon.info
Advertising: advertising32@wiscon.info
Art Show: artshow32@wiscon.info
Childcare: childcare32@wiscon.info
Dealers Room: dealers32@wiscon.info
Disability Inclusion Services: access32@wiscon.info
Freebie Table Items: freebietable32@wiscon.info
The Gathering: gathering32@wiscon.info
Hotel Rooms rooms32@wiscon.info
Logistics: logistics32@wiscon.info
Newsletter (At-Con): newsletter32@wiscon.info
Parties: parties32@wiscon.info
Programming: program32@wiscon.info
Readings: readings32@wiscon.info
Registration: registration32@wiscon.info
Souvenir Book: souvenirbook32@wiscon.info
Sustainability: carbon32@wiscon.info
SignOut: SignOut32@wiscon.info
Tiptree Bakesale: bakesale32@wiscon.info
Tiptree Auction: auction32@wiscon.info
Treasurer: payment32@wiscon.info
Volunteers:volunteers32@wiscon.info
Web Page: web32@wiscon.info
Writers' Workshop: workshop32@wiscon.info
Not sure who: concom32@wiscon.info
Karen Moore
23 February 2008