Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27 is a fan run convention, and relies on volunteer labor.  At this time we have three important positions that need to be filled:

• Site Selection Administrator
  • Collects filing papers from sites bidding for Westercon 70
  • Prepares the site selection ballot for distribution in a progress report, on website and elsewhere.
  • Runs mail in and site selection balloting.
  • Manages the counting of the ballots.
  • Reports the results to the business meeting.
• Party Coordinator
  • Gathers requests for party rooms and suites.
  • Works with Hotel Liaison to ensure that parties are placed in the correct rooms and suites
  • Ensures that parties are operating within the party policy set down by Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27
• Fan Table Coordinator
  • Collects requests for fan tables
  • Coordinates with Dealers Room head to ensure that fan tables are not actually dealers
  • Coordinates with Golden Ballroom Space coordinator to place fan tables in the Golden Ballroom and foyer as needed.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Ron Oakes at chair@westercon68.org.  You may also show up at one of our planning meetings to get more information on the job or other jobs that may also be needed.

Posted January 17, 2015 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

As of January 1, 2015, an attending membership in Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27 has gone up to $65.00. The rate to upgrade from a supporting to an attending membership has gone up accordingly from $40.00 to $50.00. Supporting memberships remain $15.00.

These membership rates are good through March 31, 2015.

Posted January 1, 2015 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

The staff and volunteers of Westercon 68 extend their deepest condolences to our Guest of Honor Spider Robinson upon the passing of his daughter, Terri Luanna daSilva. Shared joy is multiplied, shared pain is lessened.

In addition to her father, Terri is survived by her husband and five-year-old daughter.

Unfortunately, her illness created significant debt.  A site has been set up on YouCaring.com where contributions can be made.

Posted December 5, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

We have made a couple of updates to the website:

• A brief page on our theme: New Horizons
• Art Show Application

There are also a couple of important upcoming deadlines as well:

• Dealers Room applications are due by March 1.
• The first of two submission deadlines for sites wishing to run for Westercon 70 in 2017 is on January 1, 2015.  If no site in the northern, central, or other zones files by this date, any site may file before April 15, 2015 and be eligible.  More information on site selection may be found in the Westercon Bylaws page at westercon.org

Posted October 22, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27 will be at the following, for sure, before the end of 2014:

• San Diego Comic Fest, October 17-19, 2014
• Loscon 41, November 28-30, 2014

At these events we will have an on site only discount of $5.00 on Attending memberships only. Supporting, youth, and membership upgrades will be at their normal price.

We will also be holding a drawing for one attending membership at both events.

Representatives will be at SMOFCon 32 as well.

Posted October 12, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

Comic-Con International, commonly known as San Diego Comic-Con, will be held July 9-12, 2015 (with their preview night on July 8).  This means that Comic-Con International is exactly one week after Westercon 68 / Conjecture 13 / Conchord 27.  We have no official relationship with Comic-Con International (other than shared volunteer staff).

However, there are some arrangements in place to make it easy for individuals to attend both Westercon 68 and Comic-Con International.  First and foremost, The Town and Country Resort and Conference Center will honor our room rate through the night of Tuesday, July 7.

We are encouraging regular Comic-Con International guests, dealers, and artists to come into town early and participate in both conventions.  If we get commitments from any extra special guests we will be sure to let people know.

Additionally, we will be holding our masquerade on Saturday, July 4.  We encourage anyone considering entering the Comic-Con masquerade to also join Westercon 68 and enter into our masquerade.  This could be especially valuable for novice stage performers – allowing them to get experience in a smaller venue before hand.

Posted September 16, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

We have filled the position of pre-convention registrar.  Thank you for your consideration.

We have other positions open.  Please check out our staff list and if any of the open (or TBD) positions look like something you can do and would be interested in doing, please contact Ron Oakes at chair@westercon68.org

Posted July 30, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

Westercon 68 is looking for a pre-convention registrar.

Duties:
1: Enter registrations received on paper – either at a fan table, or received in the mail – into our current database system.

2: Provide reports to Westercon 68 staff meetings, including the total number of attending and supporting members, and new members received since the last meeting.

3: Work with convention treasurer to ensure that membership revenue and memberships match.

4: Help with Westercon 68 promotion by helping man fan tables and parties at conventions attended, especially outside of your home area.

5: Work with the at-convention registrar to ensure that all pre-registration data is entered, the correct amount of registration supplies are made available, and any other tasks needed to complete the hand-over of the registration process.

6: Recruit at least one additional person to assist with your duties in case unexpected circumstances temporarily or permanently prevent you from performing all of the above.

Skills Needed:
1: Understanding of convention registration – especially supporting and attending memberships, and membership upgrades

2: Familiarity with using web based systems.

3: Willing to learn how to use our web registration system.

Other Requirements
1: Ability to attend Westercon 68 staff meetings in San Diego, either in person or via Skype. Note that Westercon 68 meetings use a Skype setup that allows remote participants to hear clearly, and participate in, most or all of the discussions.

Benefits: Staff membership in Westercon 68.

Note that this is, current, the pre-convention registrar. However, if you are interested in both the pre-convention and at-convention registrars position, please let us know that as well. The at-convention registrar will be expected to recruit staff to assist them at the convention. It is expected that the minimum of 4 persons be part of the at-convention registration staff, including the registrar.

To apply, send an email to chair@westercon68.org. Include information on your qualifications for this volunteer position.

Posted July 28, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 68

For those of you who may have missed these in the art show, here are the winners of the judging and the People’s Choice voting. I’ve linked as many as I could find so you can see what they look like.

Best 3D: Beware of Dragon by David Lee Pancake

Best Fiber Art Unfinished Dragon by Hannah Swedin (this was unanimous!)

Best Monochrome Ankylosaurus by William Stout

Best Black & White The Giant Skull by Richard Hescox

Best Use of Color I Will Not Be Contained by Keliana Tayler

Best Use of Humor Magnus & Loki: Hero Worship by Sarah Clemens

Cutest Early Conflict by Kent Jeppsen

Trailblazer Award Glass Mermaid by Brandy Stark

People’s Choice Vance’s Dragon by Jessica Douglas

Judges’ Choice Copper Tree by Jessica Douglas

Second Runner Up to Best in Show Dreaming Tree by Jessica Douglas

First Runner Up to Best in Show Heart of Atlantis by Richard Hescox

Best in Show Vance’s Dragon by Jessica Douglas

Posted July 14, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 67 / CONduit 24: The 2014 West Coast Science Fantasy Convention

These were all announced at the convention, but we wanted to announce them here, too.

Workmanship Awards:

• Best Use of Trim – “The Muse” Serena Doering, Young Fan
• Excellence in Skull Jewelry – “The Badonkadonk Warrior” Lyda Mae Dameron, Novice
• Queen of Glitz- “Lack of Glitteritist” Mary Ellen Smith, Master
• Best in Show Workmanship – “Here to Save the World” Anita Taylor, Dave Tackett, Jonnalyn Wolfcat, Melissa Quinn

Presentation Awards:

• Most Inspirational – “The Muse” Serena Doering, Young Fan
• Best in Class Novice – “The Stare” Nicholas Ricci, Novice
• Best Comedy in Master Class – “Lack of Glitteritist” Mary Ellen Smith, Master
• Best Choreography in Master Class – “Here to Save the World” Anita Taylor, Dave Tackett, Jonnalyn Wolfcat, Melissa Quinn

Posted July 14, 2014 in Upcoming Conventions from Westercon 67 / CONduit 24: The 2014 West Coast Science Fantasy Convention