World Fantasy 2011 - RonO's Ramblings

Last night, robot_grrl and I went to the kick off meeting for the committee running the 2011 World Fantasy Con at the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego's Mission Valley.

There were a few people I recognized there, including ifics and his wife, and several of the people I've met at the couple of ConDor meetings I've been at.

Tara quickly agreed to help Barny's wife (whose name I've managed to forget -- I'm not always great with names) with hospitality since they probably not need a green room. I've preliminarily offered to do (or at least help with) programming operations, if the head of programming thinks that they'll need that role. Otherwise, I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up working. The two key roles I've taken for similar sized conventions, Con Chair and Registrar, are taken by Val and Ron Ontell respectively. The only other key role that is not filled is publications, which may be split into program book and progress report. I'm probably technically capable of doing that role since I'm not unfamiliar with desktop publication, but I've never actually done it.

If none of those work out, I might end up helping Barny with tech set up -- but with only 2 tracks of programming and a track of readings, that may not be more than a 1 person job -- or help Ron with registration -- but I've mostly focused on the technology of registration, not giving out badges at con. I just hate to think that it may come down to Tara working the con while Derrick and I stay home (I'm not paying $100.00+ for a membership to a 2 track pro-oriented con).

The other consideration we'll have to figure out over the next two years is whether we'll stay at the hotel or not. The main issue will probably be where we are living then. If we're living near enough to Mission Valley we may well commute -- Val specifically said she didn't expect the staff to stay at the hotel. But if we're still in the far North County we'll probably stay there and let Derrick have fun on his own (hopefully in 2 years he'll be safe and willing to do so).