The Thanksgiving Science Fiction Society held a general business meeting on 10 September 2022. The meeting was held online via Discord, with no in-person interaction aside from folks who live together. All conversations took place via text chat in Discord.

This is a quick-n-dirty Discord transcript of the TSFS General Business Meeting held on 10 September 2022, made on 14 September 2022 by Keith Lynch. All formatting has basically been lost.

Meeting was scheduled to begin at 1 PM EDT. Conversations effectively begin at 1:03 PM, with a short prelude at 10:55 AM.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl@KeithLynch.net>
To: Dave Montuori <damont@wolfstar.com>
Subject: Transcript of September 2022 TSFS meeting
Message-Id: <4MSc5Y35dqz1ZWS@panix2.panix.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2022 19:30:41 -0400 (EDT)

Welcome to #september-2022-business-meeting!

This is the start of the #september-2022-business-meeting channel.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 06/26/2022
Saturday, 10 September, at 1pm

September 10, 2022

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/10/2022
Guys, I feel like total, absolute, utter crap.  Can we do next week instead?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I myself absolutely cannot.
[10:55 AM]
I'm scheduled for another meeting next Saturday, and it's in Kinsale VA.  I don't expect to have internet nor even cell service pretty much the whole weekend until Sunday evening when I get back to Herndon.  (edited)

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/10/2022
OH, right, today was picked as the least problematic for the most people in September.  Um, I think then, the rest of you should have a short meeting, and I'll just have to drop out of this one.  I know you, Dave & I think Marilyn have things to report/discuss.  I really need to go back to bed, sorry.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
If you can put your reports in after the fact here when you are up to it, that's probably a useful course of action.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Greetings everyone.  T minus 9 minutes.  I may still be in the lavatory at 13:00.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
<sings with The Police> "Is anybody alive in here?  Is anybody alive in here?  Is anybody at all in here?"

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I am here, back from the Worldcon.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'm here.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Yo

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Good afternoon y'all.  Or, at least, "afternoon".

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I don't think we have anyone currently here from Mountain or Pacific (or Alaska or Hawai'i) time zones, so afternoon it is.

Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming -- 09/10/2022
Hi, folks.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
(Also, nobody on the other side of the ponds, where it's either evening or night)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
So.  It's five after.  Let's commence.
[1:06 PM]
First item of business: next business meeting, in October
[1:07 PM]
I propose early in October, perhaps Sunday the 2nd or Saturday the 8th.

1

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Early October is fine with me.  The only Saturday I'm unavailable is the 29th, which isn't exactly early.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
2nd is OK for me, 8th nope

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Is @Saria | Videogaming, Website here?
[1:09 PM]
Based on the thin input, Sunday, 2 October at 1300 for the next meeting.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Fine with me.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Oct 1st is mostly okay for me but a 2 PM start would be better that day.  2nd is okay.  I need to check my calendar upstairs for the 8-9 and 15-16.
22nd is probably NOT good as I'm taking my parents to Newark Airport, but 23rd is okay.
29-30 are RIGHT OUT, eldest niece is getting married.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Channel created.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Can we get the year edited to lose the final zero?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Yep

1
[1:11 PM]
Poryshkin is way too toasty to join us here today, so we'll work around that.
[1:12 PM]
Let's start, then, with Website.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Hi
[1:12 PM]
I have been working on a WordPress version
[1:12 PM]
This will make it easier for other staff to update the info.
[1:13 PM]
The current version is all HTML, and SVN, and FTP.
[1:13 PM]
This could be important because I'll be out of the country from Oct 24 to Nov 16

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Making it kinda important for other staff to be able to update department info easily, I can see that (edited)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Here is my initial cut: https://www.chessiecon.org/chessiecon/
[1:15 PM]
Still some holes, but you get the idea.
[1:15 PM]
I'd like to meet with interested people to polish it up.
[1:16 PM]
I also need to work on making it WCAG compliant (Accessible)

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
WCAG == ?  (I'm not up on the acronyms)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
ok

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
The covid link at the above URL doesn't work.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Please email me any comments; marilyn@chessiecon.org
[1:18 PM]
I tend to lose things in Discord.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
www.chessiecon.org got repeated in that URL

@Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration
www.chessiecon.org got repeated in that URL

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
The COVID link is to https://www.chessiecon.org/www.chessiecon.org/chessiecon/covid
[1:19 PM]
notice that www.chessiecon.org is there twice (edited)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
So, we should look it over and send our comments to Marilyn.  There was a question about the CoC, you raised, Marilyn
[1:22 PM]
I think that we should revert to the full CoC now that we're in-person.  Whatever is on the site should be what rules at the con.

2

Saria | Videogaming, Website -- 09/10/2022
I completely forgot there was a meeting today.  I'm here-ish now

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Welcome; Poryshkin called in sick, so we'll probably have a shorter meeting.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I will update the Code of Conduct page to include the full text that I sent you.  I assume you have reviewed it and it is correct.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I'll double check after the meeting and respond.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
One big thing I need for the Word Press site is a banner image.  I am not proficient in digital art.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
What are the dimensions of the banner?  Do we want to use the same logo?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
The Chessiecon logo should certainly be present, at least.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
The one I have there is 144 pixels high and 582 wide.
[1:31 PM]
What you you all think about something like what I put on the registration form.  (I'll post that in a minute.)
[1:32 PM]

Chessiecon-2022-reg-form-post17JUL.pdf
118.14 KB

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
That looks like it would work.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
@DrGandalf If you are volunteering to create the banner, I will send you the files for Chessiecon logo.
[1:34 PM]
Also the hex code for the "teal" color.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I can do that.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'll wait a bit on the color to let people chime in on my choices.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
The colors work for me.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Shall I send the WordPress URL to the staff list?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
That sounds good.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Let me know what font that is on the reg form

Saria | Videogaming, Website -- 09/10/2022
Looks good to me

@DrGandalf
Let me know what font that is on the reg form

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
It's Apple Chancery, but anything similar is fine.
[1:40 PM]
@DrGandalf Thank you

1
[1:41 PM]
Anything else about the current or future website?
[1:42 PM]
@Herveus | Con Ops Let me know who should have access to the WordPress site.  I'll set up a familiarization meeting

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
All department heads?  Or should it be a bit tighter?
[1:47 PM]
Con Chair, Registration, Con Ops seem to be an obvious short list.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I would add Programming to the short list except that's a moot point right now.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Who is programming
[1:49 PM]
?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I think Con Chair is de facto Programming.

1

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Guess I'll need to contact him later then.  Since I'm doing program AV, I need to figure out what is needed specifically about projectors and the Clam Chowder concert replay.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
It's really inconvenient that Poryshkin is ill.  But here we are.  (edited)
[1:52 PM]
I'm hoping he can make a useful report later today.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Do you have any idea of the status of contacting programming participants?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
No.

2
[1:54 PM]
I'll try to reach out to him later to get info.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Who is handling accessibility?  There are some things we are promising on the Accessibility page and I want to make sure that is true.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
as in "later today"

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Two and a half months until the con, everyone.  Yes, I am a bit alarmed.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I think we have wheelchair(s) in the storage bin.

1
[1:57 PM]
Alarm is warranted.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'm busy with the website, but if you need help with programming let me know.  If we don't have programming, the website update is moot.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
The rest of the stuff is pretty much at-con stuff in my bucket.

1

Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming -- 09/10/2022
Along the lines of alarm, I'm afraid that as my life has developed I need to step down as head of Tabletop Gaming.
[1:59 PM]
Being one of two primary caregivers to someone in dialysis and someone with a severe developmental disability is way too time-consuming.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
OK.  Thanks for your service.

@Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming
Being one of two primary caregivers to someone in dialysis and someone with a severe developmental disability is way too time-consuming.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
No need to explain, but I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming -- 09/10/2022
(Hence my missing the last 4 meetings...)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
@Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming Can you recommend a replacement to run Table top gaming?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I knew this was coming, but I'm sorry it's taking such a toll on your life.

Jim/Blaise | Tabletop Gaming -- 09/10/2022
I'm not sure.  Maybe Steve Brinich?

1

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Has anyone heard from Steve or Crystal (Music head) recently?  (I admit I haven't tried to call or text...)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Who can reach out to Steve to find out?

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I saw him at the Worldcon last weekend.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I know Steve and have his email

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Can you reach out to him, please?

1

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Is that request to Marilyn or to me?  Thanks.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'm taking the action

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
To Marilyn, who has the action.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I have texted Steve and Crystal with a heads-up but no idea when they'll see the text

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Who is best placed to ping Crystal about the state of music?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
That would be me, as well.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
OK.  Please.  Thanks.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'll include that in my message to Steve.

Saria | Videogaming, Website -- 09/10/2022
I think this is unfortunately also going to be a year without video gaming.  In theory I would love to still do video gaming, but with covid rates still what they are, I feel worried about risking going out in the world, even vaccinated - and I haven't even gotten my second booster, let alone third.  Living with high risk family means I'd have to figure out a way to quarantine after the con and wearing a mask that long will be incredibly distracting on account of anxiety.
[2:07 PM]
I know people do like video gaming but I also feel it's a department that can be missed

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
If we posted video gamin in room 404...

2

1

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
(Quick return to tabletop gaming: if Steve doesn't pan out, I have some contacts in Games Club Of Maryland who might be willing to run it, at least for just this year.)

1

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I think we've exhausted Website; we've touched on Programming issues as best we can at the moment.  Shall we move on to Registration?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Yes.  That's all I had for website.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Thanks.
[2:09 PM]
Evan, you're up

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Okay.  Right now, we have 36 people pre-registered, most of whom are rollovers from the last few years of alarums and excursions.  I'm also aware of three "forced rollovers" I forgot to process, one of whom is the Con Chair.  So that brings the effective total to 39.
[2:12 PM]
Most, but not all, people in this meeting are among those 30-mumble.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Does anyone know from the before times when did people usually get around to registering?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I have 40-mumble people who have not responded at all to the email I sent in July.  These have NOT been rolled over yet, and while the default will be to roll them over, the deadline for requesting a refund is the 1st of November, so I'm not feeling a critical need to roll those folks over right away.  I'll get to them as I get to them.  Rolling over is, of necessity, a mostly manual process.

@DrGandalf
Does anyone know from the before times when did people usually get around to registering?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
While the data for discovering that does exist in the database(s), I don't think we have an easy way to extract it.
[2:17 PM]
I can go back to every reg record and find out the date that registration was begun (not necessarily paid for) but doing that by hand for every reg record is kinda yikes.
[2:19 PM]
Continuing with the actual report, I have EXACTLY TWO people who have requested a refund.  They did not supply a mailing address, and when I emailed them in July requesting one, I have received no reply.  Action item for me: drop them a reminder email.
Kinda hard to send them refunds if we don't know where to send them.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I that case, do you have a general feeling for it?  Are we way behind, or about where we should be now, bearing in mind that other cons have been down 30-50% from pre-pandemic
[2:22 PM]
(As an unfortunate side note, I see a bunch of reports on the BSFS Discord about people coming back from Chicago and then developing Covid Con-Crud)

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
(General update continues, I'll get back to you DrG)
Several people on the "rollover" list indicated that they were highly unlikely to attend this year, but to convert their payments to date into donations.
One person so far (Carl Cipra) pre-registered for 2022 before the emails went out, but has indicated we should convert his pre-2022 payment to a donation, so no problem there.
One other person who was on the rollover email list pre-registered recently, using a DIFFERENT email address, so I presume did not get the email.  Action item for me: contact that person and try to work that situation out.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
So far, 55 Chicon attendees have reported positive tests since returning.

1

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I don't know if anyone has collected any data from post-Pennsic.
[2:27 PM]
So, DrG, my personal feel here is that we're behind the typical 2018-or-earlier prereg curve.  Possibly even accounting for a 50% drop in attendance...  which sort of drop, frankly, I'm not sure we can survive.
I don't have the numbers for how much money we'll have to pay out to run 2022.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
OK

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Now, accounting for potential drops in attendance, we may not be very far behind the usual curve.  Things got so thrown out of whack by having to cancel 2019, not to mention the following two years of virtual (thanks to plague), that I'm not sure we HAD a "usual" anymore even before plague hit.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Probably not.  Just hoping folks have not forgotten about us

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I get a bit of reaction on social media

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I will try to dredge up a reg-date curve for 2018 by next month.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Thanks.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
We will get a lot of Humdingers fans at the very least.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I certainly hope so.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
For 2022 at-con registration: we'll obviously need internet connectivity for the reg table.  We'll also need Square payment processing capability for handling card and electronic payments.  This is where I look meaningfully at Herveus -- actually at MJ -- and at anyone else with a Square puck, because all I have is a plugin card-slider, and we'd do better with puck(s).
[2:40 PM]
Obviously MJ will want most of her gear at the dealer table.  But if there is anything to spare...  (edited)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
We have two pucks, so I think we can lend one to registration.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I can't find any mention of Chessiecon on the Humdingers webpage.  Maybe someone should ask them to give us a mention?  (edited)

@DrGandalf
I can't find any mention of Chessiecon on the Humdingers webpage.  Maybe someone should ask them to give us a mention?  (edited)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
They did share it on their Facebook when we first announced it but that was months ago.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Another round of mentions would help

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
It would, yes

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Are there reports from any other departments?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Sorry, not done yet...
I will note for the record that anyone who's coming primarily for the Saturday music program (including the Music GoH) may not prereg, but rather may pay at the door, since the reduced rates aren't available online.  I cannot recall off the top of my head whether we have single-day rates or from-now-until-end-of-con rates.  (edited)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
We have in the past.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
But that doesn't need to be dealt with right now.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Make the concert run real late so they will need to stay a night.  We need the room nights

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
As far as reg for 2023 and beyond goes -- if there IS a 2023 and/or beyond...
What we need first is a place to host the database(s).  Preferably one where we can set up a front-facing UI for people to pre-reg by themselves, but for less than 1000 people at a con, we can work around that -- people send in their info, I enter it into the DB, and we send out a Square Invoice for payment.
Dealing with all that is not something we need to do right here and now, but we need to be working on it outside the general meetings Real Soon.  Especially the DB hosting.  (edited)

@DrGandalf
Make the concert run real late so they will need to stay a night.  We need the room nights

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I think Danielle (GoH) wanted the eSpec book release party to be the main evening activity, but we should double check all of that.
[2:51 PM]
<-- not head of Programming, nor do I play one on TV

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I assume the replay Chowder concert will be Friday and the BH concert Saturday.  Maybe have the BH concert a bit early and the book party to follow?  I leave that to the programming dept

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
As do I
[2:52 PM]
Anyway, that's all for Registration, apologies for the length.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Thanks.  Any other departments to report?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Yes,  Marketing

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Go ahead.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Probably a question for the con chair;  Capclave: Do we have an arrangement for a Fan Table and/or program book ad?

1

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I just noticed that our October 2nd meeting conflicts with Capclave.

1
[2:58 PM]
(I won't be attending Capclave, but others here might.)

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I won't be Claving any Caps.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I'm skipping Caplave this year, too.  I need to know if anyone can staff a table before I request one.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Due to family obligations I will be in PA the weekend of CapClave.  (edited)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I'm otherwise committed on Saturday, so no me.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
@Herveus | Con Ops Do you remember if we have done ad exchanges in the past with Capclave?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Some of the time, yes.  2016 and 2017 but not 2018, it appears.

1

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Might be too late, but I'll ask them.
[3:06 PM]
I am planning to make social media posts to remind people of upcoming deadlines in Registration and Hotel.  I can also post a reminder about our guests and use the appropriate tags.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Can you post to rec.arts.sf.fandom?  If not, tell me what to post and I can do so.  Thanks.  I can also post to the WSFA and PRSFS email lists.

@Keith Lynch
Can you post to rec.arts.sf.fandom?  If not, tell me what to post and I can do so.  Thanks.  I can also post to the WSFA and PRSFS email lists.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Thank you.  I forgot about sending the items I post to you.  Let me see if I have your email address.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I don't know whether I have your address whitelisted.  In case I don't, and you don't want to post it here, you can always send to my current disposable address listed at http://keithlynch.net/email.html

1

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
That's all for Marketing from me.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Thanks.
[3:13 PM]
Con Ops: I've got to get with Poryshkin to make sure I have a clue what all I've signed up for.
[3:14 PM]
Program Book: I've got to get moving on that, so I'll be reaching out for content.  I don't have any specific cover art in hand.  I'll see what I have laying around.
[3:14 PM]
Anyone else to report?

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I hope the program book is printed, unlike at the Worldcon.  Not everyone has a smartphone.

@Keith Lynch
I hope the program book is printed, unlike at the Worldcon.  Not everyone has a smartphone.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
or a printer at home

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I agree, as long as we have the spondulix for it.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Maybe the humdingers have something that would make a good cover

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I can reach out to them.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Any photo they have can be run through a processing program to make a line art picture

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
We have traditionally had the cover sheet in color, so there's that.  And I believe that the budget had a line for printing books.

@DrGandalf
Any photo they have can be run through a processing program to make a line art picture

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Now I have a mental image of an Al Hirschfeld caricature of the Humdingers on the cover...

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I've got a bunch of line art from the past featuring Chessie.

@Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration
Now I have a mental image of an Al Hirschfeld caricature of the Humdingers on the cover...

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
That would be cool.  Oh Nina, where are you?

1

1

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I'm going to try to summarize action items.
[3:19 PM]
I need to review the CoC so Marilyn can post them in their full form.
[3:19 PM]
I need to reach out to Poryshkin later to day to try to get a report, especially as it relates to programming
[3:20 PM]
Marilyn is going to contact Steve about Tabletop Gaming and Crystal about the state of music.

1

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
As always, I will be turning this meeting into plain text and emailing it to anyone who wants it.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Marilyn will reach out to CapClave about an ad exchange.  It does not look like we have anyone to sit a fan table.

@Keith Lynch
As always, I will be turning this meeting into plain text and emailing it to anyone who wants it.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I would like a copy, as usual.  Can you hold off until tomorrow before getting the transcript, in hopes that Poryshkin can drop Tresurer, Con Chair, and Programming reports here first?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Evan will try to suss out the registration curve for 2018.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Will do.

1

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Marilyn will arrange WordPress familiarization for several of us so we can get in and maintain things in her absence.
[3:23 PM]
I think those are the actions items.
[3:23 PM]
And with that, I think a motion to adjourn is appropriate.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I repeat my suggestion from the last meeting:

To compensate for what happened to Stephanie Burke at Balticon and
to prove to her that her reputation isn't destroyed, not even just
in Charm City, I suggest making her a Special Guest at Chessiecon,
comping memberships, transportation, and a room for her, her husband,
and their two kids, and of course placing her on program.

Note that BSFS has since completely exonerated her.  So does DrGandalf
retract his objection?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Marilyn will issue some social media posts to spur interest.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I need to talk to Poryshkin about what is needed from me, but that can wait for the next meeting
[3:26 PM]
Do we know who is doing audio for main tent?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I do not.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I do not, and haven't talked to any of the usual suspects since the last in-person Chessiecon...

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Probably needs to be done before the next meeting so they can put us on their schedule, whoever they may be.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Can someone reach out to the usual suspects?

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Who knows who the usual suspects are?  @Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration ?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
There are a few.  The only two I remember by actual name are Allon Stern, and Kludge (Scott Dorsey), but I don't have actual contact info for them.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
Scott is kludge at panix dot com

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I know that Allon has the gear.  Kludge is a good audio guy but I don't think he has his own gear

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Pretty sure you're correct on that, Dr G

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
I can supply a Fishman amp and some mics to use in a program room, but I don't have the gear for main tent

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Hmmm.  I wonder who supples audio gear for Conterpoint...
[3:36 PM]
actually, SteveBrinich was the most recent Conterpoint chair, so he and Crystal might know

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Worth asking.  Do you want to contact Allon?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I have no contact info

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Me neither

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
Another thing to discuss with Poryshkin?

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Don't know how old this is, but I have allon@radioactive.org
[3:38 PM]
Yes indeed, Poryshkin
[3:41 PM]
Moving on to a motion to adjourn?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I move to adjourn

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Second

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
No discussion on my Burke proposal?

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
While I do not object to the Burke proposal in principle, I do not know if we have the budget for it, and the Treasurer isn't here.
[3:43 PM]
So I would request that we revisit it later, perhaps by email before the next meeting?

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
We need a fuller record in order to properly consider it.  And I am concerned with the budgetary implications, especially this year.
[3:44 PM]
As a motion, it did not receive a second, and thus died.

Keith Lynch -- 09/10/2022
I think Chessiecon should be as welcoming as possible to Balticon
refugees, given that the Burke fiasco is not the only sign that
BSFS/Balticon seems bent on self-destruction.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I'd love to have a monetary sponsor for the proposal.  For that matter, I'd love to have a monetary sponsor for the entire 2022 convention.  I'm broke and cannot even think of considering the notion of pondering the idea of being such a sponsor.  (edited)

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I don't know enough to be able to properly assess the question.  As I said, we need a fuller record in order to give this due consideration.  We don't have that in front of us.
[3:46 PM]
Note that the proposal did not garner a second in support.  Thus, it is off the table for today.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
I will try to remember to ping the staff list about it, but that's later.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
We have a motion to adjourn and a second.  All those in favor harumph.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarumph!

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Harumph!

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I will exercise my prerogative to vote: harumph!
[3:48 PM]
Any opposed, speak up.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
We may have lost Marilyn and/or Blaise?

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
bye

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
The harumphs have it.  We are adjourned.  Thank you for sticking around.

DrGandalf -- 09/10/2022
See you all on the funway.  Don't forget to collect your Round Tuits on the way out.

Herveus | Con Ops -- 09/10/2022
I just heard from Poryshkin, and he won't be up for posting a report here until tomorrow.

2

@Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration
(Quick return to tabletop gaming: if Steve doesn't pan out, I have some contacts in Games Club Of Maryland who might be willing to run it, at least for just this year.)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
Steve said he would do tabletop gaming.

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/10/2022
Oh good.
[10:00 PM]
Steve texted me and said Crystal has a new phone and hasn't gotten it up to speed yet...
[10:00 PM]
(can still do calls though)

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/10/2022
I emailed her, but that is good to know.

September 11, 2022

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/11/2022
I have done the two forced rollovers (Con Chair and someone who got a free 2019 membership via volunteer hours).  Have also emailed the two refund requesters, and the person who has two memberships under two different email addresses.

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/11/2022
I just added two registrations that came in through the PO Box

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/11/2022
We have $8192.63 in the various accounts, reflecting various recent registrations, and the payment to ASCAP for performance licenses.

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/11/2022
And as I was sitting herre, trying to compose a staff e-mail for general issues, I got from Cathy G over at Capclave:
and if you are interested, we can do an ad swap.  This year our program book will be 5.5" (h) by 4.25" (w), and then if you include a half inch margin, it becomes a 5 by 3.75 ad.

Sam Lubell (samlubell@verizon.net)  needs the ad by Thursday Sept.  15, Friday Sept.  16 at the latest.

@Poryshkin | Con Chair
I just added two registrations that came in through the PO Box

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/11/2022
That would be the Rutkowskis?  (edited)

@Poryshkin | Con Chair
And as I was sitting herre, trying to compose a staff e-mail for general issues, I got from Cathy G over at Capclave: and if you are interested, we can do an ad swap.  This year our program book will be 5.5" (h) by 4.25" (w), and then if you include a half inch margin, it becomes a 5 by 3.75 ad.  Sam Lubell (samlubell@verizon.net)  needs the ad by Thursday Sept.  15, Friday Sept.  16 at the latest.

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 09/11/2022
i will send the ad to sam today

1

Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 09/11/2022
Have heard back from the refund requesters, sent email to Treasurer with info.
Have also heard back from the person with two memberships, have sent email to staff list.  (edited)

@Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration
That would be the Rutkowskis?  (edited)

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 09/11/2022
yes

1

September 13, 2022

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 9/13/2022 at 8:23 PM
I have updated the Code of Conduct page on the current Chessiecon website.  It now has all the policies for an in-person convention.

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 9/13/2022 at 8:25 PM
WhooHoo!
[8:26 PM]
I have an appointment for the new spiffy BA-4/BA-5 variant  vaccine on 20 September

1

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 9/13/2022 at 8:27 PM
Great!  Is it hard to find a place that gives it?  I need one soonish.

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 9/13/2022 at 8:28 PM
Wasn't hard at all, the pharmacy I use even agreed to give me a seasonal flu shot, same appointment.

DrGandalf -- 9/13/2022 at 8:40 PM
We're getting our bivalent boosters and flu shots Friday.

Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 9/13/2022 at 8:41 PM
WhooHoo!
[8:41 PM]
Yay, vaxxed staffers!

DrGandalf -- 9/13/2022 at 8:47 PM
@Marilyn Mix | Website We're getting them at Walgreen's.  Just go on their website and sign up.

1

Marilyn Mix | Website -- 9/13/2022 at 8:49 PM
OK.  I got my last one at the county health department, No waiting!  The first couple were at CVS and I had to wait over a half hour despite having an appointment.  Maybe Walgreen's is better.

DrGandalf -- 9/13/2022 at 8:50 PM
We got our 1st two boosters at Walgreen's, minimal waiting