The Thanksgiving Science Fiction Society held a general business meeting on 17 December 2023. The meeting was held online via Discord, with no in-person interaction aside from between 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 17 December 2023, made on 17 December 2023 by Keith Lynch. All formatting has basically been lost. Meeting was scheduled to begin at 2 PM EDT. Some preliminary discussion happened on and off from late August up to the day of the meeting; conversations on the day of effectively begin at 1:36 PM. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "Keith F. Lynch" To: [multiple recipients] Subject: Transcript of December 2023 TSFS meeting Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2023 17:54:44 -0500 (EST) # december-2023-business-meeting This is the start of the #december-2023-business-meeting channel. August 19, 2023 Herveus | Con Ops -- 08/19/2023 2:07 PM Sunday, 17 December, at 2pm. Herveus | Con Ops -- 08/19/2023 3:09 PM Agenda item: How to rebuild the organization Marilyn Mix | Website -- 08/19/2023 10:51 PM I suggest we review the action items from the minutes of the previous meetings. August 25, 2023 Marilyn Mix | Website -- 08/25/2023 8:43 PM Let's send an email meeting notice to the membership say, a month before, with reminders. Also on social media. Please remind me because I may be preoccupied with medical things. August 29, 2023 Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 08/29/2023 12:04 PM As may I. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 08/29/2023 12:10 PM @Poryshkin | Con Chair So we probably should review the email list before Halloween and make sure it's as up to date as we can get it? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 08/29/2023 12:15 PM Probably. Scheduling issues for me: Capcalve, known: 28 September-1 October , then a couple of weeks semi-quarantine. Preliminary consult with new Doctor about back issues, also known: 13 September. Back issues flaring up: Unknown, random intervals. Also unknown: possible memorial service for my girlfriend who died last Saturday. Also unknown: if and when to schedule whatever answer new ortho-dude comes up with, surgery is a strong possibility. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 08/29/2023 12:41 PM Oh FSM, I am so sorry for your loss. Going over the mailing list can hypothetically be done online, so during post-Capclave semi-quarantine is feasible. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 08/29/2023 12:43 PM yes November 28, 2023 Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 11/28/2023 3:05 PM And the autumn has turned out pretty horrible for me, not so much medical, but I am without transport. Both of our vehicles are pretty badly disabled (missing bits, crumpled body parts) and need help getting to a shop once we can pay for the tows and the repairs. Going over the mailing list with @Poryshkin | Con Chair totally slipped my mind. Diamond Mystic -- 11/28/2023 3:11 PM @Poryshkin | Con Chair Just seeing that last message from you--best of luck with your health, and I am so very sorry for your loss. December 17, 2023 Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 1:18 PM T minus 42 minutes and counting. (I'm corrently in another meeting on Slack but will break off for this one when the time comes) DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 1:34 PM Multitasking Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 1:36 PM I did sent out invites to the Warners last night, and have issued another another invite a few minutes ago, at the request of the potential member. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:00 PM It's now just gone 2, [and time for the penguin on top of your television set to explode] DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:00 PM [eye] Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 2:01 PM Present. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:01 PM Adsum. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:02 PM Neithere here nor there, as usual Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:02 PM Agenda: Set next meeting date Review action items from minutes Officer reports - treasurer, membership, website, etc Officer nominations How to rebuild the organization Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:03 PM Present Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:03 PM I think we have enough people present to get going. I'll call this meeting to order (hah!) We need to meet in January to elect officers. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:04 PM I'd like a pizza with anchovies. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:04 PM The 13th of January is RIght Out for me. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:04 PM Any weekend except the last one works for me. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:04 PM For me, weekend of 13-14 and 27-28 are booked solid. 14th is a maybe. How about 6 or 7? Any preference for Saturday v Sunday? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:05 PM None here. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:05 PM Tony will be visiting on the 6-7. I can take time out for a meeting though. (Jan 6th is Brunswick Games Day, but due to Tony's visit to PA I will be skippind BGD, alas) Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:06 PM I propose Saturday, 6 January, at 2pm. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:07 PM I can work with Jan 6th at 14:00. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:07 PM Hm, didn't know BGD was still a thing. I'll change my preference to 7 January, for Justin. Other people type faster than I do. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:08 PM http://fantasymaps.com/gaming/brunswick.html Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:08 PM 7 January works for me. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:08 PM January 7 is three weeks from today. Is it dictated that we must do elections in January? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:08 PM Pretty much Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:09 PM That will get the 1Q24 meeting out of the way. We could push the next meeting after that as far as June if we wanted to. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:09 PM I can do Jan 7 1400 if need be Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:09 PM I've created a channel Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:10 PM It is traditional that January be the month of the "organizational" meeting for the upcoming calendar year. In the current circumstances I don't see that as absolutely necessary -- we could do first half of February instead -- but I have no strong opinion either way. I'm okay with Jan 7th at 1400. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:11 PM I'd have to check the bylaws to be absolutely sure, but I think they specify January. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:12 PM Under Officers (6), it does speak of terms endint at the January meeting providing the vote for their replacement. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:14 PM So, should we switch the meeting day from Saturday to Sunday? Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:15 PM I believe the channel says Sunday. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:15 PM Since you raised a good reason to do so, I made the change in the new channel. Next meeting on Sunday, 7 January, 2024. Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 2:15 PM January 7th is a Sunday Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:15 PM So it does Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:16 PM AFK for about 15 min Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:16 PM Next item is to review action items from minutes. I've managed to lose track of where the minutes are posted. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:17 PM Reminder that minutes can be found at https://www.scadian.net/evan/TSFS/ Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:20 PM Action items I'm discerning: Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:20 PM OK, I just went through them, and oh, I'll let Herveus speak Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:20 PM marilyn to edit words about memberships into something comprehsible. The web page on memberships seems to meet that. There was "do the Shared Unlimited hosting plan with Dreamhost for three years". I think that was executed. Wow. If had read to the bottom first... New Action Items: Poryshkin: Work with Jo Hogan to acquire and setup up new DreamHost account for Chessiecon Marilyn: Due: no later than Sept 17; Set up new Chessiecon website on new Dreamhost account. Action Items from April meeting: 1.2.3. 4. Marilyn: create new website instance for 2023, due: mid-summer Marilyn: Post about dues on social media Dave/Poryshkin: Update MailChimp email membership list and send a message about Dues. COMPLETED - Various: empty the store room; plan to release it April 30 Action Items from February meeting. All: Need to find someone who has an interest in leading the crowdfunding effort. Action Items from January Meeting Yakira: Call on Monday to find out if TSFS has any other obligations to the Lord Baltimore hotel. Report findings to the meeting Discord channel. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:23 PM I have taken over the hosting of theDreamhost account; I've signed up for a 3-year account, paid quarterly. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:23 PM Wow copypasta from PDF gone sideways. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:24 PM This is one readon why I go to the trouble of carefully transcribing to HTML (yes, I do it by hand) Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:24 PM Hey, at least you dont' have to code in machine language. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:24 PM BT, DT Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:25 PM says "toggle switches on the front panel" Did we hear back anything about Lord Baltimore obligations? That would be @Yakira - Volunteers and Vendors And "find somone to lead crowdfunding" seems to be dangling out there. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:26 PM I tried to talk to Yakira about meeting, I think she's majorly busy today: I have had notes from Lee, the sales dude therre, and he's been wondering if somehow we could put together an in-person for 2023. Other than that, I am not aware of any other actual obligations. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:27 PM That was the working default assumption back in January, Yakira was asked to get a definitive answer Put together an in-person for 2023? Dude, there are only two weeks left in the year... Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:27 PM OK, well, I'm not sure if she did. I'll go ahead and talk to Lee. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:27 PM OK. So update that action item to this month and tag Poryshkin with it. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:27 PM Hey, I can't type. This kis known. sub /2024 DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:28 PM You never know... Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:28 PM Let's do the Time Warp Again Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:28 PM Officer/department reports: Treasurer Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:28 PM If I suddenly had access to a time machine I have better uses for it. Probably involving large amounts of money and working automobiles. And speaking of money... (segue!) Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:29 PM OK, well, we have $2351.07 in the various accounts. This includes all the recent supporting memberships, accounts for payment of the PO Box, but doesn't include the ASCAP license. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:30 PM Have we accounted for the ASCAP licensing fee in our estimate of ongoing annual expenses? Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:31 PM I'm here but need to catch up. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:31 PM ASCAP people can't seem to get the message that we're not doing in-person for 2024. BUT if we're going to try to hold something online for 2024, we would still need an ASCAp license. That decision would probably be best covered in the "rebuilding" portion of the meeting to come. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:31 PM How much is the ASCAP license Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:32 PM I'd have to look at my recordes to see exactly what I did or did not account for. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:32 PM Also have Patty Daukantis reading over my shoulder. She requested an ivite but didn't get a reply Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:32 PM Trying to work out what estimated expenses for 2024 and beyond are. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:32 PM Right now, $168+change Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:32 PM I have just sent an invite to Patty. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:33 PM That's PO Box and annualized Dreamhost costs? Anything else? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:35 PM Insurance for when we need it, taxes, rarely postage fees, that sort of thing. I have also not contacted an actual, official tax lawyer-to spark memory $1500 was authorized for that. I've been holding off spending that money for well, lack of money. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:35 PM That will be good for next time. Thanks Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:36 PM You bet. She lives here over the garage. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:37 PM Odd, she's the person I mentioned just before the meeting, thatI had sent an invite to (by mail) : also an f-request so I could send her an invite by Discord DM. But that was only this morning, she may not have seen either by now. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:37 PM Since we are Discord friends, it was easy to do. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:37 PM We are at a party. She didn't bring her phone. So no hurry. I'm multitasking the party and this meeting. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:38 PM OK. I think that covers Treasurer. Marylin: website? Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:38 PM I set up a generic website for 2024 The past chessiecon.org websites are still accessible We can use that website to post whatever news we have. That's all I have on the website. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:42 PM Thanks. Registration: Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:44 PM brb, I need to hit the Little Euphamisms Room Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:44 PM As of December 1st we had 9 supporting memberships for 2023-24: Herveus, Marilyn, Poryshkin, myself, Dr G, Eva Whitley, Emil Volcheck, Brent Warner, and Cris Doria-Warner. There's been no action on Paypal nor Square since then; I cannot speak to any checks that were mailed in and received after 1 December. I am not against extending the deadline for 2023-24 memberships if folks want to do that. I've also been contemplating whether lowering the cost of a supporting membership might bring in more people, enough to offset the lowered fee... e.g. if supporting memberships were $11 (instead of $21) would we get 20 or more people? Also, with the numbers as low as they are I have not yet tried to stand up a new membership database. That's a project for 2024 when maybe I'll have more spoons (and other resources). DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:49 PM What is the incentive for people to get supporting memberships other than nostalgia? Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:49 PM Exactly! Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:49 PM That's a bit of a conundrum. Technically, the chief benefit is being able to vote at meetings. (IIRC, It's a prerequisite but not the only one) Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:50 PM Well, for one, maintenence of the organization tot he point where we coudl start holding some form of Convention again. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 2:52 PM If we can't convince enough people to support TSFS, then it could also be a sign that it's time to lay it down. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:53 PM In reality, how many supporting memberships would we need to even think about holding a convention? I would think we need a $5k - $10k nest egg to get a hotel. Even at $21 each, that's 250+ supporters Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:54 PM I have been thinking that TSFS has outlived its purpose. It is just nostalgia now. We don't have a core of poeple to run any event. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:55 PM An in-person convention would cost considerably more than $21 per capita. We'd still need 200+ people though, by my guess. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:55 PM I'm not comfortable holding an in-person without about $20K, actually. But trying for an online convention again is still an outside possibility. I think Herveus is right, though, that's pretty much a matter of trying to get more support from the wider s/ff fan base. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:55 PM An online convention could be run at considerably less cost, but we'd need people. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 2:55 PM Women are quite successful in the genre now. Winning the top categories in the Hugos for the past 7 years or more. It's hard to justify our purpose. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:56 PM Therre are also reasonable counter-arguments. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 2:58 PM I'm involved with quite a few cons that have been doing online, and most of them are moving away from any virtual stuff. Boskone is almost totally eliminating it. Albacon plans to keep it. Philcon has none. Balticon will have some streaming. This is mostly because of a dwindling audience for virtcons. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 2:58 PM Useful data Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 2:59 PM What I've been seeing on a wider range is that cons the size of Chessiecon are either going all-online or just shutting down. Conventions with more than 700 people, OTOH, are eliminating the virtual parts. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:00 PM Also useful data Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:00 PM I could see one day inperson events with writing workshops etc. to encourage women writes. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:01 PM I'd certainly consider that a possibility Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:02 PM Weren't one-day events all the rage before the bigger regional cons got established? Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:02 PM Darkover started as a one-day con. (Disclaimer: that was in the 1970s) Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:03 PM So how might we get there? What would it take to be able to do something like this? Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:03 PM Very short answer: People. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:05 PM Which leads to the question: how do we get people? Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:05 PM I had hoped to stir some interest with my Facebook memories posts. Maybe pull some people out of the woodwork. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:06 PM Brunswick Games Day works as a one-day event, but it's not a fair comparison, in part because it's got such low overhead (Karl can get the site for free or very cheap, it's owned by the town Karl lives in) and in part because it's all one big room and the gamers know to keep the noise level down for everyone's sake. BGD's people needs are basically people to run games, plus a small handful of setup and teardown crew. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:07 PM I do remember going to a few one-day events back in the mid-70s, befor I got into Fandom proper. At least one of them set up somethign at their local library. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:08 PM One-day events could potentially be held at a library, or a college campus. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:09 PM Recalling a conversation at Capclave, getting the meeting room at a local library is not so trivial these days, especially in the lead time needed. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:10 PM AFAIK, doing somethign on a college campus requires sponsorship from the College students, or student organization. Means figuring out how to reach out to college students, somethign I am not at all opposed to. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:10 PM We had a ukulele event at the big room in the Giathersburg library a month ago. Lead time was 4-6 months, cost was $400-$500 Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:13 PM Not all colleges require student sponsorship, particularly on days when building usage is expected to be low. But having a student group certainly helps. For example, though not really useful to us, the existing W&M Science Fiction & Fantasy Club would be able to co-sponsor an event on the W&M campus. I'm totally unclear on the existence of analogous organizations at colleges within our "radius". Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:14 PM Tehre at least used to be a Science Fiction Society at U of Md. Taht's how LUMSFS in exile started. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:14 PM What exactly would we do during a one-day, one-room event? Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:15 PM I honestly figured on more than one room for us. (One room works for gaming, not so much for, say, writing workshops) Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:16 PM Two rooms: Dealer; music. Panels/workshops Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:16 PM Well, we officially bill ourselves as an educational literary organization: we could do writing workships, poetry readings, story/book/music showcases, that sort of thing. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:18 PM What sort of size would we be aiming at? DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:18 PM [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] [spoon] Do any of us have the spoons to create and organize such a thing? Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:18 PM Each of which could have a different intended/expected size of target audience. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:18 PM That is the critical question. Goes back to Evan's point: we need people. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:19 PM Judging by the number of supporting memberships, we ain't got that. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:19 PM True Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:19 PM And that leads to the question: how do we get them Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:20 PM Speaking only for myself, my finances are such that I can't afford to pay for events that aren't guaranteed. Sorry. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:20 PM I have a feeling that a lot of people are in that exact position. Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:20 PM I only went to one con this year (Philcon). Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:21 PM I'm in that boat. I went to one or two cons this year. (TCEP counts. I guess KWHSS technically counts but it also kinda doesn't.) Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:22 PM We are no close to the answer about people than we were a year ago. Darkover/Chessiecon never had a fan club behind it, just a friends of a dynamic leader. It doesn't have that anymore. I'm ready to let it rest in peace and enjoy the memories. Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:23 PM I did go to two PRSFS picnics, one PRSFS party, and one VWS party this year. None of which cost me anything (except transportation for the ones I didn't walk to or get a ride to). Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:25 PM If we want to sponsor/hold anything in person I suspect we have to think small and cheap, things that don't require a lot of monetary layout but can be done mostly by use of people's time -- and market it to folks (preferably younger ones) with more time than money. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:26 PM Maybe a better idea is to sponsor some events at another con, like some womens' literary events or other writing things at Balticon or Philcon Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:27 PM Lots of people no longer attend Balticons. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:28 PM Since a lot of us are involved in Balrticon and/or Capclave, and a few maybe in Philcon, that sounds like a great idea. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:30 PM Keith has no idea about Balticon attendance. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:30 PM Though I am curious about what form the 'sponsorship' would take: paying for a featured artist/writer/musician membership, transportation & food at a local convention, or something like that? Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:30 PM We could use our financial resources to sponsor activities. Bring the Turkey Award to another Con where it could be appreciated, for example. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:33 PM Both the above are good. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:35 PM Would the Turkey Awards play well in a Balticon context? DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:35 PM I suspect they would. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:35 PM Overall, thought, there was a general question I implied earlier, Im make explicit now: It seems to be the general mood of the people present that we should not try to go for an event either in-person or online for 2024, and therefore, I should tell the ASCAP people, "no, thanks" Is that accurate? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:36 PM I think they would play well at either or both of Balticon or Capclave. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:36 PM I think so. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:36 PM I think money to ASCAP at this point makes no sense Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:36 PM So noted. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:39 PM What other things would be distinctively Chessiecon that we could export? Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:39 PM Other that that though we also seem to have have advanced a few idea of where to go from here. May I gently suggestion that we wrap up the meeting, and further discussion of if/where/how to move forward, and I will note, Marilyn's idea that we simply can't realistically do so in part of that larger discussion, be move to the mailing list? Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:40 PM I agree. I think this has been a constructive piece of "where do we go next?" DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:40 PM Good idea, we kick some interesting ideas around Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:40 PM How about we move on to Officer Nominations. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:40 PM Chessiecon has always had a larger than most conventions, at least porportionally, music influence. I think there's some value in continuing that, as well. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:41 PM I am willing to continue as President. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:41 PM I am willing to continue as Secretary. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:41 PM I nominate everyone that is willing to keep doing what they are doing. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:41 PM I cannot continue as Vice-president, sorry Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:42 PM I've been pushing in Capclave meetings to bring back some filking & other music programmign for example. Might tie in with the sponsorship idea, but again, we can move that to list discussion. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:42 PM That's okay, and thank you for your service in that capacity. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:42 PM Understandalbe, and thank you for what you've done. Other than that, I can state my willingness to continue serving as Treasurer. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:44 PM Joanna Dionne's term as trustee ends this time around. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:45 PM Ah, can you contact here to see if she's willing to continue in that capacity? DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:45 PM Judging by the frazzle-ness of her postings on FB, she probably does not want to renew, But its worth asking. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:45 PM On the phone right now. She is willing to be renominated. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:47 PM I so move. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:47 PM OK, I'll talk to a couple of other people about possibly serving as Vice-President. Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:50 PM OK. So the slate stands at: President: Michael Houghton (Herveus) Vice President: TBD Secretary: Dave Montuori (Evan) Treasurer: Sam Hogan (Poryshkin) Trustee term ending in 2027: Joanna Dionne Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:54 PM Second Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:55 PM That's sufficient; a motion is not needed, I think. We have a slate of officers (mostly) for January. I think we've covered the agenda. Does anyone have anything else we need to discuss today? Or do I have a motion to adjourn? DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:56 PM So moved Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:56 PM Second Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:56 PM All in favor harumph Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:56 PM Harumph! Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:56 PM Harumph DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:57 PM Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarumph. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:57 PM Harumph Herveus | Con Ops -- 12/17/2023 3:57 PM The President exercises his privilege to vote: harumph. Thank you for coming. This meeting is adjourned. See you in January. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:58 PM Later, all. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:58 PM We appear to be officially adjourned, with the next meeting in 2 weeks, 6 days, and 22 point small change hours. Marilyn Mix | Website -- 12/17/2023 3:58 PM I'll write up the minutes this week. Happy Holidays. DrGandalf -- 12/17/2023 3:58 PM Good Yule to all. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 3:58 PM Happy Holidays to everyone (whichever ones you celebrate). Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:59 PM As always, I'll email the transcript. Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:59 PM Happy Yulchanukahmaszaayear Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 3:59 PM Thank you, always very helpful Keith Lynch -- 12/17/2023 3:59 PM Happy Halley's comet return. (It just started on its way back toward the sun.) Poryshkin | Con Chair -- 12/17/2023 4:00 PM Interesting tidbit, I was unaware. Dave/Evan(damont) | Registration -- 12/17/2023 4:00 PM Yeah, the math works out. TBH, as I don't expect to live long enough to see its return to Earth visibility, I'd simply forgotten it as a current events sort of thing