WESTERCON PORTLAND JULY 1-4, 2016 Bridging Science & Imagination First Class to the Moon, Theresa Mather WESTERCON CONALOPE JULY 1-4, 2017 TEMPE, AZ LEPRECON 43 Artist Local Artist Special Artist Julie Dillon Tom Deadstuff Larry Elmore Local Author Filk Toastmaster Gini Koch Tim Griffin Weston Ochse We’re branding our 2017 event ConAlope just so we can have fun with our theme of aliens, as we commemorate the 70th anniversary not only of Westercon but also of the crash landing of a UFO (or a military surveillance balloon) at Roswell, NM on 8th July, 1947. We suggest that the aliens rode west on jackalopes to Arizona and may well make an appearance at Westercon! As Westercon 70 is being sponsored by Leprecon Inc, it will also be LepreCon 43. LepreCon is a general science fiction convention with a special focus on art. It also incorporates CONflagration, a gaming event. The convention hotel is the Tempe Mission Palms and room rates have been locked at just $109 per night! Background artwork by Julie Dillon WESTERCON CONALOPE JULY 1-4, 2017 TEMPE, AZ LEPRECON 43 Artist Local Artist Special Artist Julie Dillon Tom Deadstuff Larry Elmore Local Author Filk Toastmaster Gini Koch Tim Griffin Weston Ochse We’re branding our 2017 event ConAlope just so we can have fun with our theme of aliens, as we commemorate the 70th anniversary not only of Westercon but also of the crash landing of a UFO (or a military surveillance balloon) at Roswell, NM on 8th July, 1947. We suggest that the aliens rode west on jackalopes to Arizona and may well make an appearance at Westercon! As Westercon 70 is being sponsored by Leprecon Inc, it will also be LepreCon 43. LepreCon is a general science fiction convention with a special focus on art. It also incorporates CONflagration, a gaming event. The convention hotel is the Tempe Mission Palms and room rates have been locked at just $109 per night! Background artwork by Julie Dillon 4 Contents Letter from the Chair........4 Westercon 69 Policies........4 Hours of Operation........6 Get Connected: WESTERCON Electronic Program........6 PORTLAND JULY 1-4, 2016 Activities & Events........7 Bridging Science & Imagination GEAR Con......11 ConCom.......13 Site Selection.......13 Westercon 69 Artists.......15 Westercon 69 Dealers......15 John Scalzi......16 When the Yogurt Took Over......17 Author Guest of Honor Bobak Ferdowsi......19 John Scalzi Theresa Mather......21 Science Guest of Honor David D. Levine......22 Bobak “Mohawk Guy” Ferdowsi Westercon and Me......21 Alexander James Adams......25 Artist Guest of Honor Charles Stross......26 Theresa Mather No, Mr Bond......27 Theresa Mather......21 Fan Guest of Honor Westercon Bylaws......34 David D. Levine Panelist Bios......40 Filk Guest of Honor John Andrews Memorial Worldcon Scholarship......43 Alexander James Adams Clayton Memorial Special Guest Medical Fund......45 Charles Stross Endeavour Award......46 Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund......47 Westercon 69 Membership......56 Souvenir Book Design by Meredith Cook www.mulchmedia.com Photo by Samuel John Klein Designer and Blogger • The ZehnKatzen Times 5 zehnkatzen.blogspot.com Child Policy Letter Convention All children must be registered with the convention and all children pur- from chasing memberships must be accom- Policies panied by an adult. the Westercon 69 and Oregon Science Children ages 5 and under are admit- Fiction Conventions, Inc. (OSFCI) ted to the convention without charge Code of Conduct and will be issued a badge that must be Chair kept with the child (or a nearby diaper Welcome to Westercon OSFCI does not tolerate discrimi- bag, for example) rather than with one 69! We have a fantastic nation or harassment of any kind, in- of the parents. The child must be under cluding but not limited to physical as- the supervision of an adult at all times. group of guests of sault, battery, deliberate intimidation, honor. John Scalzi, Children ages 6-12 are admitted at stalking or unwelcome physical contact. half the adult price and may operate Bobak Ferdowsi, Theresa This policy applies to your interactions Mather, Charlie Stross, independently as long as they cause no with fellow con-goers, program partic- problems. Those not capable of operat- David D. Levine, and ipants, hotel employees, and guests of Alexander James Adams ing responsibly on their own must be the hotel. kept under adult supervision. are wandering through Be respectful of and courteous to- All children 12 or under must be un- the convention for wards others. If you have graduated der direct adult supervision after 8 PM. the weekend. If you want to meet them, from kindergarten, we expect you to Children 8 and over may work as con- you’ll seldom have a better chance. (Do be understand that you need to ask before vention volunteers, but those ages 8-11 respectful, though. We’re keeping them you touch and that “no” means “no”. may do so for no more than 4 hours per busy.) If someone tells you “no” or “go away”, day. Those ages 12-16 may do so for no your business with them is done. more than 6 hours per day. Our partnership with GEAR Con has Violation of this policy may result in taught me much about the world of action by the con committee ranging Steampunk. Be sure to visit the Power from warnings to having your badge Masks Policy Station upstairs with its 350,000 volt replica revoked with no refund, and the deci- The hotel requires that no facial masks of Nikola Tesla’s eponymous device, the sion of the event chair is final. Action be worn in the lobby area, hallways and Tesla Coil. If anyone needs me, I’ll probably by the convention in no way precludes other public areas for security reasons. be there myself. the injured individual or the hotel from Masks are allowed in the Masquerade As always, making Westercon possible is pursuing whatever remedies, civil or and the Masquerade Green Room. In a labor of love. Many hands, light work, as criminal, they see fit. addition, people wearing full face paint they say. If you find yourself with a couple of After the event, OSFCI may take will not be served alcohol in the restau- spare hours, please consider volunteering. further action, including banning you rant or bar. (They have to be able to tell Volunteer hours count toward the volunteer from further events. whether you and your ID match.) For Please note that other behaviors, in- raffle. everyone’s comfort, please keep these cluding but not limited to destruction rules in mind. It’s been a long road since the bid was of hotel property, can also result in the born in December of 2013. There are several actions described above. Weapons Policy people without whom I couldn’t have done A copy of the procedures for enforce- it. Meredith Cook, MeiLin Miranda, Patty ment of this code are available on the The wearing and carrying of weapons Wells – I’m looking at you. My Vice Chair OSFCI web site at http://osfci.org/ will not be permitted, except as part of Elizabeth Vann-Clark has kept me sane for code.html. a Masquerade contestant’s costume, or the past year, and my beloved Theo knows If you feel have been harassed, as part of other designated events, and how to scrape me off the ceiling as needed. please find the nearest Westercon 69 then only during the event, or in transit To all of you, and to the dozens more who volunteer, identifiable by a maroon to and from the event. badge ribbon with gold and silver let- The use of a weapon as part of the have dedicated time, brains and heart to Masquerade must be approved by the the cause… thank you. tering. Alternately, please contact the Information Desk in the lobby, the Masquerade Director prior to the event. -Lea Rush Office staff in the Halsey room during Failure to comply is grounds for imme- Westercon 69 Chair operating hours, or call 503-877-3431. diate expulsion from the convention. The convention officer on duty will The Westercon 69 Committee de- help you. Note that falsely reporting fines as weapons any object designed harassing behavior is in itself a harassing to cause bodily harm, or any replica of behavior under this code of conduct. such an object and any other object the Committee determines to be danger- ous. However, the Committee reserves the right to amend this definition of 6 a weapon, and the right to impound Rules:: A member of Westercon 69 Signage Policy weapons for the duration of the must register the party with the Westercon convention. 69 Party Coordinator. This person will be Westercon 69 staff and attendees Any weapons purchased in the responsible to see that the rest of the rules may only put up signage with blue Dealer’s Room must be securely are followed in their party. painters tape in the following approved wrapped and transported promptly to The responsible individual must not areas (tape MUST be on the backside your vehicle or room. be under the influence of alcohol or of signage and not visible): The Committee realizes that most intoxicants for the duration of the par- Inside Westercon 69 space (in panel people who would like to carry and ty. A contact list for the individuals re- rooms and ballrooms) wear weapons are sensible and careful sponsible for each party must be given On easels provided for signage individuals. However, the safety of con- to the Westercon 69 Party Coordinator On panel room doors when printed vention members has to be our overrid- prior to the event.