Voice of the Echidna The newsletter of Aussiecon 4 Issue 1 Thursday Afternoon Email: [email protected] Twitter: @EchidnaVoice Welcome! Volunteers Hospitality Update It's a Worldcon! Worldcons don't happen without lots of After a little last-minute negotiation, we We'd like to welcome everyone to volunteers. If you're not already helping can confirm that hospitality events will be Aussiecon 4, the 68th World Science out, please go along to the volunteers desk going ahead in the Crowne Plaza. They Fiction Convention! in Room 201. Remember, there are exciting prizes and special gifts on offer if you will be in the Corporate Lounge, up the — Perry and Rose work hard enough! stairs from reception, and the Bridge Rooms, down the stairs from reception. It's a newsletter! Limericks Tonight's hospitality events are: And welcome too from Voice of the In July and August, COSMOS magazine • Montreal Thank You (Corporate Echidna, the Aussiecon 4 newsletter. asked our readers to write a limerick Lounge, left) about their favourite science fiction book, We're hoping to produce two or three • Continuum 7 (Corporate Lounge, right) issues each day over the convention, but character or movie. We'll be running some of their favourites over the course of the we need your help to do it! Please let us Weapons policy have your news, program item reviews weekend. and restaurant recommendations, as well Luke knew that he shouldn't have kissed her, Please see your Pocket Program Book for as anything else that you think the but found he just couldn't resist her. the full policy, but remember that: members of the convention ought to said his Jedi insight We appreciate that many people would know! "something's not right", like to carry a display weapon as part of a The newsletter will be available online but he didn't know she was his sister! hall costume. We also concede that most (see the aussiecon4.org.au page) and on Fan Funds! people are sensible and careful paper at the convention: you'll find racks individuals. However, the risk of weapons with current and past issues by the Aussiecon 4 is pleased to welcome causing accidents or distress to other information desk on the ground floor and delegates from DUFF (John Hertz), GUFF convention members is too great. Apart just inside Room 201 on the second floor. (James Shields), NAFF (Gina Goddard) from this general concern for the well and FFANZ (Stephen Litton and Jan being of our members, Australian laws You can email us at Butterworth). now forbid the carrying of weapons of [email protected], or you can any type in almost all circumstances. send us a message on Twitter to Please make them welcome, and go along @EchidnaVoice. You can also leave news to the fan funds introduction panel on Internet access (legibly written) in the submission boxes, Friday at 1200 on Room 215. There's also which are by the distribution points. an auction in aid of the fan funds on There will be no free wireless internet at Newsletter deadlines are planned1 to be at Friday at 1600 in Room 210: remember to the con: you'll have to pay the MCEC for 0900, 1400 and 1900, but please get things take lots of money! access. to us as early as possible. Educational Facts Art! Tags Melbourne used to be called Batmania. Remember that, because of sales tax Speaking of Twitter (and, indeed, Flickr), This is because it was founded by Batman issues, the Aussiecon 4 Art Show will not those who use it are hoping that people after he arrived on the Enterprise. handle art payments. Buyers will pay for can limit themselves to using #Aus4, artwork directly to the artist or their #Worldcon and #Hugos: please don't use We did warn you that we'd have to make agent. #A4 or #Hugo, as they're far too popular up facts about Melbourne if you didn't send us contributions.... Please check your Pocket Program for already, and #Aussiecon4 is just too long! more details, or go along to the Art Show Please think about making any photos you WOOF in Room 202. upload CC licensed, so that lovely people Contributions for Aussiecon4's WOOF Among other fabulous works of art are like the newsletter team can also use Sue Mason's original Aussiecon 4 badge them! fanzine should be taken to the Con Office, Office 201. designs, with the proceeds to the Security convention. Please remember to wear your badges at all times! Food! the bog-standard Coffee Shop Round the WSFS Constitution, which will happen at Corner is likely to do a muffin/coffee Saturday's meeting. Food courts deal, or you can visit the restaurant in a New constitutional amendments will first neighbouring hotel if you want to go There are a couple of food courts near the come up at Friday's meeting, where they exploring. Melbourne is the home of the con, which are a good bet for groups will be subject to technical scrutiny and Third Wave of coffee trends, so expect a including the usual variety of fannish food may be dismissed without debate. The good range of espresso-based coffee and budget restrictions. How else can the Friday meeting is also where members wherever you go. Chai Latte is the rich, the poor, the vegetarian and the may make nominations for the WSFS alternative, a milky sweet spiced tea. carnivore, all sit down to eat together? The Mark Protection Committee, the only Unfamiliar breakfast dishes (for one we re-tested today (it was good permanent standing body of the World foreigners, anyway) include Bircher during Aussiecon 3 and is still good now) Science Fiction Society. is in the Crown casino building. Go along Muesli, which is like raw porridge and the river (through the vasty outback of the has been soaked overnight in milk, juice, Elections for the Mark Protection convention and exhibition centre, where or yoghourt. You can pay anything from Committee will be held at Saturday's lost tribes of Batmanians Melburnians $5 for a snack to $20 for a main cooked meeting. meal somewhere smart. Most places open howl in the distance) and out the other On Sunday, the Business Meeting will end. Cross Spencer Street and keep along from 0700-0730, why not go for a wander and explore? receive the official results of the 2012 the river, going in through the entrance Worldcon site selection and hear the first just before Calatrava. This is a gelateria — Fran Dowd official statements from the newly-seated with ice creams in all the colours of committee. In addition, representatives of playdoh. We await a report on the latter the 2011 Worldcon will be present for from any fan who does not live in fear of WSFS Newsletter Question Time, and bidders for future artificial additives. Mark Committee Meeting years may make presentations if time permits. Any business not otherwise — Giulia De Cesare The WSFS Mark Protection Committee, handled at Saturday's meeting will be which manages the intellectual property Kouzina resolved on Sunday. Also, at of WSFS such as the service mark on approximately 11:00, the meeting will Greek restaurant Kouzina "Hugo Award" and "Worldcon", will meet recess for the traditional Former Worldcon (www.kouzina.com.au) on Southbank at Aussiecon 4 to finalise its report to the Chairs Photo Session. (from the MCEC, walk along the Yarra WSFS Business Meeting. This meeting is past the flaming columns (oooh!) past lots open to all Worldcon members: please Although a Monday Business Meeting of restaurants, negotiate another meet outside the entrance to Room 202 at appears on the schedule, it will only be pedestrian crossing and go past the 1800 on Thursday to be taken to the secret held in the unlikely event of Sunday's Southgate food court entrance to ascend location. meeting being unable to resolve all the green metal spiral staircase. It's well business by the end of the scheduled time. — Kent Bloom worth the effort: if you like your meat WSFS Business Deadline This hasn't happened since 1992. then the mixed grill for two should do you Remember that the WSFS Business fine, and it combined nicely with a retsina The deadline for submitting new business Meeting is open to all members of too. The baklava was excellent according to this year's WSFS Business Meeting is Worldcon. Every member may attend, to my expert (nice and sweet, as opposed 1700 on Thursday. To submit new debate business, and vote, as WSFS to the disappointing version he tried last business, bring 200 copies (including an gathers for its annual "town meeting" to week in Wellington). original signed by at least two Worldcon members) to the Con Office (Office 201) discuss its fundamental governing rules. — Jan van't Ent and ask that they be set aside for Business — Kent Bloom Meeting. Even Closer? WSFS Constitutional Changes — Kent Bloom Even closer is the food court glimpsed but WSFS Business Preview Four substantive changes to the WSFS not yet tried out in the basement of the Constitution have been proposed: South Wharf shopping centre, round the The Preliminary WSFS Business Meeting back of the Hilton. Any volunteers care to is at 1000 on Friday morning in 216. • Repeal the existing initial price cap on report back? Friday's meeting deals with receiving Worldcon memberships for people who reports from WSFS committees such as the vote in Site Selection. Breakfasts 1Mark Protection Committee (MPC) and • Explicitly authorize Worldcons to By now you might have realised that the Hugo Eligibility/Rest of the World conduct Hugo Award and Site Selection breakfast isn't necessarily included in your (HEROW) committee, and sometimes elections electronically.