Pi-Con

It has been decided that all good things must come to an end. The Last Pi-Con will be 9Pi-Con: July 31-August 2, 2015 at the Hartford Airport Sheraton. Come celebrate the good times. http://pi-con.org/

Hello Pi-Con Enthusiasts!

This weekend the first-look of the programming schedule will be going out to our panelists, and we wanted to let the rest of you know that we've been busy putting together another awesome programming lineup for you this year! We have some of your favorite Pi-Con panelists returning, and we have also added some new voices to this year's group of speakers and presenters. This year's selection of entertainment will include:

• Dancing Around Time Travel
  
• Comic Books as Modern Mythology
  
• Control of Women in Science Fiction
  
• Using Fairy Tales in Modern Writing
  
• Roomba for Improvement
  
• Guest of Honor Writing Workshop
  
• and much much more!
  

To see more "sneak peek" panel topics, to check out the full list of confirmed panelists for Pi-Con 2012, to get information on hotel room reservations, registration, volunteering, and more, please check out our website at http://pi-con.org/

-Kris "Nchanter" Snyder
Pi-Con 2012 Programming Head

Hey Guys!

Hotel room reservations have opened for Pi-Con! Yay! Rooms are $99 a night, and reservations can be made online or over the phone. Full details and information are up over on our website at http://pi-con.org/hotel/

If you are thinking about hosting a party at Pi-Con, be it public or private, please make sure to fill out the innkeeper form on that page, and someone from our hotel team (probably me) will get back to you.

As always, please feel free to toss questions my way about the hotel, programming, or anything else Pi-Con!

-Kris "Nchanter" Snyder
Pi-Con Programming Head
Pi-Con Hotel Team

Brainstorming has opened for Programming for Pi-Con 2012! If you would like to join us in coming up with panel and other programming ideas for this year's convention please sign up for our e-mail discussion list at http://lists.pi-con.org/mailman/li…

-Kris "nchanter" Snyder
Head of Programming for Pi-Con 2012

Weather Update
It's looking like the worst of what is now Tropical Storm Irene will be right overhead as the con is ending. Things should clear up by evening, so consider sticking around a while.

Road Closings
The Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Connecticut are closed, as are sections of I-95 along the Connecticut coast.
No major highways are closed in Massachusetts, but there are reports of flooding on I-90 in Lee.
Everybody be careful out there.

HurriCon Programming
To keep you entertained until Irene blows over this evening, we have some additional programming items, beginning after the 3pm Feedback Session in Springfield.
Board Gaming will move to Suffield.
Ellington will have Drowned Dog filk until the hotel kicks them out.
The Con Suite will remain open through Monday morning.
Additional LARPs will begin running starting at 4pm.
Additional panels will run in Agawam and Somers. We don't know what they are yet, but you can help us pick topics.
If you have ideas for bonus programming, you can give them to Tom Traina or drop them off at The One Desk.

Pi-Con Online
You can find us on the web at www.pi-con.org
Follow us on Twitter @ piconsf
Or on Livejournal http://pi-con.livejournal.com/
Friend us on Facebook at facebook.com/piconsf
Dealers Still Dealing
Dealers' Row has not fled before the storm. They'd love to have fewer things to reload in the rain, so give them a look and see if you can help them out.

Pre-Reg for 2012!
Next year's memberships are on sale for only $25, or $35 with a t-shirt. You should definitely get a t-shirt; we don't want to schlep them out in the rain, either.

Special Thanks To:
Arisia for their ongoing support and assistance,
J. Spencer Love for his generous loan of audio equipment,
Our volunteers for helping things run smoothly,
Everybody who showed up despite the weather.

Weather Forecast
Today will be rainy and humid with a chance of thunderstorms this evening.

Irene is still on course; the eye of the storm is projected to cross the Massachusetts/Connecticut border around 2pm on Sunday. Expect tropical storm conditions for most of Sunday, with maximum windspeeds in the 50 to 70 mph range with gusts to 80 mph.

Program Corrections
Love and the Robosexual will be held Saturday at 8pm in Suffield, not Main Tent.
Cancellation: Food in Sci-Fi 6pm in Suffield
Moved: Every Generation Has Its Disease has moved from 10pm Saturday in Somers to 6pm Saturday in Suffield

Saturday Parties
This afternoon:

By Light Unseen, 2-5pm, Room 328

Tonight:
Intercon L, 8pm in Room 326
Broad Universe, Room 329
Arisia, 8pm – midnight in Room 330

Keep an eye out for Barfleet officers; the UBS Shameless is in port for the weekend.

Awesome New Music
Last year's filk guest, Tom Smith, is releasing 4 concert recordings today on his website, tomsmithonline.com.

More Games
The rest of our board game library arrived last night, so we now have a giant collection of games for you to play. The gaming room typically stays open until no one can see straight, so stop by any time to check out a new game or an old favorite.

There are also two scheduled games planned, which you can sign up for in the Gaming Room:

Fiasco, Saturday 1-4pm. GM-less tabletop RPG, no preparation necessary! Tell the story of a caper gone horribly wrong. At least two players required.

Dogs in the Vineyard, Sunday 12-3pm. Tabletop RPG, no preparation necessary! Dispense spiritual and temporal justice to the inhabitants of an isolated frontier community in the Old West. At least three players required.

Volunteers Needed
Volunteering is a fun and easy way to find out what's going on at the con, get cool freebies, earn a free membership for next year, and rack up brownie points with the con staff. We are always in need of a few extra folks to help us out. Sign up for volunteer hours at The One Desk.
Like what you see and want to get more involved? Got a great idea for how things could be even better? We're also recruiting staff for Pi-Con 2012. Talk to a staff member (wearing the blue tags on their badges) or next year's ConChair, Tom Traina.

T-shirts
Our spiffy new shirts, designed by Sarah Morrison, are on sale at The One Desk for $15. You can also earn a shirt by volunteering for the convention for six or more hours. Vintage shirts are also on sale for $5.

Weather Forecast
We're in for a pretty wet weekend; showers are likely all day Saturday, with possible tropical storm conditions on Sunday as Hurricane Irene moves in. Slice of Pi will continue to keep you updated on the latest forecast. Please take the weather into account when making your plans for departure. If you would like to extend your stay rather than brave the weather, the hotel has rooms available and will honor the Pi-Con rate for an additional night. Let the hotel know as soon as possible if you want to extend your stay.

Late Night Food
This year the hotel kitchen will be taking orders until 1:45 AM.

No Outside Food
There is no outside food allowed in the hotel function space. Only hotel food is allowed.

Internet Access
The hotel wireless code for the weekend is 698725.

Policy for Signs and Fliers
Please do not hang anything on the walls UNLESS
1) it is with blue painters tape which is not visible on the front of your sign,
2) it is on a static sheet OR
3) it is on a giant post it note.
Supplies for hanging things are available. Please ask a staff member if you want to use them.

Program Corrections
Cancelled: Guest of Awesome Reunion. Friday 7pm-8pm Suffield.

Moved: LARP 101 7pm Springfield has moved to Agawam.

Delayed: Cat Kingsgrave Concert 7pm Friday Main Tent will begin at 7:30pm.

Participant Added: Time Travel Review Board Friday 8pm Springfield will include Sandry Wilkie.

The Cutting Truth of Medieval Swords Friday 9pm-10pm Main Tent has been replaced by Medieval Combat.

Immortality and Life Extension will be held Friday at 10pm-11pm in Agawam.

Love and the Robosexual will be held Saturday at 8pm in Suffield, not Main Tent.

Participants Added: The Art of Defense 11am Saturday Main Tent will include Josh Watson, Andy Rosequist, and Bill Frisbee

Lost to the Hurricane
Foam Brain will not be vending this year.
The Labyrinth will only be open on Friday night.

Friday Night Parties
Boskone 9pm Room 327
Pajama Party 9pm Room 332

Saturday Midday Book Party
By Light Unseen 2pm - 5pm Room 328

Pi-Con 2011 will stop accepting pre-registrations at midnight tomorrow (that's Wednesday the 24th). The current pre-reg rates are $40 for a general membership, $30 for students. The link to register is http://www.pi-con.org/registration .


At-the-door rates will be $50 for a general membership, $35 for students. One-day passes will be $35 for Saturday and $25 for Friday or Sunday. There are no student discounts for a one-day membership.


Looking forward to seeing y'all this weekend!


Abby

Chair, Pi-Con 2011

This is your last chance to get a room at the Pi-Con hotel at our discounted rate of $99. Click here to make your room reservation online or call the hotel directly at 1-860-741-2211 and mention you're with Pi-Con. Once you do so, please Fill out the Pi-Con information form especially if you will be throwing a room party or have any special requests or needs (like wanting to be NEAR the parties or in a Quiet Block)

Questions can be directed to hotel@pi-con.org

-nchanter
Pi-Con Hotel Liaison

The Pi-Con room-block at the Holiday Inn Enfield is open for reservations for the next week. Make sure to book your room by August 10th to get our $99 discounted rate and a guaranteed spot in the hotel (last year the hotel was sold out Friday night) Check out www.pi-con.org/hotel for more information, to book your room online, or call the hotel directly at 1-860-741-2211. Make sure to mention you're with Pi-Con!