CONvergence Convention Committee Meeting Notes
Sunday, April 19th, 2015

Update on the ConCom Badge Survey

The two top options selected by the ConCom were:

  • Keep the badges the same (Separate badge from the Membership badge)
  • Combine the badge into one badge (the ConCom badge would also be the membership badge)

For 2015, we will be keeping the badges the same (a separate badge from the Membership badge) and consider implementing a combined badge to represent the Membership and ConCom Badge for the 2016 Convention. The ConCom Badge will gain you access to the Volunteer Den and seating in Maintage in 2015.

Hotel Department: Hotel Confirmations

Most confirmations will have gone out by now from the DoubleTree, Sheraton, and the Crowne Plaza.

Official Communication to the Public Reminder

Please remember, when creating or sending out official communication regarding departments, please do not use the abbreviated terms. The general public often does not know what the abbreviated term stands for or that it is not the official name of the department. This can often lead to communication barriers and issues.

Convergence Recruitment Sessions

Reminder that the Volunteer Recruitment Session will be taking place in Plaza 1 from 2pm-3pm.

If you are able to send a representative that is on the ConCom, they will still get credit for attending the ConCom meeting as long as they still log in. To those not on the ConCom this session will not count towards the 2 meeting requirement for voting rights.

The session will be set up in the style of an open house. Representatives from the Board will address those who attend with some information, computers will be set up to look at volunteer opportunities that we have posted online and there will be the ability to send inquires to departments via the online form. We are hoping to have a representative from several departments available to chat with those interested in volunteering about what opportunities are available and give them an idea of what volunteering for your department means/requires.

This will be the first session of this type, but we are planning on having them during the same time as the ConCom meetings for the duration of the meetings for the 2015 cycle (through the end of June).

Department Announcements

H.o.M.E. (Hospitality and Member Experience)

First Advisors:
If you have any medical concerns that you think First Advisors should know about, please contact a first advisor head or subhead privately (in person or via email). Anything you tell us will be kept confidential. Thank you!

Hotel (Resume)
The April Deadline has passed. Any Department who is unsure as to whether or not they have fully submitted their information should email resume @ convergence-con.org to double-check. If we do not have your information, you risk an empty room.

Resume will have the completed, compiled documents ready for the May Con-Com.

Resume Timeline:
*May Con-Com: Department Sign-off (Errors or omissions only are corrected). Any changes after this meeting will require Divisional Director and a Hotel Head approval.

Operations
If your department needs radios during the convention, please speak to Ops Head Doug or email opera…@convergence-con.org. We need to know how many radios your department needs. Please consider this carefully. Operations will not remind departments of the number of radios that they had allocated in 2014. Radio requests are due no later than May 15, 2015. If your department does not provide Operations with your radio requirements by this date, we will presume you have no need for radios.

If you think you will be using a radio at CON in any capacity, you will need to have radio training. Training last year or in any previous occasion does not exempt you from this requirement. As always, everyone needs to be radio trained each and every year. Training will be held during the working portion of all remaining ConCom meetings. We are also holding open Radio Training during our volunteer training sessions. ConCom members are welcome to fulfill the radio training requirement during these meetings if they cannot make the training sessions during ConCom. Additionally, if you would like someone from Operations to come to your department meeting to radio train the members of your department, please e-mail opera…@convergence-con.org.

Additional Radio Training will take place at the Waterbury Building during the following times

Friday May 1, 7:30-8 in 106A

Saturday May 9 12:30-1 in 106 A
Saturday May 23 1:00-1:30 in 107

Thursday June 4 7:00-7:30 in 107

Tuesday June 23 7:00-7:30 107
Saturday June 27 1:00-1:30 in 107

Next weekend, on Sunday April 26 there is a Social Gathering hosted by Ops. It will be at 2pm at Grumpy’s in downtown Minneapolis, so come hang out for good food and good company.

Nerf Herders
If you’re department has Gaff Tape needs and you want to be a part of our bulk order please have your needs emailed to [email protected]. The cut off date for inclusion is April 30th, 2015. Remember the more we order the less it will cost each department.

If your space needs or doesn’t need Badgers please give Nerfherders the times and locations OR let us know that our services are not required.

Consuite
ConSuite will be having ServSafe classes the first week in June for any departments or partners that wish to attend. There are two types of classes: Food handler, which is good for most instances at a cost of $20 per person; and ServSafe certified, which is good for heads of departments specifically serving food at a cost of $160 per person. Please send names and contact information for those that would like to attend to cons…@convergence-con.org.

Administration

Merchandise
Midyear T-shirts on sale before and after the ConCom Meeting.

Prices:

  • Unisex: Small-2XL $23
  • Unisex: 3XL-6XL $25
  • Womens: Small-XL $23
    Note: Womens 2XL not currently available but will be available at a later time.

Registration
Rates go up on May 15.

As of March 30th, we had 4,039 members, up 6 % from last year. Current membership number (as of 4/19/15) is 4,209.

Activities

Connie’s Quantum Sandbox

To everyone that has donated My Little Ponies – thank you for your kind donations! We still need a bunch more ponies, so if you have vinyl ponies to donate, please contact san…@convergence-con.com.

Sandbox is also looking for donations of plush animals. We are looking for animals of nearly any size – they can be new or old, loved or extra-loved. We’d prefer they were relatively clean. They will be used in a couple of art activities, so please do not donate items with cherished memories. We need a LOT of plush animals (depending on participation, we might use as many as 500) so don’t be shy – if you want to clear out your stock of old plushies, this is your chance.

Partners

GPS

Facilities work April 23-28 Volunteers Needed – Facilities has a big project coming up in April for replacing the carpeting and repainting in 106 and 106A. Volunteers are needed to help empty the rooms of stuff, patching and sanding, priming and painting, then moving everything back in place. Please sign up on the Volunteer form if you are interested in helping.

Auction Donations Are Being Accepted – We’ve got upcoming auctions at both CONsole Room (the Doctor Who convention) and CONvergence (this year’s theme is dystopia). We’ll be taking donations at CVG ConCom meetings, and can make arrangements to take them at the center. If you plan on delivering your donation to a convention, we’ll be taking them Friday and Saturday at CONsole Room, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at CONvergence. Please complete the Donation Online Submission Form so we can arrange delivery and have the bid sheet for your item ready.

Program News:

  • GPS Writing Contest – The submission deadline is almost here! Submissions will be accepted through 11:59pm May 15, 2015. For all the rules and details go to the website link.
  • GPS Space Camp Scholarship- The window for 2016 submissions will open October 1, 2015 and go through midnight December 10, 2015. The application will be posted on the website early fall. We have started a Facebook page to help get the word out, and we’ve uploaded pdf files of posters and flyers to the web site for people to print out and help spread the word.
  • GPS Arts Initiative is accepting submissions for a Group Show. Theme of Show: Dystopia
    Go to the website for submission details. Deadline for proposal submissions is May 1st at Midnight at ar…@geekpartnership.org. Replies will go out to the Artist by Monday, May 4th.

Movie “Night” Desert Dystopia Marathon and Cosplay Event

In anticipation of the release of a fourth installment of this Australian masterpiece on May 15th, we present to you a marathon of the Desert Dystopia films from director George Miller and star Mel Gibson.

Just in case you haven’t figured out the series, here are a few more hints:

  • It all starts when a vengeful Australian policeman by the name of Max Rockatansky sets out to avenge his partner, his wife and his son.
  • He Rules the Roads.
  • Then, in a post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline rich, community escape a band of bandits.
  • In the Future, Cities Will Become Deserts, Roads Will Become Battelfields and the Hope of Mankind will Appear as a Stranger.
  • And, finally, a former Australian policeman is rescued by a tribe of children when he is banished from a desert town and sent into the desert to die by the desert town’s evil queen.
  • Two Men Enter. One Man Leaves.

Movie Night would like to encourage attendees to show up in costume for this event. Start planning your outfit now and, perhaps, get a jump start on your cosplay options for July’s CONvergence gathering. Who will you come dressed as – Max Roskatansky? Aunty Entitiy? Wez? Lord Humungus? Master and Blaster?

As Always, feel free to bring a comfy chair and snacks/beverages. A limited number of items will be made available for purchase at the event.

Still not sure you’ve figured out the titles? RSVP through the Eventbrite link and get them emailed to you.

May 18 | 6:30pm – 9:30pm | GPS Arts Initiative – Figure Drawing Salon

Every third Monday of the month, the GPS Arts Initiative hosts a Figure Drawing Salon. From 6:00 until 9:00 PM, artists of all skill levels will have the chance to draw a live model and hone their craft.

The salon meets in the Classroom (106A) at Event Horizon. A small contribution will be requested to help cover the model’s honorarium. So bring your friends — the more artists join us, the smaller everyone’s contribution will need to be. For questions email ar…@geekpartnership.org.

Upcoming for GPS

  • May 15-17 – Art-A-Whirl at GPS and we need volunteers here, too. Volunteer sign up
  • May 18 – GPS Open Meeting / Election in room 107 – 4 positions, 2 incumbents (Seth Chmelik, Jeff Boucher-Zamzo). social at 6, meeting at 7

Mark your Calendars

  • June 13 – GPS Annual Picnic at Cherokee Park in St. Paul noon to 5 – YOU ALL ARE INVITED
  • June 27-28 – Geeks@Pride GPS HAS A TENT AGAIN THIS YEAR

Remaining 2015 ConCom Meeting Dates (2pm):

  • 5/16/15: Saturday, May 16th
  • 6/7/15: Sunday, June 7th
  • 6/20/15: Saturday, June 20th
  • 7/25/15: Saturday, July 25th Post Mortem