Updates: Programing for The Great Discworld Fan Meet At Sasquan

Greetings all,

We've been in touch with Sasquan (WorldCon 2015) about the Discworld panels we'd like to see offered there for The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at that convention.  We have suggested, among others, the ever popular NADWCon panels titled "The Science of Discworld" and "The Tech of Discworld", "The Women of Discworld" and "Folklore, World Myths, Ancient Legends and The Discworld".

Are there classes, panels, events, or meets you'd like to see there, either for kids or adults? Let us know using the link noted below.

We can and will suggest the names of interesting people (many of them folks you might know from previous NADWCons) for these panels and events AND we are always looking for new people who can add to our sum of Discworld knowledge.  So don't be shy, step up and offer your skills.

Over the next few months we will be working closely with the Chair of Events and the Chair of Programming for Sasquan.  We will gather names and recommend folks for *every* Discworld panel and event until May 1st, 2015 (which is the programming cut off date).  If you wish to be included on a panel - or want to suggest some good ideas - please use the Sasquan Program Idea form:

http://sasquan.org/program/idea-form/ 

This is what you will see: 

SASQUAN PROGRAM IDEA FORM:

Have an idea for Events or Program? Drop us an E-mail. We’re eager to hear what you’ve liked at conventions.

Worldcons are always interested in ways to innovate new kinds of Program and Events. Currently, we have panels, videos, dances, parties, workshops, contests, game shows, concerts, Masquerade, Hugo Awards Ceremony, readings, autographings… Over the last few years, a film festival and Strolling with the Stars have been added to the Worldcon schedule. Between now and September 1, 2014, we’d like to get con attendees to think a little about new types of Program or Events we could add.

We’re also looking for new topics and panelists for Program, and can take topic/panelist suggestions until May 1, 2015.

This idea form can help you reflect on what you’ve liked about recent conventions, and what you’d like to see Sasquan try to do in 2015.

TO FILL OUT THIS FORM, PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK: 

http://sasquan.org/program/idea-form/

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Your Name

Your Email

What Was the Best Event or Program Item You Saw at a Recent Convention?

Why?

Who Were the Best Event or Program Participants You Saw at a Recent Convention?

Why?

If You've Attended a Recent Worldcon, What's the One Change You'd Like to See for Sasquan Events or Program?

What's the Optimal Length for a Panel?  

60 minutes
90 minutes

Suggest a New Type of Event or Program

Suggest an Idea for a Panel Topic

Suggest Participants for this Panel

Any Other Comments for Events or Program?

TO FILL OUT THIS FORM, PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK: 

http://sasquan.org/program/idea-form/

Thank you,

Dj Connell
Chair, The Great Discworld Gathering at Sasquan
Chair, NADWCon Steering Committee
Founder, Seamstress Guild of North America
Co-Founder, Dark Clerks of North America
Blah, blah, blah, Ginger

Art: Death Playing Guitar by Paul Kidby www.paulkidby.net

We R Igors - 2015 Discworld Calendar

Good news: The new Discworld Calendars, from Gollancz will be available from The Discworld Emporium in August of this year.  

The Discworld Emporium writes:

As any Igor will tell you, ‘What goeth around, cometh around’. This excursion into Pratchett’s world of the Igors has taught us more about anatomy, and indeed ‘re-cycling’, than one could possibly have wished to know. Regardless, we’re delighted to share it with you in this little tome. Hopefully it will have you in thtitcheth!

The Gollancz announcement states that 

The Discworld Diary 2015 is the most lavishly illustrated Discworld diary Gollancz has ever produced – full-colour throughout for the first time – and is published in hardback on the 21 August 2014.

Time to do some Hogswatch shopping ....

Enjoy,

D. 

Programming for The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan

Programming for The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan in 2015

As many of you know, the World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention takes place in London in 2014. In 2015, it will be in the U.S. and it's called Sasquan. There is going to be a Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan in August of 2015.

Sasquan has asked us to offer Discworld and other programing ideas for this WorldCon, which will host 5,000 or more attendees from all over the U.S., Canada and the world. If you wish to offer DW or other programing ideas, here is the form to use: http://sasquan.org/program/idea-form/
 
You don't have to buy a membership in order to give suggestions. If you have been to a NADWCon or other DW con please let them know what these cons offered that you enjoyed. (Excepting Terry and Rob, of course, as they can't make it). We know you folks have many skills, a lot of experience, and a wealth of ideas, and now would be a a great time to share these.

Sasquan takes place in Spokane, WA., a gorgeous area in the Pacific Northwest. It is on the west coast of the United States, about 4 hours drive from Seattle, WA. For more information about this convention, please visit http://sasquan.org/

Spokane is a great city with an international airport. For more information about Spokane, WA, please visit http://www.visitspokane.com/

Various North American Discworld Guilds will be joining us in organizing and hosting DW fan events and these include:

The Seamstress Guild (famous for it's parties, it has many decorators, costumers and performers among it's members), the Cunning Artificers (arts & crafts), Musicians (all kinds), Printers & Engravers (our writers and editors), the Dark Clerks (folks who like to organize both paper and people behind the scenes), our fabulous Bakers (lovers of food and drink who may be leading some of our pub crawls), the Witches & Wizards (cunning men and women who love history, myth and folklore), the Librarians (DW book lovers and knowers who often run the DW pub quizes), the various DW Family Groups, the Black Ribboners (DW folks in recovery), and more. 

We hope to see you there,

Dj 
Chair, Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan 2015
Founder, Discworld Seamstress Guild of North America, Est 2001
@ItBodes on twitter 
Yada, yada, yada, Ginger 

Art: Dragons by Paul Kidby, www.paulkidby.net - used with permission 

Announcing the Dates and Location for the North American Discworld Gathering in 2015

The world is made up of four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. This is a fact well known even to Corporal Nobbs. It's also wrong. There's a fifth element, and generally it's called Surprise.

-- Terry Pratchett, The Truth

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are two things you need to know before we announce the location of the 2015 North American Discworld Gathering:

#1 Sir Terry Pratchett is not able to be with us in person this time, as much as he might like to. Terry and Rob's international travel schedule has changed substantially, and he is focused on his writing, and on forthcoming projects.

Your best chance of seeing Sir Terry in person is to attend the International Discworld Convention in 2014 in Manchester, England, August 8-11, 2014. 

Update 7/4/2014  Sadly, Sir Terry has just announced that he cannot now attend the UK con. 

#2  There is no seed money available to help fund another NADWCon.  As some of you know, NADWCon 2011 did not make a profit, and it appears that NADWCon 2013 did not, either. 

A number of people worked very hard on those last two NADWCons.  Those of you who have served in the convention trenches will know how hard it is to put on a good, 1,000 person event, let alone one that makes any money.

Many of the fans who’ve been volunteering at NADWCon from the very beginning had imagined that each NADWCon would help construct a solid foundation which would, in turn, support future cons, but things don't always work out as well as we could wish.  (1) 

Given this news I've just shared, the 2014/2015 team knew that producing another NADWCon in 2015 was going to be a challenge.  So, here is where things stand today:

Drum Roll Please .....   

  

Many of you guessed right: Seattle was the chosen venue.  (Note the past tense).     

and...

We've been discussing dates for this event that ranged from late summer to early fall because we did not wish to compete with our friends at Norwescon; a fantasy and science fiction convention that takes place in Seattle every Spring.  

Then this happened .... 

Oh, look! Is that a Quantum Butterfly?

An experienced, fun-loving, and collaborative core group of volunteers was deeply engaged in planning when WorldCon, Inc. announced that Spokane, WA had won the 2015 bid for the World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention.  This meant that most of the talent and volunteers on the west coast would now focus their time, resources and attention on that event.  Add to this the fact that many of our NADWCon attendees also go to Worldcon; we cannot ask them to fly out to the same location twice in one year.  

In light of these circumstances we have decided not to hold a NADWCon but to hold A Great Discworld Gathering at WorldCon in 2015.  This WorldCon's official name is Sasquan.  

Sasquan will take place in Spokane, WA on August 19th - 23rd in 2015. 

They know we're coming:

The Planning Committee is in touch with the organizers of Sasquan.  Our job now is to support this large, international convention, and make sure that our Discworld friends have fun while they're there. Our first question to Sasquan was, "How can we help?".

The North American Discworld Guilds are on board, including the Seamstress Guild (extroverted, costume loving party givers) led by their talented Director Missy Hayes. (2)  Also with us are the the Dark Clerks (highly organized folks who like to run things backstage), the Printers and Engravers (writers and editors), the Cunning Artificers (arts and crafts), along with musicians, various family groups, and other North American guilds to be named later.

We're planning the Seamstress Guild parties (oh, those parties!), and - pending Sasquan’s approval, where needed - various Discworld meets, panels, classes, arts and crafts, pub crawls, kids events, and lots of fun across this great con for all our Discworld friends.  

In a way, this will be like leaving little Lancre to visit Ankh Morpork.  You might want to bring The Luggage. 

You can buy your membership to Sasquan, at their 2015 WorldCon website:

PLEASE NOTE: 

* Sasquan attendees can't book hotel rooms for this con until late summer or early fall of 2014.  (See the Sasquan website for details)

* More information about our Discworld events at Sasquan will be forthcoming at our website (nadwcon.org), through social media, and via a newsletter.

That’s all, folks. You now have over fifteen months to make your arrangements.  (3)  We're going to have a great time. We hope you can join us.

The 2015 Planning Committee

Endnotes:

(1) NADWCon 2009 (the very first NADWCon) was well organized, well attended, great fun, and nicely profitable.  The majority of those profits (money raised through ticket and merchandise sales, not including the funds raised for Terry's two charities) were kept by our Arizona hosts, Leprecon, Inc.  We understand that some seed money was given to one of the NADWCon co-founders, and we believe that she made these funds available to NADWCon 2011 (for which she served as a senior staff member).

(2) The North American Seamstress Guild was initially founded by Yours Truly in 2001 to create and host a party for Terry at ConJose, a Northern California-based WorldCon, where he was an Honored Guest. We produced this event with the kind support of that con's chair, who is also a friend of Terry's.

Later on, at Terry's request, and with the support of the two ladies who founded NADWCon, and much invaluable help from our fabulous guild members, we designed, organized and hosted the Opening Night Gala for Terry and 600 of our friends at the first NADWCon in 2009.

I asked Missy Hayes to serve as the guild's Director in 2010, and she has proved to be an outstanding leader and manager.  Under her direction the Seamstress Guild threw marvelous parties every night at NADWCon 2011, and they provided over 75% of the volunteers for NADWCon in 2013.

(3) Costumers: On Your Mark. Get Set. Sew! 

Art: Magnus & Loki by Sarah Clemens, ClemensArt.com

Clues as to the location of the 2015 Discworld Event

We've been giving out clues as to the location of the 2015 Discworld event on the official NADWCon Facebook page:

The Death Coffee Grinder (seen below) was Hint #1 as to the location of the 2015 Discworld event.  Fans have since had a lot of fun guessing in the comments section.

The art at the top of this page was hint #2. It gave an idea as to location and time of year. Oddly enough, some people seem focused on the lighthouse on the left hand side.  One clever duck looked up the artist, and found out that the title of this piece is Sasquatch Summer.

Well done.

Dj

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P.S.

We haven't been able to post the event information until just recently.  Nor could we say why that was. Understandably, the Discworld fans are anxious to know more, and they want to be able to make plans.  These notes below were posted at the FB and Twitter pages earlier in the month.

This note was posted to the NADWCon Facebook page on April 5th:

Things You Should Know: Events outside our control have made it impossible for us to comment on plans for 2015 until just recently. (Work has been going on behind the scenes for the last nine months and we have been communicating with the fans via social media.) The official announcement is planned for April of 2014.

PLEASE NOTE: It is not possible to book a hotel room at the event site until later in the year. We promise to make our announcement in time to give potential attendees well over a year to plan.

We have taken contact info from all those who have volunteered to help thus far, and we are very grateful for everyone's enthusiastic support and patience.

This note was posted to NADWCon FB page on April 9th:

Hi folks. We'd like to thank you all again for your patience and support. As we've said, we had hoped to make our 2015 announcement back in January but events outside of our control made that impossible. As we speak, the Planning Committee is working to solve problems that are none of their making. PLEASE NOTE: If it weren't for these folks, there wouldn't *be* a North American Discworld event in 2015. So please continue to be patient, and please also keep in mind that these people are Discworld fans just like everyone here. Each of them is a volunteer who is working diligently for the benefit of all the Discworld fans in North America. They will receive nothing but your thanks in return for the many hundreds of hours worth of work they put in before, during and after this event.

Regards, and Happy Spring to all here.

(Lots of really nice comments came in, especially after we made that last announcement - I heart Discworld fans)

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