rwehavingfunyet? OR NADWCon Announcement

To all our Discworld friends,

As you may know, NADWCon recently lost some committee members in key positions due to unforeseen circumstances. Certain volunteers have stepped down recently due to Illnesses, financial difficulties or the needs of family. Fortunately, Discworld fans are a wonderfully helpful breed, and we have been able to quickly fill the gaps left behind with more folks from Wisconsin, dedicated fans from all around the country, and members from the ever-helpful Seamstresses' Guild (Always happy to lend a hand).  The North American Discworld convention is organized by Discworld fans, for Discworld fans, and we are deeply grateful for everyone's help.  We know that this is a tribute to the affection and respect they feel for Terry as well as their desire to provide a wonderful experience for those who share their love of the Discworld books. Our first and only concern is that the convention be worthy of the fans who are attending and that guy in the black hat.

Among the committee members lost was our Chair, Joshua Goes, who had to step down due to illness. After much deliberation and discussion, and by mutual agreement, a few key positions have now been shifted to make best use of the experience and expertise of our volunteer staff.

*  Emily Whitten (former Vice Chair, NADWCon 2009) will step into the role of Chair (and continue in her role as Guest Liaison)

* Our former Vice Chair, Jon Lemerond, who has been working with great dedication on this convention for two years will now be serving as Assistant to the Chair, Co-Coordinator of Ambience, and Con Webmaster.

* Marg Grady, coordinator of the excellent NADWCon2009 banquet and convention decor, and a seasoned con-runner, is now serving as our Vice Chair and Treasurer, along with her current duties as Volunteer Coordinator.

* Denise Connell, Founder and Chair of the Seamstresses' Guild, will be serving as Assistant to the Vice Chair, along with her current roles as Programming Director and Seamstresses' Guild Parties Producer.

We would also like to welcome these experienced and talented folks to our team:

David Barker (ConOps & Information Coordinator)
Barry Newton (At-Con Treasurer)
Erin Prindiville (Art Show Coordinator)
Fae Townsend (Costumers Dungeon Coordinator)
z! (Tech & Staging Coordinator; Charity Auction Co-Coordinator)

...and we extend our thanks for the continuing dedication of our current committee members, who will continue their work in these positions:

Matt Cira - Hotel Liaison; Sponsorship Director
Ray Friesen - Program Book; Staff Artist; Ambience Co-Coordinator
Matthew Gress - Movie Room Coordinator
Craig Hampton - Security Coordinator
Pat Harkin - Master of Ceremonies
Missy Hayes - Seamstresses' Guild Parties Coordinator; Charity Auction Co-Coordinator
John Ketner - Programming Director
Greg Ketter - Dealers Room Coordinator
Dave Luect - Gala Banquet Coordinator; Hospitality Suite and VIP Lounge Coordinator
Jon Manzo - Co=Guest Liaison Coordinator; Convention Advisor
Neil Miller - ConOps
Vivian Obarski - Communications and Online Publicity Coordinator
Henry Osier - Maskerade Coordinator
Katie Pennell - Pre-Con Registration Coordinator
Michelle Rehbein - Merchandise Coordinator
Ray Rehbein - Game Room Director
Bryan Sennhenn - Message Board Moderator; ConOps

Our recent staffing changes are a positive and beneficial evolution. The convention is on track. NADWCon will be a unique and very special experience for all our attendees and guests.

Our committee will be working hard in this final month and we look forward to seeing you all in Madison,

Sincerely,

The North American Discworld Convention 2011 Convention Committee

Monstrous Regiment OR Staff Changes at NADWCon

ANNOUNCEMENT from the Chair of NADWCon:

Hello all,

With our convention almost one month away the details are all coming together, but there is still much to do and the stress is starting to rise. I am very proud of all of you handling such important tasks as well as you have and it is because of those efforts that I know this convention will be a huge success. To help ensure that it all runs smoothly your Chair and Vice Chair have come to a mutual agreement in a rearranging of convention jobs. Due to his medical condition compounding lately with the stress of his position Josh and I have decided the it will be best if I, as the Vice Chair, take over his duties. So, as of today I have officially assumed the role of Convention Chair, and I would like to thank Margie Grady for agreeing to be my Vice Chair.

Thank you all for your hard work.

Jon Lemerond
Committee Chair
NADWCon 2011

*****

Our best wishes go out to Josh who made a very difficult decision for all the right reasons. We wish you good health and look forward to working with you in July.

Now, we all know that flying rumor monkeys sometimes perch in the Tower of Art so before any silliness gets started, here is the  backstory:

This is the announcement I sent out to the Seamstress Guild today:

You all know Marg Grady from the Seamstress Guild. She was in charge of Ambiance for NADWCon 2009, and she organized, designed and managed the Banquet, as well. In both case, she did a magnificent job.

Last month, Margie had took on the job of Volunteer Coordinator for this con at our request when a staff member had to step down due to an illness in his family. (1) She will now find a Right Hand or  replacement for that task (we already have some people in mind) and she is assuming her new duties as Vice Chair as we speak.

No worries, folks. You know we always have a Plan B ...and C ... and D. ...

Guild Members and NADWCon 2009 staff, Emily, Jean, Anna, Marilyn, Missy, Margie, Maggi and Yours Truly among them, are all helping/handling/advising/keeping an eye on things behind the scenes.

Emily and/or I both talk to Terry on the phone at least once a month, so he also knows that things are well in hand.

Marg Grady

Many of you know Margie, our Seamstress Guild colleague who designed and directed the banquet in 2009 as well as being in charge of ambiance for that con. Those were her "official" jobs. She did a lot more than that but I'll save *those* stories for the pub.

Emily Anna and I worked with Margie on NADWCon during 2008/09. Those of you who don't yet know her will no doubt come to value her as we do. She is not a glory hog, in fact, she spent the entire 2009 con working behind the scenes and few people knew how much her work contributed to the excellence of that event.

Margie currently serves on the NADWCon Steering Committee and she is a very busy gal so I was delighted to hear that her schedule opened up and that our Vice Chair had invited her to join us in Wisconsin.

Margie is tactful, forthright and very good at communicating. She extremely experienced in all areas of con and event planning. She works well with all types of people and skill sets and she appreciates the good work done by others. She is that rare combination of talented artist and well organized manager, and she always puts the work ahead of her ego. In Margie NADWCon is getting someone we can count on who supports what we are trying to accomplish and who will make all our jobs *a lot* easier. She sees both the details and the big picture and she exhibits great grace and good humor under pressure. She is a wonderful addition to The Watch and I'm delighted that the Wisconsin ConCom has invited her on board. (2)

I know that the members of our guild, as well as our volunteers, presenters and attendees will give her their full support as well as the benefit of their talents, experience and time. Please know how much we all value and appreciate that fact.  

Best regards to all here,

Denise Connell

Founder & Chair, North American Seamstress Guild 

Producer, Seamstress Guild Parties & Director of Programming, NADWCon 2011

The Monstrous Regiment Rides Again!

(1) The gentleman who was working as the Volunteer Coordinator before Margie came on board had to step down when his mother became ill. I'm sure I speak for all here when I say that our thoughts are with him and is family. He is still involved with the convention as Special Assistant to the Chair.


(2) My husband will once again be helping out during NADWCon as Minister Without Portfolio. Like Margie, he has many skills.


Photo from the stage production of Nation.