Tag Archives: Sasquan

Lou Antonelli’s BOLO Story

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Lou Antonelli poses with sign outside Hugo, Oklahoma.

Lou Antonelli poses with sign outside Hugo, Oklahoma.

This BOLO story is not about sentient tanks.

Those who listened to last week’s Superversive SF Hugo livestream already know, but the rest of the world has just learned that online discussion featured Lou Antonelli’s claim to have written a letter to the Police Department of Spokane, Washington, telling them to be on the lookout for someone who may incite violence — Sasquan guest of honor David Gerrold.

Lou J. Berger asked Antonelli if he really wrote the Spokane PD. Antonelli answered –

I said I thought Gerrold’s on-line comments were so intemperate they were an incitement to violence, which is what I believe. I wanted them to know in case there were any disruptions at the convention….

I just suggested they (the PD) be aware of the controversy and possibility of people getting, uhh, maybe too enthused.

I verified Berger’s report with Antonelli myself who agreed, “That’s the way I recalled it. If I said anything stronger than that, I don’t recall and I must have been drinking some beer at the time.”

Now Jim C. Hines has published a transcript of Lou’s quote:

I’m referring to your quote at 1:00:28 in the video linked below:

“I really didn’t know much about [Gerrold] before the Hugo nominations came out. Following his discourse and his level of discourse as a result, I personally wrote a letter addressed to the police chief in Spokane and said I thought the man was insane and a public danger and needs to be watched when the convention’s going on, and I mean it. I attached my business card. I said this guy’s inciting to violence. Somebody—a weak-minded might attack somebody because of his relentless strength of abuse. I think, honestly, I think he belongs in a secure psychiatric facility.”

Update: Lou Antonelli subsequently responded to Jim C. Hines’ Facebook post with an apology for his actions.

Thanks for your polite request for an explanation. I’ve thought about what to say, which is painful to admit.

It’s become public that on July 1st I wrote a letter to the chief of the Spokane Police Department expressing some concerns over potential security issues at the upcoming Sasquan.

I’m sorry for what I did. Without looking at the big picture I reacted in a manner that I thought I was being treated. It was stupid and wrong. My subsequent participation on a podcast was also a mistake because the environment further fueled my fear and I lashed out again.

I’m sorry I bothered the Spokane PD. They probably are ready to throw the butterfly net over ME when I enter the city. And I’m sorry and apologize to David Gerrold. He probably understands why I did what I did better than I do.

I need to ponder the hurt I have caused. To give me time to think, after Sasquan I am taking a half-year hiatus from attending any conventions and/or submitting any fiction.

I think I’ve become my own crazy uncle…

Sasquan Agenda Finalized

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Yesterday was the deadline to submit new motions to the Sasquan business meeting. Kevin Standlee says the agenda in its essentially final form will include ratification votes on four constitutional amendments initially passed at LonCon 3, eight proposed amendments to the WSFS Constitution, and five resolutions.

You can find the agenda here.

Standlee says the YA Hugo study committee will not offer a proposal but unlike last year it will report progress:

There is no proposal from the YA Award committee. After discussing it (and they’ll have a long report which will be online along with other reports before Worldcon and will form part of a huge — currently 60 page — set of Business Meeting handouts), the committee decided to ask to be continued for a year with the idea of producing something next year, particularly given the crowded agenda this year.

The YA Hugo study committee was authorized by the 2013 business meeting, after members voted “object to consideration” to a motion that would have created the category. The published list of members is here:

This new committee is chaired by Dave McCarty. The members are Jodie Baker, Adam Beaton, Warren Buff, Johnny Carruthers, Martin Easterbrook, Chris Garcia, Helen Gbala, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Tim Illingworth, Farah Mendelsohn, Sue “Twilight” Mohn, Helen Montgomery, Cheryl Morgan, Kate Secor, Kevin Standlee, Adam Tesh, Peter De Weerdt, Tehani Wessely, Clark Wierda, Lew Wolkoff, Aurora Celeste and Dina Krause.

The committee reported last year at LonCon 3 that no progress had been made but it was renewed for another year.

Dublin in 2019 Plans Local Events in Ireland

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010 COMPThe Dublin 2019 Bid Team will run a Site Selection Event for Worldcon at a popular cafe bar in Dublin called the Twisted Pepper on August 15. They recommend the tea and Guinness – there’s cake, too.

Bid volunteers and some members of the committee will be on hand to explain how bidding and voting works, why WSFS membership is important, and to encourage people to vote and get involved as Worldcon supporters. Gareth Kavanagh, who is attending Sasquan, has agreed to transport any 2017 Site Selection voting papers with him for filing at the Worldcon.

Check out the Facebook event page for the August 15 event which runs from 13.00-18.00. The Twisted Pepper is located at 54 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1.

“Dublin 2019 is keen to spread the word about of the Bids for Worldcon in 2017 and wishes all of the teams the best of luck,” says bid Secretary Esther MacCallum-Stewart.

The Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid will also be running a SFF Books Outreach at Dublin Comicon on August 8-9, giving away over 2500 free books to attendees, spreading the word about the bid, and the various different conventions currently taking place in Ireland.

Sasquan Sets New Hugo Voting Record

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Sasquan logoSasquan received a record­ 5,950 valid ballots for the 2015 Hugo Awards, surpassing the mark of 3,587 votes set last year at LonCon 3.

Nearly all voters cast their ballots online – only 36 were mailed in.

Sasquan had the highest level of participation in the past decade with over 57% of eligible members voting.

Most of the votes were cast in the final week before the deadline, over 3,000. (Approximately 2,900 votes had been submitted as of July 24.)

The new vote total record is a 65% increase over LonCon’s record.

The Hugo Award winners will be announced Saturday, August 22 at a ceremony hosted by authors Tananarive Due and David Gerrold. The ceremony will be livestreamed free of charge at http://www.ustream.tv/hugoawards. There will also be a text stream available on the Hugo Awards webpage at http://www.thehugoawards.org.

Sasquan will release the final runoff vote counts and report the nominating votes through its website at the conclusion of the ceremony.

W.O.O. F. Collation at Sasquan

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W.O.O.F, the World Organization Of Faneditors, created by Bruce Pelz for the 1976 Worldcon, will hold its annual collation at Sasquan.

Andy Hooper has set the copy count at 73, and he will accept zines by mail up to the Monday before the convention (August 17).

There also will be a box for submissions during Sasquan at the Lost World Fanzine Lounge. Hooper plans to collate the distribution during the Hugo ceremony, also in the Lounge.

Adds Hooper, “I’ll be bringing large envelopes that can accommodate A4 sized pages, and will include odd-sized contributions without stapling them. Copies will available after the ceremony and throughout Sunday at the lounge, and copies for distant contributors will be mailed within a week of the convention’s end.”

Contact Andy Hooper at fanmailaph (at) aol (dot) com.

“God Is An Iron” Funds, Will Play Sasquan

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god is an iron posterBlack Box Montreal, an independent theatre company, has succeeded in crowdfunding a production of Spider Robinson’s story God is an Iron and will perform it at Sasquan.

We’re very excited about going to WorldCon in August! We’ve secured our plane tickets, bought our passes, and our performance schedule is set. We be performing God is an Iron at Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, in Integra Telecom Ballroom 100B on Thurs, August 20th at 8:30pm, with a Q and A session to follow. See you there!

Robert J. Sawyer is enthusiastic. “I saw the Montreal Fringe version of this play in 2014, and it blew my socks off.”

They’ve started rehearsals at Black Theatre Workshop’s rehearsal hall.

After Sasquan, there also will be a 6-show run at Mainline Theatre in Montreal from September 16-20.

Last Minute Reminder About Sasquan Tours

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Several pre- and post-Worldcon tours of the Inland Northwest are offered by Sasquan but if they don’t make their minimum numbers by July 28 the tours will be canceled.

  • Come early or stay late and let the locals take you on tour of the Inland Northwest. Historic sites, parks, wineries and craft breweries are some of the area’s top attractions we’ve lined up for you. When will you have the opportunity to do this again!
  • To reserve one of these fabulous tours, please go to http://www.groupcoordinators.com/sasquan-tours.php
  • If you need further information or have a question please call Julie at Group Coordinators – 509.455.4354 or [email protected]
  • Payment is due by July 28, 2015. If minimums are not reached by that date, the tour will be canceled and your money refunded. Based on availability, you can still register after July 28, 2015.

Here’s are the headlines – details at the Sasquan website.

TOURS OFFERED ON TUESDAY, August 18, 2015

  • Spokane City Tour
  • A Journey on the Ale Trail
  • Afternoon of Wine Tasting
  • Literary, Musical & Theater Ghosts of Spokane Walking Tour
  • Scenic Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene

TOURS OFFERED ON MONDAY, August 24, 2015

  • Afternoon of Wine Tasting
  • Literary, Musical & Theater Ghosts of Spokane Walking Tour
  • Scenic Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene

Sasquan Reaches 10,000 Membership Mark

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Sasquan logoSasquan, the 2015 Worldcon, reports it had 10,036 members on July 15.

The con added 260 members in the first two weeks of July — 60% of them buying supporting memberships. A $40 supporting membership is the minimum requirement to become eligible as a voter in 2017 site selection or to vote on the winners of the Hugo Awards.

Sasquan’s 10,036 member figure includes 4,047 attending and 5,539 supporting members.

LonCon 3, last year’s Worldcon still holds the record of 11,125 total members. But its tally of 2,882 supporting members, then a record, has been surpassed by Sasquan.

Sasquan has sold 3,774 supporting memberships since January 31.

Here is how the new totals compare with the figures on June 30:

Sasquan Total Members
6/30/2015  9,776
7/15/2015 10,036
Increase     260

 

Adult Attending Members
6/30/2015 3,945
7/15/2015 4,047
Increase    102

 

Supporting Members
6/30/2015 5,410
7/15/2015 5,539
Increase    129