Paul Parsons died on May 19, reports Michael Walsh. According to Aly, Paul’s wife, he died of a sudden heart attack or stroke while driving.
“I’m rather stunned by the news,” Walsh wrote online. “[Paul and Aly] were part of the Unicon group, probably attended WSFA ages ago, but also, for the 2003 World Fantasy Con in D.C. were in charge of programming (and did a fine job).” They also created the restaurant guide for the Capclave in
One more sign of the Millennium? The Washington Science Fiction Association now holds Datclave more often than Disclave. Yes, Datclave II is about to take place.
The very first Datclave was held Leap Year weekend of 1980 according to a club rule that a con be held whenever there is a fifth Friday in the month of February. This only happens once every 28 years. However, the club stopped holding Disclave, its big Memorial Day convention, in 1997. (WSFA now sponosrs Capclave in the fall.) That’s why the proverbial turtle is going to win this race.
The fellow who chaired the first Datclave, Kent Bloom, claims a prior conrunning commitment this year, so Bob McIntosh has been pressed into service. Datclave II will be, as the flyer says, “the Washington D.C. Relaxacon with the Gettysburg Address.” They’ll hold it at the Hotel Gettysburg on Lincoln Square, February 29-March 2, 2008. For membership information, visit the club website.
Update 3/4/08: Corrected name of chairman.