The World Science Fiction Society

Minutes of the Business Meeting at Torcon 3

Friday 29^th to Sunday 31st August 2003

Introduction

All three meetings were held in the Ontario Room of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The head table officers were:

Chair: Kevin Standlee

Deputy Chair / P.O: Donald Eastlake III

Secretary: Pat McMurray

Timekeeper: Clint Budd

Tech Support: William J Keaton, Glenn Glazer

[Secretary: The debates in these minutes are not word for word accurate, but every attempt has been made to represent the sense of the arguments made. UK spelling is mostly used, because that's the way I spell. Names are deliberately chosen to be the informal versions. These minutes are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and recollection and are based on contemporary notes. Any other comments or notes I have will be marked in this fashion. Comments thus are purely informative and do not form part of the official text of these minutes.]

Minutes completed: 16^th November 2003

Pat McMurray

Business Meeting Secretary

WSFS BUSINESS MEETING

Preliminary Business Meeting, Friday, 29^th August 2003

Chair: Kevin Standlee Secretary: Pat McMurray

Deputy Chair / P.O.: Donald Eastlake III Timekeeper: Clint Budd

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM. Attendance as recorded on the sign up sheets was 96.

John Pomeranz moved to thank ConJosé for coffee.

Mark Olson moved to thank the team who had assembled the past WSFS minutes – Tim Illingworth, Pat McMurray and Ben Yalow.

Both Motions passed without objection.

1. Committee Reports

1.1. Mark Protection Committee (Including Nominations for MPC)

Committee appointed new trademark attorney and commenced the process of protecting marks.

Jonathon Cowie: Examples of items being protected?

Stephen Boucher: Examples include

1. Currently protect “Worldcon”, “WSFS”, “Hugo”, “NASFiC” and “World Science Fiction Society”

2. Examining protecting rocket design

3. Domain names

Ruth Sachter, Scott Dennis and Donald Eastlake III’s terms having expired, there were three vacancies on the Mark Protection Committee. The three incumbents were nominated without objection.

There were no other nominations, so nominations were closed. Write in ballots are allowed, so voting will take place tomorrow.

All three candidates signed acceptance forms.

1.2. Nitpicking & Flyspecking Committee

No objections to Chair reappointing Donald Eastlake III, Tim Illingworth, Kevin Standlee and appointing Pat McMurray to the committee.

1.2.1 Short Title: Extended Distribution

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at five minutes.

Ben Yalow: Move to add

Provided that the Business Meeting requests Noreascon 4 to follow this motion.

Ben Yalow (F): Just asks, not binding

John Lorentz (A): No need to add this to Constitution

Chair: This is a provision, not a Constitutional amendment.

Seth Breidbart (A): This provision cannot be imposed, since it forces additional costs on Noreascon 4 and Interaction.

Chair: Split provision as separate resolution.

1.2.1B Requesting Extended Distribution

Business Meeting requests next three Worldcons follow the procedure in Item 1.2.1

Ben Yalow: Is it the ruling of the Chair that even the most minimal cost from a motion does not bind a sitting Worldcon?

Chair: Difficult to lay a rule.

Ben Yalow: Intent of “no additional charges clause” is to cover big, different charges, but not such items as adding a new Hugo! Ordinary and necessary kinds of change are not forbidden under this clause.

Chair: Withdraw ruling, submit to members.

Chair: The question to members is: Does Item 1.2.1 impose additional costs within the meaning of the WSFS Constitution?

Andrew Adams: Point of Inquiry: Which section of the Constitution?

Chair: 6.4

Andrew Adams (F): Clear in Constitution.

Tom Beck (A): Request, not require.

Chair: Are we entitled?

George Flynn(F): When the original motion was made, an amendment to include the word “substantial” was not accepted by that Business Meeting.

Rick Kovalcik (A): Small type – no additional cost.

Mark Olson (A): Current practice is to require committees to comply.

Chair: Time over for debate.

Question: Is item 1.2.1 imposing an additional cost as defined by Constitution Section 6.4?

Failed many to few. (So 1.2.1 does not impose an additional cost as defined by Constitution Section 6.4, and standing Worldcons must comply with this motion if it is ratified next year, but a request is made to Noreascon 4.)

Sparks: Question of Priviledge: Members should speak into microphone and direct comments to the Chair.

Paul Krause: Parliamentary Inquiry – we haven’t really resolved the meaning of 6.4.

Chair: Without objection, Refer 6.4 to the Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee for investigation and consideration.

Richard Russell: Suggest NPFSC appoint George Flynn as a consultant.

Chair: NPFSC will take this request under advisement.

Ben Yalow: Point of Order, what is the time limit of 1.2.1B.

Chair: Apologies, 5 minutes.

1.2.2 Short Title: Moving Works

Louis Epstein: What is the difference between a professional and a fan artist?

Gary Blog: Move to amend to “works or nominees”

John Pomerantz: Should try and avoid discussing alternate wording on the floor of the meeting.

Chair: Without objection, the motion is referred to a committee comprising the Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee members, Gary Blog and John Pomeranz; and the committee is directed to report back to the main meeting any suggested changes."

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at five minutes.

1.2.3 Short Title: Default Rates

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at ten minutes.

1.2.4 Short Title: Counting Votes (and Breaking Ties)

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at five minutes.

Ben Yalow: This motion covers both Constitutional Amendments and Standing Rules. Move to add a proviso that the Standing Rules are not in effect until the Constitutional Amendments are ratified.

Mark Olson. Move to refer 1.2.4 back to Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee for further explanation, with them to report back next year.

Motion passed without objection.

[Secretary: In fact, the Preliminary Business Meeting cannot refer motions back to committee – see minutes for Main Business Meeting on Saturday.]

1.2.5 Short Title: Tied Races

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at five minutes.

Andrew Adams: Point of Order: This motion and the motion at 4.3.1 interact.

Richard Russell: Does new 2.6 conflict with 4.5.7?
Seth Breidbart: Move to amend, by adding “pursuant to this section” so that the revised Section 2.6 will read:

Section 2.6: Incapacity of Committees. With sites being selected three (3) years in advance, there are at least three selected current or future Worldcon Committees at all times. If one of these should be unable to perform its duties, the other selected current or future Worldcon Committee whose site is closer to the site of the one unable to perform its duties shall determine what action to take, by consulting the Business Meeting or by mail poll of WSFS if there is sufficient time, or by decision of the Committee if there is not sufficient time. Where a site and Committee are chosen by a Business Meeting or Worldcon Committee pursuant to this section, they are not restricted by exclusion zone or other qualifications.

Seth Breidbart (F): existing wording could be subject to inappropriate interpretation.

Linda Ross-Mansfield: Is “failing to perform its duties” self-determined or decided externally?

Chair: Refuse to rule on this because the “failing to perform its duties” phrase is not directly under consideration by this amendment, and is included only to provide context for this amendment.

There was no objection to the amended phrasing.

Paul Birnbaum: Point of Order: New paragraph is in wrong place, should be in 4.5.6.

Chair: Point of Order not well taken, amendment is in right place.

1.3. Worldcon Runners' Guide Editorial Committee

Chair: Reappoint Sharon Sbarsky until next year. Thanks for her work.

On a motion by Mr McMurray the meeting recessed at 10:55 and resumed at 11:15.

1.4. Hugo Eligibility Rest of the World (HEROW) Committee

Report was presented by Jim Mann.

1.4.1 Short Title: This Year's Model

Gary Blog: Move to amend by replacing the word “published” - doesn't cover dramatic presentations.

Chair: Motion is not in order; “published” is more wide ranging and includes dramatic presentations.

[Secretary: This follows CH2002-2, a ruling from last year on this matter.]

Lew Wolkoff: To what extent is this binding on next year?

Chair: As binding as next year's Hugo committee wishes it to be.

John Lorentz: Should Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee be directed to investigate the word “published”.

Chair: We can't deal with that at this point in the meeting.

Gary Blog: How does this affect the John W Campbell Award?

Chair: I rule that the Business Meeting does not have direct jurisdiction over the Campbell Award.

John Lorentz: Point of Information: Campbell tends to follow Hugo rules.

Ben Yalow: Point of Information: Didn't 1997 make a similar ruling?

Chair: Maybe, I don't know.

{Secretary: I've researched this, and I believe Ben Yalow is referring to the 1998 Business Meeting, at which a petition had been presented that Susan Matthews' eligibility for the Campbell Award should be extended. Ben moved a substitute motion, that the Business Meeting would commend such an extension, as the meeting had no authority in this matter. These objections having been minuted, and it being made clear that the petition was a request and not a direction, Ben withdrew the motion. It is clear that the Business Meeting has never claimed jurisdiction in this matter, and therefore there is no earlier explicit Ruling than the one made above.]

The motion was passed by a ¾ majority.

Chair: The Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee is directed to examine the matter of whether “published” covers all Hugos.

1.4.2 Short Title: Holding on for a HEROW

Committee was continued without objection.

Chair (of Meeting) requested that those who are interested in serving on the Committee should talk to the podium staff.

1.5. Formalization of Long List Entries (FOLLE) Committee

Mark Olson: An ongoing process – we've received additional information even today.

Vince Docherty: Yes, we discussed the interpretation of the Chair terminology. KIM Campbell is the convenor of 2005, which makes her effectively Co-Chair.

Jim Briggs: Move to commend the FOLLE Committee. Passed without objection.

Ben Yalow: Note for the record that convention committees have control over their other records, FOLLE does not control long list details.

Chair: Appoint a committee on directions for the FOLLE Committee consisting of Mr Yalow to report tomorrow.

1.5.1. Short Title: Extended Folly

Motion passed without objection.

Chair: Mark Olson is reappointed as Chair and may add and remove members as he chooses.

2. Worldcon Reports

2.1.3 LoneStarCon 2

Chair's ruling: LoneStarCon 2 should report on any unspent funds from seed money for cons.

Louis Epstein: Point of Inquiry: no interest income is listed?

Chair: Income generated after the convention is not reportable.

Ben Yalow: Bouchercon is not a local convention

Kent Bloom: Point of Order: Not germane

Chair: Not well taken

Kent Bloom: Appeal Chair's ruling

Chair: Discussion of appropriate ways to spend surpluses is germane to financial reports.

Kent Bloom (A): Receipt of financial reports is a different matter from a resolution criticizing that expenditure, therefore they belong in different places in the agenda.

Ben Yalow (F): Germane in this case. Need to agree exactly what is reportable and that needs to be here.

George Flynn: Point of Inquiry: Does 2.9.3 cover this?

Linda Deneroff: Point of Inquiry: What response can we make if spending is deemed inappropriate?

Chair: Not in order at this time.

Chair's ruling was sustained; this discussion is germane.

A motion was made to extend debate by 3 minutes – bare 2/3 pass.

Ben Yalow: appropriate spending would be covered by precedent.

Seth Breidbart: There are various hypotheses.

Chair: In the best interests of WSFS, the Chair wishes to avoid making a ruling that could prevent a Worldcon Committee from ever filing a final report.

Paul Birnbaum: What is difference between seed and grant?

Chair: Bouchercon was internal, Armadillocon was external.

Rick Kovalcik: Did Bouchercon make money?

Chair: Irrelevant

Paul Krause: See versus grant

Mark Olson: Mustn't legislate here.

Chair: What we said was not a ruling.

2.1.4 Bucconeer

Final report.

[Secretary would like to congratulate Bob McIntosh on this. Secretary is quite a lazy individual and is pleased to have fewer Financial Reports to deal with in future.]

2.1.5 Aussiecon Three

Report tomorrow.

2.1.6 Chicon 2000

Report is attached.

In response to a question from the floor, the Chair noted that the WSFS Business Meeting does not have jurisdiction over Pass Along Funds. It is a private arrangement between individual Worldcon Committees, not a WSFS matter.

2.1.8 ConJosé

Gary Blog: Complaint about packs not having been sent out yet to supporting members.

[Secretary: Meeting Chair stood down and Don Eastlake took over as Chair.]

Kevin Standlee: ConJosé sincerely regrets not having accomplished this. The Co-Chairs in particular are very apologetic – insufficient people points to accomplish everything.

Craig Miller: Apology would have been sufficient without long explanation.

Mr Standlee resumed the Chair.

3. Business Passed On from ConJosé

3.1 Short Title: Lesser Minutes

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at eight minutes.

4. New Business

4.3.1 Short Title: Back to the Future

Object to Consideration failed.

Chair: Debate time for motion will be set at twenty minutes.

Ben Yalow: Point of Order: Note that this any part of this amendment can be amended, including the provisos.

Ben Schilling: Move to Amend, by striking the unnecessary phrase “that this amendment shall not take effect until the conclusion to the 2004 Worldcon, Noreascon 4;”

There was no objection to this amendment.

6. Adjournment

Linda Ross Mansfield: Can we re-arrange the seating pattern?

Elspeth Kovar (Hotel Liaison): Will try for tomorrow.

Ben Yalow Point of Order: The Preliminary Business Meeting can't refer 1.2.3 back to the Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee.

Chair: Well taken – will now consider this tomorrow.

[Secretary: In effect the Chair's ruling was that the motion to Refer to Committee passed earlier in the meeting was erased and that the parliamentary situation was the same as it had been before the original referral was passed.]

Meeting adjourned at 12:00

WSFS BUSINESS MEETING

First Main Business Meeting, Saturday, 30^th August 2003

Chair: Kevin Standlee Secretary: Pat McMurray

Deputy Chair / P.O.: Donald Eastlake III Timekeeper: Clint Budd

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:16 AM. Attendance as recorded on the sign up sheets was 124.

Secretary made a series of amendments and corrections to the published agenda. [The versions included here are fully corrected.]

Raymond Cyrus: Move to suspend the rules and immediately consider Item 4.3.1

Motion was seconded, but failed to pass.

Don Eastlake: As Chair of next year's Business Meeting, would like volunteers to make themselves known.

1. Committee Reports

1.1. Mark Protection Committee (Including Nominations for MPC)

On a motion by Ms. Sbarsky and without objection, the rules were suspended and the three nominees were elected to fill the three MPC seats.

Chair: MPC Meeting will be held after Sunday's Business Meeting.

In response to a Parliamentary Inquiry, the Chair noted that proxy voting is not allowed. You have to be present to vote at a WSFS Business Meeting.

1.2. Nitpicking & Flyspecking Committee

1.2.1A Short Title: Extended Distribution

Louis Epstein: Concerned about practicality of this, does it cover every type of work?

Chair's Ruling: Blanket extension

Motion passed.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

1.2.1B Short Title: Requesting Extended Distribution

Motion passed without objection.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

1.2.2 Short Title: Moving Works

No report from ad hoc committee.

Louis Epstein: Concerned about practicality – no real effect, and what about fan artist / pro artist.

Similar situation with fan writer / pro editor.

Motion passed.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

1.2.3 Short Title: Default Rates

Tom Veal (A): Average of last three Worldcon voting fees is much higher than typical NASFiC voting fees.

Rick Kovalcik (F): Prefer this to be too high rather than too low – only a default.

Perianne Lurie (A): Low default would encourage bidders to work together.

Seth Breidbart (F): High default fee prevents spoilers driving down the fees.

Motion passed.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

1.2.4 Short Title: Counting Votes (and Breaking Ties)

Referred back to the Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee at yesterday’s meeting without objection.

1.2.5 Short Title: Tied Races

Someone?: Parliamentary Inquiry: Is there explicit provision for how the Business Meeting would handle this?

[Secretary: Apologies – This person didn't identify themselves and I don't know everybody in fandom. There was no verbal response to this inquiry, but shuddering and moaning could be heard from many parts of the meeting.]

Kent Bloom: Move to divide Section 3 of 1.2.5

Chair Ruling: They can be separated:

Alex von Thorn: Point of Inquiry: Would we then decide Section 3 next?

Chair: Yes

Seth Breidbart: Point of Inquiry: What would happen in the event of a Site Selection tie?

Chair: This would return to the Business Meeting.

Rick Kovalcik: Move the question.

Motion to divide fails.

Louis Epstein: Point of Inquiry: Section 4.0 “consulting by mail poll”

Chair: Not necessary

Kent Bloom (A): Opposed to only Section 3 of motion.

Paul Birnbaum (A): Why should Business Meeting have to override electorate?

Kent Bloom: Move to strike section 3

Seth Breidbart (A): Tie between two parties in a three way race.

Paul Birnbaum: Move to extend debate by three minutes.

Motion fails

Motion to strike section 3 fails.

Main motion passed.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

1.5. Formalization of Long List Entries (FOLLE) Committee

Committee consisting of Ben Yalow has reported back a motion:

Moved: The Business Meeting supports the methodology used by the FOLLE Committee and recommends that this Committee continues their procedure of consulting Worldcon Committees as part of their research.

Ben Yalow (F): we like what they are doing and how they are doing it.

Motion passed without objection.

2. Worldcon Reports

2.1.9. Time Travel Worldcon

The attached report was submitted.

Louis Epstein: Move to refer to 1939 Worldcon Business Meeting.

Chair's Ruling: Motion is frivolous and dilatory as creating indefinite time loops is a bad idea.

Andrew Adams: Move to refer this report to Minneapolis in 2073

Chair: Funny once, but not twice.

3. Business Passed On from ConJosé

3.1 Short Title: Lesser Minutes

Motion passed.

Now forms part of Constitution.

A short recess was taken to 11:10.

Deb Geisler: On behalf of Noreascon 4 Committee we would like to thank the Time Travel Worldcon Committee for pass-along funds and ConJosé for coffee.

4. New Business

4.3.1 Short Title: Back to the Future

Rick Kovalcik: Move to suspend the rules and postpone indefinitely:
Motion fails.

Stephen Boucher (F): Covered main arguments in Motion's rationale.

Raymond Cyrus (A): Conversion fee will be higher with a shorter period of time; there will be fewer GoH choices; fewer hotel choices; harder to get MTCC; penalise NASFiCs by forcing one year running; 500 mile rule penalises North American bids against non-North American bids; we have real world jobs with less time in the shorter run.

Pat McMurray: Move to add proviso:

Provided further that the Chicago bid announced at Torcon 3 will be exempted from any new limitation of Section 4.7 of the WSFS Constitution imposed by this amendment.

Ed Green: What are the effects of this amendment?
Pat McMurray: Removes potential impact of the main motion on the Chicago bid.

Rick Kovalcik: Point of Order: That was a speech in favour.

Chair: No, that was an explanation of a complex matter.

Mark Olson (F): Courtesy normally extended to existing bids.

Rick Kovalcik (A): Feel for C2009, what about the St. Louis NASFiC bid?

Glenn Glazer: Move to extend debate two minutes

Motion fails.

Craig Miller: Want to move amendment to the amendment.

Chair: Not allowed.

Sharon Sbarsky: Will two year lead time impact on 800 km / 500 mile limit>

Chair ruled that C09 would be valid for a KC06 Worldcon.

Tom Veal: Move to suspend the rules and alter the amendment to

Provided further that C2008 and C2009 would be eligible in any event.

58 in favour, 42 against, Motion needed 2/3 majority so fails.

Craig Miller: Move to suspend the rules and introduce an amendment to suspend implementation for one year.

Motion fails

Lynn Anderson: Move to extend total debate time by ten minutes.

Motion was passed.

[Secretary: We now return to considering Pat McMurray's amendment, the additional proviso.]

Ben Yalow (F): Try not to affect existing bids. A potential 2007 NASFiC bid would be OK. Move to suspend rules, using Tom Veal's motion and adding an exception that this is “not valid if KC06 and Columbus 07 win.”

[Secretary: If KC06 had won, and then Columbus 07 win, then Chicago would not have been valid for either 2008 or 2009, under either new or old rules. It would have been as improper to make them valid, as it would have been to close out the window of opportunity for them.]

Craig Miller: Move to postpone consideration of all matters to tomorrow's Business Meeting.

Seth Breidbart: Move to adjourn

Motion to adjourn fails.

[Chair: In effect, adjourning at this point would have had the same effect as adopting mR Miller's motion and then adjourning. Unlike ordinary societies that meet more often than every three months, all of the meetings at a single Worldcon are a single legislative session and any unfinished business simply picks up where it left off at the next meeting. In an ordinary society meeting more often than every three months, adjourning at this point would have killed the pending motion.]

Motion to postpone passes.

6. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 11:47.

WSFS BUSINESS MEETING

Site Selection Business Meeting, Sunday, 31^th August 2003

Chair: Kevin Standlee Secretary: Pat McMurray

Deputy Chair / P.O.: Donald Eastlake III Timekeeper: Clint Budd

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM. Attendance as recorded on the sign up sheets was 157.

Chair announced that the Chicago bid had dropped their objections, to rapturous applause.

5.1. Report of the 2006 Worldcon Site Selection & Presentation by Winners

Bob McIntosh reported, see attached.

LA won

Without objection, ballots were destroyed

Christian McGuire, LA Chair: Thanks to Margene Bahm and the entire KC crew.

Convention will be called L.A.con IV and guests are Connie Willis, James Gurney, Howard deVore and Frankie Thomas.

Margene Bahm, KC Chair: Thank everyone who helped and supported us, Committee who worked so hard, and L.A. Bid who became good friends. One final announcement, we intend to bid for the 94^th Worldcon in 2036 and I would like to introduce the bid Chair, Samantha Myers.

Samantha Myers (Aged 6): We're going to win!

5.2. Report of the 2005 NASFiC Site Selection & Presentation by Winners

Kevin Standlee recused himself and Don Eastlake chaired the meeting.

Bob McIntosh: After three rounds of counting, Seattle won.

Without objection, ballots were destroyed.

Bobbie duFault, Seattle Chair: Thanks to Pat Porter who had to step down for health reasons. The convention will be called CascadiaCon and guests are Fred Saberhagen, Liz Danforth, Toni Weisskopf and Kevin Standlee. Thanks to Charlotte, who were friendly and helpful throughout.

Kathleen Meyer, Chair of Charlotte: Thanks to Seattle, thanks to Charlotte committee.

Mr Standlee resumed the Chair.

1. Committee Reports

1.4. Hugo Eligibility Rest of the World (HEROW) Committee

Chair: Ed Green will chair this Committee.

2. Worldcon Reports

2.1.9. Time Travel Worldcon

David Kyle reported back from the 1939 Worldcon, see attached.

4. New Business

4.3.1 Short Title: Back to the Future

Amendment was withdrawn without objection.

Chair: Debate time is reset to 20 minutes.

[Chair: This is a standard parliamentary rule, not an arbitrary ruling. Debate times are per day, and if the debate continues into a new day, the debate clock resets.]

Pat McMurray (F): Main points from rationale.

Louis Epstein: Point of Order: Imposes additional costs on L.A.con IV so is not in order.
Chair Ruling: Not well taken, no additional costs.

James Brigg: Point of Inquiry: where will 2007 NASFiC vote take place

Chair: At L.A.con IV

Chair reversed this ruling later, see below.

Rick Kovalcik: Point of Order: Motion doesn't address NASFiC.

Chair: Point not well taken; motion addresses lead time, and NASFiC lead time is defined in terms of Worldcon lead time.

Dennis Caswell (A): Two year cycle on NASFiC implies a one day bid.

Chair: Note section 4.8.1. Changing the Worldcon lead time automatically changes the NASFiC lead time. NASFiC lead time is not “two year”; it is “one year less than Worldcon.”

Rick Kovalcik: Appeal Chair's Ruling.

Chair: You're right. If required, the 2007 NASFiC site selection will take place at the 2005 NASFiC.

Tom Veal (A): Big problem – introduces immense new element of uncertainty as to what year a city is eligible, will only know four years in advance not six. This is another major change, and too soon after the last one.

Janice Gelb (F): This motion is supported by many Worldcon Chairs; shortened bidding cycle is a good thing; and what do you do with that first year, anyway?
Raymond Cyrus (A): Proposers are attempting to limit the flexibility of bid committees – benevolent despotism.

Kent Bloom (F): Do Worldcons cost too much? A two year cycle should reduce the cost.

Alex von Thorn (A): More choices with a longer planning cycle. People issue – timescales are just right. NASFiC – one year bidding cycle is crazy.

Paul Krause: Point of Order: what is history of Worldcon bidding cycles.

Chair ruled this wasn;t a Point of Order, but a miscellaneous Inquiry, and provided a short history.

Ed Green (F): Three year bid cycle is too long; there are practical considerations.

Don Eastlake (A): Two to three year change was made for facilities reasons and we might be forced to change back if economic cycle turns around.

Ben Yalow (F): I pushed the move from two to three years, which seemed like a good time. Things like us are now bidding six, eight, even ten years. Facilities issues are irrelevant – people get tired, I've seen this so many times, we're burning out people.

Louis Epstein: Move to extend debate five minutes.

Motion fails.

Motion passes 90 in favour, 83 against.

Forwarded to next year's Business Meeting for ratification.

5. Site Selection Business

5.3. Reports by seated Worldcons

5.3.1. Noreascon 4 (2004)

Deb Geisler, Chair of Noreascon 4: We're at T-369 and counting.

Derryl Exlins: Big Dig?

Deb: Biggus Diggus - no real impact on us

Micheal Pins: Will there be mallets?

Deb: We're not going to arm you.

Ken Smookler: Will the hotels match the lowest published rates?

Deb: Yes.

Lurianne Perie: Hotel forms?

Deb: PR5 in December, direct reservations with the hotels.

Danny Liebermann: Hugo and Masquerade night?

Deb: Hugos Saturday, Masquerade Sunday.

5.3.2. Interaction (2005)

Vince Docherty, Chair of Interaction: Will answer questions

Rick Katze: Why does your Committee have such confidence in you?

Vince: They have a choice?

[Secretary: Worth mentioning that this was a jocular exchange...]

Linda Ross Mansfield: Pedestrian bridges and hotel facilities.

Vince: Now three hotels on site, 2.5 x number of beds in Glasgow. Remembering that our rates are quoted to include tax and breakfast we're looking at a range of £30 to £100 per room per night.

Richard Russell: Cheap accommodation?

Vince: Students apartments

Mike Willmoth: Hotel bureau?

Vince: Yes have to, but not the same one as Intersection's. We will start taking bookings at Noreascon

Gary Keith Feldbaum: Party hotels?

Vince: Haven't decided yet, won't be Central.

Richard Russell: Will one of onsite hotels be party hotel?
Vince: None of them are suitable.

Michael Donahue: Airline?
Vince: Not yet.

Glen Glazier: Distance between party hotels and site.

Vince: about a mile – one stop on train, 20 minutes walk, cheapest taxis in UK
Vince: Delighted to announce we're also the 2005 Eurocon.

5.4. Presentation by future Worldcon bids, time permitting

5.4.1. Presentation by bidders for 2007

5.4.1.1 Nippon 07

Hiroaki Inoue: Will make presentation. Our Chair, Shouichi Hachiya, has throat problems.

Date: Labour day weekend

Place: Pacifico Yokohama, 5,000 person hall, 1,000 bedrooms on site.

Will also be Japanese National SF Convention for 2007.

Holding 2005 convention there for practice, and it was site of 1992, 2000 and 2003 conventions.

Programme will be bilingual in English and Japanese with simultaneous translation for major events.

Pat McMurray: How many attendees at Japanese National SF Convention?

Hiroaki: Between 2,000 and 2,500.

5.4.1.2 Columbus 2007

Kim Williams: Convention pace; 24 hour food court, connected hotels, hotels are experiences, Marcon is held in the Hyatt regency; agreed $105 room rates and corkage waiver.

Janice Gelb: Committee Worldcon experience?

Kim: Kidcon, filk, dealer's room.

Chair: Announce that L.A.con IV have appointed Craig Miller as their Mark Protection Committee representative.

Chair Ruling: 2004 Worldcon elects 2007. This could cause a 2007 NASFiC to be necessary, in which case the 2005 NASFiC would administer the election. The just passed item, if ratified, could first effect a hypothetical 2008 NASFiC, voting for which would take place in 2007.

6. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 11:58

AGENDA FOR WSFS BUSINESS MEETING

Preliminary Business Meeting, Friday, 29^th August 2003

Chair: Kevin Standlee Secretary: Pat McMurray

Deputy Chair / P.O.: Donald Eastlake III Timekeeper: Clint Budd

[Secretary: If you’re new to Business Meetings, the last document in the set attached explains WSFS Business Meeting Procedures, and should be the first document you read. Really, we mean it, when we say please ask for any assistance you may need in interpreting the rules or in any other matter.]

1. Committee Reports

Committee reports may include motions. Motions made by committees consisting of more than one person need not be seconded.

1.1. Mark Protection Committee (Including Nominations for MPC)

The Mark Protection Committee met last night. A formal report should be available at the Business Meeting tomorrow.

Nominations for the WSFS Mark Protection Committee are in order at the Preliminary Business Meeting. Nominees must accept nomination and indicate their current residence zone within one hour of the end of the Preliminary Business Meeting.

The members whose terms of office expire at this Worldcon are: Scott Dennis (Central), Donald Eastlake III (Eastern), Ruth Sachter (West). Due to zone residency restrictions, we can elect at most two people from the Western zone, one person from the Central zone, two people from the Eastern zone, and three people from the Rest of the World. Write-in votes are allowed, but write-in candidates must submit their consent to election by the close of balloting.

(See the head table staff for a nomination acceptance form.)

1.2. Nitpicking & Flyspecking Committee

Report is attached. The following resolutions arise from this report.

1.2.1 Short Title: Extended Distribution

1.2.2 Short Title: Moving Works

1.2.3 Short Title: Default Rates

1.2.4 Short Title: Counting Votes (and Breaking Ties)

1.2.5 Short Title: Tied Races

[Secretary: In a vain attempt to save trees I have not reproduced the full texts of the resolutions here – they’re in the report.]

1.3. Worldcon Runners' Guide Editorial Committee

The Committee has had a quieter year than expected, largely due to computer problems. No data has been lost.

People who are interested in helping next year should meet with Sharon Sbarsky in this room, immediately following the Preliminary Business Meeting.

1.4. Hugo Eligibility Rest of the World (HEROW) Committee

We believe an extra year of eligibility for works first published outside North America in English is currently appropriate, but that market changes could render this unnecessary in the future. We recommend an annual one-year extension and continuation of the committee to monitor the situation.

1.4.1 Short Title: This Year's Model

Moved, To extend eligibility for all works which are allowed by a resolution under the following sections of the WSFS Constitution:

3.2.3: The Business Meeting may by a 3/4 vote provide that works originally published outside the United States of America and first published in the United States of America in the current year shall also be eligible for Hugo Awards given in the following year.

3.2.4: A work shall not be eligible if in a prior year it received sufficient nominations to appear on the final award ballot.

This motion extends eligibility for the Hugo Award; therefore, it requires a 3/4 vote.

1.4.2 Short Title: Holding on for a HEROW

(To be moved only if This Year's Model is passed.)

Moved, To continue the Hugo Eligibility for the Rest of the World (HEROW) Committee as previously charged, with a new Chair and members appointed by the Chair of the Business Meeting, and with the Chair of the HEROW Committee authorized to add additional members to the committee.

Note that the current Chair of the HEROW Committee will not accept reappointment as Chair of the committee, although he will continue to work with the committee if it is renewed, because he has too many other things that tie up too much time.

1.5. Formalization of Long List Entries (FOLLE) Committee

Report is attached.

1.5.1. Short Title: Extended Folly

Moved, To continue the Formulation of Long List Entries (FOLLE) Committee until Noreascon Four under the same terms as previously constituted;

To direct the Committee to continue perfecting the Long List of Worldcons and NASFiCs; and

To direct the Committee to produce a Long List of Hugo Nominees and Winners.

2. Worldcon Reports

Currency conversion rates as of 15 August 2003

The Secretary regrets to report that The Millennium Philcon failed to report to last year’s Business Meeting. They are therefore in breach of Section 2.9.4 of the WSFS Constitution.

In a change to past practice, the Secretary will no longer accept financial reports that are filed after the close of the Business Meeting. In the past this has played a small, but not insignificant part, in delaying the production of the minutes.

2.1 Past Worldcons and NASFiCs

2.1.1. ConAdian (1994)

No report received as of going to press.

2.1.2. L.A.con III (1996)

Report is attached

2.1.3. LoneStarCon 2 (1997)

Report is attached.

2.1.4. BucConeer (1998)

Report is attached.

2.1.5. Aussiecon Three (1999)

No report received as of going to press.

2.1.6. Chicon 2000

No report received as of going to press.

2.1.7. The Millennium Philcon (2001)

Report is attached.

2.1.8. ConJosé (2002)

Report is attached.

2.2. Seated Worldcons

2.2.1. TorCon III (2003)

Report is attached.

2.2.2. Noreascon 4 (2004)

Report is attached.

2.2.3. Interaction (2005)

Report is attached.

3. Business Passed On from ConJosé

The following Constitutional Amendment was approved at ConJosé and passed on to Torcon 3 for ratification. If ratified, it will become part of the Constitution at the conclusion of Torcon 3.

3.1 Short Title: Lesser Minutes

Moved, to amend the WSFS Constitution at Subsection 3.2.8 by striking and inserting text as follows:

The Worldcon Committee may relocate a dramatic presentation work into a more appropriate category if it feels that it is necessary, provided that the length of the work is within the lesser of twenty (20) minutes or twenty percent (20%) of the new category limits boundary.

Rationale: 20 minutes will never be less than 18 minutes (20% of the 90-minute category boundary), and thus the wording proposed for deletion is mere surplusage and possibly confusing. Removing it will have no substantive effect.

4. New Business

4.1. Resolutions

Items under this heading may be voted upon and final action taken by the Preliminary Business Meeting.

4.2. Standing Rules Amendments

Items under this heading may be voted upon and final action taken by the Preliminary Business Meeting. Standing rules amendments take effect at the conclusion of the 2003 Business Meeting unless given earlier effect by specific provision and a two-thirds vote. In all amendments, new text is shown in underline type and stricken text is shown in strikethru type.

4.3. Constitutional Amendments

Items under this heading have not yet received first passage, and will become part of the constitution only if passed at Torcon 3 and ratified at Noreascon 4. The Preliminary Business Meeting may amend items under this heading, set debate time limits, refer them to committee, and take other action as permitted under the Standing Rules.

4.3.1 Short Title: Back to the Future

Moved, to amend the WSFS Constitution at Subsection 4.1.1 by striking and inserting text as follows:

WSFS shall choose the location and Committee of the Worldcon to be held three (3) two (2) years from the date of the current Worldcon.

Provided that this amendment shall not take effect until the conclusion of the 2004 Worldcon, Noreascon 4; that there shall be no Worldcon site selection election at the 2005 Worldcon, Interaction; and that the 2006 Worldcon shall select the site of the 2008 Worldcon. Provided further that Interaction members will be entitled to vote in the 2008 Worldcon site selection, whether or not they are members of the 2006 Worldcon, to prevent the disenfranchisement of a group of voters. Persons may cast only a single vote in the 2008 site selection.

Moved by Pat McMurray and Stephen Boucher

Supported by Mike Glyer, Mark Olson, Joe Siclari, Vince Docherty, Deb Geisler, Todd Dashoff, Peggy Rae Sapienza

Rationale: When this motion was introduced in 1983 only one argument was minuted in favour of this motion. This was that “more time would allow people to get proper facilities”. The proposers of this motion feel that this particular argument has no current validity, and that the current three year period may indeed make running a Worldcon more challenging for a less experienced committee.

5. Site Selection Business

Items under this heading will be handled at the Site Selection Business Meeting on Sunday.

5.1. Report of the 2006 Site Selection & Presentation by Winners

5.2. Reports by seated Worldcons

5.2.1. Noreascon 4 (2004)

5.2.2. Interaction (2005)

5.3. Presentation by future Worldcon bids

5.3.1. Presentation by bidders for 2007

5.3.2. Presentation by bidders for years after 2007

6. Adjournment

6.1. Adjournment Sine Die

Report of the WSFS Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee

Standing Rule 7.7: Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee. The Business Meeting shall appoint a Nitpicking and Flyspecking Committee. The Committee shall:

(1) Maintain the list of Rulings and Resolutions of Continuing Effect

(2) Codify the Customs and Usages of WSFS and of the Business Meeting.

In accordance with object (1), the committee reports below the compilation of items from the 2002 Worldcon, together with the collected items from earlier Worldcons.

The committee has made its full cumulative reports available through the WSFS web pages at http://www.wsfs.org and will continue to do so.

In accordance with object (2), Tim Illingworth & Pat McMurray have completed the OCRing and correcting of the WSFS Business Meeting minutes for 1974, and 1979-1992. 1993-date are available elsewhere (through Saul Jaffe). Minutes for all Business Meetings from 1979 to date are now available to any interested party. The committee would be interested to hear of any minutes for Business Meetings in other years.

These minutes are currently held in Word 6 format, and are available from Tim’s web site (www.smof.demon.co.uk). The 1979 minutes are a report constructed from Ben Yalow's copy of the agenda of the Main Meeting with contemporaneous annotations.

As an extract from these documents, a list has been prepared of all amendments to the WSFS Constitution and Standing Rules proposed since 1979, together with their amendment and disposal. The abbreviation ‘OTC’ has been used to keep the document length within almost reasonable bounds.

An update of the Annotated Standing Rules (originally prepared by the Standing Rules Working Group in 1996) has also been prepared.

An Annotated Constitution has been prepared, and comments are sought for inclusion.

All of these documents are available online at http://www.smof.demon.co.uk/wsfs.htm

In accordance with the Committee’s wider interpretation of “the Customs and Usages of WSFS and of the Business Meeting”, Tim Illingworth has retyped George Scithers’ “Con Committee Chair’s Guide” (the story of Discon, the 1963 Worldcon) and has made it available online at http://www.smof.demon.co.uk/wsfs.htm with George’s permission.

Pursuant to BM-94-1, www.wsfs.org has been updated, and copies of documents have been supplied to Saul Jaffe for the SF-Lovers archive.

Pursuant to BM-2001-1, the committee has reminded Torcon 3 of the requirement for legibility of badges, and hopes that Torcon has noticed.

The committee is willing to serve for another year, adding Pat McMurray as its fourth member.

Don Eastlake

Tim Illingworth

Kevin Standlee

The NP&FSC recommends that the Business Meeting consider the following motions:

1. Short Title: Extended Distribution

Moved, to amend Section 3.7.2 of the WSFS Constitution to require committees to inform members of eligibility extensions by adding “ and any applicable extensions of eligibility under Sections 3.2.3 or 3.4” at the end.

3.7.2: The Committee shall include with each nomination ballot a copy of Article 3 of the WSFS Constitution and any applicable extensions of eligibility under Sections 3.2.3 or 3.4.

Discussion: This would enable voters to determine what’s eligible.

2. Short Title: Moving Works

Moved, to amend Section 3.8.2 of the WSFS Constitution to restrict the movement of nominees between categories to specific works and to exclude the aggregation of nominations for people by striking out the second occurrence of “nominees” and inserting “works”, as shown:

3.8.2: The Worldcon Committee shall determine the eligibility of nominees and assignment to the proper category of nominees works nominated in more than one category.

Discussion: This would restrict the movement of nominees between categories to works (subsections 1-7, 10,11) and exclude aggregation of nominations for people (subsections 8, 9, 12, 13) across categories. This is, we believe, what was intended and what happens now. This would represent no change in powers.

3. Short Title: Default Rates

Moved, to amend Section 4.8.3 of the WSFS Constitution to make general the default supporting membership rate for all site selection elections conducted under WSFS sanction by inserting a new sentence at the end, as follows:

4.8.3: The proposed NASFiC supporting membership rate can be set by unanimous agreement of the administering Committee and all bidding committees who have filed before the ballot deadline. If agreement is not reached, the default fee shall be the median (middle value) of the US dollar fees used in the previous three (3) Worldcon site selections.

Discussion: This would explicitly make the default fee for a NASFiC election the same as the default fee for the Worldcon election held in the same year. The language is the same as that in Section 4.2.2

4. Short Title: Counting Votes (and Breaking Ties)

Moved, To amend various sections of the WSFS Constitution to add explicit tie-breaking procedures to WSFS elections, moving the general counting rules to Article 6 and detailing the specific differences per election type appropriately.

1. Move most of existing Section 3.11.1 to follow existing Section 6.2, change ‘nominee’ to ‘candidate’ throughout, and add a new sentence to it as shown

3.11.1 Section 6.2A: Tallying of Votes. In each category, Votes shall first be tallied by the voter's first choices. If no majority is then obtained, the nominee candidate who places last in the initial tallying shall be eliminated and the ballots listing it as first choice shall be redistributed on the basis of those ballots' second choices. This process shall be repeated until a majority-vote winner is obtained. If two or more candidates are tied for elimination during this process, the candidate that received fewer first-place votes shall be eliminated. If they are still tied, all the tied candidates shall be eliminated together.

2. Move existing Section 3.11.3 to follow proposed Section 6.2A above, change “No Award” to “the run-off candidate” throughout, and insert text in it as shown.

3.11.3 Section 6.2B: Run-off. After a tentative winner is determined, then unless "No Award" the run-off candidate shall be the sole winner, the following additional test shall be made. If the number of ballots preferring "No Award" the run-off candidate to the tentative winner is greater than the number of ballots preferring the tentative winner to "No Award" the run-off candidate, then "No Award" the run-off candidate shall be declared the winner of the election.

3. In Section 3.11.1, substitute new wording for that moved to Section 6.2A.

3.11.1: In each category, tallying shall be as described in Section 6.2A. ‘No Award’ shall be treated as a nominee. If all remaining nominees are tied, no tie-breaking shall be done and the nominees shall be declared joint winners.

4. In Section 3.11.3 substitute new wording for the existing section.

3.11.3: “No Award" shall be the run-off candidate.

5. In Section 4.1.2, strike out “Section 3.11” and insert “Section 6.2A”.

4.1.2: Voting shall be by written ballot cast either by mail or at the current Worldcon with tallying as described in Section 3.116.2A.

6. In Section 4.5.3, strike out “the equivalent of ‘No Award’ with respect to Section 3.11.” and insert “the run-off candidate.”

4.5.3: "None of the Above" shall be treated as a bid for tallying, and shall be the equivalent of "No Award" with respect to Section 3.11 the run-off candidate.

7. In Section 4.5.4, strike out “normal preferential ballot procedures” and insert “Section 6.2A”.

4.5.4: All ballots shall be initially tallied by their first preferences, even if cast for a bid that the administering Committee has ruled ineligible. If no eligible bid achieves a majority on the first round of tallying, then on the second round all ballots for ineligible bids shall be redistributed to their first eligible choices, and tallying shall proceed according to normal preferential-ballot procedures Section 6.2A.

8. In Standing Rule 6.2, insert, “as defined in Section 6.2A of the WSFS Constitution. There shall be no run-off candidate” after “normal preferential ballot procedures”.

9. In Standing Rule 6.2, insert as the penultimate sentence: “In the event of a first-place tie for any seat, the tie shall be broken unless all tied candidates can be elected simultaneously.”

Rule 6.2: Elections. Elections to the Mark Protection Committee shall be a special order of business at a designated Main Business Meeting. Voting shall be by written preferential ballot with write-in votes allowed. Votes for write-in candidates who do not submit written consent to nomination and region of residence to the Presiding Officer before the close of balloting shall be ignored. The ballot shall list each nominee's name and region of residence. The first seat filled shall be by normal preferential ballot procedures as defined in Section 6.2A of the WSFS Constitution. There shall be no run-off candidate. After a seat is filled, votes for the elected member and for any nominee who is now ineligible due to regional residence restrictions shall be eliminated before conducting the next ballot. This procedure shall continue until all seats are filled. In the event of a first-place tie for any seat, the tie shall be broken unless all tied candidates can be elected simultaneously. Should there be any partial-term vacancies on the committee, the partial-term seat(s) shall be filled after the full-term seats have been filled.

Discussion: This provides explicit tie-breakers for elections, using the method specified in the parliamentary authority. As far as we know, they represent current practice.

There are actually three different tie-breaking rules for the three types of elections WSFS can administer (Hugo Awards, Site Selection and Mark Protection Committee). Hugos permit ties for 1st place, Site Selection does not, and the MPC permits them if there are enough seats left to fill. This moves the general rule into Article 6 from Article 3 and details the differences in each case.

The new sections are taken from the existing Section 3.11, and fresh text is underlined.

5. Short Title: Tied Races

Moved, to amend Section 4.5 of the WSFS Constitution to explicitly provide for procedures in case of a tied site selection election, as follows:

1. In Section 4.5.5, insert “or if two or more bids are tied for first place at the end of tallying,” after “If 'None of the Above' wins,”

4.5.5: If "None of the Above" wins, or if two or more bids are tied for first place at the end of tallying, the duty of site selection shall devolve on the Business Meeting of the current Worldcon. If the Business Meeting is unable to decide by the end of the Worldcon, the Committee for the following Worldcon shall make the selection without undue delay.

2. In Section 4.5.6, insert “following a win by ‘None of the Above’” after “Worldcon Committee”.

4.5.6: Where a site and Committee are chosen by a Business Meeting or Worldcon Committee following a win by ‘None of the Above’, they are not restricted by exclusion zone or other qualifications.

3. Insert new section 4.5.7: “Where a site and Committee are chosen by a Business Meeting or Worldcon Committee following a tie in tallying, they must select one of the tied bids.”

4.5.7: Where a site and Committee are chosen by a Business Meeting or Worldcon Committee following a tie in tallying, they must select one of the tied bids.

4. Insert a new sentence at the end of Section 2.6, as follows:

Section 2.6: Incapacity of Committees. With sites being selected three (3) years in advance, there are at least three selected current or future Worldcon Committees at all times. If one of these should be unable to perform its duties, the other selected current or future Worldcon Committee whose site is closer to the site of the one unable to perform its duties shall determine what action to take, by consulting the Business Meeting or by mail poll of WSFS if there is sufficient time, or by decision of the Committee if there is not sufficient time. Where a site and Committee are chosen by a Business Meeting or Worldcon Committee, they are not restricted by exclusion zone or other qualifications.

FOLLE Report

The Long List committee is a committee set up by Noreascon 4 to put together a complete, accurate Long List of Worldcons and ancillary data which is free of typos and other trivial mistakes. The WSFS BM at ConJose appointed the N4 Long List committee to also be the official WSFS Formulation of Long List Entries committee. At present, the committee consists of Mark Olson (Chair), Kevin Standlee, George Flynn, Joe Siclari, Vince Docherty, Rich Lynch and Craig Miller

We intend to produce a Long List of Worldcons, a Long List of Nasfics and a Long List of Hugo Award nominees and winners. We intend to produce each list in two forms: A set of web pages and a set of Microsoft Word documents (the latter to provide a source for use in publications.)

Attached are the Long List of Worldcons, along with notes, and the Long List of NASFiCs, with notes. As you can see, we believe that we have successfully cleaned up the Long List of Worldcons and the Long List of Nasfics. (We propose to work on the Hugos list next year.)

Our philosophy is to create lists which accurately reflect reality without being so detailed that the main information is lost in a forest of subtle detail. To do this we have divided the Long List into two parts: The Long List itself and an extensive set of notes. We anticipate that the Long List will be printed in Worldcon Souvenir Books and the like, while the notes will typically only be referred to on-line. When multiple interpretations of a piece of data (who chaired a convention, what its name was, where it was held, etc.) exist, our policy is to have the Long List include the version which in our judgment best reflects the facts as understood by the people involved, and to document whatever variations or details we have discovered in the notes. We will respect historical judgments as long as they are not clearly in error, and we will attempt to objectively verify any corrections or notes we add.

Here's our work plan which we'll probably follow more-or-less sequentially:

1. The Long List of Worldcons (done)

   1. Produce draft of Long List and Notes (done)

   2. Review and perfect within LL committee (done)

   3. Send out for wider review (done)

2. The Long List of Nasfics (done)

   1. Produce draft of Long List and Notes (done)

   2. Review and perfect within LL committee (done)

   3. Send out for wider review (done)

3. The Long List of Hugos (next year)

   1. Produce draft of Long List and Notes

   2. Review and perfect within LL committee

   3. Send out for wider review

4. Produce public web site (next year)

   1. Seek assistance to improve visual appearance of web pages

   2. Make public

   3. Hunker down to weather onslaught of niggling

5. Membership numbers (next year)

   1. Develop definitions of terms

   2. Continuing process of researching membership numbers

Many thanks to NESFA for providing a web site and to Noreascon 4 for providing an email list for discussions.

There are a few details we have not yet been able to track down (the names of Bucconeer's main hotels (see the notes page for what that means) and the exact dates of a number of 50s Worldcons.) Anyone who can provide that information or who can provide corrections should send them to me at mlo@baskerville.org and I'll forward them to the Long List committee.

The Long List of World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons)

Notes on the Long List of Worldcons

General Notes

Number - Year - Name

We have normally listed a convention by the least confusing version of its name. Most of the time this is the name preferred by the convention (variants are noted) but we also follow fannish tradition in retroactively numbering the first Worldcon in a series 1 (or I or One). (I.e., Noreascon 1 was known at the time only as "Noreascon".) All known naming oddities are noted.

Guests

Custom in designating Guests of Honor has varied greatly, with some conventions giving specific titles (Fan, Pro, Australia, US, Artist, etc.) and some simply call them all Guests of Honor. We have used specific labels where they existed. In general we do not note spelling issues like Honor/Honour.

The Toastmaster is not a Guest of Honor, though some conventions gave the Toastmaster equal billing with the Guests. To confuse matters further, in at least one case a Guest was also designated as Toastmaster. In a few instances the Toastmaster was given a title other than "Toastmaster" such as "Master of Ceremonies".

We have tried to note all cases where a guest did not attend.

Site

Under Site we have listed:

1. All facilities which hosted non-trivial convention functions

2. The main sleeping room hotel

3. Any other hotel which accounted for 25% or more of the sleeping rooms.

Chair

Who chaired a particular Worldcon is sometimes less clear than one might expect. Our policy in constructing this list is to be as accurate as possible without being misleading. We have attempted to follow the convention's official record (where it exists) supplemented by other contemporary records. In all cases where we are aware of ambiguity, we have included notes. When multiple people with Chair-like titles exist (including Co-Chair, Deputy Chair, Associate Chair, Vice-Chair, and Deputy Assistant Co-Vice Chair) we list only the actual top manager at the time of the convention in the main list, and all other people who were in line management positions with titles including the word fragment "chair" in the notes (i.e., all managers with titles matching *[cC]hair*.) When the title is co-Chair and it appears that both were functional top managers, both are included in the Long List. People in support positions (non-line management positions) with Chair-like titles (e.g., "Chair's Staff" or "Assistant to the Chair") are not included. This list does not include bid leadership -- only leadership after the bid was won. Where we found ambiguity, we have documented it.

Additionally, we have attempted to document cases where there was a disconnect between the person holding the title of Chair and the person(s) who were the actual top manager(s) of the convention.

Attendance

This column records how many paying members actually attended the Worldcon to the extent that that number can be discerned. It includes all paid members including one-days. (One-day members are usually not technically members of the Worldcon, but we do count them for the purpose of computing total attendance.) It excludes freebies (except the Guests, of course), unpaid children, paid attending members who did not attend, and all supporting members. The available data is very incomplete and imprecise and many of these numbers are probably substantially in error. We have noted cases where we know the numbers to be doubtful. About 99% of the numbers ending in 00 are estimates.

Convention Notes

1939 -- Nycon I

The 1939 Worldcon did not have a name, but simply called itself "World Science Fiction Convention". It has subsequently been called "Nycon I" and "The 1939 Worldcon".

The convention was controlled by a so-called 'Ruling Triumvirate' whose other members were William S. Sykora and James V. Taurasi.

1949 -- Cinvention

Don Ford carried out the duties of Chair, but was officially only Secretary-Treasurer; Charles R. Tanner had the honorary title of Chair.

Ted Carnell, the Fan Guest of Honor, was also Toastmaster with the title "Entertainment Master of Ceremonies". He was brought to North America by the Big Pond Fund.

1950 -- NorWesCon

Theodore Sturgeon, the Toastmaster, had the title "Entertainment Master of Ceremonies."

1952 -- TASFiC

"TASFiC" stood for "Tenth Anniversary Science Fiction Convention"; it was popularly known as Chicon II, and subsequent Chicons counted it as such.

1953 -- 11th Worldcon

Officially known as "The 11th Worldcon," it was popularly known as Philcon II. Milton A. Rothman replaced James A. Williams as Chair upon Williams' death. Tom Clareson, PhD was Vice-Chair.

1954 -- SFCon

Though SFCon and Westercon shared the hotel and con chairs, Westercon was held on Friday, September 3rd, with Jack Williamson as GoH, while Worldcon was held Saturday-Monday September 4-6, with John W. Campbell, Jr., as GoH.

1955 -- Clevention

The identity of the Special Mystery Guest was not revealed (even to the honoree) until the first night of the convention. The Program book noted that "Mr. Boucher [the Toastmaster] will make the presentation of the Achievement Awards and identify the Mystery Guest."

1956 -- NYCon II

Officially known as "NEWYORCON" but -- in the words of a report at the time "The fans wouldn't have it" -- and it has been NYCon II since.

1957 -- Loncon I

Loncon's program book does not use the name "Loncon" but refers to the convention as the "15th World Science Fiction Convention."

1958 -- Solacon

Combined with West Coast Science Fantasy Conference (Westercon), sharing Guests of Honor and Chairmen. Solacon was physically in Los Angeles, but (by mayoral proclamation) technically in South Gate, California, to fulfill their bid slogan of "South Gate in 58".

1959 -- Detention

John Berry, the Fan GoH, was brought to North America by a special fan fund.

Isaac Asimov had been listed as the TM in all promotional material prior to the convention. At the convention that the program book added "...with the assistance of Robert Bloch" who acted as Asimov's foil at the banquet.

1960 -- Pittcon

Ray Smith was Vice Chair. The Program Book lists a "non-con program" day on Friday, 2 Sept.

1964 -- Pacificon II

Combined with West Coast Science Fantasy Conference (Westercon), sharing Guests of Honor and Chairmen. Pacificon II was held in Oakland, CA, which was not the same city (LA, 1946) where Pacificon I was held.

1966 -- Tricon

Officially jointly hosted by Cleveland, Detroit, and Cincinnati (hence "Tricon"). The question of who chaired the convention is complicated. The Tricon program book lists Cleveland's Ben Jason as Chair and Detroit's Howard DeVore and Cincinnati's Lou Tabakow as Associate Chairmen, but included all three in the Long List as did Nycon 3 the following year. People involved with the convention confirm that it was run by the three of them working jointly, so they are being treated as co-Chairmen here.

1967 -- NyCon 3

The convention's name was written as "NyCon 3" at the convention, but -- somehow -- subsequently got changed to Nycon III in versions of the Long List, perhaps echoing NYCon II.

1968 -- Baycon

Combined with West Coast Science Fantasy Conference (Westercon), sharing Guests of Honor and Chairmen.

1969 -- St. Louiscon

Eddie Jones, the TAFF (Trans Atlantic Fan Fund) winner, replaced Ted White, who withdrew as Fan Guest to dramatize the TAFF winner.

1970 -- Heicon

Heicon had decided prior to the convention to select the TAFF winner as its Fan Guest. The subsequent winner of the 1970 TAFF election was Elliot Shorter.

Heicon also called itself "Heicon '70 International".

1974 -- Discon II

Jay and Alice Haldeman were co-chairmen until the spring of 1974 when circumstances forced them to move out of Washington. Ron Bounds took over as de facto Chair until Jay returned for the convention. At the convention, Jay and Ron functioned as co-chairmen. The Discon II program book continued to list Jay and Alice as co-Chairmen, and included a welcome from Jay (co-Chair) and Ron (vice-Chair).

1975 -- Aussiecon One

Fan Guest of Honor, Donald Tuck, did not attend the convention. (Fans had to go to his home in Tasmania to meet him.)

1977 -- SunCon

SunCon was bid by "7 in '77", a group of well-known con-runners who promised that if they won they would then select an ideal site. They selected a hotel in Orlando, Florida, which subsequently went bankrupt, upon which SunCon moved to facilities in Miami Beach.

According to Chair Don Lundry, his wife Grace Lundry functioned as his co-Chair; however, convention publications listed Don solely.

In 2003 Don Lundry provided a revised attendance figure of 3240, replacing the number of 2500 reported in publications at the time and subsequently in previous versions of this list. It is possible that this is a total membership and not attendance.

1978 -- IguanaCon

This was the first IguanaCon, but was called Iguanacon II because of a previous hoax.

Greg Brown was the initial Chair but was later replaced by Tim Kyger. After the convention, Gary Farber was recognized as having fulfilled the function of Vice-Chair.

Josef Nesvadba was announced as the European GoH for Iguanacon. He could not get travel papers and did not attend. He was not listed as a guest in PR3. In the program book, he was listed on the main GoH page, but was not listed in Iguancon's own entry in the Long List. Finally, he was not listed in Iguanacon's PR 5, which came out in 1980 and provided a detailed history of what went on, who resigned and who replaced who.

1979 -- Seacon 79

Seacon 79 was held in Brighton, England, which was not the same city (Seattle, 1961) where Seacon I was held.

1984 -- LAcon II

Like South Gate, Anaheim is part of the greater Los Angeles area.

The Toastmaster and MC positions were essentially equivalent, with Bloch officiating at the Hugo Ceremony and Pournelle at the Guest of Honor Speeches & Other Awards Ceremony.

1985 -- Aussiecon II

David Grigg replaced John Foyster, who resigned for family reasons, as Chair.

1987 -- Conspiracy

Alfred Bester did not attend the convention due to poor health.

Malcolm Edwards was Chair until about nine months before the convention when he resigned from the committee for personal reasons. To minimize possible bad publicity from this, he agreed to remain as titular Chair and presided at some at-con ceremonies. Paul Oldroyd took over all of his duties, but under the title of "Coordinator". Both Malcolm and Paul agree that that Paul was the de facto Chair at the time of the convention.

1989 -- Noreascon 3

The Stranger Club was the first SF club in Boston and sponsor of the pre-War series of Boskones and the club was the Fan Guest of Honor of Noreascon 3. All of its known surviving members were invited to the convention as guests to represent the club and seven were located and attended: Art Widner, Chan Davis, Harry Stubbs (Hal Clement), Louis Russell Chauvenet, Timothy Orrok, and Robert D. Swisher.

The convention's name was officially agnostic: "Noreascon 3", "Noreascon Three" and "Noreascon III" were all declared correct forms of the name.

1992 -- MagiCon

Becky Thomson was Co-Chair for the first two years after the site was selected, then vice-chairman thereafter and at the convention. Mike Resnick acted as Toastmaster for the Meet-the-Pros party.

1993 -- ConFrancisco

David Clark replaced Terry Biffel as Chair upon Biffel's death. Besides the Chair, there were Vice Chairs: Peggy Rae Pavlat and Ruth L. Sachter; and Deputy Vice Chairs: Jeff Canfield and Judy Kindell.

The Guests of Honor were designated as "Honored Guests" and the Toastmaster was called the "Master of Ceremonies". Mark Twain was "channeled" by Jon deCles.

1994 -- ConAdian

Combined with the Canadian National Science Fiction Convention (Canvention). Christine Barnson and Kevin Standlee were Deputy Chairs.

1995 -- Intersection

Intersection was combined with the 1995 Eurocon. When Intersection won, Tim Illingworth and Vincent Docherty were Co-Chairmen. Docherty resigned and moved to Oman and was replaced by Martin Easterbrook. Illingworth subsequently resigned and was replaced by Docherty. Easterbrook and Docherty were co-Chairmen during the last year of planning and at the convention.

1996 -- LACon III

Special Guest Elsie Wollheim died before the convention.

1997 -- LoneStarCon II

a.k.a. "The Second Occasional LoneStarCon Science Fiction Convention & Chili Cook-off"; the first LoneStarCon, held in Austin, was the 1985 NASFiC.

1998 -- Bucconeer

Special Guest J. Michael Straczynski did not attend.

1999 -- Aussiecon Three

GoH George Turner died prior to the convention. Special Guest J. Michael Straczynski attended

2001 -- The Millennium Philcon

Laura Syms and Gary Feldbaum were Co-Vice-Chairmen.

2002 -- ConJose

After the bid won, Tom Whitmore was appointed Chair with Ruth Sachter as Vice-Chair. Sachter resigned and subsequently Craige Howlett and Cindy Scott were appointed Co-Vice-Chairmen. Finally, Kevin Standlee was appointed Co-Chair with Whitmore.

The attendance figure is a preliminary estimate.

2003 -- Torcon 3

Combined with the Canadian National Science Fiction Convention (Canvention)

2005 -- Interaction

The Guests of Honour were listed with no designation as to type. KIM Campbell, Colin Harris and Paul Treadway are Vice-Chairmen. Interaction is also the 2005 Eurocon.

The Long List of NASFiCs

Notes on the Long List of NASFiCs

General Notes

Guests

Custom in designating Guests of Honor has varied greatly, with some conventions giving specific titles (Fan, Pro, Australia, US, Artist, etc.) and some simply call them all Guests of Honor. We have used specific labels where they existed. In general we do not note spelling issues like Honor/Honour.

The Toastmaster is not a Guest of Honor, though some conventions gave the Toastmaster equal billing with the Guests. To confuse matters further, in at least one case a Guest was also designated as Toastmaster. In a few instances the Toastmaster was given a title other than "Toastmaster" such as "Master of Ceremonies".

Site

Under Site we have listed:

4. All facilities which hosted non-trivial convention functions

5. The main sleeping room hotel

6. Any other hotel which accounted for 25% or more of the sleeping rooms.

Chair

Who chaired a particular NASFiC is sometimes less clear than one might expect. Our policy in constructing this list is to be as accurate as possible without being misleading. We have attempted to follow the convention's official record (where it exists) supplemented by other contemporary records. In all cases where we are aware of ambiguity, we have included notes. When multiple people with Chair-like titles exist (including Co-Chair, Deputy Chair, Associate Chair, Vice-Chair, and Deputy Assistant Co-Vice Chair) we list only the top manager at the time of the convention in the main list, and all others in management positions with Chair-like titles in the notes (i.e., all managers with titles matching *[cC]hair*.) People in support positions with Chair-like titles (e.g., "Chair's Staff" or "Assistant to the Chair") are not included. This list makes no attempt to include bid leadership.

Attendance

This column records how many paying members actually attended the NASFiC to the extent that that number can be discerned. It includes all paid members including one-days. It excludes freebies (except the Guests, of course), unpaid children, paid attending members who did not attend, and all supporting members. The available data is very incomplete and imprecise and many of these numbers are probably substantially in error. We have noted cases where we know the numbers to be doubtful. About 99% of the numbers ending in 00 are estimates.

Convention Notes

1975 -- NASFiC

Spelled out, NASFiC was an initialism for North American Science Fiction Convention.

1979 -- NorthAmericon `79

Another source estimates the attendance as 1400.

1985 -- LoneStarCon I

Also known as "The First Occasional Lone Star Science Fiction Convention & Chili Cook-off" and "ChiliCon". Robert Taylor was Vice-Chair.

1990 -- ConDigeo

The convention's name was occasionally spelled "ConDiego"

1995 -- Dragon*Con

Also known as "NASFiC / Dragon*Con / Atlanta Comics Expo `95". Dragon*Con was a pre-existing annual Atlanta convention, with emphasis on the media aspects of science fiction.

LA CON III FINANCIAL REPORT

BucConeer, the 56th World Science Fiction Convention

Report to the 59th World Science Fiction Convention

Business Meeting

Covering the Period Aug. 20, 2002 to Aug. 31, 2003

Opening Balance: $ 10,439.04

Deletions:

Banking Expenses $ 199.06

Miscellaneous $ 29.00

Student Contests $ 10,210.98

Remaining Balance: $ .00

This depletes the remaining funds from the 56th World Science Fiction Convention. Student Contest for the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention is financed on contributions received to date. Future student contests will be determined by future contribution.

This constitutes the final report from BucConeer. Future reports from the Baltimore Worldcon 1998, Inc., the organization operating the student contests with the seated Worldcons, will report only upon request.

Submitted by Robert J. MacIntosh, Chief Financial Officer & Peggy Rae Sapienza, Chair

1 Chicon 2000

Statement of Financial Condition as of August 27, 2003

Summary of Revenue and Expenses

Memberships $680,701

Dealers’ Tables 42,500

Art Show Revenue 18,666

Advertising and Sponsorships 34,204

Royalties 10,764

Investment Income 29,282

Contributions and Pass-Along Funds 33,154

Miscellaneous 4,051

TOTAL REVENUE $853,322

Administrative Expenses $97,351

Guest of Honor Expenses 28,087

Publications 94,401

At-Con Expenses 265,581

WSFS Activities 8,338

Staff Reimbursements 126,121

Facilities Charges and Labor 132,543

Miscellaneous Expenses 27,860

TOTAL EXPENSES $780,282

SURPLUS $73,040

Disbursement of Surplus Funds

WSFS Mark Protection Committee Contribution $1,467

Pass-Along Funds:

Millennium Philcon 6,000

Con José 6,000

Torcon 3 20,000

BALANCE ON HAND $39,573