![[image] Follow Your Heart](../images/logotop.gif)
![[image] Beauty and the Beast By the Bay](../images/logobottom.gif)
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Con News - Issue 5 December 10, 2002 Welcome to the fifth issue of CON NEWS - your source of information, updates and announcements for the 14th Annual BATB convention. Con Name: Follow Your Heart: Beauty & the Beast by the Bay Dates: July 11-13, 2003 Location: Crowne-Plaza Union Square, San Francisco, California Con Web Site: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM DEB Many of us seem to turn our minds and hearts to "the important things" as the holidays approach. Oh, the normal Above temptations are there - to do too much - run around too much - forget what it's all about too much! But, when all is said and done, most of us are more apt to pay attention to things that really matter over these particular holidays than at other times of the year. And so - if you might open your hearts along with your ears for a moment - please allow me to enter your busy Above world for a moment. As we sit here working on your "coming home to the Tunnels time" next July - I know the entire Con Team joins me in sending warm & heartfelt greetings and best wishes to you and your families - now - and into the New Year. FAN POLL RESULTS For the Fan Poll re: GUESTS you may be bringing to the con. Most said they weren't planning on bringing guests. A couple will be bringing children - a few said they were bringing adult guests. In San Francisco, guests will be on their own while you attend whatever con activities you've signed up for. However, there choices. Guests can register for the con like anyone else (there's always a "first time"!). Or - we've created several options for guests to sign up for PARTS of the con. (perfect for that hubby who wants to explore SF on their own, but might want to be at the Banquet with you - or go on a post-con event with you and other con goers.) Here's what's available for guests at the FYH Convention: a) Std registration - access to all Friday, all Saturday and partial Sunday con events b) Guest ticket for Saturday night Banquet and Follow Your Heart Auction c) Guest ticket for Sunday Favorite Moments Brunch d) Day pass for any one or more of the con days (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) e) Guest ticket for Golden Gate Park Walking Tour and Picnic on Thursday f) Guest ticket for 4 hour SF Grayline Bus Tour on Monday g) Guest ticket for Fisherman's Wharf/Ghirardhelli Square on Tuesday (no charge) h) Guest ticket for SF Bay Cruise on Tuesday You can use the same online registration form or downloadable printed form (fax or snail mail). Be sure to sign up guests UNDER YOUR NAME - then note in the comments with each thing you select - your guests name so we can have tickets and badges at the ready. http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/registration.asp For the Fan Poll re: what things you're interested in seeing in the DEALERS ROOM AND AT THE FYH AUCTION at the con. All scoring results for this poll - taken throughout the poll time and at the end are posted on the Con-versations Message Board at http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/forum/ Head over to the site and take a look! PREPARING FOR CON CHATS Get ready for a few CON CHATS in 2003! (smile) We're planning CON CHATS in January, March and May. If you tell us you want more - we can certainly make that happen. Just let us know! (smile) Meanwhile - here's some information to get yourself prepared to chat! To get ready - you'll find tons of information at: http://www.scifi.com/chat/chat.faq.html We'll be using moderated chat - so be sure you read up on that section so you know how it works. Most fans will be able to access the chats directly from the scifi.com site - with no need for software downloads or installations. Some international fans - and anyone who cannot access the chat rooms via the web (try it and see what your system will or won't do for you) - can find answers in the above faq re: mIRC software (IRCle for Mac users). If you can't access via the web site - you'll have to download and install mIRC - learn how to connect to the chat with it - then use it. Luckily, it's a very simple and intuitive program. To see if you can access chat room at the site without downloading software - go here to try it out: http://www.scifi.com/chat/chatnow.html You need three things to enter a chat room when you arrive at the web url just stated: real name, nickname and channel. The channels are listed in a drop down menu. When testing - just try any room channel of interest that happens to be available when you visit there. For con chats, we'll tell you in advance the CHANNEL NAME and you'll find it available in the drop down menu the day of the scheduled chat - just before the chat begins. We're looking forward to doing these - so hope to see you there! (smile) CON HIGHLIGHT -- CHARITY What better time of the year than this - to talk about our charity plans? This is so central to this fandom. So many individuals have done so much - dollar by dollar - project by project - to carry the Helper idea forward from a television show - into real life activities. There are many worthy charities. There are many worthy causes. All could use our support. So, how to choose? Early on, we decided that for 2003, we would NOT choose a particular group in need of direct support. Instead, you've likely heard our early (2001) decision - that we would HELP THE HELPERS. This seems very fitting with BATB, our strong Helper traditions and certainly with the con theme of Follow Your Heart! So many Helpers go about giving and doing - with little support for THEM. Our next step was to research where and how we might do this. We looked for non-profit organizations with these goals in mind. They exist! Some concentrate in information and referral - some on support group functions - some on daily living tips - you name it! Some are HUGE in size - some are tiny little groups serving part of one city or town. The Follow Your Heart con has selected the National Alliance for Caregiving. This non-profit has many large non-profits in its membership. Since they are so large - but with a mission RIGHT ON TARGET - it doesn't make sense to simply raise some money and drop it into a "big ocean fund". However, they are large enough that whatever we help with - we KNOW IT WILL GET TO THE PEOPLE IT SUPPORTS. They have the means and the membership to make their programs GO. So, discussions are currently underway to work with them as our "designated charity" for the con - but we'll identify a SPECIFIC PROJECT we'll contribute to. This way - we can help - and we can see our efforts helping. We'll be able to HELP THE HELPERS in a real and specific way. We'll keep you updated throughout 2003 as talks progress on this front. Meanwhile, you can get general information about NAC (its membership list, its annual conference, its goals, its programs, etc) at their web site located at: http://www.caregiving.org/ WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CON WEB SITE We have a message board up at the con web site for anyone looking to connect with others as potential roommates at the con hotel. Some of you want to get that part settled before you register - so you can plan your budgets. So, the FIND-A-ROOMIE MESSAGE BOARD is up for your use. Remember to include your e:mail address in your message if you're hoping to be contacted by anyone reading your post. You'll find the board at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/roomie/index.asp The updates to the con web site continue to happen over time - in sprints and dashes. The best way to keep up with it all is to review the SITE MAP at http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/sitemap.asp - and the WHAT'S NEW section at http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/updates.asp. At the latter, you'll see descriptions of the last several updates as well as links to past archived update descriptions. The con web site continues to be the HUB of all con activity - so check in often to see what's up! Hard to believe - but we're already running number 5 and 6 of the thirteen FAVORITE MOMENTS POLLS from December 1st to December 21st. This round it's Favorite "Father and Vincent" moment and Favorite "Location or Setting" in the show. Per usual, it's hard to choose! FAN POLLS continue to run as well. This current poll asks about your BATB LIFE. All sorts of possible activities are on the list - and you can say to what degree they are a part of YOUR batb life choices! (smile) You can get to both types of polls at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/vote.asp You may have seen something new pop up on each and every page of the con web site. Yes, it is a DONATION box - connected directly to PayPal. Please think about using it! You can choose what amount of money you can afford to donate to us - then leave it as a general donation to use where we need it for the con - or specify a specific use - like the CON GUEST FUND. We could really use your help - so we've tried to make it easy for you to help!! A CON REGISTRATION HAS BEEN DONATED !!! IT'S GOING UP ON EBAY !!! The FYH Con received a DONATION via PayPal from Debbie Bichel for one standard con registration. (Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday) What a present that was! In fact, Debbie suggested we CHALLENGE you - individuals and fan groups alike - to pool your money to do the same! Why is this such a good idea? We're going to list this registration on ebay - and start the bidding at HALF PRICE! One of you might be the lucky winner of a con registration! What a great way to make it possible for "somebody" to perhaps get to the con for a little less money - and yet, raise money for the con at the same time. Thank you, Debbie - for both your donation - and your idea. It's a WINNER! CON CALENDAR REMINDERS 21 Dec -- Favorite Moments Polls (#5 and #6) close - Favorite "Vincent & Father" Moment and Favorite "Setting or Location" 31 Dec -- Last day to get Dealer Table(s) at current rate of $110 for your first table - $50 each for any additional tables. 1 Jan -- New rates for Dealer Tables. $135 for your first table - $65 each for any additional ones. Note: for Dealers Room Information - go to: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/dealers.asp 1 Jan -- Favorite Moments Poll #7 begins (to Jan 21) - Favorite "Cather and other" Moment 5 Jan -- Fan Poll about "your BATB life" closes IN THE NEXT ISSUE As always - let us hear from you! Write us online at Feedback@batbtunnels.org or post your comments, questions, con memories &/or ideas at our Con'versations message board at http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/forum where you can interact with other fans at the site. If you want to receive Con News directly in your personal e:mail account, you can subscribe at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/mailsignup.asp or read this or past issues posted at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/connews.asp Again, may your holidays be filled with warmth and light. And remember - when in doubt? During the holidays - and throughout the year - you cannot go wrong if you Follow Your Heart. Be well, Debbie |
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