ApolloCon

ApolloCon is pleased to announce that Tanya Huff will be our 2012 Guest of Honor.

Tanya Huff is a Canadian author whose twenty-seven books range from heroic fantasy (the Quarters books) through humour (the Keeper Chronicles) to military SF (the Torin Kerr Confederation series). Her books have been translated into nine languages and her five book Blood series, an urban fantasy/vampire/mystery mix which predated the current vampire craze by about fifteen years, was adapted into the 22 episode television series Blood Ties.

We look forward to welcoming Tanya Huff to Texas in June!

For more information about our 2012 GoH, please see our website.

Team ApolloCon will be at FenCon this weekend, running parties on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Festivities start at 9pm each night.

Check party posters for location!

Hope to see you there!

The following message is a general announcement from ApolloCon 2012 Conchair Jonathan Guthrie:

The ApolloCon 2012 committee is just now getting off the ground and if you're interested in participating in the planning part, there are plenty of things you can do to  help.  I have already spoken to a number of people about the committee roles that they want to take for the next ApolloCon, but nothing is carved in stone about who's doing what yet. Some long-standing committee members are leaving us or dramatically scaling back their participation, so there are a lot of roles up in the air.

If you're interested in being on the committee, you're not sure what roles there are, would like to find out what you might be getting yourself into, or have any other questions, comments, or concerns, please email me at conchair.2012@apollocon.org

I have already spoken with a number of people about roles in the upcoming committee.  Even if I've spoken with you, it's pretty important that you send me an email expressing your interest in joining the 2012 committee and letting me know what roles most appeal to you.  I've been pretty preoccupied these last couple of weeks so there's no guarantee I remember the conversation.  I'm sorry about that.  Life happens.

Thank you for your attention, and I hope to see you all at ApolloCon next June.

Okay, as some folks know, we've had some circumstances beyond our control, and it's affected our ability to get the programming grid posted to the website.

(At least it's not as bad as the year our web host blew up & burned --literally-- shortly before the con... nowhere near that exciting.)

We have a work-around in place for now, and have a TENTATIVE and still changing grid on the website at www.apollocon.org/pgm_grid.html and descriptions at www.apollocon.org/pgm_blurbs.html

There will still be some movement on this grid, but you can see that we have plenty of activities and a lot of great people involved.

If you are on programming or would like to be on programming, and you have a question or suggestion, PLEASE email it to programming.2011@apollocon.org. They are very busy right now and might miss questions posted on DreamWidth.

If you haven't booked a hotel room for ApolloCon 2011, now's the time!

Our hotel is once again the lovely DoubleTree Houston Intercontinental Airport, near Bush Intercontinental Airport. Our special room rate is still the same low $85+tax as last year, single through quad occupancy (deluxe and suites are somewhat higher).

Some features of our hotel:
* Tropical Courtyard with Pool
* Plenty of FREE parking
* Workout room for hotel guests
* Derricks Saloon in the hotel (Bar)
* Taco Bell within walking distance to hotel
* The Kettle just across the street

To best ensure that you get a room at our rate, please book soon! Be sure to specify if you want quiet or party floor.

For more information about the hotel and booking a room, including directions, all rates, hotel contact information, and online reservation link, check the hotel page on our website.

If you are not sure about booking a room, read our Why should I book a room? section.

PLEASE NOTE: Reservations are handled using a computerized system that gets confused by the way cons work. If you have any problems with getting our room rate or if you are told our room block is "sold out" please do one of the following:
Contact our Hotel Liaison immediately by email at hotelliaison.2011@apollocon.org
OR
Make the reservation anyway at the higher rate and send an email with your confirmation number to our Hotel Liaison at hotelliaison.2011@apollocon.org

If you are unsure that your reservations is properly associated with ApolloCon, please let the Hotel Liaison know.

(And if you are running parties, be sure to check the party section on the hotel page!)

An announcement from the Friends of Fandom / Houston Science Fiction Association, the friendly folks who bring you ApolloCon:

We're thrilled about our great guest lineup for ApolloCon 2011, to be held June 24 through 26, 2011 at the DoubleTree Houston Intercontinental Airport. And although we are in the middle of planning this year's ApolloCon, it's also the time of year we start thinking about next year's Apollocon, and the first item on that agenda is to select a nominee to be the Con Chair.

The Con Chair's duties include selecting the department heads for ApolloCon, inviting local guests, presiding over meetings of the ApolloCon Committee, and generally being responsible for the operation of ApolloCon.

The details about how it all works are as follows:

Eligibility for Nominating and Voting:

Anyone who has attended at least three ApolloCon meetings or functions in the last year is eligible to submit nominations and/or vote at the meeting. Eligible functions include regular ApolloCon Committee meetings, which are open to the public, working an ApolloCon room party at another con, and ApolloCon 2010.

Nominations:

If you know someone who is willing and able to perform the duties of the Chair for 2012, send a nomination to nominations.2012@apollocon.org. Include a brief statement why you think this person would do a great job. Submit your nominations no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, May 13, 2011.

The Selection Meeting:

The selection of the Chair for ApolloCon 2012 will tentatively take place on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Details to be announced.

An officer or board member of the Corporation (HSFA/FOF) will chair the selection meeting. Those nominated should express their acceptance of the nomination, and their willingness and intention to serve as Chair. There will be a period for discussion and statements by candidates, followed by a secret ballot.

Voting:

Those present and eligible will vote, and the name of the candidate with a majority of the votes cast will be submitted to the President of the Corporation for consideration and approval.

Voting by Proxy:

If you cannot attend the meeting, and you want your vote to count, select someone that you know will be attending the Selection Meeting and send with them a signed letter designating that person your proxy. The proxy will be able to cast votes on your behalf.

If you have any questions, send email to nominations.2012@apollocon.org

I encourage you to visit our website, get your memberships, attend our committee meetings and help out! It's fun to interact with other fans, and we like to have fun!

Remember: It's your ApolloCon!

Regards,

Mark B. Hall
President
HSFA / Friends of Fandom

Just a quick reminder to folks that we're coming up to the next increase in the pre-reg rate for ApolloCon 2011.

Current rate for adult three-day is $30 until May 1st. $35 after. $40 at the door.

See our registration page for information about other rates.

ApolloCon 2011 is very pleased to announce that B. E. Johnson has agreed to be our Artist Guest of Honor.

B. E. Johnson is an air & space artist, production designer and futurist. His career has included stints with Kodak, Penske Racing, the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and four Space Shuttle Ground Crew assignments.

For more information about B. E. Johnson, please see his bio on his website.

ApolloCon 2011 will take place June 24-26 2011 in Houston Texas.

For more information about ApolloCon 2011 visit www.apollocon.org

These are the last days to pre-reg at $25 for ApolloCon 2011!

Our pre-reg rate increases to $30 after January 1 2011.

To register online or to get a mail-in form, visit the Registration page of our website!

ApolloCon 2011 is pleased to announce long-time Wisconsin fan Jeanne Gomoll as our Fan GoH.

Jeanne is a designer and artist whose fannish career encompasses fanzines, Hugo nominations, international travel as a TAFF winner, chairing CorFlu (the fanzine con), chairing Wiscon (the feminist SF con in Madison, Wisconsin), and working with the James Tiptree, Jr. Award since its inception.

We look forward to making Jeanne welcome in Houston!