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(Backdated, actually composed on August 2 because I was too busy yesterday.)
As with most Worldcons, I usually have a lot less to do, especially when there is no "overflow" WSFS Business Meeting. I did have a meeting, however: the organizational meeting of the WSFS Mark Protection Committee and Annual General Meeting of Worldcon Intellectual Property (the non-profit corporation set up to hold WSFS's intellectual property, particularly in those places that don't recognize unincorporated societies like WSFS.)
( MPC Details )
After the MPC meeting was the Closing Ceremony. I always attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. I reckon it is a reflection of how well CoNZealand built a virtual community that I had many of the same feelings of sadness at the ending of our annual gathering. It certainly wasn't the same as an in-person gathering, and I hope that we will once again be able to meet in person again by next August (although I understand how dicey that currently looks), but the event this year did evoke some of those same feelings.
The Closing Ceremony included a virtual "gavel handover" after CoNZealand co-chairs Kelly Buehler and Norman Cates banged the gave to official close the convention and then handed it off-screen to DisCon III co-chairs Colette Fozard and William Lawhorn (properly masked, I might add), who brought the Gavel of WSFS from off-screen and said, "We're on the clock now!" For logistical reasons, the gavel in New Zealand was the "stunt double," with the Gavel of WSFS having already been shipped from where it has often resided between conventions in my home.
I finally had an opportunity to look around the convention's virtual exhibit hall after the Closing Ceremonies. When I showed it to Lisa, she wished that she'd known what was going on, because she thinks that she and some of her friends who part of the ActiveWorlds virtual community could have build a "private world" (open only to CZ attending members) that did something similar and might have been a little easier to navigate. It was an interesting build, though. I won't link to it because it's unclear whether or not it will be preserved and if so, whether non-members will be able to access it.
There was still some programming after the Closing Ceremony (as there often is, just as there's often programming before the Opening Ceremony). The final program item was the last feedback session. This was pretty large, with at least five Zoom screens of 25 people online. Not surprisingly, the issues around the 2020 Hugo Awards Ceremony were addressed. Kelly and Norman handled this earnestly and honestly, and I would like to think that their distress as they took responsibility for the unhappiness of many people was obvious. I certainly could see it. I know how they must feel. I hated disappointing people at ConJos&eactue; in 2002, and as far as I remember, we didn't have quite as high-profile displeasure vented toward us back then.
( On to the Old Pharts )
Soon enough, it was time for the Old Pharts' Induction ceremony. It's not secret, but I put it behind a cut because photos.
( Welcome New Members )
Lisa attended the party as well, although she doesn't like to be on camera that much, as she's normally the person behind the camera. She sat off to my right.
We stuck around until about 2 AM PDT, which is phenomenally late when your usual days start at 4:30 AM. Fortunately, it was now Sunday morning my time, so I didn't have to set an alarm, but I also didn't have enough brain capacity left to write anything, and that's why this post is actually being written around 3 PM Sunday afternoon.
It was good to see people. It would have been better to be in the same place with them.
As with most Worldcons, I usually have a lot less to do, especially when there is no "overflow" WSFS Business Meeting. I did have a meeting, however: the organizational meeting of the WSFS Mark Protection Committee and Annual General Meeting of Worldcon Intellectual Property (the non-profit corporation set up to hold WSFS's intellectual property, particularly in those places that don't recognize unincorporated societies like WSFS.)
( MPC Details )
After the MPC meeting was the Closing Ceremony. I always attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. I reckon it is a reflection of how well CoNZealand built a virtual community that I had many of the same feelings of sadness at the ending of our annual gathering. It certainly wasn't the same as an in-person gathering, and I hope that we will once again be able to meet in person again by next August (although I understand how dicey that currently looks), but the event this year did evoke some of those same feelings.
The Closing Ceremony included a virtual "gavel handover" after CoNZealand co-chairs Kelly Buehler and Norman Cates banged the gave to official close the convention and then handed it off-screen to DisCon III co-chairs Colette Fozard and William Lawhorn (properly masked, I might add), who brought the Gavel of WSFS from off-screen and said, "We're on the clock now!" For logistical reasons, the gavel in New Zealand was the "stunt double," with the Gavel of WSFS having already been shipped from where it has often resided between conventions in my home.
I finally had an opportunity to look around the convention's virtual exhibit hall after the Closing Ceremonies. When I showed it to Lisa, she wished that she'd known what was going on, because she thinks that she and some of her friends who part of the ActiveWorlds virtual community could have build a "private world" (open only to CZ attending members) that did something similar and might have been a little easier to navigate. It was an interesting build, though. I won't link to it because it's unclear whether or not it will be preserved and if so, whether non-members will be able to access it.
There was still some programming after the Closing Ceremony (as there often is, just as there's often programming before the Opening Ceremony). The final program item was the last feedback session. This was pretty large, with at least five Zoom screens of 25 people online. Not surprisingly, the issues around the 2020 Hugo Awards Ceremony were addressed. Kelly and Norman handled this earnestly and honestly, and I would like to think that their distress as they took responsibility for the unhappiness of many people was obvious. I certainly could see it. I know how they must feel. I hated disappointing people at ConJos&eactue; in 2002, and as far as I remember, we didn't have quite as high-profile displeasure vented toward us back then.
( On to the Old Pharts )
Soon enough, it was time for the Old Pharts' Induction ceremony. It's not secret, but I put it behind a cut because photos.
( Welcome New Members )
Lisa attended the party as well, although she doesn't like to be on camera that much, as she's normally the person behind the camera. She sat off to my right.
We stuck around until about 2 AM PDT, which is phenomenally late when your usual days start at 4:30 AM. Fortunately, it was now Sunday morning my time, so I didn't have to set an alarm, but I also didn't have enough brain capacity left to write anything, and that's why this post is actually being written around 3 PM Sunday afternoon.
It was good to see people. It would have been better to be in the same place with them.
