Chair's Message
Ruth Sachter and Robert Verde
OryCon 18 is shaping up to be a wonderful convention. We've got great Guests of Honor and lots of changes in store this year: many of our fixed functions are in new locations; a full dealers room with some new faces; a growing list of exciting program participants; and, new enthusiastic committee and staff members.
Our thanks to everyone that's helping OryCon 18 happen. Please come and enjoy!
Through October 31, 1996 $25 At the door $40 Children 5 and under Free Children 6 to 12 Half-Price
OryCon 18(If the recorder answers, you have at least 30 minutes to leave a message.)
PO Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228-5703
Phone: (503) 283-0802
Web page: http://www.orycon.org/orycon18/
Email: ruths@spiritone.com & orycon.18@genie.com
The OryCon 18 Art Show will feature the artwork of Artist GOH Patricia Davis. As always, we welcome artwork with science fiction, fantasy, comic or fannish themes. Display fees remain at $7.00 for a 4' x 4' panel or 2' x 4' table space; print shop space is available at $2 per reservation. OryCon collects a 15% commission on all sales. Mail-in art work is welcome with a handling fee of $15 (half of which is rebated if all your work is sold). In order to appropriately handle all of the artwork, there will be a maximum percentage of mail-in work accepted. Please make your space reservations as early as you can.
The show has sold out before the convention for the last few years and has had a waiting list. So, this is your warning: get those reservation forms back to us as soon as possible. Those artists and agents who are on our list will be receiving our mailing by the end of June and do not need to request one. If you are not sure that we have your (correct) address, please drop a line to the P.O. Box or use one of the OryCon e-mail addresses to get it to us.
Your help, comments and suggestions are very important to us and to the success of the Art Show. Many hands are needed during the convention for set-up/tear-down, artist check-in/check-out, data entry, security, sales and more.
To send us your input, receive an Art Show mailing, get more information, or volunteer to help with the artshow, write to the OryCon P.O. Box or e-mail to the addresses listed. And, speaking of addresses, please, please, please, if you move (and want to stay on our mailing list) send OryCon your change of address.
Registration
John Lorentz
The mailing label on this Progress Report contains:
If the name on the label starts with "T/" or "G/", this means that this membership came with a dealer's table or was purchased as a guest of someone else, and no other name has yet been given to us. We suggest that you let us know the name of the person using this badge, so that we can have a correct badge ready.
Memberships and dealer's tables are transferable. If we are notified before the con, we'll have the new badge ready. Otherwise, we require a signed note from the original purchaser of the membership before we can accept the transfer.
Remember, let us know before the convention, and you'll save time waiting in lines at the convention.
Special Note on Badge Names:
If you requested an alternative badge name, this is the name that will appear in large type on your OryCon badge. Your real name will also appear on the badge, but in real small type. We're sorry for this, but we've run into emergency situations in recent years where we've needed to quickly identify an attendee.
Our Guests Of Honor
DIANE DUANE grew up on Long Island but found her way to Ireland
where she gardens, cooks, and writes wonderful books. Whether you've
read her fantasy works, Star Trek novels, or YA books (Door into
Fire, The Wounded Sky, and So You want to be a
Wizard? are just a few), played the computer games, or seen the
animateds, you've just barely scratched the surface.
PETER MORWOOD escaped from his British civil service job in Customs and Excise to write fantasy and science fiction full-time, and we are grateful. Look for The Horse Lord, Prince Ivan, and Greylady just for starters -- there's lots more. Military history and single malts are two of his passions.
GARDNER DOZOIS is best known as the seven-time Hugo award winner for Best Professional Editor while editing Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine for the past ten years and may of the field's premier anthologies. Here's your chance to find out more about his writing and wit without a trip to Philadelphia!
PATRICIA DAVIS has been sending her art work to OryCon for years and you've been eagerly buying her astronomical and fantasy works. This year she is our Artist Guest and can't stay at home in the Bay Area with her painting, writing, gardening, and study of Cantonese.
OryCon Programming
Patty Wells and Linda Pilcher
We're very excited this year about OryCon Programming. As you know, our Author Guests of Honor come all the way from tax-friendly Ireland. We're tremendously honored to have Diane Duane and Peter Morwood at OryCon, as well as Patricia Davis, our Artist Guest of Honor and Gardner Dozois as Editor Guest. These guests, along with many other interesting program participants will help us to create something of interest for everyone.
We want to thank the other loyal program participants who have supported OryCon over the years, and are continuing to do so by expeditiously getting their program cards back to us. This cooperation and the fascinating ideas and talents of these people are what makes OryCon such a delight to program.
While we're still at the Columbia River Red Lion, for the first time in the ten years that we've been there, the programming space will be a little different due to the intervention of The Great Flood of 1996. The carpeting and layout of the lower level program space are being stylishly renovated even as we write. Given this impetus, we are rearranging our use of space somewhat, and are hoping to move things around in such a way as to open up some new programming ideas. We're excited about the new ideas this rearrangement has inspired already.
We're always looking for more good programming ideas. If you have an idea based on the works of our GoHs, or an item that has never appeared previously on an OryCon program we would love to hear it via email.
Patty Wells Linda Pilcher
patty@teleport.com jpilcher@europa.com
OryCon.18@genie.com
In addition to our Guests of Honor, we also have these Program
Participants as of May 3, 1996:
Heather Alexander Stephen Gillett Bruce Holland Rogers Kim Antieau Lenora Good Kristine Kathryn Rusch Donna Barr Eileen Gunn Jim Sarafin Betty Bigelow Jon Gustafson Pippen Sardo Lisa Jean Bothell Norm Hartman Robert Sheckley Elinor Busby Jane Hawkins Dean Wesley Smith Kurt Busiek K. W. Jeter Kevin Standlee Gail Butler Jerry Kaufman Julie Stevens Mona Clee Jean Lamb Janet Tanaka John Cramer Sonia Orin Lyris Mike Tanaka Pauline Cramer Luke McGuff Amy Thomson Debbie Cross Bridget McKenna Suzanne Tompkins Howard Davidson Don McQuinn Edd Vick Joy Day Mike Moscoe Ray Vukcevick John de Camp Rebecca Neason Elisabeth Waters Dan Duval Steven Oliver Leslie What Clare Eddy Jerry Oltion Deborah Wheeler Ru Emerson Margaret Organ-Kean Tom Whitmore Margaret Forsythe Fred Patten Theo Williams Louise Foster Elayne Pelz Ben Yalow ElizaBeth Gilligan Irene Radford J. Steven York
At OryCon 18 we plan to have a full schedule of music programming, concerts, and song circles for your listening (and participating) pleasure! Bring your instruments, vocal chords, songs, and ears and get ready for a weekend of music! If you have any suggestions, comments, or requests please feel free to write to filk programming Attn. Anita Page at the OryCon PO Box.
At this time the Friends of Filk Special Guest is yet to be confirmed, so send in your membership registration to get further information and stay tuned for Progress Report #2! [Late-breaking bulletin: the Friends of Filk Special Guest will be Telynor! Watch the OryCon web page for more information.]
The Return of the OryCon Variety Show
Ann Hoffert, Tracy Bailey, Janet Borkowski, Vicki Harrison, Barbara Hoffert
You say you don't sign up for Masquerades because you don't like being judged?
You say you don't know if that old costume hanging in your closet is good enough for the stage?
You say you don't want to be mired down in complicated rules and regulations, do's and don'ts?
You say you have no place to play your accordion or ride your unicycle?
You say you fall asleep during half-time?
Is that your problem, Bunky?
Well!! Step out into the light! Join us at the OryCon 18 Variety Show. We promise not to judge, we'll love you and your presentation unconditionally, our sign-up guidelines are user friendly and we don't have half-time.
We're doing it like last year, only better. So please don't hesitate to join in. And for those who just like to watch (you kinky people, you), you're the reason we're doing this! So step right up, come one come all to the greatest... er, best... er, most interesting Variety Show this side of... Tencton.
Writers' Workshop
John C. Bunnell
OryCon 18 will sponsor a traditional Clarion-style writers' workshop. Participants will be matched with our professional guests in small groups, to facilitate in-depth critique of each manuscript. In addition, participants will receive resource packets containing valuable advice on marketing and manuscript preparation.
The workshop emphasizes short stories, which should not exceed 7,500 words (30 manuscript pages). However, given sufficient interest from guests and convention members, we will accept novel submissions consisting of two to three chapters and an outline (maximum 60 manuscript pages combined). Submissions should follow professional manuscript format (double-spaced, non-proportional type, 1" margins).
The workshop is open only to registered members of OryCon. You must submit manuscripts prior to the convention so that we can match and distribute the stories. The deadline for receiving submissions will be September 7, 1996.
Participants may submit only one (1) manuscript. To submit, send one (1) copy of your manuscript, along with a fee of $7.50 to cover copying and mailing costs (make checks payable to OryCon 18), to:
John C. BunnellPlease also either complete and attach the form below, or supply the information requested on a separate sheet.
OryCon 18 Writers' Workshop
6663 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. #326
Portland, OR 97225-1403
Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP: ________________________________________________ Phone #: ____________________ Badge # (if known): ____________ The answers to the following questions will help us place your submission in an appropriate critiquing panel. About how many convention writers' workshops have you attended? 0 1-2 3-5 6+ About how many short stories have you had professionally published? 0 1-2 3-5 6+ Are you a member of an ongoing critique group? Y N
OryCon will be offering a place to connect to the 'Net.
Our plan at this time is to have several computers available for connecting to the Internet. OryCon attendees may drop by to get a tour of some interesting places, or learn about the features of the Internet and online communication. Realizing that many of you are already connected, you may wish to bring information on specific sites to share with others. The exact configuration of the hardware is still being worked out but should include Macintosh and Windows.
Video
Mary Olsen & Alan Olsen -- Video
Monica Olsen -- Cereal and Toons
Greetings from video!
Andrew and I will have 24 hour video this year and, if all goes well, two video rooms in which non-hotel residents may view it.
For those of you familiar with Clark Co. WA's public access TV... we have c lose contact with the producers of the delightful little production called "Outer Space Patrol". There is a possibility that we may be seeing some original material produced just for OryCon from them.
Also, our contact from NOVA has volunteered people and equipment for projection of hard-to-find laser disc versions of a variety of movies. We hope to negotiate a time and room with screen from programming for this project. Please be assured that there will not be a preponderance of anime as was seen at last years OryCon.
We are also pleased to announce the return of Cereal and Toons as brought to you by Monica Olsen. She has asked that if anyone has any toon preference to please e-mail that request to alano@teleport.com. She would also like to remind you that the time for Cereal and Toons is limited, so please keep the requests to shorts. (She may not be able to schedule all the requests she receives due to time limitations.)
Dealers' Room
Pat Steed
By remeasuring the room and limiting the space any one dealer could have we've managed to include more dealers this year. To the dealers: if your name is not on the list below, we either did not receive your space request by the deadline or you were the one dealer who lost in the draw and is now at the top of the waiting list. To attending members: we have more dealers and more variety, come look, enjoy, and buy!
OryCon 18 Dealers:
Pat SteedAngelwear Creations Loreen O'Heneghan Anna the Lost Ludicrous Games Book Vault Magika West Bryan Barrett Mon Droit Studio Charae Crystals Quicksilver Fantasies Dragon Tales Books and Gifts Recycled Regalia Dragonfly Design Rhonda Gheen Edie Reichard Shadow's Treasure Chest Everett Comics and Cards Shipman's Star Props Express Yourself Springtime Creations Eye-deas Stone Cold Fantasy Creations The Tooth Fairy Friends of Filk The Fantasy Connection Hypogriff Armoury/Creations by Tova The Magickal Aardvark, Ltd Lady Peg Leg Uncomyn Gifts Lady Jayne's Books Wrigley-Cross Books
Gaming
David Mohr
This year OryCon's gaming room will be in a new location, downstairs in the remodeled Yakima room. We will have a selection of all types of games, reflecting the diversity of gamers at OryCon. Sign-up forms will be available.
Hospitality
We're looking forward to another great hospitality suite -- hosted by
Ethan Herget and Linda Payne. Food and beverage planning is underway
and we'll have lots more to tell you in the next progress report.
Here's a few updates to whet your appetites: Cereal & Toons will be returning as a morning presentation in Hospitality; Saturday afternoon, thanks to Barbara Oldham and Joyce Zimmerschied, we have a tea party on the schedule -- complete with appropriate goodies; to keep everything and everyone on an even keel, we'll again have a professional bartender and a nominal charge (25 cents) for beer and wine (some of Oregon's best). Soda and other non-alcoholic beverages will, of course, be freely available along with lots of good munchies -- both healthy and fattening <g>.
Running Hospitality is a big job, so any offers of help will be gratefully received. There's work to do pre-con in food preparation and purchase, and plenty to do at con, keeping everything fresh, full, and clean. The hotel just refurbished the entire Interstate Wing -- new carpeting, wall coverings, furniture -- so we'll want to be especially considerate.
Children at OryCon
Children must be accompanied by an adult in order to purchase a
membership, and all children must be registered with the convention.
Those five and under (and any other child whose parent requests it)
will receive a hospital-type ID bracelet. This bracelet will list the
parent's (or responsible adult's) name, and hotel room number (if
applicable). At all times, these children must be under the
supervision of an adult, or in the day care facility. If a young child
is found unattended, that child will be delivered to the day care area,
and the parent will be billed for the day care received. Children 5
and under will still be admitted free to the convention.
We recognize that many children in the 6 to 12 range are capable of independent activity. Therefore, as long as they are causing no problems, they do not have to be under adult supervision. However, if they are not capable of independence, then they must be under adult supervision, or in the day care facility, as above. Children 6-12 are admitted at half the adult price; ID bracelets are not required, but suggested.
OryCon Volunteers
John Mead
OryCon, as with all conventions, runs on volunteers. While department heads are determined way in advance, and lots of planning occurs, the actual convention would not happen without the assistance of those wonderful people who VOLUNTEER on site.
We will need volunteers in the following areas: Registration, Art Show, Dealers Room, Hospitality, Dances, Convention Office, Fan Room, Programming setup/takedown, and a wide variety of areas too vast to mention!
As in past years, there will be a raffle, a Meet the Pros session, and new for this OryCon, a Meet the ConCom session!
If you find you have time on your hands, and feel like helping out, swing by the Volunteers table, in the main lobby near Registration; we will generally be able to find something for you to do <evil grin>
For more information, contact:
John Mead
Phone: (503) 238-0552
Email: johnmead@teleport.com
Full page -- $25
Half page -- $15
For the seventh year in a row, we're at the Red Lion/ Columbia River hotel, just north of downtown Portland. The room rate this year is $78.00 (plus tax) a night, for up to four people in the room. Remember to indicate whether you wish the party or the non-party wing, and to include a deposit or credit card number to guarantee your room if you are not planning on arriving before 6PM. At this time, suites are not available during OryCon weekend.
All persons/groups wishing to hold a party should request a room in the Party Wing, the Interstate Wing. The Red Lion hotel is requiring a refundable deposit of $100.00 for all open parties. A party sign-up list will be in the convention Office, as well as information about posting your deposit with the hotel. The hotel is providing extra cleaning supplies to party rooms, available upon request at the Front Desk or through Housekeeping.
Because we've been filling the hotel earlier each year, the reservation information is included in this progress report. You can make your reservation by cutting out and mailing the completed form, or (even better) calling the hotel directly at (503) 283-2111. Just make sure that you tell the hotel that you're with OryCon to make sure that you get the proper rates. (The toll-free number for general reservations is 1-800-RED-LION, but if there is any doubt about your reservation status, please call the hotel directly.) Make your reservation today! And when you receive your confirmation, please check it carefully to make sure there are no errors.
The rate listed above is good no matter when you make your reservation -- but remember, OryCon has sold out their entire block for several years in a row. This year we have fifty rooms blocked in the Red Lion Jantzen Beach, a short walk across the parking lot from the convention hotel. So, in addition to a Quiet Wing, we actually have provided a Quiet Hotel!
If you have any problems with your reservation, feel free to call me at (503) 231-8952. We're here to help you.
BY CAR: The Columbia River Red Lion is nestled next to the Columbia River, just as you cross into Oregon from Washington on Interstate 5. Traveling either northbound or southbound, take exit #308 (signs will read "Jantzen Beach Center" and "Hayden Island"). (This exit is about 7 miles from downtown Portland.) The Columbia River Red Lion is the one with the red trim, to the west of the freeway (on the shopping center side). If you're traveling south, it's the hotel to your right just as you enter Oregon; if you're heading north, bear left under the freeway, and it will be to your right.
BY BUS/RAIL: Union Station, the Portland Amtrak terminal, is right next to the Greyhound station. From either, walk a couple of blocks south (through the construction) to Everett, and catch a #5 Jantzen Beach or Vancouver Tri-Met bus. The fare is $1.05, and there's a bus stop in front of the hotel. (A taxi costs about $12.) Note: It's actually more efficient to take Amtrak to Vancouver, since that station is very close the Jantzen Beach area.
Hotel Reservation Form
OryCon 18
November 8-10, 1996Mail to:
Red Lion Inn/Columbia River
1401 North Hayden Island Drive
Portland, Oregon 97217or call:
(503) 283-2111
NAME: ______________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: ____________________________________________________ Arrival date: ___________________ Departure date: _________________ Arrival Time: ___________________ CREDIT CARD INFORMATION: Name on card: ______________________________________________________ Card number: ______________________________ Exp. Date: ____________ Beds: One Two Rollaway ($15) PARTY WING: YES NORoom rate is $78.00 per night, plus tax of approximately 9%, for up to four people ($15 per additional person). Check-in time is 2PM. Rooms must be guaranteed with a credit card to be held past 6PM on arrival date. All unreserved rooms will be released on October 21, 1996. After that, rooms are subject to availability.
The convention committee defines as weapons any object designed to cause bodily harm, or any replica of such an object and any other object the Committee determines to be dangerous. However the committee reserves the right to amend this definition of a weapon, and the right to impound weapons for the duration of the convention.
Any weapons purchased in the Dealer's Room must be securely wrapped before they are removed from the room.
The committee realizes that most people who would like to carry and wear weapons are sensible and careful individuals. However, because of the present liability laws, the risk of weapons causing accident or distress, and to preserve relationships with convention hotels, we have had to adopt this policy. The safety of convention members has to be our overriding consideration.
Credits
Your progress report editor was Dale Smith. [Converted to HTML by
David Levine.] It was compiled almost entirely from email
submissions using Word 6.0 for Windows on an old 486/33 and printed on
an HP855 ink jet. Cover art by Mark Sieber and his trusty PC from an
idea of Dale's. All other material copyright 1996 by Oregon Science
Fiction Conventions (OSFCI).
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