Goat Droppings: Winter 2009 Edition

[Helen of Troy]

Hi everyone!

The text version of our Winter 2009 Edition of Goat Droppings is below.  There is also a link to the PDF of the pretty, full color version, which includes the first images of our embroidered merit patches!

Happy Reading!

Helen Montgomery
Chair, Capricon 29

***
Goat Droppings:  The Official E-Newsletter of Phandemonium / Capricon
Winter 2009

Inside this issue:
Merit Patches
Capricon 29 Deadlines
Cap 29—Progress Report 3
Feed the Goat a Tin Can
Camp WindyChiaWaka
Show Off Your Capricon Stuff!
Capricon and Global Warming
Phandemonium Book Club
Phandemonium Euchre Club
FEAST / Theater Outing
Capricon 30 Sneak Preview
Out of CON-text
 
Upcoming Capricon 29 deadlines:

January 29:  room block closes
January 31:  Pre-registration closes
Visit www.capricon.org to book your hotel room and pre-register for the convention!

Capricon 29:  Merit Patches!
 
You’ve heard us talk about them—now see, for the first time, the Capricon 29:  Camp Capricon Merit Patches!
 
Throughout the convention, there will be opportunities to earn two types of merit patches—stickers and embroidered.  Your pocket program will have illustrations of all the patches, and pages on which to collect them, in addition to the usual maps, program grids, department hours, etc.  As you attend various special events and programming, the panel moderator will have these Sticker Patches to hand out.  Convention Committee members and Staff members will also have stickers to hand out if they “catch you in the act” of performing certain activities.
 
Other events and activities will earn you an embroidered merit patch, which can be heat pressed on to an appropriate fabric object (your Capricon 29 backpack comes to mind!) with the heat press we will have available at the convention.
 
So without further ado...we present the Camp Capricon Merit Patches!
 
Programming Sticker Patches
 
Main Programming Stickers:
• “Mad Science” (science programming)
• “Perfect Pitch” (music programming)
• “Art Appreciation” (art programming)
• “Campy Things” (random & odd & fun programming)
• “Book Wyrm” (literature programming)
• “Penmanship” (writing programming)
• “FIAWOL—Fandom Is A Way Of Life” (fandom related programming)
• “Game Theory” (gaming programming / events)
• “Green Team” (greening programming / participation)
• “Celluloid Devotee” (TV / Film / Media programming)
 
Children’s Programming Stickers:
• “Brick Builder” (Lego programming)
• “Camping Fun” (various mini camps)
• “Imagine” (make-believe programming)
• “Music Maker” (music programming)
• “Nature Friend” (nature programming)
• “To The Stars” (space programming)
• “Green Team” (greening programming)
• “Campy Things” (random & odd & fun programming)
• “Penmanship” (build-a-book workshop)
 
Miscellaneous Sticker Patches
 
“Japanimation” - visiting the anime room
“Midwinter Faire” - attending the Midwinter Faire
“Gophers” - volunteering at the convention
“Cabin Fever” - staying at the hotel
“Snipe Hunter” - publications scavenger hunt
“Community Kindness” - performing an act of kindness that promotes the convention community
“Neo Phan”—1st Year attending Capricon
“Apprentice Phan”— <10 years of attending Capricon
“Phan-atic!”—more than 10 years of attending Capricon

Embroidered Patches
 
Camp Capricon Logo – given to all attendees
“Early Bird” – early registration for Capricon 29
“Gophers” – volunteering 12 hours or more
“Power Shopper” – spending $100 or more in Dealers / Art Show
“Midnight Explorer” – hosting a party
“Tree Hugger” – participating in greening activities
“Special Events” – participating in eligible special events
“Masquerade” – participating in the Masquerade
“Renaissance Fan” – collecting four (4) different categories of programming sticker patches
“Future of Fandom” – collecting four (4) different categories of kids’ programming sticker patches

Capricon 29:  Progress Report #3
 
Our plans for Capricon 29 are coming along swimmingly!  This is our last chance to update you all via email, but please keep checking our website at www.capricon.org for up-to-date reports and announcements!
• Art Show:  It isn’t too late to show off your work in the Art Show!  Mail-in art must be received by February 13.  We do accept artists who walk in at the start of the convention, but we have been known to turn people away due to a full show, so it’s best to register early. 
• Art Auction / Charity Auction:  The Annual Capricon Art Auction will be held Saturday evening, and will include our Charity Auction.  This year our Charity is the American Brain Tumor Association (www.abta.org).  Charity Auction donations can be brought to the Art Show.  We reserve the right to refuse any inappropriate items.
• Our Dealers’ Room is currently sold out, but we accept requests to be on a wait list—email dealers@capricon.org to do so.  We’re excited to welcome back old favorites, as well as some new dealers!
• We have full tracks of Anime, Films, and Gaming planned.  The Film Roast and 4th Annual Independent Film Festival will be returning!
• Our Capricon Café will host live Filk performances, and will also be home to Radio Capricon, who will be broadcasting live via internet!
• Parties:  You love ‘em, we got ‘em.  Lots of ‘em!  If you are interested in hosting a party, please visit the website for more information.
• Programming:  We are SO excited about our programming this year!  We’re trying something new, with programming slots of 90 minutes (75 minutes for the panel, 15 minutes between panels).  If you are interested in programming, we may still be able to accommodate you—email programming@capricon.org to discuss options.
• Music Workshops:  Our Filk Special Guests, Barry and Sally Childs-Helton, will be holding two music workshops.  Barry will be holding a Guitar Workshop, and Sally will be leading Campfire Drumming 101.  If you have your own guitar / drum, please bring it along!
• Writers Workshop:  No need to prepare a manuscript and submit it ahead of time!  We will pair three Pros – Author GoH Sharon Shinn, Jody Lynn Nye, and John O'Neill, with small groups of writers to work on writing exercises.  If there is enough interest, Sharon's group will work on Young Adult writing exercises.  Space is limited to the first 21 campers to sign up at the Info Desk.
• Masquerade:  After a brief hiatus, the Masquerade returns!  Show off your costumes, earn a merit patch, win prizes!  Fan GoH Christian B. McGuire and NASA Special Guest Bryan Palaszewski will be two of the judges.  Only 20 entries will be accepted, so sign up soon!  Details can be found on our website, or by emailing events@capricon.org.
• Children’s Programming:  We are delighted to announce that we will be running a full Children’s Programming track this year.  Kids of all ages can earn Sticker Merit Patches, and by attending a variety of items, can earn a “Future of Fandom” embroidered patch.  Kids-in-tow must be accompanied by an adult; this is not childcare.  We would love to have adults help out—email kidsprogram@capricon.org.
• Trail Ride and Snow Goons:  Weather permitting, we are heading into the Great Outdoors this year!  On Friday, we will go play in the snow and make “snow goons” a la Calvin and Hobbes, so bring your snow pants and boots!  On Saturday, we will hold a winter bike ride along the Des Plaines River—bring your own bike, helmet, and warm clothes! (A few loaner bikes will be available.)  Bad weather?  We’ll meet for cocoa in the Consuite instead!
• Klingon Karaoke and Inter-Camp Dance:  Camp Capricon will be hosting Klingon Karaoke on Friday Night, and our rival camp, Camp Windychiawaka, will help host our inter-camp dance (located at Camp Capricon) on Saturday night, immediately following the Masquerade.
 
Feed the Goat  A Tin Can
 
In addition to our Charity Auction, benefiting The American Brain Tumor Association, we are also going to have a canned food drive to benefit a local Food Depository.  Canned goods can be dropped off at our Greening table, and donations will earn a Greening Sticker Patch.  If you have any questions, please contact info@capricon.org.
 
Camp WindyChiaWaka
 
Camp Capricon’s rival camp, The Furry Ducks of Camp WindyChiaWaka, were recently caught trying to kidnap Camp Capricon’s mascot, Capricious.  We know this was their attempt to get back at us for stealing their flag last year, but fortunately, we were able to stop them.  That means we’re still undefeated by them in pranks!  We ask that you be on the lookout when you arrive at Camp Capricon, just in case they try any more funny business!  We’re looking forward to our annual Inter-Camp Dance with them, the one night we can put our rivalry aside and have fun!
 
Show Off Your Capricon Stuff!
 
Do you have the "Bagel of Doom"?  Do you have any of the Capricon Memorial Plates?  How about almost anything cool related to the history of Capricon or general fandom in Chicago?

If you do, we'd like to hear from you.

This year Capricon is creating an exhibit of "Capricon History & Cool Fannish Stuff" for display during the run of the convention.  Obviously we know where some of the cool stuff is, but we can use more.  If you have anything you think is cool, we'd like you to contact us and let us know what it is so we can discuss adding your IncrediblyCoolObject (tm) to the display.  Then your cool object can take it's place alongside the bagel, and the plates, and maybe some Hugo trophies and other excellent  fannish items we have in our collective hands!

Please email exhibits@capricon.org and we'll get things under way!
 
Capricon and Global Warming
 
We have been working to make Capricon more environmentally sustainable by reducing the carbon footprint of the convention, and we would like you to help!  If helping save the environment isn’t enough, we offer the added incentive of sticker merit patches and an embroidered patch if you:
• Bring your own reusable coffee mug or water bottle
• Bring your own reusable bag for the Dealers’ Room
• Attend any of our Greening programming panels
• Commit to eating vegetarian for the duration of the convention (not sure how this is relevant?  Come to our Greening Capricon panel and find out!)
• Take the Metra (or other public transit) to the convention.  Our new hotel has a free shuttle that will take you anywhere in a 5-mile radius, including three Metra stations and several restaurants!
• Carpool—post a ride-share request on the Phandemonium Forums (www.capricon.org/forums).  You’ll reduce your footprint and meet new people!
• Purchase a travel offset—we will have a table on-site for you to do so!  However, we know that offsets are not in everyone’s budget, so if they aren’t in yours, don’t worry.  As you can see, there are lots of other ways to reduce your carbon footprint during the convention!
 
Phandemonium Book Club
 
Welcome to the Phandemonium Book Club!  We’ve been having a great time for almost five years, and hope you’ll join us!
We meet bimonthly at Borders Books & Music, 1700 Maple Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 (Phone: 847-733-8852).  We meet upstairs in the café.  Look for the Capricon    t-shirts!  (If we aren’t there, look across the street in The Rhythm Room.)

Our next meet-up at Borders is Sunday, March 22 at 6:30pm. We will be reading Coraline by Neil Gaiman. 

Can’t wait that long?  In February, we will be having a special meet-up at Capricon to discuss Archangel by our Guest of Honor, Sharon Shinn.
For up-to-date info, check the Capricon forums (www.capricon.org/forums)  There is an email list that you can join as well—just email bookclub-list-join@phandemonium.org and you will get email notices about the club. You can also email bookclub@capricon.org.  Hope to see you soon!
 
Phandemonium Euchre Club
 
The Euchre Club is up and running on a bimonthly basis, Sundays at 5pm.  We’re still seeking a permanent home, so you should check the forums (www.capricon.org/forums) for details.  You can also subscribe to our new email list, which will send you reminders & updates about the euchre club.  Just send an email to euchre-list-join@phandemonium.org and you’ll be all set!  You can also email euchre@phandemonium.org if you have questions.

Our next meet up will be April 19, 2009, at Bad Dog Tavern, 4535 N. Lincoln, Chicago.  Directions are on the forums.  Shuffle up and deal!
 
FEAST / Theater Outing
 
Phandemonium's Ethnic Dining Club has a new name!  We call it FEAST—Fans Eating All Sorts of Things*.  It is for fen who would like to meet new people and explore the worlds of good  ethnic food.  If you would like to be added to the FEAST Outings email list, sign up by emailing dining-list-join@phandemonium.org.

Our March FEAST Outing will be on Sunday, March 15th at 5pm.  We will be going out for Irish food, just in time for St. Patrick's Day!  Restaurant details coming soon on the forums.

We're excited to partner our Sunday, May 31st FEAST Outing with a trip to see "Bat Boy—The Musical" in Oak Park.  Several of us on the forums have decided that Bat Boy has some Greek ancestry, and so we will be dining at PapaSpiros before the show.  Information about purchasing group tickets for Bat Boy will be coming soon on the forums.  Opa!

As always, if you know of any good ethnic restaurants that you think we should try, please post your suggestions on the forums!

*Thanks to Glenn Glazer of California and Dave McCarty of Chicago for the name and acronym FEAST.
 
Capricon 30 Sneak Preview!
 
Hey, hey, it’s our birthday!  Woo hoo, it’s our birthday!

Capricon is turning 30 in 2010, and we’re so excited we had to give you a sneak preview!  We have big, big plans!
Here’s the biggest news:  We are planning to invite back five of our prior Guests of Honor.  We can hear you now—”How, oh Capricon, do you plan to choose which Guests you invite back?”  Glad you asked!

YOU are going to pick them!

Yes, members of Capricon 29 will have the opportunity to vote for their five favorite prior Guests of Honor.  The top five will receive invitations to return to Capricon 30 as the Guests of Honor for the year. 
You will only be able to vote if you are a member of Capricon 29!  There are no absentee ballots!  So if you haven’t pre-registered, do so now or you’ll miss out on this opportunity to play a part in Capricon history!
 
Capricon 30:  Celebration!
February 11-14, 2010
Westin Chicago North Shore

Out of CON-text
 
“Do goats do the leg thing? - Cary Williams
 
“I know where Umsk is.  I’ve been to Umsk.” - T.R. Renner
 
“I’ve been in a lot of surreal bathrooms.” - Bonnie Jones
 
“I’m just making sure you’re not stupid.” - Bruce Schneier
 
“Are you guys done squirting now?” - Leane Verhulst
“I don’t squirt.” - Dave McCarty
 
Goat Droppings is edited by Helen Montgomery.  This issue’s contributors were  Helen Montgomery, Dave McCarty, Isabel Schechter, and Cary Williams.