Maryland SF Update

[Dale Arnold]

COVID Policy at BSFS Building Change:

Today a vote was concluded which changed the COVID policy at the Baltimore Science Fiction Society Building to more closely reflect CDC guidance. We ask everyone attending events at the BSFS Building to be vaccinated, but masks are optional. Please feel free to use a mask and if you want a fresh one there will be a free supply on site. This policy change does not apply to Balticon as we have a separate committee of medical knowledgeable types who will vote on any changes to the Balticon COVID policy as the numbers of people, geographic travel distances and duration of attendance make Balticon a different situation.

Joint Meeting Between BSFS and European Fan Club(s):

The Polish SF club KMF Sagitta will join the Baltimore Science Fiction Society by Zoom for a joint meeting at the BSFS Building 5:00 PM+ on 04/09/2022 (Members of WSFA and Polish Tolkien Society also specifically invited) so drop on by and watch or participate. To attend in person see our directions page at https://www.bsfs.org/bsfsdrct.htm   To attend remotely by Zoom use https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86547636894?pwd=QmE4TXJIWmpJT0UwMEhwMnpwb1VlUT09 and Meeting ID: 865 4763 6894 with passcode of: 346588 and you can also attend remotely by Discord with the link https://discord.gg/5U3s2YzPzQ (Use these remote links for this meeting only. For other remote meetings see links below)

Book Club Meeting at BSFS:

Next held April 23, 2022 at 7:30 PM as ZOOM Teleconference and in-person. Featured Book: April Hex Witch of Seldom by Nancy Springer. Stop by the BSFS Building or join by Zoom (only use this zoom link for book club, for other zoom meetings use proper links below) at https://zoom.us/j/94129016253?pwd=LzRMVEZmVGtnUi9jOUc3MnFOcHFHQT09
Meeting ID: 941 2901 6253 Passcode: 041896

Balticon Update:

Plan for an in person con proceeding. So far 724 in-person entitled-to-attend memberships are ready. I am not counting virtual. This is much higher than normal pre-reg this far before con. Room block for sleeping rooms at 52.7% of contracted block and we are now in the time before con where demand for sleeping rooms flows in strong. There are 86 program participants as updated on 03/25/22 and found at https://www.balticon.org/wp56/program-participants/ and an additional 7 Guests of Honor which for some reason are never listed on the program participants page.  Lots of information at the Balticon website www.balticon.org   Still looking for volunteers as always and you can volunteer at Volun...@balticon.org   I should get more news at the Balticon Meeting (see below) so will likely send out another Balticon update later this month.

Film Night at BSFS:

Next held April 16, 2022 from 7:00pm-10:30 pm. (Building opens at 6:00 PM for early arrivals) This month a Spiderman Fun extravaganza with several Spiderman based fan films followed by a recent Pro film Spiderman No Way Home. Our license gives us the right to show pro productions, but agreement with MPLC says we are not supposed to advertise on the web but can distribute fliers--so this message is a flyer.

Tabletop Role-Playing Game Event at BSFS:

Next held April 24, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Meeting on the Discord server at https://discord.gg/5U3s2YzPzQ To participate by Discord you do need to register for Discord if you have never done so before, but the process is fairly easy. For more info before the event contact BSFSEvents at bsfs dot org

Anime Social at BSFS:

Next held on April 23, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is usually a day of anime watching and just general hanging out. This month as a discord watch party and in-person at the BSFS Building. Check out BSFS.ORG week before event for titles.  On the day just show up at the BSFS Building or go to the Discord Server at https://discord.gg/5U3s2YzPzQ and select from the available channels #wach-parties. You do need to register for Discord if you have never done so before, but the process is fairly easy. For more info or suggest titles for the future contact an...@BSFS.org

Borrow and bring back books from our 14,000 item free lending library at any event or meeting at the BSFS Building.

Special Events Sponsored By BSFS Outside BSFS Building:

BSFS will participate at the Highlandtown Art Walk, May 6, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Fantable like exhibit. See other events at Artwalk at https://www.ihearthighlandtown.com

Balticon Planning and BSFS Business Meetings:

These meetings this month will be in-person and teleconference by Zoom. Come on down and meet in person! You need to be completely vaccinated to attend in person at BSFS, you only need a mask if you prefer and if you do prefer then please wear. If you lack vaccination then please attend by zoom) To attend by Zoom using your computer use link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88616075406?pwd=YmF1aDhPZzVYR2NjdzBYdGZ0aStpZz09
Passcode: 930363
Meeting ID: 886 1607 5406 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13017158592,,97614691479#,,,,*463191# or +19292056099,,97614691479#,,,,*463191# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC), +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago), +1 929 205 6099 US (New York), +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma), +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston), +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 886 1607 5406 Passcode: 930363
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/ac59gxWAiW
To attend in person see our directions page at https://www.bsfs.org/bsfsdrct.htm

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society business and discussion meeting will be held at 8:30pm on April 9, 2022. Drop on by in-person or on Zoom to share ideas, watch us warp traditional parliamentary rules, hang out etc., see above.

The Balticon 56 Planning Meeting next held April 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Drop by in-person or on Zoom and share your ideas about how to improve this or future Balticons. (or volunteer)



Writers Circle at BSFS:

BSFS sponsors a Writing Circle 6:30-8:30pm usually meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month inside the BSFS Building, however, near term this means teleconference only by zoom 04/14/22 and 04/28/2022. Participants prefer to stay on zoom for now. This is a SF and Fantasy focused writing group. If you write check it out. At least Seven stories work shopped at this writer's circle have been sold to professional markets in the last three years. This is a recurring meeting so any Writer's Circle meeting use: Join Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/91064908740?pwd=TENjZ25HenRNOHhtcHFaRlZnOGE3dz09
Meeting ID: 910 6490 8740 Passcode: 805110 (see Zoom phone numbers above for dial in at need)
For more info contact BSFSEvents at BSFS dot org