Maryland SF Update

[Dale Arnold]

Katsucon Anime Convention:

One of the best Anime cons in North America is held in Maryland and returns to in-person 02/18-20/2022 Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center at the National Harbor. (near the Potomac) Many voice actors, dealers and the inside scoop on the Japan cultural phenomonom of Anime/Manga. More information at https://www.katsucon.org/ Check https://www.katsucon.org/katsucon-2022-covid-guidelines-policies/ for covid policy of masks and vaccination required.





Farpoint Convention:

The SF Con with heavy media ties called Farpoint will be held in-person for the 29th year -- February 25-27, 2022 at the Delta Hotel in Hunt Valley, MD  Featuring actors Scott Grimes from the Orville, Maisie Richardson-Sellers from the Legends of Tomorrow and author Timothy Zahn. Info at https://www.farpointcon.com and see https://www.farpointcon.com/rules-and-policies/ for details of covid policy of masks required, vaccination not mandatory to attend.




Book Club Meeting at BSFS: 

Next held February 26, 2022 at 7:30 PM as ZOOM Teleconference and in-person at the Baltimore Science Fiction Society building. At our building vaccination and masks required. (If the covid positivity in Maryland is over 5% by that point please strongly consider attending by Zoom if you can) Featured Book: Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad Williams. Stop by the BSFS Building or join by Zoom (only use this zoom link for book club, for other zoom meetings use proper links as listed) at https://zoom.us/j/94129016253?pwd=LzRMVEZmVGtnUi9jOUc3MnFOcHFHQT09  Meeting ID: 941 2901 6253 Passcode: 041896





Film Night at BSFS: 

Next held February 19, 2022 (for vaccinated and masked only please) from 7:00pm-10:30 pm. (Building opens at 6:00 PM for early arrivals) Ghostbusters Night, several Ghostbusters fan films followed by Ghostbusters Afterlife. Our license gives us the right to show pro productions, but we are not supposed to advertise on the web but can distribute fliers-this email constitutes a flyer to our friends. Vaccination and masks required.(If the covid positivity in Maryland is over 5% by that point please consider your medical situation before attending in person)





Tabletop Role-Playing Game Event at BSFS: 

Next held February 27, 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 February 26, 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 although if the covid positivity in Maryland is under 5% by that point please check bsfs.org for update. Manager usually decides on titles two weeks in advance so check bsfs.org for details. On the day just 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 anime at BSFS dot org





See BSFS long range events calendar at https://www.bsfs.org/bsfscldr.htm




Balticon Planning and BSFS Business Meetings:

These meetings this month will be in-person and teleconference by Zoom. You need to be completely vaccinated and wear mask to attend in person at BSFS. (If the covid positivity in Maryland is over 5% by that point please strongly consider attending by Zoom if you can) (I hate masks too, but sometimes you just need to do things. If you can not stand masks and vaccination then 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 February 12, 2022. Drop on by in-person (Strongly advise Zoom option if COVID still rabid) or on Zoom to share ideas, watch us warp traditional parliamentary rules, hang out etc., see above.

The Balticon 56 Planning Meeting next held February 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Drop by in-person (Strongly advise Zoom option if COVID still rabid) or on Zoom and share your ideas about how to improve 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 02/24/2022 and 03/10/2022. 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