Chicon 8
Ralph LeVan
I'm a volunteer software developer for Chicon 8. Since this is our back yard and we're in the library business, I thought I'd pass along David Hirsch's invitation. Reach out to David if you're interested!
Ralph LeVan
OCLC Research (retired)
Subject: Join us for an international celebration of science fiction, fantasy, and much more - the 80th World Science Fiction Convention comes to Chicago
Hello,
One of the largest, most vibrant, and well attended science fiction (and related genres) event is coming to Chicago. I am writing to explore ways you might connect with and participate in Chicon 8: The 80th World Science Fiction Convention (aka Worldcon), taking place on Labor Day weekend this year at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago.
If you’re unfamiliar with Worldcon, it’s a Science Fiction and Fantasy event that has been around since 1939, and moves around the world each year. We’re entirely volunteer powered (no one, including the convention chair, gets paid), the convention runs for five days (Sept 1st - 5th, 2022) and is filled with talks, discussion panels, presentations, performances, concerts, workshops, art shows, gaming, displays, and more. Our cornerstone event on Sunday evening is the Hugo Awards Ceremony.
Due to COVID, the Worldcon in 2019, which was supposed to be in Wellington, New Zealand, was virtual. The Worldcon in 2020, originally scheduled for the summer, was moved to December in Washington, D.C. This year, we are hoping to have a fully in person celebration of science fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, and all the related genres and forms. It is a gathering to rival any comic con!
There are myriad ways to get involved. Like other conventions, we will have panels, presentations, and special events. Perhaps you or some of the folks with whom you work would like to participate as panelists or present the work you are doing. Another way to share your work would be to create a poster or other exhibit, sit at a table and answer questions, and connect with our audience of between 4000 and 6000 attendees. We also have an art show, theatre, music, other performances, parties and social gathering, a program book full of ads and information, gaming events, movie and television screenings, and on and on!
I will follow up in the next few weeks to answer questions. But you don’t have to wait; feel free to reply to this email. If there is someone who you think would be interested in Chicon, feel free to forward this email to them or their contact information to me.
Our website is www.chicon.org. My email is david....@chicon.org.
If you can’t tell, I am thrilled that Worldcon will be so nearby. It provides so many opportunities for students, writers, musicians, artists, and creators of all kinds - not to mention fans of every flavor of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all the other connected areas.
Thank you for reading this far. I’ll be in touch,
David Hirsch
Local Outreach Liaison
Chicon 8: The 80th World Science Fiction Convention
