Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 08:54:59 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Capclave '02 (was Re: minders)
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

It occured to me last night - and not knowing what problems there might be =
with such - but if we could set up a www.capclave.something it might help =
people to find us.

Also, on whatever is set up, having an opt-in email notification available =
would probably be really useful.

But what do I know . . .?

mjw

>>> StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL 04/01/02 08:56AM >>>
	I respectfully suggest to the Con Committee that the web page and
other announcements be updated as soon as feasible.  If necessary, we can
say "GOH TBA" or "Mystery GOH."  In fact, science fiction mysteries might =
be
a nice theme with Issac Asimov as Ghost of Honor.

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith F. Lynch [mailto:kfl at keithlynch.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 3:07 PM
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Subject: [WSFA] Capclave '02 (was Re: minders)

Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at radix.net> wrote:
> Except that -- going to the main page for the first time in a while,
> since I have the pages I usually reference bookmarked -- you've
> removed the fact that we have a chair for '02.

You mean in the "What's New" section?  Yes.  Mike Nelson was elected
in January of last year.  His election is no longer new.

I do mention the election of chairs for '03 and '04, with links to
minimal pages for those cons.  Both of those pages contain a "Past
Disclaves and Capclaves" link from which you can get directly to
'02's page.

Even when we had a direct link to '02's page, the vast majority of
hits came from search engines or bookmarks, not from WSFA's other
pages.  Most Capclave members probably never heard of WSFA.  I had
been attending Disclaves for well over a decade before I got the
idea that there was a group behind it with a name other than "those
Disclave people".

A Google search on "Capclave" brings up our Capclave '01 page first,
and our Capclave '02 page second.  (Plus, the first link on the '01
page is to the '02 page.)  Similarly with other search engines.

A Google search on "Disclave" brings up our "A History of Disclaves
and Capclaves" page first.  That page contains a direct link to
Capclave '02.

> Which means that not only is there no direct link from the main page
> to Capclave '02, there's no mention of it at all.

I don't particlarly *want* anyone to see the page in it's current
state, since it all but screams "abandoned page, defunct convention".
I considered removing the page, but that would scream even louder.
I'd much rather update it.  Nobody has to know who the GoH is or where
to send how much money in order to know that we're alive, and which
weekend to set aside on their calendars.  I can make further updates
later.

The WFC '03 page has mentioned the dates and hotel for that event for
months, and nobody complains that it doesn't yet say where to send how
much money.

I check the newsgroups for any mention of Capclave or Disclave, and I
respond my mentioning Capclave '02 if it's appropriate.  For instance
if someone is claiming we're defunct.

> Just checked the Upcoming Cons and Events page and there's nothing
> there for fall of this year, saying that we're planning to hold a
> Capclave around that time, so that can't be it.

I only list events that are at a known time and place.  You won't find
anything there listed for "sometime maybe in the fall, perhaps near DC
or Baltimore or elsewhere, or maybe not".

Of course I *do* know when and where Capclave '02 was to be (assuming
the contract got signed), but you asked me not to mention this on our
website yet.

I haven't heard *anything* from Mike Nelson.  He wasn't at First,
Third, or Fifth Friday, he's not on this list, and he hasn't emailed
me, written me, or phoned me.  I've heard he wasn't at Lunacon either.
I hope he's ok.

I did modify my *personal* page, http://keithlynch.net/cons.html,
a list of all cons I've been to or plan to go to, to mention that
I would be at Capclave '02 somewhere in Silver Spring sometime in
October.

Shall I go ahead and update the Capclave '02 page?  My understanding
is that the (signed?) contract is for October 18-20 at the Silver
Spring Hilton, at 8727 Colesville Road.  Please correct me if this is
wrong.  The instant I update it I would of course also mention it in
the What's New section and the Calendar of Upcoming Events.  And would
also mention it in the approrpriate newsgroups, and to the owners of
all publications and web pages which mentioned last year's Capclave.

Thanks.
--
Keith F. Lynch - kfl at keithlynch.net - http://keithlynch.net/
I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but
unsolicited bulk e-mail (spam) is not acceptable.  Please do not send me
HTML, "rich text," or attachments, as all such email is discarded unread.