Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 22:31:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Capclave
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

"Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net> wrote:

> One important change should be the Program Book (or booklet).

I agree, even though it can't be responsible for the poor turnout,
since nobody saw it before they arrived.  I had volunteered to
proofread the thing, but wasn't given the chance.  I did catch a
couple errors in what little I did see ahead of time, and was assured
that my corrections had made it into the program booklet.  But they
did not make it into that booklet.  For instance one of the artist's
names was misspelled in the booklet, and, probably by someone relying
on the booklet, also on the "tent" with her name on it for panels she
was on.  Also, the map of the function space was wrong.

I don't know anything about the copyright notice.  Possibly the author
intended the work for the public domain?  But under current law isn't
everything copyrighted even if it has no copyright notice?  Some SF
books I own contain absolutely no copyright notice of any kind.

Does anyone have an opinion on whether I should put the whole booklet
on the Capclave website?

> Getting to the hotel involves learning an almost Byzantine route
> (and leaving to get back on eastbound Route 7, a different route,
> as well) for those of us who use cars ...

I would have thought the hotel was at a very convenient and easy to
find location for motorists, as it is adjacent to a Beltway exit.
I mentioned on the web site which exit.  (47A, Route 7 westbound.)

I should have been more assertive on getting information from people
for the web site.  For instance I never got the hotel shuttle info I
was promised, but instead of nagging someone, or contacting the hotel
for the info, I simply waited for the info, which never arrived.

Also, I should have strongly suggested that letters to dealers and
program participants contain a pointer to the website, or at least
information from the website.  Larry Smith complained that he had
difficulty with "the directions".  He clarified that he had never
looked at our website, but had been told to use the directions on
the hotel's website, which he said are wrong.

> I notice that the location of the next Capclave is "TBA," but I
> rather hope it is in the same location.

So do I, and not just because it is very convenient for me.  (It's
closer to my apartment than parts of the '95 Worldcon were to other
parts of the same con.)  Moving a con causes attendance to drop.  That
hotel has much more function space than we used, so there is room to
grow.  And the hotel staff never did anything jaw-droppingly bad,
which is high praise considering what's happened at some hotels.