Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:44:15 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: NASFiC... Re: [WSFA] Ah,it's our Gaming room for Datclave II
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

> rw_lynch at yahoo.com 1/18/2007 8:18:12 PM >>>
>
>--- Michael Walsh <MJW at press.jhu.edu> wrote:
>
>> > eva.whitley at gmail.com 1/17/2007 7:46:15 PM >>>
>>
>> > there's always the Ocean City relaxicon
>> >NASFiC
>> >in 2010...)
>>
>> I have never understood why anyone would want to run a
>> NASFiC.   It's
>> also, as far as I'm concerned, an utterly pointless
>> convention.
>>
>
>Nicki and I had a delightful time when we were guests at
>Conucopia, the 1999 NASFiC.

I worked on the 1979 (Louisville) NASFiC (having just returned from
Seacon held the weekend previous) and also on the 1985 (Austin ) NASFiC.
 I had a delightful time at both - I particularly have fond memories of
standing on the Congress Bridge when the bats came out
<http://www.austincityguide.com/content/congress-bridge-bats-austin.asp>.

I heard from various folks that the '99 NASFiC was a good convention.

> I've heard that the convention
>was fairly profitable for LASFS, so I guess I'll challenge
>you on your use of the word "pointless".

Making a profit is Good Thing.  But  is that the"point" of putting on a
convention?  If it were we'd all be putting on clones of DragonCon, no?

So... why go to all the work of putting on a convention?  Fans seeingly
do want to meet up with other fans - it is a "proud & lonely thing" to
be fan, and it's great to hang out with like minded folks.  Fanzines,
online presence are all fine, but there are enough of us who want to
meet up with other fans that perhaps that's why we go through the fun &
games of putting on a con.

With the exception of the 3 NASFiCs mentioned above, the Phoenix
(1987), San Diego (1990), Atlanta (1995), and Seattle (2005) have all
been some degree of of a disaster.

It's also a potential drain on local resources. As a hypothetical
example, what if WSFA were to host a NASFiC.  It would be in Aug/Sept.
Would we cancel Capclave that year? Or would we try to run both... and
how many folks would bewilling to make 2 trips to the DC area in in a 2
month span?  WSFA has been trying very hard on to "establish" Capclave
and I would be concerned that such a year off would seriously harm it.

mjw