Conference noted::sf

    Absolutely! See note 318 for the "who went to Worldcon" list. (If
    you describe the buttons you were wearing, maybe some of the folks
    who were there will recognize you...)
    
    -b (who missed this one and wishes she'd gone, too)

    In fact, I'd venture to guess that the majority of participants
    in this file (the contributors, anyway --- I don't have any idea
    how many people may be "voyeurs", reading but not writing) are
    involved in Fandom to one degree or another.
    
    A couple of the people in here are (or were) in the local (Boston)
    fan organization, NESFA, and are on the Boskone committee year
    after year. Some of these same people you probably saw in Atlanta
    wearing those bright green t-shirts at the 1989 Worldcon site-
    selection booth.
    
    --- jerry

      I confess.  I'm a fan.
      
      By the way, for what it's worth, NESFA is not the organization
      behind the 1989 Worldcon; MCFI (Massachusetts Convention Fandom,
      Inc.), also a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, is.
      
      For what they're worth, here are the addresses of the two
      organizations:
      
      New England Science Fiction Association
      PO Box G, MIT Station
      Cambridge, MA  02139
      
      Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc.
      PO Box 46, MIT Station
      Cambridge, MA  02139
      
      What a coincidence:  they have boxes in the same PO!
      
      Dave C.
      member of both

    I suppose Dave might give a better answer, but...
    
    MCFI was formed specificly to bid for and put on Worldcons. If
    nothing else, this is a good idea for legal reasons. Worldcons
    are *very* expensive propositions, and if something goes wrong,
    can incur very large debts (Constellation in Baltimore is a
    good example of this happening). If NESFA sponsored a Worldcon
    bid, and something went wrong, it would be responsible for
    debts, etc. that are incurred. By making MCFI a separate legal
    entity, only it is responsible for such debts.
    
    --- jerry

      Good answer, Jerry.
      
      MCFI is chartered to put on conventions; NESFA is chartered
      to do almost anything to promote science fiction (including
      putting on conventions, publishing books, having discussion
      groups, etc.).
      
      The two organizations have a large common membership, but there
      are members of each organization who are not members of the
      other.

      Dave C.

NESFA publishes books???  Sounds like more then a fannish club to me!

Jim.

      Yes, NESFA publishes books.  We have been publishing the work
      of our guest of honor at each Boskone for as long as I have
      been attending Boskones (since Boskone XII), and we have in
      recent years also been publishing books at the request of the
      Worldcons.  The books are produced in limited quantities, some
      are numbered and autographed by the author(s).
      
      This is dangerously close to a "commercial," so I'll say no
      more of this here, other than this:  if you want information
      about obtaining any of these books, please write to NESFA at
      the address given before.
      
      Dave C.

      It's a way of promoting science fiction as a literary form.
      Do you object?
      
      Dave C.

    Why not?
    
    --- jerry

      I'm a fan. (back to the original topic)  I go to about 4 cons
      a year.  The Worldcon 5000-8000 attendees or the NASFC ~3000
      attendees (North American Science Fiction Convention which is 
      held when the Worldcon is out of the U.S.) , Boskone (the annual 
      Boston regional con) now ~4000 attendees, Lunacon ~1000 attendees
      (a NYC regional con put on by the Lunarians), Disclave ~250
      attendees (Washington D.C. con).  NESFA also holds 2 annual
      relaxacons ~50-100 attendees these are basically parties and
      get togethers with no programming, art show or dealers room.
      Some times there are organized events (dinner, amusement parks).
      
      I attend very little programming.  I shop in the dealers room
      and art show.  I like to work at the con.  It a short term
      job to succeed or fail at.  (I tend to succeed at this jobs.)
      Conventions always need volunteers.  There many groups at
      conventions I part of the one who like to makes things happen
      and make the con a success for as many as possible.
      
      Lots of things happen at a worldcon some of them happen at
      regional conventions (and few things happen at regional that
      don't currently happen at worldcons like banquets)  There is
      an Art Show with aution and sales you can see some of the
      artwork used in recent book covers.  Typically it is a very
      impressive show.  A dealers room with new and used books, prints
      t-shirts, toys, weapons, jewelery, etc.  There is usually an
      exhibits area with displatys from future movies and some time
      models and mock-ups.  There are autographs, readings, question
      and answer sessions by authors.  There is a lot of programming
      panels on writing, costuming, art, publishing, tv, films, space
      and much more.  There is a masquerade, a regency dance, convention
      suite and meet the participants party.  This year Baen books
      held a disco at the worldcon.  There are a lot of parties,
      for bids of future worldcons, for regional conventions, for
      people of similar beliefs.  There is filksinging (typically
      folk songs with SF themes/lyrics).  A 24 hour film program.
      A video program in all the hotel rooms.
      
      Behind the scenes at a conventions there are many pieces to
      it.  Areas like registration, treasury, operations, programming,
      information, dealers room, art show, art auction, handicapped 
      services, the Hugo award ceremonies, the masquerade, hotel
      liaison, films, video, con suite and logistics.
      
      A worldcon budget is >100K, more than 5000 people attend, over
      200 of them are program participants.  There is lot a work
      needed to make it a nice time for everybody.  (How do the get
      all that stuff in and out of the con? ;-) )
      
      I hope this helps.
      -Andy-

NESFA, Inc.'s address has changed.  It is now

 New England Science Fiction Association, Inc.      [NESFA alone is accepatable]
 Box 809
 Framingham, MA  01701-0203

Dave C.