OryCon 45 will now be running and updating this account so stay tuned for news of changes, Guests of Honor, committee meetings and much more!

!!! Congratulations to this superstar.

I would be grateful if y’all could repost this for the evening crowd. Had a book come out today. People seem to like it. We definitely still need your help to make it a success. It’s a great read, a great gift (for others or yourself). And I can’t write without you. :)

In honor of filmmaker Georges Méliès, the father of visual effects, who would have been 163 years old yesterday (Dec 8 2024), here's a lapel pin from the Visual Effects Society featuring his most famous image, the Man in the Moon from his 1902 film, "Le voyage dans la lune."

Watch this space--major updates coming soon.

Four Things I Learned This Week (November 22) - Bridgetown Bites Four things I learned this week in Portland food involve The Paladins League, a Vietnamese deli closing, Rip City bars, and Push Pull.

Of possible interest to local Portland folks, The Paladins League soft-opening:
bridgetownbites.com/2024/11/22/f...

OSFCI Chair Process Review Committee What is the OSFCI Chair Process Review Committee?

and/or in serving on the committee, please check out our website at sites.google.com/orycon.org/o... for more information & links to Google Forms that you can use to provide feedback.

Please either respond to Linnea directly (email in thread) or use the Google form.

Posts here will be forwarded.

and each convention officially starts from scratch the next year.)

If you are interested in providing suggestions for new models, narratives of problems with the current model that should be considered in selecting a new model,
(continued)

I'm reaching out to the larger OSFCI community for feedback and suggestions for changes we may want to make to our current organizational model for running conventions. (OSFCI currently uses a model where someone bids to run a specific convention in a specific year
(continued)

Meanwhile, there's the OSFCI Chair Process Review Committee. Committee chair Linnea Thompson <linnea.thompson@orycon.org>writes:
I'm the head of the OSFCI Chair Process Review Committee (which is unrelated to any specific seated convention or announced convention bid), &
(continued)

Oregon Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. (OSFCI) the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation that sponsors OryCon will select the OryCon 45 team in December and then there will be more updates.

Friends Of Noise | All Ages. Always. Supporting creative youth in Portland through all ages concerts, workshops, and experience navigating the music scene.

If you wish to make a donation in Marc’s name, you can find the donation link as well as more details about Friends of Noise and their upcoming shows on their website: friendsofnoise.org

The family extends deep gratitude to everyone who supported Marc during his illness.

#5 of 5 end

As many of you know, Marc was a talented musician himself who loved supporting young musicians and all sorts of music, especially Friends of Noise, a non-profit dedicated to helping to support diversity among young musicians.

#4 of

Marc didn't believe in funerals. Instead, his ashes will be scattered in the Columbia River Gorge. We will hold a wake at a future date, likely at the Rose City Book Pub, with a general
invitation to follow.

#3 of

Throughout his life, Marc was an active techie at conventions, served as president of the Portland Science Fiction Society, and President of the Board of Directors of OSFCI for many years.
Above all, he was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

#2 of

From Linda Pilcher on the behalf of Marc's family:

With sadness, we share that Marc Wells, a long-time Portland fan, passed away on October 25 after several months of illness.

#1 of several

Hotels and Accommodations The area around the Seattle Convention Center–Summit contains numerous hotels and is connected to transit corridors, creating a wealth of options for travelers.

Our room block is now open!

seattlein2025.org/location/hot...

This year's OryCon was the best con I've had in a long time.

All my panels went great. I had lovely interactions with lovely people. I got the best compliments, some of which I've always wanted someone to say to me. I saw many beloved old friends.

And the broadsword class was extra awesome!

Home Page | Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional society focused on LGBTQ people in the STEM community. With hundreds of student chapters a...

oSTEM stands for "Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" & their conference had national & international students & professionals. If your con has a strong science track then outreach to local chapters could be beneficial for programming and memberships.

www.ostem.org

14th Annual oSTEM Conference

OryCon had just moved from its previous Nov dates & so had the oSTEM conference so serendipity! We knew oSTEM attendees were interested when at set-up they saw a person with blue hair wearing an OMSI sweatshirt & our merchants they thought we were part of their conference.

conference.ostem.org

Often when your con shares hotel rooms with other groups it can be awkward when they're less compatible. But not this past weekend with the 14th Annual oStem Conference. It was a win-win situation: we allowed entry with oSTEM badges to our Merchants Market & they all got increased traffic & sales.

OryCon welcomes Grand Gesture Books, Portland's new romance bookstore, located on SW 10th across from the Central Library. Grand Gesture Books will have its grand opening Saturday Oct. 26th from 11am-5pm, followed by a ribbon-cutting on Monday.

www.oregonlive.com/books/2024/1...

O45 Prereg Get tickets online for O45 Prereg here.

OryCon 44 is now history. [Much was not according to plan.]
And it seems there will be an OryCon 45.
OCTOBER 17 – 19, 2025
DoubleTree Hotel Portland
1000 NE Multnomah St, Portland, OR 97232
Here's the initial pre-reg link for $30 good until midnight 10/21/24:
orycon.regfox.com/o45-prereg

75. Nalo Hopkinson in Conversation | Vancouver Writers Fest Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award–winning science fiction and fantasy author Nalo Hopkinson’s body of work is nothing short of astonishing. Her more than a dozen books span different universes ...

Join me and author Doretta Lau at the Vancouver Writers' Festival on Oct 26: writersfest.bc.ca/festival-eve...

Hey so if you're here because of well...whatever is happening with me & conventions I am teaching a virtual class on pitching and writing next week.

Follow the thread for fun zoo photos. And then come to OryCon and find Rebecca at Luna Sea Studios in our Dealers Market (Exhibit Hall).

Two Humboldt penguin butts giving penguin and giving butt.

We took the Monday after Rose City Comic Con off to go to the Oregon Zoo with our friend Dane. You know what that means. Y'all about to get pictures of animal butts. @monkeyminion.bsky.social

Eight pickleball courts coming to Lloyd Center in October The pickleball facility will feature eight courts.

TIL that while the Lloyd Center Mall is a pale shadow of itself, not dead yet but... something new is coming in October that probably a) won't be in time for OryCon, and b) isn't that relevant: pickleball courts!

www.oregonlive.com/business/202...

Don't forget to get your membership and your room before it's too late. Pre reg closes October 4th! Current rates are: Full weekend Adult $60.00, Teen (13-17) half-price, Child 12 & under no charge but badge required. At-the-door rate is $75.

Have a group that would like to have a front row seat for outreach? There are still tables left for fan groups. Email fantables@orycon.org.

Have questions about the next 2 Worldcons? Want to buy/upgrade your membership? Volunteer? Talk to @seattleworldcon.bsky.social & @laworldcon.bsky.social