The San Francisco Bay Area Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention
May 22-25, 2009
The Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA
Be all that you can be . . . a GOFER!!!!!
Calling all gofers... Calling all gofers! BayCon 2009 Needs Volunteers! We need your help. Plain and simple, the convention doesn't run on official staff alone, we need you and other volunteers that work to help the convention stay glued together.
Well, first of all, thank you for expressing an interest in volunteering. We can use all the help we can get and we're extremely grateful for any assistance you can offer. We need anyone that will be willing to work a little here and a little there. If you can help us over the weekend, every bit helps. Your enthusiasm and specialties are wanted and can be put to good use. People wouldn't do this job if it wasn't fun.
Gofers receive several perks like sleeping space in Gofer "Crash rooms," food to hold their furry little bodies over, all the sci-fi/anime/fandom programming they can stomach, an inside view on how to run a convention, the attention of the staff of the convention, and, in general, a shared social experience of a kind which isn't available elsewhere. In addition, if a Gofer volunteers their services for 18 hours or more they may receive a free membership for BayCon 2010 or reimbursement of their membership after the convention.
Volunteers sign up for shifts for a wide array of activities that take them all over the convention, whether they be badge checking, moving things, assisting staff, helping setup or tear down events, and, on occasion, food preparation, and all the other stuff that end up behind the scenes. We'll also have on-call shifts on which volunteers go in for the grab bag of duties depending on what unforeseen need for volunteers comes down, and over all help keep the convention gears greased (but don't dig holes). We will need help setting up for the convention, and help the Tuesday after the convention tearing down and we'll weight the hours appropriately for the work put in for those times.
The basic rules are if you are under the age of 18 we'll need a parent/guardian/evil stepmother to sign a waiver, if not, you get to sign it yourself.
Once you get your badge and settled, come up to the volunteer headquarters, known as the gofer hole. Any questions you have about the volunteering experience, feel free to ask volunteers09@baycon.org.
If you have any trouble finding it ask one of the staff or volunteers roaming the convention. Please come up and volunteer, even if for a couple hours. Volunteering really is fun, and the volume of returning volunteers is just a testimony to the enjoyment that comes with the experience.
ConOps (Convention Operations) is your central point for Lost and Found, leaving messages for convention staff, and general problem resolution. We do a lot of work helping the various parts of the convention communicate, but we don't want our attendees to think that we are off-limits, you guys are part of the convention too. Some of the ways that we can help you are:
Lost and Found – We are the keepers of the main Lost and Found box for the current convention. If you find something, please bring it to us, and we'll hold it for its family. If you've lost something, come by and describe it to us – you may get a joyous reunion. (Another likely place to check is the hotel front desk, sometimes things get turned in there.) If we don't have your missing item, we'll give you a "missing" form, to increase the likelihood of a delayed joyous reunion.
Found Badges – ConOps is the #1 choice when inquiring after a lost membership badge, or when you see one lying lonesome and alone on a chaise lounge by the pool. All found badges should be brought to ConOps, and any turned in at other locations will be forwarded to us.
NOTE: Please be patient when trying to track down something you've lost. Many people who find a lost item or badge turn it in when they have a chance, which is not always right when they find it or when you lost it.
Communication with Staff – Should you have need to get a message to a person who is working on our staff this year, stop by the office and drop off the message. If the message is urgent, we will endeavor to track down the individual as quickly as possible but there could be a delay if they are not immediately findable.
Problem Resolution – in conjunction with our communication facilitation function (or rather, since we know who to talk to), if you have a problem at the convention, come by and let us try to help. If we can't help you directly, we should be able to connect you with whoever can.
The ConOps office can be found at this year's convention in the Napa I room (on the ground floor of the hotel to the far left past the escalator as you come in the main hotel entrance — right next to Convention Registration). We will be open for attendees from 9 AM on Friday until after the end of programming on Monday – 24 hours.
F.L.A.R.E. welcomes everyone to BayCon 2009. We're excited to be back at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and proud to be part of BayCon's discovery of the city of Pyrocumulon. As convention security, we will be available 24 hours a day during the Con. You will find F.L.A.R.E. team members roaming the Con at all hours if you need us. You can find us in our new location in the Napa II room, located on the first floor - please enter through ConOps (in the Napa I room).
To make sure that everyone has a good time and to insure a smooth, safe convention, we would like to remind you of a few Rules of the Con:
All staff and attendees of BayCon must wear their badges visibly at all times when you are in Convention-controlled space.
All weapons or weapon facsimiles must be "peace-bound" in a visible manner and in such a way that they cannot be removed. Come see us at our HQ in Napa II, and we will be glad to peace-bind your weapon for the duration of the con.
A
note on weapons: If it looks like a real gun – this means ALL
handguns, rifles, or assault weapons – Leave It At Home or in your
hotel room! We recognize that there are a lot of great costumes that
include a firearm but we don't want to freak out the Mundanes or the
Police Department.
Weapons to be used in the Masquerade or for hall costumes must be
peace bound! Bring any weapons to Napa II for inspection. Remember,
BayCon prohibits anything except matches or cigarette lighters that emit
real flame and ANYTHING that emits a harmful energy
field.
ALL parties serving alcohol must check the identification of all people who are being served alcohol to make sure they are over 21 years of age. Failure to do this will result in direct involvement with Hotel Security and the Police Department.
We generally follow a "Three Strikes, You're out" rule. This means that if we have to deal with you because of a security, weapons or other problem more than two times, we will revoke your membership and badge and ask you to leave the convention. However, we reserve the right to remove anyone who violates the rules of the convention, breaks the Law, or is making themselves a nuisance and interfering with other people's fun.
Boffer weapons or other combat demos must remain in the Battle Dome. Boffer fighting or simulated combat in other areas is prohibited.
Your cooperation in complying with these few rules will make this a smooth and enjoyable con for everyone.
Have a great convention!
Gary Catalano
FLARE Boss
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