Worldcon Leadership Positions Open

As I may have mentioned, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) will be in Chicago in 2022. Based on what I am seeing regarding COVID, I continue to have every expectation that this will be an in-person event, and planning is beginning based on that assumption.

As we all know, conventions don’t plan themselves. To plan our activities and presence at the convention, the local leadership teams and I have begun building a framework we believe will allow us to not only make a huge, positive splash at the convention, but also break the workload down enough so that no one person is overburdened. It is my goal to have an executive team in place this year, and spend 2021 planning, lining up the division leads, and doing any proof-of-concept work at conventions that happen that year. This leaves the first 9 months of 2022 to lock down attendees, get everyone swagged up, and then show Worldcon what The Royal Manticoran Navy is capable of!

But first, we need the section leaders in place – the executive team. CAPTJG Samuel Dietzmann, CO HMS Demon has agreed to serve as Project Director – the day-to-day leader. MCPO Rick Waterson, Bosun, HMS Demon has agreed to serve as our Senior NCO, advising and keeping us officers in line. Rick brings years of concom experience to the table, as well as experience with Worldcon. Sam brings organizational and conceptual skills from the burner community (think Burning Man), as well as a developed vision of how TRMN can present itself to the Worldcon community at large.

What we need now is you. Yes, you. We have 5 roles to fill on the executive team – the strategy level. Each role is described below, but all share the same basic commitments:

• Be willing to commit to this until the convention is over on September 5, 2022
• Recruit your division heads, and plan how your team will perform their part of the Worldcon operation
• Participate in monthly Zoom (or similar) leadership meetings
• Hold team meetings on a regular schedule, and keep the leadership team up to speed on how planning is progressing
• Prepare & submit a budget for what is needed to realize your team’s plans

I know it seems like a lot. Fortunately, we have enough lead time so that we don’t need to rush. To our members in Minnesota – and those closely involved with CONvergence in particular – we would love to have your participation. Your experience with a larger convention will be vital to planning Worldcon events.

So, what are these leadership roles going to be? Here is a breakdown of the positions:

Con Interface/Liaison – This position will integrate with the Worldcon planners at the earliest possible time. They will work directly with me to get into contact with Space Lords and Royal Council members to get them engaged, and on as many panels as possible. Additionally, we would want this person to be on the lookout for as many opportunities at Worldcon for TRMN to stand out as we can find. One additional responsibility for this department is to work with the convention to promote our Safe Space policy, and work to build up trust with the concom so that they are comfortable coming to us should they need anything that touches on that. We will have more on this part as we go – but it is slated to include everything from somewhere to escape harassment to first aid to evacuation planning. One goal we have is to run Artemis at the convention – this role would oversee that as well, since it requires active convention participation as well as TRMN participation.

Administration Department Head – Admin Head will be in charge of our Finance, Purchasing, and Scheduling divisions. This role will include securing the party room reservations along with maintenance of an onsite “office”. After the convention, Admin will also be responsible for submitting the OQE for the group, and the participation ribbon tracking via Scheduling. Admin will integrate closely with Project Director and Executive Director (FCO) due to the fiduciary oversight aspect of the role.

Logistics Department Head – Getting details on load in/out for the con. Securing transportation of equipment and materials to the site. Deploying the room for the room party, (Furniture moving, plastic, set up of bar without liquor, hand off of table materials, etc.) Onsite they will be responsible for room maintenance and cleaning that is not specifically tasked to the bar or galley. Restocking the recruiting table and running to stores if a purchase needs to be made, Requisitioning the funds or turning over receipts as needed. Organizing a pre room party opening crew chow hour.

Recruitment Table Head – Ensuring it is fully staffed, the setup of the space, securing paraphernalia and swag (not responsible for purchase but in keeping the table supplied). Coming up with activities to make the table a fun place to hang out. Working with scheduling to ensure that the table is not just staffed but staffed with good combos of people to represent the organization. Ensuring those staffing the table are aware of things to talk up, and the table is driving people to other TRMN events. Ensuring that those staffing the table are presenting the best aspects of Her Majesty’s Navy.

Room Party Head – Making sure the supplies don’t run dry. Finding things to keep people entertained in the room. Coming up with Themes to keep the party fresh. Ensuring the party room is stocked with everything needed to maintain a safe space. Advertising the party to get other people interested. Ensuring the fire evacuation plan is known to the Officers In Charge. Working with the other Branches to ensure representation, events like a “MarDet Tap Takeover”, for example.

Each of these will head up between one and six divisions. Room Party Head will have the largest team, for obvious reasons.

I do want to stress that this is a big commitment, not only in time (length and quantity) and responsibility, but also visibility. Please consider all these things before expressing interest. Currently this is not a ‘hatted’ role. There is a chance the role will expand to be a full hat equivalent as we get closer to the convention. Since this is not a Fleet position, but a convention planning position, the hat rule will not apply. I also want to stress that this is not an ‘officer’ role, these (and all the other positions) need to be filled by the best people possible, regardless of rank. Do not let rank hold you back! If we get a highly skilled S3c as Admin Head, great! If their number 2 is a Rear Admiral, so what? Ability is the only thing that matters here.

Contact either worldcon@gryphonfleet.org or cos@gryphonfleet.org if one of these roles speaks to you. I look forward to working with the team, and am excited to plan Second Fleet’s Worldcon presence!