Program

We’ve picked out the Book of Honor and had our first brainstorming session. We have some excellent suggestions about religion and fantasy, and how our perceptions of using cultures for fictional purposes has changed, all sparked by the Book of Honor. We’ve also had suggestions for a trans-human or post-human discussion that could also tie in with the Book of Honor. Perhaps even a discussion on the differences in how Zelazny treated the possibility vs. how some contemporary writer or writers have looked at it.

Not related to the Book of Honor we have suggestions for a Steampunk panel, a panel on the New Space Opera, a Battlestar Galactica panel, a panel to address why we have all these talking animals in fiction nowadays. There may be some discussion on the reading of fiction online or on some sort of dedicated electronic reader. Two panels that played well at other cons might get a showing here: My Other Fandom and Makers Talking about Making. Do any of these ideas interest you? If not, send us some that do –- we love comments from the peanut gallery. If so, would you like to volunteer to be on or to ringlead a panel?

We'd love to hear from Potlatchers about what they might like to see at the upcoming Potlatch. The whole of the fascinating world of sf and fantasy and their intersections with our world are open to you!

If you’ve got ideas, comments or want to volunteer, you can always reach the Programming Troika at programming@potlatch-sf.org. Hope to hear from you soon!

Our program is currently under construction. Please check back soon for more information!

Nanoprogram

David Does Mars - On December 23, 2009, author David Levine applied to the Mars Society for the opportunity to participate in a simulated Mars mission. On December 24, 2009, David received an email telling him that there was an opening for crew 88, from January 9-23, 2010. David blogged his trip to Mars at The Days Are Just Packed and will be presenting a nanoprogram about his adventures at Potlatch 19! Also, in light of this, folks may also be interested in the current exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, which is called "Facing Mars."

Anita’s Legacy Nano – Anita Rowland was a fan and friend to Potlatch for many years, giving to everyone around her in ways small and large, not least as the guiding spirit behind many a Seattle Potlatch hospitality suite. Anita’s gone now, but her generosity lives on. Elizabeth Bourne is charged with finding new homes for all the yarns in Anita’s considerable knitting stash, and she will be giving out some of that yarn at Potlatch. If you’re a fiber artist who works with yarn and would like some of Anita’s please come to the Registration area on Saturday (check nanoprogram board for times). The one qualification, in keeping with Anita’s generosity to fandom, is that at least some of the yarn you take must go into an item that benefits fannish charities. If you have questions beforehand you can contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.bourne@comcast.net.

Knitter’s (K)nano – Ulrika O’Brien will ring lead a knitting circle after the Anita’s Legacy yarn distribution so that those who have new yarn will have a collective chance to admire and play with it. Don’t forget to pack your needles, folks! And for our crocheting, needle-felting, and embroidering bretheren and sistren, come on down! All creeds welcome. Meeting point will be by the fireplace in the lobby, with final location to be determined by those attending. Please check the nanoprogram board for time and day.

Nanoprogram items are a special feature of Potlatch. They're the roll-your-own-program portion of our show. A Nanoprogram item can be anything you like, a continuation of discussion from a panel; a demonstration of craft, art, technology; a trip to a favored restaurant or to investigate a new one; a reading from a work in progress or an old favorite, a joint expedition to an interesting destination, such as Archie McPhee's, perhaps.

We're hoping to do a lot more Nanoprogramming this year than we have had in recent years. I’d love to see one on Buddhism (given the Book of Honor). Any Buddhists on our rolls who’d like to volunteer? It might be fun to do some short readings of Zelazny’s short fiction as nano items. Perhaps we can do Maker related things as Nanoprogramming: knitters, jewelry makers, crocheters, artists, woodcarvers – anyone want to volunteer? Or just start thinking about what you would like to get a group together to talk about.

To create your Nanoprogram event, use the signup board. During registration hours, check by the registration desk for the Nanoprogram signup board.  After registration closes, check in the Hospitality Suite on the 16th Floor.

If you have an idea in mind, sign up early, or a soon as you have an idea. Post it on the board, and others who are interested can sign up to attend. When the time comes, go have fun.

You can use the seating areas in the lobby, or landing on the mezzanine, as well as the District Lounge, to hold your Nanoprogram, if it doesn't have a natural venue of its own.