News from the Helpers' Network US for fans of Beauty and the Beast...

News from Debbie Smith...

CON NEWS - Issue 1 - 2 August 2002 - 12:30 pm, PST

Welcome to the first issue of CON NEWS - your source of information,
updates and announcements for the 14th Annual BATB convention.

The basics first:
Con Name:  Follow Your Heart:  Beauty & the Beast by the Bay.
Dates:  11 July to 13 July - 2003
Location:  Crowne-Plaza Union Square, San Francisco, California
Con Web Site: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM DEB:

Hi everyone!  Deb here.  It's a privilege and a pleasure to chair the
2003 convention - and to welcome you to this first issue of Con News.

There will be two versions of Con News coming out from time to time in
this 12 month count-down to San Francisco - an "online version" and a
"hard copy version" (for those fans not online).  Many things that
online fans can access, read, participate in and discuss will always be
available to them at the official con web site.  This is not the case
for fans not using computers, browsers and e:mail.  So, the hard copy
version will cover some things not needed by online folks - like con
event descriptions, pricing, hotel contact information, etc.

In both versions of Con News - we'll offer up a "Con Highlight" in each
issue - so you can get to know more about one or more aspects of the
con.  This issue, we'll highlight the con name itself - and what vision
we have for the theme of this con.  In coming issues - we'll do one
about plans for the con zine, one for the art room, one about con
virgins, one about our sponsored charity .. you get the idea!  :)

Another thing we'll do in the online version of Con News is tell you
about the latest things happening at the con web site.  As you'll see,
we mean for the con web site to be the hub of not only information -
but for active participation - all year long.

So - let's get on with the Con Highlight for this first issue!

CON HIGHLIGHT:  What's In a Name?
Follow Your Heart:  Beauty and the Beast by the Bay.

Ah, what's in a name?  Actually - a LOT!  The "By the Bay" part is easy
to figure out - and refers to the con location in San Francisco.  SF is
a large city that spans from the Pacific Ocean on the west - to the San
Francisco Bay in the east.  Ships arriving into the port of SF from the
ocean - go directly under the famous "Golden Gate Bridge" & into the
Bay - to reach their landing piers.  It's an alive & wonderful city!

Now, what of the "Follow Your Heart" part?  This is indeed the HEART of
this 14th annual convention.  OUAT, creators & TPTB alike, followed
their hearts and gave us BATB.  With that, fans followed their hearts
to an immediate & palpable connection with BATB in the privacy of their
living rooms as they watched the magic unfold before their eyes.
Through the years, more fans (as well as many professionally connected
with the show) did some amazing things as they continued to "follow
their hearts".  Fandom was born.  A culture, traditions, rituals .. all
born and nourished by those with hearts and energies to share.  The
underlying committment to "help" (via many, many sponsored charity
projects) became a given within this fandom.  A rich tapestry, indeed!
And throughout all those years - and even right this minute - "someone"
is finding fan fic - or a network re-airing the show - or a videotape
on ebay - and following their heart the the Tunnels.

And so, FYH: BATB by the Bay takes as a theme that very basic
connection - and all that has unfolded because of it.  As we ready a
convention to share with you some of the rich history & culture of this
fandom - we hope you will Follow Your Heart & plan to come together
with other BATB fans for our ritual of physically coming together - our
Annual convention!

THE CON TEAM

No one puts on a convention by themselves.  A convention is the sum
total of literally hundreds (maybe thousands?) of individual pieces
that come together into one, wonderful experience.  Each thread is
needed in the tapestry.  No car can go out of the factory missing a
front wheel!  :)  However, it takes hours, weeks, months .. well,
actually .. a couple of years .. to put a con together.  So, those who
decide to work on them are either really dedicated - or just plain
crazy!  :)

So, a Con Chair - a Con Team - LOTS of Con Helpers - and voila - we
have a convention!  Then - it's all about the FANS - and your support -
before, during and after the con - to make it all that it can be.  In
issues to come, I'll introduce various members of the Con Team (and
some of the Con Helpers too) so you can begin to get to know them - and
the things they're responsible for - before you even get to San
Francisco!  :)  They're a great group of folks - from "old, medium and
new" times in fandom - and I'm deeply indebted to their committment to
this con.  These are all highly responsible folks and I just can't say
enough about their dedication, HEART, integrity, follow-through .. all
key ingredients to giving YOU a solid and heartfelt convention.

CON WEB SITE

Our con web site is the online HEART of the SF convention.  It went
live as of the Orlando con - just as this 2003 convention "went public"
as of the con preceeding it.

When in doubt about "anything" re: the convention?  GO TO THE CON WEB
SITE!  As the year goes on - this sentence will begin to sound like "go
read the manual"!  lol  Seriously, we're trying very hard to create an
online environment where folks "know what's going on" and the con web
site is where to find it!

The site will go up in stages - but we got a LOT up "for Orlando" when
the site opened - and we've just done a major update with more content
just yesterday!  :)  Given where we are in time pre-San Francisco,
we're feeling pretty good about what we've already created for you -
and it will only get better and better as the year goes on!

Go to: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org

Make it a habit to check there from time to time.  Bookmark it.  Click
on "What's New" to bring up a page telling you when last updated - and
what was added.

We built this site as MORE than an informational site.  We mean this to
be a place of active participation!  We launched two polls at the site
yesterday, for example.  Go vote so we know what you're thinking!  Go
read and post to the message board.  If you want a roomate for the
hotel, go post your needs on the roomie board.  And of course, there is
already a TON of information out there - about all the things you might
expect:  registration, the con hotel, con events .. even some tips on
how to prepare to come to the con!  lol

If you don't find something you're looking for?  Write to
feedback@batbtunnels.org and ask - or - post a message on the
Con'versations Message Board at the site.  (located in the Pipe
Tappings section of the site)

CON BASICS - REGISTRATION

Well, actually - the "first" con basic is to read up on what's
happening - and WHEN!  lol

That is - you can plan to come "for the con" from early friday morning
(registration opens at 8 am) - on through the Closing Ceremonies on
sunday (typically ending around 5 or 5:30 pm or so).

On the other hand, you could plan for what's now a "con tradition" of
coming to SF "from weds to weds"!  Given what it costs to fly, swim,
drive or walk to a con each year, many fans decide to make a vacation
of it - and plan to spend time in that year's city - with other BATB
fans.  Cons have recognized this - and thus - we, too - have things to
offer you before and after the con.  Read about "Optional Events" at
the con web site at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/Optional.asp so
you can decide what you want to do - and how long you want to be in San
Francisco.

Then - when you register - you can register for the standard
registration only - or for that "plus" any of the Optional events you
plan to attend.  Costs for Optional Events stay the same all year - but
the standard registration amount continues to increase the closer to
the con you wait to tell us you are coming.  So, save yourself some
money and register EARLY!  As a matter of fact, how about NOW?  :)

Go to http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/regsitration.asp to download a
registration form to print out, fill in - then mail or fax that in -
and mail in your payment.  Addresses and fax numbers to use are on the
registration form.

Next issue - we'll talk about the Con Hotel.

PUBLICITY

Clearly - not all BATB fans are involved "in fandom".  Yet, we want to
reach not only these who "are" - but those who may not know that the
Tunnels are alive!  :)

So - here's what we've created thus far - and suspect more will follow
throughout the year:

1)  For yahoo group owners and moderators:  it would be great if you
could list the url to the 2003 convention website in the Bookmarks
section of your group's web-based home.
2)  For BATB fans who have a BATB website up:  we've created 3
different graphic designs should you wish to use them at your sites -
to point to the con web site.  Contact us at web@batbtunnels.org - and
see the actual designs possible at: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org -
in the Publicity section of Pipe Tappings.
3)  For anyone:  in that same publicity section, we've put a Con Flyer
there for your use.  Feel free to download and print it - then keep an
eye out for local events where "potential BATB fans might be"!  Go put
out the flyers!  It can be printed on white paper if you like - and
we've found it looks great on a tan or beige or cream color too.  If
you decide to do this - it would be great if you posted that on the
Con'versations message board at the site - so we can see where/how the
word is or isn't getting out!  :)
4)  We've put the con web site into the BATB webrings - and submitted
info to several search engines.  We are waiting to get confirmation
back from several of the search engines as we speak.  The more ways and
places that a BATB fan can "find us" - the better!
5)  And of course - made a decision to add this idea of Con News - in
both this online version - and the hard copy version that is mailed to
people.  The online version(s) will be archived at the Con web site and
available for you to read all year.  In addition, it is e:mailed for
posting to 7 online yahoo-based BATB groups
(bbtv/tte/TD/tunnels/KC/batbc/VC) - and sent to HNH, HNH-UK and CABB
Update - in one mass mailing - so that the word goes out far and wide.
6)  In addition, any individual fan can subscribe to Con News and
receive this in their personal mailbox.  There's a subscription page at
http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/mailsignup.asp This is a good option
for any fan who just wants to get this in their personal mail - or -
for fans who want con information - are online - but are not subscribed
to one of the several fan mailing lists - and we have lots of those!
:)

One final note on Publicity - then it's time to bring this first issue
to a close.  We plan on offering a few CON CHATS throughout the year.
Expect those to be announced here in Con News - and posted at the con
web site, of course.  These will be about "the con", of course!  :)
Hope you plan to come to one or several of them!

And so - this first issue of CON NEWS comes to a close.  So much to
talk about - but not possible all at once!  Thank you for reading - and
we'll see you round about the con web site - and in the next issue of
Con News!  :)

Be well ..
- Debbie Smith
2003 Convention Web Site: http://con2003.batbtunnels.org

Helpers' Network US
Homepage: http://home.fuse.net/helpnet
News Contact: pipeline@cinemind.com