Progress Report #5 - January 2020

Arisia'20 is over. Please visit the new convention site: www.arisia.org.

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Arisia Progress Report #5
January 2020

Arisia 2020
Jan 17-20 2020
Westin Boston Waterfront

Quick Links

Volunteer * Blood Drive * Hotel * Publications * Registration * Fundraiser * Martin Luther King Service Project * Bake Sale * Boston Bag Ban * Public Transit in Boston * Feedback Sessions * Follow Arisia

Make Arisia Happen: Volunteer

Remember that the Con is all-volunteer; our volunteers do everything needed to make this event happen. You can help in many ways, even if you just have an hour free during the day. Stop by the Volunteer Table in the Westin lobby to see what help is needed and what you can do to make Arisia '20 even more awesome.

If you are available pre- or post-con to do load-in/out work those hours count double toward getting you a complimentary membership for next year. Email @email to find out where you can help.

Blood Drive

Blood Drive at Arisia! Friday afternoon will be for Mass General Hospital from 12:30-7:30 and from 9am-5pm for Children's Hospital on Saturday.

Hotel

The special requests page is now closed. For any further needs, please contact Innkeeper.

Publications

The Arisia 2020 schedule is now available! There are many choices:

View the schedule before the con now in HTML form.
There is a mobile version using the Guidebook app.
Download and print the PDF Pocket Program ahead of time at home. There are also Schedule Grid versions and Family Friendly Guide.
A limited supply of printed copies of the Pocket Program may be available at the Info Desk, while supplies last, for those for whom all the above options present hardships. There will also be reference copies of the Pocket Program at the Con Suite.
To request large print or Braille versions of the Pocket Program, contact Access.
Our lovely Souvenir Book is now available, too.

Registration

A reminder that fans should log in and sign the Code of Conduct. This applies for those who have not personally paid for their own membership. If you have, then you are already set. If you need help logging in, please email @email. At-con daily rates are now posted for planning purposes.

Fundraiser

Arisia got over a major hurdle when we settled with the Westin and Aloft hotels. The next hurdle: fundraising! Help out if you can.

Martin Luther King Service Project

This year, at Arisia, there will be a Martin Luther King Service Project to benefit 826 Boston, a literacy and writing charity which works free of charge with under-served Boston public school students from early elementary school to age 18. Their current writing prompt is Bigfoot. They publish and sell books of their students' writing.

They have given us a wish list of new books they would like, and the quantity of each title needed. Drop off all donations in the box marked MLK Service Project Book Drive at the fan tables on the Mezzanine.

The staff at 826 Boston are exited and thankful for your book donations.

Boston Bag Ban

The city of Boston has an ordinance about plastic bags, which requires businesses to charge an extra 5 cents or more for a bag. Further details about this ordinance.

Public Transit in Boston

We encourage you to use public transit to get to the Westin for Arisia. Our Directions page gives you all the info you need to get there by bus, train, and bike. If you are driving, please keep in mind that the Seaport district around the Westin is under heavy construction and parking is affected. Street parking may be blocked in certain areas and at least one lot frequently used by Arisians has closed. If you do decide to drive, check out our Parking page.

Bake Sale

This year, the Bake Sale @ Arisia will be on Saturday from 9:30 am- 12:30 pm (or until we sell out) located outside of the Dealers Room in the Galleria Prefunction area. The Arisia Bake Sale benefits the Otherwise (formerly the James Tiptree Jr. Award), an annual literary prize for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender, and Con or Bust, which helps fans of color fans attend SFF and other cons. Please consider bringing something to be sold: all non-refrigerated foods are welcome (particularly those that also suit dietary restrictions). If you are thinking of bringing something, we'd appreciate it if you'd let us know at @email. Food can be dropped off during the sale itself or at the Team Arisia Services ahead of time. Even if you are not a baker, please mark your calendars, spread the word and stop by for a cookie!

Feedback

Arisia needs your feedback! During the convention there will be two in-person feedback sessions:

Saturday, January 18 at 11:30am in Douglas (3W)
Monday, January 20 at 2:30pm in Otis (2W)

You can attend one or both. Additionally, feedback forms are available in program rooms and at the Info desk in the lobby. These can be given to an Arisia staffer or dropped in the feedback boxes nearby. If you prefer email, our Feedback address is always open and always read.

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