Chair Update

August 20, 2003
Artist GoH
I am pleased to report that Frank Kelly Freas' recovery following his accident and surgery is going well. Unfortunately, it has been decided that he will not be able to come to Torcon, even for an abbreviated visit. His speedy recovery is more important to the convention and its members. We will still be honouring him and his work.

Hotel
There are still a few rooms available at the convention hotels and there may be always the odd cancellation. If you are doing last minute booking, remember to mention that you are with Torcon.

Message Board
The Torcon Message Board is currently down. Given that we are this close to the con, we may not sort the problem. Please consider subscribing to the discussion list.

To subscribe to the mailing list talk@torcon3.on.ca, send a message to mailbot@mailbot.torcon3.on.ca with the body of the message being subscribe talk. This list is for announcements about Torcon 3, suggestions, and general discussion. Anything to do with Toronto fandom or upcoming Worldcons or Worldcon is welcome.

The list server at mailbot.torcon3.on.ca usually responds within ten to twenty minutes. However, it is a freeware application with a few subtle bugs. If you do not get an acknowledgement from the list server within 24 hours, please contact sysadmin@torcon3.on.ca. The list server runs the talk@torcon3.on.ca and committee@torcon3.on.ca lists.

If you have a problem, please contact sysadmin@torcon3.on.ca.

Child Care and Information Desk has been updated on the site. Please click on the index to the left and select CHILD CARE or Info Desk.

Also, during the convention, keep an eye on the Chair Updates for any information from the con.

August 18, 2003
Due to the lateness of mailing PR #6 and now the power outage that has hit the North East, PR #6 is available on line for viewing. From the left hand index list ~> click A-Z ~> Progress Report 6.

Also, programming information schedule can be accessed by going to www.torcon3.on.ca/programming/news/sched.html directly or by clicking index list ~> click A-Z ~> Program Participants and selecting “schedule” on the top menu list.

For those interested in parking, information is also available on line again by following from the left hand index list ~> click A-Z Index ~> click Parking.

August 15, 2003
Due to the power outage, I currently understand that some of the Torcon eMail addresses may be still down. I (from midnight last night) have home power here in Hamilton, and my personal internet provider has been up since 12:30 pm today. However many sections of Hamilton and the Toronto area are still without power. We are slowly getting power back, but thyere are rolling power outages occurring at this time. Please bear with us. My compliments to the Torcon Staff hit by the outages in Canada and the US. Despite the power outages, those affected have still been able to continue in their con-ly duties. I have already had one impromptu meeting in a local mall that is open.

Let's see...

First Sars and then Mad cow, that's S&M, I can live with that. Now Electricity and a GoH accident. That's SMEG, hmmmmm, is there a message here? Looking forward to seeing you at Torcon in less than 2 weeks.

August 13, 2003
Update on Frank Kelly Freas...

Last Friday Kelly fell and broke his hip, then had surgery Sunday. On Monday he was moved to the Rehab floor of the hospital. Prognosis is good. He's going to try to walk tomorrow [Wednesday] with the aid of the physical therapist. He wants to get back to work and is currently amusing himself with a sketchbook and some pens. Laura is doing fine. Flowers on behalf of the convention and attendees were sent.

August 10, 2003
I know you will be happy to hear that Frank Kelly Freas has made it through his surgery. He is awake and recovering. I called his hospital room and extended my, the convention, and its members' wishes for a speedy recovery. Flowers have been sent to him on behalf of all of us. Laura is doing well given the stressful events. Our good wishes are with her too.

Quick items…

For those of us staying in Toronto for awhile, there is a laundry at 20 Widmer Street ( http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z5B321B85 ). It is about 800m from the Crowne Plaza.

This unsolicited article is written by a native to Toronto (Joanthan Cowie) as a tourist guide
for those attending the forthcoming Worldcon.
http://www.concatenation.org/science/toronto.html

Finally, for those who are interested in knowing authors may be attending Torcon doing panles and signing autographs, the following is a list of authors who have expressed an interest in doing so. Please bear in mind that this list is tentative at this time, not to be considered all inclusive or exclusive.

Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Roger MacBride Allen, Catherine Asaro, Alison Baird, Scott Bakker, James Barclay, Paul Barnett, Adrian Bedford, Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Hilari Bell, Carol Berg, Russell Blackford, Grace Boykin, Marilyn "Mattie" Brahen, Patricia Bray, David Brin, Kristen Britain, M.M. Buckner, Elizabeth Caldwell, isobelle carmody, Adam-Troy Castro, Jeanne Cavelos, Jack L. Chalker, Joël Champetier, Suzy Charnas, Barbara Chepaitis, John Clute, David B. Coe, Kathryn Cramer, Julie Czerneda, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Ellen Datlow, Keith DeCandido, William Dietz, Candas Jane Dorsey, Lisa DuMond, Dave Duncan, Scott Edelman,
Edward Einhorn, Phyllis Eisenstein, Sheila Finch, Charles Coleman Finlay, Melanie Fletcher, Lynn Flewelling,
Sean Fodera, Esther Friesner, Marcel Gagne, Scott Green, Terence Green, Lois Gresh, Karen Haber, Beverly Hale, Elizabeth Hand, Steven Harper Piziks, Charlaine Harris, Harry Harrison, David Hartwell, Peter Heck, John G. Hemry, Beth Hilgartner, P.C. Hodgell, Alexandra Elizabeth Honigsberg, Nalo Hopkinson, Alma Hromic eckert,
Tanya Huff, Walter H. Hunt, Marcy Italiano, Steve Jackson, Sandra Kasturi, Marvin Kaye, James Killus, Richard Kirk, Rosemary Kirstein, David Barr Kirtley, Ellen Klages, E.E. Knight, Nancy Kress, Michele Laframboise, Jay Lake, Claude Lalumière, Geoffrey Landis, Dave Langford, Sharon Lee, Edward M. Lerner, Page E. Lewis, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Jean Lorrah, Karin Lowachee, Nicole Luiken, Scott Mackay, Derwin Mak, Robert Marks,
Louise Marley, Ann Marston, Lee Martindale, Wil McCarthy, Will McDermott, Terry McGarry, Sean McMullen,
Norma McPhee, Henry Melton, Robert Metzger, China Mieville, Steve Miller, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Mike Moscoe,
Kevin Murphy, Larry Niven, Gerald Nordley, Bill Patterson, Fiona Patton, Ursula Pflug, Michael Picray,
Terry Pratchett, Eric Raymond, Robert Reed, mike resnick, Kim Stanley Robinson, Gord Rollo, Nick Sagan,
Michelle Sagara (West), steve Sawicki, Robert J. Sawyer, Stanley Schmidt, Lawrence Schoen, Karl Schroeder,
Darrell Schweitzer, Pamela D Scoville, Mark Shainblum, Josepha Sherman, Dr. H. Paul Shuch, susan shwartz,
Jennifer Sigouin, Steven Silver, Robert Silverberg, Glenn Sixbury, Kristine Smith, Caro Soles, Bud Sparhawk,
Wen Spencer, Allen M. Steele, James Stevens-Arce, Stephen M. Stirling, Charlie Stross, Harry Stubbs,
Caitlin Sweet, Isaac Szpindel, Cecilia Tan, Amy Thomson, Mary Turzillo, Mary A. Turzillo, Edo van Belkom,
James Van Pelt, K.D. Wentworth, Ken Wharton, Lori White, Rick Wilber, Edward Willett, Liz Williams, Walter Jon Williams, Connie Willis, Robert Charles Wilson, Ann Zeddies, Sarah Zettel, Marc Zicree

Frank Kelly Freas had a fall Friday [August 8, 2003] morning and fractured his hip. He was scheduled for surgery Saturday morning but it has been rescheduled to today and we are awaiting the results.

We were apprised of the situation Friday by Laura and have not been broadcasting the information to allow them privacy at this time. Also, we need to have a better idea of how the surgery went. Laura has given the go ahead for me to disseminate this information now.

To answer the immediate question you may have: Frank Kelly Freas will remain Torcon's Guest of Honour whether he can attend physically or not.

Further details as they become known will be posted in the Chair Updates on the Torcon 3 website www.torcon.on.ca and to other areas/lists as possible.

On behalf of the convention and attendees, our thoughts are with him and Laura for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Peter Jarvis
Chair Torcon 3
61st World Science Fiction Convention

August 9, 2003
For those who may not be aware, we are continuing online attending membership sales and membership transfers to August 10 (Sunday). We are taking online supporting membership sales until August 15 (Friday).

Any memberships that come in by mail after those dates, will be processed if possible.

Also, the link in the last posting for the WSFS Business meeting did not print. The link is: www.torcon3.on.ca/events/WSFSbusiness.html

For those interested in the Fairmont Royal York's virtual consierge, check out this site: http://concierge.fairmont.com/location.process/OID_35/OLID_8870/

August 8, 2003
For those who may not be aware, we are continuing online attending membership sales and membership transfers to August 10 (Sunday). We are taking online supporting membership sales until August 15 (Friday).

Any memberships that come in by mail after those dates, will be processed if possible.

Also, the link in the last posting for the WSFS Business meeting did not print. The link is: www.torcon3.on.ca/events/WSFSbusiness.html www.torcon3.on.ca/events/WSFSbusiness.html

For those who may not be aware, we are continuing online attending membership sales and membership transfers to August 10 (Sunday). We are taking online supporting membership sales until August 15 (Friday).

Any memberships that come in by mail after those dates, will be processed if possible.

Also, the link in the last posting for the WSFS Business meeting did not print. The link is: www.torcon3.on.ca/events/WSFSbusiness.html

August 7, 2003
The final Progress Report is being sent out. Recognizing the short time, an on line
version will be available on the website shortly.

Rember that every member of Torcon 3 is a member of the World Science Fiction Society.
(In fact, the only way you can join WSFS is to join the current Worldcon.)
Every attending member may attend and participate in the WSFS Business
Meeting, where we decide changes to the governing documents of WSFS, in
particular the WSFS Constitution that governs the Hugo Awards and the
selection of future Worldcons.

WSFS Business Meetings will be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10 AM. The
T3 web site was updated recently with information about the Business
Meeting, available from the A-Z index under WSFS Business Meeting or
directly at . I would
encourage anyone interested in the Business Meeting to read these pages.