Hello all,

As of Today (7/15/2008), I will no longer be answering emails about volunteer registration, if you still want to volunteer, feel free to stop by on July 31st (or any other time of the convention, we can always use more volunteers - even if you only help out for an hour or two, it goes a long way) at the Connecticut Convention Center, just ask for Jim  at registration and someone will direct you to me.

Important notes:

ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE REGISTERED MEMBERS OF CONNECTICON,
ALSO VOLUNTEER CLASSES ARE JULY 31ST AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AT 1,3,and 5:30pm (you don't need to attend the volunteer classes to volunteer, but you'll know a lot more if you do attend one of the classes)

see you in three weeks

Well, the program book is now available for download, all 84 pages, including the schedules (which are subject to change, between now and the start of anything in the schedules): http://www.connecticon.org/files/CTCon%202008.pdf

Most likely you will probably want to right click and save as... the file is 120MB!

Additionally, you can still pre-register for ConnectiCon for all 3-days online until July 20, 2008.

We are no longer accepting mail-in pre-registrations as they may not arrive before the convention begins.

In the meantime, you might enjoy going to the movies to watch Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Incredible Hulk, Hancock, Wall-E, Wanted, Hellboy 2, Dark Knight, X-Files, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (no wait don't go see that, come to ConnectiCon instead!).

Enjoy the program book, and see you in 3 weeks!

It's been quite a year.  The last MAD before ConnectiCon 2008 is going to be this Saturday, July 12!

As usual, we'll be ordering from The Spot Eatery @1:30-2:00 and again at 6:30-7:00.  Come by the break room at those times, and we'll phone in your orders.  Great food at very reasonable prices, definitely something to plan for!

Workshops: We'll be having miniature painting and modelling. My current project is customizing a HeroClix figure for our RPG group.

Screenings: We never know what's on the screen until it shows up.  It's almost guaranteed to be something strange, rare, or unusual though, so
check it out.

Minis: We have Open Gaming.  You bring it, we'll play it!

Cards: As ever, we have room for Open Gaming, so bring your decks.  One of our own, Jim Courtney, will be playtesting his home-grown creations (featuring Melting Pot Mobsters, but also including Tiki Tiles, Yo Momma Fight, Avarice, and "Chess: Le Rois Le Veut" , an expansion pack for the game of chess. "Marvel at my arrogance as I dare to add new abilities and drawbacks to pieces in the classic game of strategy!"--Jim Courtney ).

Board Games: Open Gaming.  If all goes well, we'll have a regular gaming group here running various board games.

Video Games: Open Gaming with VG Throwdown Tournaments!  If 2 or more people playing the same game, we'll suggest having a Throwdown then and
there.  Only $2.00 per person to participate in a Throwdown, to be put towards prize support.  Remember, no drinks or food in the video gaming area, please.

Role Playing: I'll be continuing the round table discussion this month.  Of even greater interest, we have a gaming group running a Champions superhero RPG set in the DC universe--last I saw, there were five players or so.  Looking Good!

  We'll be checking current memberships against our database, and letting you know if you show up or not.  If this is your first MAD, don't fret...we won't throw you out, but you'll need to purchase a ConnectiCon membership to attend in the future.

Please remember that we are not the only group that uses the building.  We have to stay in those areas/rooms that are reserved for our event--no wandering around, please.  If there continues to be complaints, we run the risk of losing the privilege of using the building to host our MADs.


We can be found at the Newington Office & Conference
Center, 705 North Mountain Road, Newington, CT.  We open our doors at
10:00am, and close at 10:00pm.

See you there!

Joseph Callaway
Director, ConnectiCon Artists' Colony
M.A.D. man

Today is the last day to pre-register to attend ConnectiCon for all 3 days for only $40!

Starting tomorrow pre-registration will be $50, the $50 pre-registration will cut-off on July 19, 2008. After that you'll have to register at the convention.

Also, we'd like to mention that we have another voice actor attending ConnectiCon this year:

Michelle Knotz

We hope you're having a happy and safe 4th of July weekend, we know that some of you are probably attending AX or PCM this weekend.

See you all in 4 weeks!

Also, we're going to add a room block at another hotel this week, as the Marriott is COMPLETELY sold out on Saturday night, this block will likely close on July 19, 2008.

With less than 30 days to go, I have been answering emails like mad.
So if your Volunteering, interested in volunteering or just thinking about volunteering. read the following
There will be 3 classes for Volunteering on July 31st at the convention center at 1,3, and 5:30pm, there you will learn the ropes and get to know me if you dont already. Also the classes however long they are count as 1 hour volunteer time.
After the classes you are free to go or you can stay and help the con staff set for the next 3 days. people thinking about crash space are encourge to help out. (an average of 10 hours is usally given for thrusday)

Important. If you volunteered last year, and think you got free membership, please go to the volunteer link and email me.
ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED PLEASE DO SO, VOLUNTEERS MUST BE REGISTERED MEMBERS.

And on a final note this year I will be closing Volunteer Registration on July 15th, due to the high number of email I get and the fact that a new job within the con makes me need to prepare for other things.
See you on the 31st

We'd like to announce this year's winners of the Cover Art and T-Shirt Art Contest:

Cover Art: Jon Kneeland
T-Shirt Art: Paul Jacovino (Yuureikun)

We'd like to thank everyone who submitted art, it was a tough call making the decisions but we finally came down to the winners. The winners of the cover art and t-shirt art contest receive a complimentary table (including 2 memberships) in the Artist's Colony each year.

Congratulations winners, hopefully some fans will swing by your tables to have their program book and/or t-shirt signed by the artist!

For those of you who are curious, you'll just have to wait until the convention to see what the art will look like.

Unfortunately, the attached Marriot has informed me today that they are all out of rooms with double beds! There are still a few rooms left with King Beds, as of this afternoon (Thursday, June 26, 2008), the following quantity of rooms are available, before the hotel is SOLD OUT:

Wed. - 8 Rooms
Thurs. - 13 Rooms
Fri. - 26 Rooms
Sat. - 11 Rooms
Sun. - 9 Rooms

ConnectiCon 2008 attendees are invited to stay at our official convention hotel, Hartford Marriott Downtown.This is the hotel that is attached along the exhibit level to the convention center, so you won't have to walk 15 minutes from the hotel to the convention center, or wait for the downtown shuttle service.

It is of great importance that ConnectiCon members stay at our official Headquarters Hotel so that we may book a larger room block in future years as well as receive function space for additional events at the hotel.

The rates for rooms this year are $135/night for both single/double occupancy rooms. Rooms MUST be reserved by July 14th, 2008, last year our room block sold out quickly, so reserve your room soon!

Room bookings will also require a non-refundable deposit for the first night of your stay.

You can book your room online: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bdldt-hartford-marriott-downtown/?groupCode=concona

Alternately you can call 1-866-373-9806 and ask for the ConnectiCon room block. Make sure you mention the ConnectiCon group rate/discount.

"Housecall"

Robert Picardo and Ethan Phillips reprise there role as the Doctor and Nellix... in which Nellix is in the delta Quadrant and the Doctor is in the alpha Quadrant and Nellix asks the doctor to please come and treat his son, but the doctor is getting ready to go on a date with 7of9...The doctor reluctant to give up his date, finally agrees to help Nellix's son and the fun begins.

Tickets for this event will be $15 and may be picked up at the tables of Robert Picardo or Ethan Phillips.

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This year LAZ parking will be offering our members $15/day parking passes, these passes will be good from 8am until midnight on Friday and Saturday (you'll need a new pass each day). These passes are flat rate and will allow our members unlimited in and out privelidges, which means you'll be able to leave the garage, pick up some friends and come back later on in the day, hurray for LAZ parking, it only took what... 4 years to get a deal like this worked out?

Parking passes will be purchased at a LAZ table near the registration area (hours tbd).

Pete Abrams of Sluggy Freelance
Rich Stevens of Diesel Sweeties
Meredith Gran of Octopus Pie
Jeff Rowland of Over Compensating and WIGU
Aaron Diaz of Dresden Codak

will all be attending ConnectiCon 2008!

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up - there are only 3 weeks left to pre-register to attend ConnectiCon for all 3 days for just $40. Membership rates for all 3 days will increase to $50 on July 6, 2008.

See you at the convention!