Nimbus and C.A. and HP, Oh, My!

[Amanda]

Kaisenji, eyebrow raised, said

> I asked if I had missed something and wanted to be filled in. This 
is
> why I posted the message because I knew if I did not know, someone 
would.
> If I offended people with my teasing, I'm sorry. In all seriousness 
I
> did want clarification.

Okay, *now* you've asked for it. (laughs evil sinister laugh) Oh, 
wait, is this mike *on*? *ahem* Testing, one, two...

Hi, Kaisenji. Sorry it's taken so long to respond. We haven't kept as 
close an eye on Chatter as we have on Convention. I'm on the Ottawa 
team, and I'll bring your post to their attention when I get home (am 
at work).  (who knows? You might find yourself in charge of 
something.... whoops, who *could* be making that evil laugh?)

Seriously, though, the name thing is an honest mistake. It's a bit 
confusing. "Nimbus" was the name used by the Orlando event, which was 
sponsored by HP Educaton Fanon, Inc. (HPEF). HPEF is a nonprofit 
organization formed by representatives from (I believe) the 
HPforGrownups fine Family O'Lists, The Leaky Cauldron, and Fiction 
Alley (I am doubtless getting some of this wrong--HPEF guys, leap on 
in).

HPEF had originally intended to pursue doing a yearly event. The 
complexity of organizing an event of the size and quality of Nimbus 
2003, though, caused them to readjust that expectation to every two 
years. So the next HPEF event will be in 2005, not 2004.

Nor have they decided, I think, whether "Nimbus" will be a part of a 
repeating event's name yet, or not; so the 2005 HPEF event may or may 
not be a Nimbus.

Anyway. Ottawa. A team had been preparing for a 2004 event already, 
to be the next in line. When HPEF went to a biannual schedule, we 
decided too much work had been put in already to abandon our plans, 
and are proceeding with a 2004 event, Convention Alley.

We've just released our call for papers, we have an LJ community, and 
there's a Yahoo group you can join (convention_alley) for people 
interested in helping with the event. [I would give you all these 
URLs and links except that I'm at work and they are not at my 
fingertips here.]

While not HPEF, Convention Alley is sponsored by the HP4GU Family 
O'Lists. Even if it weren't, Chatter is a viable venue to ask for 
information, but the HP4GU-Convention list (is it hpFgu? I can never 
remember) is the more focused List For Event Discussion. HPEF's 2005 
event, as well as Convention Alley.

Sheryll's the team lead for CA, and she's in Canada. As such, she 
spells funny and forgets to give amounts in real money as opposed to 
Canadian, but otherwise she can be a fine source of information. As I 
said, I'll make sure the team's aware of your query and my answer, in 
case I left anything out, or Sheryll wishes to attempt to defend her 
spelling.

Hope I covered everything. I now return to my regularly scheduled 
rota of sick children (over the last three weeks each child has 
gotten a virulent tummy virus in turn, carrying buckets with them 
about the house; and according to the doctor this morning, they're 
starting in on the flu. Someone please remind me of the joys of 
parenting. Quickly.)

~Amanda, a.k.a. VoldeMom