AZKATRAZ - HPEF Con in San Francisco, July 2009 - Update

[Heidi Tandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 184655

Greetings from Team Azkatraz. The oldbies among you on hpfgu might
remember me from the 2000 - 2003 time frame - since then, I've been
more of a lurker than a poster, although I'm still relatively active
on HPfGU-OTChatter.

With the permission of the HPfGU Mod Squad, we wanted to update you on
AZKATRAZ, our sixth HP conference, set to take place in San Francisco
from July 17 (yes, the day that HBP opens in theaters) through July
21. This year's conference promises to be the best and most exciting
yet, and we can't wait to include you in the amazing activities we
have planned. Check out our website at http://www.hp2009.org or keep
reading for more information.

Registration is open!
https://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Register/IdentityConfirmation.aspx?e=f819871c-99ce-45a7-9c71-28234ff6a033
is the link to click.

Registration this year includes admission to more than four days of
activities and programming, including the Podcasts, our Pajama Party,
the Prison Break Ball, our Welcoming and Leaving Feasts, the History
of Wizarding Fashion Show, and more. In a departure from past years,
breakfast is not included but will be part of some special programming
workshops and presentations.

We're also introducing two new levels of registration this year: the
Merlin Circle and the Masters of Potter Administration (MPA). The
former is a one-click way to participate in all the programming and
special events and support HPEF. Merlin Circle sponsors will receive
admission to all the regular registration events, plus both Sunday and
Monday breakfast programming and a special Merlin Circle reception
with our special guest speakers. And if you're worried about getting a
good seat for that one presentation you really wanted to see, Merlin
Circle registrants will receive priority seating until five minutes
before the scheduled start of any session. You'll get a commemorative
pin proclaiming you are part of the Merlin Circle, and a portion of
your registration fee may qualify as a tax-deductible donation to
HPEF.

The Masters of Potter Administration will be a one-day special track
dedicated to topics that reflect how the Harry Potter phenomenon has
affected and continues to shape the worlds of business, law,
advertising, marketing, and Internet culture. We are assembling a
lineup of leading speakers starting with our Monday breakfast
presenter Susan Gunelius, author of "Harry Potter: the Story of a
Global Business Phenomenon".

HALF-BLOOD PRINCE MOVIE & PODCAST

What's better than staying up until midnight to see the latest Harry
Potter film? How about seeing it with hundreds of other Potter fans in
a theater reserved just for you! That's what AZKATRAZ attendees will
get to experience at 12:01am on July 17, 2009 – the day before
AZKATRAZ begins. Further details will be announced at a later date.

We are also very excited to announce that immediately after the movie
we will be hosting a Post-HBP Live Podcast with MuggleCast! More
details will be announced at a later date. Stay Tuned!

CALL FOR PROPOSALS - http://www.hp2009.org/?q=node/6

You can submit your proposal for a round table, paper presentation,
guided discussion, demonstration or something else on our website.
We've also opened for art gallery submissions (
http://www.hp2009.org/?q=node/28 )  and started organizing our
Wizarding Fashion Show ( http://www.hp2009.org/?q=node/27 ).

HELP WANTED

AZKATRAZ is run entirely by volunteers. From the board and senior
staff to the on-site volunteers, HPEF events wouldn't be what they are
without the help and commitment from its attendees. By volunteering,
you can help shape AZKATRAZ, meet fellow fans before the symposium,
and gain an insider's viewpoint to event planning. AZKATRAZ is
actively seeking to fill the positions listed on our website at
http://www.hp2009.org/?q=node/10 - we are also always on the lookout
for accountants and people with a connection to any of the Harry
Potter licensees, like Mattel, EA and Tonner.

To apply, please send a resume (ideally in the body of the message but
in .txt or .doc if an attachment), along with your email address and
an instant messaging username on AOL, Yahoo and/or Google, if you have
one, to volunteerteam at hp2009.org - and include the position title in
the subject line. If you have questions, feel free to email us at
volunteerteam at hp2009.org.



In the coming months, we'll be bringing you more information about our
speakers, our volunteers, Wizard Rock events and most importantly, all
the incredible fun we're going to have geeking out about Potter from
the movie release night all the way through the weekend. Since 2003,
we've wanted to host an event on the California coast, and I, for one,
look forward to July with delight. See you in San Francisco, and let's
Kick AZ!


If you have any questions, you can bring them to our forums at
http://www.hpef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16 or our livejournal at
http://azkatraz.livejournal.com/ or email us at info @ hp2009.org
(without the spaces) - or we can talk about Azkatraz on
HPfGU-OTChatter.

Best,
Heidi for Team Azkatraz