Convergence still needs 5 videographers and 2 Production Assistants for this year’s con. Ideal for Film, Video and Television Production students. Contact CONvergence Video Department at the email address below – BEFORE June 22nd. Don’t miss this great opportunity to hang out with some awesome geeks.

July 4-7, 2013 at the Bloomington Doubletree by Hilton Hotel

Contact the video department for more details: video@convergence-con.org

We shoot around 100 hours of footage each year during our convention, so we’re looking for more people to help us as Camera Operators, Videographers, Motion Graphics, Technical Directors and Editors.

The parking information for the convention has been consolidated into the map attached below.

CONvergence 2013 Parking Map.pdf

Parking: LifeTouch reverses yesterday’s statement; On-street parking established

OFFICIAL WORD AS OF JUNE 14, 2013

Thanks to the efforts of Double Tree and CONvergence Hotel Staff, Lifetouch has decided to allow parking in their lot after all.

LifeTouch Parking: Allowed Thursday July 4th @ 12:00pm thru Sunday July 7th @ 10:00pm
(Except for reserved employee parking spots)

Then there is On-street Parking:

On-street parking is available on the South East corner of the frontage road nearest the hotel. Cars may be parked on the side closest to the Double Tree but not on the opposite side near Sofitel. Please be aware that the city strictly enforces the parking times and will be onsite to ticket or tow if parked beyond these hours.
Thursday July 4th from 8am – 8pm
Friday July 5th from 6am – 10pm
Saturday July 6th from 6am – 10pm
Sunday July 7th from 6am – 6pm

CONvergence 2013 Parking Map.pdf

As always if you have questions related to the hotel, please email us at hotel@convergence-con.org.

This is to make everyone aware of some major changes this year to our parking for CONvergence.
In the past Lifetouch has been generous enough to allow us to have overflow parking in their lot, this year they have decided not to work with us and because of this, any cars parked in their lot will be tagged and towed. (big bucks to get your car back).

Also, if you are not staying at the Sofitel please do not park in their lot – they will also have your vehicle tagged and towed if you decide to park there and your vehicle is not associated with a room. For those of you that are staying there please make sure you give them your vehicle information upon check-in for any/all vehicles you are parking in their lot.

Dairy Queen Headquarters has graciously offered us overflow parking and the shuttle will be making runs to that lot on a regular basis. Maps are available at the DoubleTree.

If staying at any of the remaining overflow hotels, please use the Shuttle if possible and leave your vehicles at the overflow hotel.

We encourage carpooling if at all feasible with friends who are also attending the convention.

We are working on trying to find some additional overflow parking so keep checking back for updates.

No More Availability

At this time there is no longer room availability at either the Double Tree or Sofitel. Cancellations may occur as we move into the hotel in July.

Registration is in the 9 Mile Grill (next to the lobby desk)
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday, July 3rd: Open 1PM – 5PM
Thursday, July 4th: Open 9AM-11PM
Friday, July 5th: Open 9AM-11PM
Saturday, July 6th: Open 9AM-11PM
Sunday, July 7th: Open Noon until 30 minutes after Closing Ceremonies

After hours, for pre-registered people or lost badges only, please go to the bridge. There is no “at-the-door” registration after hours.

There will be no postcards this year. We are on a whole new database. All you will need is some ID to pick up your badge.

The badges are not vertical (if you have any pouches you have been using). The are horizontal military style plastic badges.

Confirmation emails are starting to flow out as we enter the online data in the database. This will continue until we get them all entered. We are also working on sending out emails to those who were in the database previous to about April 1st. You don’t have to print these emails, all you need is your ID. These are just for your piece of mind!

There will hopefully be further email about checking your data on the new database in about 2 weeks before the con.

We will let you know when to start writing us to see if you are registered if you didn’t get a confirmation, after we have all the data entered.

On Saturday, July 6th from 11 to 4pm, the USS Nokomis will host its 13th blood drive at CONvergence. We need you to help us 40 units of lifesaving blood. This year we will welcome our 500th presenting blood donor, who will win a prize, and all donors will be entered to win Minnesota Twins mugs and other prizes. We are also part of a national program where five lucky winners will win a $3,000 American Express gift card! You can save up to three lives while at CONvergence, so come and donate!

Log on to www.redcrossblood.org or call/text Jane at 651-283-6736 to schedule your appointment. You can also visit room 108 on Thursday and Friday nights to sign up.

Steam Century is pleased to be presenting the Sixth Annual Steampunk Fashion Expo! And for the first time, we will be venturing outside the realm of steampunk and welcoming anyone whose attire goes with the CONvergence theme, British Invasion! No skits or dialog are required—it’s purely a fashion show, so don’t miss your chance to do your turn on the catwalk! We are also delighted to announce that CONvergence Guest of Honor Caitlin Blackwood will be this year’s special guest judge! Returning as our halftime entertainment will be the amazing Rana—you won’t want to miss her signature Tea Service Belly Dance!

Details on how to sign up will be available at the CON. Participants should plan to report to the Green Room at 4:00 PM for judging and rehearsal. Show starts at 5:30 PM on Friday.

We hope to see you in the audience, or better yet, on stage with us!

We are forwarding room requests to the Double Tree. You will receive a confirmation email from the Double Tree for your actual room reservation. Once you receive that confirmation, please be sure to contact the Double Tree and guarantee your room. You can do so via credit card and nothing will be charged to your credit card until you check out.

NOTE: If you do not guarantee your room, your reservation may be cancelled without notice. This is standard hotel practice.

If you use a debit card, the hotel will pre-authorize the amount of your stay when you check in, and those funds will not be available to you. This is also standard hotel procedure. Please note that if you guarantee the room via credit or debit card, and abandon your reservation without calling to cancel, the hotel will charge the first night’s stay.

Two more things of note – please call the Double Tree directly at (952) 835 – 7800 and ask for IN-HOUSE reservations in order to guarantee your room. Please do not call the 800 number and please do not follow the prompt when calling the Double Tree. Please go directly to the Operator and ask for IN-HOUSE reservations to guarantee your room, after of course you have received your confirmation.

Also, if you need to make any changes or cancel your reservation, please contact the CONvergence Hotel Team at hotel@convergence-con.org. Doing so helps us monitor our commitment to the hotel for number of nights reserved and occupancy.

And again and lastly, if you do not guarantee your room, your reservation may be cancelled. This too is standard hotel procedure.

The deadline for submissions to the Midwest Sci-Fi Short Film Festival is fast approaching. Get your entries in now!

Are you a filmmaker who lives in one of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin?

If so, the 5th Annual Midwest Sci-Fi Short Film Festival is now accepting entries for live action or animated films under 20 minutes in the following genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action/Adventure and Supernatural.

Submission Deadline: May 10th, 2013

Click here for details on how to submit your film.