If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, now is the time – membership prices rise 14 February, so get in while you can still nab four days of fun for under $200. Don’t forget, memberships can also make great gifts. If you’ve been wondering what to get for your special geeky someone, a Natcon membership might be just the thing.

Now is also the perfect time if you’ve been thinking about getting involved in the convention. We’re currently seeking programming ideas, panellists and presenters. If you are interested, email programming@continuum.org.au. And we are always happy to hear from people who would like to help out with general tasks before or during the convention – email info@continuum.org.au to discuss what you would like to do.

The Chronos Awards season is under-way, with nominations now open until 18 March 2012. The awards are again being run by the inestimable John Samuel, and you can nominate by email, post (Chronos Awards Committee, 65A Limestone Ave, Braddon ACT 2612), or just by dropping a comment at the linked Livejournal post. Don’t miss out: this is your chance to reward your favourite Victorian SF writers, artists, editors and fans for their amazing work in 2011. Keep an eye out for further Chronos Awards announcements – and soon, of course, the Ditmars!

NAFF nominations will be open shortly, with further details forthcoming on the website.

We’re pleased to announce this year’s theme for Maskobalo, always a highlight of Continuum: “Enchantment Under the Sea”. Entry is once again free for convention members and $15 for non-members, so invite your friends, dress in your nautical best and be ready to begin the beguine.

In other exciting news, as part of Natcon, and in partnership with the Australian Science Fiction Foundation, Continuum will be running a science fiction competition complete with cash prizes and publication in the convention souvenir book! Full details and competition rules will be published on the website soon, but we can announce the following:

• The competition theme is craft…and interpretation is wide open.
• Entries must be science-fictional.
• There will be both a written and a non-written category – giving the artists, crafters, hackers and makers among you a chance to shine as well as the writers.

Speaking of chances to stretch your creative muscles, Twelfth Planet Press is seeking contributions for A Stitch In Time Travel: A Craft eBook Project, an eBook of geek crafts related to time travel, to be released at Craftonomicon.

Finally, in the next few months you can expect to see plenty of Continuum people out and about. We are planning a series of outings throughout March and April, which are both positively bursting with Continuum-y goodness. Mark these dates in your calendar:

• 11 March: John Carter screening
• 25 March: The Hunger Games screening
• 14-15 April: We will be hanging out with the New Melbourne Browncoats at Supanova. Swing by and enter a raffle, or just say hi!
• 22 April: Join us at the Celtic Club for a post-Easter party of killer bunnies and twisty trivia.
• 29 April: Turn out to see The Avengers with us!

Times, venues and other details will be announced as we get closer to each date.

The current rule for a collected work is:

4.4.1 Collected Work: A collected work is a sf/f/h collection or anthology, magazine or journal, ezine or webzine which must pay contributors in other than contributor copies and incidentals, or the editor/s of which declare the work to be professional. To be eligible the collected work must have
been produced in Victoria, or at least one of it’s major editors must have been a citizen of Victoria for the relevant calendar year. At least one edition of a collected work must have been issued in the eligible calendar year.

The query has been made in respect of collections of stories by Victorian authors that were edited and published in another state/territory.

The Committee will accept nominations for these collections.

The intent of the rule was to ensure that editing performed by Victorians could be recognised by the Chronos Awards. There was no intention to disqualify stories by Victorian authors that happen to be edited elsewhere.

To avoid this issue in future the second clause of the rule will be amended as follows:

To be eligible the collected work must have been produced in Victoria, or contain a story by a citizen of Victoria, or at least one of its major editors must have been a citizen of Victoria for the relevant calendar year.

Any queries regarding this clarification may be sent to awards@continuum.org.au.

As noted previously nominations will close on 18 March 2012, and a typographical error in the original post referring to 2010 has been corrected.

Nominations are being accepted for the following categories:

Professional Categories:

• Best Long Fiction (including collected works)
• Best Short Fiction
• Best Artwork

Fan Categories:

• Best Fan Writer
• Best Fan Artist
• Best Fan Written Work
• Best Fan Art Work
• Best Fan Publication in any Medium

Special Award for works not eligible in existing categories:

• Best Achievement

All nominated works must have been published during the 2011 calendar year. Please refer to the complete Chronos Awards rules for details.

Nominations can be made by:

1. Email to awards@continuum.org.au
2. Post to:

   Chronos Awards Committee
   65A Limestone Ave
   BRADDON ACT 2612

3. Lodging a comment at the linked LiveJournal post. All comments are screened.

Acknowledgement emails will be sent to confirm nominations received by email or as comments. If you do not receive this email within 48 hours please lodge a comment to remind me to check the spam trap. Thank you.

All nominations must be received by final post on Sunday 18 March 2012 and the Chronos Awards Committee is not responsible for any delays in mail.

Wide distribution of this post is encouraged but please acknowledge the source and provide a link back.

Originally posted at:http://piratesobg.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/2012-chronos-awards-nominations-now-open/

Nominations will open in two weeks and will be open for two months. The nomination and voting process will be similar to previous awards.

The key dates for the 2012 Chronos Awards are:

• Nominations Open: Sunday 22 January 2012
• Nominations Close: Sunday 18 March 2012
• Voting Opens: Sunday 1 April 2012
• Voting Closes: Sunday 20 May 2012
• Awards Announced: Continuum 8: Craftonomicon (see the program for details)

Any queries can be sent to awards@continuum.org.au

Wide distribution of this post is welcomed but please acknowledge the source and provide a link back.

Originally posted at: http://piratesobg.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/2012-chronos-awards-key-date/

…Resoundingly, Octavius Octonarii!

Congratulations to Amanda Elliott, who coined the winning name. The prize will be coming your way shortly!

Thanks also to everyone who entered and voted in the Name the Octopus competition, coming up with names and voting.

To celebrate Octavius’s naming, we have downloadable line art. Colour it in, stick things on it, make it awesome and have fun!

Download Octavius Octonarii Line Art

In this role, you will:

• Identify and develop potential marketing opportunities for Continuum
• Develop sponsorship and advertising proposals
• Identify and approach potential new sponsors and advertisers while maintaining a positive relationship with current sponsors
• Attend and make reports to regular Continuum committee meetings
• Promote Continuum through a range of social media and offline

You will need great communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

You will be supported in your role by the Continuum committee. As this is a committee role, you will also be eligible for committee membership rates.

If you are interested, email info@continuum.org.au with “Sponsorship and Marketing Liaison” in the subject line. Please provide an outline of any relevant experience or skills you have.

• Octavius Octonarii
• Master Snick
• Continuupus
• Legless
• Stephalopod

You can vote for your favourite name via Twitter (use the #nametheoctopus hashtag so we can track your votes), Facebook, email (info@continuum.org.au with the subject “Name the Octopus”), or just drop a comment on this post!

Voting closes 31 December 2011. The winning name will be announced in the new year.

Unfortunately Melbourne Central has thrown small a spanner in the works (again!) by only screening Immortals in 3D which means we have to bump the price up to $18, plus $1 if you require 3D glasses. The box office price is $23.50 without glasses so you’re still getting a bargain by coming to the movies with us.

Here’s the essential details:
When: Sunday 27th November, meet at 3.45pm for the 4.10pm session
Where: Hoyts, Level 3, Melbourne Central
Cost: $18 or $19 if you require 3D glasses

It’s easy to join us, just RSVP by sending an email to events@continuum.org.au by 11am on 27th November with Immortals in the subject line and include your name, mobile number how many tickets you’d like and if you require 3D glasses or not. Payment is in cash on the day.

If you cannot attend after RSVPing, please let us know by 11am as we buy tickets early to ensure all seats are together. Unfortunately if you let us know after that we will still require payment as the discounted tickets we use don’t allow returns.

Then catch up for a debrief with drinks and eatables after the movie.
Hope to see you there!