Membership Guide
The official membership guide for Norwescon 37 is available to download (311KB .pdf). It’s never a bad idea to make sure you’re familiar with all of the rules, regulations, and guidelines!
Policies and Procedures
You are welcome to view our full Policies and Procedures guide (1.1MB .pdf).
We would also like to highlight three of the most commonly asked about Norwescon policies: our Harassment Policy (code of conduct), our Weapons Policy, and our Photography Guidelines.
Harassment Policy
(From page 6 (v.13.1) of the Policies and Procedures guide.)
Norwescon strives to provide a safe and welcoming space for persons of all descriptions. Everyone should be able to have a great time, in their own way, at the convention—but not at the expense of others. As a community, we insist on behavior that respects the autonomy of each individual member.
Norwescon members and convention staff have the right to be free from unwanted harassment at the convention and while performing convention-related duties throughout the year. Harassment is behavior which focuses unwelcome attention on a person and either inappropriately crosses reasonable expectations of social boundaries, or continues after a clear showing of disinterest or a request to desist.
Harassment during the year may be reported to the Personnel executive, the person’s immediate supervisor, or the chair or vice chair. At the convention, reports of harassment are handled by convention security or the Personnel executive. Any staff member wearing a convention badge may receive a report of harassment. It is each staff member’s responsibility to treat a person making such a report with respect, and to offer to accompany the person to convention security or the Personnel executive. The Personnel executive may designate a person to receive reports of harassment on his or her behalf.
Violations of this policy may lead to a range of consequences based on the circumstances, from a warning to more serious steps, such as revocation of convention membership or banning from future conventions.
Convention staff are required to report all incidents brought to their attention. These incidents should be reported to convention security or the Personnel executive as soon as possible.
Weapons Policy
(From page 33 (v.13.1) of the Policies and Procedures guide.)
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO INSPECT AND REJECT ANY WEAPON AT ANY TIME.
VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY IN PART OR WHOLE MAY LEAD TO YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE CONVENTION BY CONVENTION EXECUTIVE STAFF AND FROM THE HOTEL BY HOTEL SECURITY OR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
This policy includes all real and replicated weapons of any type that may be construed as a projectile weapon or any extension of the human hand.
Peacebonding will be available next to the Information Table during open registration hours and in the Security Office when the Peacebonding table is closed.
Peacebonding is required on all weapons visibly worn/carried on the hotel property including parking areas and indoor spaces. The only type of peacebonding allowed is that provided by the convention. Fashion coordinated substitutes are not sufficient.
NO unsheathed weapon allowed in ANY public space (unless approved in advance for Masquerade or Programming event in which bonding ties will be removed for such an event and replaced immediately afterward).
All bladed/pointed weapons will be appropriately covered in all public areas and function spaces. This includes but is not limited to: Daggers, Swords, Pikes, Axes, and Polearms, be they made of steel, plastic, or any other hard material.
Polearms, Spears, Staves, and other such weapons shall be kept upright at all times and have weapon heads sheathed and bonded. The ends of said weapons must never project more than 12″ from the bearer’s body.
Some weapons are not allowed at all: tazers, batons, real guns, pepper spray, crossbows, slingshots, pellet guns, water pistols, blowguns, catapults, or any type of functioning projectile weapon.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- “Airsoft-style” or “Nerf-style” weapons:
- At NO time is ammo allowed, in weapon or in magazine.
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Empty magazines are NOT allowed in the weapon, but allowed on the belt or in a pouch for costume purposes (again NO ammo allowed).
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Bows (again, crossbows are NOT allowed):
- Arrows must be proven to be secured in such a manner as to be unable to be removed from their container and be secured by Peacebonding the same as all other weapons.
- Any obvious appearing toy “side arms” such as Disruptors, Phasers, Laser Tag pistols/rifles, laser pointers, or any other item that can project/emit light or sound shall be peacebonded and remain in an appropriate holster at all times or held in an appropriate manner. Exemptions must be authorized by qualified Security personnel.
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Special consideration will be granted by the Convention Services Executive or a select designee by said Executive to Merchants or Dealers who display or show for the purpose of sale. Any weapons removed from Dealers room will fall under above guidelines.
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No weapons are allowed in Maxi’s Lounge, Seaport Lounge, or Coffee Garden Restaurant.
This Policy complies with hotel policy and local, state, and federal laws.
THERE WILL BE NO APPEAL TO ANY VIOLATION OF THESE RULES.
This policy supersedes all previous versions.
Photography Guidelines
(Expanded from page 38 (v.13.1) of the Policies and Procedures guide.)
First and foremost, Norwescon has been and continues to be a very photo-friendly convention. With very few exceptions, we place no restrictions upon when, where, or whom you can shoot. In fact, to make it easy, our photo policy is simply this:
- Please be respectful. We understand that with so many gorgeous outfits, it’s tempting to simply snap shots willy-nilly. However, it’s polite to make sure your subject knows that you are taking their picture and does not mind having their picture taken (and this is especially true in the evening hours, when costumes may begin to have fewer layers than during the day). A friendly smile and a quick “Do you mind?” will keep everyone happy.
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Keep hallways clear. Costumes are everywhere at Norwescon, and photo opportunities abound. When taking shots in the halls, please be sure to keep an eye out for traffic. If you’re in a particularly busy area, or if people are waiting to get through without interrupting your photo, please either pause to let people pass or consider finding another space for your shot. Once again, a little common courtesy goes a long way.
And really, that about sums it up.
Of course, there are a very few situations where we have to be a little more strict. Here’s what you need to know.
- No photography in the Art Show. Most, if not all, of the art on display at the Art Show is for sale — so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that photography isn’t permitted here. Many of the artists will be more than happy to let you take their artwork home with you, they’d just prefer not to give it away for free.
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No photography during Friday’s Fannish Fetish Fashion Show. Due to the adult nature of the show and by request of the designers exhibiting their work, we ask that you keep your camera off during the FFFS performance. The only photographers permitted have already been pre-approved by Norwescon. Thank you for your cooperation.
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No flash photography during Saturday’s Masquerade. Think of it this way: if you were all wrapped up in a fancy costume that you had worked weeks or months on, navigating your way along a stage in a large dark room, perhaps with your vision blocked or impaired in some way by your costume, would you want a sudden huge flash of light distracting you? There’s simply too much potential for accidents, so please — keep your flash turned off in the Masquerade.
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Let staff direct the post-Masquerade photo area. We will once again be setting up our post-Masquerade photo area in the hotel lobby on Saturday evening. There are a limited number of seats, and there is a limited amount of space behind the seats for photographers to stand. All of this space, save a few front-row seats for Norwescon-approved photographers, is first come, first serve. We must keep the hallway open for people to pass through, so please follow the directions of any Norwescon security if you are asked to move.
Also, while some of the people modeling their costumes may have some prior modeling experience, most do not. Please, do not try to direct models by shouting to “turn left,” “look over here,” or any other direction. Norwescon staff will be directing the models, and we will do our best to ensure that everyone is afforded a chance for a good shot. However, understand that factors such as inexperience, limited hearing due to costumes that cover the head, or simple nerves from being on display in front of a large group of photographers may make it difficult for models to do exactly what you want. Be respectful of models and Norwescon staff, and if you miss one incredible costume, rest assured — you’ll have plenty of chances with other costumes!
Finally, one last request — please share your photos! What fun are photos if nobody gets to see them? We at Norwescon love to see the shots you take over the weekend. Not only that, but all those people who work so hard to create the costumes, panels, dances, and events that you’ll be shooting love to see themselves in the photos you take!
The easiest way to share your photos is by setting up an account at Flickr, Yahoo’s popular photo sharing site, uploading your photos, and adding them to the Norwescon group. We always look forward to seeing what you see over the convention weekend!
As long as you’re sharing your Norwescon photos, do you have any from prior years floating around on your hard drive (or ready to be scanned)? We have set up Flickr groups for every Norwescon ever held — unfortunately, many of those groups have few photos or no photos at all (especially for years prior to Norwescon 28). We would be absolutely thrilled if you had any shots of Norwescons past that you could contribute to any one or more of those groups!
And that wraps it up. Thanks very much!
