This is the first of a couple of posts to introduce you to the charity activities during Worldcon 76 in San Jose.  We'll also be spotlighting auction items and generous donors over the coming weeks.  

It’s no secret that Science Fiction and Fantasy fans are well known for their caring and charity, and one of the best places that manifests itself is at Worldcon in the Charity Auction. This year our charity choice is inspired by gHost of honor Bob Wilkins, and was selected with the help of the surviving Wilkins family.

Proceeds from this year’s charity auction activities will benefit Alzheimer's Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada. Here’s a little bit about them:

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.

Since its founding in 1981, the Northern California and Northern Nevada chapter has grown into one of the largest in the Alzheimer’s Association’s 78-chapter network. Eleven offices serve population centers like Silicon Valley and San Francisco, and smaller communities like Reno, Chico, and Monterey. Each year the chapter serves thousands of families through the 24/7 helpline, one-on-one care consultations, and more than 150 support groups. In the latest fiscal year, the Northern California and Northern Nevada chapter raised more than $14 million for Alzheimer’s research. For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900. 

We’ve met with the Alzheimer’s Association several times now and were incredibly impressed with the scope of their activities. You’ll have the opportunity to meet them as well as they’ll have a table display at the convention. Please make a point of dropping by and saying hi.

Of course we’re counting on our membership to help make our charity activities successful, and to help we’ll be putting together a wide variety of art, books (signed and otherwise), games (board and digital), electronics, memorabilia… well you get the idea. We’re focused on the kind of things we hope fannish bidders will get excited about.  And remember! It’s for charity!

Charity Auction activities will start with the opening of Worldcon’s doors on Thursday with the opening of the Silent Auction Exhibit. Much like the Art Auction, members can peruse items up for bid and write in bids between Thursday and Saturday. Items where silent bidding exceeds a number of bids (likely six)  will be sent to the Voice Auction on Saturday. Anything that does not exceed that number of bids will simply sell to the highest silent bidder.

We’re terrifically excited about bringing a trove of items for you to consider taking home, and proud to be part of fandom’s traditional support of worthy charities. If you’d like to join us, be a member of the Charity Auction staff, please go to http://www.worldcon76.org/membership/volunteer/volunteer-info-form and register as a volunteer, then write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And if you like to personally donate items or products, or you represent a company that would like to donate for the auction, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. directly. Check with your tax professional about how such donations could be declared as deductions on your taxes!

More soon!

Ric Bretschneider
Worldcon 76 Charity Auction

The final ballot for the 2018 Hugo Awards, 1943 Retrospective Hugo Awards, WSFS Award for Best Young Adult Book, and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer opened on May 3, 2018. The Final Hugo Award Ballot includes the finalists selected by the members of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Worldcons through the nominating process earlier in 2018. Members can vote from the Worldcon 76 website at http://www.worldcon76.org/hugos.

In order to vote for the Hugo Awards, you must have your electronic PIN. Members previously received their PINs in the nomination phase. Worldcon 76 will send e-mail to all members who have registered their e-mail with the convention within a week of the opening of voting. You can also write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to recover your voting information if you do not know it.

Alternatively, you can download a PDF of the paper version of the Hugo Final Ballot and send it by postal mail. Paper ballots will also be included in Worldcon 76 Progress Report 3, scheduled for mailing in late May 2018.

Reporting to: Kathryn Duval, Registrar

Apply via: Volunteer Information Form

Tasks and Responsibilities:

For most Worldcon attendees, the registration desk is the beginning of their Worldcon.  Their registration experience can set the tone for the rest of their convention. This is a role where friendly volunteers who can handle both the routine and the unexpected can meet and truly have a positive impact on a large number of people.  

As a member of the Registration Desk Staff you will help people register, look up memberships, process payments from new members, look up or print badges, hand out badges and registration materials, and enter member information into our registration system.  Some shifts will be very busy, especially early in the convention. Later shifts will be more relaxed and provide an opportunity to socialize with other volunteers.

Both experienced and first-time registration volunteers are welcome!

Time commitment:

Registration will open on Wednesday, August 15, and be open daily through Monday, August 20.  Hours have not yet been established. Shifts will be 3 hours long.

Experience, attributes, skills, and/or abilities:

You should be kind and enjoy helping people; friendly, with a ready smile; and able to keep a cool head in a fast-paced environment and with people who may become frustrated.  Punctuality, reliability, and the ability to handle money are also very important.  

Physical requirements:

There may be some physical requirements in handling materials and getting badges from the printer, but this position is primarily sedentary, and we can work around most physical restrictions.