News

We are are in the final stages of planning for Penguicon.  Now all we need is you!

Penguicon only manages to be as awesome as it is through the dedication of its volunteers.  For as little as two hours over the weekend, you can give back to the con and your fellow con participants. As a volunteer-run event, your contribution is crucial to an amazing weekend for all.

Come join our ConCom and staff at our Volunteer Bash on Sunday, March 20 from 1pm – 3pm at our hotel, the Westin Southfield.   There will be games, prizes, and of course food and drinks.  There may even be a photo booth!

We’ll also be holding a volunteer orientation three times an hour so all of our volunteers know what they can expect during Penguicon.

For more information on the Volunteer Bash check out our Facebook event.

If Penguicon holds a special place in your life, put in a few hours at our Greeters Desk, Operations Desk, Registration, or help the staff set up and tear down.

Don’t forget that there are perks to volunteering besides satisfaction – you can bank your hours for reimbursement of your badge before you leave on Sunday (if we are in the black, which is pretty certain). You can also turn in your hours to stay in the Penguin Pit – volunteer crash spash that’s first come first serve, so our volunteers can get sleep or freshen up.

We’ve also got special ribbons – if you sign up to volunteer prior to the Friday of Penguicon you’ll be given a limited edition ribbon, and another one if you sign up for four or more hours of volunteering.

If you can’t make it to the bash but would still like to volunteer, email our Volunteers Coordinator, Jessica Roland, at [email protected].

We hope to see you there!

Each year there is a chance for people who love making costumes and cosplay to show off their creations and passion. Entrants should show up for the Muster at least 30 minutes before the contest for judging. From there it is in the hands of our MC and N.U.E.T, better known as “The Con Scouts.”  So come down for some fun and maybe enter for a chance to win prizes.  Best of Show receives a free badge to Penguicon 2017!

Ribbons (intended to be attached to your membership badge) are one of the best things about SF/F conventions – sometimes they’re used to highlight roles (like Guests of Honor). They’re used to express your fandom (like Browncoat).  They’re used to help someone understand your interests (like the relationship ribbons).  They’re used to denote how you’d like to be referred to (like the pronoun preference ribbons). And they’re used as rewards for picking up some art at the Maker Market, participating in contests, and getting to know our Guests of Honor.

If you’re interested in picking up some ribbons for Penguicon, your time is running out!  Please submit your ribbon order by March 1st if you’d like to be a part of our (inexpensive!) bulk purchase.  Click on the button “Add a ribbon” to get started.

After March 1st, you’re on your own!

If you are a fan of color and you’re interested in coming to Penguicon, please feel free to check out Con or Bust.

Con or Bust is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to “increase racial and ethnic diversity in the production of and audience for speculative fiction.”

“Con or Bust isn’t a scholarship and isn’t limited by geography, type of con-goer, or con; its goal is simply to help fans of color go to SFF cons and be their own awesome selves.

“It is funded through donations and an online auction held annually. One hundred percent of all donations to Con or Bust are provided directly to fans of color to help then go to SFF cons; all administrative expenses are donated by Kate Nepveu or the Carl Brandon Society, and everyone working on Con or Bust volunteers their time.”

We are pleased to donate three memberships for 2016.

Geeks with Guns is an off-site event held early on Friday afternoon, just prior to the official opening of the con. It involves going to a nearby range, and consuming copious quantities of ammunition while noisily punching holes in various paper targets for a couple of hours.

It is a painless and fun way for newbies to learn the fundamentals of firearms safety, and for them (and experienced shooters) to have an opportunity to handle and shoot a variety of guns in the company of other Penguicon attendees. The cost is as low as we can make it, and the fellowship is excellent. We usually have Eric S. Raymond in attendance (who is the inventor of the event). There are also several other experienced firearms instructors present, and the unwavering emphasis is on safety.

Please join us for 2016! Email [email protected] to express your interest by February 29th, and to get the latest planning info.

Are you interested in alternative energy sources like solar and wind power? Have you figured out how to hyper-mile your electric car? Whether you’re into beekeeping, urban space planning, or vermicomposting, our Eco track is the place for you.

We would love for you to submit a proposal for an event in the Eco track that you intend to present!

If you have an idea for a Eco track event you’d like to see at Penguicon but don’t want to present yourself, please suggest an idea for our track head to look into!

Science Fiction inspires and has been inspired by work done by scientists. The Science track brings you telescope viewings, hands-on chemistry and robotics, discussions on the future of disease prevention, and a chance to walk the scale of the solar system.

We would love for you to submit a proposal for an event in the Science track that you intend to present!

If you have an idea for a Science track event you’d like to see at Penguicon but don’t want to present yourself, please suggest an idea for our track head to look into!

Here at the very end of our deadline, we’re getting some really amazing event proposals, and we don’t want to miss out on the best people have to offer.

We are extending our deadline by a week, to February 8th, 2016, submit your panel ideas ASAP!

This will be the only extension. We will accept or decline events by Monday, February 29th.

If you have any questions, email programming@penguicon.org at any time.

Also, please remember that our Maker Market submissions are due by February 1st, and that the cost for attendance pre-registration goes up in prices on that same date!

Gaming Track is bigger and better than ever.  Literally.  This year, in addition to our awesome gaming area and library, U-Con will be bringing their board game library to share (here is a list of all of their 145 games), and Lansing Maker Network is planning to bring some of their giant versions of popular games like Mega-Operation, GianTRIS (aka Mega-Tetris), and Colossal Connect Four!

Plus we’ll be running a contest with a prize for whomever plays games with the largest number of other players over the weekend!

We would love for you to submit a proposal for an event in the Gaming track that you intend to present!

If you have an idea for a Gaming track event you’d like to see at Penguicon but don’t want to present yourself, please suggest an idea for our track head to look into!