Nimbus - 2003 Updates

The Nimbus - 2003 proceedings in book form have been delayed...

2004-07-29T01:10:14Z

And I am enraged.

Some of you may already know that the initial plan for Nimbus had been to have CafePress print the books on a print-to-order basis, but because of the length of the thing, it would've cost over $30 for the paperback, and we wouldn't've been able to sell it via anything but CafePress, or in eBook form, so we started to look into other options in the self-publishing zone.

We had decided to take the self-publishing route because it was the speediest thing to do, and also because none of us had the time, this past spring, to find a traditional publisher with an interest in publishing the wide range of papers and panels presented at Nimbus - while we probably could've found someone to publish the more academic papers, we didn't want to leave things like the ship debate, the fanwords and fandom history panels, etc., off to the side; we wanted a comprehensive record of as much Nimbus as we could.

Of course, there are some papers we couldn't include. kitsune13 is putting one of her papers into a book already, for example, so we couldn't put it into the compendium - same with Phil Nel and Roger HIghfield (although he gave us an article to use instead).

But as those of you with the CD-Rom already know, there's over 40 papers and panels in there, and we were looking forward to them being available in book form.

And they will be, but there's been a delay.

A while ago, we contracted with iUniverse, a self-publishing house, to put the book together and put it out. Clearly, they were paying no attention to what they were doing when they put the first draft of the book together - they left the author names out of the table of contents, they didn't bold or center the author names at the top of each paper, and they did disasterous things to ajhalluk and wendywoowho's footnotes, among others (although they said, when we sent the correction sheet back, that these things would all be corrected).

But the dealbreaker came in the past two days, after gwendolyngrace, wordplay and I had spent probably 30 person-hours proofing the book.

On the proof, their copyright notice, which is their standard, said:

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

I asked them to add in "... and the copyright holder" after "publisher" in the last line. I told them it would be a dealbreaker, and we would have to cancel publication and get a refund, if they refused.

They refused.

They actually said, "In most cases iUniverse will bring requests to reproduce portions of the work to you, as representative for the book, but we reserve the rights as indicated on the copyright page." They also said that per section two of their agreement, we had given them the rights they were claiming on the copyright page.

Here's what section two says:

AUTHOR grants to PUBLISHER the non-exclusive, worldwide license to publish the WORK in print, in the English language. The AUTHOR also grants to PUBLISHER the right to make the WORK viewable on the PUBLISHER's website or partner web sites that have entered into agreement with the PUBLISHER in order to facilitate sales of the WORK.

We're groovy with section two. We are not, however, groovy with permitting a copyright notice which implies to the public that iUniverse has any right to grant any reproduction rights to any third party without the consent of the copyright holder. Arguably, having such a copyright notice may even cause HPEF to "inadvertently" appoint iUniverse as HPEF's agent for such purposes; per our contract with them, they actually do not have the right to give anyone else the opportunity to reproduce or transmit the works, and here they are, trying to make it appear to the public that they do. And in most cases they'll bring reproduction requests to us? In what cases won't they?

So the contract was disolved this afternoon. And the work we've put into getting the proceedings published by them this summer is more or less for naught.

I had a long conversation with xlibris.com today - has anyone used them? - about having them do the proceedings, in which case they'll be available via Amazon and elsewhere this fall, about 6-8 weeks after we expected they would be.

We really are sorry to everyone who wanted the book (and any teachers who'd hoped to use it in classes this fall) regarding this delay, but they were trying to act in violation of the contract we'd entered into with them, and we could not go forward that way.

We'll keep everyone posted about how the proceedings-publication is going!

hporlando @ 2004-07-14T15:36:00

2004-07-14T19:36:12Z

My Nimbus - 2003 CDRom just arrived!

Please, let us know when you get yours, and post here with any comments about it (concrit, even, as it'll help with Future Stuff).

If you didn't get an email from us within the past two weeks asking for you to let us know if your address has changed since you registered,please email us at CDRom@hp2003.org and let us know if you want your free CDRom, or a $5.00-off coupon to use in purchasing the paperback or hardcover version of the proceedings from Amazon (they'll be available there within the next 2-3 weeks), or just post a reply here.

If you want to order an extra CD-Rom or if you didn't attend Nimbus - 2003 but want one anyway, CLICK HERE.

hporlando @ 2004-06-25T12:35:00

2004-06-25T16:36:41Z

Ideally, of any of the panels presenting, or the audiences from the panels, listening alertly?

If you do, please email them to me, today, at heidi8 @ gmail.com (remove the spaces) with PHOTO in the subject. High-res is ideal, medium res is viable, cellphone pics just won't cut it. ;) And I need them in the next 24 hours or so.

They're for the CD and possibly the book, which will be out later this summer (and with special perks for those who attended Nimbus, too!), which is why we're focusing on the panelists and presenters.

Feel free to pass the request around!

Nimbus - 2003 Raised Money for BookAid!

2004-05-20T13:50:56Z

Remember the charity auction at Nimbus - 2003? We donated half our proceeds to BookAid, International, and we recently received a very nice thank-you note from them. With the help of the generous fans there, we raised just over £900 - enough to pay for 600 books for readers in the developing world.

BookAid thanks Nimbus - 2003 for this, and we at HPEF thank all of you, the fans, who made this donation possible!

Four Immediate Openings at HP Education Fanon, Inc.

2004-05-11T14:14:21Z

1. HPEF, the organization who brought you Nimbus – 2003, is in need of a designer for our website, and we'd like him or her to be one of our talented supporters. If you're interested, please send an email to designer @ hpeducationfanon.org (no spaces).

Include (as an attachment) an 800x600 JPG image of a mock-up of what you think our front page should look like. Candidates should ideally have an extensive knowledge of HTML, CSS and accessible design (see http://www.webstandards.org), and of course a deep and abiding love for Harry Potter. Membership in an internet standards organization (such as IETF, W3C, etc.) is a definite plus, but not required. Please include any other relevant qualifications with your submission, as well as anything else you think we should know about you.

We're looking for a design that integrates the themes and goals of our organization to: (i) foster study, appreciation, interpretation, discussion and debate of the Harry Potter novels; (ii) select sites and provide oversight and management of the planning of annual or periodic symposia for fans and scholars of the Harry Potter novels; (iii) educate the public about the benefits of reading. A removable logo design and a layout that captures the fun of the books and movies (illustrations and themes) is also a possibility. The look is up to you, but “open books” and “libraries” are two of the concepts we would like to see incorporated. The designer we choose will become part of the HPEF corporate team, spearhead our design, help integrate individual event pages, and be on hand to manage other changes/developments at HPEF. Submissions are due by May 31. Thank you in advance for your interest, and we're looking forward to seeing your concepts!

2. In addition, HPEF’s second event, The Witching Hour, seeks a volunteer with SQL and PHP expertise to help manage their web needs. If you are qualified and have approximately two to four hours a week to spend, please contact The Witching Hour as soon as possible via web @ witchinghour.org (no spaces).

3. Finally, HPEF, Inc., once again finds itself in need of both a treasurer and an independent accountant.

For the position of Treasurer, HPEF seeks an accountant (preferred) or an individual with extensive experience in bookkeeping and familiarity with financial statements, Quickbooks and MS Excel. The Treasurer will be responsible for making bank deposits, writing checks, keeping the corporate checkbook via Quickbooks and coordinating records and funds with the event treasurer of each of HPEF's active planning committees. The Treasurer will also work with HPEF's independent accountant and its tax counsel as necessary. The Treasurer attends quarterly (and special) meetings of the HPEF Board of Directors and must prepare a quarterly report for the Board, and work with tax counsel to prepare annual returns. Interested applicants should submit a resume outlining their experience and interest to treasurer @ hpeducationfanon.org (no spaces).

The Accountant applicant will ideally be a CPA or else must have at least two years' accounting experience, familiarity with GAAP regulations, and be able to produce comprehensive financial reports. Experience in financial planning is a plus. The Accountant will work with the Treasurer and the Tax Counsel to review periodic financial statements and annual returns. The Accountant will be required to prepare and certify audited financial statements for HPEF in the near future. If you're interested, please submit a resume outlining your experience, qualifications and interest to us as soon as possible at treasurer @ hpeducationfanon.org (no spaces)

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who might be interested.

The Witching Hour: A Harry Potter Symposium

2003-11-25T22:54:30Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2003

The Witching Hour to take place in Salem, Massachusetts

SALEM, MA - The Witching Hour, the follow-up to the successful HP Education Fanon, Inc. (HPEF) -sponsored Nimbus – 2003: A Harry Potter Symposium, will commence on October 6, 2005 in Salem, Massachusetts.

"We chose a place where our attendees could reflect on the recurring themes of ambiguity, choice, darkness, and tolerance as expressed in the Harry Potter books, "says Amy Tenbrink, one of the three lead event planners for The Witching Hour team. "Salem is a progressive town that has embraced a controversial past, and has drawn strength from it."

Indeed, as J.K. Rowling has said, "I knew [the books] would get darker. The story is about a world that's getting darker."

Programming includes a full slate of academic presentations, panels and workshops, as well as Quidditch, music, and a fall festival event. Conference organizers, whose professional lives correspond with the roles they are undertaking for The Witching Hour, are projecting hundreds of attendees, as well as many additional visitors to the related installations and exhibitions around town.

Public Relations Chair Dionne Williford is optimistic about the event. "There was a tremendous amount of interest generated by Nimbus – 2003, and we're certain that once people see what an outstanding conference we have planned, they'll decide to come learn with us, play with us, and stay for a spell."

HPEF is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide educational symposia on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels for fans, as well as scholars of the novels. HPEF's first event, Nimbus – 2003, took place in Orlando, Florida July 17 - 20, 2003; six hundred attendees enjoyed presentations by over eighty speakers, including Judith Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association.

For further information, please visit The Witching Hour's yahoogroup at www.yahoogroups.com/group/witchinghour or its soon-to-be-up website at www.witchinghour.org (mirrored at www.hp2005.org).

This symposium is an unofficial event, and is not endorsed by Warner Bros., the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K. Rowling and her representatives.

hporlando @ 2003-09-18T11:05:00

2003-09-18T15:05:41Z

Can the people who won the Mary GrandPre-signed book and the backpack of Bertie Botts Beans at Nimbus - 2003 please email me offlist with your legal name & address, because we need it asap to comply with a florida statute about raffles? I'm at heidit@netbox.com - thanks in advance!

Shout-out to Presenters

2003-09-08T16:44:08Z

Hi, there.

Heidi also asked me to leave a note here: she sent email regarding the proceedings and summaries for the conference.

If you're a presenter and you are no longer on the YahooGroup, or you did not receive the email for any other reason, please get in touch with Heidi, either in her LiveJournal (heidi8) or by email (heidit@netbox.com). If you need to resubscribe to the presenters' group, you can do that here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nimbus-2003/.

Gwen

T-Shirts and Mugs and More Stuff! Oh my!

2003-09-08T15:43:50Z

This post is an update about t-shirts and other Nimbus - 2003 comemorative stuff - and a tiny preview about the proceedings.

1. T-shirts - last week, we sent out the last of the 2XL shirts that were paid for at Nimbus - 2003, as well as a smattering of shirts in other sizes. However, we have to reorder shirts in the other sizes,
although we expect that they'll be in at the begining of October. So we are taking orders - for a VERY short time - for additional shirts.

If you want a shirt, and didn't order&prepay for one in Orlando, please send an email to shirts@hp2003.org giving your name, address and size - we're only accepting payment via paypal or money order.
If you want to use paypal, go to http://www.paypal.com, login to (or create) your account, and select SEND MONEY. Use shirts@hp2003.org as the email address to send the money to.

Prices (including shipping) are as follows:
$15/shirt (S-XXL) if you're in the US
$16/shirt (XXXL) if you're in the US

$16/shirt (S-XXL) if you're in Canada
$17/shirt (XXXL) if you're in Canada

$18/shirt (S-XXL) to any other country
$19/shirt (XXXL) to any other country

If you can't use paypal, please email me offlist and I'll let you know the address to send a money order to - because of the time frame, we can't take anything but paypal or money orders.

PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON EASTERN TIME ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2003.

2. The Nimbus - 2003 shop on Cafe Press (http://www.cafeshops.com/hpefinc) will be closing in about 36 hours. If you want to order one of the fine products there, please do so *now*. We will be opening a "nonpremium" store there within the next few days, with different products, including journals, but
most of the stuff in this store will be unavailable after Tuesday.

3. Proceedings - we're finalizing the setup, and expect to have them available for order in October. Keep your eye on this list for more info.

Heidi

Nimbus: lj users at Nimbus 2003 board transcribed

2003-07-27T06:42:55Z

EDIT: this is the proper namelelola has posted bluerose25's transcription of the famous .

Here is the post. If you were there and your name isn't on it, drop her a comment so she can add you:)

Second batch of Nimbus 2003 attendee pics

2003-07-25T18:43:03Z

Compiled from hporlando and ixchelmala...

tall_man has added these public links for us that include:
Quidditch match and winners and House class pictures along with audience for Cupboard panel

From melissa_tlc at The Leaky Cauldron's we have their own post of links to the pitures of the event, including a link backto this livejournal, YAY and THANKS Melissa!

From -Mary G., Creator of MMP Artist of the Cover of the Nimbus-2003, Program we have pictures of Dobby, attendees trying to get into the Ministry of Magic, and more:
MissMaryPotter.com's NIMBUS-2003 Photo Gallery

lelola brings us killer shots of some of the impromptu signs made the day of registration, which are rather amusing, lots of COS Play, the ljusers board (which I didn't sign, wah!), and Harry and Draco hugging?!?

Keep the links coming people!

Nimbus Pics: Update

2003-07-25T17:43:36Z

FYI, if you are still checking out the pictures from my Photo Diary of Nimbus 2003 please note that some maintenance was being is being preformed and should be completed by 12 noon PST.

My apologies if you have been inconvenienced by any of this.

Nimbus: Pictures from other attendees!

2003-07-24T20:15:28Z

If anyone else has pictures they'd like to share, please send me the link, and I'll post the links here.

HPFGU-Convention Y!Group: Photos section

From Marilyn (hi-res)

Godric's Hollow

From Hedwig

From Digicasey.com (hi-res)

Livejournal pic posts. (Note: some of these may be friends-only.)

From tall_man's first batch of pics

From redblaze we have these

From ixchelmala's worst merch pic (taken by redblaze)

Nimbus: Last set of the last day

2003-07-24T19:38:30Z

Last set of my collection

Next up, links from others attendees!

Old post, new appearance

2003-07-23T22:48:46Z

Due to some changes, we had to get rid of the very first post on this journal. I've made the changes and we're re-posting it now. It's a really old post, but here it is:

The following entries were deleted from this journal. Never fear! They return. There's nine of them going back to June 20.

2003-07-10 13:52:00; Win a Trip to England - Winner announced at Nimbus - 2003
Beyond Boundaries Travel, one of the merchants attending Nimbus – 2003,
will be announcing the winner of a trip to England for two, during the symposium. click here to enter!

*
2003-07-10 13:23:00; Shopping at Nimbus
Worry not; there will be a complete Marauder's Map of "Kumpulsive Alley" at Nimbus. But, just so you can get your galleons changed into US currency, below is a complete list of the fabulous merchants – purveyors of things magical & muggle, but NEVER mundane - who will be at Nimbus. I have provided web sites where available.

Alivan's, Master Wandmakers
Handcrafted Magic Wands and Wizard Brooms –
Imagine...the Magic!
Alivan's

The Amber Fox
Fine Amber & Silver Jewelry

Beyond Boundaries Travel
Travel for a New Generation
Enchanted Tours to England from King Arthur to Harry Potter
BBT

Borders Books & Music - Orlando
Purveyors of Things Published

Drachenstein Treasure's
Fine Jewelry
Drachenstein

Harry Potter Wizard Store
aka HP Wizard Store
By far, the largest selection of licensed Harry Potter
merchandise in the known world
HP Wizard Store

Journeyman Leather
Custom-tailored leather garments, banners, pouches and jewelry
Journeyman Leather

The Lover's Knot
Gold, silver & leather hand woven jewelry

Madame Sebelle's
Quality Robes, Hats and Accessories for Witches and Wizards
She is the one who makes the Lucius Malfoy Cane!

Madge Elaine's World of Entertainment
Magic, Costumes & Novelties
Madge Elaine's

Morgan's Magegoods
offering an unmatched selection of
objects d'une nature occulte and eclectic arcania

Oat Lane Merchants
Purveyors of the finest in handmade wares

Order of Merlin
Harry Potter Merchandise and Wizard Supplies
Order of Merlin

Prometheus Books
Publisher: The Wisdom of Harry Potter.

Raymond's Quiet Press,
Suppliers of SCA, medieval jewelry, belt fittings
and drinking horns for 25 years.
Quiet Press

Thorny Rose
Custom Clothing
Thorny Rose

VisitBritain (formerly the British Tourist Authority)
The official national tourist office for the UK: England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
VB

Whirlwood Magical Wands
Old World Wooden Wands
Authentic Harry Potter and Company Replica Wands
Whirlwood Wands

The Wizard School
Andrew Mayne
Wizard School

The Wizard's Wagon
Hats, Puppets, patches, jewelry and more
Wizard's Wagon

Happy Shopping!

Victoria Powers
Head Exhibitor Chaser
Department of Magical Commerce
Nimbus – 2003
303-713-1691
530-685-6860 efax

*
2003-07-04 12:50:00; Celebrate FictionAlley's Second Birthday Party - two weeks from today!
On July 18, 2003, FictionAlley will be celebrating its second birthday during Nimbus - 2003!

Starting at 9pm and running until 1am at the Copa Banana at the Swan & Dolphin Hotel Complex, FictionAlley will be celebrating to the tunes of our own Nancy Malfoy at the deejay stand - plus there will be food and cake for all, as well as two themed drinks available at the (cash) bar.

The cover charge will be $10/person, and anyone over 14 is invited - but remember, the bartenders will be carding and nobody under 21 is allowed to purchase alcohol.

Registration for Nimbus - 2003 is encouraged but not required for attendence to the birthday bash.

Hope to see you there!

Heidi for FictionAlley

*
2003-07-03 10:24:00; Two weeks' Notice
No not the film (though I did just rent it the other night), Nimbus - 2003.

Two weeks away. Hard to believe.

We know we owe you information on the Night Bus, and more. It should be coming shortly. Meanwhile, though we wanted to send out our packing list reminders and make a few more announcements:

1. Nimbus - 2003 will be covered on the syndicated radio show, SciFiOverdrive, this Monday. Check out their website for a station or webstream near you:

http://www.interstellartransmissions.com/sfod/index.html

2. The Switchblade Kittens have graciously offered to do an acoustic concert on Thursday night, after the MWPP panel. This girl-punk band is well-known in California and on the west coast, and will perform many of their favourites, including the "Ode to Harry Potter." Kick back and relax or practice your dance steps for Friday's FictionAlley Birthday Bash. (For more on the Switchblade Kittens, see their website:

http://www.switchbladekittens.com )

3. Our Quidditch rules are up on the site! There will be sign-up sheets in the game room when you arrive. Go to the "Gallery and Games" page on the site:

http://www.hp2003.org/nimbusquid.html

We can field up to six teams, and they are:
The San Juan Seagulls
The Orlando Ospreys
The Tampa Toucans
The Miami Macaws
The Cape Canaveral Kestrels
The Pensacola Pelicans

4. With the time to pack looming, we wanted to provide a cheat-sheet for your packing list. Be sure to bring all your stuff, including:
a. Worst HP Merchandise for Thursday night's contest
b. Your casting contest entries (for information on both these, check out the website:

http://www.hp2003.org/nimbusgallery.html#contests )

c. Your robes
d. Your wand
e. Your (stuffed) owl, cat, or toad (Remember, if you don't have your own Wizard Gear, you can buy some when you get there!)
f. Your dancing shoes (and a comfortable walking pair)
g. Your thinking caps - the quest will take you through brain teasers and more
h. Your PJ's for our Double-Feature party
i. A notepad for all the wonderful presentations you'll attend
j. Your camera or videocam to record the event and capture your friends at their best (or worst)
k. Your love of the books and your excitement for a great weekend!

*
2003-07-01 15:53:00; Gallery Submissions!
Reminder - This is the last day to submit proposed artwork to the gallery.

You can read the gallery submission guidelines here:

http://www.hp2003.org/nimbusgallery.html

Also, remember that you have until Friday, July 4, to sign up for our two luncheons!

*
2003-06-27 10:34:00; Help our Head of Magical Law Enforcement out!
Want to be an Auror??

Apply here!

*
2003-06-25 10:46:00; A Word On Spoilers
In light of the request on HPFGU-Convention over the
evening/this morning, we wanted to say a word or two
about spoilers.

We know that everyone is going to be champing at the
bit to discuss the new book.

Consequently, if you know of someone who hasn't read
the book, or if you're coming from an area where the
book isn't available yet, please be very aware that
there WILL BE spoilers at the symposium. Many of our
presenters will be acknowledging or incorporating new
information in their presentations, most of us are
dying to talk about events and revelations with our
fellow fans, and above all, we are all of course
interested in "What now?"

So, buyer beware. If you haven't finished the book by
the time you arrive at Nimbus - 2003, please be
prepared to be spoiled.

On the other hand. All those of you who have read
the books, or will have done by the time we arrive,
please try to be considerate of those who may not have
been able to finish it before July 17. Some spoiling
is unavoidable, and we wouldn't want to impede the
useful discussion of the fifth book where it informs
the kinds of analyses we're conducting throughout the
weekend. But if someone tells you ahead of time that
they don't wish to be spoiled, please don't
deliberately spoil them.

Presenters, you might want to consider warning your
audience before you reveal Order of the Phoenix
information, either by holding Order of the Phoenix
comments and then saying, "Okay, now we're moving on
to Book 5. Anyone who doesn't want to know should
leave" or if your analysis cannot be separated that
easily, something like, "This presentation will draw
heavily from the fifth book; if you haven't read it or
you don't want to know about what's in it, you're in
the wrong place."

It's nearly impossible to go through an entire weekend
like this without being spoiled, if you haven't read
the books, though. We just want to make everyone aware
that there will be people who haven't been able to
read them, and there will be people who will be unable
to refrain from talking about them.

Thanks for your consideration,

The Nimbus - 2003 Team

*
2003-06-20 14:53:00; New LJ for Nimbus - 2003
LiveJournal claims that one of our staffers sent an email that was somehow linked back to the LiveJournal community. However, they suggested we set up a new LJ:

HPOrlando

So go friend it if you want to subscribe to the updates.

*
2003-06-20 14:51:00; Nimbus - 2003 Lives!
Welcome to our New Live Journal. We'll post the archives here as soon as we're able.

Get new updates here periodically.

Founders Feast Pics

2003-07-23T14:53:52Z

Finally, I have these pics up for all of you to check out.

Founders Feast: Part 1 of 3

Founders Feast: Part 2 of 3

Founders Feast: Part 3 of 3

A few more sets of pics are left to upload.

*stumbles off to work*

Nimbus 2003 in the news: QUIDDITCH!

2003-07-22T19:35:40Z

Quidditch match scores with fans at Harry Potter convention
By Michael McLeod
(<--- press photo)

Nimbus pics: Day 2 part 3

2003-07-22T19:26:27Z

My one afternoon sessions, leftovers from the overflowed Snape panel, games table, Auror gauntlets, Quidditch Draco and prefects!

Nimbus: Day 2 part 2

2003-07-22T17:45:03Z

Here is the second set of the COS Play at Nimbus 2003

Thank you heidi8 for involving my project with Nimbus 2003 on an official level. I have about 300 more pictures to go.

hporlando @ 2003-07-22T13:03:00

2003-07-22T17:03:51Z

Can everyone who's posted a Nimbus summary on LJ please visit http://www.livejournal.com/community/hporlando/6895.html and post the URL for your summary-report(s) so we can add them to our Memories compilation?

They'll be useful, I'm sure, for planners of future events, to see what people remember, like, dislike, etc.

Nimbus pics: Day 2 part 1

2003-07-22T00:33:39Z

Impromtu COS Play for local press

Some Quidditch and Fiction Alley B-Day party

2003-07-21T21:06:39Z

Quidditch, Storm, and F.A. B-day Party

coming soon, later tonight...
Day two: impromptu COS Play, Founders Feast, and Double Double Feature.

hporlando @ 2003-07-20T17:30:00

2003-07-20T21:38:17Z

Oh, am I tired. I think everyone is exhausted from a combination of discussion overload, the late-night-ness of the Double Feature Double Feature and this morning's breakfast/auction/raffle thingy.

I know I promised a summary of the past day - and thanks to Amber who posted here yesterday, and Melissa, who posted over on Leaky Cauldron, we've managed to, I hope, give a bit of a flavour of Nimbus - 2003 to those who weren't there. We're also working on pulling together a list of the LJ addresses of all those who were in attendence.

If you don't have an LJ and you want to post your impressions of the sessions you attended, etc., please feel free to post a comment as a reply to this post - you'll have to post "anonymously" but if you sign it, it'll still be a great way to have your personal essay on Nimbus.

And if I can persuade a few of the parents of attendees under 18 who I met at the brunch this morning to post as well, that would be great.

I also want to say that it was wonderful meeting all of you - and those who weren't there, I really hope that at some time in the future, you'll be able to attend a wonderful cross-the-fandom-including-online-and-offline-fans event like this - it gives you so much to think about and breaks down so many of the barriers of communication that we sometimes forget exist online.

We're staying one more night, to sort of recuperate before driving back home, so hopefully I'll have a chance to get some more cohesive thoughts on paper, instead of just saying to myself, over and over, "The Alan Rickman-signed FA tote bag went for over $300!"

Oh, and Amber, you sort of slipped out before I could really say bon voyage - buzz me when you get home, as I need your addy :)

hporlando @ 2003-07-19T12:05:00

2003-07-19T16:26:28Z

This is Amber (alice_and_lain in LJ-land) and Heidi asked me to make a brief update here at Nimbus. First off, it has definitely exceeded my expectations. My goal was to carry away SOMETHING that I hadn't thought of before, something new. If I did that, then Nimbus would be a success. On the first day, I learned so many new things that my mind has been effectively blown by each new panel, discusssion or paper that I have attended.

Granted, not every one has been completely effective. However, I attended the Alchemy discussion with John Granger and it was fabulous, particularly since I knew nothing about Alchemy and it's relationship to English literature. That single discussion was very eye-opening as the meaning that alchemy symbology lends to the text opens it up to new interpretation and understanding. I also attended a session about parent-child relations in Harry Potter (that was sadly only a half hour) that concentrated greatly on the Dursley parents opposing treatment of Harry and Dudley, one demonizing and one angelicizing and its effects upon the two children. The panel about censorship and book-banning was fabulous because I learned about how the courts and administrations determine whether a book is allowed to be banned, under what conditions it is done legally and why particularly it seems that there is a somewhat difficult challenge to getting the Harry Potter books banned (hurrah for the last bit!). Furthermore, I learned about the recent CIPA legislation and why it doesn't work and why we all need to be concerned about it.

There's so much more to say and I've written pages and pages of notes, so it's difficult to talk about everything coherantly in the short time that I have to write here. I am immensely looking forward to the remaining lectures this afternoon because I am sure I will be walking away with even more information that will help me further shape and understand the Harry Potter universe. It is a rich and dense universe with so many different worldviews and opinions (more that I had even imagined in my idle moments) and hearing each one of them has been one of the most wonderful experiences that I have had here at Nimbus. Certainly meeting people has been exciting but it has been far overshadowed by the information that I have received.

Needless to say, I will be rereading the books with a new eye and mind. Furthermore, I will definitely be looking forward to new Nimbus' with the utmost anticipation.

Nimbus 2003 in The Orlando Sentinel

2003-07-19T15:08:54Z

Loyal adult fans converge on magical Harry Potter convention
BY LINDA SHRIEVES
The Orlando Sentinel