SMOFcon

Last updated
SMOFcon
StatusActive
Genre Science fiction
Location(s)varies
Inaugurated1984
Website ldtm57.pairserver.com/smofcon/

SMOFcon is an annual convention that focuses on the organisation of science fiction conventions. The first SMOFcon took place in 1984, and most have taken place in the United States.

Contents

SMOFcon typically attracts 100-150 attendees, and usually occurs in the first weekend of December, though other dates have been known. The content includes formal and informal sessions covering insights from events held in the previous year, information about the latest trends from the community and external experts, reviews of previous events and feedback to bidders for upcoming events, with a focus on learnings that can be widely shared.

A significant number of SMOFcon attendees are also Worldcon organisers and the programme usually includes sessions about the most recent Worldcon and on bids for future Worldcons.

The name of the convention is derived from the word SMOF (also spelled smof), which is an acronym which stands for "Secret Master(s) Of Fandom" and is a term used within the science fiction fan community. Its coining is generally attributed to science fiction author Jack L. Chalker.

List of SMOFcons

NameYearDatesCityCountryWebSite/FacilityChair/Sponsoring OrgSize
0th1973/74 New York United StatesSheratonStew Brownstein
1st1984Oct 12-14 Washington, D.C. United StatesBen Yalow, Joe Siclari, Theresa Renner
2nd1985Nov Oakland, CA United StatesCANCELLEDTom Whitmore, Debbie Notkin + 3 others
3rd1986Dec 5-7 Lowell, MA United States Lowell HiltonMark Olson (MCFI)137
4th1987Nov 20-22 Columbus, OH United StatesQuality Inn Columbus AirportBob Hillis
5th1988Dec 9-11 Phoenix, AZ United States Hyatt Regency Phoenix Bruce Farr (CASFS)102
6th1989Dec 8-10 Toronto, ON CanadaHoliday Inn AirportLloyd & Yvonne Penney
7th1990Dec 7-9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL United StatesAirport HiltonJoe Siclari (SFSFS)
8th1991Dec 6-8 Portland, OR United States Shilo Inn Airport John Lorentz (OSFCI)128
9th1992Dec 11-13 [1] New Orleans, LA United StatesDoubletree HotelPeggy Rae Pavlat95
10th1993Apr 23-25 Jersey Channel Islands Hotel de FranceTim Illingworth
11th1993Dec 3-5 Lexington, KY United StatesGriffin Gate Marriott ResortScott & Jane Dennis110
12th1994Dec 2-4 Burbank, CA United StatesBurbank HiltonChocolate Moose;Vice Chairs: Bruce Pelz & Ben Yalow (SCIFI)175
13th1995Dec 1-3 Austin, TX United StatesAustin Red LionFred Duarte, Jr. (FACT)121
14th1996Dec 6-8 Seattle, WA United StatesSeattle HiltonRichard Wright (NCL)
15th1997Dec 5-7 Boston, MA United States Doubletree Suites HotelSharon Sbarsky (MCFI)153
16th1998Dec 4-6 Colorado Springs, CO United States Radisson InnKent Bloom (FFF)86
17th1999Dec 10-11 New Orleans, LA United States New Orleans DoubleTree HotelMichael Siladi (SFSFC)
18th2000Dec 1-3 Cocoa Beach, FL United StatesHoliday Inn Cocoa BeachJoe Siclari (SFSFS)
19th2001Dec 7-9 York UK Monkbar HotelKIM Campbell
20th2002Dec 6-8 San Diego, CA United StatesHacienda HotelScott & Jane Dennis125
21st2003Dec 5-7 Rosemont, IL United States Embassy Suites O'HareErik V. Olson (Midfan)123
22nd2004Dec 3-5 Washington, DC United States Wyndham Washington, DCPeggy Rae Sapienza (WSFA)123
23rd2005Dec 2-4 Portland, OR United States Red Lion Convention Center HotelDavid Schaber (OSFCI) [2] 155 [2]
24th2006Dec 1-3 Kansas City, MO United States Hotel Phillips Margene Bahm (MASFFC)
25th2007Dec 7-9 Boston, MA United States Hilton Boston Logan AirportGeri Sullivan (MCFI)214
26th2008Dec 4-7 Columbus, OH United StatesDrury Inn & SuitesKim Williams130
27th2009Dec 4-6 Austin, TX [3] United States Hilton Garden Inn Austin DowntownKaren Meschke (ALAMO)156
28th2010Dec 3-5 San Jose, CA [4] United States Larkspur Sainte ClaireGlenn Glazer (SFSFC)157
29th2011Dec 2-4 Amsterdam Netherlands Park Plaza Victoria AmsterdamVincent Docherty130
30th2012Nov 30-Dec 2 Philadelphia [5] United States Hyatt Regency Penn's Landing Joni Brill Dashoff & Laurie Mann196
31st2013Dec. 6-8 Toronto, Ontario [6] Canada Fairmont Royal York Hotel Diane Lacey (CanSmof)
32nd2014Dec. 5-7 Manhattan Beach, CA [7] United States Manhattan Beach MarriottBobbi Armbruster & Kim Marks Brown (Scifi, Inc)212
33rd2015Dec. 4-6 Fort Worth, TX [8] United States Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and SpaTim Miller (Dallas Future Society)
34th2016Dec. 2-4 Rosemont, IL United States Crowne PlazaHelen Montgomery167
35th2017Dec. 1-3 Boston, MA United States Back Bay HiltonLaurie Mann219
36th2018Nov. 30 - Dec 2 Santa Rosa, CA United States Flamingo Conference Resort and SpaBruce Farr~165
37th2019Dec. 6-8 Albuquerque, NM United States Hyatt Regency AlbuquerqueRon Oakes
SMOFcon 37&1/42020Dec 5Virtual SMOFcon 38 & 39 Committees
SMOFcon Europe / 392021Dec 3-5 Lisbon Portugal VIP Executive Art’s HotelJames Bacon & Vincent Docherty55/144
SMOFcon 382022Dec 2-4 Montreal Canada Le Centre Sheraton Montreal HotelJannie Shea
SMOFcon 402023Dec 1-3 Providence, RI United States Providence Marriott DowntownLisa Hertel MCFI
SMOFcon 412024Dec 6-8 Seattle, WA United States DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle AirportMarah Searle-Kovacevic

References

  1. Aiken, Wayne (October 1992). "Upcoming Conventions". Holy Temple of Mass Consumption. No. 11.
  2. 1 2 "Board of Directors Meeting - December 5, 2005". Oregon Science Fiction Conventions. 2005-12-05.
  3. Glyer, Mike (May 17, 2009). "Where Secret Masters Lurk". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. Glyer, Mike (December 7, 2009). "2010 Smofcon Will Be in San Jose". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  5. Glyer, Mike (December 20, 2011). "The City of Smofly Love". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  6. Glyer, Mike (March 28, 2013). "2013 Smofcon Website Up". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  7. Glyer, Mike (December 8, 2013). "2014 Smofcon Site Picked". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  8. Glyer, Mike (December 7, 2014). "2015 Smofcon Goes To Fort Worth". File 770 . Retrieved December 11, 2014.