Africa: Afrilabs Secures $150,000 Grant From Airbnb Community Fund: [Daba Finance] TLDR http://newsfeed.facilit8.network/TKBlb9 #Africa #Afrilabs #Airbnb #Grant #CommunityFund

Africa: The 'Biggest Trout Farm in Africa' and the Failed R5,000 Community Fund: [GroundUp] Lesotho Highlands aquaculture project offers little in return for its licence http://newsfeed.facilit8.network/TJWQmn #Africa #TroutFarm #Aquaculture #CommunityFund #Sustainability

The City of Thousand Oaks is seeking applicants for five scheduled vacancies on the Community Funding Review Committee (CFRC). 🌳

Join the team that reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the City Council regarding the Community Grant Program.

👉 Members must be City of Thousand Oaks residents

👉 Conflict of Interest filing and Ethics training is required

Recruitment closes on May 23, 2024. Learn more and apply at www.toaks.co/grants.

#community #grants #communityfund #thousandoaks #tocc

Seattle Worldcon Has—FRINGE

Just like a certain Vulcan science officer, Seattle Worldcon has a Fringe.

If you want to explore the host city while you’re here, in the company of other Worldcon folks, Fringe is a great way to do it!

Right now we’re just in the early planning stage, that is, staring goggle-eyed at the mountain of activities that are available in the shadow of Mount Rainier, wondering how many we can cram into our schedule. Fringe will take place before the con, approximately August 10–12, and afterwards, on August 18 and 19. There may also be a bit of morning programming during the con. We’ll need a few volunteers to help guide groups hither and yon.

Some of Seattle’s finest attractions are just a short walk or ride away from the convention center, and there’s plenty more to see if you’re able to travel a little farther. Many of these attractions, like Spock, originated in the 1960s, when Seattle hosted a World’s Fair. The Monorail, Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, and International Fountain were all built for the event. Right alongside them you will find MoPOP, the Museum of Popular Culture, with its permanent science fiction and fantasy exhibits.

Even closer to the convention center is Pike Place Market, the Underground Tour, the Seattle Central Library, and SIFF Cinema Downtown. Just slightly farther away we have boat tours, sports games, the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Capitol Hill bookstores and breweries, the Museum of Flight, and much more.

What do you want to see? Do you have more ideas for us? Would you like to volunteer to help out? Please contact us at fringe@seattlein2025.org.

Attending Membership Rates Increase March 1!

A rate increase is coming! Adult attending membership rates for Seattle Worldcon 2025 are set to increase by $30 on March 1, to a total of $280 ($50 WSFS membership + $230 attending supplement). Please purchase your membership before then to lock in today’s prices! Full registration information and a link to the registration portal can be found on the membership page on our website.

Announcement: Virtual Business Meeting Platform and Meeting Times

To follow up on our December announcement that the Seattle Worldcon will conduct the bulk of the 2025 WSFS Business Meeting through a series of virtual meetings held in July, we are now announcing the platform that will be used for the virtual WSFS business meetings, and the times of the meetings. We have selected Lumi Global’s virtual meeting platform. We will host a practice session at a time and date to be announced to help the community get to know Lumi’s platform prior to the meeting, and also publish written guidance.

The meetings themselves will be held for up to three and a half hours each at the following times on these previously-announced dates:

• Friday, July 4, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
• Sunday, July 13, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
• Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
• Friday, July 25, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)

Thank you for joining us in this venture. If you have any questions, please contact business-meeting-help@seattlein2025.org.

Health Policy Update!

We have updated our Seattle Worldcon 2025 health policy to reflect what we expect to be our final policy unless circumstances, public health directives, or laws substantially change before the convention. Please read the full policy and plan ahead to minimize incidents of infection at the con.

Community Fund- Awarding Grants and Accepting Donations

The Seattle Worldcon Community Fund has completed its first round of grants. Congratulations to all recipients! If you have applied and haven’t yet been awarded a grant, you are still in consideration for future rounds. The next round of grants will be awarded in March.

If you have applied and have not received an email from us about the status of your grant application, please check your spam folder. If you still haven’t, please contact us at communityfund@seattlein2025.org.

We are still accepting applications. You can find details about our focus groups and the application link on our Community Fund web page.

In order to help as many fans as possible attend the event from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, the community fund is still accepting tax deductible donations. You can donate when you register, or by this direct donation link. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. You are making a difference!

Remember: Hugo Nominations Open Through March 14

You should have received our special newsletter announcing the opening of the 2025 Hugo Award nominations on February 10. More information is available on our Hugo Awards Information page.

https://seattlein2025.org/2025/02/17/newsletter-february-2025-seattle-worldcon-has-fringe/

#BusinessMeeting #CommunityFund #Fringe #HealthPolicy #HugoAwards #Memberships

Newsletter February 2025: Seattle Worldcon Has Fringe: We’re starting to plan our fringe events, attending membership rates will increase on March 1, announcing our virtual business meeting platform and times, our health policy was recently updated, community fund grants are being awarded and we’re accepting donations, and Hugo nominations are open… (#BusinessMeeting #CommunityFund #Fringe #HealthPolicy #HugoAwards #Memberships)

Full post: https://seattlein2025.org/2025/02/17/newsletter-february-2025-seattle-worldcon-has-fringe/

Applications are Live!

Applications for art show, dealers’ room, and fan and community tables opened December 1, 2024, and will remain open until January 15, 2025. Get your application in early!

The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Art Show and Dealers’ Room are juried. Once the initial deadline for applications has passed, the jury team will review applications. We anticipate issuing acceptances in early 2025.

The fan and community table space is open to clubs, groups, conventions, and organizations that promote science, science fiction, fantasy, horror, costuming/cosplay, and other fannish pursuits, providing an opportunity to share your enthusiasm with Worldcon members who have similar interests. All three application forms will remain open after January 15, 2025. Any applications received after that date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, if accepted, placed on a waiting list. The application forms will be closed once the respective waiting lists are full.

• Art Show information and application.
• Dealers’ Room information and application.
• Fan and Community Table information and application.

Site Selection Bids for 2027 Worldcon Are Being Accepted Now Through February 14!

Seattle Worldcon has the honor of administering site selection for the 2027 Worldcon. The process for site selection is outlined in the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) Constitution, Article 4. Any group that meets the technical requirements in the WSFS Constitution and files the necessary documents with us using the alias site-selection@seattlein2025.org may bid for the right to host the Worldcon. For more information, visit the Site Selection page on our website.

Please Update Your Registration to Tell Us About Your Interests!

If you registered early, or your membership information was imported based on pre-supporting the convention or voting in site selection in 2023, you may not have had the opportunity to fill out your Interests card. Even if you have, it doesn’t hurt to revisit and update your preferences. To do so, follow the steps below:

Log in to your membership here.

Actions to update your info:

• The top person is you, followed by any other people you have added to your account.
• ID: Your membership number. If the membership has not yet been processed by Registration, it shows as “Pending”.
• Person: Your first and last name.
• Badge name: What you told us you want to print on your badge as your name.
• Actions: These are the buttons you use to make changes to your information.
• Edit [Name]’s Profile: Use this button to update your personal information such as your address.
• Edit [Name]’s Interests: Use this button to let the convention know that you have special needs and/or interests such as accessibility, wishing to volunteer, be on a panel, etc.

The more information you give us, the better we can tailor your at-con experience!

Community Fund Grant Applications are Now Open!

The Worldcon Community Fund is dedicated to helping fans from diverse backgrounds participate in Worldcon by providing financial support for travel, accommodations, and memberships. We are focusing on assisting fans who are:

• First time attendees from the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia)
• LGBTQIA+ attendees
• BIPOC/AANHPI attendees
• Attendees from the Global South

If you belong to one of these groups and would like to apply for assistance, please submit your application here. We are approving applications in waves, with the first wave deadline set for January 17th. Though priority for the first wave will be given to people engaging in foreign travel, feel free to apply at any time if you fit into one of these focus groups.

Your Donation Helps Bring Fans to Seattle Worldcon 2025!

Your generous donations help make this inclusive vision a reality! To read more about the Community Fund and to donate, please visit our page on the website. You can also donate by clicking here.

Announcing the Seattle Worldcon 2025 Single Pattern Contest!

Gentlefolk, start your sewing machines! Seattle Worldcon 2025 is proud to announce it is hosting a Single Pattern Contest! This year there will be two options for patterns:

• A vintage-style bowling shirt
• A 60s-style slip or sheath dress

In some years, a pattern selected for a single pattern contest has gone out of print or been difficult to locate, so a garment style rather than specific pattern number will avoid that difficulty. If you prefer a pattern, however, here are some suggested patterns:

Bowling Shirt: McCalls M7206* (available as PDF), Simplicity S9279, Simplicity S9157, Vogue V1622, (unisex), McCalls M8459, McCalls M6972.

60s-Style Dresses: McCalls M8466*, Simplicity S9848, Butterick B6990, McCalls M8402 (PDF), Simplicity S1609.

What is a Single Pattern Contest, you ask? Well, check out this page on the website and all your questions will be answered!

We Have Fun Stuff!

The Seattle Worldcon 2025 website is constantly being updated, and the contents are not just informational! Check out these new pages:

• Coloring Pages – lots of fun art for you to download, print, and color!
• Cross Stitch Patterns – some seriously cool patterns for your stitching pleasure!
• Paint By Number – for when you’ve upgraded from the coloring pages!
• Fabric Patterns – to purchase Worldcon fabric and make yourself something nice!
• Gallery – where you can upload photos of your creations!
• Playlist – yes, there is even a Worldcon 2025 playlist to get you in the mood!
• Trivia Quiz – 35 questions and answers to test your knowledge of Seattle!

Come for the information and stay for the fun!

Group Costume Theme Announced – Retro Future Fashion

Do you want to be part of a big group costume, but don’t have a bunch of costumer friends to talk into joining you? We’ve got you covered! Bring your best Retro Future Fashion, and wear it to the convention on Saturday, August 16, 2025. We’ll do a scheduled meet-up for folks wearing their best retro-future looks, and have a photo shoot of all of us in our fabulous clothes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@seattlein2025.org. We look forward to seeing you at the convention!

Building the Business Meeting’s Future–With Virtual Meetings in 2025

Seattle Worldcon announced earlier this week we have developed a new process for the WSFS business meeting: which will be held as a series of pre-convention, virtual meetings on four dates prior to the convention: July 4, July 13, July 19, and July 25. Viewing of the meeting will be open to all; however, to participate in the meeting and vote on business will require an attending membership or virtual attending membership in the convention. A meeting will be held at the Worldcon to receive the results of site selection. For additional information, please read the announcement in full on the website, and if you have any questions, please reach out to business-meeting-help@seattlein2025.org.

https://seattlein2025.org/2024/12/15/newsletter-december-2024-applications-are-live/

#ArtShow #BusinessMeeting #Coloring #CommunityFund #CrossStitch #DealersRoom #Fabric #FanTables #PaintByNumber #SinglePatternContest #SiteSelection

Newsletter December 2024: Applications are Live!: Applications are open for fan tables, dealers’ room, and art show; site selection bids are being accepted; make sure your registration is current; community fund applications and donations are open; the single pattern contest is ann… (#ArtShow #BusinessMeeting #Coloring #CommunityFund #CrossStitch #DealersRoom #Fabric #FanTables #PaintByNumber #SinglePatternContest #SiteSelection)

Full post: https://seattlein2025.org/2024/12/15/newsletter-december-2024-applications-are-live/

Hello Worldcon Fan!

There is a lot of news to cover in this edition, so let’s get started!

Seattle Worldcon 2025 Announces the Best Poem Special Hugo Award!

Get ready to mark your nominating lists with your favorite speculative, science fiction, and fantasy poems from 2024. The Seattle Worldcon team will award a special Hugo Award for best poem in 2025 to honor the rich, vibrant poetry culture of Seattle. From having one of the only poetry-only bookstores to having its own Civic Poet, the Seattle poetry scene teems with activity.

For this special Hugo Award, nominate your favorite poem within the speculative, science fiction, and fantasy genres, published in 2024, that is at least three lines.

We look forward to seeing what poems resonate with the WSFS membership.

Look for more poetry-related announcements to come. And don’t hesitate to send us your ideas at Panel Suggestions.

Congratulations to the 2024 Hugo Award Winners

Best Novel

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)

Best Novella

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK)

Best Novelette

“The Year Without Sunshine” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine, November-December 2023)

Best Short Story

“Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023)

Best Series

Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK)

Best Graphic Story or Comic

Saga, Vol. 11 written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)

Best Related Work

A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith (Penguin Press; Particular Books)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, screenplay by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Michael Gilio, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Paramount Pictures)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”, written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, directed by Peter Hoar (Naughty Dog / Sony Pictures)

Best Game or Interactive Work

Baldur’s Gate 3, produced by Larian Studios

Best Editor Short Form

Neil Clarke

Best Editor Long Form

Ruoxi Chen

Best Professional Artist

Rovina Cai

Best Semiprozine

Strange Horizons, by the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective

Best Fanzine

Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together, editors Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer; senior editors Joe Sherry, Adri Joy, G. Brown, Vance Kotrla.

Best Fancast

Octothorpe, by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty

Best Fan Writer

Paul Weimer

Best Fan Artist

Laya Rose

Lodestar Award for Best YA Book

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)

Astounding Award for Best New Writer (sponsored by Dell Magazines)

Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)

Announcing the Community Fund for Seattle Worldcon 2025!

We are also happy to announce that we have been generously seeded with $30,000 from DisCon III to start a Community Fund for Seattle 2025. Our fund will have four focus areas: Pacific Northwest community members attending for the first time, LGBTQIA+ community members, BIPOC/AANHPI community members, and Global South community members. Applications for funds will open shortly and will be found on our website. We are also still gratefully accepting donations to increase our capacity, which can be made through our registration portal.

Come work with us!

Volunteer positions are currently available and many more will be opening up as the convention approaches. Let us know you are interested by filling out the volunteer form early! You can find it here on the website, and keep an eye on this page as more roles become available.

Seattle’s program will feature a lot of hands-on and interactive content. Want to be a panelist? Here’s the form: Panelists and Presenters. Have panel suggestions? Tell us: Panel Suggestions.

Creative people, it’s time to get started!

Seattle Worldcon 2025 is built from a community of readers, makers, and creators of all types. As such, we’ll have a great deal of hands-on programming and events – ways for you to participate, if you wish. Here are three opportunities to join in if you are interested in making things:

Group Costume Project: Want to be part of a group costume, but don’t have the connections to other costumers to make it happen? We’ve got you covered! We’ll announce a theme for the group costume after Worldcon in Glasgow. Just bring your own costume on the theme to Seattle, and be part of our group costume meetup. We’ll get a great group photo, and you’ll have a chance to connect with other costumers. Have a great idea for the theme? We want to know! Send suggestions to groupcostume@seattlein2025.org. The theme should be broad enough for lots of interpretations, but specific enough to spark people’s creativity and create a fairly cohesive group. It should also be accessible to costumers of all skill levels. Let us know what you think!

Single Pattern Contest: Keep checking for the announcement of the Single Pattern Contest – we’ll choose a commercially available sewing pattern. You will make something cool using that pattern – let your creativity run wild! A team of judges will evaluate the entries. Winners will be announced publicly, and prizes will be given.

Props Contest: Show us your best atomic age, retro-futuristic prop! Whether it’s a ray gun, communicator, or other prop, we want to see what you can come up with to build yesterday’s future. A team of judges will evaluate the entries, and we’ll showcase them to the membership.  We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks Glasgow!

The Glasgow Worldcon, Glasgow 2024: A Worldcon for Our Futures was stellar. We made new friends, stocked up on inspiration, and brought on a ton of new volunteers. We can’t wait to replay some of the panels and events we missed while having conversations and hosting parties. Thanks for the hospitality and another great Scottish Worldcon.

https://seattlein2025.org/2024/08/14/newsletter-august-2024-announcing-special-hugo-award-for-best-poem/

#CommunityFund #DisconIII #Glasgow2024 #GroupCostumeProject #HugoAwards #PropsContest #SeattleWorldcon2025 #SinglePatternContest

‘Open call’: United Way seeking pitches to prevent poverty in London area
United Way Elgin Middlesex has launched an open call to local charities working to reduce and prevent poverty through the expansion of its Community Fund grants.
#globalnews #Cannabis #CommunityFund #Ldnont #Poverty
https://globalnews.ca/news/10035650/open-call-united-way-pitches-prevent-poverty-london/

#TheNationalLottery #CommunityFund to give more than £400,000 to #JustLikeUs to continue #supporting #Pride #Groups across #England and #Wales.

This #funding comes as part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s new #strategy: “It starts with #community.”

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #UK #SafeSpaces

https://diva-magazine.com/2023/09/13/the-national-lottery-community-fund/