[CJAS Otakon] Otakon 2014 Hotel Is Open!

[James Kao]

Hi all,

Quick summary:
  * Links with Information
  * Affinity is open (hotel confirmation and friend selection)
  * Thursday night hotel
  * Need volunteers:
    * Otakon Gameshow
    * Dinner organization
  * Adding people to my list


LINKS WITH INFORMATION
----------------------

Wiki Page with logistical information:
http://www.cjas.org/mwiki/Otakon2014

Mailing list archives to see how things went in previous years:
http://www.cjas.org/pipermail/otakon/


AFFINITY IS OPEN
----------------

You should have received an e-mail today indicating that I have opened 
up registration for Otakon 2014 Hotel. If you are not interested in 
staying with the hotel block I am arranging, feel free to ignore the 
message.

The hotel this year is the Sheraton Baltimore Inner Harbor. Costs are 
TBD depending on the final confirmations in affinity, but should be 
under $125 for the whole weekend.

As with previous years, hotel registration will be done using the 
affinity web application, which allows you to specify your roommate 
preferences. Here are the important dates and steps:

By July 18:

Log into affinity at: http://www.cjas.org/affinity

Confirm your intent by clicking "Confirm Intent" in the left navbar. 
While doing so, you can indicate whether you'd prefer a 4 person or 6 
person room. Because I was unable to secure any rooms with 2 beds, we 
will only be going 4 to a room, and this preference doesn't matter.

Also, check back periodically to select and update your affinities. 
This indicates the people you would prefer to room with, and is very 
important for the room selection process. It makes room selection less 
of a race, and helps make sure that everyone gets to stay with whom they 
want.

Between July 18 and August 1:

Log into affinity and select your room. You can see who else is already 
in a room when you make your choice.

Remember that each account in affinity can only be assigned a single 
slot. So if you are attending with your significant other, etc..., each 
person needs to have their own account and is responsible for their own 
assignment.

THURSDAY NIGHT HOTEL
--------------------

If you plan on arriving on Thursday, please visit the Otakon 2014 wiki 
page http://www.cjas.org/mwiki/Otakon2014 and add yourself to the list 
under the "Thursday Night Arrivals" section. Make sure to include your 
cell phone number, since that is how I will reach you in order to get 
you access to your room when you arrive.

You must list yourself by JULY 26, otherwise I will NOT have any space 
for you on Thursday and you WILL be left to fend for yourself.

NEED VOLUNTEERS
---------------

As in previous years, we are handling the Otakon Game Show this year 
and need volunteers. Those people who indicated they were willing to 
help out in the signup web form will be contacted.

We also need a volunteer for the group dinner. I'm hoping for a 
volunteer this year, so if you're interested please let me know. Unlike 
e-board dinner, this won't be a vote. You will have total control. :)

ADDING PEOPLE TO MY LIST
------------------------

This year instead of having people email me to get on my list, I had a 
web form for people to fill out.

If there are still people you know who might join us, point them to 
this
Google Docs survey:

http://bit.ly/otakon-hotel-2014

If you aren't sure if you or someone else filled out this form, rather 
than entering a duplicate entry, you can check the list at:

http://bit.ly/oh2014list