Timeline

This pages explains and describes the timeline for determining who will put on future alt.gothic Convergences℠ and where they will be.

What Is alt.gothic Convergence℠?

Convergence℠ is explained on it's own page, but we feel it's worth reiterating the core purpose here. alt.gothic Convergence℠ is the annual party put on by the denizens of alt.gothic for the denizens of alt.gothic and ALL their friends that squishes together hundreds of net.goths from around the globe and their friends into a single city for a weekend of socializing, booze, musical events and sweet debauchery.

Bid Selection Process

There are 4 steps to getting a bid chosen to be a Convergence:

1. Bids are entered.
2. The C*B*L vet the bids to ensure they are within the bounds of reason<ref>We may well look askance at a bid that looked like Glastonbury for example</ref> and fulfill the requirements.
3. alt.gothic ratifies the bids.
4. The voters vote for the bid they want to go to.

Disclaimer

This is the official timeline. It is not necessarily how things WILL work, but how they SHOULD. Keep an eye on alt.gothic, alt.gothic.convergence and this website for updates to this information. We are not getting paid to do this and we do have day jobs so sometimes shit happens.

Convergence 15 Timetable

Bid Proposal Request Period BEGINS

2008 July 08 22:02EST (03:02GMT)

1. All Convergence 15 Bid Proposal Committee Chairpersons must contact Siobhan (convergence@virulent.org) to have a web account set up on altgothic.com to host their proposal web sites.
   
   

Bid Proposal Public Discussion and Debate Period BEGINS.

2008 July 24 00:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. During this time Bid Proposal Committees must submit their Bid Proposals and preliminary event budgets to Siobhan (convergence@virulent.org) for inclusion on the Convergence 15 ballot. After receipt of submission they must post their Bid Proposals to the alt.gothic.* news groups' they may open their web sites to the public. Posting to regional mailing lists, web communities, blogs etc. is acceptable but not essential.
2. See the Bids page for information on how to create and submit a Convergence 15 proposal.
3. The Convergence 15 Bid Proposal Public Discussion and Debate Period also begins at this time. Discussions will take place primarily on the alt.gothic* news group hierarchy.
4. If you don't have a newsfeed that can access alt.gothic , Google can help you out.

Bid Proposal Submission Period ENDS

2008 July 31 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. Additional Convergence 15 Bid Proposals will NOT be accepted after this date on account of Siobhan and Axel will be on vacation. If you submit after that date, we will hold on to it for the Convergence 16 Bid Selection Process.

Convergence 14 BEGINS

2008 August 07 20:00 EST (01:00GMT)

1. The C*B*L and some (hopefully all) of the C15 bid committees will be there.
   
2. JOIN US.
   
3. There will probably be a semi-formal Interrogate the Bid Committees session at some point over the weekend. Likely at the Hotel Bar. Details will be posted on alt.gothic.

Convergence 14 ENDS

2008 August 12 **:** EST (**:**GMT)

1. There will be hangovers. Oh yes!

Ratification Period BEGINS

2008 August 12 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. The Bidding Committees may no longer make any changes to their bids.
   
2. The proposal websites are frozen.
   
3. The denizens of alt.gothic decide if they wish to reject any of the bids, as per the ratification process.

Ratification Period ENDS

2008 August 23 0:00EST (05:00GMT)
The C*B*L determine which bids are ratified.

1. The voting system is announced on alt.gothic.

Voting Period BEGINS

2008 August 24 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. The people decide.

Voting Period ENDS

2008 August 31 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. Voting is closed and results will be reviewed and tallied.

Committees notified of Results

2008 August 31

1. The C*B*L notifies the Chairs of the bids of the results.

Public Announcement of Results

2008 September 01

1. On receipt of a response from the Chair of the selected bid, or 24 hours after sending the notification, the selected bid and relevant voting demographics are announced on altgothic.com and the alt.gothic news groups.

The Selected Bid

The selected bid will be announced following the closing of voting and verification of the counted votes. At that time, an announcement will be posted to the alt.gothic.* news groups and [altgothic.com]. The authority to planning and execute one Convergence in accordance with the published proposal along with permission to use the Convergence service mark subject to The C*B*L's ongoing approval will then be transferred to the selected committee.

Provisional Convergence 16 Timetable

The Convergence 15 bid selection process occurred later than intended in 2008. The Process is intended to occur in Spring to allow the selected committee at least 12 months lead time. Therefore, we are publishing the provisional timeline for Convergence 16 selection nice and early to assist people who are considering entering a bid for Convergence 16.

Bid Proposal Request Period BEGINS

2009 February 07 00:00EST (03:02GMT)

1. All Convergence 16 Bid Proposal Committee Chairpersons must contact Siobhan (convergence@virulent.org) to have a web account set up on altgothic.com to host their proposal web sites.
   
   

Bid Proposal Public Discussion and Debate Period BEGINS.

2008 February 14 00:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. During this time Bid Proposal Committees must submit their Bid Proposals and preliminary event budgets to Siobhan (convergence@virulent.org) for inclusion on the Convergence 16 ballot. After receipt of submission they must post their Bid Proposals to the alt.gothic.* news groups' they may open their web sites to the public. Posting to regional mailing lists, web communities, blogs etc. is acceptable but not essential.
2. See the Bids page for information on how to create and submit a Convergence 16 proposal.
3. The Convergence 16 Bid Proposal Public Discussion and Debate Period also begins at this time. Discussions will take place primarily on the alt.gothic* news group hierarchy.
4. If you don't have a newsfeed that can access alt.gothic , Google can help you out.

Bid Proposal Submission Period ENDS

2009 February 28 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. Additional Convergence 16 Bid Proposals will NOT be accepted after this date. If you submit after that date, we will hold on to it for the Convergence 17 Bid Selection Process.

Ratification Period BEGINS

2009 March 12 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. The Bidding Committees may no longer make any changes to their bids.
   
2. The proposal websites are frozen.
   
3. The denizens of alt.gothic decide if they wish to reject any of the bids, as per the ratification process.

Ratification Period ENDS

2009 March 23 0:00EST (05:00GMT)
The C*B*L determine which bids are ratified.

1. The voting system is announced on alt.gothic.

Voting Period BEGINS

2009 March 24 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. The people decide.

Voting Period ENDS

2009 March 31 0:00EST (05:00GMT)

1. Voting is closed and results will be reviewed and tallied.

Committees notified of Results

2009 March 31

1. The C*B*L notifies the Chairs of the bids of the results.

Public Announcement of Results

2009 April 01

1. On receipt of a response from the Chair of the winning bid, or after 24 hours of sending the notification, the winning proposal and relevant voting demographics are announced on altgothic.com and the alt.gothic news groups.

Footnotes

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