Have you ever wondered about or wanted to participate in how the rules that govern the Worldcon, the Hugo Awards, and other aspects of WSFS get made? We do this at the business meeting. However: have you ever been unable to attend a business meeting session because your favorite author or panel is happening at the same time during the convention? Have you ever been unable to attend the convention, but still wanted to participate in the business meeting?
Fear not! We are excited to announce that this year we have developed a new process for the business meeting: a series of pre-convention, virtual meetings! Seattle Worldcon 2025 will host the business meeting virtually on four different dates prior to the convention: July 4, July 13, July 19, and July 25. These dates were chosen in order to accommodate as best as possible religious observance, work commitments, and time zone differences. 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. Our business meeting chair, Jesi Lipp, has experience with hosting virtual business meetings and is excited to bring that wealth of knowledge to WSFS and Seattle Worldcon 2025 in order to expand access and to enfranchise groups historically unable to participate.
To help prepare everyone for this new step forward, Seattle Worldcon 2025’s WSFS team has planned additional events. If you are intimidated by the thought of the business meeting or you’ve wanted to propose a change but are not sure how, you can learn the ropes at one or both of the informational town halls we have lined up. The business meeting chair and WSFS division also anticipate having at least one practice session prior to the virtual meeting using the virtual meeting platform.
Please note that voting for site selection for the 2027 Worldcon will include in-person voting at the convention, and that the announcement of the site selection winner will be done in person at Seattle Worldcon 2025.
Any questions – please reach out to business-meeting-help@seattlein2025.org.
Stay tuned for further details on this exciting new step into the future of the Business Meeting!
@seattlein2025 That's a really interesting idea. As a Virtual Attending Member, will I be able to attend the virtual business meeting? I presume so – it'll just reuse the same platform, right?
I will be at Baycon! I attended the rather lengthy meetings in Glasgow. Will these be available later on YouTube?
@Dan, my understanding is yes. “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.”
I hope it works well.
It may free up some mornings for me at Seattle 2025?
But what about section 5.1.5 of the WSFS Constitution: The quorum for the Business Meeting shall be twelve members of the Society physically present?Even if this does happen, what about those of us who block out times at the Worldcon for the Business Meetings, and are unavailable for any of the arbitrialy selected dates given in the notice above?