CONvergence Policies

CONvergence policies are designed to ensure that you have a safe and fun convention. If you have questions about any of these policies, please contact us via email (ops@convergence-con.org) or stop by The Bridge during the convention. You can also contact the Board directly by sending email to board@convergence-con.org.

Emergencies and First Aid

Although we do not provide direct first-aid services, we are always willing and able to help should an emergency arise. Call us at x7215. For serious medical emergencies, call the hotel front desk from the room you are in or any hotel house phone, or ask for aid in obtaining help from the nearest Convention Committee member or hotel staff.

Badges

Your convention badge is necessary for your participation in convention activities. It allows you access to the convention areas and proves you are a member in good standing. CONvergence reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member who breaks our house rules, or acts in a manner that is unsafe or unacceptable.

City, County, State and Federal Laws

Please remember -- If it's a law outside the convention, it's a law inside it. (Sorry...if we could teleport the whole shebang to another dimension where anything goes, we’d do it. Unfortunately, we’re still a few years away from the perfection of such a device, so you’ll just have to be patient and put up with the vagaries of this Solar System.)

Lost Children/Lost Parents

Parents: please, please, please know your childrens' badge names. If you misplace your offspring, call the Bridge at x7215 or come to us in Verandas 1&2 and let us know. We're pretty good at finding them. Our young fans have an extraordinary network and they love to be of help! If you have a picture, it would be very helpful. Also, talk to your children as soon after check-in as possible. Make sure they know the phone numbers for the Bridge and the front desk of the hotel, and how to identify, locate and use a hotel house phone. Your children will be less prone to panic if they know how to find safe, reliable help should you get separated in a crowd.

To Our Guests: If you find a lost child, contact the Bridge at x7215. Please do not attempt to move the child or bring him/her to the Bridge as it may cause misunderstandings. We'll be happy to send people to help locate the parents. Sit with the child and talk calmly to him/her until help arrives.

Lost Badges

If you lose your badge, go to the Registration department in Verandas 3&4 for help in replacing it. If they're closed, come to the Bridge in Verandas 1&2 and we will page someone for you. Please bring picture identification.

Lost and Found

If you find something, bring it to the Bridge in Verandas 1&2. If you've lost something, find out if your personal lost-article deity is looking favorably upon you by coming to the Bridge. We'll look in our box o' stuff for whatever you're missing. You might be surprised how often we come up with the goodies!

Unclaimed Lost and Found Items

Found items from previous years which have not been returned by the end of the new convention become the property of CONvergence and will be divided into three categories and disposed of as follows:

1. Donate to CONvergence Silent Auction - Items which are deemed "nifty" by the discerning eye of the Ops staff will be donated to the Silent Auction
2. Donate to charity - Items which are usable but not "nifty" will be turned over to MISFITS for their annual fund-raising garage sale or given to some other charity.
3. Dispose - Items of a private nature (checkbooks, exposed film, etc. will be destroyed to protect the privacy of the former owner.

So, to clarify, if you lost something at CONvergence 2002, you have until the end of the 2003 convention to claim it. If you don't claim it during that time, it may appear in the 2004 Silent Auction. Ops will also try to contact you if there is any useful information on the item.

If you lost something at CVG2002 and want to be proactive, please contact Ops Co-Head Stephanie Lindorff at 612-827-4440 or ops@convergence-con.org and we'll make sure it doesn't end up in the Silent Auction.

Smoking

No smoking will be permitted in the Garden Court area. You may smoke in the designated areas of the hotel in accordance with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. These include sections of the hotel restaurants, lounges and bars and some rooms. There will also be other areas available throughout the main areas of the convention. Please be considerate of other members and look for the signs. Ask a Convention Committee member if you’re unsure.

Pets and Other Furry, Feathered and Scaled Persons

Pets and other animals are not allowed in the hotel during the convention unless they are a designated working animal such as a helper or guide dog.

Pool Area

CONvergence does not provide lifeguards for the extended hours available in the pool area. Please keep a close eye on your children and read the signs posted in the area.

Litter

Please pick up after yourself. There are trash and recycling containers around the hotel and it makes a big difference if we try to keep things clean.

Adhesives and Posters

You may post non-adhesive signs with low-tack tape such as masking or gaffer's tape on surfaces such as tile and metal that won't be damaged by removal. The removal of any other type of adhesive is damaging and will be treated as vandalism by the hotel.

Weapons Policy

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time while at CONvergence, so please leave your weapons in your quarters. Otherwise, please adhere to the following policy, or risk being ‘uninvited’ to the convention, without refund from the convention or the hotel.

1. Firearms are not allowed, nor are working projectile weapons (see #9 below for clarification).
2. Bladed weapons must be sheathed and peace-bonded (see #9 below for clarification) and cannot be drawn under any circumstances.
3. Realistic looking firearms must be holstered and peace-bonded and cannot be drawn under any circumstances. If they cannot be peace-bonded, they are not allowed.
4. Non-realistic looking firearms must be holstered and peace-bonded if possible.
5. Non-realistic looking firearms that cannot be holstered cannot be pointed at any other member of the convention under any circumstances. These weapons must be marked (see #9 below for clarification).
6. Any costume that contains realistic looking firearms and gives the appearance of a member of law enforcement or the military will not be permitted as the potential is too great to create confusion for other members of the convention.
7. Costumes such as those listed in rule #6 or accompanied by weaponry that would not be permitted under the other rules may be worn when the wearer is participating in a convention function or programming item such as the Masquerade or other programming item. They may only be worn for the duration of the function.
8. The CONvergence Board of Directors reserves the right to amend these policies without prior notice and any ruling made by the Board of Directors is final.
9. Clarifications:
   • Projectile weapons - If it projects a solid, liquid, gas or energy, it is considered a working projectile weapon. Laser-light pistols emit a beam that can be damaging to the corneas. Under this policy, it is a working projectile weapon. Water pistols are allowed only if they are empty and must be holstered and peace-bonded or marked according to rule #3, #4 or #5.
   • Peace-bonding - A peace-bonded weapon is one tied to its sheath, holster or container with a functional, decorative binding. It prevents someone else from taking your weapon without permission and is a traditional and visible sign to everyone that you are a responsible person. We will have peace-bonding material on the Bridge for those who need it.
   • Marking - Non-realistic looking firearms that cannot be holstered under rule #5 will have peace-bonding material tied to the weapon as a visible sign that it’s been checked out and approved by the Exec or one of the Heads of Operations. We will have marking material available on the Bridge for those who need it.