Dateline: 07-15-2004

Letter from Facilities Director

Greetings. My division is the one responsible for the housing the convention, and to the well being of the venues we use. This past CONvergence saw some of the smoothest check-in processes yet to date, and this despite a significant increase in the number of rooms occupied by our attendees.

There was, however, a most unfortunate incident. During our check out and move out process on Monday, July 5, I was summoned to one of the sleeping rooms to view its state. The room had been left in the worst shape I've ever seen. Stains had been left behind on the carpet, bed and yes, even the ceiling. There was other damage, while relatively minor, no less distressing for its having happened. Even the convention's own more heavily trafficked rooms are not left in such a state as the one I witnessed.

I am not at liberty to go into some specific details, as I'm sure anyone can understand. We know to whom the room was rented by the hotel, and are allowing the hotel to pursue their normal recourse when such damage is visited upon a room. The cost of clean and repair will not be borne by either CONvergence or MISFITS.

As any occupant of a cabana room can tell you, it is the responsibility of the guest-on-record with the hotel to ensure that rooms are left in the best possible order. CONvergence bears no responsibility for the state of rooms not rented it its name. While we cannot fathom what happened in the room, it is possible that the thought process was we would bear the brunt of whatever the hotel elected to do.

I bring this to everyone's attention to let everyone know that room arrangements are in fact between you, the attendee who chooses to stay at the hotel, and the hotel. Our responsibility stops once the hotel has entered names into their reservation system. We want to be sure that as many as possible are aware of this, and look to you, our attendees, to spread the word that malicious damage to a hotel room will not be tolerated either by the hotel or the convention. The Sheraton thinks of us as valued guests. We in turn think of the Sheraton as our home. The CONvergence convention organizers, the Facilities Division and naturally the CONvergence Hotel Department seek to maintain and if possible enhance that relationship. We ask all attendees to do what they can to help us in this regard.

Any questions or concerns can be forwarded via email to hotel@convergence-con.org. Thank you.

Ishmael Williams