Update on BiCon 2018 on behalf of BiCon Continuity.

BiCon 2018 has a venue which needs deposits paid shortly. Many of the team who agreed to put on 2018 have had to withdraw.

We believe remaining team members are still happy to offer:
* Accessibility
* Diversity
* Workshop coordinating and room allocation
* Someone who can help with some finance

However, what is needed if BiCon 2018 is to happen at all are:
1. Team leader who can invest time in coordinating the team, getting the BiCon back on schedule and having the buck stop with them.
2. Venue wrangler who can deal with three separate venue organisations for daytime, evening and accommodation spaces. Needs to be able to use phones, email and be confident with bureaucracy before, during and after BiCon.
3. Bookings person who can manage booking software, match records, and deal with bookings enquiries from attenders in a prompt and friendly manner.

All these volunteers, who may be multiple people, would need ongoing commitment to be part of an organising team.

What 2018 need now is people who can make phone calls during the working day, to sort out the venue and get to the point where BiCon 2018 can accept payments, and a couple people to manage the workload and organise volunteers, so the current volunteers can restrict themselves to roles they have capacity for.

BiCon Continuity can provide deposit money, a copy of a budget already devised by Ian and some advice. We cannot offer much assistance beyond that – we too are short of people and time.

If you are someone who can do admin, phonecalls and other aspects of BiCon please contact info@biconcontinuity.org.uk, with your contact details, what role/tasks you can offer and confirmation that we can share those with other potential team members.

Other roles which will be needed but are slightly less urgent are:
A. Ents organiser
B. Desk coordinator (recruiting volunteers to run desk, listening team etc)

We would also like to reassure the wider community that BiCons have been organised in less time than this one, including ones which attenders felt were well run. However there is no way this or future BiCons can be achieved without more volunteers. The amount of organisation required to open bank accounts and secure/deal with a venue has rocketed in recent years – running the actual event, where many people do willingly volunteer, is the visible easy part.

At a recent BiCon there was a workshop on what people would expect at a "basic no-frills BiCon", "a typical BiCon", and a "Taste the Difference type BiCon". The lesson was that the key is a venue and a bunch of bisexuals (and allies). Once these are sorted, extras can be added fairly easily by many more people.

Bookings will only open once 2018's basics are in place and it is certain the event will run. There is still time for bookings to be sorted in plenty of time for people to book cheap train fares.

Finally, please could everyone remember that everyone involved with BiCon is a volunteer, offering their time and energy around many other commitments such as day jobs, caring/parenting, disability or health problems, and have to pay for travel and accommodation and take time off work just like everyone else. Keeping morale up by keeping social media positive and constructive would really help.

Many thanks, to all past, present and future volunteers, including those who have had to face tough decisions between competing commitments and haven't been able to continue with BiCon.

BiCon Continuity (Hessie, Natalya, Elizabeth, Karen and Ian)