We in the Con Committee are incredibly excited about this year’s vendor offerings, which we are calling the Maker Market – a combination of the Artist Alley and the Dealer Room. Artistic, imaginative people of all flavors are welcome to apply for a secured or hallway table, and we’ve made a few changes to make both spaces better for our makers, and easier to navigate for our members.

We ask that those who apply sell art/kits/projects they create or assemble themselves, as opposed to resale products.  We will have some flexibility for electronics, so please write our Marker Market staff at [email protected] with any questions you have.

Our application is now available, and the deadline for submitting is February 1st, 2015.

Our Chair, Nuri, talked to Jen Owen at our Guest of Honor organization E-Nable the Future about their recent conference at Johns Hopkins (check out this blog by Jen about the experience), and here is what she had to say:

“The event at Hopkins was AMAZING – we had over 400 people there. We ended up making about 125 hands between the family workshops and the medical pro workshops! We sent at least 25 kids home with new hands that they had made themselves with their families. It was AMAZING.”

Check out their photo gallery!

This year, we have an opportunity (if you would like) to help directly in the same way – to gather funds to pay for printing of hands remotely, or to have Penguicon attendees print some themselves to donate. With E-Nable’s help, we could have an event during Penguicon where we assemble those same hands we have funded, in various sizes and colors.  If possible, they would try to find some local families in need to come take one home!

What do you think? Each kit costs about $40 (including about $10 for future hand creation) – hands not used locally would go to other areas in need.

Would you consider contributing if you had the chance to see a prosthetic hand created with your dollars, and (perhaps) see it given out directly to a local family in need? Would you gather your Penguicon peeps to chip in together? Would you like to see Penguicon, funding permitting, contribute directly to help make this happen?

Please give us your thoughts, either on our official Forums or our Facebook group!

We are off to a great start in the planning of 2015 and our October meeting is going to take place on the 19th.  Join us, at 1pm, to learn about all the new and exciting things we are planning or how you can volunteer to help. Stay and get to know fellow Penguicon members at the SMOS party starting at 3pm.

Amanda Robinson, our Registration Chair, is our wonderful host this month.

There are kitties on the premises, so medicate if you need to. There is also an indoor pool that will be open and ready for swimmers, just bring your suit and a towel.

Some snacks will be provided.  However, bringing a snack or drink to share is appreciated.

To RSVP and get directions email [email protected] or do so via Facebook

We are excited to announce that our charity organization for Penguicon 2015 will be none other than our Hack Of Honor, e-Nabling the Future!

This organization began when a prop maker (Ivan Owen) and a carpenter (Richard Van As) designed a prosthetic hand device for a small child in South Africa, giving the plans away for free so that those in need could make them for themselves. They match up volunteers around the world with access to a 3D printer to individuals in need of prosthetic hands. They help makers find the right open source plans, so they may help customize the limb for those they are paired with.

We are happy to be a part of their efforts.

Look for ways that you can help in the future or you can sign up now to volunteer.

Please excuse us as we work to transition the information from 2014 to the 2015 web site.  You may see some information that is outdated, we’re doing our best to get it up to speed!

Thanks for joining us!