RAIN Too

A Science Fiction Weekend.

Dates: February 15^th-17^th, 1980
Venue: Rembrandt Hotel, Vancouver
Pro Party Guest: John Varley
Fan Party Guest: Suzanne Tompkins

(Sponsored by the "Vancouver in '87" Worldcon Bid.)

Member's card by Tim Hammell shows Chuckie the Beaver as a caped crusader flying with the aid of his propellor beanie. Chuckie was now the mascot of the "Vancouver in '87" bid, a revised worldcon bid (formerly for 1984.) Poster art (also by Hammell) depicted Chuckie in a racy-looking bubble-domed jet plane.

Friday, 15^th:

• Partying, registration, & picture-making. "All members of RAIN TOO are encouraged to produce a work of art – the more awful the better – right there in the con suite... art materials – paper in various sizes & colours, crayons, paints, scissors, glue, etc. will be on a table for everyone to use. Finished art will be displayed on the wall of the con suite, put up with masking tape."
• Van Gogh room: All day Saturday & Sunday, SF movies & TV shows shown on TV monitors.
• Pinball Room: "Follow the signs... We are hoping you will see some SF games that are new to you!"

Saturday, 16^th:

• Panels:
  • Pre-Cancelled Panel (Not Held Early.)
  • FIAWOL (Fandom is a way of life) vs. FIJAGDH (Fandom is just a Ghod-damned hobby.)
  • The Relationship Between Sex and Technology.
  • John Varley interviewed by Jo-Anne McBride.
  • Fannish History in Five Easy Lessons.
  • The Panel Panel.
• Art Auction, with Georges Gigeuere as Auctioneer.
• Prejudging for the Costume Bacchanal. "Application forms not required. If you would like to enter... just come... in your costume."
• Costume Bacchanal: "... prizes in several categories... if you miss out on that be sure to enter the First Annual Time Warp Dance Contest... There will be a cash bar... at last year's RAIN, the hotel management expressed their disappointment that more bizarre outfitting was not in evidence. So consider yourself advised: bizarre dress is expected even if it is not your intention to take part in the competition..."

Sunday, 17^th:

• Brunch in the Carillon (Hotel Restaurant) with speeches by John Varley & Suzanne Tompkins.
• More partying... "This year we're keeping the con suite over until Monday!"

"FLASH ... CHUCKIE THE BEAVER KIDNAPPED! ... at Orycon in Portland last November 11... two ransom notes have been received from... the Blue Meanies... (saying) 'You better come up with more than 92¢ and two cookies or we feed him to Toronto Fandom!'"

"CHUCKIE BEAVER FOUND!... On Sunday, January 13... at the home of Fantarama publishers Vaughn Fraser & Barbara Przeklasa... When questioned by Vancouver in '87 co-chairs Fran Skene & Jo-Anne McBride, Vaughn stated that Chuckie had mysteriously appeared during a social gathering...

Chuckie will of course try to be present at the First Official Bidding Party at the Denver worldcon next year..."

Comments by:

Jo-Anne McBride:

RAIN TOO certainly lived up to its billing as a party... Attendance was up quite a bit... Parties were much more in evidence this year as we filled nearly 50 hotel rooms. Private parties and the con suite's party lasted until Monday morning. Our thanks to Tam Gordy for some of the best entertainment heard in a long time.

The pinballs were a huge success... nearly $700 was put into them. Pinball wizards Alan Bostick, Chris Ramsey & Terry Lee were the winners of the trophies, edging out keen competion from our guest John Varley.

It was probably due to the amount of money put into the pinball machines that the art show didn't make as much as we had hoped. Our auctioneer, Georges Giguere, was certainly trying his hardest as he flogged various masterpieces.

Our guests John Varley and Anet Mconel had a terrific time, and expressed a wish to return some day. Their visit to the aquarium went over quite well... Fan Guest Suzanne Tompkins enjoyed herself, and she was a great addition to the fan history panel

Chair: Stuart Cooper
Registration: Steve Forty & Fani Kramer
Television equipment: Al Betz
Television Tapes: Al Betz & Ed Beauregard
Bacchanal music/Auctioneer: Georges Giguere
A/V Programming: Ed Hutchings
VIG (Very Important Gofer): Terry Lee & Ken Wong
Bacchante Extraordinaire: Gay Maddin
Food: Donna Markbride
Pinball Room: Jim Pook
Con Suite Host: Tom Waddell
Progress report & program sheet: Fran Skene
Preregistration, Programming, Secretary, Publicity & Amateur Art Show: Jo-Anne McBride

Special mention and many thanks go to Susan Wood who donated two sets of galleys, a bag of books and the lovely matted prints which were our gifts to our guests. Even to the point of assigning RAIN as homework for her students, Susan has been a great supporter of RAIN both years.

Image credits: RAIN Too program book cover by Tim Hammell.

John Varley