The NS World Fair is back - and with a vengeance! If you're unfamiliar with the NS World Fair as a world-wide community event make sure you take a look at our forum from the last fair.
A New Committee Member
The World Fair Committee welcomes McMasterdonia to its team! McMasterdonia has already been a big help in reorganizing our staff and helping to coordinate the fair.
Why are you announcing this so early?
Last fair we decided that we want to mimic real-life international events that have “hosts” and a bidding process to become host, but The World Fair Committee believes that the fair should still be run on an independent board maintained by neutral admins. The bidding process is going to take a while though, so we're giving you fair warning!
What does being the "host-region" of The NS World Fair mean then?
Good question. The host-region of The NS World Fair gets to make the opening and closing speeches at the event. In their bid, the host-region will propose some suggestions for The Fair which will also be included into the event.
So how does a region make a bid to become the host-region?
Send a telegram to Unibot III that details the following: (1) what specific events/activities/stuff would your region/organization like to see included to improve this World Fair? (2) what should this year’s theme for the World Fair be (last fair's theme was "friendship and cooperation", the first fair's theme was "diversity and unity")? (3) any other comments regarding this World Fair?
NOTE: only regions and organizations can make bids to become the host of The NS World Fair. However, if you want to personally share some suggestions: forward them to me.
How does the winning bid get chosen?
The World Fair Committee will choose the top five bids and voters will choose between those top five bids.
Who is in The World Fair Committee?
Currently, myself, McMasterdonia, Todd McCloud, Eluvatar, Communist Quinntopia and Solm. We may need to add some staff to our team though for this next World Fair.
Host Region: The Independent Order
We're very excited to announce that the NS World Fair III will be hosted by The Independent Order. The Independent Order defeated a number of different nominees during a public runoff vote that garnered over six hundred votes.
"We are a decent sized region currently with a population of 379 nations, our offsite forum is very active and has a wide range of activities and regularly sees over 44,000 posts by members within 12 months. [...]
The Independent Order is a region that has just celebrated its first birthday. In that time we have established a thriving community dedicated to making every member feel valued and at home. We would aim to extend that hospitality to the World Fair, creating an atmosphere where regardless of the reason you play NS there is something for you.
While we have the majority of members active on the offsite forum most are very excited about the prospect of joining in a large project such as this and that enthusiasm is certain to ensure the success of this fair."
- DaveIronside, Cultural Minister of The Independent Order.
The Independent Order is a region that has just celebrated its first birthday. In that time we have established a thriving community dedicated to making every member feel valued and at home. We would aim to extend that hospitality to the World Fair, creating an atmosphere where regardless of the reason you play NS there is something for you.
While we have the majority of members active on the offsite forum most are very excited about the prospect of joining in a large project such as this and that enthusiasm is certain to ensure the success of this fair."
- DaveIronside, Cultural Minister of The Independent Order.
Regional Venues
Like last year’s fair, Regional Venues are subforums that allow participating regions and organizations to show off their regions and organizations to others – and we encourage you to make your regional venue a reflection of your region, its culture and community.
Oftentimes, regional venues will include “promotional items” (images for people to add to their forum signatures like stamps that show you’ve visited the venue) and guestbooks, open forum games, tutorials, guides, discussion and debate threads.
On December 18 2014 – a day before the NS World Fair III opens, participating regions and organizations may ask Unibot, for the address to the NS World Fair III, so that two organizers can build (copy and paste and such) the threads for their Regional Venue.
We only want to distribute the address to (at most) two organizers from every participating region and organization. Therefore, we politely ask organizers to not share the url address of the NS World Fair with non-organizers – we don’t want the forum being shared with the public until our launch date (December 19th). Surprises are good. Promise.
Lecture Hall
Faraday at the Royal Institution.
On a snowy day in London in 1825, the Royal Institution hosted the first of what would become an annual tradition -- lectures on the fundamentals of science, especially intended for children. The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. But like many things, the NationStates World Fair has concluded: "we can do better". Not only will the NationStates World Fair hold lectures throughout the NationStates World Fair - but these lectures, discussing issues important to NationStaters alike, will conclude on Christmas Day. The NationStates World Fair's Christmas Lecture will take on place on Christmas Day - take that Royal Institution! December 29. Bah!
And if it wasn't enough that we're including "listening to Unibot ramble about Freedom of Speech in NationStates" to your list of festive activities,the NationStates World Fair's Lecture Hall will run all week long from December 19th to December 25th, entertaining some very honoured lecturers on a diverse range of subjects relevant to gameplayers, roleplayers and even budding World Assembly authors!
The fun begins on December 19th with a morning lecture from Bears Armed on the fundamentals of writing a successful resolution in the WA General Assembly, Bears Armed is most recently, the author of the General Assembly's Ban on Leaded Fuel, Legal Competence and Prevention of Wildfires. As a commended author, Bears Armed is as qualified as it comes to discuss resolution writing and it's an honour to have him. Only a few hours later, however, the Lecture Hall will play host to a rare Q & A with another fine commended player, Ananke - a legendary figure whose past work in TITO, the ADN and the North Pacific Army has been celebrated for years. An accomplished defender herself, Ananke will provide an insider's look on NationStates history. During the evening, Xoriet, current delegate of The East Pacific and former General of the East Pacific Sovereign Army (EPSA) will also share a fascinating introspective on militaries and female players - building on research and interviews from some very respected players. Xoriet will discuss the role of militaries in regions and whether they can serve as a sphere of empowerment for female players. I think it'll be a very interesting evening, full of robust discussion and courteous debate. If you're not excited yet - you should be! The Lecture Hall will hold speakers throughout the week, including a special return from Thomasia; Thomasia will share his thoughts and past experiences with The Meritocracy and his unique perspective on NationStates history which is sure to be a treat.
The current Lecture Schedule has been included below, but do note that the schedule is always subject to change. We will continue to publicize events throughout the fair.
NS Sports Football Tournament: The Christmas Truce
During the NS World Fair, as per tradition, fair-goers can participate and otherwise (enthusiastically) observe the Fair's ongoing football tournament. This year's football tournament will be organised by NS Sport's very own Jeckland and Super-Llamaland.
The roleplay event will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of The Christmas Truce, a spontaneous game of football played between soldiers during World War I on Christmas Day which had used No Man's Land as a make-shift pitch - a historic demonstration of the power of sports and its ability to bring people together even in the most extraordinary circumstances.
For more information on this event, or to sign up to participate, see here.
Tentative Schedule
Dec 19 2014 - Opening Ceremonies of the NS World Fair III.
Dec 25 2014 - Closing Ceremonies of the NS World Fair III.
