General

• What is Terminus?
• What does "terminus" mean?
• Who can attend Terminus?
• When is Terminus? How long is it?
• What is on the schedule for Terminus?
• Where does Terminus take place?
• Is Terminus using handicapped-accessible facilities?

Registration

• How much does it cost to attend Terminus?
• What does my basic registration include?
• Are registration discounts available?
• Can I add items to my registration?
• Can I purchase tickets without a registration?
• Do you provide refunds if I register and cannot attend?
• Is your credit card system secure?
• What is your privacy policy with regard to registration information?
• Does my registration money fund auxiliary events like keynote presentations and professional Quidditch?

Travel

• Why did you choose Chicago?
• Do you have an official hotel?
• Do I have to stay in the official hotel?
• Do you help attendees find roommates or travel partners?
• What should I do in Chicago?

Programming & Events

• Is this an academic conference, a professional conference or a fan conference?
• Are you affiliated with a college or university? Do you offer continuing education credits?
• How do I become part of your programming?
• Are there types of programming you won't accept?
• Will you be publishing proceedings from the conference?
• I'm a professional artist/writer/filmmaker; can I be a Guest of Honor?
• I've written a book about Harry Potter; can I read/present/sign books at Terminus?
• I write fanfiction. Can I read it at Terminus? Can I show my fanart?
• Wait! Wizarding tournaments? Can we use wands?
• Are you showing the Harry Potter movies?
• Are the Harry Potter actors coming?

Miscellaneous

• Who is presenting Terminus?
• What other events has Narrate Conferences, Inc. done? What events are you planning?
• Has J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. or the Christopher Little Agency endorsed Terminus?
• Is Terminus affiliated with anyone?
• Who is staffing Terminus?
• How can I volunteer for Terminus?
• Who did your artwork?
• May I use your artwork on my products?
• How can I support Terminus's educational mission?
• How can I sell my merchandise at Terminus?
• Can I wear my costume to Terminus?
• Does Terminus have cosplaying events?
• Does Terminus have a weapons policy?
• Does Terminus have children's activities?
• May I bring my baby to Terminus?
• May I take photographs at Terminus?
• What are United States' gratuity customs?
• Can Terminus accommodate my food allergies?

General

What is Terminus?
Terminus is a five-day Harry Potter conference that focuses on the completed series and how Harry’s journey has changed the lives of millions. The event combines a traditional academic conference with exploratory and convivial elements to study and celebrate the Harry Potter phenomenon.

What does "terminus" mean?
"Terminus" means: (i) the point toward which anything tends; or (ii) the end of a railway or bus route. In other words, "terminus" means: (i) the end of the series that J. K. Rowling has been creating for so long; or (ii) the end of each attendee’s travels to arrive at our conference.

Who can attend Terminus?
Anyone from any country who is at least 18 years of age as of August 7, 2008, may register and attend. Anyone who will be at least 14 years of age as of the same date may register and attend, provided that they have a registered chaperone who is at least 21 years of age, and a guardian's permission if that chaperone is not their legal guardian. Please see our Registration page for more details.

When will Terminus happen? How long is it?
Terminus arrives at noon on Thursday, August 7, 2008, when attendees may begin picking up their registration packets and our vendor room and art gallery open. The conference will open formally with our Arrival Dinner at 7:00 p.m. For five days, attendees will have access to our programming, events, extras, art gallery and vendor room. We’ll play Quidditch and test your memory in Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge. The conference will continue to mid-day on Monday, August 11, 2008 when we’ll reluctantly depart for home. Additionally, attendees may add an optional, sixth day of Terminus by purchasing a ticket to Wrock Chicago, our all-day wizard rock event on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.

What is on the schedule for Terminus?
You may visit our conference overview here, and review our accepted programming proposals here. Basically, however, our attendees’ itineraries will include five days of programming, events and extras. The three central days of the conference will feature full schedules of lectures, panels, workshops, discussions and other presentations on the Harry Potter series and phenomenon during the day; then in the evenings, attendees will enjoy more celebratory events, including a wizarding talk show, a night featuring the fan community, and a bon voyage ball. Expanded interactive programming and wizarding competitions – including Quidditch, a trivia tournament, keynote presentations by our Guests of Honor, film screenings and more – round out our schedule. Additionally, attendees may add an optional, sixth day of Terminus by purchasing a ticket to Wrock Chicago, our all-day wizard rock event on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.

Where does Terminus take place?
Terminus will take place in downtown Chicago, in the state of Illinois, in the United States. Most of the programming will be housed in our official hotel, the magnificent Hilton Chicago Hotel, which is located on famed Michigan Avenue across the street from Grant Park and overlooking Lake Michigan. The Trade Winds Tournament will take place across the street from the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Grant Park.

Is Terminus using handicapped-accessible facilities?
Despite being a magnificent, historic hotel from the 1920s, the Hilton Chicago Hotel is completely handicapped accessible, and has wheelchair accessible guest rooms as well as TDD/TDY access for the hearing impaired. The hotel has been completely renovated and currently exceeds the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act for accessibility.

Registration

How much does it cost to attend Terminus?
Our registration price for attendees is currently $180 for our five-day event. This price will last until online registration closes on July 1, 2008, and will be $200 at the door. You can find our price structure here. Additionally, attendees may add an optional, sixth day of Terminus by purchasing a ticket to Wrock Chicago, our all-day wizard rock concert on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.

What does my basic registration include?
A basic registration for Terminus includes five days of programming, events and extras; both the Arrival Dinner and the Departure Breakfast; admission to The North Star Live! (our wizarding talk show), Artists and Authors Night and the Bon Voyage Ball; participation in the Pan-Magical Games (except the Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge); writing and art challenges and a gallery; admission to our Vendor Station; and a conference t-shirt that will only be provided to attendees. Registrations do not include tickets to our Keynote Presentations, Wrock Chicago, the Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge. Those events must be purchased separately.

Are registration discounts available?
The only registration discount we offer is $5.00 off when you purchase a ticket for both the Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge. Generally, we have a registration rate for all attendees designed to give everyone the lowest price possible.

Can I add items to my registration?
Of course! You can access your registration by going here and entering your user name and password. If you do not have your user name or password, please e-mail us at registration@terminus2008.org, or go here and use our system to e-mail your password to yourself.

Can I purchase tickets without a registration?
Absolutely. Tickets to our Keynote Presentations, Wrock Chicago and the Trade Winds Tournament are now available to those unable to join us for a full weekend of Terminus. You may purchase tickets by clicking here and using our online system. Please keep in mind that all attendees at any Terminus event must be at least 14 years old as of August 7, 2008.

Do you provide refunds if I register and cannot attend? May I delete items from my registration?
All registrations, tickets and other items sold by Terminus are non-refundable, even if you do not attend the conference. You are, however, welcome to re-sell your registration or ticket to another person, and we have provided a forum on our message boards where you may advertise for a buyer, if you wish. Terminus will not find you a buyer or assist you in making your sale; neither do we require you to resell your registration or ticket at any specific price. You are responsible for compliance with any applicable laws. Once you have a buyer, we will transfer your registration or ticket to your buyer completely free of charge. Please e-mail registration@terminus2008.org to make the transfer.

Is your credit card system secure?
Our credit card system is secure. Like many small businesses, we have contracted with PayPal to ensure that our credit card transactions are secure and confidential. The Terminus team will never have your credit card information. If you are concerned about PayPal's security, please go here.

What is your privacy policy with regard to registration information?
Terminus gathers certain personal information about you during the registration process that is used to collect payment, create your registration packet and check you in as an attendee at the conference. Only select members of our staff can see this information, and volunteers who staff our check-in desks have only the information necessary to ensure that you receive the correct registration packet. Terminus does not share your personal information with third parties, except as required by law. For more about how Narrate Conferences, Inc., the presenting company of Terminus, uses and protects your private information, please read our Privacy Policy.

Does my registration money fund auxiliary events like keynote presentations, Wrock Chicago and Quidditch?
No. Any additional cost event at Terminus is self-funding. In other words, the tickets and sponsorships sold for those events cover their costs, and the basic registration money is only used for programming, events and activities that all attendees can enjoy. Conversely, several events do require an additional cost: keynote presentations to fund the meals provided; Wrock Chicago to cover the expenses of putting on the event; and the Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge to provide t-shirts for the players.

Travel

Why did you choose Chicago?
One of America's great cities, Chicago is centrally located, easy to travel to, and a destination in its own right. The city, known for its world-class culture and architecture, boasts friendly service that makes visitors want to return again and again. We hope that our attendees will find the city as welcoming and exciting as we do.

Do you have an official hotel?
Our official hotel is the Hilton Chicago Hotel, located at 720 South Michigan Avenue, across the street from Grant Park and a short walk from Chicago’s world famous Art Institute and Field Museum. Our registration and information desks, as well as our programming, events and other activities are located here. We have a special room rate arranged for Terminus attendees at the Hilton Chicago Hotel – $169 per night for up to four guests in a room – and attendees who stay there will receive this discounted rate on the nights of August 3, 2008 – August 13, 2008. Rooms at this rate are filling up quickly, and rooms at that price may no longer be available for all nights of your stay; please visit our hotel page for more information.

Do I have to stay in the official hotel?
No, you don't have to, but we hope that you will. We have negotiated a very good rate at the Hilton Chicago Hotel specifically for our attendees, and because the cost of our conference space in the hotel is tied to our attendees staying there, those who do stay in the Hilton help us keep our costs down and provide a better value conference.

Do you help attendees find roommates or travel partners?
Terminus has forums on our message boards where attendees can seek roommates and travel partners, but we take no official role in matching people up.

What can I do in Chicago?
Whether it’s world famous museums or world famous shopping, Chicago has it all. Attendees are sure to find something they’ll enjoy, whether for an afternoon or an extra few days. Please check out our Local Attractions page for a listing of area attractions and tour providers. Additionally, Terminus is working on putting together a schedule of popular attractions on the days surrounding the conference for those attendees who wish to visit with other Harry Potter enthusiasts.

Programming & Events

Is this an academic conference, a professional conference or a fan conference?
It's some of all of the above. Educational, thought-provoking analysis is the main focus of the conference, and Terminus will schedule a full slate of academic papers, lectures, panels, workshops, discussions, keynote presentations, and other programming. Professional development sessions are drawn from accepted presentations, and once the schedule has been finalized, teachers, librarians, business professionals, lawyers, writers and artists should find that there is programming of interest. Beyond that, we have created convivial and fan events, mostly in the evenings, that are designed to immerse an attendee in Harry Potter with the same enthusiasm with which so many approach the books. In addition, the Guests of Honor and other professionals give insight into the Harry Potter phenomenon from various perspectives. All told, Terminus is a weekend that gives academics, professionals, students and fans the chance to not only interact and collaborate, but create the conference they wish to attend from our many offerings.

Are you affiliated with a college or university? Do you offer continuing education credits?
Not at this time. Terminus is a presentation of Narrate Conferences, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses on creating academic and literary events. As each state has its own system for documenting professional development, you should inquire locally to find out if your attendance may be used toward licensing requirements for teachers. We're happy to verify your attendance at the conference; please write to programming@terminus2008.org to make any necessary arrangements.

How do I become part of your programming?
Our programming is selected from among submissions to an independent board of scholars, professionals, and fans who gather to create a balanced and interesting schedule. Our submissions period ended February 1, 2008, and no further proposals will be accepted, though we hope you’ll attend and participate, as many of the presentations are designed to be interactive and welcome audience input. You can see the list of accepted presentations here.

Are there types of programming you won't accept?
We accept all sorts of presentations, from papers to films to discussions and more. We have sample presentation styles but you are welcome to propose something that goes beyond what we have listed. Otherwise, we do have a restriction on the presentation of any material considered NC-17, and will of course not allow any presentation that infringes on another's trademarks or copyrights. This is not meant to restrict topics, even those dealing with sensitive material; an analysis presented in a thoughtful manner can certainly take on a mature topic. If you have any questions about whether or not something might be inadmissible, please e-mail programming@terminus2008.org.

Will you be publishing proceedings from the conference?
Yes. Proceedings from Terminus will be compiled and published following the conference. Please join our mailing list to receive an update by e-mail when information is available.

I'm a professional artist/writer/filmmaker; can I be a Guest of Honor?
Guest of Honor is the term Terminus uses to refer to our invited guests who will speak at our Keynote Presentations or at a major Terminus event. Terminus’s Guests of Honor are Harry Potter editor Cheryl Klein and fantasy author Tamora Pierce. We are quite happy to discuss promoting works about Harry Potter by our attendees, however, and anyone who wishes to promote their work should contact us at organizers@terminus2008.org.

I've written a book about Harry Potter; can I read/present/sign books at Terminus?
If you are interested in reading from your work or signing autographs, please e-mail us at organizers@terminus2008.org.

I write fanfiction. Can I read it at Terminus? Can I show my fanart?
While our submissions period has ended, we have accepted fanfiction and fanart presentations as part of our Artists and Authors Night programming.

What events are you offering?
Our events come in four varieties: communal banquets designed to allow attendees to meet each other and interact at the beginning and end of the conference; evening events designed to explore aspects of Harry Potter in a celebratory way; our wizarding tournaments, Quidditch and trivia, which will test your skills; and Wrock Chicago, our celebration of the wizard rock community. Each registration includes both our Arrival Dinner and our Departure Breakfast, as well as admission to our three evening events: The North Star Live (our wizarding talk show), Artists and Authors Night and our Bon Voyage Ball. Participation in our Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge bear an extra charge, as players will receive team t-shirts. Attending our Keynote Presentations and Wrock Chicago, our special, pre-conference wizard rock concert, also bears an additional charge to cover the costs of the event. Please see our Programming and Events sections for more details. You may also peruse our Schedule for a sense of how our events and other activities connect with our programming.

Wait! Wizarding tournaments? May we use wands?
You may not! We expect clean competition and certainly wands are unnecessary for either the noble sport of Quidditch or the mental challenge of trivia.

Are you showing the Harry Potter movies?
We do plan to show the movies as a late-night activity! Those who prefer the witching hour to the bright light of day will find the movies, shown in the wee hours of the morning, on the schedule after midnight.

Are the Harry Potter actors coming?
Please don't expect any Harry Potter actors to attend. We would be happy to have them at Terminus, but we don't officially invite actors to be presenters because due to filming, performances, and other factors, they may have to cancel their commitment to Terminus on short notice. Given that most of our attendees will travel to attend Terminus, make-up events would be impossible. Also, if an actor wishes to come as an attendee, we will make no official announcement without his or her express permission.

If you are the representative of an actor and would like to make arrangements for him or her to attend, please write to organizers@terminus2008.org.

Miscellaneous

Who is presenting Terminus?
Terminus is a presentation of Narrate Conferences, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to producing academic, literary and educational conferences and events.

What other events is Narrate Conferences, Inc. presenting?
Narrate Conference’s first Harry Potter conference, Phoenix Rising, took place in the French Quarter of New Orleans on May 17-21, 2007. Plans for several other conferences are in the works as well, including our next conference, an exploration of women and fantasy literature. We are also planning conferences on young adult literature, literature and leadership for teens, and other topics.

Has J. K. Rowling, Warner Bros. or the Christopher Little Agency endorsed Terminus?
No, we are an unofficial event, and we are not connected with or employed by J. K. Rowling, Warner Bros., the Christopher Little Agency, any of J. K. Rowling's publishers, or any representatives of the foregoing.

Is Terminus affiliated with anyone?
Terminus is not affiliated with anyone other than Narrate Conferences, Inc. and its other conferences and events.

Who is staffing Terminus?
Terminus is staffed entirely by volunteers who have donated their time and talent. You may meet our staff here.

How can I volunteer for Terminus?
Please visit our Volunteers page for more details. We'd love to have you on board!

Who did your artwork?
Our artwork was created by Emily Balawejder, Amber Charleville, Amanda Pommer, Samantha Rose and others. If you'd like to contact our artists, please e-mail organizers@terminus2008.org.

May I use your artwork on my products?
It’s not impossible, but it is difficult for us to permit you to use our artwork, due to the Internal Revenue Service rules governing endorsements by charities. Please e-mail organizers@terminus2008.org if you’d like to inquire.

How can I support Terminus's educational mission?
Terminus has a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities available, and is always thrilled to receive donations. Please see our Sponsorship page for more information on how we can work with you to create a unique sponsorship. Also, as Terminus’s presenting company, Narrate Conferences, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, all donations and sponsorships are eligible for tax deduction.

How can I sell my merchandise at Terminus?
Terminus is pleased to include a Vendor Station in our itinerary, and we hope that anyone wishing to sell their Harry Potter, wizarding or Chicago merchandise, or their writing or artwork, will participate. Please see our Vendors page for more information.

Can I wear my costume to Terminus?
Of course you can! All programming and events that are part of our schedule welcome costumes, and many of our staff and volunteers will be dressing up as well! You may wish to bring Muggle clothes for occasionally going out and about among the Muggles, but Muggle dress is in no way required. On the other hand, many of our attendees will wear street clothes rather than costumes. Costumes are not required, either.

Does Terminus have cosplaying events?
Terminus has no officially scheduled cosplaying events, but encourages cosplayers to attend.

Does Terminus have a weapons policy?
Terminus prohibits all weapons, and items that look like weapons, from its programming and events. We do not consider wands to be weapons, unless you are using yours to physically harm another. If you purchase a weapon during the course of the weekend, please store it in your hotel room.

Does Terminus have children's activities?
As Terminus is intended for adults, we have not included children's activities on our schedule. If you are bringing your children, and are looking for suitable activities, please visit the Chicago Convention and Tourism Board’s website.

May I bring my baby to Terminus?
Terminus allows parents of pre-mobile babies to bring them to events. We do request that, in consideration of others, you leave the programming and event rooms if you need to attend to your child or to avoid a disruption.

May I take photographs at Terminus?
Certainly! Please bear in mind, however, that not everyone wishes to have their picture taken. Please do not take pictures of individuals who clearly are not comfortable having you do so. For this reason, Terminus prohibits photographs during programming sessions, unless indicated in the program book. Please respect others' wishes in this matter.

What are United States' gratuity customs?
Typically, bartenders, wait staff, taxi drivers and luggage handlers in the United States expect to receive a gratuity for their services. The common gratuity for bartenders or luggage handlers is a dollar per drink or bag. Wait staff usually receive 15-20% of the final bill, though some restaurants will include the gratuity in the bill for large parties. Taxi drivers usually receive 10-15%.

Can Terminus accommodate my food allergies?
Terminus will do its best to accommodate a variety of diets and food needs during the weekend, and will always offer two entrée options, or a flexible entrée option, during a meal. Our registration system does ask for any special food needs for keynote presentations, and we will pass your requests on to the caterer. We do recommend, however, that if you have special concerns, you ask the catering staff before partaking. Our staff does not have the recipes for any particular items served over the weekend, and cannot provide certain assurance that an ingredient is not present. If after reviewing our menus, which will be available in the upcoming months, you are concerned about your dietary issues, please e-mail us at help@terminus2008.org.