For those of you who have never gone, and are wondering, here are a few FAQs to consider...
What is the agenda for TONMOCON III?
This is still being developed. It will be similar to the agendas of past TONMOCONs, which you can find
here.
Are the presentations family-friendly?
For the most part, absolutely. The day of presentations is mostly appropriate for all audiences (although I do recall a certain doctor shouting an explitive when recounting a story during his presentation
). Also, there may be a few "racy" images projected during a review of cephalopods in art -- but that's truly in the context of a mature discussion regarding art. The presentations are usually highly educational. Overall, it is a day packed full with in-depth cephalopod content and discussion that is open to a general audience.
Besides the presentations, what goes on at TONMOCONs?
The night before, night of, and day after the presentations are primarily made up of ad-hoc gatherings. We'll usually visit an aquarium and/or lab during daytime hours. The first night is typically considered the end of a travel day, and folks in the community try to coordinate a reception of sorts. For example, for TONMOCON II we visited a restuarant and bar by the water in Sarasota called The Salty Dog. We spent a few hours there eating, drinking and introducing ourselves to each other -- and generally catching up.
I'm hearing a lot about drinking at these events. What's up with that?
Well, many of us have "known" each other for many years, and at the first two events many people were brought together for the first time. Even if we've met at a past event, the fact is that TONMOCONs only come around once every two years. This is a cause to celebrate. By way of example, at TONMOCON II, after the presentations, we had opportunity to congregate at one of the suites -- it was a social event that went on late into the night.
Oh boy. I'm not much of a drinker, and/or I'm nervous about bringing my family to such an event. Should I be worried?
TONMOCON is
much more about people with a shared passion getting together to talk about cephalopods, than it is a drink-fest. I am confident you will find that this group is very welcoming, respectful and engaging on the topic of cephalopods. These events are very much a happy celebration. Rest assured that not everyone drinks, and it is not a pre-requisite to get in on the fun by any means. Also note that not everyone necessarily congregates in the same place -- the night-time events and "after parties" are very much ad-hoc and are not necessarily centralized (although, I'm sure most would say, "the more the merrier").
Will TONMO.com/Tony Morelli take responsibility for my well-being at this event?
No. Everyone who comes to TONMOCONs is responsible for his or her own actions. I (Tony Morelli) only pick a venue and manage the agenda (with help from many).
I have more questions, but I'd rather not post them publically in the forum. Is there someone I can contact?
Absolutely -- drop me a PM or email me at
[email protected]. I will treat any and all inquiries and privacy and respect.