Arisia is having a Quiet Room this year!

[crewgrrl.livejournal.com]

This year we are adding a Quiet Room, a space to take a break from the noise and chaos of the con and those omnipresent fluorescent lights. This is our first year doing this, so the room will be very simply furnished.

We will be using a guest room on the 4th floor, and the information desk will have the room number. The room number is also likely to be listed in the pocket program as well.

This room will have set hours:
Friday 4pm-10pm
Saturday 10am-10pm
Sunday 10am-10pm
Monday 10am-3pm

This room will have a minder, or someone checking on it frequently, and it will have a list of basic guidelines and expectations of behavior. To help people with allergies, we are going to ask that this be a food free space. We ask that people not sleep here, or try to use the space as crash space. Nursing moms are welcome, but this not be used as a play space for small children. This space will also have a gender-free restroom.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please write access@arisia.org.

Comments

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful. Thank you!

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

What an awesome idea!

[archangelbeth]

To help people with allergies, may I suggest it be a perfume-free zone? I recall that guest Seanan McGuire, a year or two back, was made very ill by someone's perfume at her luncheon-with-fans.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I'll second that one. (As I [try to] type this, the resident allergen is busily licking my arm, trying to macerate my skin with her allergenic and thickly barbed tongue.)

[nohwhere-man.livejournal.com]

"This space will also have a gender-free restroom"
Perhaps a gender-neutral one would be better? (otherwise, the whole thing sounds like a good idea)

[selkiechick]

There will be a post later about perfumes and the convention, much like the one posted last year. http://arisia.livejournal.com/460591.html

I do like the idea of a perfume free zone. I am happy to ask that people limit their use of fragrance, and ask that the hotel use fragrance free cleaning products. I am hoping to have an air purifier for the room. That said, I do not see any practical way I can guarantee that the space will be perfume free (even people who eschew perfume for the convention may have it on their belongings or clothing), and that makes me a little hesitant to advertise it as such. I don't want to promise something I cannot deliver.

[archangelbeth]

Understood, though the hope of a really BIG SIGN that said, "PLEASE, NO PERFUMES! ALLERGIC PEOPLE MAY BE PRESENT!" and a bowl of washclothes to wash things off... O;>

Thanks.

[docwatson42.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Otherwise the title implies that I would have to check my gender at the door to use it, and I would find that a little difficult. [grin]

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!

[kate_nepveu]

Awesome plan.

[paper-crystals.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thanks!

[curly-chick.livejournal.com]

Great idea.

[selkiechick]

I can do both the sign, and the cloths. Thanks for the suggestion.

[archangelbeth]

You are rockin' awesome!

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

The restroom itself does not have a gender, hence "gender-free". ^_^

(I'm a gender fluid person who prefers the wording "gender-free" restroom over "gender-neutral", but since it's a single occupancy bathroom without a gender sign on the door, this is all semantics and not really one of any practical significance.)

I think this Quiet Room is a great idea.