If you've been following the convention forum you might have noticed that we've had this brewing. But thanks to the hard work of all our staff, most of all Galenraff, we're ready to announce the details. The Allspark is (if you guys are willing) going to have breakfast with penguins on Friday morning of Botcon. The package price ($25.00 per person) will include a hot breakfast buffet, a biologist introduction to the penguins, and after that we get turned loose in the entire Newport Aquarium for as long as we'd like. Also we're working on a souvenir for the trip that I hope you guys will love. We'll show you a tantalizingly small preview when something is ready.

They tell us it takes about 3 hours to really enjoy everything they have to offer, including the penguin presentation and breakfast, so we'll plan to be there from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. We'll meet at 7:15 a.m. to catch the Southbank Shuttle which picks up at the corner of 4th and Race right by the convention hotels and drops off right outside the aquarium. The shuttle cost is $1.25 each way, and runs every 15 minutes, so if you want to go earlier or later, you're free to do so. (Note that the only time to do the breakfast and penguin presentation is at 8:00 - if you are too late you will miss this.)

So here's the deal people. We need 30 to reserve AND pay by April 4. We can add on additional people as long as we receive payment before April 22, but please don't procrastinate. The sooner the better because if we don't have 30 by April 4, the whole trip is off.

Galenraff will be collecting the money for this endeavor. He has put together a nice flyer for the event here which has all the details you'll need.

I hope you all are up for it and will go ahead and sign up if you're going and will be there on Friday morning. Families are of course welcome! You'll get fed, see penguins and sharks and everything else, and it will be a great 'Spark bonding event. And since the Aquarium obviously supports the animals through ticket sales, if you don't go you're murdering penguins. Cute little cuddly penguins. Can you live with yourself if you do that? Sign up now!

Update: Apologies for posting this out of forum but we really want everyone to find out about this event. I'm closing all but one of the threads here, please use it for comment and future posting. Will unpin this when it's run it's course!