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This topic is offered for reports or comments about the upcoming Convention.
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From the Mars Society main website: "PLEASE NOTE ALL TALKS WILL BE IN-PERSON THIS YEAR. THERE IS NO VIRTUAL OPTION TO PRESENT."
With everything the current US government is doing, I do not feel safe travelling to the US. News reports of a Canadian actress who was sent to film a scene in Mexico, but when she tried to return was arrested by border security. She's white, speaks English, has a Canadian passport, and a work visa to work in the US. She crossed the border at a regular border crossing and reported to US customs. Yet she was arrested, incarcerated in a concrete cell for 11 days.
I do not feel safe travelling to the US. And virtual presentation is not an option. Too bad. :'(
CBC: Canadian detained for 11 days by U.S. immigration speaks out for others stuck in limbo
Jasmine Mooney's smile went viral after the 35-year-old Canadian was taken into U.S. custody at the Mexican border in March, but her story is now whispered in fear.
On March 3, Mooney tried to get her work visa renewed, entering at an immigration office at the Mexico-San Diego border, against a U.S. lawyer's advice. Instead she ended up being denied, and then, all of a sudden, detained.
Mooney spent 11 days in custody — off and on in cement cells she says are dubbed "ice boxes" — with little more than a thin foil emergency blanket. Mooney says she faced numerous transfers, humiliating medical tests, degrading treatment and no answers — despite pleas to let her pay for her own flight home.
She at first refused food and couldn't sleep but then forced herself to get up and help others.
"It breaks you. That place breaks you into a million pieces. It is so disgusting what goes on in there," Mooney told CBC News in an interview on Thursday.
Her case is one of a series of instances involving non-U.S. travellers that has travellers and legal experts concerned.
There's more to the news story. This is the first short bit.
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It's not just foreigners. American citizens have been detained just for+ the color of their skin. I suspect they have tried to deport more than one. Pretty soon it won't be skin color, it will be for opposing Trump. Which means me. And I fear for my wife, who was born in Japan, but made a naturalized citizen as an infant. The parallel to the Nazification of Germany in the 1930's is just too eerily close!
I think you are right, Rob. Do not risk coming here. Not until and unless we can get rid of this dictator, and all the minions who support him and keep him in power.
GW
86 47
GW Johnson
McGregor, Texas
"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew, especially one dead from a bad management decision"
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The Guardian: Some tourists and business travelers may face up to $15,000 bond to enter US
How many Mars Society members will not attend Convention this year?
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This post is about the convention itself ... I note that Google seems to think there will be "virtual" aspects to the event...
The 2025 International Mars Society Convention will be held from October 9-11 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, according to The Mars Society. The convention is the premier global gathering for Mars exploration, human settlement, and space technologies.
This year's convention will be the 28th annual event and will feature a range of speakers, including:
Dr. Orson Sutherland: Programme Manager for Mars Exploration at ESA, who will discuss ESA's Mars plans.
Dr. Vora: Focusing on synthetic biology for Mars.
Dex Hunter-Torricke: Will discuss AI's role in Mars settlement.
Hoppy Price: Chief Engineer for NASA's Robotic Mars Exploration Program, speaking on future robotic missions, according to The Mars Society.2025 Mars Society Convention: Dr. Vandi Verma on Space ...
The event will include both in-person and virtual sessions, allowing participation from anywhere in the world. The Mars Society's website has more information on registration and volunteering opportunities.
The earlier announcement of in-person only attendance appears to have been reversed:
The Mars Society
July 20 at 10:00AM
·
Mark your calendars, Martian fans!
The 28th Annual International Mars Society Convention is landing at USC, October 9–11, 2025—and you can beam in live or show up in person.
Get ready for three jam-packed days of space talk with scientists, engineers, industry pros, and fellow Mars nerds diving deep into the latest Red Planet news.
Join the mission at marssociety.org!
This is from a web site that appears to be from Mars Society itself (via Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/TheMarsSociety … 594163081/
Now I'll try the Mars Society web site...
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It appears that virtual attendance is indeed available for the 2025 Mars Society Convention in October ...
With both in-person and virtual sessions, participants can engage in real-time discussions and ask direct questions, as well as network with fellow Mars advocates no matter where you are. Online registration is now open, and tickets for the special Saturday evening banquet are available for purchase.
https://mkt.marssociety.org/convention-registration
I found that the Mars Society has a link to check a member's status.
https://app.joinit.com/o/marssociety
It appears that the way to check status is to log in.
https://app.joinit.com/o/marssociety/members
I logged in and found that my membership still has a year to run.
I updated the address and other information. The web site sent an email for confirmation.
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This post is intended to show information about the upcoming convention:
Register for the
2025 Mars Society Convention
"Mars: The Time has Come"October 9th - 11th
University of Southern California
Main Campus - Los Angeles, CA
We have significantly lowered our rates this year for registration, to encourage in-person attendance.
Act Now! Early Bird Rates End July 1st, 2025.Member and Non-Member Tickets include a single adult ticket to the Saturday Evening Banquet which will include a special guest speaker.
Use the Member rate only if your annual membership is current; check your membership status at Join.MarsSociety.org
Student/Senior does not include banquet. Student status requires full-time enrollment in a degree program or K-12. Senior status is 60+.
Additional banquet tickets can be purchased here.
Summary
Annual Convention Registration - Member Rate
$125.00Adult Banquet Ticket
$60.00Total (USD)
$185.00
I'll look for information about how to attend virtually. I am guessing that perhaps virtual attendance becomes available if a person has registered for the event.
I filled out the "Contact" form and asked for clarification about virtual attendance.
Everyone on NewMars is likely to want to attend virtually. Travel to and from the United States appears to be unwise at this time.
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