AirLockAlpha.com

The name of the site isn't the only thing that has to change as 2009 gets under way.

The SyFy Genre Awards, which have been a staple to the science-fiction community for a decade and attracted hundreds of thousands of votes, also is looking for a new name. And instead of depending on the Airlock Alpha staff to do it, they are instead turning to you, the readers.

Until March 13, Airlock Alpha is accepting ideas from readers on what to rename the Genre Awards. All anyone has to do is send their ideas to Michael Hinman at mhinman@airlockalpha.com and include their name and where they're writing from. Submitters can send one name or as many names as they like in a single e-mail.

Three random submitters will be selected March 13 to win their very own DVD copy of the "Dead Like Me" telemovie, courtesy of Airlock Alpha. But one lucky winner -- the person who submits the name that the Airlock Alpha staff ends up choosing for the awards -- will win the "Battlestar Galactica" Season 4.0 DVD set released by NBC Universal Television, courtesy of Airlock Alpha.

There are a few rules, of course. By submitting names, you acknowledge that you relinquish any rights to any name that is chosen by the staff. And if more than one person suggests a name that we end up using, we will do a separate drawing on who will win the prize (although all who submit the winning name will be recognized).

So if that sounds good to you, start coming up with ideas now, and sending them to Michael Hinman at mhinman@airlockalpha.com. Winners will be announced later in March.

At the same time, Airlock Alpha is putting together its international nominating committee. Each member of the committee will have a chance to lobby for specific entries, come up with ideas, and have a final vote on what will be on the final ballot for fans to vote for in June.

All you have to do is know a little bit about television, how to use message boards, and be able to keep all deliberations secret.

If you are interested in joining the Genre Awards nominating committee, send an e-mail to Michael Hinman at mhinman@airlockalpha.com with your name, where you're writing from, and the shows you have watched over the past year.

Don't worry, you don't need to have watched every show out there ... but we will be looking for a diverse group of people, so not everyone who applies will make it.

Good luck, and thanks for making the Genre Awards, or whatever it will be called come March, a continuing success for more than 10 years!