A typical one could include, for instance, an FAQ off the web, and a nice colourful heading and the odd decoration. Or more (e.g. articles or photos), if people wanted to add more. But even a much simpler one-page one would show people that this group was present at BiCon.
As I thought about it some more, I also realised that "info zones" would potentially also address another BiCon phenomenon, which is the illusion that some groups don't exist or aren't there, when in fact they are there. It seems to come about because some groups are more noticeable than others. One thing that was very clear from the "Fitting & misfitting" workshop was the frequency with which people are under the illusion that they're the only one there of their kind. (See the "Everyone seems..." exercise.) So it's also a way of saying "We Are Here".
I would certainly like to see an "Info Zone" for the very important subgroup "Ordinary Bisexuals"
I think "info zones" could also be a social asset for some of the people at the stage of "not quite settled in yet and not sure what to do with themself", or just at a loose end during BiCon. Reading them could be both something interesting-but-relatively-unthreatening to do, and potentially a conversation-starter with other people also browsing.
I don't think it ought to be loads of work for anyone, because for most of them, the main thing would be the FAQ, such as would almost certainly be available from the net already. So that part could potentially just be a matter of printing something out (with attention to accessibility, e.g. large font and good contrast), and other info or decorations could be added at the whim of the people who were doing it. Of course, if people wanted to go to town with colours and photos and other stuff, that would be all the better.
My suggestion is they should be done by enthusiastic people from within the relevant groups. After all, there's a self-interest in that as well - it means you can skip answering the FAQs when you meet new people, and educate people to relate to you sensibly.
But if no-one wants to do them, then that's fine too - it's one of those where if something's done, it's good, but if it isn't, no-one's lost out by putting the idea around.
One small bit of necessary management would be to make sure that we didn't get two groups unwittingly doing stuff on behalf of the same community. This could be coordinated via the BiCon LiveJournal.
(Also, if future BiCons had this, the organisers would have to be aware of the need for wall space. But I wouldn't envisage a problem at 2003, 'cause I went on the site tour and saw the atrium, which has lots of wall. We just need a lot of blu-tack )
Some of these seem to me more "important as a beginners' guide" and some of them more "important as visibility". For instance, there are obviously BDSMers at BiCon, but it's something unfamiliar to many people, whereas bi parents are no mystery but may be invisible to others in their group. And some groups are often neither visible/noticed nor generally well understood.
Obviously it needn't stop there. See also Subgroups of the bi community and "Coming out as...", as contributed by participants at the "Fitting & misfitting" workshop. If people got into the spirit of it, there could also be little zones for all kinds of groups and interests. There could be paper available for people to add new ones during BiCon. And I don't think we should stop anyone doing one if they want to, provided they weren't advocating anything contrary to ethical behaviour - it's all part of the "We are here".
LiveJournal discussion of this article in March 2003
Links to previous LiveJournal discussions of BiCon newbie-friendliness:
Discussion of "Fitting & misfitting" workshop article
mjwin's comment about issues in the bi movement - note particularly the paragraph on ordinary people