Reserve your seat now for Vince & Kassie's Animation Festival

The theme for this year's Vince Koehler Film Festival is "Vince & Kassie's Animation Festival--and KaCSFFS members get "first dibs" on seating reservations, but for a limited time only!

The Vince Koehler Film Festival will be held in the
Kansas City Theater at the Doubletree Hotel in
Corporate Woods on July 16, 2011.

This will be the 15th Annual Vince Koehler Film Festival.  It is set for July 16, 2011.  The 2011 festival returns to animation, with a mix of new and older animated films, some of them short subjects, and others longer.  The collection will include a fair number of Oscar winners and nominees.  While the final lineup of films is not completely decided yet, you can get a glimpse of the committee's selections on the VKFF website (or check the graphic below).

The venue is new this year--the beautiful and acoustically functional Kansas City Theater at the Doubletree Hotel in Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS.  Seating is limited to 60 only, which is why we need to take reservations.  KaCSFFS members and friends may reserve 1-2 seats only; the organizers request also please give the names of both attendees.  Email requests to lensman003@yahoo.com 

These are some of the films on the preliminary list for
"Vince & Kassie's Animation Festival," July 16, 2011:
Top L-R: The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005,
(c) Madman Entertainment); Sintel (2010, (c) Blender Foundation);
Superman: The Mechanical Monsters (1941, (c) Fleischer Studios).
Bottom L-R: 9 original short film (2005, (c) Focus Features);
 Peter and the Wolf (2006, (c) BreakThru Peter Ltd.); Sky Captain and the World
of Tomorrow original short film (1998? (c) Paramount Pictures).

Here's a map to the Doubletree:

View Larger Map

News Notes for KaCSFFS Members

The weekend of March 19 was a busy one!  Here are a few updates to keep you on top of events!

ConQuesT 42

Brownies and other home-made
baked goods are always a big hit at the
ConQuesT Consuite.  Please plan to
contribute some goodies to
your convention in May!

• The call has gone out: now's the moment to volunteer and save money!  Members of KaCSFFS get a discount on their ConQuesT 42 membership, if they buy it by May 1.  Members of KaCSFFS who volunteer at ConQuesT 42 can save even more!  Sign up to volunteer today!
• At the March 19 Board of Directors meeting, the Board formally accepted John Platt IV as the new Chairperson of ConQuesT 42, following the resignation of Ann Lowenstein.  Platt also will serve as Chairperson of ConQuesT 43, as originally planned, so please be kind to him!
• Begin planning now to contribute baked goods to the Consuite!  Home-made goodies always go over well!

The KaCSFFS Meeting

"Trampire" by Robin W. Bailey
was published in this anthology.

• The 2011-2012 membership drive is off to a great start--more than 30 members signed up, either via the PayPal link at right or at the meeting.  Remember you can get discounts at several area merchants and at ConQuesT 42, if you are a member!
• The Author Readings were a hit!  We have recorded them to use in future podcasts.
• We hope that Susan Satterfield sells her wonderfully silly, Oz-inspired story, "A Bad Case of the Munchies" very soon!
• The other two stories presented Saturday night already have been published.  To read Robin W. Bailey's sultry-but-humorous "Trampire" for yourself, look for the Baen Books anthology, Fangs for the Mammaries, edited by Esther Friesner.
• Look for Sarah Frost's story, "Falls the Firebrand" in the March 2011 issue of Analog Science Fiction Science Fact magazine. 

Coming Soon

Don't forget Book Club on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Borders Bookstore at 91st and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park.  The group will be discussing Small Miracles by Edward M. Lerner.

     Also, it's not too early to order your copy of Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin, for the April 25 meeting (same time and location).

Photo credits: Thanks to Borders online for book cover; thanks to WhatsCookingAmerica.net for the picture of the brownies!

Get Ready for the March 19 Meeting!

It's not quite on the Ides--but our theme is partly Martian.

The March meeting of KaCSFFS is an important one!  Please don't miss it!

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., at The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64111.  (See the map at the end of this post).

Yes, we pay dues in March, but we have to do it sometime--why not now?  Regular memberships are $25, and we are encouraging you to use the PayPal button at right---------->
Yes, right over there.

Use the PayPal button, and we'll have your membership card ready to go at the meeting.

You also may pay at the meeting, of course!  We'll accept checks or cash that evening.

Don't miss a single day of discounts at our friendly merchants, Prospero's Books, Vulcan's Forge, and Aquarius Books!

Also, take advantage now--if you haven't already--to buy your membership to ConQuesT 42 with the KaCSFFS Members' discount!

But that's certainly not all we're doing in March!  Here are some illustrated glimpses of other activities:

Bring Red or Orange Food to honor "the Martians among us" (!!)

We'll enjoy a 25-minute Author Reading of current works by
Robin W. Bailey, Sarah Frost, and Susan Satterfield.
They will definitely read aloud!

We'll call for volunteers to help out with the 40th Anniversary Celebration!
Also, for volunteers to help put on ConQuesT 42!

We'll have another FUNdraiser for the KC PODPeople podcast group.
We've almost reached our goal of enough money to get the equipment we need!
We can't stop now!!

So come to The Writers Place,
3607 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64111
6:30 p.m.

View Larger Map

So, now--you have no excuses.  Join us or you'll be missing a lot!

Photo Credits: Planet Mars, chilis, carrot cupcakes, oranges, Author Reading cartoon, 40th Anniversary decorations, Podcast image, photo of The Writers Place.  Many thanks for the use of all!

Laser Rangers Meet Saturday March 12!

The theme for March is "Trains, Trains, No Automobiles."

David Sooby acts as both host and Captain Laser.  For directions to the location, please email him as soon as possible, at:



The meeting begins around 4:15 ("fan time") for socializing.
The first feature starts around 4:45.  This month it's Throw Momma from the Train.

Between features, it's suppertime.  This month's food theme is Mexican food.

After supper, roll the second feature.  This month it's Silver Streak.

 

Join them for a fun program of movies and movie background information! Preview: April's theme is "Changing the Rules of the Game," with featured films A League of Their Own, and Eight Men Out.

KaCSFFS Dues are DUE in March

Just a reminder: KaCSFFS dues are due in March. You can pay in cash or by check at the March 19 meeting. Or, pay online using PayPal using the link on the right side of this page. Dues are $25 per member.