Ideas needed! Craft future programming at May 20th meeting!

What: Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting
When: Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 6:00 till 9:30 p.m.
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64111
Food theme: Favorite meeting-fare samples

Time to get creative
Join new Director David Means and your KaCSFFS friends for an evening of creative development this Saturday! It's time to plan the meeting programs for the next twelve months.

Barry Haldiman starts with a puzzler's overview.

Recent Directors have encouraged the discovery of interesting, hitherto-unknown-by-KaCSFFS collections, skills and talents of our members.

For instance, we've gained fascinating insights from Barry Haldiman's crossword-puzzle-creation skills.

We've been amazed and delighted by William McCullough's collection of Armed Services Editions, the half-sized paperback books that turned a generation of American soldiers into a nation of readers.

We've enjoyed Corey Barber's extensive collection of wonderful fantasy and sf art, and been enlightened by David Means-and-Family's collections of tabletop games (still providing us with interesting blog posts a year and a half later), plus most recently YA books (last month's fascinating program).

William McCullough and (most of) his collection of Armed Services Editions, many of them sf.

We also have been beguiled by interesting speakers, such as YM Rivadineira and her amazing costumes--and who could forget the R2 Builders, whose presentation has been considered by some the "best program ever"?

Then-Director Margene observes the R2 Builders presentation

We also have brought together authors doing readings, artists exhibiting fantasy and sf artwork, as well as panel discussions, such as the one in March, when Earline "Cricket" Beebe and Ty Gephardt gave an inspiring presentation on how to throw a great room party, or the one presented several years ago about the Kansas City connections to authors in our genres.

Recent meetings also have been more multi-media, combining live presenters in the room with remote interviews via FaceTime with authors K. B. Shaw, Julia Mandala, and P. R. Adams, or movie previews and videos, such as those produced to promote MidAmericon II. If you like that trend, please tell us!

And don't forget the food! KaXFEN love to eat, and we include some amazing cooks among our number. Several of our meetings each year are organized around food (the Annual Picnic; Thanksgiving, the Chili Cook-off). Are there other food-centered events we should consider?

The possibilities are as wide-ranging as our genres and interests. Please take some time to think about presentations you'd like to see, or any other hidden talents or amazing collections we haven't yet explored.

IMAGES: The photos of Barry and William were taken by Jan S. Gephardt. the photo of the R2 Builders' presentation is by Ty Gephardt, via Facebook. All are used with permission.

Election Meeting Saturday April 18, 2015

The Writers Place

What: Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting

Where: The Writers Place 

3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

When: Saturday, April 18, 2015

5:30 Board of Directors Meeting—open meeting

6:00 Doors open for setup and pre-meeting socializing, and paying dues if you want to vote. 

ART SHOW: View a sampling of fantasy and sf artwork from the collection of member Corey Barber!

7:00 Meeting begins: Board reports, member announcements, and updates on events happening in KC in the coming weeks and months.

A word about the ART:

Hanging on easels and all downstairs walls will be a very special science fiction and fantasy art exhibition. All 30+ framed artworks are from the huge 1000+ piece science fiction and fantasy art collection of longtime KaCSFFS member Corey Barber. On display will be a sampling of his favorite pieces. He will be available to answer any questions you may have. All paintings return to his home following the meeting.

Choose between two Presidential Candidates

Online voting is open through Saturday 4/18/2015 at 5 p.m. (members should have received a message containing a link to the online form), or members may vote at the meeting. To vote for President, 2015/2016 annual dues must be paid. To pay dues, please see KaCSFFS treasurer Earline Beebe before or right after the meeting begins. 

Our Candidates 

(Alpha order by last name--no preference implied!) 

Each presidential candidate was asked to submit a photo and a platform statement. Please note that Tim Keltner plans to make an expanded statement at the meeting. 

Margene Bahm

Margene Bahm: 

If I am elected President of KaCSFFS, it is my goal to facilitate the membership’s goals for the club whatever they may be. We may end up with one path or we may end up with several but together we will succeed both individually and as a group.

KaCSFFS has been around for 44 years and I would like to see it continue for another 44 years. We need new goals and new insights to encourage the enthusiasm of our members. Together we can do anything we decide we want to do.  So let’s get out there and do it!

Tim Keltner

Tim Keltner:

When I served as KaCSFFS Director before, I had planned on at least a two year tenure. Family circumstances made that plan change and I have felt, for some time now, that I owe the club, at least, another year, Accordingly, and because my job situation has changed and I am no longer working third shift, I am throwing my beanie into the ring and running for club President. "May fortune favor the foolish!"

Other Board positions have only one self-nominee each. Since they are running unopposed, there is no voting on the following:

Secretary: Kristina Hiner

Treasurer: Earline "Cricket" Beebe

Communications Officer: Jan S. Gephardt

2016 ConQuesT Chair: Keri O'Brien 

After the meeting: 

Please join us for post-meeting food and discussion at either Sosa's or Chubby's (to be selected after the meeting).

IMAGES: As ever, many thanks to The Writers Place for the photo of our meeting place. The photo of Margene Bahm is from her personal Facebook page, used by permission. Tim Keltner provided his image for use here. Many thanks to all!