We have a Hotel! And Logos! And Books to Read! And a Game of Thrones Marathon!

The water resort part includes some outdoors and some inside.

Major announcements have been coming in like meteors in a Perseid meteor shower, recently. Here's a rundown of our top "breaking news" stories:
 
We have a Hotel!
ConQuesT, or science fiction convention, is moving to a new hotel for ConQuesT 44, held on Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2013. It is the Holiday Inn Southeast CoCo Key Resort, 9103 East 39th Street, Kansas City, MO. 

The convention room rate is $85/night (discount cutoff is May 1, 2013). The room fee includes free wi-fi, free parking, and discounted access to CoCo Key Water Resort. For more information, please see the ConQuesT website or the hotel's website.

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We have Official Logos!

Not tired of it yet!

The votes are in, and we have "new" logos for KaCSFFS and ConQuesT. We will be using these on our official communications.

The new ConQuesT logo

"New" is in quote marks, however, because the KaCSFFS logo chosen by the majority of our voters is the original 1977 logo! Designed by Ken Keller and clearly still meaningful to our members, this perennial classic will continue as our "mark."

The new ConQuesT logo really is new, though! Designed last spring to be updated with new numbers as years pass, the round shape of this Keri O'Brien design should complement our KaCSFFS classic well. For creating the new logo, Keri wins a free membership to ConQuesT 44, a Certificate of Recognition, and a box of Annedore's Artisanal Chocolates or suitable alternative of her choice.

Read it by October 22, and join in!

We have Books to Read!
The SF&F Literati group has announced a new list of selections for the next four meetings. Don't wait a moment longer to get your copy of Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys for the October 22 meeting! The group meets to discuss the book selection of the month at the Oak Park Barnes & Noble Booksellers, second floor at 7:00 p.m., on the fourth Monday of most months (No meeting in December, and 3rd Monday in May).

The Barnes & Noble Overview says of Anansi Boys:
"When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie 'Fat Charlie.' Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

"Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is to day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun . . . just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

"Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion; he is able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, baffle the devil, and cheat Death himself.

"Exciting, scary, and deeply funny, ANANSI BOYS is a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth, a wild adventure, and a fierce and unstoppable farce, as Neil Gaiman shows us where gods come from, and how to survive your family."

The rest of the lineup looks pretty good, too:
Nov 26, 2012  Redshirts by John Scalzi
(No meeting is planned for December: the 4th Monday is Christmas Eve.)
Jan 28, 2013  Leviathan Wakes by James A. Corey (Hugo Nominee)
Feb 25, 2013  The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss  (ConQuest GOH)

And we have a Game of Thrones Marathon! 

Looks as if they're going to do it after all!  The Laser Rangers have just announced they will host a special showing of Season 2, Episodes 5, 6, and 7.

Proceedings begin at 4:45 p.m., enjoying the amenities of David Sooby's home theater . To follow the food theme, ample help is on hand from the Inn at the Crossroads.

Here's an atmospheric warm-up video you may enjoy, produced by Karilene Reynolds and available via YouTube:

IMAGE CREDITS: The exterior of the Holiday Inn Southeast/CoCo Key Resort is from the hotel's website. We are indebted to Ken Keller and Keri O'Brien for their logo designs. Barnes & Noble Booksellers provided cover art for the SF&F Literati selections, and the movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Karilene Reynolds is responsible for the video about the Game of Thrones.

Votes and Thank-Yous: Developments at the August meeting

New Developments:
At the August 18 meeting, members received several important pieces of news.

The Board is in the process of finalizing a bid from a new ConQuesT hotel. Free parking, Free wi-fi for hotel guests, extended food service hours, lower space costs for the convention, and room rates below $100 per night for attendees are some of the potential benefits of the move now under discussion. Stand by for updates!

The addition of several new members, including our ConQuesT Chair Victoria L'Ecuyer, makes it necessary to once again update the Directory. Stand by for a notice of when it is uploaded to the KAXFEN Yahoo Group.

KaCSFFS members will receive birthday cards, thanks to a
new effort by Sherri Dean.

Secretary Sherri Dean has undertaken a new project to send birthday cards to KaCSFFS members who have shared their birthdates with the club (any who have not will receive their cards at the first of the year!). This complements and extends the effort already being made by KaCSFFS President Diana Bailey, to send get-well or sympathy cards to members and friends of KaCSFFS, when they are needed.

Thank-Yous!

Continuing a program of recognizing outstanding volunteer contributors to KaCSFFS that was started at the 40th Anniversary last year, KaCSFFS presented an Award of Recognition to Tyrell Gephardt at the August meeting, "for outstanding contributions to Fhandom." It was presented by Treasurer Cindy Norton, who spoke of Ty's leadership of the podcasting group, his regular contributions to the KaCSFFS Blog, his frequent willingness to help with electronics and heavy-lifting, and his outstanding efforts that very night to help set up and tear down the August Art Night exhibition, and also to make a special run to pick up pizzas for the Pizza Feast at the meeting. 

Other appreciation recognitions were offered to Cindy Norton herself, for arranging for the pizzas, making an emergency run to the storage unit for electrical connections so viewers could see lighted art display panels at the August Art Night display, and a visit on very short notice with Victoria L'Ecuyer and Susan Satterfield to view and discuss negotiations with the potential new convention hotel, on the morning before the meeting.

We also would like to add a special thank-you to Corey Barber for his unflagging help with cleaning up after the meeting, and a special appreciation of Diana Bailey for coming to the Board Meeting, despite being in the midst of a medical problem. Our thoughts are with you, Diana!

Finally, appreciations are due to the artists who brought their work to the Second Annual August Art Night exhibition: Tracy Majkol, Lucy A. Synk, Jan Gephardt, Rachael Mayo, and a brand-new artist to KaCSFFS and fandom, Christopher Frye.

Preliminary Round of KaCSFFS and ConQuesT Logo Voting:

Our Logo Contest brought in submissions from several artists, and August 18 was the first chance the members had to look at them and comment. The commentary period is still open, so if you were not able to be at the meeting and have opinions, please let us know! Here are the results of the preliminary round of voting and commenting:

This is KaCSFFS Logo Proposal #1.

New KaCSFFS Logo Proposal #1:

4 voters liked it. One wrote, "Like this very much, but enhance the image with stars or some skiffy elements." Another wrote, "Like--City of Fountains, Art Deco, pointy bits all good. Is it too close to other KC designs, though?"

3 voters disliked it. Two wrote, "No-no-no!"

One voter wrote: "OK, [but] want to see suggestions made on others."

One voter wrote: "Not sure what change would work--like, but could like more."

This is KaCSFFS Logo Proposal #2.

New KaCSFFS Logo Proposal #2:

2 voters liked it.

One voter wrote, "OK." Another wrote, "MEH."

One wrote, "Nice design, [but] stars look a little crowded." (Note: the stars form the constellation Taurus, and are placed accurately, if rather close together).

Two more disliked it. One went to the point of "No-no-no!"

Legacy Logos:
Two more logos were presented, which actually have been used in the past. It is possible one of them might be retained for use, if members like it better than the new offerings.

Several members quickly pointed out that at least two additional "Legacy" Logos had been omitted. Members will have a chance to comment/vote on those at the September meeting.

Legacy Logo #1 had surprisingly strong support.

Legacy Logo #1:
Our 1970s logo appears to have considerable "staying" power.

5 voters liked it, though one added, "But . . . I vote for [the] Brad Foster logo [not offered for consideration in August]." Please note: this logo will be in the September voting. Another wrote, "Nice, clean design, [but] no obvious tie-in. I do know this design has lots of symbolism built in, but [I] don't recall what. The design is good."

One voter was kind of lukewarm, writing, "OK."

2 voters disliked it. One wrote, "No--too obscure. Time for something new." The other simply wrote, "No-no-no."

This is Legacy Logo #2.

Legacy Logo #2:
This logo was used in the 1980s and early '90s.

3 voters liked it.

2 voters were positive, but had comments. "I like this and would like to see it used somehow, but I think there are too many tiny details to work as a logo," one wrote. The other said, "Good design for a T-shirt, but not for a logo. Too complex. Can't be reproduced legibly in [small] sizes.

Others wrote: "OK, [but] large. Too busy, [and?] small." Another wrote, " Way, way too busy. Will not reduce well."

And 2 disliked it. One wrote, "No-no-no!"

ConQuesT Logos:
We also had three submissions for a ConQuesT logo, and some strong opinions were registered about them.

This is ConQuesT #1.

ConQuesT #1
This was a very popular logo. It got 10 "like" votes. One added, "Like-like-like: beautiful graphic and multiple KC icons. Should reduce very well." Another said, "LOVE this--best logo in show."

One voter wrote, "I like the rocket and the lettering--take out the tower/theater for a blank space."

Another suggested, "Remove the rocket. Put a dirigible moored to a sky station."

This is ConQuesT #2.

ConQuesT #2
This logo earned 4 "like" votes. One voter wrote, "Like--my second choice" (after #1).

However, one voter wrote, "The stars are too small and cluttered." (We should note this is another use of the Taurus constellation)

Others disliked it. It received 3 "No-no-no!" votes, with two adding that the rocket "looks too phallic."

This is ConQuesT #3.

ConQuesT #3
This logo also got 10 "like" votes.

However, three voters found it wanting in one way or another. One wrote, "DEATH TO COWS--Mooove on!" Another wanted "something in the empty space," and another suggested, "move the cow more center." It should be noted that the design was conceived for the number of the particular ConQuesT (for example, "43" for the convention held this year, or "44" for the one in 2013) to be shown in white in the blank space.

If you have opinions about any of these logos, please plan to come to the second round of voting at the September meeting, or share your opinions in a comment on the blog or Facebook page, or in an email to the KAXFEN list.

IMAGE CREDITS: The photo of a pile of birthday cards is from the "Photos Public Domain" website.  The logo images all have been submitted as part of our Logo Contest, with permissions included. Many thanks to all!

KaCSFFS Sponsors Two Contests!

Call for Entries!--Attention, Artists and Writers!
KaCSFFS is sponsoring two competitions in 2012--a Logo Contest, and a Pod-Play Contest! Win fame, adulation, and actual prizes! (scroll down for the Pod-Play Contest).
The Logo Contest:

Our venerable "Infinity Circle" logo
needs to be retired!

We've already given information about this contest in an earlier post, but it bears repeating. Our goal is a pair of compatible logos that could be used for several years: one for KaCSFFS, and the other for ConQuesT, the organization’s annual sf convention.

Winners will receive a free, one-year voting membership in KaCSFFS (for the KaCSFFS logo), and/or a free attending membership to ConQuesT 44, Memorial Day weekend, in Kansas City. Both winners (or the person who wins both) also will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a box of Annedore's Artisanal Chocolate Truffles (4 truffles per logo) or a suitable alternative, depending on dietary restrictions.

Submission deadline is August 1, 2012.  

Contest Rules:
This logo contest is open to anyone, of any age, who has an idea and wants to submit it. Entries are now open, and must be received by midnight CDT on August 1, 2012.  

Design two logos that are similar but distinct from each other: one for KaCSFFS, the other for ConQuesT.

1. They do not have to depict Kassie and Casey (there is some debate within the club over retaining these mascots at all). 
2. They should look good in black-and-white. 
3. They should be easily identifiable at any size. That is, whether they are half an inch wide or three feet wide, they should look equally "legible" and clear.
4. They should have a "futuristic" feel.

How to submit your entry:

1. Once you have your two designs, they should be made into JPEG, TIFF, or PDF digital files. If you need help digitizing your entry, please contact Jan Gephardt at this updated email.
2. Image size should be 5 inches (360 pixels) wide, for each logo design.  Resolution should be 200 ppi (pixels per inch).
3. If the logos do not already incorporate the letters "KaCSFFS" for the KaCSFFS logo, and "ConQuesT" for the ConQuesT logo, you should submit a view of each that shows how lettering should accompany them (as the word "KaCSFFS" accompanies the 1970s logo example above).
4. Submit your designs digitally to the "Logo Contest Entries" file on the KAXFEN email group or directly to Jan at this updated email.
5. If you prefer to deliver the digital files via CD or thumb drive, you may hand these to Jan at any KaCSFFS meeting before the deadline or at ConQuesT, or mail them to: KaCSFFS, P.O. Box 34413, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

The Pod-Play Contest:

We propose to produce a pod-play on an sf/f/horror theme.

KaCSFFS wants to produce a one-act pod-play (like a radio play) on a science fiction, fantasy, or horror theme, to be chosen in the fall, performed at the January meeting, and published via our X-Ray Delta One Podcast. The winner will receive a publication credit to put on his/her resume and possibly mention in future cover letters.

Submission deadline is October 20, 2012.  

Contest Rules:
This pod-play contest is open to anyone, of any age, who has an idea and wants to submit it. Entries are now open, and must be received by October 20, 2012.  

1. We will only accept original scripts, based on the author's original story.
2. Each pod-play remains the intellectual property of its author. Entry in the contest grants KaCSFFS the right to produce and podcast it, and keep the production podcast in its active archive, should it be chosen.
3. The play must be complete in one act, and at most about an hour long.
4. It should be based on a fantasy, science fiction, or horror theme.
5. The play may be either comedy or drama.
6. The author should include production instructions, such as needed sound effects. Sound effects must be within KaCSFFS' practical capability to produce (suggestions for techniques are welcome).
7. The author should supply: 
1. A a script-style manuscript.
2. A list of characters with short descriptions. 
3. An interest-provoking, descriptive blurb no more than 50 words long.
8. Entered Pod-play scripts will be posted on the KAXFEN Yahoo Group for members to read between October 20 and November 17, 2012. Authors' names will be withheld until the voting has been completed.
9. Members will vote for their choice in person at the November 17 meeting, or via Absentee Ballot beforehand.
11. The winning author will be contacted personally before the results are announced.
12. The title and author of the winning entry will be identified on the KaCSFFS Blog, on the KaCSFFS Facebook Page, and on the KAXFEN Yahoo Group, along with a call for cast members, the play's character list, and its 50-word descriptive blurb. 
13. The chosen pod-play will be cast, produced, and turned into a podcast episode for the club's X-Ray Delta One Podcast.
14. Entrants whose work is not chosen will be notified via email. Printed manuscripts, CDs, or thumb drives will not be returned without a SASE. 
15. All rights to manuscripts not chosen for production revert to their authors, and KaCSFFS may make no further claim on them.

One pod-play will be chosen for production.

How to submit your entry:

1. Entries may be submitted any time through midnight Central Time, on October 20, 2012.
2. They may be submitted to Communications Officer Jan S. Gephardt, in several ways: 
1. In person at KaCSFFS meetings or other KaCSFFS events where Jan is present; 
2. Via email at this email address; 
3. By postal mail to KaCSFFS, P.O. Box 34413, North Kansas City, MO 64116. Mailed-in entries must be received no later than October 19, 2012, so they can be brought to the meeting.
3. Each entry MUST include:
1. A cover letter or cover email, giving the author's valid mailing address and email address.
2. A 50-word descriptive blurb. The purpose of this blurb is to make people interested in reading or seeing your pod-play, so write it like advertising copy!
3. A complete list of characters, with a short description of each.
4. A manuscript in standard script format; each page should have 1-inch margins, and be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font. 
5. If submitted digitally, use a standard MS Word-style .doc format. If submitted in person or via postal mail, the .doc should be on a Macintosh-compatible, virus-free CD or thumb drive. Inclusion of a printed paper copy is optional. 

PHOTO CREDITS: The "Infinity Circle" logo was originally designed for KaCSFFS by Ken Keller in the 1970s, and is still being used on membership cards and other items. There is currently no ConQuesT logo in consistent use. The two images of radio-play production casts in action are from the "LAist" website and the World News website, respectively.

Heads-up for votes, and Call for Entries!

Bylaws Approval Vote Saturday!
The KaCSFFS meeting will include a final vote on the revised Bylaws, provisionally approved as amended at the April meeting. Read the amended Bylaws on the KaXFEN Yahoo Group.

Enter the KaCSFFS and ConQuesT Logo Contest!
The KaCSFFS Board of Directors has announced that they are now accepting entries in the KaCSFFS and ConQuesT Logo Contest.

This logo dates to the 1970s, and
sometimes still is used.

KaCSFFS has for many years had a mascot, named Kassie (the Flying Cow). The club also has been using various logos throughout its 40 year history (almost none of them depicting Kassie), but nothing has been used consistently except a circular logo (most recently seen on the membership cards) that dates back almost to the club's origin.

ConQuesT also has had a mascot, Casey, a winged bull, often depicted with the slogan, "Where the Bull really flies!" For many years the ConQuesT Artist Guest of Honor for the year used Casey in a design that appeared on T-shirts, name badges, and other materials for that year.  This practice has fallen off in recent years.

KaCSFFS is now going through a renewal period, in parallel with its hoped-for change to 501(c)3 status. Communications Officer Jan Gephardt and the Communications Committee are overseeing a transition to a more consistent "look" for all of our publications, fliers, announcements, brochures, and web-based communications.

To that end, they are seeking a pair of new logos--one for KaCSFFS, and another for ConQuesT, and we need your help to create them!

Note: The Board of Directors reserves the right to split the entries into separate KaCSFFS and ConQuesT designs if it sees fit, although we definitely prefer to have a pair that coordinates.

Contest Rules:
This logo contest is open to anyone, of any age, who has an idea and wants to submit it. Entries are now open, and must be received by August 1, 2012.  

Design two logos that are similar but distinct from each other: one for KaCSFFS, the other for ConQuesT.

1. They do not have to depict Kassie and Casey (there is some debate within the club over retaining these mascots at all). 
2. They should look good in black-and-white. 
3. They should be easily identifiable at any size. That is, whether they are half an inch wide or three feet wide, they should look equally "legible" and clear.
4. They should have a "futuristic" feel.

How to submit your entry:

1. Once you have your two designs, they should be made into JPEG, TIFF, or PDF digital files. If you need help digitizing your entry, please contact the KaCSFFS Communications Committee, either in person or via email.
2. Image size should be 5 inches (360 pixels) wide, for each logo design.  Resolution should be 200 ppi (pixels per inch).
3. If the logos do not already incorporate the letters "KaCSFFS" for the KaCSFFS logo, and "ConQuesT" for the ConQuesT logo, you should submit a view of each that shows how lettering should accompany them (as the word "KaCSFFS" accompanies the 1970s logo example above).
4. Submit your designs digitally to the "Logo Contest Entries" file on the KAXFEN email group or directly to the KaCSFFS Communications Committee email.
5. If you prefer to deliver the digital files via CD or thumb drive, you may hand these to Jan at any KaCSFFS meeting before the deadline or at ConQuesT, or mail them to: KaCSFFS, P.O. Box 34413, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

What happens after entries close?

Once entries have closed, the Communications Committee will review all entries, and share them with the club at the August meeting. 

Members will view, compare, an discuss them through the next two months, and the Communications Committee may request that artists make small changes to their designs. A preliminary vote at the September meeting may be held, to narrow choices to a top 2 or 3, if that seems necessary.

A final vote by secret ballot (with an option for members to submit an Absentee Ballot) will be taken at the October meeting, and the winner will be announced after all ballots are counted.

Will the Winners win anything besides recognition?

The designer of the winning KaCSFFS logo design will receive a free, 1-year membership to KaCSFFS, with all the privileges, directories, voting privileges, and discounts that come with a valid membership.  His or her Directory listing will identify this person as "Logo Winner."

The designer of the winning ConQuesT logo design will receive a free, 3-day membership to ConQuesT 44 (2013), with full access to all regular convention events. He or she also will receive a special identification on his or her badge, identifying this person as "Logo Winner."

Both winners (or the person who wins both) also will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a box of Annedore's Artisanal Chocolate Truffles (4 truffles per logo) or a suitable alternative, depending on dietary restrictions, to be donated by Artdog Studio on behalf of KaCSFFS/ConQuesT.