KaCSFFS Meeting March 16, 2013

Of Little Green Men and other Matters

March is the Month of Mars

(Our President Diana Bailey contributed a meditation upon the month):

March is named for Mars, the Roman God
of War and for the planet Mars. That leads naturally to thinking about little green men from Mars and maybe even leprechauns. 

Now, I am not suggesting that leprechauns came from Mars or that they are an alien race or anything. But don't you think that celebrating all these little green men in March is more than a mere accident? I wonder what type of green card they carry with them. 

What: KaCSFFS Monthly Meeting

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. (Board meets 5:30)

Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

Food Fit for Little Green Men and Friends?

Food theme for the Month: Show us what you should feed these little green men that may or may not be from Mars? Categories will be: 

Best Creative Dish

 Food that Best Fits the Theme (that is, Mars, Martians, or Leprechauns)

Best Green Food

Decision 2013 Looms!

We need additional self-nominations for the Executive Board.  As you may know, KaCSFFS Board Members must nominate themselves.  Currently we have the following self-nominations from February:

President: Cindy Norton (contingent upon Diana Bailey's self-nomination for Treasurer)

Treasurer: (none so far)

Secretary: (none so far)

Communications Officer: Jan S. Gephardt

ConQuesT Con Chair: Jesi Pershing

Balloting will be held online via Absentee Ballot, or in person at the April Meeting (dues-paid members may vote ONCE, by either means).

This is Membership Month!

Diana Bailey and Cindy Norton processed memberships at the February meeting.

If you have not paid your 2013 membership dues, your membership expires this month.  

If you allow your membership to expire, you will stop receiving information via the KAXFEN Yahoo Group, and you will no longer be eligible to vote on official KaCSFFS business questions, elections, etc.

You also will no longer continue to receive discounts with our cooperating merchants, just when we have gotten a new one!  See below!

Renew online (see PayPal button at right on this blog), or via cash or check (made payable to KaCSFFS) at the meeting.  Cindy and Diana, our Membership Mavens, will make sure you receive a laminated membership card when you pay your dues.

Return of a Popular Panel

Ken Keller and  associates will present a panel discussion of Kansas City's science fiction and fantasy authors.  There have been a lot of them, and the stories are often colorful.

Food Bank Items and Pet Food Coupons

We will also be doing the quarterly collection of canned and dry goods for food banks, along with a new pet food coupon exchange for some members who have four-legged furry family members.

Fund-Raiser for Jerry Gelb

Jerry Gelb was the Special Guest at ConQuesT a few years ago (2009).  You may remember his performances on blues harp at RoomCon on two occasions, as well.

We have learned that Jerry is in need of surgery to relieve pressure on his spine, which is causing random paralysis, among other issues. A fundraiser has been started to help him cover the expenses (and time off afterward). There will be a get well card to sign and a jar for donations. 

KaCSFFS Discounts Expand!

Sosa's 39th Street Diner is our newest source of discounts in midtown Kansas City! All card carrying KaCSFFS members in good standing need only show their membership card to receive  a 10% discount!

THANKS FOR THE IMAGES: We first used the beautiful image of Mars (titled "mars-planet-water-nasa") for the March 2011 meeting preview.  The webpage from which we retrieved it is no longer available, and neither TinEye nor a manual search revealed the original source.  It shall have to remain as mysterious as the Red Planet itself, at least for now.  The Ballot Box image is from the blog, “The Nev Filter." The photo of Diana and Cindy is by Jan S. Gephardt, and may be used without alteration for the price of a link back and attribution.  The Food Bank Graphic is from the New Haven Food Bank web page. The photo of the banner in front of Sosa's is from the Midtown KC Post.
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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!