ConQuesT 45 Memories

Our annual convention has shifted to the rear-view with the passing of Memorial Day Weekend, but the pleasant memories linger.  We hope you went, and that you had a great time!

The ConQuesT is Dead!  Long Live the ConQuesT!
Early-bird memberships to ConQuesT 46 are already available online, for the lowest price of the year, but only until MAY 31, 2014, 11:59 p.m. CDT!  We have a blockbuster lineup of guests (scroll down or go to the website).  We will return to the Kansas City Downtown Marriott.

Memories Captured
The amazing Keith Stokes has already posted a full gallery of images from ConQuesT 45 on his Midamerican Fan Photo Archive, the go-to source for photos of ANYTHING to do with science fiction/fantasy fandom, especially in the midwestern USA (the full collection spans the globe).

With particular thanks to Keith, we're sharing a few of his images with you here, but do yourself a favor and check out the full gallery on Keith's site!

Toastmistress Caroline Spector introduced the guests with a hilarious PowerPoint. L-R: Spector, Ray and Barb VanTilburg (Fan Guests), David Lee Pancake (Artist Guest), Bridget Landry (Science Guest), Glen Cook (Author Guest), Kristina Hiner (Vice-Chair), and Jesi Pershing, ConQuesT 45 Convention Chair.

This was only part of the Dealers' Room, coordinated by Cindy Norton.

Here's a view of most of this year's Art Show, directed by Mike Neely.

This year's Con Suite on the 6th floor included a bar and individually packaged edibles, to (we hope) cut down on the transmission of "con crud." Con Suite was run by Beth Welsh; the bar was coordinated by Ty Gephardt (far R).

Art Auction: Auctioneers were Tom Meserole (almost in photo at L) and F. L. "Zac" Zacarola (on stage); the runner shown is Signy Gephardt, displaying a ceramic piece by Peri Charlifu.

"Bland Lemon" (Brad Denton)  and "Honey Badger" (Caroline Spector) added musical life to the popular Room Con party, hosted by Mystie Hollaman. This year's event was Room Con 10.

Ken Keller (KaCSFFS President), Ty Gephardt, and Brad Denton look on as Earline "Cricket" Beebee and Robin Wayne Bailey accept one of the coveted "Golden Butterworth" party recognitions at Closing Ceremonies, for the "Raygun Chronicles" party.

Taking the helm: Keri O'Brien (ConQuesT 46 Vice-Chair) and Kristina Hiner, incoming ConQuesT Chairperson, accept their duties at Closing Ceremonies.

We also should note that the proceeds of this year's Charity Auction went to support AboutSF, an educational nonprofit based in Lawrence KS, whose motto is "Saving the World Through Science Fiction."

Shameless Plug for ConQuesT 46!
You won't believe our lineup of guests for ConQuesT 46!  Theme is "The Adventure Begins Here," and the weekend is conceived as a quest, inspired by our truly inspiring lineup of guests:
Author Guest: Brandon Sanderson!  Editor Guest: George R.R. Martin! Fan Guest: Mark Oshiro! Artist Guest: NeNe Thomas! Toastmistress: Selina Rosen!  Don't miss it--and also don't miss the Early Bird membership pricing!  Available online, but only until MAY 31, 2014, 11:59 p.m. CDT! You can still get a membership after that, but it'll cost a bit more.

 
IMAGE CREDITS: The ConQuesT 45 Noir logo is by Keri O'Brien, and came from the official ConQuesT website.  ConQuesT 45 photos are by Keith Stokes, courtesy of the Midamerican Fan Photo Archive.  MANY THANKS, KEITH!!

KaCSFFS Meeting THIS Weekend!

KaCSFFS Meeting for July 20, 2013:

The Writers Place

What time:  

Open Board Meeting: 5:30 p.m.

General Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

Food Theme: 

Deli/Coffee Shop

Where: 

The Writers Place,  3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 6411 

What's going on there:

Joining KaCSFFS, Buying ConQuesT Memberships, Eating, Socializing, Promoting your club related events and, most importantly, HAVING FUN!

Interviewing Con Chairs

L-R ConQuesT 2013 (CQ44) and 2014 (CQ45)
Chairpersons Victoria L'Ecuyer and Jesi Pershing.

Ken Keller continues his interview series this time focusing on ConQuesT convention chairs. Starting with outgoing convention chair Victoria L'Ecuyer about her time and experiences. He will conclude with incoming chair Jesi Pershing. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about convention running, what it takes to make a convention happen, and what to look forward to for ConQuesT 45!


Meeting Proposals
We'll have a brief discussion before the interviews to review procedure for club promotions. (i.e. role of agendas, 5 minutes per promotion, 1-week advance notice (if possible), etc.) Shouldn't take more than a few minutes. 


For more information or to start the discussion early, please post to the Kaxfen list. Don't forget, we have a Facebook Group!

April Meeting Follow-up

Introducing our New Executive Board
We barely managed a quorum of dues-paid members at our April 27, 2013 meeting to hold an official election, but with a final flurry of payments, we did it.  We had no mail-in votes, but the online voting echoed and reinforced the verdict of those attending in person.

Incoming and outgoing Presidents Ty Gephardt
and Diana J. Bailey, at the April 2013 meeting.

It was a safe bet we'd make history, because the election of either President candidate would be historic for KaCSFFS in some way.

The history we chose to make was electing the first, second-generation KAXFAN President in club history: Ty Gephardt's birth was announced at a KaCSFFS meeting in 1985, he joined on his own for the first time at age 15, and he is now President for the coming year, Ghod help him.

President was the only contested position on the Executive Board, but we have new faces in other positions, as well.

L-R New Secretary Kristina Hiner takes over from
Sherri Dean, the outgoing Secretary.

When incumbent Secretary Sherri Dean announced she was not running for another term, relatively new member Kristina Hiner stepped up to self-nominate. No other Secretary candidates opposed her, so a vote for this office was not needed. 

Kristina already has become an active voice on the new Board. Along with other, younger members of this Board, she is helping to add a more youthful perspective than that of the Baby Boomers who have dominated for decades.

L-R ConQuesT 2013 (CQ44) and 2014 (CQ45)
Chairpersons Victoria L'Ecuyer and Jesi Pershing.

We also have a changing of the ConQuesT Con Chairpersons on the Executive Board.  

The 2013 ConQuesT Chairperson remains Victoria L'Ecuyer, but she stepped down from the Board position so her Vice-Chair, Jesi (Lipp) Pershing, another second-generation KAXFAN, could step up.  

For most of her term on the Executive Board, Jesi will be the Chairperson of the upcoming ConQuesT.  She also ran unopposed.

Cindy Norton (working hard
during the April meeting)
remains KaCSFFS Treasurer.

Jan Gephardt (giving a
report at the April meeting)
will remain Communications
Officer of KaCSFFS.

Other Board positions will remain unchanged, because the incumbents self-nominated, and no one ran against them.  

Cindy Norton remains the Treasurer for a fifth term.  An accountant for a local business and part-time IRS worker, she brings considerable experience to the post.

Jan Gephardt remains the Communications Officer for a third term.  She was trained as a journalist, and worked for many years in the fields of marketing and education.

Both of these are voting Board Member positions.  

Diana Bailey continues as the
KaCSFFS Registered Agent.

The Registered Agent for the club is a non-voting position that often remains unchanged for many years because there are legal aspects to changing it, and especially while we await a decision from the IRS regarding our 501 (c) 3 designation, we don't want any unnecessary legal rearrangements. Diana Bailey continues as the Registered Agent.

Board members may be contacted online via the KaCSFFS Facebook Page, the KAXFEN Yahoo Group (for current members only), or by posting a comment to this blog (see below), or via snailmail at P.O. Box 34413, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

PHOTO CREDITS: We are grateful to several people for the photos used in this post.  The wonderful William Tienken provided the images of Ty with Diana, Kristina with Sherri, Jan Gephardt at the April meeting, and Diana Bailey at a meeting in the summer of 2012, all via his posts on Facebook.  The photo of Jesi Pershing is courtesy of Keith Stokes's MidAmerica Fan Photo Archive (Chicon VI section).  The photo of Cindy Norton was taken by Jan Gephardt, also at the April 2013 meeting.