March Meeting: Remember how Books went to War--and pay our Dues

What: March 2015 KaCSFFS Meeting (#515)

Where: The Writers Place

3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

When: Saturday, March 21, 2015

5:30 Board of Directors meeting (open to all members)

6:00 Doors open for setup and pre-meeting socializing; this is a good time to find Cricket Beebe and pay dues. 

6:30 Short business meeting/announcements

7:00 Program begins: William McCullough on World War II's Armed Services Editions, a publishing program for GIs.

After the Program Eat, mingle, and talk (another great time to pay dues, too) till 9:30 or so. 

Time to pay our Dues!

March means annual KaCSFFS dues of $25.00 per person are due for the 2015/2016 time period. Please see KaCSFFS treasurer Earline (Cricket) Beebe with your cash or checks. Thanks!

The all-important Food and Drink:

We encourage members to bring food samplings and other treats, even beverages, for everyone to enjoy. There is no special food theme this month--just bring something to share!

Quick Business:

To start the evening, the club's monthly business meeting will include member announcements and updates for upcoming KC area events. 

Especially remember:

March is the FINAL MONTH to self-nominate for a position on the Board of Directors! Elections will be held in April.

The deadline for funding Speculations KC's Kickstarter campaign is rushing toward us rapidly--and we haven't made our goal! 

Please help support this historic KaCSFFS Press project!

Many sf titles were published among the ASEs

Saturday's program: 

A special presentation by longtime KaCSFFS member (and former ConQuesT chair) William McCullough on the unique Armed Services Editions (ASEs) of WWII. More than 1300 book titles were published exclusively for those serving in various military branches. Both fiction and non-fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror, was published. William will outline the history of these unique special editions and draw the connection to the mass-market paperback revolution that followed the war. William will also have available from his large collection a table full of actual ASE's that you can look through.

Party on!

Following the meeting, please join members for post-meeting food and discussion; we now have a choice between two nearby, open-late restaurants (details at the meeting). See everyone on Saturday!

IMAGES: Many thanks to The Writers Place for the image of our meeting place. The cover simulation (not exactly how it will look) for Speculations KC is from the project's Kickstarter page. The ASE edition of The Time Machine is from a blog devoted to the book.

Fight the Chill with Chili at the February Meeting 2/21/15

We dodged a Weather Bullet! The Meeting is on!

The February KaCSFFS meeting (#514) will happen! We have a full evening planned.

Chili with cornbread

What:   February 2015 KaCSFFS Meeting

Where: The Writers Place

3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

When: Saturday, February 21, 2015

5:30 Open Board of Directors meeting.
6:00 Doors open for setup and pre-meeting socializing. 

6:30 Start of Annual Chili Contest

7:00 Program begins.

After the Program “Chili break” to vote and have a brief business meeting. Winners will be announced, and certificates presented, at the end of the meeting.

Annual KaCSFFS Chili Contest (+More)

Chili Mac

Cook up your favorite chili recipe and bring it to share. Our enthusiastic tasters will have a chance to enjoy a tasty winter treat, and vote for their favorites.

We also encourage everyone to bring tasty side items that compliment Chili: your favorite Cornbread. Or Macaroni & Cheese for Chili Mac? Salad or slaw? Fruit? Desserts are always in order, too!

The KaCSFFS treasury is providing Ball Park-brand all beef hot dogs, buns, and shredded cheddar cheese for Chili Dogs.

Chili Dog

KaCSFFS also will provide plastic bowls, plates, plastic-ware, napkins and paper towels from our stash of party supplies.

Enjoy a Dramatic Reading for our Program
Saturday's program: Twice-past SFWFA president Robin Wayne Bailey will give a dramatic reading of his latest science fiction short story, "Tombaugh Station."

Robin Wayne Bailey gives a dramatic reading in 2013

It will be published this fall in Bryan Thomas Schmidt's latest original short stories anthology Mission: Tomorrow, from Baen Books.

Business Meeting 

After Robin's reading, there will be a "chili break," voting, and then the club's monthly business meeting. 

Remember:

February is the first month for Board of Directors self-nominations. The only person who can nominate you is yourself. So step right up!

Other business:

Member announcements

KC area events updates,

Presentation of Chili Certificates!

IMAGES: Many thanks to The Heritage Cook for the image of chili with cornbread, to WikiHow for the chili mac photo, and to SheKnows for the chili dog image. The photo of Robin W. Bailey doing a dramatic reading is from a Facebook album of an event at Prospero's Books in 2013.

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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