Mindbridge Meeting Minutes July 2nd, 2025

  1. Treasurer’s Report (Jon): Up 21k
  2. IT Officer (Tony): Doug has computers and will bring them to Katie H at AI
  3. Storage Manager (Carhoff Alliance)
    1. If a key is needed contact Jenny
    2. Supplies for labeling pictures will be attached to the email
  4. Convention Reports – All conventions are looking for additional help.
    1. AnimeIowa (July 24th – 27th, 2025)
      1. Next meeting is July 12 at 2PM at the Hyatt and online (last of the three mandatory meetings for staff)
      2. Locker load on July 24th at noon meet at Locker
      3. Damon has stepped down as Con Com due to personal reasons.
      4. We have money; we will have a Con.
      5. Marketplace is full
      6. Guest travel booked
      7. Resume to hotel by department
      8. Contract signed for Encore (electricity)
      9. We will have dedicated bandwidth for staff in addition to dedicated internet for marketplace and reg
      10. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: execs@animeiowa.com
    2. ICON (ICON 49.5 – Oct 11th 2025/ICON50-2026)
      1. Next ICON meeting will be in August to avoid AnimeIowa. Monitor Discord.
      2. Bree Moore is an attending author: Author’s Website Here
      3. Attending Professional badge (same $25 price) created that collections some data
      4. Some discussion happened on Reddit about vending at ICON 49.5
      5. Convention listed at: FanCon Events
      6. Doug is working on getting ownership of the ICON Discord. Some possible options:
        1. password change of associated email
        2. submit request to have ownership transferred
        3. abandon and create new Discord
        4. move all functionality to Mindbridge ICON section
      7. FilmScene Friday night (October 10) movie is still possible. FilmScene has a possible arthouse Afrofuturism movie in mind. We should know more in Mid-August.
      8. There will be Karaoke on Saturday
      9. If interested in staff or have other questions contact: info@iowa-icon.com
      10. If interested in Volunteering contact: info.icon.mb@gmail.com
    3. Gamicon (Feb 28-March 2nd, 2025)
      1. Sunday July 13th 6:30pm at Tim’s house at 271 Wiley Blvd NW Cedar Rapids, IA and online
      2. Rhianna is going to be reg
      3. Filling positions for Staff
      4. Working on budget 2026
      5. Working on new hotel contract
      6. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: info@gamicon.org
  5. Other Projects
    1. Game Library: Michele
      1. Aug 23rd is going to be
      2. The TTG Room schedule for AnimeIowa is posted on the AnimeIowa Discord in the Tabletop channel.
      3. We have purchased a new RPG set: Inspirisles, Overisles, and Shapes of Adventure.
      4. Inspirisles is an award-winning tabletop RPG, made in collaboration with the Deaf community, promoting storytelling, empathy and Deaf awareness, is very inclusive, and is directed at teen to adult age, so is perfect for families. We probably won’t have anything ready to run by AnimeIowa, but the hope is to be able to run for library programs next year.
      5. If anyone is interested in seeing these books, please let Michele Maakestad know.
    2. Video Game Library
      1. Currently have two Switch 2s in hand, with a third one ordered.
      2. Currently have 4 TVs in hand, with two more ordered. Price was lower or as-expected thanks to an Amazon Prime deal.
      3. Some small expansions to the library of the games leading up to the convention.
      4. Plan on getting the Street Fighter 6 DLC on the PS5 and the PS4 Slim for a tournament that is planned to be hosted at AnimeIowa.
      5. Possibly planning on getting the Smash Ultimate DLC on the Switch 2 consoles.
      6. A pop-up banner was acquired thanks to the great assistance of Michele Maakestad.
      7. Video Game Library Planning
        1. Currently on track for AnimeIowa. Consoles will need updated, and some final small purchases will be made to support the new consoles.
        2. Planning on hosting our inventory alongside the Board Game Library, whenever that date is set.
        3. We are looking for more assistance with the Library. People who can assist with staffing the video game room at Gamicon is appreciated, but we are also looking for people willing to discuss strategic direction(s) regarding inventory and policy as well.
        4. If people are interested in assisting the Video Game Library, they can reach out at info@videogamelibrary.org
        5. Will have a feedback form/survey for people to fill out at AnimeIowa or online. A sign with a QR code will be available for people to do it online.
      8. Miscellany
        1. If people have ideas for names or decals to put on our consoles so we can distinguish them, we are open to suggestions. Ideas can be put onto our Discord or e-mailed to info@videogamelibrary.org.
        2. Need assistance with running Video Game Library please contact Adam
    3. TrekFest: Jenny Carhoff
      1. Happened
      2. Thanks to all help for crowd control
    4. Book Group
      1. July 17th General Discussion of books we have read at Edgewood Rd Panera 6pm
      2. August 21st Dragons of Ordinary Farms by Tad Williams
  6. Anybody wanting to become Mindbridge Members
  7. Old Business
    1. Liam Carhoff’s graduation party on July 4th
    2. If there are any problems or questions address them to Sheril from now until Aug 6th, 2025 meeting Email mindbridge-bod@googlegroups.com
  8. New Business
    1. Cedar Rapids Pride is on July 12th
    2. Superman comes out on July 11th, would Mindbridge like to do a movie outing?
    3. Saturday July 12th Game Day at Tempest Games
    4. Saturday Aug 9th location TBD

Next meeting will be Wed Aug 6th ,2025 @ 7pm online and in person at the ARC in Iowa City ARC 2401 Towncrest Dr 2401 Iowa City, IA. Across the street from the church of the Nazarene, two blocks from the old building.