Category: Minutes

Sept 3rd ,2025 Mindbridge Meeting Minutes

    1. Treasurer’s Report (Jon): Down $57K, because of AI paying bills
    2. IT Officer (Tony): N/A
    3. Storage Manager (Carhoff Alliance)
      1. Shelves and organization stuff bought
      2. Jenny needs someone from each convention
    4. Convention Reports-All conventions are looking for additional help
      1. ICON (ICON 49.5 – Oct 11th 2025/ICON50-2026)
        1. Next meeting will be on Wed Sep 10, 2025 07:00 PM online
        2. Vendor Hall is being organized by Esther F. It will be public and off-site in the Masonic Lodge Social Hall, 11am-5pm. Vendor tables are $60. Application at Here
        3. Iowa City Book Festival is planning a public panel with Joe Haldeman, Jon Scalzi, and Mike Miller (“Spacey”), moderated by Peter Balestrieri. It will likely be immediately before or after the Scalzi reading. Times TBD.
        4. The hotel block closes on Friday, September 12.
        5. Gay Haldeman’s birthday is Saturday, October 11, the same day as ICON 49.5.
        6. Registration data will be sent in mid-September for badge printing. We’ll likely print a few extra blank badges, but move to wristbands after those are gone. Evening wristbands will be available for $10 (cash) for Saturday evening events.
        7. The budget is okay. Registrations are okay.
        8. Paradise ICON authors will be doing a cafe klatch in the morning.
        9. Need to verify with Mindbridge Book Group is still interested in having a meeting on Saturday morning.
        10. We would like to do a limited amount of open gaming on Saturday morning.
        11. Sidekick Coffee & Books, It’s Getting Plot in Here Romance Book Festival, Saturday, October 11, 2025 (same day as ICON 49.5), 6-9 pm, $35 tickets. Here
        12. Next meetings will be:
          1. Topic: ICON meeting, Sep 10, 2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada), Here, Meeting ID: 826 1281 4821, Passcode: 818611
          2. Topic: ICON meeting, Sep 24, 2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada), Here, Meeting ID: 810 7426 3952, Passcode: 635969
        13. If interested in staff or have other questions contact: info@iowa-icon.com
        14. If interested in Volunteering contact: info.icon.mb@gmail.com
      2. Gamicon (March 6th to 8th 2026)
        1. More Reg coming in
        2. Looking to get more rooms
        3. Next Meeting is Sat Sept 21st at 6pm at Tim’s house at 271 Wiley Blvd NW Cedar Rapids, IA and online
        4. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: info@gamicon.org
      3. AnimeIowa (July 31st – Aug 2nd, 2026)
        1. Post Mortem Sept 20th 2-5pm at the Coralville Hyatt and online
        2. Staff list email was sent out
        3. Volunteering please reach out at Recruitment@animeiowa.com
        4. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: execs@animeiowa.com
    5. Other Projects
      1. Game Library – Michele
        1. 5 different Library visits already done
      2. Video Game Library
        1. Waiting for Game Library to do inventory
        2. Working on Documentation
        3. Need assistance with running Video Game Library please contact Adam
      3. TrekFest – Jenny Carhoff: If interested please contact Jenny at mommayaya911@gmail.com subject Trekfest
      4. Book Group
        1. September 18th – Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister, 6 PM, Edgewood Rd Panera, Cedar Rapids
        2. October 16th-General Discussion
        3. November will be Wicked by Gregory Maguire. We will be talking about the book and watching on of the parts of the movie. Location TBD
        4. If interested in joining the mailing list bookgroup@mindbridge.org
      5. Anybody wanting to become Mindbridge Members
        1. Chris Dunlay and Jami Firkins
    6. Old Business
      1. Board Member update: Sheril has been reelected, term to end at AI in 2028
      2. Pens are still needing to be ordered.: DDsaleonline.com have different types of pens
      3. Pronoun ribbons need to be ordered
    7. If there are any problems or questions address them to Jenny from now until Oct 1st, 2025 meeting Email mindbridge-bod@googlegroups.com
    8. Old Business
      1. Change to the bylaws about the changes to the grievance policy discussion.
        1. How long until projects have grievance policy in their bylaws?
          1. Suggested to have 60-90 days
          2. Should be brought up at each con’s me
    9. New Business
      1. Gnoll’s Loot Table Science Fiction in Riverside, Iowa
      2. Next Page Books in New Bo area Cedar Rapids, Iowa
      3. Sisters Books & Nooks 1612 C St SW Suite A, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
      4. A Reddit person posted that iStorage (formally Moove In) in Coralville has had three unit robberies recently.

The next meeting will be Wed Oct 1 ,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.

Aug 6th,2025 Mindbridge Meeting Minutes
In attendance:Jess and Tony Penticoff; Michele, Jon, and Rhianna Maakstead; Jenny Carhoff; Sheril Bongenrief, Adam Bowers, Amanda Bowersox, Alex Ward, Gillian Grochala, John Johnson, IlissaSue McClelland, Sam M, Chris Danerogil, Robin, Chealsey, Steve, Zero, Candice, Jim Castleberry, Kate Heckel

  1. Treasurer’s Report (Jon): Up 58k
  2. IT Officer (Tony): N/A
  3. Storage Manager (Carhoff Alliance)
    1. Rebuilt grid wall storage area
    2. Lock broken getting new lock
    3. Reminder, nothing enters the storage locker without being marked, NO exceptions
  4. Convention Reports-All conventions are looking for additional help.
    1. ICON (ICON 49.5 – Oct 11th 2025/ICON50-2026)
      1. Registrations have been ramping up
      2. If interested in staff or have other questions contact: info@iowa-icon.com
      3. If interested in Volunteering contact:info.icon.mb@gmail.com
    2. Gamicon (March 6th to 8th 2026)
      1. Next Staff Meeting Sun Aug 10th at 6Pm at Tim’s house at 271 Wiley Blvd NW Cedar Rapids, IA and online
      2. Events are open and starting to come in
      3. Merchant organization
      4. Bag Check, Jenny has volunteered
      5. Program Book organizer
      6. Hall Costume contest organizer
      7. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: info@gamicon.org
    3. AnimeIowa (July 31th – Aug 2nd, 2026)
      1. Feedback Form Here
      2. We had a good attendance
      3. Need to ask about getting Charity Donation matched
      4. Post Mortem will be Sat 20th Sept
      5. Bills are being taken care
      6. Any AnimeIowa related grievance should be emailed to StaffRelations@animeIowa.com
      7. Volunteering please reach out at Recruitment@animeiowa.com
      8. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: execs@animeiowa.com
  5. Other Projects
    1. Game Library – Michele
      1. At Anime Iowa
      2. 206 games check outs
      3. 106 unique game checkouts
      4. 147 unique users
      5. Party games the most checked out
      6. Next Year Gen Con falls on the same weekend as AnimeIowa
        1. Will need people to help set up and run Game Room
    2. Video Game Library
      1. At AnimeIowa
      2. Video Game Library Assets & Finances
        1. We ended up with 3 new Switch 2s, and have 6 new TVs.
        2. We traded one Switch, a PS2, and an XBox 360 in for more Switch 2 Pro Controllers.
        3. We acquired a Guitar Hero controller and games for the PS2
        4. We got rid of one old TV that was broken after AnimeIowa.
        5. Installed Street Fighter 6 DLC on the PS5 and all four PS4s
      3. Video Game Library Planning
        1. We need more staff, both for the Library in general, but also at our cons (AnimeIowa and Gamicon especially).
        2. The feedback form for after AnimeIowa is currently live, with 1 response so far: Here
        3. If people are interested in assisting the Video Game Library, they can reach out to info@videogamelibrary.org
      4. Some technical issues popped up, but fortunately workarounds were able to be made.
        1. The Street Fighter 6 tournament went well, but the Mario Kart 64 time trial only had two participants.
        2. A new room layout was tried which was overall successful.
        3. If anyone wants to see the checkout data, it can be viewed here: Checkouts
        4. Overall, 382 hours, 15 minutes, 30 seconds of total gameplay (not including SteamDeck, arcade unit, or DDR/Guitar Hero since those don’t require checking in/out a badge to play). This compares to 291 hours, 32 minutes, 38 seconds from AnimeIowa 2024.
        5. Overall, 554 checkouts, which is an increase to the 515 checkouts from AnimeIowa 2024.
        6. Huge thank you to Andy who ran the AnimeIowa Video Gaming Department and made all of this possible.
      5. Need assistance with running Video Game Library please contact Adam
    3. TrekFest – Jenny Carhoff & Alex (June 26-28th, 2026)
      1. Information to follow soon
      2. If interested please contact Jenny at mommayaya911@gmail.com subject Trekfest
    4. Book Group
      1. August 21st – General discussion on books that we have read at 6 PM, Edgewood Rd Panera, Cedar Rapids
      2. September 18th – Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister, Location TBD
      3. November will be Wicked by Gregory Maguire: We will be talking about the book and watching on of the parts of the movie, Location TBD
    5. Anybody wanting to become Mindbridge Members
      1. Gillian Grochala -is now a member
  6. Old Business
    1. Board Member update: Sheril has been reelected, term to end at AI in 2028
    2. Pens are still needing to be ordered.
    3. Pronoun ribbons need to be ordered.
      1. Tabletop gaymers would be interested in working with us on bulk orders
    4. Board authorizes Jon to look into Badge wallets
  7. If there are any problems or questions address them to Amanda from now until Sept 3rd, 2025 meeting Email mindbridge-bod@googlegroups.com
  8. New Business
    1. Vote to approve the Mindbridge Treasurer (Jon Maakestad) to reinvest the monies to our CD’s#1009, 1010 back into a new CD from Green State Credit Union when they mature on August 13, 2025
      1. Approved by Mindbridge Membership
    2. Proposed update to grievance by-laws
      1. Any AnimeIowa related grievance should be emailed to StaffRelations@animeIowa.com
      2. See attachment for proposal
      3. Will review at Sept meeting, to vote on in October
    3. 5th Street Social Saturday 9th, 2025 4-10pm in Coralville at US Bank between 5th and 10th

Next meeting will be Wed Sep 3 ,2025 @ 7pm online and in person at the Penticoff house 6914 Amhurst Dr Cedar Rapids, IA

Mindbridge Meeting Minutes AnimeIowa

  1. Treasurer’s Report (Jon): Need to actively start training new MB Treasurer
  2. IT Officer (Tony): N/A
  3. Storage Manager (Carhoff Alliance): One lock broke. Might have to be replaced. Temp lock
  4. Convention Reports – All conventions are looking for additional help.
    1. AnimeIowa (July 24th – 27th, 2025)
      1. Volunteering, please reach out at Recruitment@animeiowa.com
      2. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: execs@animeiowa.com
      3. Charity $3742
      4. Reg numbers 2670 tentatively
      5. Looking for help in all departments
      6. Staff perks
        1. Food vouchers
        2. 15 hours gets free badge
    2. ICON (ICON 49.5 – Oct 11th, 2025/ICON50-2026)
      1. Working on getting everything together
      2. If interested in staff or have other questions, contact: info@iowa-icon.com
      3. If interested in Volunteering contact: info.icon.mb@gmail.com
    3. Gamicon (Feb 28-March 2nd, 2025)
      1. Over 300 scheduled games
      2. Perk of Volunteering
        1. Raffle for game
        2. Cheaper to attending
      3. If interested in volunteering, staff or have other questions contact: info@gamicon.org
  5. Other Projects
    1. Game Library: Michele
    2. Video Game Library
      1. Need 3 or 4 more staff
      2. Ideas can be put onto our Discord or e-mailed to info@videogamelibrary.org.
      3. Need assistance with running Video Game Library please contact Adam
    3. TrekFest Jenny Carhoff – If interested please contact Jenny at mommayaya911@gmail.com subject Trekfest
    4. Book Group: August 21st Dragons of Ordinary Farms by Tad Williams 6 PM, Edgewood Rd Panera, Cedar Rapids
    5. Anybody wanting to become Mindbridge Members
  6. Old Business: If there are any problems or questions address them to Sheril from now until Sept 3rd, 2025, meeting Email mindbridge-bod@googlegroups.com
  7. New Business
    1. Board Member update: Sheril has been reelected, term to end at AI in 2028
    2. Pens are still needing to be ordered.
    3. Pronoun ribbons need to be ordered

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.

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.