We would like to remind you that the next Mindbridge Monthly Meeting is coming up next week.

Date: Wednesday December 6, 2006
Time: 7:00PM – 8:00PM CST (GMT-06:00)

Monthly Mindbridge Meeting at The Lynch Casa, 68 36th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-4056 Phone: 319-365-5857

NOTE: Please note that the meeting will be held an hour later than usual and will be at Denny Lynch’s house rather than the Mill!

Minutes for Executive Board Meeting December 3rd 2006

In Attendance:

  • Brian
  • Dan
  • Steve
  • Jennifer
  • Christina
  • Bryon

Last names omitted at the request of those present.

First Item – Taxes

Steve offered to consult a accountant as to the cost of having our taxes done by a professional. He would like to have copies of previous year’s taxes to show what we need done. It was agreed that we were willing to consider expending up to $500 for this service.

Second Item – A Laptop Computer for Treasurer

The Treasurer expressed concern that a computer is needed so that while she is working at conventions she needs to be able to keep track of finances. Previous treasurers have volunteered their own machines for this purpose. Our current treasurer does not own one. Brian offered to do some fact-finding and see what our best price for such an item might be.

Third Item – Combining Meetings

Bryon suggested that in the interest of time, and to make meetings more convenient for out-of-town guests, that we combine the executive and super con meetings each year. We might start the meeting with a report from each con that has concerns or with which the board has concerns. We could then deal with any business the board needs to see to. This meeting would be held on the second Sunday of December each year. This idea will be discussed at the next general Mindbridge meeting.

Fourth Item – Changing the Fiscal Year

The board would like to hear the pros and cons of changing our fiscal year. This idea will also be discussed at the next general Mindbridge meeting.

Fifth Item – Altering By-Laws to allow the At – Large Board member to be on committees and hold other posts in the organization.

It was generally agreed that with the removal of permanent board positions that this restriction is no longer necessary or logical. This idea will also be discussed at the next general Mindbridge meeting and perhaps put to a vote by the general membership.

Sixth Item – Gregg Parmentier’s petition for membership.

As Greg attended ICON this past year and plans to attend the next general membership meeting, he would be eligible for membership under current Mindbridge rules without special consideration. The board saw no need to take any action on this item.

Seventh Item – Cultural Corridor Advertising

With a cost of $25 per event advertised, the Board chose to leave it up to the individual Mindbridge project to decide if they wished to participate with this group.

Eighth Item – Unofficial ICON bid for 2007

Since no bid has been officially made at this time, the Board is happy to be informed, but can take no action.

Meeting End

Mindbridge minutes Wednesday 1 November 2006

  1. Call to order at 6:06 pm.
  2. Introductions of various and sundry.
  3. Minutes: Cath makes lame excuses.
  4. Treasury Report: Jon gives me the following
    • Checking: $9,169.97
    • AnimeIowa: $34,951.39
    • Icon: $6,225.46
    • Gamicon: $2054.84
  5. Icon Report
    • Final Numbers after everything: $3000 profit
    • 1 week left to get receipts to the con comm before the books close.
  6. Gamicon Report
    • Meeting on Saturday.
    • Hammered out Fantasy Flight and Andy Hopp details.
    • Twenty-four hour gaming room this year!
    • November 19 GM Party at Critical Hits, Coralville, 10am-until they kick us out.
    • Registration will be available then, as will GM sign up. RPGA games. Some board games too.
    • Gaming Library
    • Steve gave out Gamicon fliers to a Marion Gaming group. Also hitting other gaming venues in the Cedar Rapids area. The area has been well peppered.
  7. AnimeIowa Report
    • AI Staff Meeting schedule has been set for the year.
    • August 10-12 is the next AI.
  8. PrePlanning Committee Report
    • Working on getting Steve Jackson for Gamicon Rho
  9. Other Projects
    • Lots of games ran at Icon from the game library.
  10. Old Business
    1. Refund Policy
      • New Improved version which was voted in WILL BE POSTED on the website before our next meeting.
      • New Improved by laws WILL BE POSTED on the website before the website our next meeting
      • Both will be at the Mindbridge Group and Mindbridge.org
    2. Board Members
      • New Board Members are Bryon Stump and Steve Tait.
    3. Mailbox key goes to Brian Womachka. Brian also has storage locker key.
    4. Catherine has to pick up huge box o’ Mindbridge stuff.
    5. Iowa.com ads for conventions are going well.
    6. Nigel wants alcoholics to come to his house. No, really, he needs people to take old Icon liquor.
    7. Mindbridge DVD player: Steve Tait has it.
  11. New Business
    1. Icon
      • Some discussion about Icon bids.
      • One group is looking for Fall, 2007.
      • Interim Icon, March, 2008 is also a possibility. Only 18 months between cons that way.
      • Then return to Fall, 2009.
      • Discussion of moving the con to the spring because of the
      • Nothing yet to come to Mindbridge as a proposal.
    2. One Day Fan Fest
      • Tabled until Dan Wojcik is at the meeting.
      • Marty reminds us of a similar event SWAMP had several years ago Dealer’s room? 12-6?
      • Advertise mostly around campus, get students and Iowa Citians.
    3. World Wide D&D Day at Critical Hits. If you are an old school D&D player, come on down! Official game starts at noon, although things will probably begin at ten(ish).
    4. Mindbridge Meeting at November 19th GM party
      • Jon makes the motion; Steve seconds.
      • Discussion: Henry–what will we do there?
      • Jon: We can tell them what we do.
      • Steve: It’s a membership meeting for those who want another meetin
      • Pro: 9 | Nay: 0 | Abstain: 1
    5. At large Board Member expires. December 6th nominations. January meeting is vote.
      • Nominations Now: Laura Thomas.
    6. New place to meet
      • Library?: Christine Cromwell will reserve January 3, 2007, at the library.
      • December 6th Meeting at Denny’s at 7 due to Mill kaputing on us. (Darned fire code).
    7. Steve: Icon group hopes to have a proposal in for December. Send it to board and we’ll look at it, says Brian.
  12. Meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.

Action Note:

  • Steve Tait needs to hear from AnimeIowa about what they want on Iowa.com for an ad.
  • Central board address: Mark to Laura.

Fen!

We’ve got trouble.

Right near Iowa CIty

We’ve got Terrible Terrible Trouble.

And it starts with N and it ends with N and it spells NO ICON

For over 30 years we have made for ourselves a home, a gathering a place to share stories and art and fun and friendship. A chance to meet other like-minded folk, who appreciate the joys that we have found in all the forms of fandom.

But we are having trouble keeping this society alive. Sociologists report that all forms of communities are failing in America. The blame is put onto all the distractions that have made it possible to stay at home and be isolated. My stamp club and my comic book reading friends all report the same trend. Nobody wants to do anything that requires effort or participation or time!

I’ve always felt that the rewards of fandom are directly proportional to the effort you put into it. I’ve also felt that a convention should be inclusive enough to accept the wide range of genres and all their forms.

The challenge we all face is this: Icon has lost about $6,000 for each of the last 4 or 5 years. Our three options are

  1. Cancel the con.
  2. Cut expenses
  3. Increase attendance.

These are all hard problems to solve. But we can solve them by working together.

A meeting will be held at ICON this year, like the meeting that was held at last year’s ICON. We need YOU to come forward with ideas, with energy and with a commitment to do something to keep us going. If you enjoy this activity as much as I do, then join us.

Dennis Lynch
Survivor: ICON 1-30