The FACT Sheet - Fandom Association of Central Texas

The FACT Sheet
The Fandom Association of Central Texas
July, 2010
2009 Nebula Awards
Support Recycled Reads SciFi
Event August 21-22!
Recycled Reads is planning an SF event for the
weekend before ArmadilloCon (August 21-22). They
will also be publicizing ArmadilloCon 32!
Please be sure to visit Recycled Reads the weekend
before ARmadilloCon 32 to support the Austin Public
Library and to take advantage of some great deals on
SF. Their prices are $2 for hard-cover, $1 for softcover, with some special items priced as marked. The
SF section in the store is about half ex-library and
half donations with a mix of vintage and new, sci-fi
and fantasy. They will also be offering a number of
signed copies.
Recycled Reads is run primarily by volunteers with
materials withdrawn from the Library’s collection and
donations. The store gives books a second chance
and is an active participant in the City’s Zero Waste
Plan by ensuring obsolete materials are kept out of
landfills. Items Recycled Reads is unable to sell go to
Books Beyond Borders, which through Project School
House provides books and funding to third-world
schools and libraries.
2010 John W. Campbell Award
Finalists Include ArmadilloCon 32
Special Guest Nancy Kress!
The finalists for the 2010 John W. Campbell
Memorial Award for best SF novel have been
announced. The award will be presented during the
Campbell Conference Awards Banquet, to be held
July 16-18, at the University of Kansas.
The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood (Talese)
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi (Night Shade)
Transition, Iain M. Banks (Orbit)
Makers, Cory Doctorow (Tor)
Steal Across the Sky, Nancy Kress (Tor)
Gardens of the Sun, Paul McAuley (Pyr)
The City & The City, China Miéville (Del Rey)
Yellow Blue Tibia, Adam Roberts (Gollancz)
Galileo’s Dream, Kim Stanley Robinson (Ballantine
Spectra)
WWW: Wake, Robert J. Sawyer (Ace; Gollancz)
The Caryatids, Bruce Sterling (Del Rey)
Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America,
Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)
The 2009 Nebula Awards were announced in June:
Short Story: Spar, Kij Johnson
Novelette: Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red
Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast, Eugie Foster
Novella: The Women of Nell Gwynne’s, Kage Baker
Novel: The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Bradbury Award, Best Dramatic Production:
District 9, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
Andre Norton Award: The Girl Who
Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own
Making, Catherynne M. Valente
ArmadilloCon 32 Almost Here!
If you have not already done so, please register for
ArmadilloCon 32. Go to www.ArmadilloCon.org.
A Few Notes About AC32 Special
Guest Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop had a story on the ballot for the
2009 Nebula Awards. If you have not done so, find a
UPCOMING FACT EVENTS
UP
Saturday, July 10, 1-3 PM: FACT Board Meeting
(Manchaca Branch, Austin Public Library, 5500
Manchaca Rd). The monthly meeting of the FACT
board of directors is open to all FACT members and
other individuals who have business to discuss.
Saturday, July 10, 3:30 - 5 PM: ArmadilloCon 32
Meeting. ConComm meets at Buffet Palace, West
Gate Blvd.
Tuesday, July 20, 7-8PM: North Austin Reading
Group (Austin Public Library, Milwood Branch,
12500 Amherst). Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
Tuesday, August 2, 7-8PM: North Austin
Reading Group (Austin Public Library, North
Village Branch, 2505 Steck). Bitter Angels by C.L.
Anderson.
Saturday, August 14, 1-3 PM: FACT Board
Meeting (Manchaca Branch, Austin Public Library,
5500 Manchaca Rd). The monthly meeting of
the FACT board of directors is open to all FACT
members and other individuals who have business
to discuss.
Friday, August 27 - Sunday, 29: ArmadilloCon
32. Renaissance Hotel Austin. Don’t miss it!
Sunday, August 29, Time TBA: Reading Group
@ ArmadilloCon. The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry
Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
Saturday, Sept. 11, 6PM. Gaming (FACT member
home, 4209 Dauphine Dr.)
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 2
copy of “Vinegar Peace, or the Wrong-Way Used-Adult
Orphanage” (Asimov’s, July 2008), or look for it at the
convention!
Mr. Bishop was the first week instructor at this
year’s Clarion West Writers’ Workshop in Seattle. He
will be teaching at the Shared Worlds conference at
Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, July
18-31.
You can read another recent work of his, “The
Library of Babble,” online at Subterranean Press’s
website: http://tinyurl.com/librarybabble
2010 Locus Awards Announced
The 2010 Locus Awards winners were announced
at the annual Science Fiction Awards Weekend, held
June 25-27, 2010, in Seattle. For an entertaining
account of the proceedings, see the June 27 entry
on Nancy Kress’s blog at http://www.sff.net/people/
nankress/.
Best SF Novel: Boneshaker, Cherie Priest (Tor)
Best Fantasy Novel: The City & The City, China
Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan UK)
Best First Novel: The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
(Night Shade)
Best Young Adult Book: Leviathan, Scott
Westerfeld (Simon Pulse; Simon & Schuster UK)
Best Novella: The Women of Nell Gwynne’s, Kage
Baker (Subterranean)
Best Novelette: ‘‘By Moonlight’’, Peter S. Beagle
(We Never Talk About My Brother)
Best Short Story: ‘“An Invocation of Incuriosity,”
Neil Gaiman (Songs of the Dying Earth)
Best Anthology: The New Space Opera 2, Gardner
Dozois & Jonathan Strahan, eds. (Eos; HarperCollins
Australia)
Best Collection: The Best of Gene Wolfe, Gene
Wolfe (Tor); as The Very Best of Gene Wolfe (PS)
Best Non-Fiction Book/Art Book: Cheek by Jowl,
Ursula K. Le Guin (Aqueduct)
Connect with FACT online:
- Group List: groups.google.com/
group/factlist
- Website: www.fact.org
- Facebook: ArmadilloCon
Convention
- Twitter: armadillocon32
ARMADILLOCON 32
RachelCaine
Guest of Honor
Author of The Weather Warden Series
Austin’s Literary FSF Convention
Renaissance Hotel Austin
August 27-29, 2010
NancyKress
Toastmistress
Author of Beggars in Spain
IlonaAndrews
Urban Fantasy Special Guest
Author of Magic Bites series
MichaelBishop
CatConrad
Artist Guest
Steampunk Special Guest
Award -winning author of
No Enemy But Time
www.ArtistsInResidence.com/C at
ElspethBloodgood
Fan Guest
Conestoga
go to
www.armadillocon.org
to buy your ticket
today!
AnneSowards
Editor Guest
Editor for Ace Books & Roc
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 3
www.ArmadilloCon.org
Best Artist: Michael Whelan
Best Editor: Ellen Datlow
Best Magazine: The Magazine of Fantasy & Science
Fiction
Best Book Publisher: Tor
Summer Film Releases
We are half way through the summer film season.
The following may interest SF fans:
Despicable Me (July 9) Animated, from Universal.
Stars Steve Carell.
The Girl Who Played with Fire (July 9) Limited
release, looks interesting.
Predators (July 9)
[Rec] 2 (July 9)
Inception (July 16) Cast includes Michael Caine and
Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (July 16) Stars Nicolas
Cage.
Salt (July 23). Thriller starring Angelina Jolie.
Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (July 30)
Tales from Earthsea (August 13). Based on LeGuin,
directed by Miyazaki.
Piranha 3-D (August 20) Starring Elizabeth Shue
and Richard Dreyfuss.
The Last Exorcism (August 27)
2010 David Gemmell Legend
Awards
The 2009 David Gemmell Legend Awards winners
have been announced:
Best Fantasy Novel:
Empire: The Legend of Sigmar, Graham McNeill
(Black Library)
Best Served Cold, Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz, Orbit)
The Gathering Storm, Robert Jordan & Brandon
Sanderson (Tor)
The Cardinal’s Blades, Pierre Pevel (Gollancz)
Warbreaker, Brandon Sanderson (Tor)
The Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy
Newcomer:
The Cardinal’s Blades, Pierre Pevel (Gollancz)
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart, Jesse
The De Dion and Bouton Road Motor, Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XLII., No. 1082, September 26, 1896
Bullington (Orbit)
The Adamantine Palace, Stephen Deas (Gollancz)
The Drowning City, Amanda Downum (Orbit)
Lamentation, Ken Scholes (Tor)
The Ravenheart Award for Best Fantasy Cover
Art:
Didier Graffet & Dave Senior (Illustration) and
Laura Brett (Art Direction) for the cover of Best
Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz)
Jackie Morris (Illustration) and Dominic Forbes
(Art Direction) for the cover of The Dragon Keeper by
Robin Hobb (Voyager)
Larry Rostant (Illustration) and Loulou Clarke (Art
Direction) for the cover of Fire by Kristin Cashore
(Gollancz)
Jon Sullivan (Illustration) for the cover of Empire by
Graham McNeill (Black Library)
Jon Sullivan (Illustration) and Sue Michniewitz (Art
Direction) for the cover of The Cardinal’s Blades by
Pierre Pevel (Gollancz)
Shortlist for 2010 Sunburst
Awards
Finalists for the Sunburst Award for Canadian
Literature of the Fantastic have been announced.
Winners will be announced this fall.
Adult:
The Mystery of Grace, Charles de Lint (Tor)
Indigo Springs, A.M. Dellamonica (Tor)
Makers, Cory Doctorow (Tor)
The Sunless Countries, Karl Schroeder (Tor)
Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America,
Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)
Young Adult:
Give Up the Ghost, Megan Crewe (Henry Holt)
Amy By Any Other Name, Maureen Garvie (Key
Porter)
Half World, Hiromi Goto (Penguin)
Wondrous Strange, Lesley Livingston (HarperTeen)
The Hunchback Assignment, Arthur Slade (Lamb)
FACToids and Friends
Neal Barrett, Jr.’s “At the Store” is available
online at the Subterranean Press website: http:
//tinyurl.com/nealstorestory
AC 32 Special Guest Michael Bishop’s story
“The Library of Babble,” is available online at
Subterranean Press’s website: http://tinyurl.com/
librarybabble
You might enjoy a recent article by Ben Bova on
the topic of science fiction conventions. http://
tinyurl.com/bovaoncons
Rachel Caine’s Total Eclipse (Weather Warden
series #9) will be released in paperback on August
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 4
3 -- just in time to pick up a copy at ArmadilloCon.
Caine is busy these days. Kiss of Death (Morganville
Vampires Book 8) was released April 27, and Ghost
Town, book 9 in the Morganville Vampires series, is
due out in hardback on October 26.
A good crowd gathered at the home of Eric Hollas
and Jennifer Juday to play games and talk about
SF on July 3. Attendees included Elze Hamilton,
Jonathan Miles, Brian Price, Charles Siros,
Nina Siros, and Willie Siros. The next Game
Night will be on September 11 (skipping August
due at ArmadilloCon, and moving a week later
in September to avoid competing with Labor Day
plans).
The fourth season of Eureka kicked off on July 9,
2010.
Lawrence Person has posted pictures from
ApolloCon 2010. See the June 27 entry on his blog
http://www.lawrenceperson.com/.
Lawrence Person also posted pictures from
the party celebrating Neal Barrett, Jr.’s receipt of
the SFWA Author Emeritus Award. The hosts of
the party were Charles Siros and Willie Siros.
Other attendees included Ruth Barrett, A.T.
Campbell, III, Scott Cupp, Eric Hollas, Joe
R. Lansdale, Karen Meschke, Ed Scarbrough,
William Browning Spencer, Susan Wade, and
Don Webb. See the May 30 entry on his blog http:
//www.lawrenceperson.com/.
John Picacio (AC 2003 Artist GoH) was
interviewed by The Functional Nerds (Episode
15, posted June 25). Your editor found the
discussion accessible and interesting, well
worth the time. Listen to the podcast at http://
functionalnerds.com/2010/06/episode-15/.
“Judge Sn Goes Golfing,” a story by AC 30 GoH
John Scalzi, is available as a podcast at the
Subterranean website: http://tinyurl.com/judgesn
Last month we reported that Charles Siros was
to be Fan GOH at Conestoga 15. That is now up in
the air, as Conestoga 15 has been postponed. A new
date has yet to be determined. http://sftulsa.org/
Howard Waldrop and Lawrence Person posted
a review of Jonah Hex at Locus Online. Read it to
see why they described this movie as a “bagged
microwave cheeseburger.” As is delightfully
usual, their review is a pleasure to read. http:
//tinyurl.com/lphwjonahhex
Adult memberships $35 until March 29. http://
www.armadillocon.org
Aug. 27-29: Bubonicon 42, Albuquerque Grand
(Sheraton) Airport Hotel, Albuquerque, NM. GoH
Peter David; Toastmaster Mario Acevedo; Artist Guest
Sarah Clemens. http://www.bubonicon.com
Sept. 2-6: Aussiecon, the 68th Worldcon,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. http://
www.aussiecon4.org
Sept. 17-19: FenCon VII, Crowne Plaza North
Dallas, Addison, TX. GoH Spider Robinson, Music
GoHs Jeff and Maya Bohnhoff, Fen GoHs Kevin
Roche & Andrew Trembley, Artist GoH John Picacio,
Scientist GoH John Randall, Toastmaster Joe R.
Lansdale, Special Guest Jessica Wade, Special Guest
Robert J. Sawyer. http://www.fencon.org/
Sept. 17-19: Con*Stellation XXIX: Leo, Holiday
Inn Express, Huntsville, AL. GoH Wen Spencer,
Master of Ceremonies Steve Jackson, Artist GoH
Vincent Di Fate, Fan GoH Warren Buff. http://
www.con-stellation.org/
Oct. 28-31: World Fantasy Convention 36,
Columbus, OH. http://www.worldfantasy2010.com
Dec. 3-5: SMOFcon 28. Sainte Claire, San Jose,
CA. http://www.smofcon28.org
Dec. 31-Jan. 2: Ikkicon, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX.
http://ikkicon.com
Feb. 18-20, 2011: ConDFW, Crowne Plaza Suites,
Dallas, TX. GoHs Jack McDevitt, Tim Powers,
Brandon Sanderson.
Mar. 25-27, 2011: MidSouthCon 29, Artist GoH
Nene Thomas, Costuming GoH Kelldar, Editor GoH
Jackie Gamber, Toastmaster James P. Hogan.
Apr. 28 - May 1, 2011. World Horror Convention,
Austin TX. GOHs Joe Hill and Sarah Langan, Media
Guest Steve Niles, Toastmaster Joe R. Lansdale,
Artists GOH Vincent Chong, Special Guest Brian
Keene. http://whc2011.org/
June 3-5, 2011: SoonerCon 20, Featured Guests
Selina Rosen, Tim Powers, Darrell K. Sweet. http:
//www.soonercon.com/
Convention Listing
Aug. 27-29: ArmadilloCon 32, Austin, TX. GoH
Rachel Caine; Artist Cat Conrad; Editor Anne
Sowards; Fan Elspeth Bloodgood; Toastmaster
Nancy Kress; Urban Fantasy Special Guest Ilona
Andrews; Steampunk Special Guest Michael Bishop.
© 1987, Jeff Doten
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 5
Book Groups
Reading Group Reports
Wednesday, July 17, 7 PM: Dark Forces Reading
Group, Flightpath Coffee House, The City and the
City by China Miéville.
Tuesday, July 20, 7-8PM: North Austin Reading
Group (Austin Public Library, Milwood Branch,
12500 Amherst). Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
Thursday, July 29, 7-8:30 PM, Barnes & Noble
Arboretum Café, Science and Religion in Fiction
Book Club (Center for Inquiry). Blindsight by Peter
Watts. Coordinated by FACT member Elze Hamilton.
Tuesday, August 2, 7-8PM: North Austin Reading
Group (Austin Public Library, North Village Branch,
2505 Steck). Bitter Angels by C.L. Anderson.
Writing
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7-10 PM: Slug Tribe, Hancock
Rec Center (41st and Red River).
Alternate Wednesdays, 7-9 PM, Austin Creative
Writers (Feb. 3, 17). Borders Bookstore at Great
Hills. Critique group (novels & short stories). For
more information, go to groups.yahoo.com/group/
austincreativewriting.
June 21: Steal Across the Sky by
Nancy Kress
The North Reading Group met on June 21, 2010,
to discuss Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress,
published in 2009. The meeting was held at the
Milwood branch of the Austin Public Library. Eight
people attended, and comments were received by
three others who were unable to attend. Of these,
nine had read Kress before, eleven started the book,
and eight finished it.
Everyone who was familiar with Kress’ writing
was complimentary of her earlier works, especially
the novellas and short stories. She has won four
Nebula awards and two Hugos, among others.
Reaction to this book, though, was mixed. One reader
commented that the core concept was implausible.
Aliens arrived (“The Atoners of Neu”), and although
not revealing themselves, took out ads on the
internet asking for applicants to be “Witnesses”
concerning an unspecified ancient wrong done by
them to humans for which they wished to atone in an
unspecified manner. From a worldwide competition,
21 volunteers were selected. Other than that most
of them were Americans, there was no discernible
Faures Machine for Decorticating Sugar Cane, Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June 14, 1884.
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 6
pattern. The most common objection mentioned by
readers was that none of the principal characters
were especially likeable and it was hard to identify
with or care about them.
Most of the readers were willing to accept the
premise that aliens might not act in ways that seem
logical to us, and alien concepts of remorse and
atonement could be whatever the author wanted. So
nearly everyone liked the first part of the story. The
twenty-one winners were split into seven teams of
three, each sent to a binary pair of planets that the
aliens had set up as an experiment but not since
visited. The story followed one group, Cam O’Kane
(beautiful blonde of moderate intellect), Lucca Madero
(cynic from a wealthy family), and Soledad Arellano
(carefully non-stereotypical Latina) to visit the planets
Kular A and B. Cam landed on Kular A, Lucca crashlanded on Kular B, and Soledad stayed in the ship
to handle communications and provide assistance
if needed. The Witnesses were not told what to look
for, being told that they would know it when they saw
it. Cam became friendly with an interpreter named
Aveo, who attempted to teach her about Kulith, a
philosophical game used on Kular A to guide personal
behavior. Cam did discover a remarkable trait the
inhabitants possessed. The inhabitants of Kular B did
not exhibit this ability. When Cam was transported
to Kular B along with Aveo to rescue Lucca, Lucca
observed the phenomenon, but placed an entirely
different interpretation on it.
The witnesses all returned to earth and reported
their observations. The aliens explained that they
had made a genetic modification to humans 10,000
years earlier, removing an ability from those on earth.
The aliens had set up the seven pairs of planets
with unmodified humans on one and modified
ones on the other. Never explained were reasons
the aliens felt remorseful about this, what they
meant by atonement, or any details about why they
had done it to begin with, but the Witnesses were
encouraged to tell everybody on earth what they
had discovered. Because some of the public reacted
negatively to the revelation, the government offered a
Witness protection program. Some of the witnesses
attempted to resume their normal lives, with varying
success. Cam became a video celebrity telling her
story, Lucca holed up in Canada, and Soledad’s role
was increased--along with a stereotypical religious
witness named Frank Olenik and a gay friend named
Fengamo. The last section of the book involved
an attempt to learn more about the aliens and an
explanation of the form “atonement” was taking.
Several of the readers lost interest in the story
after the Witnesses’ return to earth. One comment
was that it became “too anthropological.” Another
said the story “died on the vine” because none of the
issues raised in the story were wound up in a logical
or satisfactory way. One comment was that “it was
self-contained” and was “an interesting place even
lacking interesting characters.” Another was “good
writer, interesting even with a slender foundation.”
The general consensus was that Kress is a very good
writer but this was not her best work.
After the meeting, the group enjoyed dinner at
Rudy’s.
-- Tom Sciance
FACT Board Meeting: April 2010
(Outgoing Board)
The monthly meeting of the board of directors for
the Fandom Association of Central Texas was called
to order on Saturday, 10 April 2010, by Board Chair
Jonathan Miles at the Manchaca Branch of the
Austin Public Library, 4400 Manchaca Rd., Austin,
Texas, at 1:08 p.m.
Present in addition to the chair were Directors
Marianne Moul, Elizabeth Burton, C. Dan Tolliver,
Charles Siros and William Siros, Director and
FACT President Brian Price, FACT Vice-President
Matthew Duarte, FACT Officers Jennifer Juday and
Eric Hollas, FACT members Karen Meschke Renee
Babcock and Joyanne Moul and guest Stephen Moul.
The secretary presented the minutes of the March
meeting. There being no additions or corrections,
it was moved by Mr. Price, seconded by Ms. Moul
they be accepted as submitted. In the absence of
objection, the chair declared the motion passed by
acclamation.
CORRESPONDENCE: Mailed ballots for the annual
election of the board of directors were acknowledged.
OFFICER REPORTS
CHAIR
Mr. Miles cited having attended gaming and
Comicpalooza.
PRESIDENT
Mr. Price advised he had also attended gaming.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Duarte noted he had not participated in any
FACT-related events.
TREASURER
Ms. Moul advised the balance as of 3/31/2010 was
$21817.12.
The documents regarding nonprofit status required
by Paypal have been submitted by email. Mr. Miles
again noted he felt it important they also be sent by
regular mail.
SECRETARY
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 7
Ms. Burton advised she was mostly involved with
preparations for the annual meeting.
REGISTRAR
Vital Statistics
49 Active Memberships
40 Expired Memberships ( < 1 Year)
Change
-2
+3
Changes since 03/13/2010 Report
New Memberships
Tim Keating
Renewed Memberships
Burton Elizabeth
Carillo Kimm
Carillo Paul
Cook Shane
Davidson Tom
Haynie Becky Matthews
Santana Sonia
Siros Charles (Chuck)
Expired Memberships
Babcock Renee
Miles Jonathan W
Moore John F.
Dennis Carol
Riggs Jim
Other Changes:
Kelley Rocky
Removed old email
Moul Marianne
Updated email
SOCIAL EVENTS MANAGER
Mr. Tolliver reported on behalf of Ms. Snyder that
the trip to Sherwood Faire had taken place. Ms.
Burton asked if Ms. Snyder had been able to attend
the nonprofit workshop as she had hoped, but Mr.
Tolliver advised he wasn’t sure.
HISTORIAN
Mr. Tolliver noted he had attended gaming and
GeezerCon, has distributed ArmadilloCon flyers
at various conventions and events and attended a
meeting of the Policies and Procedures Committee
MIS
No report
PUBLICATIONS
Ms. Juday was able to distribute the pre-annual
meeting edition of the FACT Sheet and worked on the
gaming party.
QUARTERMASTER
Mr. C. Siros advised he will be requesting funds to
renew the storage locker.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARMADILLOCON
Ms. Burton noted the committee met in March and
that plans are proceeding. There were 66 members
as of 8 April, and FACT members were advised of the
discount on membership rate.
HOTEL COMMITTEE
No report
BYLAWS COMMITTEE
The Policies and Procedures Committee met and
offered a policy regarding reporting parameters for
officers and committee chairs. The policy calls for
all committee meetings to be recorded in the form
of minutes and kept on file, and that a monthly
report must be submitted to the board. Ms. Burton
recommended this information be provided on the
website
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
No report
READING GROUPS
Mr. W. Siros advised the group has met twice and
that both sessions were well attended.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Flats for World Horror Convention Mr. C. Siros
advised he has contacted them but to date has not
received a response.
2. Reporting Procedures As reported, the Policies
and Procedures Committee established minimum
reporting and record-keeping requirements.
3. Changing Banks Ms. Moul advised she now
has information needed, but has not yet arranged
a meeting with a Frost Bank representative to
determine whether they are willing to match the
better offers from their competitors
4. Austin ComicCon Ms. Burton distributed copies
of emails from Peter Kurtz with co-op suggestions.
Mr. Miles said the suggested table exchange is fine,
since it would be good PR for FACT. The link trade is
also considered reasonable, and offer of discounted
tickets would be an excellent member perk. It was
requested Ms. Burton seek additional information
to determine how the discount would be handled,
whether by our prepurchasing a block of tickets
or by having members use a coupon code when
registering? Directors also wondered what benefit
a local volunteer or volunteers for their table at
ArmadilloCon receive? It was decided that we would
notify other groups to determine if they have any
interested in assisting, and that we would also ask if
ComicCon is interested in being included in the mass
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 8
mailing. It was suggested a flat fee of $500 might be
a reasonable fee if FACT takes care of printing as well
as mailing.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Neal Barrett Jr. Recognition Party Mr. Barrett
having been named the 2010 SFWA Author Emeritus,
Mr. C. Siros suggested FACT sponsor a celebration
for him, with the Memorial Day weekend the likely
time assuming Mr. Barrett is available. The board
authorized him to proceed with planning the event.
There being no other business before the board, the
meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
FACT Board Meeting: April 2010
(First Meeting of 2010 Board)
The first meeting of the newly elected board of
directors for the Fandom Association of Central
Texas was called to order on Saturday, 10 April
2010, by outgoing FACT President Brian Price at the
Manchaca Branch of the Austin Public Library, 5500
Manchaca Rd., Austin, Texas, at 2:19 p.m. Present
were Directors Elizabeth Burton, C. Dan Tolliver,
Jonathan Miles and Charles Siros, FACT Officers
Jennifer Juday and Eric Hollas, FACT members
Karen Meschke, William Siros,, Matthew Duarte,
Renee Babcock and Joyanne Moul and guest Stephen
Moul.
Mr. Price called for a nomination for a chairperson
for the board. Mr. Tolliver nominated Mr. Miles, who
accepted the nomination. There being no objection,
Mr. Miles was declared elected by acclamation. Mr.
Price then turned the meeting over to Mr. Miles after
thanking the previous board for their hard work on
behalf of the organization.
There being no minutes to be presented or
correspondence to review, the board moved on to set
the time and place of subsequent board meetings. It
was moved by Mr. Siros that the meetings be held on
the second Saturday of each month at the Manchaca
Branch of the library, seconded by Ms. Burton. There
being no objection, the motion was approved by
acclamation.
The board then proceeded to the election and/or
nomination of officers. Mr. William Siros agreed
to fulfill the office of president until a replacement
could be found. The secretary, Ms. Burton, and the
treasurer, Ms. Moul, agreed to continue in their
respective offices, as did the registrar, Mr. Hollas. Mr.
Experiment on Telephonic Transmission without Receiving Apparatus, Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June 14, 1884
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 9
Tolliver advised he believed Wendy Snyder would be
willing to continue as social events manager.
All officers were elected by unanimous vote.
The board then approved the nominations of
Jennifer Juday as publications manager and Joyanne
Moul as MIS manager.
The board ordered that all existing committees
continue as previously, with one change. Mr. Tolliver
was selected to chair the Policies and Procedures
Committee.
The board authorized Ms. Burton and Ms. Moul to
prepare the signature card resolution and make the
necessary changes as soon as a permanent president
has been named.
Ms. Burton was authorized to put out a call for bids
for ArmadilloCon 33 as soon as possible.
Mr. Miles took possession of the mailbox key.
There being no other business before the board, the
meeting was adjourned at 2:32 p.m.
FACT Board Meeting: May 2010
The monthly meeting of the board of directors for
the Fandom Association of Central Texas was called
to order on Saturday, 8 May 2010, by Board Chair
Jonathan Miles at the Manchaca Library, 5500
Manchaca Rd., Austin, Texas, at 1:50 p.m. Present in
addition to the chair were Directors Elizabeth Burton
and Charles Siros, FACT President William Siros, and
FACT Officers Jennifer Juday and Eric Hollas.
The secretary presented the minutes of the
April meetings. It was noted the names of those
in attendance was incomplete, which Ms. Burton
advised will be corrected when she locates the sign-in
sheet. Mr. Miles requested a portion of the minutes
for the second board meeting be reworded, following
which it was moved by Mr. C. Siros, seconded by Mr.
Miles they be accepted as amended. In the absence
of objection, the chair declared the motion passed by
acclamation.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
OFFICER REPORTS
CHAIR
Mr. Miles advised he had engaged in no FACTrelated activities.
PRESIDENT
Mr. Siros noted he had attended gaming.
VICE-PRESIDENT
No report
TREASURER
The Treasurer was unable to attend, and reported
via email that, as she had not received bank
statements yet this month, the report is identical to
last month’s, as she had written no new checks nor
received any new funds.
SECRETARY
Ms. Burton posted a request to the membership
seeking candidates for the office of president, and will
post the call for proposals for ArmadilloCon 33 in the
coming week.
She will also contact the MIS manager regarding
establishing new lists for board and officers for the
new year. Finally, Ms. Burton requested feedback
regarding location of board meetings for 2011 so she
can contact the locations suggested early.
REGISTRAR
Mr. Hollas advised one new member joined during
the previous month, and the expiration date for
Tom Davidson’s membership has been corrected.
He added that memberships renewed at the annual
meeting have not yet been recorded.
SOCIAL EVENTS MANAGER
Ms. Snyder has submitted her resignation by email,
as she is now a member of the board.
HISTORIAN
Mr. Tolliver advised by email he has begun working
on the historical display for ArmadilloCon
MIS
Nothing to report.
PUBLICATIONS
Ms. Juday advised she is waiting to hear from
artists for the next FACT Sheet, and that she and Ms.
Burton have worked out a process for her obtaining
usable copies of the board minutes.
QUARTERMASTER
No report
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARMADILLOCON
The convention committee met April 24, and a good
deal of ground was covered.
Because of an oversight, for which Ms. Burton takes
full responsibility, an ad that was supposed to run
in the Conestoga program book wasn’t completed
on time. Steps have been taken to prevent this from
happening in future. The mass mailing is scheduled
for May 22 at the Siros residence; various potential
participants have been contacted. Bios and photos
of major guests are on the website as is a list of
confirmed program participants. Membership as of
this date stands at 69. (Send dealer’s room info to
Chuck)
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 10
HOTEL COMMITTEE
Has not met
BYLAWS COMMITTEE
Has not met
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE
Mr. Tolliver advised by email that a meeting to
be held May 1 was cancelled for lack of a quorum
and information regarding status of banking.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Ms. Burton plans to poll FACT members to
determine what they might consider useful perks.
READING GROUPS
The group discussed Magic Bites, the first in the
Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by ArmadilloCon
Special Guests Ilona and Gordon Andrews. Most
attending said they enjoyed the book and several had
read all the books in the series. The consensus was
that these are books most likely to appeal to women,
and that they are excellent entertainment. Several
people liked the juxtaposition of the real world
with “waves” of magic during which no technology
worked, but some felt it was too often used as a deus
ex machina. Others felt the heroine was a bit too
“peaceful.”
OLD BUSINESS
1. Signature Cards As the president is one of the
signatories, this is awaiting election of a permanent
holder for that office and determination of bank
services
2. World Horror Convention Request No response
3. President Vacancy A request was posted by Ms.
Burton, but no volunteers responded
4. Storage Locker Renewal has been completed.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Social Events Manager Resignation Mr. Miles
suggested the position remain vacant until such time
as we have a volunteer. Ms. Burton noted she had
been planned to suggest the same thing.
2. Paypal Issue Ms. Burton informed the board she
received notice from Paypal the account has been
frozen pending submission of documents supporting
nonprofit status.
The email was forwarded to the treasurer for
investigation, as there is an apparent phishing
campaign with this tactic ongoing. However, she
also noted this one came to ArmadilloCon rather
than FACT, and knowing the general density of
bureaucratic thinking, she considered the possibility
New Photographic Apparatus Scientific American Supplement, No. 530, February 27, 1886
Paypal is not aware the convention is a function of
FACT.
3. Reporting: Ms. Burton moved the Policies and
Procedures Committee be authorized to proceed with
the policy as it was presented, seconded by C. Siros.
All were in favor.
There being no other business before the board, the
meeting was adjourned at 2:18 p.m.
About The FACT Sheet
Editor: Jennifer Juday
Contact: The F.A.C.T. Sheet, PO Box 26442, Austin, TX
78755, [email protected]
Artwork: DilloTex logo ©1988 by Brad W. Foster. Cover:
An English Steam Fire Engine, Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XLV., No. 1157, March 5, 1898. Page 2 “Latest
News” from Scientific American magazine, Vol. 2 Issue 1
Sept 26,1846. Page 4 The De Dion and Bouton Road Motor,
Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XLII., No. 1082, September 26, 1896. Page 6: Faures Machine for Decorticating
Sugar Cane, Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June
14, 1884. Page 9: Experiment on Telephonic Transmission
without Receiving Apparatus, Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June 14, 1884. Page 11: New Photographic
Apparatus Scientific American Supplement, No. 530, February 27, 1886
Copyrights: All contents copyright © 2010 by the Fandom
Association of Central Texas, Inc., except where otherwise
noted.
Trademarks: “World Science Fiction Convention,”
“WorldCon,” and “Hugo” are registered service marks of the
World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated non-profit
literary society. Nebula Awards is a registered trademark of
the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
The FACT Sheet - July 2010 - Page 11
The FACT Sheet
The Fandom Association of Central Texas
P.O. Box 26442
Austin, TX 78755-0422
FIRST CLASS
In This Issue
Recycled Reads SciFi Event August 21-22!
2
AC32 Special Guest Kress Finalist for Campbell 2
2009 Nebula Awards
2
ArmadilloCon 32 Almost Here!
2
Notes About AC32 Special Guest Michael Bishop 2
2010 Locus Awards Announced
3
Summer Film Releases
4
2010 David Gemmel Legend Awards
4
Shortlist for 2010 Sunburst Awards
4
FACToids and Friends
4
Convention Listing
5
Book Groups
6
Writing
6
Reading Group Reports
6
June 21: Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
6
Board Meeting: April 2010 (Outgoing)
7
Board Meeting: April 2010 (New)
9
Board Meeting: May 2010
10
ArmadilloCon 32 is
ALmost Here!
Buy your weekend pass online at
www.armadillocon.org.
Support your favorite
Literary SF convention!