Yuku free message boards

11/11/12

Minnesota Force Fall Planning Meeting

Minutes

OLD BUSINESS

I.       Highlights of the last year

• Social Events and/or Character appearances every month – Solid turnout for both

• TPM3D Premier

• Increased charity presence

-         New brochure completed, advertising the MN Force as a source for charity work

-         Wide variety of charity work: Make a Wish, BB/BS, March of Dimes & Hope Kids to name a few

• Book Club rebooted – gaining membership

• Crafting groups did some amazing work this year

• Very successful CONvergence – Party & Panels

• Star Wars Celebration VI!

• New members

• Star Wars future plans announced

II.      Club Reports

1.      Book Club: Lindsey Hall

·        There were several good meetings in 2012. We’ve reviewed a variety of books, old & new.  We have some new members that have attended several meetings.

·        Planned meeting dates for 2013 – 1/26, 3/3, 6/1, 8/10

·        We have contacted Barnes & Noble to let them know we would be interested in helping they could get Timothy Zahn to visit for a signing for Scoundrels.

2.      RPG Club: Neil Monson & Brian Bean

• Two different campaigns run in 2012

• New campaign forming – Neil is leading

o   Era – 2-3 years after ROTJ

o   Group Size – 5-6

o   Game System being used – D20 Saga

o   Next meeting(s) - TBD

3.      Intergalactic Rendezvous (Crafting & Costuming): Teresa Jackson

• There were about 15 meetings in 2012

• Would like to do every other week or so in 2013

• Would like to do a life casting session

• Last year we discussed finding a regular meeting space – still open for discussion if there are ideas

4.      Charity Group: Rick Reitow

• Recapped 2012 charity events

• New color brochure advertising MN Force charity program

• Rick attended the MN State Fair for Non-profits.  Handed out brochures, made some contacts with gala event planners, and did a raffle for a trooper appearance

• Would like to create a link on the website, messageboard, and Facebook to request a charity appearance.

5.      MN Force Membership: Jim Mossey

• Jim discussed how there has been a decrease in armor characters at events in recent years.  We discussed possible reasons for this and some ways to get more armored members at appearances. Some of the suggested reasons were as follows:

-         Many more characters to choose from since the prequel trilogy & clone wars – more variety of costumes.  Many with armor have other costume options

-         The cost of armor vs. other costumes

-         Many people don’t know where to start or how to proceed when getting into costuming

-         Many people show an initial interest and we don’t hear from them again.

• We talked about some ways the MN Force can help change this

-         Create a formal procedure when people show interest in armor, including putting them in touch with locals who have experience building. Treat it like a mentor program.  Follow up with e-mails after initial contact.  Make sure the interested party is finding the information they are looking for.  Neil offered to outline this plan

-         Put some links to armor building site on the website and message boards.  Neil offered to take care of this.

6.      MN Force Smuggler’s Hold (Finances): Phil Glover

·        Current Status:

o   2011 ending balance - $300

o   2012 income (Convergence & donations) - $947

o   2012 expenses (Convergence, float & web) - $702

o   2012 ending balance - $545

7.      501^st, Rebel Legion news: Jim Mossey & Brian Bean

• 501^st 

o   15^th anniversary

o   There is a local banquet being planned for 6/15

• Rebel Legion

o   New Central base Commander: Jeff Shipman, New XO: Jim Mossey

o   Jeff S is looking for old RL records – Need to put him in contact with Doug & Ed

o   As of 11/11, there were two new members in MN

o   There were 5 new honorary members in the RL this year

o   Brian asked that member frequent the RL forums more.  New members and potential members may think not much is happening because there is not much traffic on these boards

• Jedi Assembly

o   Planning to make Dan Wallace an Honorary Member

8.      Recap of Web Site/ Message Boards / Social Media Status: Steve Fuchs

• Launched Facebook in 2012 – both as a page and as a group, in order to reach the most people.

• We should add links to the FB page on the Website & Message Board

• The web site is out of date.  Brian offered to look into Wrodpress – could administer with help.

NEW BUSINESS

III.    Calendar / Monthly Events

1.      December

·        Fri. 12/7/12 – Big Brothers/Big Sisters Holiday event – Metrodome – 6PM

·        Thurs. 12/6/12 – Charity screening of SW Holiday Special – Bryant Lake Bowl

·        Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Amanda F. & Ryan D. will look into opportunities – Also looking into Toys for Tots opportunity

2.      January         

·        Sun. 1/1/13 - MN Force Holiday Party – Ricks house – Time TBD

·        Sat. 1/26/13 – Book Club – 4pm – Mountain Mudd, New Hope

3.      February        

·        Sat. 2/16/13 - Snow Tubing at Elm Creek – Time TBD

·        Chili feed at Steve’s house to follow

4.      March            

·        Sun. 3/24/13 – Lightsaber Training – Burnsville Library – time TBD

·        3/24 – decide Go/No Go on Python Thurs nite at CONvergence & whether we will make a Jabba for the room.

·        Sat. 3/30 – Book Club – 4pm – Ikea Cafeteria, Bloomington

5.      April              

·        Sat. 4/13/13 – Activity TBD – Phil offered to plan – should be central or SE location

·        4/26 thru 4/28 – C2E2 in Chicago

6.      May               

·        Sat. 5/4/13 – Free Comic Book Day

·        5/18 thru 5/19  – MCBA Springcon

7.      June              

·        Sat. 6/1/13 – Book Club – 4pm – Mountain Mudd, New Hope

·        Sat. 6/15/13 - St. Louis Park Parktacular Parade

·        Sat. 6/15/13 – 501^st Banquet

8.      July

·        7/4 thru 7/7/13 - CONvergence

·        Lindstrom Parade date is Sat. – Date TBD

·        Star Wars Celebration Europe – 7/26 thru 7/28

9.      August

·        Sat. 8/10 – Book Club – 4pm – Ikea Cafeteria, Bloomington

·        Weekend of 8/17 – Club meeting – event  TBD

10.    September     

·        8/30 thru 9/2 – DragonCon, Atlanta GA

·        9/13 thru 9/15 – Camping at Crow-Hasan Park

·        9/20/13 – AOTC3D Premier

11.    October  – No monthly club event

   •   10/5/13 – MCBA Fallcon

   •   10/11/13 – ROTS3D Premier

   •   Zoo Boo – 10/18 thru 10/20 and 10/25 thru 10/27

   •   10/26/13 Anoka Halloween Grand Day Parade

12.    November     

·        Sun. 11/10/12 - Activity & Planning meeting

13.    December - No club meeting – Happy Holidays

IV.    CONvergence Planning

·        2 Nights As Mos Icee + 1 as other? – We voted and agreed to open the party room on Thursday night.  We will decide later whether this will be as Star Wars, or as a Monty Python Holy Grail theme.  Teresa to lead the Python team.

·        Budgeting – Next year’s plan is not to have the beds removed, which should save us a considerable expense. We will move the beds to the balcony ourselves and use them for the props.

·        Theme – Props – We discussed making a Jabba, to sit on a “dias” made of the beds, on the balcony. Brian will lead the team to make the Jabba. 

V.     OTHER BUSINESS

We mentioned the passing of Eileen Doyle – friend of the MN Force and wife of member Kevin Doyle.  Memorial service has been planned for 11/12/12

VI.    CLOSING