November 15, 2014 Meeting of the NJ/NY Costumers’ Guild (aka, the Sick Pups)

Hosted by Diane @ Kendall Park, NJ

Meeting Minutes presented by Tina Connell

Attendees: Diane, Byron & Tina, Rich & Stephanie, Susan, Marcy, Kathy. Guests: Lin Daniel & Faith Baker.

The meeting was called to (dis)order by Byron at 4:40, following a workshop on Fabric Origami, led by Diane. Prior to the meeting, but following the workshop, Diane and Kathy showed memorabilia and loot from their visit to Morocco (all very drool-worthy).

Official Stuph:

Review of Minutes: Minutes from the September 20^th meeting were approved.

Treasurer: Marcy reported that as of the 10/3 bank statement the treasury was at $270.29.

ICG activities: Not much happening the past two months. The Marty Gear Memorial Fund has now received two applications for a grant. The next issue of the ICG Newsletter will be in January - the deadline for submissions is posted on the web site. They need articles to publish.

Show & Tell:

Lin showed us lots (she only took 2,500!) of amazing photos taken at the Albuquerque NM hot air balloon festival. Huge volumes of fabric are involved in making the balloons. The one she worked on was 10 stories high!

Stephanie talked about the NJ Shakespeare Theater’s sale. She got there within 15 minutes of the start. None of the items in the publicity photo for the sale were actually for sale; they just took photos in the workshop. The theater has been having a lot of financial problems.

Which led to Kathy explaining why not making money on a show was called “not making its nut.” In the past, it used to be the custom of theater owners to take possession of / hold hostage the wheel wagon nuts (of a theatrical company) to ensure that they got their money.

Long Island Who Convention was last weekend. They capped attendance, and were sold out before the con. Susan, Kathy and Diane went. There was a scarf workshop. Comment that it felt like a traditional SF con, but just all Dr. Who. Kathy said that it is very family-friendly. Diane said that the con brought in two complete costumes (Tom Baker and Pertwee) from a museum in England. She took photos of the inside and back of the costumes.

Philcon: (11/21-23): Byron & Tina thought that they might not be able to make it (Tina’s mother is not doing well), and may not know until the last moment. Byron said that Philcon is one of ours, and that we should try to help assure that it’s a success. Laura will be attending, and entering the Masquerade. Marcy will be judges’ clerk. Faith said that Tom & Don may be coming, and Ken & Vicki are also expected.

Arisia: (1/16-19/15): Byron & Tina won’t be attending this year, but plan to next year (Scalzi, Klukas and Vasquez will be GoHs). Anyone planning to attend should take note that they have a membership cap and are usually sold out before the con. There were no full-con at-the-door memberships available earlier this year, and only a limited number of one-day memberships.

Lunacon: No Lunacon this year. A Lunacon is planned for 3/18-21/2016, probably still at the Escher Inn. Stu Hellinger is working on getting the Lunarians reorganized.

Albacon 14.5: (5/8-10/15) One week before Costume-Con 33.

Costume-Con 33: (5/15-18/2015): They don’t have a tech director yet. Devra resigned from Dealers, and will be selling / closing her business due to her health. Byron called for everyone who is going to enter the FSF Masquerade, which he will be running.

Balticon: (5/22-24/15): Weekend after CC. GoH: Jo Walton.

Sasquan (WorldCon Spokane, WA, 8/19-23/15): Byron will be running the green room, has 3 den moms lined up already. The Masquerade will be held in the theater across the street from the convention center. He’s still trying to figure out how to configure the available space for the green room.

World Fantasy Con: (Saratoga Springs, NY, 11/5-8/15) Chelsea Quinn Yarbro GoH. Also guests David Drake and Glen Cook. Will probably be at the Saratoga Hilton. Reduced memberships for those willing to work on staff.

Diane said that there will be a Quilt Fest held at the NJ Exhibition Center (Somerset) on the 1^st weekend of March.

Faith said that there will be a bead show in the King of Prussia area sometime in April.

The Brooklyn Museum exhibit, Killer Heels: The Art the High-Heeled Shoe, will still be running until 2/15/15.

Diane said that the Lingerie exhibit at FIT may still be on.

January 24, 2015. As that is also Tina’s birthday, she volunteered to bring cake. Workshop will be “Where to find historical fabric” – Marcy volunteered to research the topic. We will need to select more meeting dates at that meeting.

Meeting was adjourned (relapse into chaos) at 5:52 pm.