DRAGON CON MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER DRAGONTALK September 2–5, 2016 | Atlanta, Georgia Volume 5, Issue 2 COMING SOON: PROGRESS REPORTS It’s that time of year! The 2016 Progress Report will be mailed out the first week of July, so check your mail and keep on the lookout! As one of our four publications, the Progress Report is your access to the most up to date information INTRODUCING THE FIRST about our 2016 show! This sixty-four page booklet contain guest bios, a vendor list, performer information, FAN DRIVEN AWARDS! announcements, information about As a part of our 30th Anniversary as the nation’s Like the Dragon, our award recipients are the convention, and much much largest fan-run convention, we are introducing extraordinary and unique. Fueled by the passion for more. a new way to recognize excellence in all things their art, they have spread their wings and soared Science Fiction and Fantasy. These awards will be above us all. Once set free, their work, their fire, has Can’t wait until it arrives? Here is by the fans*, for the fans, and are your chance to influenced and inspired countless others, burned a sneak peek of our special 30th reward those who have made real contributions to into our hearts and minds forever. In the spirit of Anniversary cover designed by artists SF, books, games, comics, and shows. The Dragon the Dragon and with infinite admiration, we created Comfort Love & Adam Withers! Awards are your chance to share your opinions with, The Dragon Award as a token of their individuality and see the recommendations of, tens of thousands and greatness. We are pleased to present all of our of other fans everywhere! Start thinking about your award winners with the essence of the Dragon, “best” because nominations are now open! its fire, suspended perpetually as a permanent reminder of their contributions. Nomination July 25, 2016 Voting Sept. 1, 2016 Deadline Deadline VISIT AWARDS.DRAGONCON.ORG Are you a vendor or retailer and are bummed that you missed your Wait....I’m not only a fan, but a publisher/editor/writer chance to place an ad in our Progress and I want to be involved too! Can I nominate my work? Report? Fear not! We have two more Anyone can nominate and vote or just vote for finalists. To be eligible for the 2016 Dragon Awards the publications available for advertising! book, comic, game, movie, or, at least, one episode of any series has to have been released between July Visit http://advertising.dragoncon. 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Is it okay for you to push your fans to vote for you? Of course, the Dragon org for more details. Awards are a fan choice, and it is perfectly acceptable for you to encourage your fans to vote for you! *Every fan anywhere is welcome, and encouraged, to both nominate their choices and then vote again on the final ballot! There is no qualification for voting – no convention fees or other memberships are needed. The only require- ment is that you register your email address with every nomination or vote. DRAGON CON MOMOCON 2016 SPONSORS CLUB 21 CONCLUDES AS THEIR AT MOMOCON BEST YEAR YET! Written by Tony Gowell Located in the International ballrooms of the Omni hotel, Club 21 was an exciting addition to this year’s MomoCon. Fans could come in and relax comfortably in our moody jazz lounge, and enjoy a card game…or even a cocktail for fans over 21 years of age. Not to worry though, throughout the entire weekend, special events unfolded for people of all ages to enjoy. So even if some fans weren’t able to have an adult beverage just yet, we had you covered! From live acapella vocalists, bands, trivia contests, and Jackbox Live games; there In case you missed the news in March, Founded in 2004 by Jessica Merriman was something for everyone that needed a we are excited to announce that we and Chris Stuckey, then students at moment to take a breather from the awesome have entered into a formal strategic Georgia Tech, MomoCon has grown that was MomoCon 2016. partnership with MomoCon. We are from a 700 person on campus event two different and unique conventions, to the largest gaming event in the Moving forward, Dragon Con’s strategic and we will continue to remain the southeast United States for fans of partnership will continue to enhance Atlanta unique events that attracted fans to video games, animation, cosplay, fandoms. What better way to bookend the our cons in the first place. comics and tabletop games. Summer months, but with two fantastic conventions, and MomoCon’s newest addition…a This agreement lets us share resources, MomoCon’s 2016 convention little Club 21 action! talent, and knowledge to improve welcomed a record 28,000 gamers, areas where each event needs it fans, and pop culture enthusiasts most, while continuing to pursue our to the Georgia World Congress different visions that make Dragon Con Center. Thousands of people, many And MomoCon great. As a team we in costume, took to the streets in are committed to working together downtown Atlanta for a weekend of to amplify our strengths, diminish entertainment and excitement. our weaknesses, and we will use our combined influence to ensure that Chris Stuckey, CEO, MomoCon. “To Atlanta and Georgia remain a safe and see MomoCon grow [...] is an absolute welcoming place for geeks of all types dream come true, and I can’t wait to and lifestyles. see how we can top ourselves in 2017.” Make sure you grab your 2017 MomoCon membership now to take advantage of the lowest prices possible! Dates for the next show are May 25-28, 2017 at Georgia World Congress Center. Tickets are available at: http://www.momocon.com/momocon-2017-registration/ JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK DRAGON CON SUPERHEROES We are pleased to announce that the including Clean Up Day at Piedmont Park will be collecting these supplies at all of our Dragon Con Superheroes, a community with the Georgia Conservancy and the Volunteer Meetings throughout the year, as service project team for our members, Walk to End Lupus Now. Thanks to all the well as, accepting donations through our volunteers, and staff has continued with Dragon Con Superheroes who came out office at PO Box 16459 Atlanta, GA 30321- great success this year. In its first two years, to make the Clean Up Day at Piedmont 0459. the Dragon Con Superheroes contributed Park a huge success! We would also like nearly 1300 hours of community service to thank the Georgia Conservancy and the In celebration of our Superheroes’ in the months leading up to Dragon Con. Piedmont Park Conservancy for all of their contributions to the community, we will Projects included packing and sorting food support. Over 40 volunteers came out to again host an exclusive celebration during items for the Atlanta Community Food help spread the love that is Dragon Con, as the 2016 convention. Additionally, all Bank, maintaining trails at Sweetwater well as 2 truck loads of mulch, and picked Dragon Con Superheroes participating Creek State Park, working the Walk to up a heaping 22 bags of trash. in this year’s projects will receive a free End Lupus Now, building community Superheroes t-shirt designed by the gardens with the ACFB, and supporting the Our next event is July 24; in its final episode talented Sam Flegal. If you want to be a Lymphoma Walk. In all, about 200 Dragon this year, the Dragon Con Superheroes Dragon Con Superhero, join in the fun, or Con fans and their family members worked will team up with For the Kid in All of Us help out with great causes please visit http:// on these six projects. to collect school supplies and prepare back www.dragoncon.org/?q=superheroes. We packs for needy students. School supplies would love to have you! So far this year, the Superheroes have will be accepted at all Volunteer and completed two our of three events Director Meetings throughout the year. We SUPERHEROES WALK TO END LUPUS NOW! On April 30, more than 35 Dragon Con Superheroes gathered in Piedmont Park for the Walk to End Lupus Now, an event to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus, and rally public support for the estimated 1.5 million Americans who suffer from its brutal impact. This is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. Lupus is an unpredictable and potentially fatal autoimmune disease that affects 55,000 Georgians, mostly women aged 18-45, but also men, children and women of all ages. Together we were able to raise over $12,700, the third highest earning team in the Walk. Dragon Con Superheroes not only walked the 2 miles, but they operated the largest water station at the end of the path for the participants. Thank you to everyone who donated and participated! JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK The ACSS is the largest and most successful provider of Workforce Development resources to homeless men and women in Atlanta. Since 2010, more than 1,700 people have been served by their programs and more than 1,300 have obtained full-time employment! 2016 CHARITY AUCTION TO BENEFIT ATLANTA CENTER FOR SELF SUFFICENCY We are pleased to announce that the Do you want to help raise money for such With so much potential and so many Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency (ACSS) is a great organization? We welcome all wonderful things to auction off to benefit our official charity for 2016. Dragon Con submissions for the 2016 Charity Auction! the charity, we will be holding two will again match dollar for dollar, up to Without donations from people just like separate main charity auctions, one on $50,000, any money raised for this charity you, we would not have been able to Saturday (focusing primarily on literature at the 2016 convention.