2009 SFN / NWSFS Elections Update - 05/30/2009

Ballots for the 2009 SFN / NWSFS Elections were mailed on Wednesday, May 27th, and many of you should have received your ballots by now.

Information for the June Picnic Social is now available at:

http://nwsfs.org/socials/socials.htm

Copies of other election documents can be found at: http://nwsfs.org/news/news.htm

If you are a member of record and you do not receive your ballot by June 6th then please contact me.

Also, please be sure to write your name and/or membership number of the upper left hand corner of the return envelope. We have already received three envelopes where this was not done.

You may also hand in your ballots at the NWSFS Picnic / Social on June 13th. The social will begin at 1 P.M. and end at 7 P.M. Ballots will be accepted until 7 P.M. Due to scheduling requirements of the NWSFS bilaws, the actual counting of the ballots will take place the following Saturday during a special business meeting of the officers and board at the Overlake Round Table Pizza in Bellevue WA from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. All interested parties are invited to attend

Looking forward to seeing many of you at the picnic, and again please contact me if you have any questions.

Cheers,

Jim Cox
Ballots for the 2009 SFN / NWSFS Elections Chairmain

[nwsfs-announcements] Around the World in 80 Days

This was sent to NWSFS, we believe it would be of interest to our membership.

Around the World in 80 Days by Mark Brown, adapted from the novel by Jules Verne.
Directed by Scott Nolte

May 22 – June 20, preview May 20 & 21
Performances: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 7:30pm; Fridays & Saturdays,
8:00pm; Saturday Matinees, 2:00pm

"A true English gentleman never jokes when he is talking about so serious a thing as a wager.” – Phileas Fogg
Jules Verne’s novel springs vividly to life in this wildly theatrical adaptation that takes you on a madcap adventure that’s sure to please. A bet to travel around the world in 80 days is a fool’s venture in 1872, unless you happen to be named Phileas Fogg. Villainy, a damsel in distress and an array of transportation disasters are met with Victorian virtue and a precision pocket watch in Brown’s comic play that’s part James Bond, part Lord Peter Wimsey and pure fun.

Single Tickets, call 206.781.9707
Group Tickets, call 206.781.9708

Tickets:
Anyone 25 or under, $10

Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Matinee - $26 and $28
Friday and Saturday - $30 and $33

Groups of 8-19, $4 off the single ticket prices above
Groups of 20 or more, $5 off the single ticket prices above

www.taproottheatre.org

Boxcar Astronaut for 05/30/09

Boxcar Astronaut - Boxcar Astronaut #116: Oh no! Here we go again!
Greetings, Fellow Astronauts! Looks like someone's fixing for a fight here in the backyard! While Caveman is gleefully crafting a club in an effort to emulate his new found comic book hero, Robot uses his mysterious technological powers to fashion his own futuristic bludgeon. This does not go over well with Cavie, as this looks like a blatant call to battle. Will a Caveman vs. Robot battle happen? Can the backyard survive a throw down of that magnitude? Keep reading Boxcar Astronaut every week to find out!

Twilight stars and fans gathering for a good cause

From columbian.com comes this article: "Vancouver fan courts 'Twilight' stars for good cause, good time"

Here's a little snippet from the article:

"Elisa Cotton is a diehard "Twilight" devotee. The Clark College student and mother of two from Vancouver has read all the books, seen the movie about 15 times and founded the fan site talkingtwilight.com. Now, with the help of Vancouver resident Lisa McGraham and Michele Biernat of Portland, Cotton is bringing some of the film's stars to the area for a "Twilight" convention.

The event is Aug. 28-30 in Portland as a fundraiser for Doernbecher Children's Hospital, and Peter Facinelli, Ayanna Berkshire and Christian Serratos are already signed on for all three days."

Sounds like it will be a blast! Check out the complete article for all the details.

Boxcar Astronaut for 05/24/09

Boxcar Astronaut - Boxcar Astronaut #115: Umlott the Mighty!
Greetings, Fellow Astronauts! After discovering a comic book featuring a brave, club wielding warrior named Umlott the Mighty, Caveman has developed a case of hero worship. In an attempt to emulate his new hero, Cavie proves that you're never too old to use your imagination... even if you were literally born in the Stone Age! Check out the club-swinging action in this week's All New Boxcar Astronaut!

Nominations for upcoming SFN/NWSFS elections.

Next weekend (Saturday, May 23, 2009) is the SFN/NWSFS Nomination Social at the home of Yvonne and Eric Pawtowski in Lynnwood. If you are considering running for one of the three SFN/NWSFS Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer) and would like to nominate yourself, or nominate someone else for one of those positions, but are unable to attend then please mail your nomination the address below:

Jim Cox
15600 NE 8th ST. STE B1 #995
Bellevue, WA. 98008-3958
Attn: SFN/NWSFS Elections

Please insure that your nomination is received no later than Friday May 22nd. If you are nominating yourself then please include your candidate statement with your nomination.

All nominations that are mailed in will be addressed at the social, and must be seconded by a party present at the social. Please reference this URL for further details about the social: http://nwsfs.org/socials/socials.htm

Thank you,

Jim Cox
2009 SFN/NWSFS Elections Chair

Colas for the Cosmos 2009

Besides having an addiction to astronomy, I also have an addiction to Diet Coke (both with caffeine, and without). Since I drink a lot of Diet Coke I tend to accumulate a lot of Coke Rewards points, so I've decided to use all those points to help kids who have an interest in astronomy by giving them telescopes or binoculars that I get in exchange for my rewards points. It is my hope that by providing these instruments to those kids who otherwise could not afford them, that they will be able to develop their interest in astronomy, and science in general.

Last year I gave four telescopes away, and while Coke is no longer offering the telescopes, they still are offering binoculars from Celestron. So far I have collected enough Coke Rewards point for three pair of binoculars, and with your help I would like to give away a lot more.

If you drink any Coca Cola product that offers the rewards points would you please consider donating them to my Colas for the Cosmos project. I am referring to the numbers that are either on Coke bottle caps, front panels of 12 or 24 packs, and the bottom of the plastic wrap for 32 count cases.

If you want to donate Coke Rewards points to the Colas for the Cosmos project then please contact me either via blog, or send me an email by clicking here.

If you want you can start your own Colas for the Cosmos project and enter the points yourself, and maybe we could coordinate our efforts. Again feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and keep an eye on my astronomy blog (http://cloudymidnights.blogspot.com/) for future news about the project, as well as other astronomy news.

Cheers ~ Jim Cox
PS: Please do not send me Rewards points that have already been redeemed. It can cause a lot of problems.

Boxcar Astronaut for 05/17/09

Boxcar Astronaut - Boxcar Astronaut #114: Mind blowing comics!
Greetings, Fellow Astronauts! Do you remember the first comic book you ever read? Do you remember what is was like following the pictures and being drawn into the action right along side characters who were bigger than life, yet somehow felt familiar? This week, Caveman stumbles across one of the boys comic books and experiences his first comic adventure. Despite being from the distant past, and being unable to read the words, Cavie's mind is blown by the action vividly depicted inside. Witness a major life changing event in the life of our favorite prehistoric pal in an All New Boxcar Astronaut!

By the way, if you liked this week's comic, why not share in the theme and pass on some comic books to a child or new reader, or donate some comics to a local library or after school program? Help promote literacy and keep the wonderful medium of comics alive! ~ Marc Lapierre & Jeff Carter - Boxcar Astronaut

Boxcar Astronaut for 05/10/09

Boxcar Astronaut - Boxcar Astronaut #113: Mmm! Puppy Chum!
Greetings, Fellow Astronauts! After what seems like weeks of neglect, poor, hungry Diogee finally hears the words he's been waiting for, "dinner time". The hungry canine's imagination races through all the possible delicious rewards that await him in his bowl. Will the reality live up to the fantasy for our four legged friend? Find out in this week's All New Boxcar Astronaut!

Boxcar Astronaut for 05/03/09

Boxcar Astronaut - Boxcar Astronaut #112: Diogee phones home. BARK!
Greetings, Fellow Astronauts! Ben has been somewhat distracted as of late, what with the new tree house... um... "space station" to hang out in. Poor Diogee is still patiently waiting to be fed, though it seems his patience has limits. How will our canine friend remind his master to come down and feed him when he's up in the "space station"? Check out this week's All New Boxcar Astronaut for the answer!