San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc.

Press Release 2006-3
SFSFC ANNOUNCES 2006 SMOFCON SCHOLARSHIPS

SAN FRANCISCO SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTIONS, INC.
A California Non-Profit Corporation
PO Box 61363, Sunnyvale CA 94088-1363 USA
info@sfsfc.org; http://www.sfsfc.org/

For immediate release: September 24, 2006

SFSFC Announces SMOFCon Scholarships

Two science fiction convention organizers active in the San Francisco Bay Area will be able to attend the SMOFCon convention-runners convention in Kansas City MO this December thanks to scholarships granted by San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. (SFSFC).

SFSFC awarded $500 scholarships for the purpose of attending SMOFCon to Jason Justice and Bryan Manternach. SFSFC established these scholarships to allow promising convention-runners who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost to travel to attend the annual SMOFCon convention-runners convention.

Jason “Squall” Justice has been attending and working on science fiction conventions since 1998, having also attended events like Comic-Con International since 1996. He has held positions with various Westercons, Pantheacon, BayCon, Loscon, AgamemCon, and ConJecture.

Bryan “Smash” Manternach found fandom through Midwestern US Star Trek clubs, where his involvement with the “International Federation of Trekkers” led to operational positions with local SF conventions. He has more than twenty years of convention attending and organizing experience, including positions with SiliCon, BayCon, and Further Confusion. Lately he has specialized in technical services, but is interested in learning more about the “big picture” of conrunning.

SMOFCon is an annual convention about organizing science fiction conventions. Subject matter ranges from managing small conventions up to the unique challenges of World Science Fiction Conventions. The convention is held in a different city each year. The 2006 SMOFCon will be in Kansas City MO at the Hotel Phillips, December 1-3, 2006. More information about this year’s SMOFCon is available at their web site.

San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. is a California non-profit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under US Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). SFSFC has issued a number of grants to various organizations and individuals to further the development of fantasy and science fiction literature and related activities such as science fiction conventions.

This is the third year that SFSFC has issued scholarships to allow promising convention runners to attend SMOFCon. SFSFC issued two SMOFCon scholarships in 2004 and 2005, helping send two fans to SMOFCon 22 in Washington DC and SMOFCon 23 in Portland OR.

The name “SMOF” stands for “Secret Masters Of Fandom,” and is a humorous reference to the people who organize and manage science fiction conventions. Another term sometimes used for such people is “conrunner.”

SFSFC was the parent non-profit corporation of ConJosé, the 2002 World Science Fiction Convention, and ConFrancisco, the 1993 Worldcon.

Contact:

SFSFC Inc.: Kevin Standlee info@sfsfc.org

SMOFCon 24: http://www.midamericon.org/smofcon/index.htm

San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. is a California non-profit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under US Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

“ConJose” and “ConFrancisco” are service marks of San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc., a California non-profit corporation.

“Worldcon” and “World Science Fiction Convention” are registered service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.