Welcome to Genesis Sci-fi Club

Good afternoon, and welcome back to Genesis.

Firstly a carry over from last month, when the traditional first page containing several paragraphs of waffle from me seemed to be stuck in a time warp from a year ago. Apologies for that, I don’t think you missed much, other than something along the lines of thank you for giving me another year to financially ruin the club, but one thing which needed saying was that a correction from the previous month—we are planning a trip to LOTNA in June, but it will not be on 16th June as published. There is a simple reason for this – LOTNA’s meeting is on 23rd June, the day before that month’s Genesis meeting, so going on 16th would be a bit pointless. Please adjust your diaries appropriately. Options for the rest of the day include the IMAX cinema at the science museum, or the Greenwich Observatory, but we’ll settle on a firm plan nearer the time.

Also from last month, with one or two exceptions you should now have your new membership cards for the coming year. Laminating the cards seemed to be suspiciously painless this time round but if anyone does have any problems with cards becoming ‘unstuck’ please let me know and I’ll happily sort out a replacement.

Now the magazine. Theresa has now stood down from magazine duties as of last month’s meeting. Thanks to her efforts over the last couple of years in preparing and printing the magazine. Going forward this means we are now without an editor, and printing is a definite issue which we need to tackle. For the next couple of months myself and David will be sorting out the magazine, and hopefully getting it printed somehow, but this is only a temporary solution and cannot continue for an extended amount of time. We therefore need either someone to take on editing the magazine on a permanent basis or several volunteers to rotate the preparing and editing of the magazine on a month by month, or perhaps for two or three months at a time – so, guest editors, in a ‘Have I Got News For You’ guest host style. And then there is the issue of printing. If anyone has any thoughts about doing a turn as guest editor, or even taking on the magazine on a more permanent basis, or perhaps has a potential solution to the printing problem, myself, Matt and David would be veryinterested in hearing from you at the meeting today. In the meantime, I’ve dusted down the ‘Pastor of Muppets’ type face and given The Matrix a re-boot, which I hope you like.

Next some events to tell you about, especially Corsham, for which there is an unashamedly large advert in a couple of pages time. They seem to be gaining guests at an alarming rate for this year’s event, the latest names to sign up are Danny John Jules (who was there last year) and Chris Barrie. It’s on Saturday 28th April and being as it’s within a fairly civilised distance of here it would be seriously impolite to not go.

Also, it has come to our attention that there is a one-day entirely unofficial Doctor Who convention in Fareham on 1st September, being run by the very talented group of people behind the stage adaptations of the missing Doctor Who stories which we have been to in Portsmouth ion a number of occasions. Power: Reimagined will also include a screening of their adaptation of The Power of the Daleks, which is being released as a fan film on the internet over the next few months. I will be elsewhere that day but as it’s also relatively local it’s an event that might well be of interest.

You may remember last month we had been contacted by South Ham Library about the possibility of holding some sort of regular event / meet there after their current refurb is complete, with a view to getting more interest in the library facilities. Well we haven’t really had any further developments since last month but please keep this mind for the fairly near future – there is an item about this elsewhere in the magazine.

This month’s meeting is brought to you by David, but I promise that the quiz will make no mention of the Bed Making Robot from Calvin & Hobbes. (At least I’m pretty sure it won’t)

That’s just about it from me, enjoy the meeting.

Jeremy

"Tie 'im to an 'orse and drag him through Spencer’s Wood!
Then rip 'is gizzards out!"

At The Swan in Sherbourne St John, 7:30pm till 11:00pm as usual. (map)

Later Thursday meetings:
14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 6th September, 4th October, 1st November, 29th November, 27th December

At The White Hart Inn in Basingstoke, 3:30pm till 9:30pm as usual. (map). We meet in the function room upstairs, which can be accessed by the outside stairs at the back.

Later Sunday meetings:
24th June, 22nd July, 19th August, 16th September, 14th October, 11th November, 9th December

At the Anvil, Basingstoke, 7:45pm. You know it, you love it and don't forget it started as a radio series. Contact Jeremy soon before this sells out or email info@genesis-sf.org.uk.

Visit a LOTNA meeting and maybe go to the IMAX cinema first. Nothing finalised at this stage.

The treasure hunt is back with an Olympic theme. Bring a digital camera or camera 'phone. Starts at 12:00pm then meet at the Toby Carvery at 7:00pm with your pictures. More details nearer the time.