--- In cdfcommand@yahoogroups.com, Johnathan Simmons <gumbysan@...> wrote:
>
> *AFTER ACTION REPORT
> 3rd Annual Colonial Conference
> STARFEST, Denver, Colorado
> April 17-19, 2009*
>
> Over the weekend of April 17th, members of the CDF gathered at STARFEST in
> Denver, Colorado to celebrate fandom and to participate in the CDF's 3rd
> International Colonial Conference hosted by the Battlestar Stormbringer.
> From the Battlestar Chimera in Canada to the Battlestar Aries in Texas,
> members from California to Florida and all over the CDF came together for a
> weekend of fun, FRAK parties, CDF recruiting and a few BSG programming panel
> for the public that were fantastic and were a lot better attended than
> either of the last 2 Colonial Conferences. This was our best Colonial
> Conference to date, and the fact that Katee Sackhoff was one of the
> headlining guests only made the weekend better. If all this sounds like your
> mug of Ambrosia, then by all means READ ON…
>
> *FRIDAY, APRIL 17*
>
> Check in day. We spent most of the day moving recruiting materials and the
> CDF Recruitment Table to the hotel. After 8pm, we gathered in the bar as is
> our custom and proceeded to have the first of many FRAK parties over the
> weekend. The hotel must be getting smarter because this time the bar did not
> run out of Guinness before 10pm.
>
> *SATURDAY, APRIL 18th*
>
> Con table constructed and staffed by some outstanding members of the
> Stormbringer while I was asleep. Talk about an awesome crew! Major Joe
> "PSYCHO" Linden and LT Christopher "MINICBA" Winchell were in charge of the
> table with the help of many members of the Stormbringer and the some from
> other chapters of the CDF such as John Gonzales from the Battlestar Aries
> and Commander Don Hayunga from the Battlestar Chimera and the XO of the
> Gunstar Daxton Star from Salt Lake City, Major John Barnes. The team effort
> of many members culminated in the signing up a total of 38 new members to
> the CDF over the weekend. Way to go CDF!!!
>
> We conducted a trivia panel and a BSG Discussion Panel where we talked about
> CAPRICA and THE PLAN as well as rumors of more BSG straight to video movies.
> We enjoyed Katee Sackhoff and I was even able to get my hero BSG Viper
> Helmet signed by her. MAJOR SCORE!
>
> We gave Katee a gift of a Colonial Conference Beer Mug, a FRAK Shirt and an
> undisclosed number of custom Battlestar Prophylactica condoms strategically
> hidden in the bottom of the mug so that she wouldn`t see them right away at
> the table. On the Stormbringer, we believe in subtle… after all, the Chief
> (Aaron Douglas) loved the ones we sprung on him at DragonCon!
>
> *"Gumby, party of 20..."*
>
> We decided to celebrate by noshing at Garcia's which is a Tex-Mex chain. It
> took us about an hour to get seated, but the Ultimate Margarita was more
> than worth it!
>
> Saturday night we gathered in the Atrium for another FRAK Party and an
> Awards & Promotions ceremony. We decided that this year we would gather
> everyone together at a party and then do the awards and promotions. It
> worked out rather well. In fact, it was hilarious! It also took so long that
> the hotel staff had to kick us out because they had to move tables into the
> area for that morning's breakfast.
>
> I drug my sorry, drunken admiral pins upside down flight suit half off worn
> out ass back to the room to fall down. I fell down more on the way. I think.
>
> *RECRUITING 101*
>
> We used many of the new CDF Recruiting Items from the CDF Recruitment Pak
> for our table and hondouts. These items were created by the new Deputy CDF
> Recruitment Officer, Todd Brugmans of the Battlestar Hades. We used the
> Generic Trifold Brochure, Generic DRADIS fleet Flyer listing all the
> chapters of the various Fleets on a DRADIS map of the states of the
> respective fleets and the Generic CDF ConTable Banner, which is 6 feet by 30
> inches long and is perfect for any chapter to download and print (we used
> www.halfpricebanners.com and paid 58 dollars for it!) We even had other
> clubs like the 501st and STARFLEET compliment us on the professionalism of
> the table and the staffers. High praise indeed for the new club on the
> block!
>
> I highly recommend that chapters take advantage of these materials, all in
> PDF format and fully customizable with form fields to personalize the
> brochures specifically for your chapter. Oh, and keep an eye out for even
> more materials and a CDF Recruitment Manual that will assist you with ideas
> and information that will help you recruit new members for your chapter and
> the CDF!
>
> These items are available in the DOWNLOADS section of the CDF website.
>
> *SUNDAY, APRIL 19th*
>
> On Sunday, the FRAK Party was AT the Recruiting Table. It was non stop all
> day long. We had a lot of visitors and signed up more nuggets for CDF
> indoctrination and pilot training. We noticed that this year we had more
> marines sign up as well as a few civilians. Diversity is a wonderful thing.
>
> We held the Costume Panel that was headed up by Captain Frances Simmons,
> award winning costumer and professional seamstress. We had over twice as
> many attendees as last year going over the costumes and props on display.
> Captain Simmons gave away all of her business cards and tons of questions
> were answered.
>
> Once our programming obligations were complete, we broke down the table
> display and proceeded to load the atmospheric shuttles for the short jump
> back to the Stormbringer. That trip was uneventful and we had no DRADIS
> contacts along the way.
>
> Next year, we will be providing even more BSG programming and yet another
> Colonial Conference. It is our hope that other chapters will host similar
> Colonial Conferences in conjunction with their local conventions and that
> together, we can help spread the word about the fine organization known as
> the Colonial Defense Forces.
>
> Photos to come soon... stay tuned!
>
> *Epilogue*
>
> Fleeing the Cylon tyranny, the last Partystar, Stormbringer, leads a rag tag
> fugitive group of fans on a lonely quest… for a shining pint… called…
> GUINNESS
>
> Until Next Time,
>
> Admiral Johnathan Simmons
> Commander, Colonial Fifth Fleet
> Battlestar Group 69 Actual
> In Command of the Battlestar Stormbringer, BS-69
>if you have one in midwest call the warstarcerberus and the losr13thfleetbsg
will be there what forums do you post on??.