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 about our 2016 show! This sixty-four page booklet contain guest bios, a vendor list, performer information, announcements, information about the convention, and much much more.

Can’t wait until it arrives? Here is a sneak peek of our special 30th Anniversary cover designed by artists Comfort Love & Adam Withers!

Are you a vendor or retailer and are bummed that you missed your chance to place an ad in our Progress Report? Fear not! We have two more publications available for advertising! Visit http://advertising.dragoncon.org for more details.

As a part of our 30th Anniversary as the nation’s largest fan-run convention, we are introducing a new way to recognize excellence in all things Science Fiction and Fantasy. These awards will be by the fans*, for the fans, and are your chance to reward those who have made real contributions to SF, books, games, comics, and shows. The Dragon Awards are your chance to share your opinions with, and see the recommendations of, tens of thousands of other fans everywhere! Start thinking about your “best” because nominations are now open!

Like the Dragon, our award recipients are extraordinary and unique. Fueled by the passion for their art, they have spread their wings and soared above us all. Once set free, their work, their fire, has influenced and inspired countless others, burned into our hearts and minds forever. In the spirit of the Dragon and with infinite admiration, we created The Dragon Award as a token of their individuality and greatness. We are pleased to present all of our award winners with the essence of the Dragon, its fire, suspended perpetually as a permanent reminder of their contributions.

*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.

Anyone can nominate and vote or just vote for finalists. To be eligible for the 2016 Dragon Awards the book, comic, game, movie, or, at least, one episode of any series has to have been released between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Is it okay for you to push your fans to vote for you? Of course, the Dragon Awards are a fan choice, and it is perfectly acceptable for you to encourage your fans to vote for you!

Wait....I’m not only a fan, but a publisher/editor/writer and I want to be involved too! Can I nominate my work?

INTRODUCING THE FIRST FAN DRIVEN AWARDS!

DRAGONTALKDRAGON CON MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER

NominationDeadline

July 25, 2016 VotingDeadline

Sept. 1, 2016

VISIT AWARDS.DRAGONCON.ORG

JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK

MOMOCON 2016 CONCLUDES AS THEIR BEST YEAR YET!

DRAGON CON SPONSORS CLUB 21 AT MOMOCON

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 was something for everyone that needed a moment to take a breather from the awesome that was MomoCon 2016.

Moving forward, Dragon Con’s strategic partnership will continue to enhance Atlanta fandoms. What better way to bookend the Summer months, but with two fantastic conventions, and MomoCon’s newest addition…a little Club 21 action!

In case you missed the news in March, we are excited to announce that we have entered into a formal strategic partnership with MomoCon. We are two different and unique conventions, and we will continue to remain the unique events that attracted fans to our cons in the first place.

This agreement lets us share resources, talent, and knowledge to improve areas where each event needs it most, while continuing to pursue our different visions that make Dragon Con And MomoCon great. As a team we are committed to working together to amplify our strengths, diminish our weaknesses, and we will use our combined influence to ensure that Atlanta and Georgia remain a safe and welcoming place for geeks of all types and lifestyles.

Founded in 2004 by Jessica Merriman and Chris Stuckey, then students at Georgia Tech, MomoCon has grown from a 700 person on campus event to the largest gaming event in the southeast United States for fans of video games, animation, cosplay, comics and tabletop games.

MomoCon’s 2016 convention welcomed a record 28,000 gamers, fans, and pop culture enthusiasts to the Georgia World Congress Center. Thousands of people, many in costume, took to the streets in downtown Atlanta for a weekend of entertainment and excitement.

Chris Stuckey, CEO, MomoCon. “To see MomoCon grow [...] is an absolute dream come true, and I can’t wait to 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/

Written by Tony Gowell

DRAGON CON SUPERHEROESWe are pleased to announce that the Dragon Con Superheroes, a community service project team for our members, volunteers, and staff has continued with great success this year. In its first two years, the Dragon Con Superheroes contributed nearly 1300 hours of community service in the months leading up to Dragon Con. Projects included packing and sorting food items for the Atlanta Community Food Bank, maintaining trails at Sweetwater Creek State Park, working the Walk to End Lupus Now, building community gardens with the ACFB, and supporting the Lymphoma Walk. In all, about 200 Dragon Con fans and their family members worked on these six projects.

So far this year, the Superheroes have completed two our of three events

including Clean Up Day at Piedmont Park with the Georgia Conservancy and the Walk to End Lupus Now. Thanks to all the Dragon Con Superheroes who came out to make the Clean Up Day at Piedmont Park a huge success! We would also like to thank the Georgia Conservancy and the Piedmont Park Conservancy for all of their support. Over 40 volunteers came out to help spread the love that is Dragon Con, as well as 2 truck loads of mulch, and picked up a heaping 22 bags of trash.

Our next event is July 24; in its final episode this year, the Dragon Con Superheroes will team up with For the Kid in All of Us to collect school supplies and prepare back packs for needy students. School supplies will be accepted at all Volunteer and Director Meetings throughout the year. We

will be collecting these supplies at all of our Volunteer Meetings throughout the year, as well as, accepting donations through our office at PO Box 16459 Atlanta, GA 30321-0459.

In celebration of our Superheroes’ contributions to the community, we will again host an exclusive celebration during the 2016 convention. Additionally, all Dragon Con Superheroes participating in this year’s projects will receive a free Superheroes t-shirt designed by the talented Sam Flegal. If you want to be a Dragon Con Superhero, join in the fun, or help out with great causes please visit http://www.dragoncon.org/?q=superheroes. We would love to have you!

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 SUFFICENCYWe are pleased to announce that the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency (ACSS) is our official charity for 2016. Dragon Con will again match dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, any money raised for this charity at the 2016 convention. The ACSS’s mission is to empower homeless individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and lead the fight in breaking the cycle of homelessness in Greater Atlanta and beyond by providing a hand up - not a hand out.

Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency was established in 2010, but the organization’s work began in 1982 with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Combining years of experience in homeless services and workforce development, ACSS offers homeless individuals with the knowledge, tools and resources required to obtain full-time employment and thrive in their own lives.

Do you want to help raise money for such a great organization? We welcome all submissions for the 2016 Charity Auction!Without donations from people just like you, we would not have been able to raise close to $100,000 last year for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

If you’d like to help, we would love to have you donate an item for us to sell at the charity auction. Items sold at past charity auctions have included: books, comic books, artwork, signed photos, movie props, prop replicas, toys, games, computers, TVs, store and restaurant gift cards, weekend getaways at hotels, site visits to the “live” set of a TV series, a meal with an actor or writer, inclusion (Tuckerization) in an upcoming book, and much more. If you have an idea for something you’d like to donate and would like to discuss it, contact charityevents@dragoncon.org.

With so much potential and so many wonderful things to auction off to benefit the charity, we will be holding two separate main charity auctions, one on Saturday (focusing primarily on literature and art), and then another on Sunday, as well as, several charity events throughout the weekend like Friday’s Masked Ball. Additionally, keep your eyes out for other ways to give including supporting your favorite fan tracks in their creative fundraising efforts, and purchasing a Hard Rock pin set, among others.

JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK

DRAGON CON NIGHT AT THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM

General Admission gives you access to all of the Georgia Aquarium galleries including their new Suntrust Pier 225, 4D Funbelievable Theater, and the AT&T Dolphin Celebration. Mix & mingle with fellow Dragon Con attendees while watching the Legend of the Chosen cosplay contest! Dance the night away to the sounds of Dj Marc J Cubs’ mix or grab a bite to eat in the Aquarium food court from 7 PM - 9 PM. Get there early! The first 1,500 will receive a limited edition pin!

VIP attendees not only get to enjoy the Georgia Aquarium galleries with the General Admission attendees, but also a private entrance, lounge, view, light bites, and bar. Each VIP also receives a limited edition pin and can dance the night away to a VIP room exclusive DJ (TBD). In years past, VIPs have said this access is the best way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, but still enjoy some of the best that Dragon Con has to offer! Act fast, these tickets are in short supply!

On September 3, experience Georgia Aquarium with special evening hours and discounted pricing just for Dragon Con attendees. Guests can explore all of the galleries, enjoy food and cash bars, and participate in special Dragon Con activities exclusive to the Aquarium. This event is private and will end at 11:00 pm to allow you to continue your Dragon Con weekend festivities/events.

This event has SOLD OUT the past few years and will SELL OUT AGAIN. Hurry and grab your tickets while they are still available. Tickets are available at www.georgiaaquarium.org/convention/dragoncon. There are two ways to enjoy this event: General Admission and VIP.

Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short FictionIntroducing the Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short Fiction (or Eugie Award). Celebrating the best in innovative fiction, this annual award will be presented for the first time in 2016—for works published in 2015—at Dragon Con, the nation’s largest fan-run convention.

The Eugie Award honors stories that are irreplaceable, that inspire, enlighten, and entertain. We will be looking for stories that are beautiful, thoughtful, and passionate, and change us and the field. The recipient is a story that is unique and will become essential to speculative fiction readers.

Eligibility: Original speculative short fiction of 20,000 words or fewer, published—including in print, ebook, or online, individually, or in a magazine, collection, or anthology—for the first time in the English language in the previous year (2015). This is a juried award, with the long list of nominations coming from editors, reviewers, and select readers.

Contact Matthew Foster at EugieAward@EugieFoster.com with any questions.

JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK

Enterprise Rental Car Parking Panda

Get discounted rental car rates with Enterprise and National Rental Car. Click here or use the following codes: Enterprise code: XZ03A67, pin: DRA or National code: XZ03A67

Enjoy exclusive discounts at parking garages, lots, and valet spaces around the host hotels, and book early to ensure you have a reserved parking space for your visit! For overnight assistance, call (800) 232-6415.

Publications Social Media Dragon Con Store

This year we are happy to announce that the Program Book, the book you pick up at registration with your badge, will be in full color! See the updated publication with our Gaming Guide and Pocket Program!

Throughout the year, the Dragon Con social media pages will give you the latest up to date convention information, guest announcements, and even give-aways! Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram today!

Members receive 25% off Dragon Con Store merchandise purchases in the hotels and Vendor Halls. But your discount is also good in our online store all year long on great Dragon Con gear and souvenirs!

Olympus Worldwide Delta Air Lines Scootaround

Olympus Worldwide Chauffeured Services offers members 10% off their services. Roll up to the convention or your next special event in style! Call 1-877-OLYMPUS, and mention the discount code Dragon Con.

Members receive special discounted fares on flights to and from the show on Delta Air Lines. Discounted rates are available on both domestic and international flights. Click here and enter NMMWP under Meeting Event.

Scootaround provides Dragon Con rentals for around $60 a day, plus $30 off the total if you rent all five days. Plan ahead and rent online.Year-round, you receive 10% off any rental taking place in Orlando, or Las Vegas. Call 888-441-7575

DRAGON CON MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS...ALL YEAR LONG!We are always on the lookout for ways to make your Membership even more valuable. Here are some additional Member Benefits, including discounts, free publications, workshops, and year-round group events.

Workshops

Dragon Con’s workshops offer amazing opportunities to receive instruction from award-winning writers, actors, and artists like Michael A Stackpole, Jody Lynn Nye, Erin Gray, Roy Wooley, and R.J. Haddy. Tickets available here.

JULY 2016 | DRAGONTALK