WHY "CAN'T STOP THE SERENITY"?

Why do we do this? Why do organisers spend so much time and money for each event?  Why do people volunteer, paying for their own tickets to do so?  Why do Browncoats - and others -  keep coming out to CSTS events?

Partly of course, because the events are fun.  Each city is different and has ideas and plans that work for them.  A lot of people come out to see Serenity on the big screen or to sing along to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.  Some people come to spend an afternoon or day with their friends at a fun event - or to bid on an auction item they can't find anywhere else, especially handmade items.  All those are legitimate reasons, of course, but I think a lot of people come because the events enable them to make a contribution to better the lives of women and girls globally and locally.

Last year I wrote again about D'ua Khalil Aswad and how it inspired many of us to continue to work hard for Equality Now.  This year I want to talk about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for having the desire to get an education - something we in the west take for granted.  She was targetted because, at 15, Malala was already known around the world for her blog on education and the state of women's rights in Pakistan.  Here is a video from the New  York Times, recorded with Malala and her father when she was only 11. Even then she was determined to continue her education.  Now she is doing that, albeit in Birmingham, England, where she was taken for her surgery and safety.

I also want to talk about the heinous crimes committed against women and girls as young as five in India.  There have been numerous accounts lately of girls being kidnapped and raped.  Some have died as a result; some have committed suicide.  These things don't just happen in India or Pakistan or Iran or Ethiopia or Egypt, of course, as we saw this week with the rescue of three young women who had been held captive for a decade in a house in Ohio.  But when it happens in the United States or Canada or England, our laws are (usually) strong enough to punish the perpetrators - and deter a lot of people from committing the crime in the first place.

This is where Equality Now comes in.  They work with groups in various countries to educate and to change the laws to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination aimed at them BECAUSE they are female.  You can check out some of their successes and some of their ongoing campaigns on their website.

Our local beneficiaries also work to help women and girls to a better life.  BC Women's Hospital & Health Care Foundation supports BC's only hospital just for women and focuses in areas of research, teaching and care for women and their families.  The Avalon Recovery Society provides safe drop-in centres for women in recovery from alcohol or chemical dependency with programs for education, recovery and peer support.

Over the past seven years, CSTS Vancouver has raised close to $25,000 and CSTS Global has raised over $800,000 to support Equality Now and various local charities around the world.

This year, we need you more than ever - to buy a ticket, bid on an item or two or more, to spread the word and bring your friends to support these causes - and to have fun while you're doing it.  Dress up in a Whedony costume, sing your heart out along with your fellow fans, maybe enter the Evil Laugh contest - or write some Vogon poetry.  We will come together to have an enjoyable afternoon, made more so by the fact we know we are helping women and girls around the world - and locally - have a better life.

Tickets are available by clicking on the button at the top right or with cash from Gian at La Fontana Caffe, Boundary at Hastings.  If you can't make this year, you can use our Donate button on the right. See you on the 25th!

T-SHIRTS, WE HAVE THEM!

You think you don't have enough geeky t-shirts and are looking for a new one?  Then look no further because CSTS Vancouver has several in our silent auction.  If you're a die-hard Browncoat or a casual fan, we have something for you.  Just look at these shiny shirts - including one that reads "Shiny"!  Don'r forget to save up and bring lots of cashy money so that you go home with the items that you absolutely must have - and can feel good about it because all the money raised goes to support organisations helping women and girls.

If you're not in the market for a new t-shirt, keep checking back because I'll be posting pictures of more items in the silent auction - and this year we will be having a few special items in a live auction.

Thanks to everyone who ordered a t-shirt or hoodie. They will be available to be picked up on the day of the event. If you missed out, we will have a t-shirt and a hoodie available at the silent auction to bid on. A reminder that the auction will be cash only.

We also have prizes for the Evil Laugh contest, Costume contest, and the Whedon trivia bingo. As part of the bingo prize package, I'm donating this cast picture from Dollhouse, signed by Shawna Trpcic, the costume designer. Shawna was also the costume designer for Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and The Cabin in The Woods, which was filmed here and will be released in early 2011.



One of the newest BC Browncoats has donated a very shiny necklace she made to the auction.


Proving that we are an equal opportunity Geekdom, I am also donating this sheet of never-been-opened Star Wars US stamps to the auction.

Deadline Reminder!

Don't forget if you want a t-shirt, hoodie or patches, the order - with payment - must be in by midnight Friday, May 7th. You can specify the colour under "instructions to the merchant" or e-mail me at serenityscreeningvancouver@yahoo.ca. Samples of the colours are in the post below and the PayPal buttons are at the bottom of the page. Why not try a blue or green shirt this year?

EXCITING NEWS!

This just in! Vancouver has been picked as one of the seven CSTS cities to show a rough cut of the fan film, Browncoats: Redemption. Their official world premiere of the finished film (about 40 minutes in length) will be at Dragon*Con in September, but they are providing copies to the seven cities whose (short) essays they deemed the best. The topic was why your city should be picked. Watch the video announcement here.

Also, we will have the big screen debut of at least eight (very short) episodes of The Masked Roger: Mental Perceptionist, an original applicant to the Evil League of Evil, conceived, written, filmed, directed, and starring our own AlanD.

Shiny Auction Items & T-Shirt Deadline!

Don't forget to order your t-shirt(s), hoodie or patches from the buttons below. Please include colour under 'special instructions' on your PayPal checkout page. Deadline is midnight, Friday, May 7th. See previous post for details and pictures.

Here are a few more items that will be available in our silent auction.

The Guild Season 2 DVD, signed by the stars at Comic-Con 2009, donated by AlanD.

Dr. Horrible goggles, donated by the California Browncoats. The top ones, which will go in the auction, are signed by Zack Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurisa Tancharoen. The bottom ones are signed by Felicia Day and will be included as a door prize.

More Firefly cross-stitch from Amber.

Keep checking back to see more prizes and auction items. Don't forget to buy your tickets.