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Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc.
AbbreviationMCFI
Formation1974
TypeNGO
PurposeEducational/Literary
Location
Region served
New England
President
Priscilla Olson (2012–13)
Websitewww.mcfi.org

Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc. (MCFI) is an American 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated in 1974 as an administrative vehicle for proposing, promoting, and running World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons) and other special (non-ongoing) SF conventions in the New England area.

Although MCFI rents space in the Boston clubhouse of the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) for its annual meetings, purchased the "Noreascon" trademark from NESFA, and has overlapping membership with NESFA, the two groups are otherwise separate.[1]

History

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Several staffers of the then-recently concluded Noreascon I, the 29th World Science Fiction Convention, met during a July 1974 at a party in Boxboro, Massachusetts, and established MCFI to bid for a Boston Worldcon in 1980.[2]

MCFI's founders needed a new administrative corporation for that purpose because Noreascon I has been run as a one-shot effort, and thus its sponsoring group, Boston in 71, had been dissolved after that event.

Worldcons

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In 1980, WSFS voters having approved MCFI's bid, MCFI ran Noreascon Two, the 38th Worldcon.

In 1989, MCFI ran Noreascon Three, the 47th Worldcon.

In 1997, MCFI bid two possible sites in Orlando, Florida[3] for the 2001 (59th) Worldcon,[4] and lost to a bid for Philadelphia.[5]

In 2004, MCFI ran Noreascon Four, the 62nd Worldcon.

Other conventions

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MCFI has also run SMOFcon 3 in Lowell, MA, December 5–7, 1986, SMOFcon 15 in Boston, MA, December 5–7, 1997, Ditto 11 in Newport, RI, November 6–8, 1998, the 25th World Fantasy Convention in Providence, RI, November 4–7, 1999, SMOFcon 25 in Boston, MA, December 7–9, 2007, SMOFcon 35 in Boston, MA, December 1–3, 2017, and COSTUME-con 37 in Danvers, MA, March 22–25, 2019.

In 2011, MCFI bid Boston[6] for the 2013 North American Discworld Convention, and lost to Baltimore.[7]

Outreach

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The group has published convention materials in various media including digital.[8]

MCFI's charitable and educational work includes supporting the SF Outreach book giveaway [9] at Wondercon in 2011.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Agreements with Noreascons I, II, and III". New England Science Fiction Association. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "MCFI". Fancyclopedia. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  3. ^ "Boston for Orlando in 2001". MCFI. September 17, 1998. Archived from the original on February 24, 1999. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  4. ^ "Boston Moves to Florida". WSFA Journal. Washington Science Fiction Association. January 1998. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  5. ^ Scott, Mike (August 31, 1998). "Philadelphia Wins 2001 Worldcon". Plokta. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  6. ^ Connell, D.J. (August 24, 2011). "So you wanna host a NADWCon?". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  7. ^ Connell, D.J. (December 17, 2011). "Drumroll, please: The city picked to host NADWCon 2013 is ..." Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  8. ^ "Noreascon 1 banquet speeches now available online". 27 April 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  9. ^ Bacon, James (March 8, 2012). "Free Books at C2E2". File 770. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
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