1.
Programming Update
We
are happy to announce that we've made a ton of programming additions
and updated the schedule. We have been hard at work crafting this event
for you, and we believe that we have come up with an incredibly
balanced and interesting program, for all Tolkien fans to enjoy. When
you look through the daily schedule, as we have done, you'll find
yourself struggling to pick a session that interests more than others,
so that you don't miss anything. It is very hard to do! Inevitably,
this is the "nature of the beast", as they say, and can't be avoided.
To view the updated schedule, click
here.
Here
is a rundown of all of the additions since the last newsletter:
Weta to Attend the
Gathering!
Two randomly selected registered Gathering of the Fellowship attendees
will be transformed into a Lord of
the Rings Movie Creature (Orc, Uruk Hai) by Greg and Tim Tozer
of Weta Workshop.
If you have not registered for the Gathering by now, then what are you
waiting for!? Take advantage now of registering (visit the Registration
Page) and you will be entered to win a once in a lifetime
opportunity—to be transformed into a creature from the Lord of the Rings films by the
experts!
Greg Tozer, a talented sculptor and onset technician from Weta
Workshop will be participating in workshops and panels with his brother
Tim. They both
worked on the film sets for both The
Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (LWW), and will be working
together at the Gathering with prosthetic demonstrations &
applications,
etc.
Tim was the team leader for Weta at the base camp film set for LWW; he
had a lot of responsibility in this challenging role, and among other
things he organised the loading of the helicopters & coordinated
the varied and interesting characters into their armour and costumes.
During LOTR, he was also responsible on the film set at a variety of
different locations, for armour and specifically was in charge of the
complex Gondorian Army.
Greg and Tim will talk extensively about their unique and fascinating
experiences on LWW and LOTR, and about their time with the actors.
Thoth
The life and work of SK Thoth,
which has been the subject of a 2002 Academy Award Winning film, will
be highlighted at the Gathering. Thoth's extensive musical range and
talents will help bring to life The
Music of the Ainur (our Opening Ceremonies), which has been an
inspiration to his own work. Thoth's energy, percussion, lightening
fast violin and operatic singer, akin to a Wagner drama, has healed his
New York audience as its urban shaman for many years now.
The
NETS Awards
The Northeast Tolkien Society's inaugural Awards in Tolkien excellence
will be called The Imperishable
Flames, the name as chosen by you, the
fans—and you will be voting for the winners, as well! The Award
Ceremony will be held at the Gathering of the Fellowship's exclusive
VIP Reception, on Sunday, July 2nd, 2006. Here are the nominees:
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Tolkien
Scholarship Award: Michael Drout, Verlyn Flieger, Wayne
Hammond/Christina Scull, and Amy Sturgis
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Tolkien Fan
Appreciation: Phil Goss, Pieter Collier, “Hyarion” (The Tolkien
Gateway), and Ed Rodrigues
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Tolkien
Inspired Creation(s) (directly or indirectly): Glass Hammer, the
Ancanar
creative team, SK Thoth, and Jef Murray
To vote, go to Heren Istarion's website,
and locate the poll on the main page. For more details on the
individual nominations, read the full announcement.
Born
of Hope
A group of filmmakers in the UK have set themselves an enormous task.
They are following in the footsteps of Peter Jackson by taking on
another story left behind by Tolkien. They plan to pay homage to the
Professor and Peter Jackson by shooting their own film set in
Middle-earth.
Born of Hope is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings
and looks at the lives of the Dúnedain before the return of the
king,
and primarily focuses on the relationship between Arathorn and Gilraen,
the parents of Aragorn.
Unlike most fan films this is not a spoof or parody, but a serious
drama intended to sit comfortably alongside the Trilogy.
This hugely ambitious project restarted in November 2005 after about 2
years on the shelf, and in April 2006 the team spent 5 days shooting
test footage and promotional material. The project is now back in
script development and they are trying to add more skilled people to
their already highly talented and professional team. The Gathering of
the Fellowship is going to be the first place to learn
about Born of Hope and see exclusive footage from the trailer shoot.
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Marcel
Bülles, Runner-up (beside Prof. Mike Foster) for the “GOTF Iron
Man Award”
Our prolific scholarly friend from Germany, Marcel, has announced a
number of programming sessions. He will be so prevalent and omniscient
at the Gathering, that we may just need to include ice-chilled beer
kegs alongside the water refreshments usually available in hotel
meeting rooms. Here is a summary of Marcel's programming that you CAN
NOT MISS:
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PAPER: A
historian's hunt for the sOuRCeS: Finding J.R.R. Tolkien's Exeter
College years' books. |
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Admirably
displaying his personal preference for silly lecture titles
with very witty content including as much alliteration as possible,
Bülles tracks down J.R.R. Tolkien's books borrowed from Exeter
College
Library via its library registers. Luckily enough, the Professor
belonged to that group of students particularly disliked by ferocious
librarians willing to bite your hand off at books overdue—he
scribbled down notes in pencil in the margins of some of them. By
browsing the library's holdings in a both methodologically orderly
manner as well as simply pulling out books from the shelves at random
he strongly argues the point that some conclusions drawn on Tolkien's
sources might be utterly wrong—or nobody ever thought of them before.
Goodness gracious!
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COURSE:
How to become a real Tolkien fan in thirty minutes and even get a
diploma
Featuring Craig Parker as the
"Student" |
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Everyone
knows about The Lord of the Rings
since the film trilogy—but
do they really know anything about Tolkien? It is essential to finally
get basic information across to have an acceptable standard to being a
true Tolkien fan. I therefore propose the ACT (Acquisition of
Competence in Tolkien) to be taken at the Gathering of the Fellowship
for the first time ever. Please ask for information at the BAR (Balrogs
Appeasement Reformatory). If you pass the test you will get a diploma,
signed by the speakers.
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PAPER:
Putting intoxicating substances to proper use in The Lord of the Rings
(or not!): How Tolkien managed to sneak in some nasty habits of his.
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When
we think of Lembas, Miruvor, pipe-weed or the disgusting draught
of the Orcs in Rohan do we actually realise them to be
intoxicating
substances? Would we ask ourselves whether the Elves developed a drug
sustaining their bodily functions beyond its normal possibilities?
Strangely enough, in the course of The
Lord of the Rings drugs and
comparable substances pop up, functioning as the deus ex machina to
turn the tide: no survival on Caradhras, no hunting the orcs in Rohan,
no reaching Mount Doom in Mordor, no young hobbits outgrowing
themselves. Splash in some Palantíri and the One Ring and
things will
go a very long way. Not a serious talk by far!
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PAPER:
There are no trenches in Middle-earth. Tolkien as a battlefield poet?
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In
this revised version of my Tolkien 2005 conference paper on J.R.R.
Tolkien's ambition to become a poet as a young man, I argue on the
basis of John Garth's and Janet Brennan Croft's findings in their books
"Tolkien and the Great War" and "War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien"
respectively that Tolkien was no warrior poet in the sense of writing
about his wartime experiences or in portraying a heroic concept of war
in his poetry. In fact, his wish to become a poet quickly changed
throughout and after his time as a soldier, and pushed his creative
concepts of how to work as an artist much more in the direction a
writer-historian or a re-inventer of mythology. I would like to argue
that most of his creativity stems from an innate wish to cope with
loss, or at least to share this experience with others. The ultimate
topic in J.R.R. Tolkien's writings is death, and dealing with it is
more essential in itself than the forms this might eventually take.
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Andrew
Young
For over 15 years Andrew Young
has provided countless schools, museums, churches and social
organizations with an intelligent and witty approach to understanding
the real Middle Ages. His non-violent programs shed light on numerous
topics from late Antiquity to the Renaissance that are often fraught
with fiction and misunderstanding. Along with his colleague James Arlen Gillespie, Andrew Young
will present his craft at the Gathering.
Other
Programming Added...
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Why
Tolkien?
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Many
unfamiliar with the lure of Tolkien ask the question: why Tolkien? Why
not Hemingway or Proust, Dickens or Collins, why not football or
baseball or opera? What is it about Tolkien that is so meaningful,
fascinating, inspiring, and fulfilling to so many people? Based off a
featured column in the journal of the Northeast Tolkien Society, this
panel will explore the allure of Tolkien's works, as well as the
personal meaning Tolkien has in the lives of the panelists.
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WORKSHOP:
From Cloaks to Coronation Gowns: Re-creating The Lord of the Rings
Costumes
Conducted by Judy
Mitchell, of AlleyCatScratch,
the single
largest resource on Lord of the Rings
costuming on the internet.
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An in depth session on
re-creating the costumes from Peter Jackson's movies.
1. Research and Resources: Where does one start to find the
information. Movies and Supplements, Books, Internet, Alleycatscratch,
Other Costumers.
2. Starting the Costume: Which character is suitable for me. What
patterns to use for different costumes. Suitable fabrics for that
authentic look.
3. Putting it all Together: From standard pattern pieces to
understanding the concept behind the pieces. Watch the magic of going
from a halloween 'sheet cloak' to Eowyn's gold Coronation Gown
and
learn how basic building blocks work - how with simple seaming you can
make anything.
4. Seams and finishes. Details, Details. Details! Weathering for that
lived in look. Complementing the costume with accessories.
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AUCTION:
Kevin Smith Trust
Conducted by Lori Joyce of The Kevin Smith Trust, with Craig Parker and Bruce Hopkins
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Kevin
Smith touched audiences with his witty performances on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, three Lawless telemovies, and many other
productions in his native New Zealand. Well known for his comedic
flair, he was also a regular participant in TheatreSports and other
improv comedy venues. On February 16, 2002, after completing work on Warriors Of Virtue: Return To Tao
in Beijing, China, Kevin passed away from complications arising from a
serious fall.
In honor of Kevin Smith, a Gamling figure (painted by Bruce Hopkins)
and a Haldir figure (painted by Craig Parker) will be auctioned off by
Lori Joyce of the The Kevin
Smith Trust. Also joining us for the auction will be Craig Parker
and Bruce Hopkins. The purpose of this auction and the trust is
to ensure that Kevin Smith's sons, Oscar, Tyrone and Willard, are
afforded the proper schooling for their futures, and that they, and
Kevin Smith's wife Suzanne, are provided for in the way that Kevin
Smith would have wanted. The trustees are family, friends and
colleagues of Kevin Smith. It is their wish to coordinate, in an
official capacity, all efforts in support of Kevin Smith's family.
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PROGRAM:
Bruce Hopkins' New Zealand Music Party
Presented by Bruce Hopkins
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Bruce Hopkins will be
hosting a 'party' for attendees to come by and enjoy a night of
New Zealand music, introducing the 'kiwi' sound, complete
with songs and discussion about specific bands.
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The
Gathering of the Fellowship LIVE AUCTION to Benefit ProLiteracy
Worldwide
The Gathering's Live Auction
(as opposed to silent auction)
will be held in the Main Ballroom on Saturday, July 1, 2006, at 3:15pm.
All proceeds from this auction will be donated DIRECTLY to ProLiteracy
Worldwide, benefiting adult literacy in the United States
and
throughout the world. The auction will feature various collectible
items, some rare, some autographed. We will be posting an Item list very soon on the Auction
page.
For more details, contact Susan M. Raybourne at auction@gatheringofthefellowship.org.
Help us raise funds for adult
literacy—support the Gathering of the Fellowship!Interested in Collectibles?
Don't miss this interesting news below!
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Regrettable news...
The appearance of the cast & crew of the independent film Ancanar at GOTF 2006 has always
been pending personal and professional schedules. We received word from
the production team that despite all their best efforts, the schedules
of the cast & crew of Ancanar
will not permit them to attend GOTF 2006. Also unable to attend are
Michael Martinez and Joe Piela & Jenna Brocious of The Lonely
Mountain Forge.
Here
is our current guest list for The Gathering of the Fellowship 2006 in
Toronto, in alphabetical order:
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Alison Baird
Author SciFi & Fantasy |
John Daniels
Chain mail artisan
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Alana
Vincent Howard
Tolkien and Catholic studies
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Ted
Nasmith
World-renowned Tolkien artist
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Matt Blessing
Tolkien archivist
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Michael
Drout
Medieval studies, Tolkien scholar
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Gretchen Jordan-Bastow
TV & Documentary filmmaker
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Craig Parker
Actor (“Haldir”) in
The Lord of the
Rings movies
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Barb Boedges
Tolkien fan |
Colin Duriez
Lewis & Tolkien scholar
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John
Howe
World-renowned Tolkien artist
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Kate Robinson
Fan filmmaker
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John Bowen
English scholar, Christian studies |
Giuseppe
Festa & Lingalad
Tolkien-inspired musicians
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Kristine
Larsen
Physics/Astronomy scholar
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Kiran Shah
Stuntman, Body double, Actor in
The Lord of the
Rings and Narnia movies
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Cliff Broadway
Actor, Writer, Producer |
Verlyn
Flieger
Modern fantasy, Tolkien scholar
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Michelle
LeBlanc
Languages studies
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Arden
Smith
Tolkien languages scholar
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Marcel Bülles
Tolkien scholar
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Mike
Foster
Tolkien scholar
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Scott
Maple & Brenda Maple
Professional costumers and props makers
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Amy H. Sturgis
Fantasy & SciFi studies, Writer
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Carlene Cordova
Director, Producer, Writer
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James Arlen Gillespie
Armour metalsmith
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Marie Miesel
Tolkien studies
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Thoth
Award-winning musician |
Michael
Coren
Broadcaster, Columnist, Writer |
M.
Colin
Havard
Son of original Inkling
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Judy Mitchell
Amateur costumer
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Greg Tozer & Tim Tozer
Special effects technicians
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Kate
Dallin
Costumer
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Bruce
Hopkins
Actor (“Gamling”) in
The Lord of the
Rings movies
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Jef
Murray
Tolkien artist
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Andrew Young
Armour metalsmith |
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2.
Yankee Holidays Registration & Hotel Vacation Packages
A
leading tour operator in the United States, Yankee
Holidays, is now
offering all-inclusive
packages for the Gathering of the Fellowship! Yankee Holidays
specializes in worry-free travel—they arrange everything for you,
including booking hotel rooms, arranging airport transportation,
providing discounts to Toronto-area attractions, and even registering
you for the convention. They also offer SIGNIFICANT discounts for
airfare, which you can book through them!
Each
travel package includes the following:
- Event Registration (Basic, Gold, and Mithril
Packages—click here for descriptions)
- Hotel Accommodation (Sheraton Centre Toronto
Hotel)
- Toronto Welcome Kit
- All Taxes
Prices
per person, in USD (all taxes
included):
Click
headings
to book packages
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Basic
Registration
Package
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Gold
Registration
Package |
Mithril
Registration
Package |
Extra
Nights
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| 3
Nights |
4
Nights |
3
Nights |
4
Nights
|
3
Nights |
4
Nights
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Single
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$682
|
$866
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$822
|
$1,006
|
$842
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$1,026
|
$184
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Double
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$406
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$542
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$546
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$638
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$566
|
$658
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$184
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Triple
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$336
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$405
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$476
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$545
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$496
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$565
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$206
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Other savings, easy to add-on to your package (prices in USD,
all taxes and gratuities included):
Tours
& Attractions
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Toronto
City Tour
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$34
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| Toronto City Pass |
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(includes
admission to:
Royal Ontario Museum;
Casa Loma;
CN Tower;
Ontario Science Centre;
Toronto Zoo;
Art Gallery of Ontario) |
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$43 |
Niagara
Falls Day Trip
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$108
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Niagara
Wine Country Tour
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$103
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Toronto
Hippo Tour
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$38
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Royal
Ontario Museum
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$14
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Casa
Loma
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$14
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CN
Tower
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$23
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1-hour
Harbor Cruise
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$15
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Complete
meals
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Joe
Badali's Italian Eatery
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$47
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CN
Tower
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$87
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The
Strip House
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$75
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Filet
of Sole
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$38
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You can call them at 1-800-225-2550
or 978-922-0461 to book your
package RIGHT NOW, or click on the Package Links to book online!
3.
Collector Showdown
Tolkien
and
Fantasy Fiction Collectors
TAKE NOTE
Canada’s
newest High Definition Channel
devoted to Collectors and Collectibles is looking for people who like
to collect things to do with
THE LORD OF THE RINGS!
- ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT FANTASY?
- DO YOU LIKE TO COLLECT ANYTHING OR EVERYTHING TO DO WITH
FANTASY
FICTION OR THE LORD OF THE RINGS?
- WOULD YOU LOVE TO SHOW OFF YOUR COLLECTION ON TV?
- ARE YOU READY TO PUT YOUR FANTASY AND LORD OF THE RINGS KNOWLEDGE TO THE
TEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN...
AN AMAZING
PRIZE!
We
are looking for two knowledgeable and outgoing fantasy fiction
collectors who want to take part in an exciting new TV series about
collectors and collectibles. If you are interested, please call
416-646-4435, or e-mail us at Casting@HiFiDHTV.ca.
Greater Toronto area residents only please.
Download
the Official Casting Call...
Collector Showdown will potentially be filming this episode at the
Gathering of the Fellowship!!!
4.
Operation Gathering Fundraising Ebay Auctions
Our
fundraising team, Operation Gathering, are about
to start several new Ebay auctions, after their highly successful
auction a couple of months ago! All funds raised from the sale of these
donated items will go directly to The Gathering of the Fellowship, to
cover guest expenses. Show your support—make sure you put in a bid for
these unique and rare items!
PLEASE NOTE: All auctions start on
June 6, 2006. Therefore, the following links will not yet work. Please
check the Ebay site after June 6. We will send out a reminder
announcement on that date, as well.
TITLE:
Lord
of the Rings: Gandalf versus the Balrog of Moria lithograph –
Autographed by John Howe
DATE OF AUCTION START: June 6, 2006
ITEM DESCRIPTION: This auction is for 1 (one) Lord of the Rings - Gandalf fights the
Balrog of Moria lithograph signed by John Howe. This lithograph
is 1 (one) of 2 (two) that were donated by Dan Madsen and the official Lord of the Rings magazine to a Star Trek
charity auction held in 2003. They were purchased at that auction and
have been graciously donated to Operation Gathering. It measures 12 x
16 inches and is signed by John Howe.
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TITLE:
Lord
of the Rings: Haldir – Craig Parker Autographed Photo
DATE OF AUCTION START: June 6, 2006
ITEM DESCRIPTION: One (1) 8 x 10 photo of
Haldir, signed by Craig Parker. Authentic and witnessed by Birgit. If
you require any further information on the signing, where or when
perhaps, you can write Birgit at khazara13@yahoo.com.
If you have any other questions please E-mail Operation Gathering staff
and we'll be happy to answer any questions for you.
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TITLE:
Lord of the
Rings: Haldir: Hand-quilted Wall Hanging – To be signed by Craig Parker
DATE OF AUCTION START: June 6, 2006
ITEM DESCRIPTION: This is one (1) of four (4)
individual, hand-quilted wall hangings featuring Haldir. It measures 13
x 22 inches. Can be hand washed if needed. Features original artwork by
Ebe, used with permission. It has a wooden dowel through a sleeve on
the back with eye hooks to hang from. See photo for an example.
PLEASE NOTE: This wall hanging will be personally autographed by actor
Craig Parker at the Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto, Canada,
July 1-4, 2006. The winning bidder can choose between a generic or a
short personalized autograph from Craig. The item and a photo of him
signing it will be shipped promptly to the winning bidder after the
convention ending July 4, 2006.
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5.
Miscellaneous
Help us Out, Pre-Register!
In this last month before the Gathering event, we find that our
expenses are mounting at a brisk pace, straining our financial
resourses. As you know, we are a non-profit organization, and all of
our funds come from donations and registration sales. Help us
out—pre-register today! Don't wait until you show up in Toronto to buy
your tickets. Avoid the strain of last-minute purchases. If you plan on
attending the Gathering, visit our Registration
Page and help us meet our immediate goals.
Submit Your Masquerade Entry!
Haven't submitted your Masquerade Registration yet? Hurry to the Masquerade
Page for the details and to sign up! Got questions? Email us at masquerade@gatheringofthefellowship.org.
Volunteers Always Needed
Yes, we still need volunteers to help in many areas of the Gathering.
Take a look at the Committee
Page and then email ed.rodrigues@gatheringofthefellowship.org
with how you'd like to help out!
Are
you
finding that travel plans for the Gathering are eating into your
budget? You may not be alone! Here are some excellent resources for
finding roommates and travelmates, as well as a great place to meet up
with other Gathering attendees coming to Toronto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GatheringFriendFinder/
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gatherers_of_the_Fellowship/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Toronto_Gathering_2006/
Thank
you for reading our newsletter.
As always, thank you for your
support
The Gathering of the Fellowship
Staff
www.gatheringofthefellowship.org
Contact us: email@gatheringofthefellowship.org
Support the White Tree Fund, helping
victims of natural disasters:
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