April, 1999
May, 1999
June, 1999
July, 1999

Mars Today is the offical newsletter of MarsCon. Check back here often to find special announcements, the latest information about MarsCon & MarsCon 2000, and schedule information for meetings and other MarsCon activities.

We are pleased to announce our planned Media Guest of Honor for MarsCon 2000:

Mark Allen Shepherd, otherwise known as Morn, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's FAVORITE BARFLY!

Mark Allen Shepherd plays Morn, a humanoid alien of mysterious origin who frequents the space station Deep Space Nine and is quite the regular at Quark's bar. Morn is a ladies' man. Even Dax has commented that she finds the few hairs on the top of his head to be attractive. Quark knows that when Morn leaves the bar he might as well close up for the night. He went so far as to suggest a new Ferengi "rule of aquisition" to describe the phenomenon. Quark on occasion lets Morn run the bar. Morn will be around for a long time, as Jake Sisko finds Morn running the bar some time in the future. There are enough pieces of the puzzle to make the audience wonder and keep them on the edge of their seats when Morn is about to say something. Morn might just be the most famous non speaking role in Star Trek history.

An accomplished artist, Mark Allen Shepherd has had numerous works of his abstract impressionist paintings, mixed media and photomosaics used on the sets of Deep Space Nine as well as other television shows, films and commercials.

Mark also performs with Plural Dolt, an absurd music theater group now in its twelfth year. Plural Dolt has just finished its latest recording "American Custard." It sounds like Frank Zappa meets Spike Jones on Forbidden Planet... Cartoony, Wild and Zainey. Plural Dolt plays in and around the Los Angeles area and plans to go on tour soon.

Mark has a diverse background in science as well as the fine arts. His bachelor of science degree is from Roger Williams College, and he studied Music, Film, Theater, Performance and Interdisciplinary Arts for four years at the California Institute of the Arts. Much of Mark's work explores such abstract concepts as energy, consciousness, perception, multi-dimentionality, transformation and mythologization of the environment through a variety of media.

We are really looking forward to welcoming the real Morn to Minnesota. If you would like to read more about our planned Media Guest of Honor, please try this link to the Official Morn & Mark Allen Shepherd Website:
http://garrisonent.com/morn/body.shtml

IN OTHER NEWS...
MarsCon's next ConCom Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 15, 1999, 1:00 p.m., at the Woodland North Apartments Party Room in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Please join us and share your ideas about MarsCon 2000. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute, feel free to drop us a line via our e-mail address:
marscon2k@hotmail.com.

Directions: The Woodland North Apartments are located apx 3 miles north of the Northtown / Anoka Library. Travel north on Highway 10 through scenic Blaine and past the library. Turn right onto University Avenue. Travel about 1/2 mile, and you will see a sign for "Woodland North" on your left hand side. The street address is 9240 University Avenue Northwest, Coon Rapids, Minnesota. When you arrive, just buzz the party room in Building D.

Future ConCom Meetings are scheduled for the following Sundays at 1:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
**August 15th at the Woodland North Apartments Party Room, Coon Rapids
**September 19th at the Southdale-Hennepin Library, Edina
**October 17th at the Southdale-Hennepin Library, Edina
**November 21st at the Southdale-Hennepin Library, Edina
**December 19th at the Southdale-Hennepin Library, Edina

Hope to see you at the next meeting! Until then...

Don't Panic! M2K is Coming!
Radisson South Hotel, Bloomington, MN May 12-14, 2000

HOW TO CONTACT MARSCON
E-Mail Address: marscon2k@hotmail.com
Snail Mail: MarsCon, P.O. Box 600458, St. Paul, MN 55106