Charity Auction

MarsCon traditionally hosts a Charity Auction with proceeds benefitting locally-based charities. This year, we are sponsoring Geek Partnership Society and the Gordy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Geek Partnership Society

The Geek Partnership Society (GPS) is a non-profit organization with a mission of celebrating imagination, inspiring creativity, and building our community through service and education. GPS works in cooperation with other organizations to better serve the geek community of the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area through:

Providing a venue & other infrastructure to deliver programs to our community;
Celebrating all that is geek through year-round programs and activities designed to inspire and connect individuals with the broader geek community;
Encouraging creativity, curiosity and volunteerism while maintaining a sense of humor;
Giving back to the greater St. Paul/Minneapolis community through organized activities, fundraising events and school interaction;
Collaboration with schools and other local agencies, with a focus on connecting kids to the powers of science and literacy;
Promoting a spirit of community which encourages creativity, diversity and a sense of partnership; and
Building partnerships with a broad array of local geek organizations to help us accomplish together what none of us could do alone.

For further news and information, see: https://geekpartnership.org.

Gordy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Gordy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2002 for three purposes: To honor Gordy Dickson, local fan and science fiction and fantasy pro writer who died in 2001. To collect money to send potential new writers to the Clarion Workshop for SF and fantasy writers or some other workshop. Gordy always encouraged new writers. To promote accord in Twin Cities fandom by having a project that various fan clubs and individual fans can work on together.

For further news and information about the fund, see: https://sffan.org/gdmf.

Live Auction

The Charity Auction is held at MarsCon on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. on the Main Stage. Auction organizers will accept silent bids prior to the Auction if you can’t be in the room during the Auction. Open viewing starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, and some items will be on display in various function rooms throughout the convention. Some charity items will be placed in Art Show for quick sales prior to the live auction, depending on available space. Proceeds from the MarsCon 2023 Charity Auction will be split between the two sponsored charities.

So, how can I help out with Charity Auction and other charitable events at MarsCon?

We’re glad you asked. Here are a few ways to help:

Donate stuff!
It’s not too late. We accept donations at planning meetings and all the way until the convention and even during the convention. If you have something cool that somebody would bid on, you can drop it off in the Bridge when you arrive at MarsCon. The Bridge is located on first floor, across from the hotel’s front desk. We are able to take donations up until an hour before the auction.

Bid on stuff!
There is usually at least one treasure that you will really want—maybe an autographed picture of one of the Guests of Honor, a toy, some tickets to a movie, a poster, some books—so show up, bid, and remember that what you spend is going to support two worthwhile causes.

WHAT: A LIVE Charity Auction
WHEN: Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 10:00 am CDT - remember: Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday!!
WHERE: Main Stage (Ballroom III/IV)
HOW: Bring your badge, and raise a hand or give a shout to bid. Silent bidding is also available during open viewing starting at 9:30 am on Sunday.
WHY: To lend your support to worthwhile causes and contribute to the community

Volunteer!
We always need help setting up the auction donations for display prior to the auction, holding up items for better viewing during the auction, keeping track of bids and tabulating, etc...

Let Us Know!
If you or your group are planning another charitable activity at MarsCon, please let us know ahead of time so we can help you promote your event as well.

Thank you!
Thank you for your generosity!

MarsCon 2023

“When Books Come Alive”
March 10 - 12, 2023

Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America
3800 American Blvd E
Bloomington, Minnesota

Send questions about MarsCon to info [redacted; use the online forms] @marscon.org, we’ll do our best to send answers!

More about MarsCon may be found at...
• Discord: https://discord.gg/CfQQDk4fS7
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarsconMpls
• FaceBook: www.facebook.com/Marscon
• Comedy Music: marsconcomedy.wordpress.com

MarsCon is brought to you by the Fans Educational Network for Science Fiction (FenSF, Inc), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax deductible donations always accepted.

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