…lots of fun news for Oz, the National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina!
Another month has gone by and we are that much closer to an incredible experience in Charlotte from September 26-29! We’ve already shared the big news, but this month I’m especially excited to share a few things.
First up is our amazing art! Thanks to the skills of artist Anna “Seven” Sherlock, our convention in the Queen City has an appropriately royal look. Along with Queen Ozma, we cannot wait to welcome you all to Charlotte.
Second, be on the lookout for our new flyer, which you can download here and also in the next mailing of the Bugle, and in the meantime, feel free to send and share those with anyone who might be interested. This is definitely an event for new and old fans—and even those who might just be learning about Oz!
Finally, this month I’m excited to share the details about the plans for our first day in Charlotte—there is going to be a ton going on! We know there have been some questions about when the events are starting and when people should arrive. While the full-day scheduling begins on Friday, September 27, there is one very exciting event happening the evening of Thursday, September 26. Gregory Maguire, author of the Wicked series and many other beloved stories, will be a very special guest speaker that evening.
On Friday, Oz Club members will be enjoying a full day of events on the UNC Charlotte campus—the good news is that your event registration includes a 24-hour LYNX light rail pass! With a station just minutes from the door of our hotel, we can travel directly to the university for a day of Ozzy fun. More details about the day’s events can be found here on the CharlOz website, but some highlights include:
- Club member Brady Schwind talking about The Wiz.
- Club member Eric Shanower talking about how he found a career in Oz.
- The Wiz VR Experience.
- A hands-on tutorial with James Ortiz.
- A demonstration on how to draw Oz characters with Janet K. Lee.
- Incredible presentations by such Club members as T. Craft, Eric Gjovaag, Ryan Bunch, Atticus Gannaway, J. L. Bell, and Angelica Shirley Carpenter.
- A panel moderated by Jane Albright with Mark West, Katharine Kittredge, J. L. Bell, Walter Squire, Paige Gray, Angelica Shirley Carpenter, Gita Dorothy Morena, and Dina Massachi about their book The Characters of Oz.
- Plus more fascinating talks by Anastasia Rose Hyden, Jason Black, Jeff Walker, and Megan Lynn Isaac!
And, don’t forget the all-day Oz gameplay!
After a full day of fun and excitement, we’ll be heading back into Charlotte to discover the great food that Charlotte has to offer—and with a $30 QC Cash Card as part of your registration, you’ll be able to discover some of the best places in the city! To wrap up our evening, we’ll be doing some late-night socializing, also known as “Oz After Dark.”
Questions? Shoot me a line at [email protected]. Want more details? Head on over to ozclub.org.
Ozzily Yours,
Leah Barber, Convention Chair