Author: Leah Barber
Dine with an Oz Celebrity and give what you can to support our present and future!
Excited to give what you can? Beginning with the Club’s very first gathering at Ozcot on the scenic shores of Bass Lake, Indiana, our conventions have been bringing together Ozians in fellowship, friendship, and the celebration of all things Oz for more than six decades. This year, we’re honored and thrilled to bring you something new that will also give you the chance to help support our future! For the first time ever, the International Wizard of Oz Club is thrilled and honored to welcome five “Oz-lebrities” from CharlOz to join us during our gala rooftop dinner at the 2024 Oz, the National Convention. This will be the only opportunity to see all of these incredible authors, illustrators, and presenters in one room (or one rooftop)… and what better place than a beautiful rooftop gala dinner with all your best Ozzy friends? We invite you to “give what you can” while also breaking bread with some of your favorite Ozzy celebrities! By giving what you can, you not only will have a seat at the table, you’ll be helping the Club provide convention programming, special guests and presentations, and Ozzy memories in the years and decades to come. If you’re not able to make it or won’t be at dinner, you can also sponsor a seat–just let us know which lucky Ozian you’d like to sponsor! We are delighted to invite you to dine with: Virginia Kantra (Author of The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale) NYT bestselling author Virginia Kantra has written over thirty novels about strong women, messy families, and the search for a place to call home. She enjoys bringing fresh life to American classic heroines, including The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale, in which a graduate student from Kansas journeys to Trinity College Dublin (the Emerald Isle!) and Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy, inspired by Little Women. Virginia’s stories have earned praise from People Magazine, Woman’s World, and Publishers Weekly, as well as numerous industry awards. Find her on Instagram (@virginiakantra), Facebook (VirginiaKantraBooks), and her website (https://virginiakantra.com/). Janet K. Lee (Illustrator of Sea Sirens and Sky Island) Janet K. Lee co-created Return of the Dapper Men in 2010 with writer Jim McCann, which won an Eisner Award. Since then, Lee has illustrated numerous projects, including two Jane Austen adaptations for Marvel Comics. Her most recent books, Sea Sirens and Sky Island (Viking, 2019 and 2020) are based on the Baum series (The Sea Fairies and Sky Island). Currently, Janet is working on her first solo project, a middle-grade graphic novel for Roaring Brook Press. Janet lives in Nashville but dreams of someday surviving a tornado which whisks her to OZ. Her website is https://j-k-lee.com/. Gita Dorothy Morena (Great-granddaughter of L. Frank Baum) Gita Dorothy Morena is an author, lecturer, and psychoanalyst who shines as a beacon of light for all those traveling along the yellow brick road of life. Her great grandfather, L. Frank Baum, provided a rich tapestry of fairy tales which Dr. Morena draws upon in her book, The Wisdom of Oz. Matilda Joselyn Gage, Baum’s suffragist mother-in-law, seems to whisper encouragement as Dr. Morena carries the fight for freedom into the inner realms of the psyche. You can find out more about her at www.gitamorena.com. Danielle Paige (Author of the Dorothy Must Die series) Danielle Paige is a NYT bestselling novelist and WGA award winning TV writer. Her YA series Dorothy Must Die wherein another girl must face off against a now evil Dorothy, is in development at Sony. Her latest series with Kass Morgan follows a group of sorority witches in The Ravens. Her new solo work Wish of the Wicked(Bloomsbury) is a part one of the fairy godmother’s origin story. She’s currently working on a DC Black Label Comic. Her graphic novel, Mera: Tidebreaker launched the DC Comics Young Readers Line. Her website is https://daniellepaigebooks.com/. Eric Shanower (Oz Author/Illustrator) Eric Shanower is the award-winning cartoonist of the graphic novel series Age of Bronze (Image Comics), retelling the story of the Trojan War. With cartoonist Skottie Young, he adapted L. Frank Baum’s Oz books into New York Times best-selling graphic novels. After producing a revival of Baum’s stage musical The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, Shanower wrote the definitive book on the show’s history, All Wound Up. He has written and/or illustrated too many other Oz projects to count. He lives with his husband in Portland, Oregon. His website is age-of-bronze.com/. Click here to give you what you can today–it’s going to be an unmissable event, and by giving today, you’ll be supporting the Club’s todays and tomorrows! If you haven’t registered yet for 2024’s Oz, the National Convention (including the gala dinner, exclusive Club programming, the Club auction, and more), please click here. Only interested in the gala dinner? Follow that link and you can register just for that! Make sure to check out the combined CharlOz and Oz, the National Convention schedule here.
June and July, oh my!
Blink and you miss it… and here we are now in July! We last shared about the exciting things happening on Friday, September 27, and we’re even more excited to talk about what’s going to be happening on Saturday, September 28! It’s another big day for Oz, the National Convention and CharlOz, and the whole day is going to be jam-packed with more Ozzy fun than you could shake a stick at. (Though we wouldn’t recommend stick shaking… perhaps a wand or a bit of heel clicking instead.) As a wise woman once said, it’s always best to start at the beginning… At 10 AM, CharlOz will be kicking off with a brief welcome by Dina Massachi, Oz scholar and Project Director of CharlOz. Throughout the day, there will be a number of programs specifically for kids–from family story time, to a puppet show, and even a special CharlOz scavenger hunt throughout ImaginOn–and so many more events for all the kid and adult Oz fans! For the rest of Saturday, you can look forward to: All-day events: Vendors, themed food and drinks, and events at the Market at 7th Street. Land of Oz exhibition (self-guided) running in the Projective Eye Gallery. Student art exhibition ‘Oz Illustrations’ (self-guided) running in the Popp Martin Student Union Art Gallery on the UNC Charlotte Main Campus. Purple: Oz Club-hosted events. To register, please sign up for Dorothy’s Adventurer’s Pass! The pass includes: a 24-hour public transportation pass, a ticket for a showing of MGM’s Wizard of Oz with a live classic score by the Charlotte Symphony, a rooftop gala dinner with all your Oz Club friends, the fabulous Oz Club auction, a fee-free gift card to many of Charlotte’s most-delicious restaurants and coolest spots, and exclusive Oz Club programming, including special guests Randy Schmidt, Michael Raabe, and Oz Club favorites Jane Albright and Laura DeNooyer! ☺: Oz Club presenter(s) ♦♦Kids’ Programming: Special CharlOz Scavenger Hunt throughout ImaginOn. ♦♦Kids’ Programming: Special CharlOz crafts in the Story Jar Area in ImaginOn Please note: The majority of Saturday’s events will be held at ImaginOn: the Joe and Joan Martin Center, which is a three-minute walk from the convention hotel. ☺10:05 AM-11:00 AM: Eric Shanower, Amy Chu, and Janet K. Lee discuss Oz in comics in a panel moderated by Michael Kobre. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦10:30 AM-11:00 AM: Family Storytime: The Wizard of Oz features stories, songs, and movement activities. (Spangler Library) 11:05 AM-12:00 PM: Amy Chu and Janet K. Lee talk about their Sea Sirens and Sky Island graphic novels and Danielle Paige talks about her Dorothy Must Die series. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦11:30 AM-12:00 PM: Puppet Show: No Place Like Home includes puppet shows, songs, and movement activities. (Spangler Library) 12:00 PM-12:30 PM: Oz Club auction preview 12:05-PM-12:30 PM Book signings (Wells Fargo Theatre) 12:30 PM-4:00 PM: Oz Club auction, with Club auctioneer Bill Thompson ☺12:35 PM-1:30 PM: Eric Shanower talks about his work in Oz and Angelica Shirley Carpenter talks about her L. Frank Baum and Matilda Gage biographies. (Wells Fargo Theatre) 1:35 PM-3:30 PM: James Ortiz’s The Woodsman, with Q&A and puppet display. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦2:00 PM-3:00 PM: Story Explorers: Meet The Land Of Oz explores stories in creative ways and features special guests from the Land of Oz. (Spangler Library) 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: Laura DeNooyer, “My Love Affair with L. Frank Baum (don’t tell Maud)” and Recipe for a Novel” 5:00 PM-5:45 PM: Jane Albright, “Oz Dolls: 120 Years of Dorothy and Friends” 6:30 PM-8:00 PM: Gala rooftop dinner with all our Oz friends! Evening program: Randy Schmidt, “Mysteries of Oz: 85 Questions Answered” Evening program: Michael Raabe, “OZ: A New Musical” …and then we close out the evening to prepare for our final Ozzy day in Charlotte! And now for a little bit more about those afternoon and evening presentations that I know we’re all looking forward to! Be on the lookout as well for some more details about the auction… there are always some fun and exciting goodies and collectibles to be had! Laura DeNooyer, “My Love Affair with L. Frank Baum (don’t tell Maud) and Recipe for a Novel” Laura DeNooyer’s pre-published novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons, is based on L. Frank Baum, his friendship with a young girl, and his impact on her through the decades. Come and learn about the challenges of writing historical fiction based on a real person. As an award-winning author of heart-warming historical fiction, Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate and mother of four, she taught art and writing to middle school and high school students for decades. Growing up immersed in the Dutch culture that comprises southwest Michigan provides the context for her novel about L. Frank Baum’s summers at Macatawa Park. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, playing pickle ball, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip. Learn more on her website: https://lauradenooyer-author.com. Jane Albright, “120 Years of Dorothy and Friends” Jane Albright was a 13-year-old Oz book fan when she joined the International Wizard of Oz Club in 1971. A rare book library display of her nascent Oz/Baum collection soon piqued her interest in public exhibits. Her collection’s scope expanded to represent Oz productions, international Oz, vintage toys, art, autographs, housewares, and more. Today, Jane’s collection fills the third floor of her home. She regularly supports public exhibits at museums, libraries, and other venues. Her presentation for us in Charlotte, “120 Years of Dorothy and Friends,” was originally developed for the United Federation of Doll Club’s convention. Jane recently completed her second term as Club president. She currently creates the Club’s printed calendar, serves as production editor for Oziana, provides material for the Oz Club’s display case at the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas, writes occasionally for the Bugle, and remains involved in innumerable other Oz projects. Randy L. Schmidt, “Mysteries of Oz: 85 Questions Answered” Randy L. Schmidt is a music educator and author of the critically-acclaimed Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter, a New York Times Editor’s Choice and Wall Street Journal Best Seller. He also compiled and edited books on Judy Garland and Dolly Parton in the Musicians In Their Own Words series. As a documentary filmmaker, Schmidt wrote and produced the award-winning Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection (2023). As a kid, Schmidt was a card-carrying member of the International Wizard of Oz Club and attended numerous Oz conventions. Michael Raabe, “OZ: A New Musical” Michael is a music director, composer, and arranger for theaters and artists throughout Florida. He also music directed the Off-Broadway run of Disenchanted! Michael is the resident Music Director at freeFall Theatre, alongside artistic director Eric Davis. Raabe and Davis have been collaborating for more than a decade on re-imagined productions of classics such as Peter Pan, War of the Worlds and their 80’s inter-galactic rock take on The Pirates of Penzance. OZ: A New Musical (inspired by the life and work of L. Frank Baum) marks the longtime collaborators’ first original work together. OZ: A New Musical is an original musical that explores the genius of L. Frank Baum and his complicated relationship with his most famous creation, the Land of Oz. With music by Michael Raabe, book by Eric Davis, and lyrics by Raabe and Davis, this is the story of a dreamer at the dawn of a new age who reinvented the fairy tale in a distinctly American way, painting an idealized and magical vision of a world where witches might be good, and what you’re seeking is already inside you.
2024 Oz, the National Convention Schedule
2024: Oz, the National Convention Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29 In collaboration with our friends at CharlOz, the International Wizard of Oz Club is thrilled to present this year’s Oz, the National Convention! Set in historic Charlotte, North Carolina, we will be celebrating a long weekend full of unforgettable Ozzy experiences! Below, you will find the FULL schedule of all Oz events. Please note the following: Purple: Oz Club-hosted events. To register, please sign up for Dorothy’s Adventurer’s Pass! The pass includes: a 24-hour public transportation pass, a ticket for a showing of MGM’s Wizard of Oz with a live classic score by the Charlotte Symphony, a rooftop gala dinner with all your Oz Club friends, the fabulous Oz Club auction, a fee-free gift card to many of Charlotte’s most-delicious restaurants and coolest spots, and exclusive Oz Club programming, including special guests Randy Schmidt, Michael Raabe, and Oz Club favorites Jane Albright and Laura DeNooyer! ☺: Oz Club presenter(s) ♦♦: Events for families and kids Due to the packed schedule at these events, from Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29, there is multitrack programming. Locations are indicated on each individual event. Register here for CharlOz events. Thursday, September 26 All-day event: Student art exhibition ‘Oz Illustrations’ (self-guided) in the Popp Martin Student Union Art Gallery on the UNC Charlotte Main Campus. Please note: All Gregory Maguire events will be held at the Knight Theater, which is a 15-minute walk, a 15-minute light rail ride, or 5-minute car ride from the convention hotel. ☺7:00 PM-7:05 PM: Dina Massachi, Project Director for CharlOz (and Oz Club member!), welcomes everyone 7:05 PM – 9 PM: Gregory Maguire gives a CharlOz Kick-Off welcome talk 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Gregory Maguire book signing reception For free tickets to Gregory Maguire’s talk, please visit: https://www.blumenthalarts.org/events/detail/charloz-gregory-maguire Friday, September 27 All-day events: Land of Oz exhibition (self-guided) running in the Projective Eye Gallery. Student art exhibition ‘Oz Illustrations’ (self-guided) running in the Popp Martin Student Union Art Gallery on the UNC Charlotte Main Campus. Oz gameplay in Area 49’s Gaming Lab. Please note: The majority of Friday’s events will be held at UNC Charlotte’s J. Murrey Atkins Library. (The UNC Charlotte Campus can be easily accessed via a two-minute walk from the conference hotel to the accessible light rail station. The library is a 10-15 walk from the station on paved walkways.) Events being held off-campus at The Makerspace are indicated in italics below. From the J. Murrey Atkins Library, the Makerspace is a 21-minute drive or a 75-minute trip on public transportation. From the convention hotel, the Makerspace is a 35-minute walk, a 6-minute drive, or a 35-minute trip on public transportation. ☺10:00 AM-10:05 AM: Dina Massachi, Project Director of CharlOz, welcomes everyone (Halton Reading Room) ☺10:10 AM-10:30 AM: T. Craft talks about work as the artistic director at Offsite Connecticut Theatre. (T3) ☺10:10 AM-11:10 AM: Janet K. Lee, Eric Shanower and others discuss the process of creating Oz Characters in a panel moderated by Jessica Burke. (Halton Reading Room) ☺10:10 AM-11:05 AM: Brady Schwind talks about The Wiz and Tom H. John. (Visualization Lab) ☺10:35 AM-11:05 AM: Eric Gjovaag talks about the process of creating a definitive The Wizard of Oz website. (T3) ☺11:10 AM-11:35 AM: Ryan Bunch talks about his Oz and the Musical book. (T3) ☺11:10 AM-12:05 PM: Eric Shanower talks about how he found a career in Oz. (Visualization Lab) 11:15 AM-12:15 PM: Heather Greene talks about the story of the Wicked Witch and Glinda through cinematic history. (Halton Reading Room) 11:40 AM-12:00 PM: Anastasia Rose Hyden discusses how the Columbian Exposition influenced Baum’s Oz series, particularly the Emerald City. (T3) ☺12:05 PM-12:35 PM: Atticus Gannaway talks about Baum and the illustrators and publishers involved during the process of creating the original Oz series. (T3) ☺12:10 PM-1:05 PM: Brady Schwind talks about The Wiz and Tom John. (Visualization Lab) ☺12:20 PM-1:20 PM: Angelica Shirley Carpenter talks about Matilda Joslyn Gage, a major leader in the early women’s movement and L. Frank Baum’s mother-in-law. (Halton Reading Room) 12:40 PM-2:40 PM: Drew Allison offers a hands-on tutorial. (The Makerspace) 1:10 PM-4:00 PM: The Wiz VR Experience. (Visualization Lab) ☺1:25 PM-2:15 PM: Mark West, Katharine Kittredge, J. L. Bell, Walter Squire, Paige Gray, Angelica Shirley Carpenter, Gita Dorothy Morena, and Dina Massachi talk about their book, The Characters of Oz, in a panel moderated by Jane Albright. (Halton Reading Room) ☺2:20 PM-2:50 PM: Jason Black and Jeff Walker unpack scenes from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Wizard of Oz concerning the promise of discovering one’s “fantastical home” and “chosen family” as equipment for living in an uncertain and hazardous world. (Halton Reading Room) 3:00 PM-3:30 PM: Megan Lynn Isaac talks about the intersection of public authority and gender across the fourteen Oz novels. (Halton Reading Room) 3:00 PM-4:00 PM: Janet K. Lee demonstrates how to draw Oz Characters. (The Makerspace) ☺3:30 PM-4:00 PM: J. L. Bell talks about governmental authority and the long line of literary scholarship about Oz as a utopia, to indicate patterns and show the meaning of monarchy in Baum’s Oz. (Halton Reading Room) 4:00 PM-7:00 PM: Free time for Club convention registrants! We will make our way back to the hotel, dinner on your own (or with friends!), and prepare for the next event of the evening! 7:30 PM-9:00 PM: As part of the larger CharlOz Festival, the Charlotte Symphony will be delivering a sweeping orchestral backing of the beloved 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, being shown at the Belk Theatre (a two-minute walk from the convention hotel). Tickets for this are part of the Dorothy’s Adventurer’s Pass registration! After the show, anyone interested will be able to join Club member Zoe O’Haillin-Berne for “Oz After Dark”—an opportunity to stay out a little late and enjoy our time together in Charlotte! Saturday, September 28 All-day events: Vendors, themed food and drinks, and events at the Market at 7th Street. Land of Oz exhibition (self-guided) running in the Projective Eye Gallery. Student art exhibition ‘Oz Illustrations’ (self-guided) running in the Popp Martin Student Union Art Gallery on the UNC Charlotte Main Campus. ♦♦Kids’ Programming: Special CharlOz Scavenger Hunt throughout ImaginOn. ♦♦Kids’ Programming: Special CharlOz crafts in the Story Jar Area in ImaginOn Please note: The majority of Saturday’s events will be held at ImaginOn: the Joe and Joan Martin Center, which is a three-minute walk from the convention hotel. ☺10:00 AM-10:05 AM: Dina Massachi, Project Director of CharlOz, welcomes everyone. ☺10:05 AM-11:00 AM: Eric Shanower, Amy Chu, and Janet K. Lee discuss Oz in comics in a panel moderated by Michael Kobre. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦10:30 AM-11:00 AM: Family Storytime: The Wizard of Oz features stories, songs, and movement activities. (Spangler Library) 11:05 AM-12:00 PM: Amy Chu and Janet K. Lee talk about their Sea Sirens and Sky Island graphic novels and Danielle Paige talks about her Dorothy Must Die series. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦11:30 AM-12:00 PM: Puppet Show: No Place Like Home includes puppet shows, songs, and movement activities. (Spangler Library) 12:00 PM-12:30 PM: Oz Club auction preview 12:05-PM-12:30 PM Book signings (Wells Fargo Theatre) 12:30 PM-4:00 PM: Oz Club auction, with Club auctioneer Bill Thompson ☺12:35 PM-1:30 PM: Eric Shanower talks about his work in Oz and Angelica Shirley Carpenter talks about her L. Frank Baum and Matilda Gage biographies. (Wells Fargo Theatre) 1:35 PM-3:30 PM: James Ortiz’s The Woodsman, with Q&A and puppet display. (Wells Fargo Theatre) ♦♦2:00 PM-3:00 PM: Story Explorers: Meet The Land Of Oz explores stories in creative ways and features special guests from the Land of Oz. (Spangler Library) 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: Laura DeNooyer, “My Love Affair with L. Frank Baum (don’t tell Maud) and Recipe for a Delicious Novel” 5:00 PM-5:45 PM: Jane Albright, “Oz Dolls: 120 Years of Dorothy and Friends” 6:30 PM-8:00 PM: Gala rooftop dinner with all our Oz friends! Click here to learn how you can “Give What You Can!” to support our present and future and enjoy a face-to-face dinner with a fabulous Oz-lebrity! 8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Michael Raabe, “OZ: A New Musical” 9:00 PM-10:00 PM: Randy Schmidt, “Mysteries of Oz: 85 Questions Answered” Sunday, September 29 All-day events: Themed food, drinks, and events at the Market at 7th Street. Land of Oz exhibition (self-guided) running in the Projective Eye Gallery. Student art exhibition ‘Oz Illustrations’ (self-guided) running in the Popp Martin Student Union Art Gallery on the UNC Charlotte Main Campus. Please note: The majority of Sunday’s events will be held at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, which is an eight-minute walk from the convention hotel. ☺10:00 AM-10:05 AM: Dina Massachi, Project Director of CharlOz, welcomes everyone. (Auditorium 1) 10:05 AM-10:35 AM: Hiroe Suzuki talks about male characters in the Oz series who show care capability. (Auditorium 2) ☺10:05 AM-12:05 PM: Watch the premiere of His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz, with music provided by Ethan Uslan, and stay for Nate Barlow’s talk about his restoring process. (Auditorium 1) ☺10:40 AM-11:10 AM: Judy Bieber analyzes representations of protective and nurturing father figures, and examines depictions of heteronormative marriage, which are infrequent and none too flattering. (Auditorium 2) 11:15 AM-11:45 AM: Laurence Brenner explores the movie Return to Oz as a treatise on trauma, memory, and mental health. (Auditorium 2) 11:50 AM-12:20 PM: Holly Humes and Vibiana Cvetkovic talk about the adaptation of the original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into the novel The Hunger Games and the adaptation of the 1939 MGM Oz film into the 2012 film The Hunger Games. (Auditorium 2) 12:10 PM-1:05 PM: Virginia Kantra talks about what it means for Dorothy Gale to be one of the first American heroines. (Auditorium 1) ☺12:25 PM-12:55 PM: Eric Gjovaag looks at how math shows up in Oz, and also how Oz can be used to teach math. (Auditorium 2) 1:00 PM-1:55 PM: UNC Charlotte Musical Theatre Students Ezra DeVane, Reem Nour, Caitlin O’Hagan, Izzy Oyler, and Trinity Turner perform a set of Oz songs. (Auditorium 2) 1:10 PM-2:10 PM: Shundra Allison, Elizabeth Cochrane, Jashonai Payne, Marian Myers, and Lynne Wiesecke discuss creating and implementing Oz curriculum in a panel moderated by Scott Gartlan. (Auditorium 1) 2:00 PM-4:00 PM: Walter Squire introduces The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz film, which will be subsequently shown. (Auditorium 2) 2:15 PM-3:15 PM: Gita Dorothy Morena, the great-granddaughter of L. Frank Baum, the great-granddaughter of Matilda Gage shares personal stories about the impact of this powerful lineage. (Auditorium 1) ☺3:20 PM-3:50 PM: Dina Massachi and Mark West talk about their new Oz publication. (Auditorium 1) 4:00 PM-6:00 PM: Reception for Land of Oz exhibition.
Convention 2024: Vendor Information
Are you interested in being a vendor at this year’s Oz, the National Convention? First, huge thanks this year to our partners at CharlOz and The Market at 7th Street for supporting vendors this year! To fill out an application form, please click here or email [email protected]. We can’t wait to showcase local artisans and all kinds of Ozzy goodies! To register for the 2024 Oz, the National Convention, click here!
April Showers Bring…
…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