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[ Article crossposted from rec.arts.startrek.current ]
[ Author was Arnie Berger ]
[ Posted on 17 Jul 1994 23:43:34 GMT ]

"Care+Con and Trek fans will "make it so" for Kids 'N Kamp"

Columbus, Oh. CARE+CON COLUMBUS, the world's largest 
charity Star Trek convention, will be held September 16-18, 
1994, in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The 
convention is sponsored by radio station WNCI 97.9 and Star 
Base Columbus to benefit Kids 'N Kamp, a non profit 
organization that assists children with cancer and their families.

"(Trek creator) Gene Roddenberry's vision for the future - 
that if we work together, we can and will make the world a 
better place - is what Care+Con is about," according to 
convention organizer Kim McClain, co-owner of Star Base 
Columbus, a store that specializes in Trek collectibles. 
McClain has been one of the driving forces behind the 
convention idea during more than a year and a half of 
planning. Her motivation has been some very special 
children. "Everyone at Kids 'N Kamp is special.  Like all 
children, they are our future. We need to work together and 
try to make things better for them. This convention has 
come together and will be successful because we are focused 
on that purpose." 

Nineteen Star Trek actors and guests are confirmed to appear 
at Care+Con. McClain said, "Some of the actors called us 
directly when they heard about the convention. They wanted 
to be involved. These are wonderful people, and they truly 
care about the charities they support as well as the fans. 
We expect 8,000 Trek fans from all across the United States 
and Canada during the convention's three days. Our goal is to 
raise enough money for Kids 'N Kamp to build a permanent center 
for the kids - and I've confirmed that it will be named in 
honor of Gene Roddenberry - where they can find 
counselling, understanding, video games - where the 
children can interact as kids having fun, not just as 
cancer patients." 

Trek personalities from all three generations - original Star 
Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space 
Nine - are scheduled for Care+Con. Brisk ticket sales are being 
prompted by fan's anticipation of the end of the Next 
Generation's seven-year mission on syndicated television 
and the first Next Generation movie (seventh in the Trek 
feature film series from Paramount Pictures), which will 
be released nationwide at Thanksgiving.  At least six of
the stars at Care+Con appear in the movie," McClain 
said. "We have two of the film's (and the series') 
writers, Brannon Braga and Ron Moore, joining us with 
series production staffer Lolita Fatjo to conduct their 
Star Trek Writers Workshop. This is the first time that 
 workshop has been available anywhere east of the 
Mississippi." McClain said they hope to have film clips 
of the movie and of Star Trek: Voyager, the new series 
premiering in 1995.  

Exhibits that will fill 160,000 square feet in the  
convention center include an art room, video room and 
dealer's room. More than 100 consumer electronics companies 
will participate in a Technology Showcase, Co-sponsored by 
the Columbus Computer Society, displaying the newest 
developments of the 20th Century that are paving the way to 
the 24th.  Care+Con's centerpiece is an 8,000-seat multimedia 
theater where WNCI radio will conduct interviews with 
the celebrity guests, including audience 
question-and-answer sessions. A costume contest and 
Klingon wedding are sure to delight fans.  

The guest list of Trek Celebrities includes James Doohan 
(Scotty) Marina Sirtis (Troi), Michael Dorn (Worf), George 
Takei (Sulu), Walter Koenig (Chekov), Mark Lenard (Sarek), 
John de Lancie (Q), Robin Curtis (Saavik), Jonathan Del 
Arco (Hugh Borg). Robert O'Reilly (Gowron), Grace Lee 
Whitney (Rand), Camille Saviola (Opaka), Gywnyth Walsh 
(B'Etor), Barbara March (Lursa), Pre-Production 
Assistant Lolita Fatjo, Trek Consultant Richard Arnold, 
and Bjo Trimble, #1 Trek Fan whose letter writing 
campaign in the 1960's helped keep Star Trek on 
television after its first shaky ratings year, will also 
be appearing. Convention organizers are still 
negotiating, so the roster may change several times 
before September.  

Reserved tickets for the three-day CARE+CON COLUMBUS are 
$75 each, are tax deductible and include entrance to all 
convention events except the Writers Workshop tickets are 
an additional $50 each, and seating is limited to 250. 
Tickets can be purchased from the Care+Con Foundation, 
5541 Westerville Road, Suite G, Westerville, Ohio 43081. 
For credit card orders, call (614) 895-7827 Monday through 
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (There is a $2.50 service 
charge on tickets ordered by credit card.) Tickets can also 
be purchased through TicketMaster, (614) 431-3600. The 
Greater Columbus Convention Center is fully handicap accessible.  

Care+Con proceeds benefit Kids 'N Kamp, founded in 
Columbus in 1982 by Beverly Circone. Kids 'N Kamp is a 
nonprofit organization that assists children with cancer 
and their families by providing for their needs such as 
counselling, recreation and much more. The organization 
started by serving 10 families and now has almost 200.  
Its primary activity is "Kamp" where kids get together 
just to be kids and not cancer patients.  In September 
1994, the kids will also have that opportunity at 
Care+Con. Through the generosity of the celebrities, the 
sponsors and the fans, these children will become a part 
of the Star Trek family as well.


--
Arnie Berger 		ahb@infinet.com
Powell Ohio
Internet Sig Leader Columbus Computer Society