A Browncoat is a fan of the works of writer/director/producer Joss Whedon, specifically the short lived television series
Firefly and its film adaptation
Serenity. The term "browncoat" refers to the brown dusters worn by rebels in
Firefly's back story as they fought the attempts of the Alliance to unify the solar system under one rule and one way of thinking. We have adopted the term to represent ourselves as an international family of fans who believe in quality writing and fictional entertainment that truly means something to those it touches. We fight a modern media that tells us what to think and how to feel. "They're in our homes and in our heads, and they haven't the right." (River Tam,
Serenity). Browncoats are more than a fandom; we have grown far beyond the thirteen episodes and single movie that brought us together. We are a community, a lifestyle, and most of all a close family of folks with common ideology.
Although we are based in Arizona, our group has spread across the country in part due to our lively online community. Locally, most active members are in the greater Phoenix area, but Tucson is home to a growing number of participants and Arizona Browncoats can be found in all parts of the state. We are always looking for active members to host shindigs in other communities.
Once a month we host casual gatherings, or shindigs, both on the east and west side of Phoenix as well as in Tucson. Shindigs allow us to enjoy each other's company while participating in a wide variety of activities ranging from card and board games to screenings of television shows, video games, and even crafts. We use the shindigs to spread the word on the latest group news. In addition to official shindigs, we have even more casual get-togethers on special occasions including birthdays, movie premieres, and even a field trip or two. Check our website and email group for updates on the next shindig.
As a fan group, we also hold charitable fundraising events, such as bake sales or concerts, to benefit those organizations which share the ideology of the Browncoats. Our main effort has been focused on an annual screening of the movie Serenity to raise funds for Equality Now as part of the global Can't Stop the Serenity campaign. In 2006, screenings were held in both Tucson and Phoenix, contributing over $9,000 to the total $65,000 donated. In 2007, we did it bigger and better raising $11,666 between Tucson and Phoenix. Each city donated 20% of their intake to a local women's charity - Tucson donated $1,094 to WFSA and Phoenix donated $1,239 to GIFT. The remaining $9,333 became part of the total $106,000 donated to Equality Now. In addition, we have hosted The Battle of the Bards to raise money for Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital. This event has raised more than $800 over the past two years.
Finally, we have recently taken steps to become a fully functioning non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which opens up new opportunities to meet our charitable goals. Meetings of the general membership and the Board of Directors will take place monthly. General memberships are available right now for $24 per year for a single person, $42 per year for a household, or $240 for a lifetime membership. Membership gives voting rights in the corporate business, but is not required to participate in group events. Check our website and email group for the latest news on our incorporation, voting, events, and meetings.
