News from 2007 and 2008 has been archived here.

Jun 18, 2009

In 2008, we put together a big damn bag unique to Austin's Can't Stop The Serenity event! It was such a success, that we're making it a tradition. Simply put, this bag is one of everything! Valued at over $150.00. We only have 10 of these, and once they're gone, they're gone for good!

Big Damn Bag - $100

Contents include:

• 1 ticket to the Austin CSTS Event of Choice
• 1 Official 2009 Global Can’t Stop The Serenity T-Shirt, Men’s
• 1 Official 2009 Global Can’t Stop The Serenity Poster 11x17
• A special autographed item
• Exclusive artwork commissioned for Austin event
• ...and more, to be announced

To order a Big Damn Bag, visit www.cantstoptheserenity.com/austin/merch.html.

June 18, 2009

The Austin Browncoats and the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek announce Austin's “Can't Stop the Serenity” 2009 event featuring Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

The Austin Browncoats present Austin Can't Stop the Serenity 2009 at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek in Austin, TX on June 28th, 2009 at 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 10:00 PM.

"Can’t Stop the Serenity" is a global fundraising effort featuring charity screenings of Joss Whedon’s 2005 film Serenity to benefit Equality Now. In the last three years, the Austin Browncoats have raised over $16,000, and in total over $160,000 has been raised for Equality Now around the world. You can read all about the global event at www.cantstoptheserenity.com.

This year, in addition to Serenity, we are happy to announce that we will also be hosting the Austin-area big screen premiere of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon's award-winning internet musical sensation.

Fans of Joss Whedon show Serenity on his birthday to honor him and to raise money for his favorite charity, Equality Now. Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. In addition to raising money for Equality Now, we will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the event to The Kids Need to Read Foundation. Kids Need To Read is a children's literacy non-profit organization who will take the money we raise and put it back into Austin's underprivileged schools, libraries and shelters.

Tickets for this event will be $15 in advance and $18 at the door and are now available online. For tickets and other information, visit www.cantstoptheserenity.com/austin

In 2008, we put together a big damn bag unique to Austin's Can't Stop The Serenity event! It was such a success, that we're making it a tradition. Simply put, this bag is one of everything! Valued at over $150.00. We only have 10 of these, and once they're gone, they're gone for good! To order a Big Damn Bag ($100), visit www.cantstoptheserenity.com/austin/merch.html.

About Serenity: A passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship. From the mind of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) comes a new edge-of-your seat adventure loaded with explosive battles, gripping special effects and fantastic new worlds. Serenity is rated PG-13 by the MPAA.

About Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Conceived as an "online miniseries event" during the 2008 writers' strike, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 42-minute musical romp that bears the distinctive stamp of Joss Whedon. Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) plays the title character, who video-blogs about his twin goals to join the Evil League of Evil and to woo the fair Penny (Felicia Day, of Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the web series The Guild), a woman he met at the local laundromat. Dr. Horrible is foiled on both fronts, however, by his archnemesis, the self-absorbed superhero Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion, Whedon's Serenity).

About the Austin Browncoats: Austin Browncoats, founded in 2007, is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt non-profit located in Austin, TX. Austin Browncoats work to end violence and discrimination in all sectors of society. We place special focus on working alongside young women and children because, given the opportunity and proper education, young women and children can help create a better world for all beings. Much like our passion for the amazing works of Joss Whedon, such as "Firefly", we are passionate about our causes and raising funds for our charities, including Equality Now, SafePlace, Heart House and Emancipet. Our website is www.austinbrowncoats.com

Austin CSTS Tickets on Sale!

It's that time again! Time to get ready for Austin's Can't Stop the Serenity! June 28th is the day, but you don't have to wait until then to get your tickets.

That's right! Tickets are on sale now at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek website for all three event showings - 12PM, 5PM, and 10PM. Tickets are $15 if you purchase from the site in advance, and $18 at the door on the day of the event.

We've got our schedule planned out and ready too! Take a look at our theatre page for a peek at what's in store for Austin CSTS 2009.

Proceeds from this year's CSTS Austin are going to Equality Now and The Kids Need to Read Foundation. Kids Need To Read is a children's literacy non-profit organization who will take the money we raise and put it back into Austin's underprivileged schools, libraries and shelters.

Equality Now News Bulletin

Take Action against rape simulator games
and the normalization of sexual violence in Japan

Equality Now has just issued "Women’s Action 33.1 Japan: Rape simulator games and the normalization of sexual violence". The Action focuses on the rape simulator game RapeLay, which is produced and sold in Japan, including through Amazon Japan. The aim of RapeLay is for the player to manipulate the game in order to simulate raping a woman and her two school-aged daughters, one of whom appears to be a young child. Equality Now is calling for the withdrawal from sale in Japan of all games that involve rape, stalking or other forms of sexual violence against women and girls. The Action also urges the Japanese government to take effective measures to overcome negative stereotypical sex-discriminatory attitudes and practices that hinder women’s equality.

Read "Women’s Action 33.1"

To make a contribution to Equality Now, visit the EN website.

Name a Crappy Town Where You're a Hero For Charity

Are you a Browncoat?  Check.

Well, then, you love Firefly and Serenity? Check.

Do you have a crappy town where you're a hero? ...No.

Well, now you can!

Quantum Mechanix (QMx) is sponsoring the "Name the Crappy Town Where You’re a Hero" charity auction. Starting on April 20th, 50 town names will be auctioned via eBay with all proceeds supporting Equality Now. If you win an auction, your name will be submitted, and pending studio approval, will be used in the upcoming official Atlas of the 'Verse, Volume One: The Trader's Guild Guide to the New Canaan Run made by our favorite mild-manner graphic designer, Ben Mund.

Ready to start naming? Here are some guidelines:

• Town name should be 15 characters or less, not including punctuation or spaces.
• No curse words, please.
• Try to avoid obviously jokey or pop-reference names, such as "Bobsville" or "Frakkintown".

Available planets and towns include Ariel, Higgins’ Moon and Sihnon.

The auctions are being run by the Austin Browncoats in support of 2009’s Can’t Stop The Serenity. Visit www.cantstoptheserenity.com to find a screening near you! To find out more about Equality Now, visit http://equalitynow.org. For more information, visit www.quantummechanix.com.

Beth Nelson
Manager, Social Media Marketing and Community Outreach
512-484-9641
beth@quantummechanix.com

Thank you for an amazing year!

Are you ready for what 2009 has in store for us?

What an amazing year 2008 was for Austin Browncoats. Our first full year as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization saw many exciting changes for the better! We invited new Browncoats onto the Board of Directors and watched our charity grow to new heights with the help of an amazing team of volunteers.

In 2008, one of our goals was to grow our name and reputation, by attending more fan driven events. To this end, we decided that conventions would be the best way to get to know the community more, as well as show them what we’re all about. All-Con 2008 was our preliminary foray into being dealers at a convention. To say it went well is an understatement. It was better than expected and showed us that not only is their a huge market for Browncoat-y awesomeness, but that fans, in general, have an amazing sense of generosity. Our raffles were a huge hit at our attended conventions and started causing traffic jams in the dealer’s room! Folks would travel long distance just to hang out at our booth and talk about Firefly, Serenity and all things Joss. As our support grew, so did our inventory of Browncoat goodies.

We had a successful run of event planning, as well. 2008’s Can’t Stop The Serenity was a blast! We raised just under $11,000.00 for Equality Now. Cedric of The Bedlam Bards entertained us, the Alamo Drafthouse served Kaylee’s Strawberry Shortcake and our costume contests saw so many amazing entrants. We also had the honor of running 2008’s Browncoat Ball. With over 100 attendees and three days of fun, food and shininess, our Browncoat Ball was a huge success. We were able to eat delicious verse-y food, learn tricks of the Firefly trade and dance with merriment to the music of The Bedlam Bards and Brobdingnagian Bards. The Ball was a night to remember for all Browncoats in attendance.

We were also lucky to begin a friendship with The Kids Need To Read Foundation (KNTR), a non-profit organization doing great works! They purchase books for libraries, schools and other institutions in need by raising funds through auctions, merchandise sales and collecting donations. KNTR Foundation was the benefactor of our Jayne Hat Knit-A-Thon during Dragon*Con – an event that Browncoats will remember for a long time. We look forward to many more fundraisers in support of KNTR!

2009 shows us that the future holds great things in store for Austin Browncoats. We just opened our online store, Whedon Wares: The Browncoat Store. We’ve developed an entire line of Firefly-inspired tea blends, Sereniteas, and we’re expanding on our Ma Cobb creations, to include our Jayne hat, as well as other handmade goods, like greeting cards.

We are excited to announce that we’re opening up non-voting membership, as well. Want to be a member of Austin Browncoats? Keep your eye on our website for more information.

We hope we can count on your continued support in 2009. We are so excited to be a part of this ‘verse and fandom and look forward to meeting more of you in the future.

Thank you and keep shiny,
Austin Browncoats

Austin Browncoats Send In Equality Now Donation

We sent in our Equality Now donation today, via check and registered mail, to the tune of $8500.00. We are extremely proud of our accomplishments, as well as the generosity of our local Browncoats. There are many people that need to be thanked for their support, assistance, hard work and dedication. To all of my volunteers, this would’ve been impossible without you. Kandace, the best co-emcee and auction slave – thank you for jumping right in to the swing of things. You’re relatively new to our charitable organization and fan group, but you went all in with your amazing energy and spirit. Ryan, Claudia and Jenn, you guys make me so proud. I’ve never met harder working individuals. You sacrificed seeing the Big Damn Movie (twice) in order to make sure that raffle tickets and merchandise were bought, goodie bags were given out and our attendees had everything they needed for an amazing event. Tonja, Steve, Sam, Brenda – you guys were and are my go-to volunteers. You’re always willing to do what needs to be done, and fill whatever role needs filling. I’m so impressed with how willing all of my Browncoats are to take charge and fill leadership roles. I’m reminded every day just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such a talented crew.

Thanks to Cedric of The Bedlam Bards for the incredible entertainment and to the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek for their hospitality and generosity. That strawberry shortcake was divine!

I want to give special thanks to all of our attendees and donors. We know that finances are tighter this year than last, but your continued support and munificence made this staggering donation possible. We look forward to 2009 and hope to see all of you there! Tell your friends and family: if you loved 2008, than you are going to swoon over 2009!

Beth Nelson
Can't Stop The Serenity 2008 - Global Organizer
Austin's Can't Stop The Serenity - Local Organizer