It's a new year and people are asking me what my themes, goals, expectations and ideas are for 2011.  Well, I have a lot of them.  Primarily, I want people to recruit with a vengeance.  We need more Browncoats.  We can always do better and one of the ways to do that is to focus on some unsung strengths.    Example:  Affiliate Events.   Now, I'm a big fan of city screenings.  I make no apologies about that.  The big screenings raise the big funds.  They're great fun and they have some brilliant venues, guests and activities.  I love 'em, but I also like the affiliate events and what they can bring to the table. I really think this is the year of the affiliate event.  We have our big city gatherings and we should, but we have so many little towns and modest Browncoat groups that never get into the mix because they don't have a theater to show a screening or can't afford one or just don't feel that they have the time and the gumption to throw a gathering together.  Not true. If you have a big room in your house for throwing parties, then you have an affiliate venue.  If you have a backyard (with or without a pool), then you have an affiliate venue.  If you have access to a community center, church space, old barn, unused warehouse, circus tent, reasonably comfortable cave, bomb shelter, empty attic space, historic village, music hall, home theater, abandoned tract of public land, city or state park or just a good sized porch, you have an affiliate ve

Can’t Stop the Serenity is proud to announce that over the past 5 years,we have been able to donate $530,000 (and counting) to charity! Since the first CSTS events in 2006, we have raised over $500,000 for Equality Now. Our events have also raised over $31,000 for other charities. We have had events in 90 cities in nine different countries, and this year marked the fifth annual event for many of these cities. Thank you to all our sponsors, organizers, and participants, for contributing to this tremendous success! We deeply appreciate your commitment in generosity in helping us to support the rights of women and girls worldwide.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors and the amazing generousity of our supporters, we are delighted to announce that the 2010 round of global auctions has raised over $4,000 for Equality Now! The final total raised is being finalised as we speak, and we'll be adding it to our ever growing 2010 Global Donation Total soon. Thank you to everyone who bid on the awesome goodies, and congratulations to the lucky winners! We know that you'll be enjoying your winnings for many years to come.

We have a winner for the Kids Need to Read Drawing! Congratulations to Browncoat Meghan Harrod from Aurora, Colorado! Kids Need to Read has generously agreed to donate $1000 of books to a school or other worthy organization in Meghan’s honor. KNTR and Meghan will work together to choose a worthy recipient. We’d like to extend our thanks to Kids Need to Read for their generosity! Also thank you to everybody who signed up for the CSTS Broadwaves! Together we can keep working for the cause in the future.

Can't Stop the Serenity 2010 is coming to a close, but there's still once last chance for you to support Equality Now and win fantastic prizes! We're auctioning off a whole host of amazing prizes, generously donated by our wonderful global sponsors. We'd love you to spread the signal to those in the black, so please tell your friends, fellow Whedon fans and anyone who'll listen. Click here to check out the array of goodies on offer! And while you're here, why not check out our promo video, featuring Eliza Dusku, Summer Glau and Dichen Lachman signing one of the prizes....

This month's issue of SFX Magazine is focused entirely on Joss Whedon, the Whedonverse and the fandom he has inspired. In addition to exclusive interviews, episode reviews, in-depth reviews of the comics and other jossy goodness is an article on the Whedonverse fandom. Some of our wonderful volunteers were interviewed by SFX Magazine at CSTS San Diego in July - The One True BiX (CSTS Founder), Jen Cummings (Global Steering Committee Chair) and CSTS Organisers James Riley and Michael Doherty. Thank you to everyone at SFX Magazine for shining a light on our little fan charity enterprise. Grab your copy this week from local retailers or order online!