What Is Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc. (MCFI)?
Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc. (MCFI) was created in 1974 by the people who ran the first Noreascon. Its purpose was to bid for a Boston Worldcon in 1980, which became Noreascon Two (1980). MCFI later ran Noreascon Three (1989), and Noreascon Four (2004).
MCFI ran Smofcon 40 in December 2023, in Providence, RI.
Post-con Online memberships are available at https://smofcon40.org/registration-information/ for $25.
MCFI also ran Smofcon 3 (1986), Smofcon 15 in 1997, Smofcon 25 in 2007, Smofcon 35 in 2017, Ditto 11 in Newport, RI, November 6-8, 1998, and the 25th World Fantasy Convention in Providence, RI, November 4-7, 1999.
MCFI hosted Costume-Con 37, March 22-25, 2019, at the Boston North Shore DoubleTree in Danvers, MA (just eight miles from Salem!)
We have been gathering for a relaxing weekend at the Corsair and Cross Rip Oceanfront Hotel in Dennisport, MA.
- Relaxacon 2021, October 15-17, 2021
- Relaxacon 2022, May 13-15, 2022
- Relaxacon 2023, October 13-15, 2023
- Relaxacon 2024, October 4-6, 2024
- Relaxacon 2025 will be October 1-5, 2025 at the Corsair and Cross Rip Oceanfront Hotel in Dennisport, MA.
MCFI also ran several Worldcon bids, including Boston for Orlando in 2001 and Boston in 2004.
MCFI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation.
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MCFI has developed a Code of Conduct, which applies to our meetings and conventions. The MCFI By-Laws and Articles of Organization are available online. |
Noreascon Services to Science Fiction & Fantasy Conventions
Some proceeds from Noreascon Four went to buy and continue to maintain and upgrade four sets of audio-visual equipment. Noreascon continues to support science fiction and fantasy conventions through loans of this audio-visual equipment to other related fannish and science fiction and fantasy non-profit groups to support their meeting and convention activities. Arrangements, including supervision by an MCFI member, transport, repair/replacement of breakages, and scheduling, are worked out on an individual basis. Recent Noreascon services supported other Worldcons (including Loncon3, Lonestarcon3, Chicon7, and Renovation), local and regional events and conventions (including Arisia, Balticon, Boskone, Heliosphere, Lunacon, Mysticon, and the SCA). Requests for equipment specs and/or services should send email to N4Equipment (a t) mcfi (d o t) org or, if necessary, contact an MCFI Officer.
Meetings
Our annual meeting was held on November 1, 2023, 8:00 pm on Zoom. Meetings have also been held on Skype or GoToMeeting.
Officers of MCFI
Our officers for 2023-2024 are:
- President: Rick Kovalcik
- Treasurer: Saul Jaffe
- Secretary: Sharon Sbarsky
Current Members
MCFI members have worked on many conventions, including Boskone, Arisia, Readercon, Anime Boston, Albacon, Lunacon, Philcon, Balticon, Confluence, OryCon, Minicon, Westercon, CostumeCon, Smofcon, NASFiC, World Fantasy Con and of course, many Worldcons. As a group, many of us managed the Iguanacon (1978) Masquerade, ConStellation (1983) sales to members, LoneStarCon 1 (Austin 1985) Art Show, MagiCon (1992) Exhibits Division, and ran the L.A.con III (1996) Art Show.
MCFI members control the activities of the organization, technically by a majority vote (or greater, for some issues), but generally by consensus. MCFI's membership is drawn from most of the convention-running groups in the Boston area, with members involved in Arisia, Boskone, Readercon, and MASSFILC.
The following are members of MCFI:
Dave Anderson, Bonnie Atwood, Ted Atwood, Judy Bemis, Anna Bradley, Seth Breidbart, Elaine Brennan, Ann Broomhead, Dave Cantor, Elisabeth Carey, Gay Ellen Dennett, Naomi Fisher, David G. Grubbs, Lisa Hertel, Chip Hitchcock, Saul Jaffe, Michael Kerpan, Deborah A. King, Rick Kovalcik, Jenny Kraus, Paul Kraus, Alexis Layton, Anthony R. Lewis, Suford Lewis, Paula Lieberman, Jim Mann, Tim Roberge, Sharon Sbarsky, Geri Sullivan, Tim Szczesuil, Gail Terman, Leslie J. Turek, and Ben Yalow.
Visit some of our favorite links.
We still have some souvenirs from various Noreascons and Smofcons for sale.
