Shore Leave (US convention)/2001
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Shore Leave (US convention) |
| Dates: | July 13-15, 2001 |
| Frequency: | |
| Location: | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Type: | |
| Focus: | multi-fandom |
| Organization: | |
| Founder: | |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Shore Leave is an annual fan-run convention that takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
It was founded by the Star Trek Association of Towson which continues to run it. The first convention took place in 1979; the con was still running as of 2025.
The con's focus was initially on Star Trek, but it has since broadened to include other science fiction media.
2001: Shore Leave 23
It took place July 13-15, 2001 at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn.
The chair was Kett Kettering.
Lost badges which used to be $5 now cost $20!
Guests of honor: Nichelle Nichols, Bruce Boxleitner, Erin Gray, Jerry Doyle, Celeste Yarnall, Mary Kay Adams, France Nuyen, Paul Carr, Linda Harrison, Greg Cox, Ann C. Crispin, Peter David, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Tim DeHaas, Robert Greenberger, Michael Jan Friedman, Jeffrey Lang, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Marco Palmieri, Polly Luttrull and T.A. Chafin, Roberta Rogow, Lawrence Schoen, Howard Weinstein, Joan Winston, Sonia Hillios, Kirk Borne, Helen Hart, Massimo Stiavelli, Loretta McKibben, Al Schultz, Ray Villard, Thomas Woodward, Patti Papineau, Mojo, Tye Bourdony, Bill Fogarty, Boogie Knights, and Zenbock and the Galactic Boogie Band.
From "Rabbit Tracks" by the chair, printed in the program book:
Where were you thirty-five years ago? Even within the Shore Leave Committee there are a variety of answers. Some of us are old enough to remember watching Classic Trek's original episodes as young adults. Others were allowed to stay up to watch Trek, the only show that they could stay up late to watch. Still others hadn't even been thought of yet, but if they had been here thirty-five years ago they would have been Trek fans.Thirty-five years ago Star Trek started something that is affecting lives to this day. It is much, much, more than a television show. For many of us it has become a way of life.
The first conventions in New York were the start of organized fandom. Eventually other conventions were put on in other parts of the country and around the world. The fans began to join clubs. Starfleet chapters and other fan groups were established.
Twenty-three years ago Shore Leave began. It began as a small, no-celebrity convention. It has grown to what you see today. We owe all of this to Star Trek.
Some fans prefer other Science Fiction shows over Star Trek. Even Babylon 5 fans, or fans of other shows, have to admit that they owe a debt of gratitude to Star Trek. The Star Trek conventions have given them an avenue to see stars of all of their favorite shows.
Outside of the conventions there are many other ways that Star Trek has affected the lives of its fans. Check out the web pages sometime. If you spent a lifetime you couldn't get to them all. The strong feelings that fans have toward Star Trek have helped to create friendships that cross oceans and all racial, religious, and sociological boundaries.
Thirty-five years ago Star Trek, a Science Fiction television series, first aired. Thirty-five years later we are here to celebrate that series and all that has come from it. Welcome all of you, our fellow fans ... no, our friends. .. and we ask that you help us to celebrate Star Trek's 35th Anniversary with us.
From the program book, the autograph rules and policies:
- 1. Official Autograph sessions are planned for Saturday and Sunday.
- 2. The Autograph line will be formed as badge numbers are announced. Lowest numbers are called and form the line first. Individuals with disabilities who need special accommodations to receive an autograph should report to the front of the line when the number range for their badge number is announced.
- 3. One autograph, per guest, per day, per membership, during the official autograph sessions. This is subject to on-site agreement with the guests. Generally, no personalization is allowed.
- 4. No posed photographs with the guests during the official autograph sessions. NO flash photography allowed.
- 5. Autographs are not guaranteed.
- 6. Please note: Some guests will be charging a fee for autographs. Only the actors in the official autograph session will be signing free of charge. Most actors will sign the program book free of charge.
2001: Programming
The list below is very incomplete.
- Showcase: Con Skit: Episode MST-ed: TOS: “Plato’s Stepchildren” by Mystery Trekkie Theater (see for more information on the con's skits in general)
- Boogie Knights
- Workshop: American Sign Language by Patti Papineau and Debbie Clarke ("A free introduction to basic American Sign Language will be offered featuring video and live presentations.")
- Workshop: Art by Gayle Freyman ("There will be a free Art Workshop for beginning and advanced artists during the weekend. Let Gayle prove to you that anyone can draw!")
- Workshop: Screenwriting by Howard Weinstein and others ("Screenwriting Workshop 2001 will be an information free-for-all. Bring your questions and curiosity - and writers Howard Weinstein and his colleagues will help you find the answers. We'll cover whatever you want to know about and offer practical tips on any and all topics, including characters, plot structure, dialog, format - as well as the business of writing (and maybe selling!) for TV and movies. If you have a favorite scene in a favorite movie, bring your VHS tape and share it with the group for analysis and discussion. The more you participate, the more you'll get out of this year's workshop.... We will meet for two hours on Saturday and two hours on Sunday, with different material covered each day. So plan to attend as much of the four hours as you can. There is a $5 registration fee (to be donated to the convention charities).")
- Workshop: Writers by Ann C. Crispin ("During this year's workshop, Ann will discuss in her lecture, among other things, the new publishing venues that have recently opened up for new writers, including electronic and print-on-demand opportunities. The cost is $35 for the lecture, and an additional $5 for the critique. In order to obtain a critique you must attend the lecture, but you may attend the lecture without obtaining a critique. Please note that manuscripts should already be received for the critique.")
- Workshop: T'ai Chi by Erin Gray ("Erin Gray will demonstrate and teach the basic moves of this ancient art. She is an experienced teacher of T'ai Chi. Erin will guide students in breathing properly and in the flowing beginning movements of T'ai Chi for flexibility and strength. Please wear comfortable clothes. The cost is $10, by preregistration or at the door (depending on space availability).")
2001: Gallery of Ephemera and Samples from the Program Book
from the 2001 program book
from the 2001 program book
from the 2001 program book
2001: General Con Reports
[need some]
2000: Con Reports by K/S Fans
Note that most of the art auction reports, skits, art show, and discussions described by K/S fans in the letterzine, The K/S Press and Usenet (specifically alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated) did not happen in public venues, but instead at the annual K/S Press room parties and other places. In fact, many K/S fans did not attend much of the official programming, but were there as part of a "con within a con."
The first gathering of K/S fans I attended was Shore Leave in 2001. Quite frankly, at first I was very intimidated and in awe of almost everyone I met. I was meeting all of these authors and artists and editors that I admired and I was such a huge fan of their work. I felt like getting autographs!However, everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I had a phone message from Jenna when I arrived, my roommates (who I had never met before) were wonderful and included me in everything they did and introduced me around, I was invited to room parties right away, and I quickly felt at ease. So it was really just my own insecurities that made me feel a bit intimidated at first. (Before the con, thoughts were running through my mind like “I’m not creative, I’m not an author or artist or editor, what will I talk about, I just discovered K/S a few years ago and some of these people have been fans forever, I’ve been away from Star Trek for so many years that I can’t even remember all the episodes that well,” etc.)
I didn’t really know what to expect of conversations with fans at Shore Leave. I had lurked for several years on ASCEML but rarely posted. Partly because the depth and wide ranging nature of the discussions often left me feeling like I had nothing to contribute. I really felt that my newbie status as a K/S fan, and my many years away from Star Trek left me at a disadvantage. And another reason was due to several very nasty flamewars that were waged while I was lurking [1]. I finally gave up on ASCEML due to those flamewars, but found some other online discussion groups (several Yahoo groups) that were much friendlier in their discussions. Since I also had positive online experiences conversing with other K/S fans, I was really looking forward to meeting my online friends who attended, and I wanted to meet the people who contributed to the KSP.
[...]
The first year I attended no official convention functions other than the art auction. I was too busy meeting and talking with other K/S fans, and buying sixty K/S zines in a mad zine buying frenzy! The private sales were a revelation to me — I hit them all the first morning before the dealer's room opened. The next time I went to Shore Leave there were two K/S panels as part of the official convention schedule, so of course I attended both of those. Went to the art auction, saw a couple of ST episodes and a blooper reel, saw a tiny bit of the masquerade and that was about it. Now I knew many K/S fans I wanted to see, so the official programming was even less important to me.
The high point of Shore Leave is always visiting with other K/S fans. I don’t know anyone in my real life who I can talk with about K/S. While I can talk all I want about K/S in my Yahoo discussion groups, there’s nothing to compare to actually talking with fellow K/S fans in person.
I always love the KSP party. The art is incredible and the art auction is always so much fun. I had never seen a songvid before Shore Leave, and I got a great introduction to them at the first KSP party I attended. Every Shore Leave there has always been amazing songvids to watch at the KSP party. I had never even heard of filking, and was introduced to it by some K/S fans with remarkable voices. There’s always so much going on — art auction, vids, singing, great food, zines for sale, collectibles to admire and/or buy, a great K/S themed cake, K/S jewelry and other K/S items for sale, people wearing great K/S T-shirts, etc., etc.
[When I had to leave at the end of the weekend] At first I was depressed! I felt like I had been in some fabulous alternate universe that I now had to leave, and I wasn’t ready for the whole experience to be over yet. And I couldn’t talk to anyone in my real life about what a fabulous, unique and incredible adventure I’d had.
It was a real let down when I first got home, but fortunately I had my online friends (some of whom had also been to Shore Leave) and that really helped ease the transition back to the real world. I had a lot of zines to read when I got home and then had LOC’s for the KSP that I wanted to write. I had people to correspond with, songvids to watch, etc. After my first Shore Leave convention I just immersed myself in K/S and spent much of my free time involved in various K/S activities. [2]
References
- ^ These were probably Alt.startrek.creative Slash Wars (1997), On "Turning Point" and "Full Circle" (1999), Slash versus non-slash (2000)
- ^ by Linda B., Convention Memories: Shore Leave (2007)