Quest Diva and Maker of Magic
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January 2009
THE LEAKY QUILL
Letter from the Editor - Josh, CHARMS Contributor, Communications Committee
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Kenourios Chronos! Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2009! We hope you all had a festive holiday season full of magic and love. As we move into the new year, I find myself thinking about Janus, the Roman god for whom January is named. Janus had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back, and in January we find ourselves doing the same. I look back with joy and fondness at time spent at conferences I’ve attended in the past.
Now, I can I look forward to LeakyCon! It’s happening folks and it’s THIS YEAR! What began as a tiny idea has sprung into what will surely be Leaky’s most successful charity event ever! We hope you are looking forward to the most exciting part: giving back. We’re resolving to do good in the world and supporting two fabulous charities is a great way to start. We hope LeakyCon will inspire your resolutions in the same way. We’re moving into 2009 lead by the spirit of love, hope, and giving. We’re happy to have you along for the ride.
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A Conversation with HPAlliance founder Andrew Slack - Edward
A few months back, I was lucky enough to sit down with HP Alliance founder Andrew Slack and discuss with him the multifaceted operation that he started over three years ago. Working towards the next stage of charitable endeavors at the upcoming LeakyCon 2009 and on many other avenues, Slack gives us a look into what he has planned for the coming years in the Harry Potter fandom. As with any story, it can only start at the beginning:
Six years ago Andrew Slack was fresh out of college and looking for something. He would not know what that something was until he got a recommendation for a book. That book was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Instantly, Slack remembers, it changed his life. “The books really took me away to a very special place, that sort of special, sacred place that you're in when you're reading a book that you love so much and it touches you so deeply."
Not knowing much about the fandom, he simply read because he enjoyed the story. However, something struck him while reading Dumbledore's message to Fudge on the eve of Lord Voldemort's return in Book Four. To Slack, this was a message that our world needed too.
“He was almost laying out what our world needs to do…There was a bridge made in Book Four where they introduced the international community. And we begin to get an understanding of how the larger magical society works in Book Four. It's here where I started seeing these parallels.”
The question of fighting the wrong in this world was never one that Slack needed to think about. The real question was how to do it, and during a late night meeting in his kitchen after a Harry and the Potters concert, it would all come to him. To explain how he sees the fight, Slack parallels wizard crises with our own.
Slack speaks most eloquently of one of the most prevalent and topical parallels to the wizarding world: racism. Whether it be against Muggles or those of a different blood status, the wizarding world saw the same sort of sentiment against different people as some do in our non-magic world. Another topic which spurred the connection between the two worlds was the issue of a person, muggle or wizard, having to hide the true selves. Half-Giant Hagrid, Werewolf Lupin, even wizard Harry were forced to hide who they were. Slack reminds us that “Harry was literally forced to live inside a closet because of his identity.” To Slack, this kind of oppression spoke to the struggles still evident in the gay rights arena.
Faced with the many parallels, such as with gay rights, the courts, prisons, and human rights in the wizard and muggle world, Slack asked himself where are the people who would stand up and fight for those who could not defend themselves? The answer was simple. “The real Dumbledore’s of the world are inside of us,” Slack says.
Then, like Harry did in the fifth book, Slack started his own Dumbledore's Army, with an eye to changing the world. He named his organization the HP Alliance, or HPA as it is commonly known among fans.
According to Slack, the purpose of the HPA is for people to break through a "muggle mindset" in order to open a dialogue and fight against the injustices taking place in our world today. “In a way, breaking through platform 9 ¾ is a way of breaking from your own muggle mindset."
In part two of this interview, we will discuss further with Mr. Slack how exactly an individual can break through the platform and how you can help by coming to LeakyCon 2009 in Boston next May. Visit the HP Alliance at http://www.theHPAlliance.org
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Wizard Rock It Out! - Lisa
The spring air will be wrocking and rolling with our fantastic lineup of Wizard Wrock bands for LeakyCon 2009. As the amazing Wizard Rock Coordinator Matt Maggicomo of the Whomping Willows told us, “The lineup for LeakyCon is amazing! …We've managed to find twelve bands who have been involved in the development and perpetuation of the wizard rock community, and who have also developed a reputation for putting on excellent live shows. We've split up the wizard rock performances into three shows, and each will have its own unique theme and feel to the lineup.” Here’s the schedule of wiz rocking events:
Thursday, EVIL NIGHT, 8pm to midnight: Draco and the Malfoys, The Parselmouths, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills, Swish and Flick
Friday, THE ROCK SHOW 8pm to midnight: Harry and the Potters, The Whomping Willows, Gred and Forge, Tonks and the Aurors
Saturday, (title to be announced) 1pm to 5pm: The Remus Lupins, The Moaning Myrtles, The Mudbloods, Riddle TM
The Wizard Rock events will be held in the majestic castle adjacent to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. But the experience will be more than music and ambiance. As Matt explains, “I also think the friendships that have developed between these bands will contribute greatly to the atmosphere and chemistry of each show. If conference-goers are seeing wizard rock for the first time, they will be amazed with how many collaborations occur on stage. It's basically like a bunch of friends getting together and rocking out, except that it's on a huge stage in front of 1,000 excited Potter fanatics!”
We couldn’t agree more. Thanks to the Wizard Rock community for supporting the charitable event. Remember, admission to all these concerts is PART OF YOUR REGISTRATION PRICE. You will not need to purchase additional tickets to go to any of these shows if you are a LeakyCon 2009 guest. Enjoy!
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Proposal Deadline coming soon! - Lisa
Calling all presenters! The deadline for proposal submission is February 1st! Be sure to get your submission for any of our programming tracks by that date so you can be a part of the fun and excitement in Boston this May. Submitting a proposal is easy, just go t the LeakyCon website and on the Programming page you will find the links to all the different tracks (Formal, Informal and Youth).
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Get Registered Now! - Lisa
Why, you ask? The rates will increase as of February 1st to the full conference rate of $199. If you, or your friend, are waiting to the last minute to register before the rate increase, now is the time! Get your conference rate at the reduced amount of $185 before the next increase goes into effect!
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(W)rocking Around the Christmas Tree - Farrah LeWinde
Happy Holidays, crickets! I hope your winter festivities were just as joyous and intoxicating as mine. I spent oodles of time shimmying around the Christmas Tree to the dulcet tones of Jingle Spells 2. If you haven’t nabbed it yet, what are we going to do with you? Luckily, it is still be available on iTunes with proceeds going to charity. So give back by giving something to yourself, and enjoy the music!
Speaking of Wrockers, this year’s LeakyCon line up reminds me of my own past with musicians. Let me tell you my little corn cobs, they’re not all they’re cracked up to be. Sure the music is great and the parties are fun, but can you ever get one to open a door for you? Or will they ever pull out your chair? Never!
Wrockers, however, are of a completely different breed. They concentrate on making sure the fans get the most out of the concert experiences, and are so giving! My New Year’s resolution, cherubs, is to have nab me a Wrocker at LeakyCon. Be sure to watch for me at the concerts! I’ll be the one with a Wrocker on each arm, dancing the night away!
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Apr 15 2009, 11:53 PM
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