About... Us, the Event & Everything
There is much to tell about the history of the 2007 Heinlein Centennial... but we'll boil it down to this. You can also find ongoing discussion among the organizers and attendees on the NitroForum.
About The Kansas City Event
The Heinlein Centennial in Kansas City, Missouri in July 2007 was an event created and sponsored by an independent free association of Heinlein scholars, fans, readers and admirers. Its purpose was to give all those who admire or are interested in Robert Heinlein, his work, his life era and his influence on many fields a place to gather and celebrate the centennial of his birth by sharing information, reminiscences and the pleasure his efforts brought to all. Publicizing Heinlein's life and contributions to a wider audience was a secondary goal, only partly accomplished so far.
The event had wide scope, from the traditional science-fiction fan viewpoint to serious literary investigation of Heinlein's work and techniques and inclusion of the burgeoning commercial spaceflight industry that so closely represents Heinlein's fictional history of space development. No one lucky enough to be there would call it anything but a smashing success on all counts.
About Heinlein Centennial Inc.
Heinlein Centennial Inc. was a California nonprofit corporation, 501(c)(3) status approved (as of November 2007, valid to our founding in May 2005), that was formed to act as the legal and financial backbone of the Centennial event and all succeeding efforts. Neither Heinlein Centennial Inc. nor the event organizing committee were associated with any other group. In particular, this effort has no connection with the Heinlein Prize Trust, Heinlein Heinlein estate, or with The Heinlein Society.
Although its continuation as the useful nucleus for a forward-looking organization was debated, HCI was terminated at the end of 2008.
About Us
Heinlein Centennial Inc., the Centennial organizing committee and the event volunteers were a mix of people with a common interest in seeing that Robert Heinlein was duly celebrated in his Centennial year. Our members included Heinlein's official biographer and two-time Heinlein Scholar; the author of the authoritative bibliography of Heinlein's works; two associates who spent nearly two years in advance planning and development of what became this event; individual members of the Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society and the Heinlein Society; and many other well-known organizers, supporters and contributors.
The Heinlein Centennial was an entirely volunteer-driven event and no person or institution outside those providing commercial goods and services are compensated or remunerated in any way. Every member of the senior organizing staff paid his or her own way, including event registrations, hotel rooms and travel, as did many of the general event volunteers.
The Event Committee
The general organizing committee of the Heinlein Centennial was as follows:
- Event Coordinator
- Executive Committee
- Programming Chair
- Heinlein Centennial Inc.
- Executive Committee
- Heinlein Centennial Inc.
- Executive Committee
- Publications Coordinator
- Gala Manager
- Kansas City Coordinator
- Displays Manager
Timothy Kyger
Peter Scott
Bill Patterson
James Gifford
Tina Black
Keith Kato
...all of whom merely headed and directed the cast of volunteers and workers listed on the Kansas City 2007 page.
Page Updated 04 January 2009