Thank you for the great write-up on the trip to Lawrence and Fandom-Rocks. I was so glad to see your idea about expanding the campaigns to encompass other fan groups. One of the reasons we chose the name ‘Fandom Rocks’ is because we recognized that this is something that could easily grow and encompass other purposes and fan groups. (Or, likewise, wither away if we limit ourselves too much) It is definitely something we were aware of from the beginning.

It was a pleasure to meet you and chat for a brief time. Who knew I would run into two former-Illinoisans while in Lawrence? (George being the other.)

Thanks again,
Dana

For those interested in seeing the interview, it is available here, here, here, and here.

Thanks so much for your kind words. Dana was very glad to see people arrive at the shelter this weekend, and to be greeted so warmly.

Dana and I both come from fandom backgrounds (BROWNCOATS!), so we’ve seen what fans can organize, given the incentive and the desire.

Unfortunately, we’ve also seen the reverse – and how fans and fandoms can degenerate and create their own negative impressions of fans, fandom in general and of their show.

We love Supernatural (and is it any wonder?) and our fandom. It is a place where we both have made a great number of new friends worldwide. We wanted to show people that fans, fandom, and the expanding internet culture didn’t divide people, but united them in new ways. We also wanted to find a way to promote the show and our fandom positively. What better way to do that than to pick up the show’s banner of “saving people” and working on the local and internation level to assist our fellow man (and creatures great and small)?

I was fortunate enough about a month ago to meet Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) by chance in a club where he was relaxing with friends. Despite the fact that he was just there to have a good time, he was gracious enough to talk to me for about… 15 minutes or so, about FR and what we were doing. He was very appreciative and interested, even asking for our website address to check out later.

After that and the letters we have had delivered to Kim Manners, Eric Kripke, Jensen and Jared Padalecki, we can definitely say that the cast and crew of Supernatural DO know about our efforts on their behalf. While we don’t have official support right now, there’s always hope for the future. At the least, they aren’t upset by what we’re doing.

Dana, Rebecca and I are in this for the “long haul”, though without the support of the fans, we’d never have gotten this far. If anyone really deserves the “kudos”, it’s the fans at large. Had they not stepped up and trusted 3 “upstarts with an idea” with their hard-earned funds, we’d still just be sitting around with an idea and nothing to show for it.

It’s nice to think that maybe someday our fans will take it upon themselves to do something like this spontaneously. That would be awe-inspiring.

If you’re interested in the auction, you can read about it here: http://www.projectarctic.com/wwf

The Sentinel fandom has an auction every year for the Moonridge Animal Park. Moonridge even named their annual big fundraiser event ‘Sentinel Day’ because of the support that the Sentinel fanbase.

Just two more examples for your list. I am sure there are others.