This is post 1 of 7 related posts which together make up our January 9, 2020, DIY, Virtual MonSFFA Meeting, our first of the New Year!

Attention all personnel… Maintain “Red Alert!” All crew confined nightly to quarters until further notice!

1) THE CAPTAIN TRIPS…AND FALLS!

Forgive the strained Stephen King reference and take note that the COVID numbers have come down significantly since the Québec-wide curfew was introduced last month, on the date of our January online meeting. In that span of roughly five weeks, we’ve seen a marked improvement in the situation, the daily number of cases plummeting to more than half of what was charted prior to the implementation of the curfew, which, excepting in a handful of sparsely populated northern regions, remains in effect from 8:00PM to 5:00AM.

Perhaps more importantly, there have been fewer and fewer hospitalizations, as well.

We are by no means out of the woods yet, but the nightly clampdown appears to be successfully stemming the spread of COVID, despite the reported presence, now, of highly communicable variants of the original virus. Neighbouring Ontario, too, is reporting a similar drop in their numbers, seemingly as a result of the elevated restrictions implemented in that province last month. Indeed, right across the country, the virus, while far from routed, is to a large extent in decline. Many regions are slowly, very cautiously beginning to relax safety protocols. Here in Québec, for instance, non-essential stores have reopened while maintaining mask-wearing, hand-sanitizing, and social distancing provisions.

So, yay!

Inoculations have begun across the country and continue, the only dark cloud here being that shipments of vaccines have lately been delayed and/or reduced as European manufacturing facilities are upgraded in order to handle worldwide demand. As a result, we are currently experiencing a bit of a lull regarding reception of Canada’s allocation, and the national distribution of the medication. We will receive our contracted quantity of doses, the Federal government assures us, but just a little later than originally anticipated. Meanwhile, other vaccine candidates are said to be on the verge of Health Canada’s stamp of approval, which will add to our arsenal. Most Canadians will have received their shots by September of this year, the prime minister reiterates, sticking with his initial estimate. Other politicians are not as certain, but that may simply be political manoeuvering, so we choose to remain positive at this time and take the PM at his word.

Hang in there for a while longer, people! Even with the COVID numbers down and vaccines imminent, it’s critically important to keep practising the safety measures with which we have become familiar so that we may all get through this hellish chapter of our collective lives. We are already midway through a difficult winter of self-isolation in our homes and further, an early spring is predicted by Canada’s groundhogs, at least! Yes, we know that reliance on rodent-sourced weather prognostication flies in the face of science and is not much better than the conviction that secret Jewish-controlled space lasers were employed to set off California’s wildfires, but this year in particular, when every day in lockdown feels like that same day all over again, we just need those groundhogs to be right!

2) HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you are fortunate enough to be quarantined with your sweetheart, give him or her a hug! And a kiss! And maybe a little more… Unfortunately, many of us will find ourselves separated from our significant others because of the confinement measures now in place. If that’s your situation, maybe share over Zoom a little romantic poetry, or a heart-shaped chocolate treat each, or a glass of wine. We hesitate to suggest that you share anything more over Zoom, the Internet being what it is!

3) NEW EDITOR FOR CLUB FANZINE WARP

After many years of devoted service as editor of MonSFFA’s fanzine, Warp, Cathy Palmer-Lister has stepped down. Already MonSFFA’s long-serving president and our Webmaster, the club has certainly kept Cathy busy! She felt it time to shake things up a little by bringing a fresh perspective to Warp with the introduction of a new editor.

Danny Sichel has agreed to take on that responsibility and has already begun work on what will be his first issue as editor, Warp 110. He’ll be ably assisted with layout by Valerie Royall.

We thank Cathy so very much for her steerage of Warp these many years, and wish Danny and Valerie all the best as they tackle a new challenge on behalf of the club. We encourage MonSFFen to contribute to the club’s ’zine by submitting reviews, opinion pieces, feature articles, artwork, etc.

4) MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

 We remind club members that MonSFFA will resume the collection of annual membership fees beginning officially in April. We’ll, of course, accept in advance of April any payment of fees due. Read on for all the details…

For much of last year, as you’ve no doubt surmised, the club collected no revenue whatsoever. Nothing. Nada. Not so much as a nickel! We had to cancel our usually lucrative November sci-fi book sale, and we’ve been unable to benefit even from the modest income normally generated by fund-raising raffles and our snack table, staples of the club’s face-to-face monthly meetings. While we have not been shelling out for the major expense of renting physical meeting space, we are still incurring costs, for the Web site, fanzine printings, postal mailings, and now for a Zoom subscription that permits us to hold our extended video chats as part of each month’s virtual meeting. Remember that it takes bucks to maintain all of this Buck Rogers stuff!

Note that every club member active last year will benefit from a full year of fees-free membership.

Simply put, for most of us that means our 2020 renewal dates now become 2021 renewal dates. So if your annual membership fees were due in April 2020, that’s been bumped up a year and they are now due in April 2021. If May 2020 was your renewal month, consider it shifted to May 2021, June 2020 to June 2021, and so on.

We recognize that some MonSFFen had, in fact, paid their fees last year, prior to pandemic lockdowns going into effect and our suspension of in-person meetings. These folk, having paid last year’s fees, then, whether in January, February, or March, will not miss out on their fees-free year. Their annual fees will next become due in January, February, or March of 2022.

And, we welcome any prospective members who may have discovered the club via our virtual meetings and invite them to officially join our ranks.

Note that there is no change to our fee structure. A standard one-year membership is still only $25; the premium Platinum Level membership, $35; a family membership (up to four people, single postal mailing address), $40; and the Platinum Family Level, $50. Make your cheques or money orders out to “MonSFFA” and mail to:

MonSFFA

c/o 4456 Boul. Ste-Rose

Laval, Québec, Canada

H7R 1Y6

We are looking at setting up a means of receiving online payments—PayPal or some such. We’ll announce any such option if and when it comes into effect.

5) TODAY’S MEETING: INTRODUCTION

 As we gather online for this month’s virtual club meeting, we take a moment to reiterate that MonSFFen please take all possible precautions in order to keep themselves as protected from the virus as can be. It is especially important that we not let up on those safety protocols prematurely.

This is our 11th virtual MonSFFA meeting. This afternoon’s get-together will unfold right here on the club’s Web site over the course of the next few hours, beginning with this first post, and followed by subsequent posts at 1:30PM, 1:45PM, 2:45PM, 3:15PM, and 4:15PM, with a concluding post at 4:30PM. All content will also be available concurrently on MonSFFA’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MonSFFA), however, note that the interface best suited for taking in this meeting is this very Web site.

After the success of our trial Zoom session in December, we’re happy to repeat that extended format this month and will open today’s chat at 1:30PM, Zooming in parallel as the Web site-based content is put up right through until the meeting concludes. This augmented Zoom will afford folk opportunity to catch-up, chat about WandaVision and what the heck is going on there, and discuss with or ask questions of our presenters directly.

As we cannot yet safely assemble in person, this February virtual meeting has been prepared especially for you, MonSFFA’s membership. Sit back, check out each of the afternoon’s posts, scroll down leisurely through the proffered content, and enjoy!

And don’t forget to comment on what we’ve presented. Let us know what you think of specific topics or the meeting overall. Your input helps us to tailor these virtual meetings for maximum interest and enjoyment.

You may also wish to Zoom with us during the course of the meeting. To join our expanded Zoom session, beginning at 1:30PM, click here: This Afternoon’s MonSFFA Zoom

If you’re not fully equipped to Zoom by computer, you can also join in by phone (voice only); in the Montreal area, the toll-free number to call is: 1-438-809-7799. If you’re from out of town, find your Zoom call-in number here: International Call-In Numbers

Have this information on hand as you may be asked to enter it:

Meeting ID: 884 9184 5221
Passcode: 019156

6) MEETING AGENDA

 In This Afternoon’s Virtual Meeting:

1:00PM, Post 1 of 7 (Opening)

1) The Latest on COVID

2) Happy Valentine’s Day

3) Introducing Warp’s New Editor

4) Membership Renewals

5) Today’s Meeting: Introduction

6) Meeting Agenda

7) Opening Coronavirus Parody Song

8) Signs You Might be in a Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Movie

9) A Second Coronavirus Parody Song

10) Anagram Challenge, Reprise

11) A Third Parody Song

12) Club Elections: Official Results

13) Another Parody Song

1:30PM, Post 2 of 7 (Zoom!)

14) Expanded Zoom Session Begins (Runs until End of Meeting)

1:45PM, Post 3 of 7 (Transportation: Real, Unreal, and Surreal!)
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15) Presentation: Getting Around

2:30PM, Post 4 of 7 (Break)

16) Mid-Meeting Break (Display Table, Raffle, Zoom Continues)

3:00PM, Post 5 of 7 (In Honour of the Late Christopher Plummer!)

17) Presentation: Shakespeareans in SF&F, the Sequel

4:15PM, Post 6 of 7 (Internet Gems!)

18) Gallery

4:30PM, Post 7 of 7 (Wrap-Up)

19) Once Again, The Holderness Family…

20) Anagrams Unscrambled!

21) An Additional Parody Song

22) Thank-You!

23) A Closing Parody Song

7) OPENING CORONAVIRUS PARODY SONG

Many talented and witty songwriters/performers have been providing, throughout this COVID-19 crisis, gentle comic relief to us all, filking well-known rock and pop hits. Whenever given, we’ve credited by name these creators.

All of the coronavirus parody songs featured this afternoon are by the Raleigh, North Carolina-based Holderness Family, who have been posting their comical marriage- and family-oriented stuff on Facebook and YouTube since 2013, and turned to COVID-themed parodies last year as the pandemic began.

Kim and Penn Holderness left careers in television news broadcasting to form their own video production and digital marketing company, creating online content for a variety of clients, and of course, a steady stream of their own light-hearted, goofy material, which often includes contributions by their two young children, Lola and Penn Charles. They boast some 4.5 million followers across social media; check out what they have to offer at: www.youtube.com/TheHoldernessFamily

We’ve included a few of their fun and exuberantly silly tracks as part of previous MonSFFA e-meetings; today’s are a fresh batch, beginning with this Plain White T’s parody:

On The Beach (1960), Panic in Year Zero (1962), Meteor (1979), Armageddon (1998), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Snowpiercer (2013), Mad Max (1979) and its sequels, the recent Planet of the Apes trilogy (2011-2017), and the innumerable films about zombie plagues, not to mention 12 Monkeys (1995), Outbreak (1995), and Contagion (2011)—these are all end-of-the-world movies centered around some kind of global catastrophe, be it nuclear annihilation, a massive asteroid impact, cataclysmic climate change, or a deadly viral pandemic! For most of us, the past 11 months has felt like we’ve been starring in such a post-apocalyptic disaster flick, the kind we’ve always viewed as science fiction, emphasis on “fiction!” But in light of current events, maybe we actually are smack-dab in the middle of such a movie, for real! The signs are all there, aren’t they?

8) JEFF FANWORTHY’S TOP TEN SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE IN A POST-APOCALYPTIC SCI-FI MOVIE!

1) If you notice that essential provisions are suddenly in short supply, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

2) If government leaders appear demoralized because there’s simply nothing they can do to prevent the on-coming catastrophe, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

3) If you can cross the street without having to dodge Montreal drivers, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

4) If wildlife begins encroaching on your urban neighbourhood, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

5) If you find yourself in a vast, empty wasteland, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

6) If lawless, belligerently attired gangs rule the streets, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

7) If zombies descend on your local shopping mall, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

8) If giant, mutant monsters rampage through the cities, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

9) If world leaders turn their backs on science, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

10) If there are rumours of a sanctuary somewhere far away, isolated from the rest of the world, where civilization has survived and people might find refuge, you might be in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie!

9) A SECOND CORONAVIRUS PARODY SONG

For fans of Broadway musicals, Penn Holderness offers this delightful medley:

10) ANAGRAM CHALLENGE, REPRISE

Last month’s Anagram Challenge proved popular so we’ve included here another dozen names that sound like Star Wars characters, but are actually anagrams of the names of notable science fiction and fantasy luminaries, be they characters, writers, or filmmakers! Can you correctly unscramble each to identify the sci-fi star in question? We’ll publish the answers in the afternoon’s concluding Post 7 of 7, at 4:30PM.

1) TEBBARI JASSIC sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this sultry singer, a topmost draw at the night club in which she performs:

2) GAMOSSA DULAD sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this sci-fi comedy writer:

3) TYKO STARN sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this genius-level graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology:

4) “TREPPS” TEPPO sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this character, who has climbed the corporate ladder all the way to the top, and is now sleeping with the company’s owner:

5) THARNU DRET sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this survivor of Earth’s destruction:

6) SCRIDY LETTO sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this occasional SF/F filmmaker, known for his atmospheric visual style:

7) Emperor BENARRIS HENORROG sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this handicapped protagonist:

8) MONNITH TWISS sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this writer of historical fiction:

9) ILEO SLAN sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this comic book writer:

10) OWIUS UL sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this 200-year-old survivor of a spaceship crash:

11) RENYL RAVIN sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this multiple Hugo-winning writer of well-known space tales:

12) LOLLU WHODI sounds like a Star Wars character, but is actually an anagram for this femme fatale who desperately desires to cross over from her world into this one:

11) A THIRD CORONAVIRUS PARODY SONG

Here’s Penn again with reflections on his recent Super Bowl party:

12) ELECTION OF CLUB’S 2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICIAL

Last month the club held its first ever virtual vote to select MonSFFA’s Executive Committee for 2021. We can today officially announce that the 2020 Executive was returned to office by acclamation. Thus, or 2021 Executive Committee is as follows: Cathy Palmer-Lister, president; Keith Braithwaite, vice-president; and Sylvain St-Pierre, treasurer.

We offer hearty congratulations and wish our 2021 Executive well on what will almost certainly be another challenging year for the club as the pandemic continues but, we all hope, finally fades away before year’s end.

MonSFFA begins each year with the election of its Executive Committee for that upcoming 12 months. These elections take place at our first meeting of the year, in January, and the results confirmed and officially announced at the following meeting, in February. All MonSFFA members in good standing are eligible and encouraged to participate.

13) ANOTHER HOLDERNESS FAMILY CORONAVIRUS PARODY SONG

It hard to find a silver lining related to this pandemic, but the Holderness Family have this for your consideration, especially you parents of elementary school-aged kids:

 

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