Congratulations to the winners in our Global Prize Draws!

A custom made Serenity glass plate signed by Jewel Staite, Gina Torres, Summer Glau and Adam Baldwin, donated by Tami Lankford
Winner: M. Writtle (CSTS Phoenix)

A voice acting role for ‘Firefly Between The Lines’, donated by Between the Lines Studios
Winner: C. Smith (CSTS Minneapolis)

A Dollhouse poster signed by Joss Whedon, donated by Buffyfest
Winner: E. Cavallo (CSTS Nashville)

$75 Visa Gift Card, and a donation in your name from the Kids Need to Read Foundation to an under-funded school/library of your choice (approximate donation value of $500, click here for details), donated by The Kids Need to Read Foundation (KNTR) (and an amazing anonymous angel)
Winner: J. Thursfield (CSTS Nottingham)

A Super Secret Basket of Firefly and Serenity goodies worth over 250 credits, including a script signed by Jane Espenson, an “Earth that will be” Poster, a Steve Anderson Custom Art Piece, QMx Money Pack, 3 Silicone Browncoat Bracelets, Dark Horse PVC set, Set of Comic Books, Soldier T-Shirt, a Independent mug and a small tea, 2oz Inara, donated by the Austin Browncoats.… Read more…

We are delighted to announce that the 2010 Global Organiser is Christine Mooney from Portland OR USA, Can’t Stop the Serenity’s founding city. Christine will be responsible for coordinating next year’s fundraising effort, and will be commencing her role on 4 January 2010.

Says Christine:

I’m Christine Mooney (aka cbglacier) and I’m a Browncoat. Whenever I fill out an ‘about me’, I list myself as ‘Mama, RN, Browncoat, Scaper, genre fan’. I am immensely proud of what those labels say about me and what they are coming to mean. Not only are genre fans followers and collectors but also we have become organizers and givers, using our collective passion for causes to come together and do good deeds. Those causes range from Can’t Stop the Serenity, Kids Need To Read, providing copies of the Farscape DVDs to libraries and troops overseas, to Buffy blood drives, and the many other projects that Browncoat groups get involved with in their communities.… Read more…

The creative team at Avitech Graphics are supporting “Can’t Stop the Serenity” through the sales of Laser Engraved Serenity Schematics. If you’re not familiar with Avitech Graphics, they are the folks behind the CSTS Auction Exclusive laser engraved metal artwork featuring Serenity’s crew.

From now until December 31, $5 from the sale of each Laser Engraved Metal Firefly Serenity Schematics will be donated to the Equality Now in support of Can’t Stop the Serenity.

This wonderful design is not a poster – it’s a very shiny engraved piece of aluminum! Photos do not truly convey this stunning piece of art. The coated aluminum etching measures 12″x24″ and is mounted on black foam core ready for framing. This design is limited to 250 pieces.

Thank you Avitech Graphics for supporting Equality Now and Can’t Stop the Serenity!… Read more…

This is the last week in our global charity “Last Hurrah” auction, and we have some fantastic prizes up for grabs! Do you want to own a Serenity poster signed by Joss Whedon himself? What about a costume props from Dollhouse? A Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog print signed by Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day? Autographed goodies from Gina Torres, Mark Sheppard, Dichen Lachman, Felicia Day, or the cast of The Guild? Permaybehaps even a bobble-headed geisha doll?

Now’s your chance! We’ve got lots of prizes up for grabs and every single one benefits Equality Now. So check out our Auction page for the full list! The auctions are on eBay right now, so get bidding before time runs out!

All proceeds from the auctions will be donated to Equality Now, so bid high and bid often!… Read more…

“A message to the last remaining members of the resistance: take care of yourself. Whether you’re out on that newly terraformed moon, or flying solo through the ‘verse, civility is what separates us from those savages on the fringe.”

This important advice comes from the good folks at Geeky Clean, who are supporting “Can’t Stop the Serenity” through the sales of Browncoat Ration Soap. From now until Christmas, $1 from each bar of Browncoat Ration Soap purchased will be donated to the Equality Now in support of “Can’t Stop the Serenity”.

This Browncoat field ration contains a combination of brown sugar scrub on one side, and a creamy apple cinnamon soap on the other. Each bar has 2 whole spoonfuls of real brown sugar and weighs roughly 4-5 oz.… Read more…

The Call for Applications for the CSTS Global Steering Committee are now open!

This Committee will be the backbone of Can’t Stop the Serenity going forward, and provide guidance and support to the Global Organiser, Global Team and Event Organisers to ensure the continued success of this annual event. The Committee will be responsible for overseeing, advising and supporting the Global Organiser, and ensuring that each year’s events are well organised and stay true to the event’s vision.

You can view the Call for Applications and details on how to apply here. Applications close on 25 November 2009.… Read more…

This week, in our global charity “Last Hurrah” auction, we have some very exciting prizes up for grabs! Do you want to own a Serenity poster signed by Joss Whedon himself? What about a tour of the Dollhouse costume department? A Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog print signed by Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day? Autographed goodies from Dollhouse‘s Dichen Lachman, and the cast of The Guild? Permaybehaps a rare autographed script from Angel: Aftermath?

Now’s your chance! We’ve got lots of prizes up for grabs and every single one benefits Equality Now. So check out our Auction page for the full list! The auctions will go live this week on eBay, so start saving up!

All proceeds from the auctions will be donated to Equality Now, so bid high and bid often!… Read more…

It’s the end of the year, and we’re ending 2009 with a spectacular finale!

To celebrate the end of another year of fantastic events, the Global 2009 Can’t Stop the Serenity Team, in conjunction with the California Browncoats, are proud to give you the chance to win some fantastic prizes in our online “Last Hurrah” auction.

All proceeds will be donated to Equality Now and be included in the 2009 Global Donation Total, which currently stands at US $128,000. Your bids will help us to reach this year’s goal of US $150,000 raised for charity!

Here’s just a sampling of what’s up for grabs this week:

• Serenity mini-poster signed by Joss Whedon
• Gorgeous photo signed by Dichen Lachman
• Rare original first draft script of Angel: Aftermath comic, Issue #18, autographed by writer Kelley Armstrong, plus copies of Angel: Aftermath Issues #18, #19 and #20 autographed by Kelley Armstrong.

Work has begun to re-establish the CSTS Global Steering Committee (which was disbanded in 2008). This Committee will be the backbone of Can’t Stop the Serenity going forward, and provide guidance and support to the Global Organiser, Global Team and Event Organisers to ensure the continued success of this annual event. The Committee will be responsible for overseeing, advising and supporting the Global Organiser, and ensuring that each year’s events are well organised and stay true to the event’s vision.

We would love to have your feedback to ensure that this committee accurately reflects the wants and needs of Can’t Stop the Serenity supporters.

You can read the proposal here, and post your feedback in our forum, as a comment here, or via email to Jen and Anne.… Read more…

Wow! Our Global Donation Tally has just hit a new record! Together, we have raised over $116,000 for Equality Now and a host of other charities through Can’t Stop the Serenity 2009 events. Despite the Global Financial Crisis, Browncoats have managed to achieve something which seemed impossible six months ago! We are mighty!

Can’t Stop the Serenity is now in it’s fourth year, and with the dedication of Browncoats across the globe, the event gets bigger and more successful each year. Take a look back to see just how far we’ve come!

2006 – $65,900.24 raised by 41 cities in 5 countries
2007 – $106,165.69 raised by 42 cities in 7 countries
2008 – $107,219.15 raised by 45 cities in 4 countries

And now, in 2009, together we have grown to 56 cities in 7 countries.… Read more…

We’re ending the 2009 CSTS season with a Last Hurrah Charity Auction!

We’ve had a fantastic year of Can’t Stop the Serenity events, and we’re on our way to reaching our goal of $150,000 for Equality Now.  Our upcoming Last Hurrah Charity Auction in November will be your last chance to contribute to our 2009 Global Donation, as well as an opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.

We are currently looking for more awesome prizes to add to the auction.  If you have any Whedonverse items that you’d like to donate, please contact Jen. Items will need to be received by 31 October 2009.

100% of the auction proceeds will be donated to Equality Now.… Read more…

CSTS and Equality Now need your help to do good in the ‘Verse!

What if we tell you that there is a way you can help make a difference to raise money for Equality Now and all it would take is maybe a minute of your time?  Sound good?  Well here’s the scoop.

There’s a contest for your favorite charity at:

http://www.ilovechristiecookies.com/contest/form.asp

The link isn’t listed in the drop down menu yet, but with a few more votes it should be up there soon.  So where’s what you need to do.

1.  Click on the drop down menu (“Check to see if your favorite charity is already listed.”) to see if Equality Now is listed.  If it is, click on it and proceed to fill out your information and vote! … Read more…

GUESS WHAT? I have here in my cyber hand something you fine folk have been waiting to read.  No, it’s not a puppy or a shiny sparkling bit of heist (although those things are fine enough in their own regards…)

I have here, right here before me… that precious bit o’email from Amanda at Equality Now!

What email you ask?  Well for those of you who mighta missed our little missive earlier, it contains two very special names – the names belonging to the shiny winners in part one of the global prize draw…

Even I can’t stop the serenity – so now, without any further ado and/or and procrastination of the special shiny announcement – here we go.

✺❥✺ JOHNNY YARBROUGH ✺❥✺
of Chicago!❣

SHINY!  We’ve sent the following list of lucky first round winners off to our fantabulous friends at Equality Now and at any moment they will be picking the two lucky winners for the Browncoat Ball and Creation Entertainment passes!

CREATION ENTERTAINMENT GOLD PASSES

Jen Grańa – Boston
Cory Seaton – Denver
Carl Hewelt – Chicago
Craig Dungan – Raleigh
Abi Kritzer – Minneapolis
Patrick O’Connor – Seattle
David West – Pittsburgh
Aurora Miracle – Portland
Brett Trout – Des Moines
Mark Thompson – Vancouver, BC
Wendy Scott – Warwick, UK
Diana Hall – Nottingham, UK
David Hudgins – Arlington
Steven Norris – Nashville
Tiffany Bell – Melbourne, AUS
Jacob Acosta – Dallas
Megan McAfee-Erskine – Albuquerque
Linda Bourbeau – OC/Irvine
Michelle Carlbert – Los Angeles
David Bean – San Diego
MA Ghaffar – Riverside
Lydia Hernandez – Austin
Risa Kitaura – San Antonio

BROWNCOAT BALL PASSES

Dan Morley – New England
Erin Card – Denver
Johnny Yarbrough – Chicago
Amy Preble – Raleigh
Grant Johnson – Minneapolis
Gary Rawson – Seattle
Michele Trader – Pittsburgh
Anitra Pavka – Portland
Kelly Goergen – Des Moines
Laurel Ragen – Vancouver, BC
Susan Crean – Warwick, UK
Laura Walker – Nottingham, UK
Matt Krainik – Arlington
Lisa Rish – Nashville
Carly Williams – Melbourne, AUS
Tracy Yothers – Dallas
Chris Laplante – Albuquerque
Michelle Evans – OC/Irvine
Kate Hopp – Los Angeles
Corey Ruhl – San Diego
Beth Zorko – Riverside
Barbara Slough – Austin
Jaime Crowe – San Antonio

And these are the Browncoat groups who sent ‘e m on up!… Read more…

Ni hao!!!

Can you feel the excitement in the air?  I’m EXCITED!  Why?  Because we are ready to draw the Global Prizes for the Creation Entertainment Gold Weekend Package AND for the awesome Browncoat Ball Passes!!!   PLUS the lovely gals at Equality Now are standing by (well probably sitting lol) to do the random drawing for us.

However, these are the only Browncoat groups I’ve received any entries for to date:

*via snail mail (All others were emailed to globalprizedraw@cantstoptheserenity.com)

(Las Vegas submitted only one entry and we are waiting for clarification on which prize their winner is suppose to be entered into)

It seems we are short a few cities! … Read more…

We’re now at the half way mark with events (27 cities out of 51 have held events). And after doing the rounds to find out the news on our now past events, I’m so excited to announce that, based on the informal estimates posted so far, at least $50,600 has been raised!

With less than half of the past events having posted estimates and 25 cities still to host events, we’re well on our way towards our goal of $150k!

12 cities have publicly posted estimates (either on our forum, twitter, event websites, group forums etc):

• Arlington, VA US ~$3,000
• Austin, TX US ~$19,000
• Boston, MA US ~$6,735
• Daytona Beach, FL US ~$1,466
• Los Angeles, CA US ~$1,500
• New York City, NY US ~$6,000
• Nottingham, UK ~$500
• Orange County, CA US ~$1,000
• Riverside, CA US ~$1,700
• San Diego, CA US ~$2,000
• Toronto, ON CA ~$6,000
• Vancouver, BC CA ~$3,500

Final figures will be posted on the main CSTS website once confirmation of the actual donation to EN/Charities has been received.… Read more…