5 Years on and CSTS is still going strong

The 2010 Season is in full swing, and with so much going on, let’s take a moment to look back on an amazing 5 years of Can’t Stop the Serenity.

Since 2006, this amazing event has taken place in 90 Participating Cities in 9 countries spanning 3 continents! Every year, we keep growing! From 41 cities in 2006, 42 in 2007, 45 in 2008, 50 in 2009 and in 2010 there are already 50 cities holding events with more to come!

Over $400,000 raised for charity

And the events are continuing to raise incredible amounts for charity. Since 2006, $416,616.22 has been raised for Equality Now and other worthy charities! 2006 raised $65,900.24, 2007 nearly doubled that raising $106,165.69.… Read more…

Float Out, Patton Oswalt’s Wash-centric comic, comes out June 2nd. To celebrate, Can’t Stop the Serenity is auctioning an original page of the comic by Patric Reynolds. Thanks to Patric Reynolds for this generous donation!

The original page is black ink on white paper. We will auction this page, along with a copy of Float Out this month.

Don’t forget, we are also auctioning Jo Chen’s original cover art for Float Out.

This is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Browncoats! Thank you to our generous sponsors who have given Browncoats these opportunities to own memorabilia from this exciting new piece of the ‘verse!

… Read more…

We’re very excited to announce that the good folks behind Browncoats: Redemption – A Fan Film for Charity will be giving every CSTS event a chance to show a sneak peak of their film, which will be released in September 2010.

Browncoats: Redemption takes place three months after the events on Miranda and we find Captain Laura Matthews and the crew of Redemption unintentionally thrown into a situation that some view as the potential catalyst for the second unified rise of the Independents against the Alliance, since Unification Day. The Alliance is looking for a scape goat for Miranda while those unhappy with the Alliance are looking for a rallying cry to take action. Through all this, a secret about Laura is exposed that shakes the very core of the crew, threatening to break it up, challenge the trust that she’s earned with the Browncoats, and undo all the efforts she has put into place to keep a sense of peace in her life since the first Unification War.… Read more…

Can’t Stop the Serenity is grateful for the shiny donations we receive, and we love giving our benefactors a spotlight!

Praised for her work on the covers of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer Season 8, Jo Chen is a well known name in the comic book realm. Now, her art work is gracing the Firefly ‘verse, too!

Set to hit shelves on June 2nd, “Float-Out” will be a beautiful addition to the Firefly/Serenity cannon and we can’t wait to get our hands on it.

Even more spectacular is the shiny donation bit: the original cover art is being donated to Can’t Stop the Serenity!  From all of us here at CSTS, we’d like to say thank you for the support.

So, what will we be doing with this donated piece of treasure?… Read more…

First off, we want to thank each and every one of our entrants in this years Promotional Art Contest. We had more entries than last year, and they were all fantastic in their own way. It was a tough decision for me personally on which I voted on, as I’m sure many of you experienced.

However, we can only have one “winner” here and that winner is: #5 by Don McMillan from Ottawa, ON Canada. You might remember Don’s work from last year’s promotional art. Congratulations Don, and thanks to all who entered for the hard work they put into their entries.

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All entries are in for the 2010 CSTS Promotional Art Contest. Voting has been extended to March 1, with the winner announced the same day.  Head over to view all the shiny art entries and cast your vote today!

View Entries
Vote Now… Read more…

Official registration is now open for the CSTS 2010 season. A few things have changed in the process from last year, so please make sure to read the instructions carefully.  Registration is also now 100% online, for your convenience.

Please visit our Host an Event! page for all the details about the registration process.

Stay shiny!… Read more…

We are very excited to announce that the 2009 Global Donation Total is almost finalised!

We’re delighted to share that Salem has added to their total, which is now $1,552. Phoenix has also boosted their total, which is now $6,088.06, and Salt Lake City has donated a confirmed $850. The Facebook Cause has brought in $314, and the Last Hurrah Auction raised $4,407.23 for Equality Now.

This brings the “Almost Final” 2009 Grand Total to $136,701.47!

Of this, $123,946.11 has been donated to Equality Now, and other charities have received cash donations of $12,755.36 (as well as goods such as food and warm clothes).

We’re still waiting on a few cities to finalise their 2009 donations so that we can lock in the Grand Total.… Read more…

WANTED 2010 – CREATIVE, ARTISTICAL FOLK

Do you love all things Serenity? Do you love doing good works? Do you have mad artistic skillz?

Then there’s probably no power in the ‘Verse more compellin’ then a request for you and your awesome creativity.

Calling all Big Damn Artistical Heroes… We’re putting the signal out to those of YOU with the guts and artistic skills necessary to create the Official Promotional Artwork for CSTS 2010.

One lucky winner’s design will be featured on t-shirts, posters and promotional material and only one can achieve world fame.

Should you accept this mission and seek to become an artistic part of the CSTS 2010 crew, you’ll have to follow the basic guidelines listed below. The reward is shiny, the cause is mighty and we’re sanguine (as in the hopeful sense of the word) that the competition will be mighty fierce… what with all the amazing and compelling art you’ll be sending in.… Read more…

You! want to work/volunteer/help CSTS 2010 Global Team you really, really do!

This is the (a) call for the CSTS 2010 Global Organising Team, join us to support our brilliant world wide Local Organisers and give to Equality Now and our other causes.

See this post for details about available positions.… Read more…

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…