A Merry Christmas to all...

And to all a "good night."

The CARTOON CRIER

Dear Cartoonist,

We’re writing to invite you to contribute to "The Cartoon Crier," a special collaboration between the Center for Cartoon Studies and the National Cartoonists Society (made possible through a generous grant from the NCS Foundation).

“The Cartoon Crier” is a one-shot tabloid newspaper that will explore the relationship between humor and sorrow in comics. The content will consist of comic strips, gags, articles, and illustrations created by NCS members as well as the students, alumni, and faculty of CCS. The release date is March 2012 and the paper will be distributed for free at comics conventions and colleges. The editors hope that "The Cartoon Crier" brings together great work from across the cartooning landscape.

We’re looking for contributions that explore the myriad ways that cartoonists deal with sorrow and loss, from finding relief in humor to wallowing in poetic self-pity. The strips can be new or previously published work. The dimensions of your submission should be approximately daily newspaper cartoon size. Single-panel gags can be approximately square.

There may be some other opportunities for larger strips (half-page and full-page comics). If you are interested in contributing a larger piece, please let us know. If you only have time to draw one panel of a/your cartoon character crying, we'll take it!

The deadline for confirming your participation is January 15, 2012. Final artwork is due on February 28, 2012.

Our budget is limited, so we regret that we cannot pay for print rights, but we will send you copies of the finished paper. Please know that your contribution to this project helps spread the word about the NCS.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns: cartooncrier@cartoonstudies.org

Thanks very much!

Your humble editors,

Cole Closser
coleclosser.com
http://coleclosser.com

R. Sikoryak
rsikoyak.com
http://rsikoyak.com

James Sturm
cartoonstudies.org
http://cartoonstudies.org

Wishing everybody the happiest of holidays

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBER

I received confirmation today that our newest member, Mr. Kelly McNutt, is now a member of the NCS. Congratulations and welcome, Kelly. We're happy to welcome you aboard.

In recognition of Mr. McNutt's "making the grade", check out one of his latest projects...

ON THE AIR for the BBC.

Kelly did the 2D bits while Club Cocanut Animation Studio (FL) did the 2D character setup and rigging and Flickerpix in Belfast did the stop-motion/claymation. Check this out... its really cool.

In the meantime, when you have a minute, send Kelly a warm welcome to the NCS and the North Central Chapter.
Welcome brother!!!

Your fearless leader,
ME

JAY KENNEDY SCHOLARSHIP deadline

I received this message from Rick Stromoski a couple days ago.
For your consideration....

It is about a month to the December 15 deadline for the Jay Kennedy
Memorial Scholarship and we'd like your help to get the word out. If
you have a website or blog, we would appreciate it if you'd put up
some infomation and art pertaining to the scholarship so that possible
applicants might see it. The info block and the link are below and the
art is attached. (It's a great piece done by John Martz.)

Thanks in advance,
Rick Stromoski
President, National Cartoonists Society Foundation
John Kovaleski
Chair, Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship

------------------

Do you cartoon? You could win a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Las
Vegas to meet the top names in cartooning. Don't delay - the deadline
is December 15.

Applicants must be students at a 4-year college in the United States,
Canada or Mexico who will be a Junior or Senior during the 2012-2013
academic year. Applicants do not have to be art majors to be eligible
for this scholarship.

For more information and an application, please visit:
http://www.cartoonistfoundation.org/

The annual Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship, in memory of the late
King Features editor, was funded by an initial $100,000 grant from the
Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous
donations from Jerry Scott, Jim Borgman, Patrick McDonnell and many
other prominent cartoonists. Submissions are adjudicated by a panel of
top cartoonists and an award is given to the best college cartoonist.
The recipient is feted at the annual NCS Reuben Awards Convention
attended by many of the world's leading cartoonists.

The Passing of a Giant

Bil Keane: 1922-2011

The cartooning world lost a true giant yesterday. Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus, has passed away at age 89.

I’ll never forget the first time I met Bil…

In 1999, Anna and I attended our very first Reuben awards in San Antonio. I was a new member and basically knew no one, so we walked about wide-eyed seeing all the legendary cartoonists milling about like Charles Schulz, Jack Davis, Jeff MacNelly and many more. One of those legends I knew and admired the most was Bil Keane. “The Family Circus” was a staple in our home growing up, and while my cartooning tastes took a bit of a more “MAD” direction as I grew up, I always had a soft spot for that feature. Not knowing what Bil looked like, I had someone point him out to me.

“Bil always emcees the Reuben ceremony,” I was told. “You’ll get to see him do that tonight.”

Knowing that “The Family Circus” was a very sweet and gentle strip, I mentioned I was surprised they didn’t have an emcee with a little more of a sharp-tongued approach.

“Just wait. You haven’t seen Bil emcee yet,” they replied.

I sure hadn’t. I was laughing so hard throughout the awards I barely recall who won what. To say Bil Keane was only quick-witted is like saying Olympic superstar Usian Bolt is just “sort-of fast”. He was one of the funniest guys I’d ever met. Anna and I shared a shuttle with he and his wife Thel from the airport to the site of the 2002 Reubens in Cancun, and enjoyed their company and stories of how they met and about their wonderful family. One of the things we talked about was Hawai’i, where Anna and I were planning a trip. Bil told us about a hotel he and Thel always stayed at on Waikiki, and when Anna and I visited Honolulu we spend a few nights in that same hotel. Upon check in, the bellman asked what I did for a living as he was checking in our bags. When I told him I was a cartoonist, he said they had a regular guest who was a cartoonist they all knew and thought was a great guy… that was, of course, Bil Keane.

His son Jeff is a good friend of mine, and we have spent a lot of time together on USO cartoonist tours as well as working on the NCS board, where he was president preceding me. I got to hear a lot of great stories about his dad, who also did cartoonist USO tours to Vietnam during that conflict.

Bil was one of the true legends of cartooning. An active member of the National Cartoonists Society, Bil served as president from 1981-1983 as well as emceeing the Reubens for many, many years. It was a true honor and privilege to have been able to meet him and get to know him a bit. He will be sorely missed, and my heart goes out to Jeff and his wife Melinda, their kids and their entire family.

Few cartoonists left a legacy like Bil did. We were all lucky to have enjoyed his talent for so many years.

(courtesy: Tom Richmond's blog)

Jobs died

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?iref=BN1&hpt=hp_t1

You'll forgive me but I've been encumbered with Apple since 1985. And especially in the late 80s.
Thank you, Mr. Jobs. Please see if you can get God's email to work properly....


When was the last time you saw people leaving candles and flowers for the CEO of a major corporation? Pardon my age but this is "heavy, man."

Fall Chapter Meeting Updated:

Here's the general slate of events for our upcoming Fall Chapter Meeting, Oct. 14th - 16th in Minneapolis, MN!:

Friday, Oct. 14th-

• 5:00 pm- Cocktail reception at Jasmine 26
• 6:30 pm- Stephan Pastis Presentation- MCAD Auditorium 150
• 7:30 pm- Cartoonists Panel Q&A with student audience
• 9:00 pm- Dinner and drinks at Cadillac Ranch Bar and Grill at the Mall of America (right across the street from the hotel)

Saturday, Oct. 15th-

• Complimentary breakfast at hotel on own
• 8:30 a.m.- Chapter meeting in Conference room TBA
• 9:45 depart for FallCon Convention
• 10:30- 4:00- NCS NCC table at FallCon
• 6:00 pm- Dinner and Drinks at O'Garas Bar and Grill in St. Paul

Sunday, Oct. 16th-

• 11:00 am- Brunch at Casa Del Richmond

Transportation to and from the events will be taken care of.

This is my list so far of those attending and wanting a comp badge for admission to FallCon:

Tom Richmond
Cedric Hohnstadt
Jim Hungaski
Stephan Pastis
Jerry Van Amerongen
Mike Edhlom
Phil Juliano
John Hambrock
Chris Hambrock
William Whitehead
Paul Fell
Jim Horwitz

If I am missing anyone please email me and let me know. See you in about 3 weeks!

Fall Meeting update...

THIS IS IMPORTANT... A quick note to all those attending the Fall Chapter meeting in Minnesota — we're going to have to put the touch on you. Yeah, yeah, I know..."It's the economy, stupid!" Well, in this case "it's the dinner at O'Gara's, bozo."
We're collecting $20 from each attendee to cover addition costs for the dinner at O'Gara's. Even if you're back at the hotel, drinking your dinner, we need the @ $20. The Chapter is covering a lot of costs for this meeting (no, not the bar bill) so a couple bucks won't kill ya.

AND... As we will have one or two tables at the FallCon, those of you with books, reproductions, etc. to sell, bring 'em! (That means you, John. Remember Omaha?) The Chapter gets ten-percent. (I think Fell is bringing his Model A Ford Pick Up Truck.)

JUST ONE MORE THING... If you have an original piece of your art that you'd be willing to contribute to the Chapter Raffle, please bring it along.

Fall Meeting update...

THIS IS IMPORTANT... A quick note to all those attending the Fall Chapter meeting in Minnesota — we're going to have to put the touch on you. Yeah, yeah, I know..."It's the economy, stupid!" Well, in this case "it's the dinner at O'Gara's, bozo."
We're collecting $20 from each attendee to cover addition costs for the dinner at O'Gara's. Even if you're back at the hotel, drinking your dinner, we need the @ $20. The Chapter is covering a lot of costs for this meeting (no, not the bar bill) so a couple bucks won't kill ya.

AND... As we will have one or two tables at the FallCon, those of you with books, reproductions, etc. to sell, bring 'em! (That means you, John. Remember Omaha?) The Chapter gets ten-percent. (I think Fell is bringing his Model A Ford Pick Up Truck.)

JUST ONE MORE THING... If you have an original piece of your art that you'd be willing to contribute to the Chapter Raffle, please bring it along.

August 5

Two features appear on today's THE WRITER'S ALMANAC with GARRISON KEILLOR spotlighting cartoons.


The New York Daily News debuted the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" on this day in 1924. Cancelled in 2010 after a run of nearly 86 years, the street-smart redhead inspired a radio show, a Broadway musical, three film adaptations, mass-marketed books, and merchandise that included everything from lunchboxes to curly wigs. Although only a fraction of this happened before the strip's creator, Harold Gray, died in 1968, it was enough to make him a millionaire.

Gray's wealth drew criticism during the Great Depression, when he used the strip to voice his populist political beliefs: namely, that the poor ought to pull themselves up by the bootstraps without government intervention or assistance. This is how his character Daddy Warbucks, the tuxedoed war profiteer, had succeeded, transforming his modest machine shop into a World War I munitions factory. Gray expressed his distaste for FDR and his New Deal in the strip's storylines, prompting one left-leaning writer to label it "Hooverism in the funnies." The public didn't seem to care — in 1937, "Little Orphan Annie" was the most popular comic in the country.

Forty years later, when the playwright Thomas Meehan adapted the strip for the 1977 Broadway musical, Annie, he subverted Gray's original politics. The updated Annie stumbles upon a "Hooverville" of homeless people who sing the ironic "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover," and she is later saved from greedy imposter parents and the evil orphanage supervisor by FDR himself. The play — and the 1982 film — ends with a rousing chorus of the song "A New Deal for Christmas," celebrating the economic plan that the strip's creator had so despised.

Politics aside, both Gray and Meehan had hard-knock lives, at least as teenagers. Meehan's father died when he was 15, and Gray was orphaned just before finishing high school.

Although Gray credited a girl he'd met on the streets of Chicago as his inspiration for the character of Annie, he took the strip's title from that of a popular poem by James Whitcomb Riley, originally published in 1885. That Annie was based on a real orphan girl who lived in the poet's home during his childhood, earning her room and board by helping Riley's mother with the housework. The child was called Allie, short for Alice, and the poem based on her was supposed to be called "Little Orphant Allie." A simple typo changed her name to Annie, and by the time Riley requested that it be corrected, the poem was gaining popularity and he let the misprint stand.
From the first stanza that started it all:
Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep.



The British tabloid The Daily Mirror debuted the comic strip "Andy Capp" on this day in 1957. A pun on the word "handicap" in the dialect of northern England, where the comic is set and where its creator, Reginald "Reg" Smythe, was raised, Andy Capp is a roustabout who spends his time drinking, gambling, and fighting with his long-suffering wife, Flo.

The strip continues in syndication, despite Smythe's death in 1998, and is read in 13 languages across 31 countries. These days, Andy has kicked his smoking habit, and the Capps no longer engage in domestic violence — they go to marriage counseling.

— Courtesy The Writer's Almanac
© 2011 APM
The Writer's Almanac is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media.

Fall Meeting HOTEL INFO

Here it is gang! The information you've been anxiously waiting for.
The number to call is (952) 854-5555 and reference National Cartoonists Society North Central Chapter group.

Remember, we have a rate at the Country Inn & Suites. That rate is $116 per night (single or double occupancy). Tom tells us that its even nicer than the place we stayed at last time, and less expensive. :-) Includes a free full breakfast and is right across the street from the Mall of America. (Click on the Country Inn & Suites and link to their website.)

Rate is guaranteed for Oct 13, 14, and 15 (and one day pre and post). There will be a 3-week out cut-off where rooms will no longer be guaranteed at that price, but if they have availability they will honor the rate but just not hold rooms anymore.

Call them right away as I'm sure this will be a standing-room only meeting and Bucky will probably be bringing a few of his clients.

See you in the Twin Cities in October!

— ME

Cartoonists Meet The Classics

On June 1, 2, and 3 saw three members of the North Central Chapter, along with guest cartoonist, in Lincoln, NE as the visual arts for the 11th Annual Meadowlark Music Festival, www.meadowlarkmusicfestival.com. The Meadowlark puts on a series of summer concerts that have featured chamber music ensembles at various venues around Southeast Nebraska. As a part of this “classy” arts event, a visual artist is invited to produce a piece of original artwork that reflects the artistic flavor of the festival and the ambience of Nebraska. This year, Tamara Cass, executive director of the Meadowlark Music Festival, decided to have a little fun, choosing cartoonists rather than a painter or sculptor as the visual artist.

Paul Fell, John Hambrock, and Mike Edholm along with Milt Priggee entertained the public in a fundraiser for the Festival with two nights of cartooning and caricatures at the Haydon Art Center in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket district. The First Friday night event featured the cartoonists drawing caricatures for anyone who would fork over the cash. All funds went straight to the Meadowlark Music Festival. Later, the director of the Haydon Art Center told me that this had been one of the biggest events of their year. Naturally I suggested that they host another cartoonist show.

Australia Cartoon Competition & Exhibition

I received this from our fellow Tooner, Bill Brewer. He thought you might be interested.

The Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City invites you to enter the 23rd Rotary Cartoon Awards.
Details are on their website ( click HERE )
Entry deadline (digital okay) extended to June 10. (Original deadline May 31 international entries clogged mailboxes.)

That's all the news from Down Under, mates.

— ME

Fall Meeting Info continued

We have a rate at the Country Inn & Suites. That rate is $116 per night (single or double occupancy). Tom tells us that its even nicer than the place we stayed at last time, and less expensive. :-) Includes a free full breakfast and is right across the street from the Mall of America.
(Click on the Country Inn & Suites and link to their website.)

Rate is guaranteed for Oct 13, 14, and 15 (and one day pre and post). There will be a 3-week out cut-off where rooms will no longer be guaranteed at that price, but if they have availability they will honor the rate but just not hold rooms anymore.

Friday:
- 7:00 pm- Stephen Pastis presentation at MCAD
- Dinner on our own (possibly some arrangements at The Mall)

Saturday:
- 9:00 am- Chapter Meeting
- 11:00-4:00- FallCon Comic Book appearance. (Tom is going to get a table or two for us.)
- 6:30-??- Dinner at O'Gara's

O'Gara's Dinner: We have a reservation for 25 for Saturday night.
Choice of three different entrees: Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Steak Medallions, or Walleye.
Plan on $25 per person for dinner.

I need to start getting a head-count ASAP so please RSVP to me as soon as you can.

Thanks,
ME

Looking forward to Fall...

More tid-bits about the upcoming Fall Chapter Meeting...

As you know, our featured guest speaker will be none other than Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine). Stephan's talk is scheduled for Friday, Oct 14 at 7:00 pm. (If you miss it you'll only get to hear about it.)

We will be having dinner one night at O'Gara's in St. Paul. If you aren't familiar, Charles Schulz's parents had an apartment above O'Gara's and that's where Sparky grew up. (Probably listening to Twins games and eating PEANUTS... sorry, I had to do that.)

There is the Minn-Con and we'll have a booth. If we get enough people to participate and you want to bring your books, posters, t-shirts, whatever you have of your product (cartoon) to sell, you might check with Tom Richmond about space. That'll be on Saturday from 10:00 am 'til 6:00 pm.

More details will be posted as they are nailed down. But mark your calendars now, gang. This'll be a GOOD ONE!

— ME

PS - We'll have hotel info as soon as its available.

FALL MEETING!

Time to blow the dust off the old GPS and mark your calendars...
The North Central Chapter fall meeting will be October 14-15, 2011 in the Twin Cities. (Not Lincoln and Omaha.)

Our host, Tom Richmond and the crew from the Land of 10,000 Lakes will be welcoming the rest of us for what promises to be another terrific meeting. Tom has invited Stephan Pastis to tell us his life story and the run down on PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.

As the date draws nearer details will float to the surface regarding accommodations, parking permits, bail bonds, and the our participation in the Minn-Con. (Like the Comic-Con only its Minn.)

So lock in the dates gang.

— ME

Tooners at the Meadowlark

A few brave souls from the North Central Chapter will be a part of the 2011 Meadowlark Music Festival in early June. The Meadowlark Music Festival has been celebrating classical chamber music in unusual venues around Southeast Nebraska for the past 10 years with world-class chamber ensembles. As a part of the festival, a visual artist (usually just one) creates an original piece of art around the theme of the Meadowlark (the Nebraska state bird) and the environment of Nebraska. This year the Festival bravely goes where they have never gone before — into the world of cartooning. They have invited a few cartoonists to present their works, give a gallery showing, meet-n-greets, and join in the fun of the Festival.
The cartoonists will arrive in Lincoln, NE on May 31 and present themselves to the public until June 3.
I'll have more about this unique event as the days draw nearer. If you're in the neighborhood, please drop by. It's a lot of fun!

Australian Rotary Cartoon Awards...

I received this email a few days ago and thought I'd pass it along...

For those who may be interested:

Each year the Bunker Cartoon Gallery in Australia holds a national and international cartoon competition and this year our competition which is the largest cartoon competition to be held in Australia is in its 23rd year.

I would like to invite the cartoonists of the USA to become part of our competition this year.

Here is the link to our website - www.rotarycartoonawards.com.au - and I have also attached a copy of our entry form and a story which I recently did for FECO.


Kind regards,
Fran Stephenson

frandoug2@bigpond.com
Phone: 66 514061 or 0409 716774

NPR Recognizes our own

Our very own Paul Fell, chapter treasurer, survives the latest round of cuts at NPR. :-)

A Shared Father-Son Experience

My son is living and studying in NYC this semester as part of his Theatre major. The other evening I received the funniest
text messages from him, during the intermission, of an opera, that he was required to see. We bantered (texted) back and forth with shared laughs. __This cartoon is the Valentine I did for him as a result of those text messages. I think you can figure it out for yourselves. Haha!___ Another chance at 'FATHER OF THE YEAR' all shot to hell.

THE DEADLINE IS LOOMING!

Don't forget, gang. The cutoff date for the hotel is Feb 11th!
If you're coming to Omaha for the Reuben Judging on Feb 25-26 and you don't have your reservation in, GET MOVIN'!
The entries are piling up for the Gag Cartoon Division...

See you soon.

ME

Get your reservations in NOW!

Hey gang! The Judging Meeting will be here before you know it and next Tuesday is Feb 1.

To reserve your KING room at the Courtyard by Marriott in Omaha's beautiful downtown Haymarket (the same place we were at in October), just follow these simple instructions....

As your group is individual call-in, I have attached electronic reservation links at the bottom of the email. These internet links allow your group to make their reservations online under the group block. Your guests can also call reservations at 800-321-2211 and reference the "National Cartoonists Society" group to make their reservations. For all other reservations, please make sure that they are made prior to February 11th, 2011 the cut-off date, when all unreserved rooms will be released.

I wanted to take this time to let you know that we are currently doing a Marriott Rewarding Event incentive for the Omaha Courtyard Downtown. Now you can earn points while you host your group with us! If you have a Marriott Rewards number, please be sure to pass that along to me.

Not a member? Marriott Rewards offers exclusive privileges to its participants. As a Member of the Marriott Rewards program, you can earn points toward free hotel stays, airline miles and much more every time you stay at any one of Marriott's hotels worldwide. Registration is free and easy. To sign up, just click this link http://www.marriott.com/rewards/rewards-program.mi

Online room reservations are now just a click away with ResLink!

Simply cut and paste any of the three links below and include with your electronic correspondence to your guests. They will be directed to the property's home page with the negotiated rate code already entered in the appropriate field and can quickly make their room reservation.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service, and please feel free to contact me at any time. We appreciate your business!
Single King Reservation Links

Click here!

Congrats to our own MAD man!

Congratulations to Tom Richmond for the great story and cover art on the November/December 2010 issue of THE CARTOON!ST. Well done, fella!

It's Reuben Judging time again...

Yupper, it's that time again, Tooners!
Reuben Judging and we've been tapped to judge the GAG CAROON division.
Entries are due by Feb 6, and once again my address is showing the WRONG ZIP CODE, so I'm bound to get a few emails, phone calls, death threats, because somebody didn't change it from 08512 to the correct code, 68512. (If anybody asks, please give them the right one. I'd appreciate it. Also, NE is not New England... argh!)
Anyway, back to business...
Let me know if you have any trouble with the weekend of Feb 25-26, to meet in Omaha, NE. I've asked Hal France, executive director at THE KANEKO if we could borrow a few feet of their wonderful space to do our judging. Remember how great they were to us last October? And its close to all those wonderful restaurants (and bars) in the Old Market. I'm still getting thank-you notes from M's Pub...
Anyway, I'll let you know how things shape up as we draw nearer, but mark your calendars for Feb 25-26. We'll meet on the 25th (a Friday), then start the judging early on Saturday morning (26th). I'll also check into some kind of a decent rate on a nearby hotel, motel, or flophouse where those of you coming from afar can shack up for the night.
Please send me an RSVP email (or phone call if need be) to let me know if you can or cannot make it.

See you all soon.
Your exalted ruler,
ME

PS - If you're a GAG CARTOONIST, please come but don't be offended when we ask you to leave the room (or building) when the judging begins. You can't be around for that. Sorry.