We are working in partnership with Susan Jacobson, Professor of Digital Media and her colleagues to bring a great day of Tolkien Programming. The event is scheduled to begin at 1pm and will end at 5pm, and will be taking place in The Nugent Lounge. Attendees may come and go as they please.We encourage you to RSVP, the rooms altogether have a capacity of 120 people and we would like to not go over that limit. The schedule of events are as follows.These are may also be subject to change.

The Nugent Lounge

• 1:00pm Opening Introduction: The Director of the Writing Center at MMC, Lewis Frumkes and an MMC representative will open the day's event along with the Chair and Co-Chair of Heren Istarion Anthony Burdge and Jessica Burke.
  
• 1:15 - 2:30pm Formal Readings by Heren Istarion Staff: readings from Tolkien's works by : Anthony Burdge(Chairman), Jessica Burke(Co-Chair), Catherine Sparsidis(Staff Artist) and Stephanie Kushner(Staff Contributing Writer). If anyone would like to come up and formally read and discuss their selection then please let us know ASAP. A documentary on Tolkien will be shown with intermittent discussion on the subject matter of the documentary.
  
• 2:30 - 3:00pm Open Mike Readings: For all attendees who wish to participate.
  
• 3:00 - 4:00pm Costume Contest: Contestents call and judging please read the following concerning this contest-
  1. We have not had many say they will come in costume. If you wish to do so please keep in mind you must pre-register at the door to enter
  2. No weapons of any kind even piece tied swords and blades.
  3. Once you are registered you can go and mingle with the crowd at your leisure to ensure votes on your costume
  4. We will call you up to speak a moment or two on your costume, each contestant will get a chance.
  5. If we do not have enough costume entries, we will have an extended Trivia contest.
     
• 4:00 - 5:00pm Trivia Contest: This contest will be similar to what Heren Istarion has done in the past. We will have attendees write their names and emails on a slip of paper and we will select and call up those who are to play. We will have 3 rounds, 1st place winners will go to a 4th round for a grand prize. All contestants will be battling for prizes from New Line Cinema, Houghton Mifflin, Sideshow WETA, Decipher and The Shirepost.
  

Unfortunately the NYC LOTR Product Champions for the Decipher Collectible Card Game could not make it. But with many thanks they have donated some great cards for our event. Look for the display at the event.

We will have Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit readers and Teachers guides courtesy of Tolkien's publisher in the US Houghton Mifflin in part for the events mission:

"25th March is to be "Tolkien Reading Day", an event aimed at encouraging the use of Tolkien's works in education and to get schoolteachers and library staff to participate in reading Tolkien to their classes and in their libraries. This has a significance to Tolkien’s readers, as it is the day of the Downfall of Sauron at the conclusion of the 'War of the Ring' in The Lord of the Rings."( quoted from the Tolkien Society UK's website events page.

We will also speak and have information concerning The Gathering of the Fellowship.The first North American Tolkien Convention taking place in December 2003.At which the Staff at Heren Istarion (Chair, Co-Chair, Staff Illustrator plus many members) will be in attendance and conducting programming.

In a part of the lounge will also be Susan Jacobson, who is responsible for Countless Stories (see Feb.15th news of our site). She will be interviewing Tolkien fans for her documentary. Susan was also at The Two Towers line party interviewing fans there, so some of you may remember her. Also her colleagues will be filming the event aside from her interviewing attendees.

We hope to see you all there, please keep in mind that if you would like to attend RSVP e-mail Anthony and Jessica

When you come to the event please check in at the event table, attendees will recieve a number for a special raffle we will be holding. Also we could use a few volunteers for general help at the event, either help setting up and breaking down the event, manning tables, working the door, or assisting in the gaming room. Again please notify us if you are interested in attending, volunteering or coming in costume.