Volunteering at 2019 SLIFF

Last Sunday morning (10 November), I went to the Brown School at Washington University of St. Louis (https://wustl.edu/) for my first volunteer stint at this year's Whittaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) (https://www.cinemastlouis.org/festival-home). This marks my tenth year volunteering at this festival. On this day, I arrived by the Brown School's lecture hall to check in with the venue captain, and receive my SLIFF t-shirt, which I wore during my shift.

I helped pass out fan ballots and patron surveys to attendees before the movie was screened. Then, I was able to get a seat at the back of the hall to watch the film, a Brazilian/US documentary titled "Restless" ("Sem Descanso"). It looked at the 2014 killing in police custody of a young man from a poor neighborhood in Brazil. This film followed the efforts of the man's father and a newspaper to investigate what happened to the man and to find his remains for proper burial. This story is weaved with the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri the same week. The film was most interesting and thought provoking regarding police brutality towards people of color and poverty.

After the film, there was a question-and-answer session with Chris King, editor of the St. Louis American (http://www.stlamerican.com/), who was interviewed in "Restless." As the audience filed out of the hall, I collected the ballots and surveys to bring to the venue captain. It was a fine start to SLIFF for me.

The following Wednesday afternoon (13 November) found me at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema (https://www.landmarktheatres.com/st-louis/plaza-frontenac-cinema/) for my second SLIFF volunteer shift. I stood outside the two theaters SLIFF was using to take tickets from attendees, while other volunteers passed out ballots and surveys. The Italian drama "Twin Flower" ("Fiore gemello") was playing in one of the theaters. I was tempted to watch it, but figured I was needed outside the theater in case more volunteers didn't show up. In the end, those volunteers did come and all was well. I did help collect ballots and surveys from the people who saw "Twin Flower."

I will do my third and final volunteer shift of this year's SLIFF tonight at Webster University (http://www.webster.edu/). The festival runs until tomorrow night. Hope to see you!

Later.

2019 TigerCon in Columbia

Early Saturday morning (2 November), I drove to Marion Morris' house in Maplewood. Marion was driving myself and three fellow IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) members to Columbia, Missouri that morning. We were attending TigerCon, the annual model contest run by IPMS/Central Missouri Scale Modelers (http://www.cmsm-ipms.org/).

David Thomas joined me at the Morris house. We piled into Marion's minivan and we headed west. On the way, we picked up Jim Victor and Jim Triola, who were also going with us. Four other club members went separately to Columbia.

After a brief visit to Marion's home when he and his family lived in Columbia some years ago, we arrived at David H. Hickman High School (https://www.cpsk12.org/HHS), the venue for TigerCon. After registering my two contest entries, I took my models into the contest room and placed them on the proper category tables.

After that, I walked around the show area. I bought ten tickets for the kit raffle. Three of them were lucky: I won two kits, and some photo etched metal car model accessories. I browsed among the vendors at the show, buying two kits from them. Additionally, I chatted with several members from the host chapter.

I volunteered to help judge the model contest. After a meeting with fellow judges, along with some pizza for lunch, I and the other judges went to work. My crew judged the aircraft entries. We evaluated some very fine entries in the categories before deciding the three best models for the awards. We also determined the Best Aircraft model for that special award, which was also a candidate for the Judges' Grand Award.

The awards were presented at the end of the show. I was happy that two IPMS/Gateway mates--Doug Barton and Don Will--earned awards for their entries. So did I, as my Durak Du-1 took Third Place in Miscellaneous. I was glad to win, though not surprised; there were only three entries in that category.

The five of us then packed up our things and got into Morris' minivan to head back home. After dropping off Triola and Victor, the three of us--Morris, Thomas, and I--arrived back at Morris' house. I got my stuff out and put it into my car to drive home. It was a very fine day.

Later.

Fall Model Car Show in Kirkwood

Last Sunday morning (27 October) found me at the Kirkwood Community Center (https://www.kirkwoodparksandrec.org/) for the Fall model contest and swap meet hosted by the Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis (MMVA--STL) (https://www.facebook.com/StlMmva1/). Bill Wagner and I staffed a table there for IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home), in which we brought several models and some club flyers.

Quite a few show visitors came by our table to look at the models, pick up club flyers, and talk with Bill and I. At least two of them also picked up membership applications. We also had a binder with a recent issue of our newsletter and screen shots of our website and social media pages.

This show features a model car contest and vendors swelling kits, die cast cars, and accessories. I was able to browse among the vendors and did buy an aircraft kit from one vendor. I also admired the contest entries, with some very well built models on the contest tables.

Bill and I had a good time at the show, and felt we made a good impression of IPMS/Gateway among attendees.

Later.

Scale Models in Liberty; Soccer in Fenton

One week ago yesterday (5 October), I drove to Liberty Christian Fellowship in Liberty, Missouri (northeast of Kansas City) for the IPMS/West Central Missouri (https://ipmswcmo.webs.com/) ModelFest model contest and swap meet. I entered two models in the contest and chatted with fellow scale modelers in attendance. I made a side trip that morning to the Sprue Modelers Models (https://www.facebook.com/spruebrothers) facility in Liberty for a private tour and shopping spree. I chatted with a few modelers from IPMS/Fort Crook (http://fortcrookipms.com/) in Omaha, and bought a book from the shop. Then, it was back to the show.

Two IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) colleagues, Marion Morris and Jim Triola, were there vending. I helped judge the model contest. There were some real good models in the contest. I also lucked out in the raffle, winning three books. Plus, I did buy one model kit from a vendor. Overall, a fun day.

Right after the show, I headed for World Wide Technology Soccer Park for the Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Louisville City FC. I arrived just after kickoff, and I got through the gate just after Louisville City scored. Then, I made my way to the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) section to cheer on the home side. That Louisville City goal was the only one of the game, so we mourned a late season loss. At least there was some post-match fireworks to enjoy.

Last night (12 October), I was back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park for Saint Louis FC's final home match of the season, against the Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Riverhounds. After dinner and beer at the St. Louligans tailgate, I marched into West Community Stadium for the match. We played the visitors close, but Pittsburgh won it on a goal two minutes from time. Disappointing. Saint Louis has at least an outside shot at the USL Championship (https://www.uslchampionship.com/) playoffs, but it will take a win in the final match this Saturday at North Carolina FC and some help to do so.

Later.