The Tolkien Society of Kansas City

Holiday Party! We'll be holding our December Holiday Party meeting on Wednesday, December 18, at  Cardboard Corner Cafe, at 9240 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS.  We'll be in the Fantasy Room. We'll be having a White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Keep the gift under $20. You can make it yourself or buy it. Wrap it as you see fit.  Keep it fun and simple. Several examples of gift ideas that we  discussed included books, food items (lembas, a box of tea, baked goods, a bottle of "Beorn's honey", a jar of jam, etc.), and so on. Several crafty folks mentioned they may make something. Finally, we will discuss the next three chapters of The Hobbit-chapters 12, 13, and 14.  I'm trying a new approach to our blog.  Instead of one big monthly newsletter with everything, I'm going to put out individual blog posts for each meeting or event, and link to them from Facebook.  I'll also send them via email and Discord. --Bob Clark, chief Newsletter Hobbit

  October 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle This month's newsletter is a little late, mainly because a lot happened Tolkien-wise right at the end of the month, and then things were very busy at my house for several days! Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit A Busy October We had our regular meeting on Wednesday, October 23, at Cardboard Corner.  Our reading for this meeting was chapters 6-8 of The Hobbit .  Seven people attended, including one newcomer! Also, Middle Moot, and Trivia!  More details below. Middle Moot Report Middle Moot was held in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at The National WWI Museum and Memorial. The theme of the Moot this year was  "Consolation, Recovery, & Hope in Faerie" .  There were seven presentations, which included art, music, audience participation, and scholarly papers on Tolkien's legendarium. About 40 people were in attendance in-person, and about 10 were online.  Everyone appeared to have a...

  September 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Lots of news this month! Middle Moot is coming up in October, and there will be a trivia event in conjunction with the Moot, details below!   Please Note, since Thanksgiving and Christmas conflict with our meetings, or nearly so, we've moved the meetings in those months to the third Wednesday, November 20, and December 18! We'll be arranging a Toast to the Professor meeting also, on January 3, 2025, so watch our Discord and Google Group for details!    Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Meeting Recap The Tolkien Society met on Wednesday, September 25, at Cardboard Corner Cafe, in the Sci Fi Room, where we discussed Chapters 3-5 of The Hobbit .  We had a great discussion, one of the main topics was how different editions of the book treat the Riddle Game. For our next meeting, the reading will be chapters 6-8 of  The Hobbit !   Middle Moot! This year, Middle Moot is back in Kansas City, on...

  August 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Meeting Recap The Tolkien Society met on August 28, at Cardboard Corner Cafe.  We had a large group, 10 of us, including two newcomers, and the main room was loud and crowded.  We realized that we couldn't fit in the seating area near the window, but we were fortunate to score a private room in the back.  They are usually booked in advance.  The cost for the room is $25, but several people chipped in and we covered the cost easily.  We're now looking into booking a room there for the future. For our next meeting, the reading will be chapters 3 - 5 of  The Hobbit !     Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Middle Moot! This year, Middle Moot is back in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at The National WWI Museum and Memorial. Registration and Call for Proposals are now open, at the following link: 2024.10.26 Middle Moot, October 26, 2024 - Signum University The theme for Midd...

Don’t forget, we’ll be meeting on August 28, 6:30 PM, at Cardboard Corner Cafe, 9240 Metcalf Ave, in Overland Park.  We’ll be discussing the first two chapters of The Hobbit.

  July 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Meeting Recap The Tolkien Society met on June 24, and we never quite got around to discuss either the Appendix section we had chosen, or a recap of Tom Bombadil, we just talked about trivial Tolkien topics, The Rabbit Hole, moots & conventions, differences in editions of The Hobbit ...  You get the idea. For our next meeting, the reading will be the first two chapters of  The Hobbit !      Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Looking for an alternate meeting location We're looking for another location where we could hold some of our meetings, since some members are driving a long distance to get to ReRoll. It looks like Overland Park and vicinity would be the best choice, as it's closer for some folks, and about the same distance for some others.  We're looking for some place that's got room for us on a weeknight, and is quiet enough for us to hear everyone in the group.  A fantasy theme wou...

  June 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Meeting Recap The Tolkien Society met on June 26, and we discussed Tolkien's novella "Roverandom", a delightful children's story that he wrote for his own kids.  We had eight in attendance, including two first-timers! For our next meeting, the reading will be: APPENDIX A of LOTR, ANNALS OF THE KINGS AND RULERS, I THE NÚMENÓREAN KINGS, (i)NÚMENOR.  This was suggested, I believe, due to interest in the upcoming second season of The Rings of Power. Also, we plan to discuss The Adventures of Tom Bombadil once again, as several members missed out on that discussion and/or are eager to read it again! Looking for an alternate meeting location We're looking for another location where we could hold some of our meetings, since some members are driving a long distance to get to ReRoll. It looks like Overland Park and vicinity would be the best choice, as it's closer for some folks, and about the same distance for som...

  May 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Meeting Recap The Tolkien Society met on May 22, and we discussed Tolkien's short story "Leaf by Niggle", an allegory of his life and work.  For our next meeting, the reading will be Roverandom. Middle Moot! This year, Middle Moot is back in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at The National WWI Museum and Memorial. Registration and Call for Proposals are now open, at the following link: 2024.10.26 Middle Moot, October 26, 2024 - Signum University The theme for Middle Moot this year will be "Consolation, Recovery, & Hope in Faerie" The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be a great location for Middle Moot, as Tolkien fought in, and was greatly influenced by WWI, and at least one exhibit at the museum mentions him.  Also, one of our members is a volunteer there. The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 PM We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern. This m...

  April 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle J. R. R. Tolkien, c. 1925 At our meeting on Wednesday, we had a smaller-than-usual group, because several folks had other commitments or emergencies.  But we had a couple of first-time attendees.  And we picked our next reading!  Details below.      Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Announcements Save the date for MiddleMoot, returning to Kansas City this year, at the WWI Museum!  October 26.  See below for more details. The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 PM We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern. This month, we'll be discussing Tolkien's short story "Leaf by Niggle".  If you haven't read it lately and you'd like to read it ahead of time, the story  is available in the book The Tolkien Reader , as well as in a stand-alone volume. Middlemoot! This year, Middlemoot is back in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. We can now anno...

  March 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle At our March meeting, we talked about The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and the upcoming MiddleMoot, and agreed on the reading for April, details below!      Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Announcements Save the date for MiddleMoot, returning to Kansas City this year!  October 26.  More updates on MiddleMoot below. The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 PM We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern.  This month, we'll be reading Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories". On Fairy Stories is available in the book The Tolkien Reader , and probably other places as well. MiddleMoot! This year, Middlemoot is back in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. We've got some promising leading on securing a venue for the Moot this year, we'll send out an update by email and Discord when we have it finalized!

  February 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle We had a great discussion of Beren and Luthien at our February meeting.  I think everyone there had some unique insights on the book!      Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Announcements Don't forget the library talk coming up in March!  Details below. The topic of Tom Bombadil came up at one point during the last meeting, which inspired us to choose him for our March reading. Save the date for MiddleMoot, returning to Kansas City this year!  October 26. The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 PM We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern.  This month, we'll be reading The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.  The text is available in several different volumes, any of which should be available at libraries and bookstores, hit us up on Discord or the Google Group if you have trouble finding it! Rescheduled!  Library Talk: Monday, March 25, 6:00 PM El...

  January 2024: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle We had a lively meeting on January 24, where we decided to read Beren and Luthien for the February meeting!     Bob Clark, chief newsletter Hobbit Announcements Please note!  Our previously published date for MiddleMoot was incorrect, the correct date will be October 26, 2024.  Also, Elizabeth's library talk, which was cancelled due to the weather, has been rescheduled!  Details below. The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, February 28, 6:30 PM We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern.  We'll be discussing the book Beren and Luthien.  The book explores the evolution of Tolkien's many versions of the story of these two characters, one of the central tales of the legendarium. Rescheduled!  Library Talk: Monday, March 25, 6:00 PM Elizabeth Perico of The Tolkien Society of Kansas City will be giving a library talk on Monday, March 25 at 6pm, at the South Branch of...

  December 2023: Updates from the Smial of the Withywindle Happy New Year! My resolution is to start getting this newsletter out in the month of it's title.  But this one is close!     Bob Clark, Chief Newsletter Hobbit Announcements The Toast to the Professor is coming up soon!  Also next month, the annual LOTR Extended Version Marathon at Screenland Armour.  Plus, an upcoming library talk, and a report from Oxonmoot!  Details below. The Toast to the Professor! We'll be meeting at ReRoll Tavern on Wednesday, January 3, at 7PM, for the annual Toast to the Professor, to celebrate Tolkien's birthday. We plan to start with Tolkien trivia at 7PM, and the toast will be at 9PM. ReRoll Tavern  is located at 2368 Armour Rd, KCMO Library Talk: Monday, January 8th, 6:00 PM The Tolkien Society of Kansas City will be putting on a library talk on Monday, January 8th at 6pm, at the South Branch of the Kansas City Kansas Public Library. The title of the talk is ...