December 2023 Newsletter

 

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 "Celebrating the Life of J.R.R. Tolkien", the speaker will be Elizabeth Perrico.

Address of the South Branch:   3104 STRONG AVE., KANSAS CITY, KS

The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society: Wednesday, January 24, 6:30 PM

We'll be meeting at our usual location, ReRoll Tavern.  Bring ideas on what you'd like the group to read in the coming year, either Tolkien or non-Tolkien related, as well as any other activity ideas!

Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Marathon, at Screenland Armour!

Screenland Armour will again be having their annual marathon showing of The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition, on Saturday, January 27, 2024, 9:30AM.  This is one day only each year, and the tickets will probably sell out!



MiddleMoot 2024

Mark your calendars for MiddleMoot, which will be held in Kansas City, on Saturday, October 5, 2024.  More details will be coming in the new year!

Report from Oxonmoot - by Elizabeth Perrico

In 2023 I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Oxonmoot in person, which was held in Oxford, England, from 31 August - 3rd September. I have been assisting with organising Oxonmoot for a few years now, but this was my first time getting to attend in person, and was a trip that I have dreamed of taking for many, many years!

This was the 50th anniversary of Oxonmoot, and it was certainly a celebration of special magnificence! The night before the moot started, I attended a special anniversary dinner that was held in the dining hall at Exeter College (which has appeared in a few films!). 

Other highlights were getting to attend a live recording of the Prancing Pony Podcast, the world-famous Oxonmoot Pub Quiz, having some my art displayed at the OM Art Show, getting to meet and attend classes with my absolute favourite Tolkien artist Jenny Dolfen, the interview with Bear McCreary, Enyalië, and getting to walk in the footsteps of my literary heroes, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Many of my friends also were in attendance, and getting to share the experience with them made it so much more special. In fact, some of us even took a post-Oxonmoot trip to Wales together, staying at The Bear, a 600 year old inn located in Crickhowell, Wales. 

Oxonmoot 2024 will be held 29 August - 1 September, both online and in person in Oxford, and I highly encourage you to attend either way!







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