About The Kansas City Event
The Heinlein Centennial in Kansas City, Missouri in July 2007 was an event created and sponsored by an independent free association of Heinlein scholars, fans, readers and admirers. Its purpose was to give all those who admire or are interested in Robert Heinlein, his work, his life era and his influence on many fields a place to gather and celebrate the centennial of his birth by sharing information, reminiscences and the pleasure his efforts brought to all. Publicizing Heinlein's life and contributions to a wider audience after the event is a secondary goal now underway.
The event had wide scope, from the traditional science-fiction fan viewpoint to serious literary investigation of Heinlein's work and techniques and inclusion of the burgeoning commercial spaceflight industry that so closely represents Heinlein's fictional history of space development. No one lucky enough to be there would call it anything but a smashing success on all counts.
About Heinlein Centennial Inc.
Heinlein Centennial Inc. is a California nonprofit corporation, 501(c)(3) status approved (as of November 2007, valid to our founding in May 2005), that was formed to act as the legal and financial backbone of the Centennial event and all succeeding efforts. Neither Heinlein Centennial Inc. nor the event organizing committee are associated with any other group. In particular, this effort has no connection with the Heinlein Prize Trust, Heinlein Heinlein estate, or with The Heinlein Society.
About Us
Heinlein Centennial Inc., the Centennial organizing committee and the event volunteers are a mix of people with a common interest in seeing that Robert Heinlein is duly celebrated in his Centennial year. Our members include Heinlein's official biographer and two-time Heinlein Scholar; the author of the authoritative bibliography of Heinlein's works; two associates who spent nearly two years in advance planning and development of what became this event; individual members of the Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society and the Heinlein Society; and many other well-known organizers, supporters and contributors. You can find a complete list of those who remain active in this post-event era on our Contact page.
The Heinlein Centennial was an entirely volunteer-driven event and no person or institution outside those providing commercial goods and services are compensated or remunerated in any way. Every member of the senior organizing staff paid his or her own way, including event registrations, hotel rooms and travel, as did many of the general event volunteers.