Eastern Rim Funny Book and Vintage Con is back and better than ever for 2024. Normally we don’t always get an idea of why a con was started or who founded it, but thanks to Mr. Jerry Shafer, we get some behind-the-scenes info on Eastern Rim by way of an intro letter from the man himself:
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jerry Jacob Shafer and I am the Director of The Eastern Rim Funny Book & Vintage Con as well as a board member of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called The Fred Aguilar Promise Center. We are a community-based organization that provides services for the people and families of our area, our town, and the broader places beyond our borders.
We were housed in a quaint, former lumber yard that is held together with spit, gum, sweat, tears, and love for people. We are what might be called a working board of directors. We have all hammered and nailed the walls and floors of the previous location of The Promise Center more times than we can count, and have continued to do so, because we truly know we can get blood from a turnip, for the fact that it has been done successfully, again and again. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to find other accommodations. Thankfully, the Optimus Club of Baytown provided us with a place to call home. We cannot thank them enough.
Our services include, yet are not limited to: CAPE Club, which stands for Children’s And Parent’s Education where grade school kids and their parents, are guided by student volunteers in terms of helping the children with schoolwork, while at the same time teaching the parents the lessons so they may be able to help their kids at home, as well, leadership summer camps for high school kids, science/art two-week summer camps for elementary age kids, backpack giveaways before school starts, community health fairs, know your rights/government representative meetings, English for Spanish Speakers, conversational Spanish for English speakers, Internet tutorial classes for seniors, not to mention our cultural nights, where we have all day concert series, independent filmmaker presentations, symposiums on pop culture, poetry nights, Día De Los Muertos celebrations, and our Comic Book Convention.
We do all of this for free so we can provide access to folks who would usually never be able to afford attendance at these worthy outings.
Of course, the con is the focus of this letter.
A basic three-day ticket for a con in our region goes, on average, from $100-120, costing a family of four between $400-$500, just to get in the door, not to mention parking and food and drink.
We have no issues with the for-profit cons, and enjoy many of them. We just chose to create another option.
Here is an informative middle:
The Eastern Rim Funny Book & Vintage Con
has free admission and free parking as well as focusing on literacy as one of our extended community center goals. I am an English teacher by vocation and literacy helps make the world a better place.
Having our con be free to enter and park, allows our patrons to be able to spend their hard-earned money on what they really want, such as comics and graphic novels to read, wares, art, autographs, vintage items, and the like. We do not make any salary from this and all the money that is made goes back into the con and some of it goes to our community center so that it may used to best benefit our progress and interconnection with the community.
We serve the people to the best of our ability, which can only grow with your support!
And now some logistics:
FREE TO ENTER AND PARK!
When:
Saturday, August 24 10AM-6PM
Sunday, August 25 11AM-4PM
Where:
Goose Creek Memorial High School
6001 East Wallisville Rd Baytown, TX 77521 (North Main Entrance)
Comics! Cosplay! Toys! Original Art! Records! Vintage Items! Great Guests! Utterly Amazing Vendors! Inexpensive Food! Great Family Fun! Wonderful Memories that last a lifetime!
There will also be a special VIP package to purchase for a meet and greet, a sketch, and other goodies with Mr. Romita, details are available at the Eastern Rim link below
https://facebook.com/events/s/the-eastern-rim-funny-book-vin/436832449306179
https://m.facebook.com/The-Eastern-Rim-Funny-Book-and-Vintage-Con-354674551704894
https://www.facebook.com/ourpromiseforwestbaytown?mibextid=LQQJ4d