About Us

 

The Group That Shall Not Be Named (HP-NYC), in cooperation with Ray "The Dark Lord Bartender" Smith and the Margate Hotel, Laconia, New Hampshire, are thrilled to announce a new Harry Potter fan convention to be held in May of 2013 called MISTI-Con. Designed to fill the need for smaller, more intimate HP conventions, MISTI-Con will transform the Margate into an immersive magic experience.

The Ministry has suffered great losses after the last wizarding war, and needs new bright individuals to work in its halls. A special project was launched to set up various training centers around the world, including one in a stunning beach resort in Laconia, New Hampshire. As applicants participate in the various training sessions, including academic presentations, combat skills, group discussions and panels, they have the opportunity to be hired on to work in any of the extensive departments in the Ministry. Being that this is a time of growth and renewal, the arts and creative endeavors of our magical citizenry will also be on display, with galleries of art, readings of fiction, and musical performances.

To keep up to date and find out more information about MISTI-Con as it becomes available, please join our mailing list.

You can also find out more by reading our FAQ or by visting our Forum.

Join our Kickstarter.

Learn more about our Donors.

Check out convention listings at SciFiConventions.com

About Our Organizers

ClayDockeryClay Dockery – Treasurer & Co-Head Organizer – Clay has become completely immersed in the Harry Potter fan community since he had the good fortune of finding the HP-NYC meet up group. When he is not doing his day job, running a non-profit, he spends his time acting, writing, and is the co-host of Geeklectic a podcast about all sorts of geeky topics. He is a coach of the NY Badassilisks IQA Quidditch team and a member of several committees dedicated to promoting and organizing the sport.
LisDonovan Elisabeth Donovan – Vendor & Wrock Coordinator – Former co-organizer of the NYDA HPA Chapter, Lis is currently head of The Fangs, the NY Badassilisks Quidditch team cheerleading squad. She is also the founder of Olisvander Wands, a custom wand store that specializes in light up and "bling-ed out" wands for any witch or wizard.
JennDrucker Jennifer Drucker – Web & Graphic Design Coordinator– Jennifer is a graphic designer and fine artist who has created several logo, print, and web designs for several HP themed organizaions, including The HP-NYC, The NYDA HPA, and The Dancing Death Eaters. She has also started her own cake decorating business, Jenny’s Cakes With Character, which specializes in geek-themed culinary creations, such as Hogwarts Castle on fire and a complete set of all seven Harry Potter books. She has created and illustrated a continuing parody comic called “Harry Loves Snape.” When she is not designing, she is one of Flick’s Flygirls, a backup dancer for wrock band Swish and Flick, as well as a Fangs cheerleaders for the NY Badassilisks.
ChristineEvans Christine Evans – Volunteer Coordinator – Christine Evans is an Actress and Clothing Historian working in the museum field.  Bored with the muggle world she sought out the Harry Potter community in order to attend a convention. Christine achieved that goal attending her first Infinitus in 2010,  then set her sights on presenting at Aeternitas 2011. Christine is a member and Co-Organizer of The Group That Shall not Be Named (HP-NYC) and Member of the New York Badassilisk's Quidditch Team.  An avid Cos-player, Christine enjoys bringing to life many characters from the Harry Potter world.
Jodi Fox Jodi Fox – Sponsorship and Ad Sales – Jodie Fox is a sales representative for Vector Marketing and is currently in training to become a manager and open up her own office soon. She has been involved in the Harry Potter fandom since joining The Group That Shall Not Be Named in January 2011, but her obsession with the series dates back to December 2000, when her parents bought her the books for Channukah. In her free time, Jodie enjoys writing both her own stories and fan fiction, watching a good classic film, and performing on stage, as she is currently rehearsing as an ensemble member for a Christmas Carol, and has been on stage since she was twelve years old.
Deanna GeorgesDeanna Georges - Logistics Assisting Staff - Deanna is a lot of things to a lot of people and most definitely a big deal. Originally from Boston, she has been active in the Harry Potter community both there and in NYC. A proud Gryffindor, Deanna has been an assistant organizer with HP-NYC for 4 years. In her spare time she likes to costume and sew, talk to herself, and read dirty Harry/Draco fanfiction.
Lesley HathornLesley Hathorn - Academic Papers Chair - Lesley Hathorn is a professor of cognitive psychology. She is delighted to be involved in Misti-con. She has made a number of presentations at conferences where she discusses psychological concepts in the context of Harry Potter. She studies how we can use the art of the magic of words to learn about the science of behavior. That is, she does research into the comprehension and mental representations readers form from text and how the power of words can affect our thinking and consequently behavior. After her students found out that she can explain psychology with examples from Harry Potter, she was voted the coolest professor EVER.
JamesHinsey James Hinsey – Muggle Technology Coordinator – A life-long lover of Science Fiction and Fantasy since the early 70s, James entered the magical realm of Harry Potter in 2007 by reading all 7 books and realised that as a costumer he could make Snape's outfit which he presented in the 2008 Arisia Masquerade show. He regularly cos-lives with his Snape outfit any chance he gets when attending Conventions, Quidditch World Cups, and Halloween. He has attended LeakyCon 2009, was the Pop Culture Experience chair at 2009 New England Fan Experience, is on the Masquerade staff for Arisia since 2010, and has presented panels and workshops at Arisia and Aeternitas 2011. James is a member of Starfleet International, Nothern Lights Costumers Guild, New England Browncoats, and HP-MA. He is a cohost on Sci-Fi Journal, a public access television show produced by the Rhode Island Science Fiction Club.
Abby HuppAbby Hupp - Community Programming Chair - Abby Hupp will be joining us from St Louis. Some of you may already know her as the founder and lead organizer of Wrockstock, one of the wizard rock community's most beloved events. She describes herself as a house elf with rebellious tendencies and has been to Phonenix Rising, Terminus, LeakyCon 09 and of course, all five Wrockstock events. She'll be the person to talk to about organizing meetups as well as being the ringleader ...er, organizer of our after-hours programming. If she were a witch, her house would be Shenanigans.
CassieJohnstoneCassandra Johnstone – Programming Coordinator & Co-Head Organizer– Cassandra Johnstone is currently in school for acting and is an avid artist. She finds herself obsessed with theater, photography, illustration, costume design, dance, and stage combat. She is the creator and director of The Zero Hour Collective, a young adult theater company in Chicago, devoted to creating edgy, fantastical productions. Cassandra also has a wild passion for cosplay. Over the past year she has been delighting in teaching Wand Dueling classes to Harry Potter fans at conventions.
CarolCane Carol Kane – Visuals & Decorating Coordinator– Carol is an artist working in sculpture and illustration. She has exhibited artwork in museums and galleries such as The Tate Britain in London and The Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, as well has having been featured on the cover of The New York Times Arts & Leisure section. She has worked in special events and visuals for MTV Networks and Versace. You can see her creations at carolriotkane.carbonmade.com. She recently discovered HP and now enjoys devoting her talent to writing and creating artwork inspired by the series. She “cos-lifes” Snape and also enjoys creating her own costumes. She is also “Hugo The Badassilisk,” the NY Badassilisks Quidditch team’s mascot.
CarolCane Jessica Klein – Activities & Quidditch Coordinator – Jessica is a Chaser/Seeker for the NY Badassilisks Quidditch team and has been a member of TGTSNBN for over a year. She is an avid cosplayer and can often be seen wearing full face paint during quidditch matches and various costume meetups. She is a huge sports enthusiast and works as a game day entertainer for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Jessica is also the founder of Raise Your Voice – for Autism, which is a charity drive dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Autistic community.
CarolCane Perseus & Draco LePage – Informal Programming Co-Coordinators –Perseus LePage and His Draco are well known in the Potterverse for Their portrayal of Lucius and Draco Malfoy. Perseus grew up in England, works in Biotechnology releasing medicine for rare diseases. He is a classically trained actor, vocalist, dancer, and avid equestrian and weight trainer, and has dabbled as a martial artist and stuntman. He fell into the world of Harry Potter shortly after the film Chamber of Secrets, after being compared to the elder Malfoy so many times He decided to see what all the fuss was about, and has been hooked ever since. He also portrays the Vampire Lestat, ColonelTavington, Prince Nuada, and Haldir (LotR). Draco (yes, its His real name), has been portraying the younger Malfoy with Perseus - as Lucius - semi-professionally since coming over from England in 2006 and is very well known in the Potterverse. He is a trained hair stylist and make-up artist and has done professional modelling as well as having been featured in a number of books. He is studying classical ballet, voice (countertenor), and horseback riding, and loves to do calligraphy and is an amateur herbalist and potions master. Draco also impersonates the Anne Rice vampire Louis, Buffy's Spike and Michael Jackson.They've been featured in many books and articles and live in Their own Manor with their beloved creatures.
JennLevine Jennifer Levine – PR Coordinator – Jennifer is an experienced public relations professional, both in-house and freelance. From working the red carpet with Rubenstein Communications to hosting an Intel gadget show live at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), her experience runs the gamut. She also created the content marketing department at Livestream, crafted social media strategy at Games for Change, and manages publicity for several independent clients. Whether she is providing substantial analytics in social media or producing online and offline events, Jennifer prides herself on professionalism, personality and performance. She hopes to one day change the way public personalities relate to their fans. When not serving clients, she enjoys attending Harry Potter meetups (hp-nyc.com), learning about the future of storytelling (storycode.org), and eating exotic meals from around the world (gastronauts.net). [Photo by Grace Kendall.]
JoshuaMadrugaJoshua Madruga – Head of MISTI-Con Death Eater Programming – Josh is well known in several fan circles, including HP, GIJOE, and Batman. His meticulous costume design has gotten his cosplay photos posted all over the world, particularly his Voldemort persona "Cold Slither". Along with being in charge of Death Eater programming at MISTI-Con, Josh will also be designing the interior artwork for our con guide.
Sara PhillipsSara Phillips – Fan Fiction Chair – Sara has been involved in the HP fandom since 2004 mostly as a reader of fanfic and occasionally as a writer of fanfiction. Her day job in HR management keeps her pretty busy but she enjoys writing and singing in a local acappella group call Random Acts of Acappella. She has been a volunteer at a several HP cons and enjoys it when everyone can take part and help fandom grow. Sara has slowly been getting into cosplay and is currently working on a Professor Sinistra costume for Misti-Con.
JonRosenthal Jonathon Rosenthal – Logistics Coordinator & Co-Head Organizer– Jonathon is head organizer of The Group That Shall Not Be Named (HP-NYC). He has been involved in numerous HP fandom projects over the last few years including Co-Head Chair of Aeternitas, Entertainment Director of the Quidditch World Cup V, General Manager of the NY Badassilisks Quidditch team, and member of the NYC Wizard Rock Festival 1 and 2 organization teams.
RaySmith Ray "The Dark Lord Bartender" Smith – Special Competition & Laconia Coordinator – Ray has been a bartender for the Margate Resort for 10.5 years. A tremendous fan of fantasy literature, since the Aeternitas convention he has read the House of Night, Vampire Academy, Eragon, Percy Jackson, and Hunger Games series. Ray is also the designers of several special events that will be held at MISTI-Con. Additionally, he wants all of his fans to know that not only will his 15 original signature HP character drinks be returning, but he has been busy, and his menu now exceeds 100 themed drinks!