For the Dragon*Con 2009 blood drive, we registered 2,439 people and drew 2,012 donors—1,836 whole blood, 85 platelets donors, and 92 double red cell.

The drive resulted in a final tally of 2,623 units being put into inventory (140 platelets, 1,843 red cells, and 640 plasmas). That’s 2,623 chances to actively save a life!

Many, many thanks to everyone who donated, to all the wonderful LifeSouth staff who manned the convention for the weekend, and a special thank you to Dr. …

The preliminary 2009 Charity Auction proceeds (including the Stargate auction)  total $25,000*! Thank you for your generosity!

[*This figure does not include the Art Auction.]

The record increases! 437 people registered today, bringing the total registered donors to 2,081 for the past four days. About 1,650 were able to donate, and we have close to 2,100 units!

Tomorrow is the last day to donate. Give in the Marriott, rooms A701 and A702, from 10AM to 3PM.

Blood Drive Donors are forgetting to pick up their Heinlein pins. If you forgot yours, please stop by the blood drive to pick it up.

We have a record number of contestants in the Hall Costume Contest!  Pictures will be posted on Sunday from 10AM to 5PM in front of the Centennial Ballrooms in the Hyatt.  Come vote for your favorite!  Winners will be announced at the Masquerade on Sunday.

Blood donations at a science fiction convention hit a world record today. Since Thursday, 1,700 people registered to donate, 1,400 were eligible to donate, and over 1,800 units of blood were donated, including platelets and double platelets.

There are still two days to go. 3,000 units, here we come! Donate in the Marriott, rooms A701 and A702, 10AM to 7PM.

Folks bringing objects for “Xenoarcheologist Road Show” (Sun 11:30AM), please bring them to Fairlie (H) today (Saturday) and leave them with the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Literature track staff on duty.

Attention Thriller dance participants: Don’t forget to stop by outside of Georgia 1 (S) and register for the Thriller dance and get your ribbon even if you already registered online. Be sure to fill out your consent and release form!

On the first day of the blood drive, we collected 447 pints of blood and 504 donors participated. Thanks to all that donated!

It’s thanks to the Austin Browncoats that the Kids Need to Read foundation will be filling a booth at Dragon*Con 2009.

Kids Need to Read, which distributes books to libraries, schools, and other institutions in need, was founded in 2007 by writer P.J. Haarsma, author of The Softwire book series, and actor Nathan Fillion, best known to D*C attendees as Captain Mal Reynolds of Firefly and Serenity.