Friend a Day – Michael Lee

Photo by Peter Verrant

I met Michael the back in the early days of CONvergence.  He was part of a group that brought in Gary Russell as one of our first guests of honor.   Mike has always been passionate about Dr. Who, fandom, and conventions.

When I stepped down as a CONvergence director, Mike was elected to take my place and I couldn’t have been happier because I knew the convention would be in good hands.

He’s stepping away from the board of CONvergence this year but in the last several years, his interests in conventions have grown to the point he is currently helping with a Worldcon bid.

Mike can be a bit quiet until you get to know him but he certainly has his opinions and is willing to share them.

In the years that he has run the convention, I’ve seen him work tirelessly to make things better when he perceives a problem.  He has taken the initiative time and again to fix problems that wouldn’t have been fixed had he not made the choice to act.  He seems willing to commit whatever extra time it takes to make sure something gets done right.

At the convention, he has also served as a calming influence when tempers begin to flare.

I wouldn’t say he is the biggest Dr. Who fan I know but he is a big Dr. Who fan.  For the last several years, he has been the “candyman” who brought new episodes over to our house.  I know that on such evenings, my kids were a lot happier to see him than anyone else.  In that way, he’s passed his love of the show on to a new generation.

I really enjoy talking to Mike when there is something that excites him.  For someone who is so typically laid back, his personality completely changes and he lights up like a big kid.  That reaction betrays the passion that is always just below the surface.

I know that Mike will continue to be involved with CONvergence as long as the convention is around.  That’s a good thing because the con needs people like him.

You can find his blog at michaell.org.