------------------------------------------------------------
MEETING OF MARCH 7, 1980 TOM SCHAAD PRESIDING.
IN ATTENDANCE (AT GILLILAND'S)
Joe Mayhew, Sec., Bill Berg, Treas., Alexis Gilliland, Tru., Alan
Huff, Tru., Bob Oliver, Bill Mayhew, Robin Mayhew, Jane Woodward,
Morgan Woodward, Sharon Harris, Michael Harris, Mimi Newcastle, Newton
Ewell, Troy Farwell, Mike Kozlowski, Pat Jones, Bob MacIntosh, Kent
Bloom, Beverly Brandt, Marty Wise, Janet Lynch, Gary Anderson, Doug
Hoylman, Peter Theron, Gary Oleson, Victoria Smith, Linda Melnick,
Wayne Dionne, Joanna Dionne, Pat Kelly, Avedon Carol, Dick Roepke,
Tom Whitmore, Fran Buhman, David Kaplan, Doll Gilliland, Rich Deglin,
Barry Newton, Judy Newton, Scott Dennis, Mike Walsh, Sue Wheeler, Eva
Chalker, Jack Chalker, Charlie Ellis, John Sapienza, John Rubins,
Regina Cohen, Dave Hastie, Lee Smoire, Jeanne Nathanson. (54)
The meeting was called to order at 9:17. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and corrected to read: Rosa Oliver presiding. The Treasury stood at $1,751.21.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
DATCLAVE: Kent Bloom reported that approximately $6.00 [sic]
was raised, about $400.00 was spent, and a little less than $200.00
will be put into the WSFA Treasury. A wall phone was reported to have
been vandalized by someone attending tha con. Kent paid the hotel
$50.00 for it, not in acknowledgement of legal responsibility, but in
the spirit of cooperation with the hotel. DATCLAVE was a success, and
Kent, Doll Gilliland and Dave Hastie, as well as the others who worked
on it are to be congratulated.
PUBLICATIONS: The Journal was out, thanks to the help of Somtow
Sucharitkul who ransomed it from the printer.
CONSTITUTION: The meeting scheduled for Sunday was cancelled
due to the blizzard. The meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, March 11
at 8:00 at the Woodwards'.
OLD BUSINESS:
The motion to limit meeting F&B expenditures was withdrawn for the
present.
NO NEW BUSINESS
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 (28 minutes)
MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1980, TOM SCHAAD PRESIDING
IN ATTENDANCE: (at Berg's)
Rosa Oliver, VP, Joe Mayhew, Sec, Bill Berg, Treas, Alan Huff, Tru.,
Alexis Gilliland, Tru, Mike Kozlowski, Dave Hastie, Pat Jones, Pat
Kelly, Bob MacIntosh, Wayne Dionne, Joanna Dionne, Sharon Harris,
Michael Harris, Marianne Petrino, Kleeo Hondros, James Turner, Ron
Leonard, Walter Miles, Victoria Smith, Marty Wise, Beverly Brandt,
John Huff, Carol Craddock, Janet Lynch, Kent Bloom, Bob Oliver, Tom
Sweeting, Mike Walsh, Scott Dennis, Ginny McNitt, Bob Lovell, Steve
Smith, Lisa Peoples, John Rubins, Newton Ewell, Mimi Newcastle, Troy
Farwell, John Sapienza, Regina Cohen, Bill Mayhew, Linda Melnick,
Robin Wood (Jane Woodward), Bill Quick. (46)
The meeting was called to order at 9:13. The minutes were read and approved as read. The Treasury balance was $1,688.69.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
MEMBERSHIP: Four new members: David Kaplin (a) Pater Theron (a) Marty Wise (p!) Ralph Roland (a)
DATCLAVE: Kent reported these figures:
$637.00 taken in memberships
215.95 spent on beer
85.35 spent on soft drinks
39.92 on food & munchies
17.94 on Datclave fliers
33.50 on badges, etc.
50.00 to hotel on damaged phone.
$448.11 spent
$190.89 forwarded to Treasury.
DISCLAVE: Registration stood at around 150. There will be 40
huxters tables.
CONSTITUTION: The committee's proposed Constitution will be
published in the Journal.
OLD/NEW BUSINESS: zip. Adjourned at 9:38 (25 minutes)
Balance as of January 1, 1980: $2,664.25
MEETING OF 1-18-80
Income: Interest from Savings Account, $2.35.
Dues: $15.00
Outgo: To B.Berg for F&B, $50.00. To A. Gilliland for
F&B: $104.00. To D. Roepke for Roast Beef at Christmas dinner
party: $15.00. To M. Walsh of Baltimore 83 (as voted) $250.00. To
T.Schaad $500.00 for Disclave.
MEETING OF 2-1-80
Income: Dues: $14.00.
Outgo: To A. Gilliland for F&B: $31.75. For WSFA Journal
to J. Mayhew: $25.15 (included postage and presstype). For G. Oleson,
$14.00 for Christmas dinner Turkey.
MEETING OF 2-15-80
Income: From Disclave 1979, A.Huff $117.51
Outgo: To B.Berg $50.00 tor F&B. To A. Gilliland $22.00 tor
those attending the movie "THE BLACK HOLE" (WSFA paid half
per person)
MEETING OF 3-7-80
Income: Dues $5.00
Outgo: To A. Gilliland $50.00 for F&B. To J. Mayhew tor the WSFA
Journal $17.52.
TOTAL INCOME $ 153.86
TOTAL OUTGO $1129.42
TOTAL LOSS $ 975.56
BALANCE AS OF 3-7-80: $ 1,688.69
submitted by William Berg, Treasurer
Ralph ROLAND
[censored]
Oxon Hill, Md. 20022
(301) 248-4511
Marty WISE
3326 Lauriston Pl.
Fairfax, Va.
(703) 698-5058
Peter THERON
[censored]
Alexandria, Va. 22303
(703) 768-1386
David Kaplan
[censored]
Northbrook, Ill, 60062
(312) 446-7473
Philip Davis
[censored]
Dale City, Va 22093
Barbara Barron
10 Summit Ave.
Albany N.Y. 12209
(518) 463-7508
(until November 1980)
Mimi Newcastle
Phone correction
(301) 248-6736
THE WSFA JOURNAL is the official publication of the WASHINGTON
SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION. It is published monthly under the
supervision of the WSFA Secretary and paid for from the WSFA Treasury.
Joe Mayhew, Editor.
THE WSFA JOURNAL MARCH 1980. VOLUME III, NUMBER SEVEN
ARTICLE I (NAME)
The organization governed by this Constitution and its bylaws is THE
WASHINGTON SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION, abbreviated WSFA.
ARTICLE II (PURPOSE)
A] WSFA shall exist to bring together those interested in Science
Fiction, Fantasy literature, and other related interests and
activities on a regular basis.
B] WSFA shall sponsor an annual Convention called DISCLAVE.
C] No part of the net income of WSFA shall inure to the benefit of any
of its individual members.
ARTICLE III (MEMBERSHIP)
A] Membership in WSFA is open to anyone in sympathy with WSFA's stated
purpose.
B] Members shall be admitted and participate in WSFA activities
according to this Constitution and its Bylaws.
C] Only members who are current in their dues shall hold office,
propose business, or vote.
ARTICLE IV (OFFICERS)
A] The Executive board of WSFA shall consist of the following officers
1] President 2] Vice President 3] Secretary 4] Treasurer 5] Three
Trustees 6] The Chairman of any DISCLAVE until after it is held.
B] Their election, terms of office, privileges and duties shall be as
described in the Bylaws.
C] The Vice President shall succeed to the Presidency in the event
that the president cannot fulfill his term.
D] Any other vacancies occurring on the Executive Board shall be
filled by a by-election. 2] Those so elected shall serve for the
remainder of the term of the officer replaced.
E] A petition for the removal of a member of the Executive Board may
be presented to the executive Board in writing at any time. 2] Such
petition must state the grounds for removal and must be signed by at
least 15 members. 3] If the other officers of the Executive Board
unanimously agree that the removal is justified, they shall suspend
the officer and appoint a temporary replacement. 4] Such action and
the grounds for it shall be mailed to all members. 5] At the first
regular meeting held at least 10 days after such notice, removal
from the Executive Board shall become permanent if approved by a 3/4
majority of the members voting. 6] Any office so vacated shall be
filled as prescribed in Art IV:D.
ARTICLE V (MEETINGS)
WSFA shall meet at such places and at such times provided for in the
Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI (AMENDMENTS)
A] Any Proposed amendment to this constitution may be submitted in
writing at any regular meeting of WSFA.
B] Such proposal shall be read to the meeting and be placed on the agenda
for the next meeting. 2] Notice shall be given to the membership.
C] The proposal shall be subject to amendment as any other item of
business.
D] No amendment to this Constitution shall become effective until it
has either been adopted in the same form at two consecutive regular
meetings by 2/3 of those voting or until its written petition has been
signed by 2/3 of the membership.
ARTICLE I (MEMBERSHIP AND DUES)
A] The annual dues shall be $10.00. 2] They shall be due as of the
first regular meeting in June. 3] Dues may be paid in advance. 4]
Any member must pay the full year's dues regardless of the date of
payment. 5] Any member who is delinquent in his dues for an entire
year shall be dropped from the membership list. 6] New members' dues
shall be prorated to the appropriate portion of the remaining WSFA
year.
B] WSFA shall issue annual membership cards to its paid-up members.
C] Anyone wishing to join WSFA must first attend two meetings. 2] at
the second meeting he may apply for membership and be sponsored by
a member. 3] If this application is approved by the Trustees, the
applicant may pay his dues and become a member at the next meeting
he attends.
D] A petition to revoke any membership may be presented in writing at
any regular meeting. 2] It must state the grounds and be signed by at
least 15 members and be communicated to the member concerned at least
10 days before the presentation of the petition for action. 3] It the
petition is approved by a vote of 2/3 of the members present, and
the impeached member has had an opportunity to defend himself, the
petition shall be presented again at a second regular meeting. 4] If
2/3 of the members present vote to revoke the membership this second
time, it is revoked. 5] The revoked member's dues shall be prorated
and the appropriate portion shall be refunded.
ARTICLE II (QUORUM AND VOTING)
A] A quorum shall consist of 15 members which include two officers of
the Executive Board. 2] Such a quorum must be present at any meeting
at which a vote is taken.
B] There shall be no absentee or proxy voting.
ARTICLE III (ELECTIONS)
A] All elections shall be supervised by the Trustees. 2] Any Trustee
who is running for office shall appoint a counter for that office who
is acceptable to the other two Trustees.
B] The election of all members of the Executive Board except the
Disclave Chairman shall take place during the first regular meeting in
May. Those elected at that meeting shall assume their offices at the
first regular meeting in June.
C] The Trustees shall receive seconded nominations from the floor and
shall announce all candidates in order nominated
D] All elections shall be counted by Australian ballot.
E] The order of nomination and election shall be: 1] President, 2]
Vice President 3] Secretary 4] Treasurer 5] Trustee 6] Trustee 7]
Trustee.
ARTICLE IV (OFFICERS)
A] The President shall 1] preside at all meetings, 2] exercise general
supervision over the properties and activities of WSFA, 3] appoint
members to committees, 5] yield the chair to 1] the Vice President
or 2] another member, when he wishes to participate in debate.
B] The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President during
the absence of the President.
C] The Secretary shall 1] keep the minutes of all meetings of the
club 2] be custodian of all WSFA documents, records, and archival
material, 3] be a member of the publications committee.
D] The Treasurer shall 1] receive all WSFA funds and maintain them in
an account separate from his own, 2] maintain the official membership
list, 3] pay out funds only when approved by the Executive Board or
the membership by vote. 4] submit his records for audit whenever
requested by the Executive Board or by a petition of 1/3 of the
membership. 5] serve on the Executive board.
E] The Trustees shall 1] vote on all applications for membership,
2] supervise all elections 3] prepare a slate of nominations for all
WSFA offices scheduled to be voted upon. 4] announce that slate at
the regular meeting just previous to that of the election. 5] serve
an the Executive board.
F] The Disclave Chairman shall 1] be elected at a regular meeting
designated by the membership. 2] be authorized to transact all
necessary business pertaining to the Disclave and to appoint all
its officers. 3] serve on the Executive Board until his Disclave
has been held.
G] Only the Disclave Chairman is eligible to hold more than one office
on the Executive board. 2] When the Disclave Chairman also holds
another office he will have only one vote on the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV (COMMITTEES)
A] The standing committees shall be 1] Entertainment 2] Publications.
B] Special committees may be formed by the President at such times as
deemed necessary.
ARTICLE V (MEETINGS)
A] WSFA's regular meetings shall occur on the 1st and 3rd Friday of
each month. 2] Special meetings can be called.
B] The place and time for the next meeting shall be designated by the
Chair before the meeting adjourns.
C] The order of business of all regular meetings shall be: 1] Call to
order 2] Reading of previous minutes 3] Reports of Officers 4] Reports
of Committees 5] Old Business 6] New business 7] Announcements 8]
Adjournment.
ARTICLE VI: (ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES)
All procedural questions not covered in the Constitution and Bylaws
shall be decided by reference to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised,
75th Anniversary Edition (1951).
ARTICLE VII (AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS)
Any proposed amendment to these Bylaws may be submitted in writing at
any regular meeting. 2] Such proposal must be signed by 15 members
before being read at the meeting. 3] A vote shall be taken at the next
regular meeting after the proposal is submitted. 4] Passage shall
require a 2/3 majority of those voting.
Somtow Sucharitkul REVIEWS: MY TEN FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR 1979 (Part I)
I think first place must go unequivocally to Tom Disch's ON WINGS OF SONG (published by St. Martin's Press). Set in a glitter-rich, decadently complex near-future in which people can achieve liberation from the body through a device into which they must sing - if they can - and in which neo-Baroque opera, complete with castrati, is enjoying a maniacal upsurge in popularity in New York City, ON WINGS OF SONG is a bildungsroman about Daniel, a boy who longs to fly. It's full of utterly memorable characters, and every sentence is a marvel of razor-honed pointedness. This is a book like an iridium-plated shark - glittering and biting all the way. It's a strong favorite for the Nebula, by the way.
In THE DANCERS OF ARUN (Berkley/Putnam), Elizabeth Lynn more than fulfills the promise of her earlier novels, A DIFFERENT LIGHT and WATCHTOWER. Lynn has a remarkable ability to delineate character with a few simple strokes. Stylistically she's a classicist, crystallizing the tension and complexity into subtle iceberg-deep sentences. THE DANCERS OF ARUN, 2nd volume in a fantasy-trilogy that's really a series of un-genre novels set in an imaginary country, is about cultural conflict and telepathy and the bands of dancers whose dancing hinges on the chea, the underlying order of things - but in essence it too is a bildungsroman; it tells the story of Kerris, an armless boy and official ugly duckling of the castle, his search for identity and the physical fulfillment of his love for his brother the dancer. And a lot more. It's such a wise book.
I disagree rather vehemently with Steve Brown's recent pronouncements
in HEAVY METAL about Norman Spinrad's new book (from Pocket) A WORLD
BETWEEN. If you were to take everything this book says as a grand
statement of doctrinal Truths about the sexes, you might think it
somewhat misguided and overstated: but A WORLD BETWEEN isn't that
kind of book. On one level it's a hilarious sendup of sexism in all
its forms, in which hideously Hitlerian scientist-supermen vie with
metal-boobed Amazons through the media to gain control of a planet
with quite an interesting sex-role setup of its own. Underneath the
grotesqueries - which approach THE IRON DREAM in their fastpacedness,
neverstoppingness and militant ridiculousness - there are elements
that are genuinely disturbing. It's a book that should please no
one. but it's still very fine. Norman handles the characters more
finely, less oh-my-god-blatantly, than in his previous books, and
the juxtaposition of highly believable, sympathetic characters - the
planet's female president-figure and her husband, the communications
minister - with the cartoony, lurid-primary-color worldviews of the
various invaders, is handled well - - while never losing its sense of
only just managing to stay on the tightrope. By the way, Spinrad
is a very cumulative writer: events grow and grow in significance as
more events are piled over them, until they have completely outgrown
their original meanings.
---to be continued
OTHER REVIEWS J.T. Sapienza Mainly
THE DOOR INTO FIRE by Diane Duane (Dell SF/Fantasy. 11874 $1.95. This is unquestionably one of the best fantasy novels of the year. A quest novel, it begins the story of a mage seeking to come into his full control over his natural area of power, over fire. Some may find the sexual content of the book offensive, but when have you ever read a story of a man who gets a fire elemental as a lover before? Interesting in both characterization and world concept, and obviously with places to go in later novels. Highly recommended; but don't read the introduction by David Gerrold until after you read the novel. It is painfully cute, and might turn you off from reading what is, after all, Diane Duane's book, not David Gerrold's. / John T. Sapienza. Jr.
MASTER OF HAWKS by Linda E. Bushyager (Dell SF/Fantasy, 15871, $1.95. This is a war story, in which the telepathic ability of the hero to control every kind of bird (hence the title) is matched unexpectedly against an opponent who can do that and more. The concept might make for either an interesting specialty of mage for FRP, or a special power for Elves and/or Druids. Well written (especially for a first novel) and with good characterization. Recommended. You notice that this is part of a continuing tide of new female writers dominating fantasy writing; strange, that, but it has been going on for the last four or five years. I met Linda at SEACON last August outside of the FAN Room, where we chatted while watching people play the computer games and waiting our own turns. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the novel then and thus couldn't thank her personally for it. But I'm looking forward to the sequel(s). John T. Sapienza, Jr.
(Another opinion of MASTER OF HAWKS by Joe Mayhew)
MASTER OF HAWKS may finish up as a book of profound value, but I'll never know. I found it necessary to put it down after reading only a few pages. It is a type of book which I find unendurably silly. I could only recommend it to Linn Carter fans. Linda Bushyager is a long time BNF and one of the guiding spirits of Philadelphia fandom. Her Fanzine KARASS is surely missed, I hope she will return to editing fanzines./JM
A TOLKIEN BESTIARY by David Day, and profusely illustrated by eleven artists. (Ballantine Books) This is a book no Tolkien enthusiast will be willing to do without, despite the high price. A specialized reference work, this gives the description and brief background for the complete flora and fauna of Tolkien's world, including races, nations, and deities. The pictures alone are worth the price, over a hundred in B&W plus 36 in color, but the text seems very well done too. Everything you ever wanted to know about Middle Earth and the surrounding realms, in terms of what lives there. Lovely. / John T. Sapienza, Jr.
The SIXTH WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION will be at the HUNT VALLEY INN in
Cockeysville - home of BALTICON. It will be on Halloween weekend (Oct
31 - Nov. 2, 1980) and will honor the literary heritage of Edgar Allen
Poe. JACK VANCE is the GOH, BORIS VALLEJO is Special Artist Guest,
ROBERT BLOCH is Master of Ceremonies. MEMBERSHIP IN THIS CONVENTION
IS LIMITED TO 750, and is $20.00 up to Sept 1 and $25.00 after.
Supporting= $7.00. This in no way is a typical fannish convention.
Very Sercon and professional. Send all inquiries to:
Chuck Miller
239 N. 4th St.
Columbia, Pa 17512
(717) 684-2925 between 9 -5 only
PHILCON 80 [the 44th Philadelphia S.F.Conference] will be at the
PHILADELPHIA SHERATON -DOWNTOWN (1700 J.F. Kennedy Boulevard,
Philadelphia, PA. 19103. Pre-registration is $6.00. BEN BOVA will be
the Principal Speaker, KELLY FREAS will be the Guest Artist and ROBERT
SHECKLEY will be Guest Editor. Philcon has been improving at a steady
rate since their Fiasco at the Holiday Inn back in 1977. It is
becoming a Con not to be missed.
Contact address:
Joann Lawler
2750 Narcissa Rd
Plymouth Meeting, Pa 19462
From: May-June 1965
"The Disclave drew a much better turn-out than we expected - 82 registrants - with the result that WSFA's treasury was not so depleted by the Convention as it might have been."
From May-June 1965
"The remainder of the evening was consumed by a general discussion of books and articles on science-fiction now being published." and
"The program consisted of Alexis Gilliland reading a portion of his novel that is ready for publication."
From: August 1965
Bill Berg reports "The meeting itself seemed to be somewhat disorganized. It was chaired by Jack Chalker, the BSFS President. ... One thing which seemed rather odd was the club requirement that if a club officer missed three consecutive meetings, he was out of office."
From Mid-February, 1966 (Reprinted from the WASHINGTON POST, May 1, 1950)
"The Washington Science Fiction Association held its first disclave at the Hotel Wardman Park yesterday, with visitors from as far away as Pennsylvania and New York, and Rocket expert, Willey Ley, among the speakers. Maybe it would be well to explain that a "disclave" is a combination of "district" and "clave" like in conclave... Nervously adjusting my invisible neospatial goggles, I stepped into the room. I discovered the chandeliers were not suspended by ultramarine rays. Aside from a screen in the corner, that I carelessly assumed concealed a cyclotron, all I saw were about 75 people who looked very amiable and not the least bit interstellar..."
From: June 1966
Ted White reports: "...That ended the program but not the Disclave. A group of us bundled into the bus again to set forth for the Chinese Restaurant Bob Pavlat had reserved for the twenty-five of us who'd raised our hands in response."
and Jay Haldeman reports: "I arrived a little late for the "early arrival party" at the Diplomat Motel, yet had no trouble finding the fans. The noise led me in the right direction, but the real clue was the predominance of facial hair along with the presence of one small, but active, Boa Constrictor. Alan Huff had placed himself strategically between the door and the bathtub full of beer; from this vantage point he was able to grab everyone for their registration fees. (then $1.00)" ...As the weather was pleasant, most of the discussions were held on the balcony -- much to the consternation of motel guests and management...About 1:00 A.M. the Motel management requested that we round up the fans from the balcony and roof. They suggested that if the party were moved indoors other inhabitants of the Diplomat could get some sleep. The proposal was given serious consideration and, following a lengthy debate, most of us withdrew to the WSFA suite...The next morning, bleary-eyed fans awoke to discover that they were facing an official program..."
From October 1966
"THE BSFS ELECTION": "At 8:40 BSFS not yet being ready to start their meeting, it was determined that a quorum of the Washington Science Fiction Association was present. ... Mark Owings started the BSFS meeting by reading a prayer from the Book of the Dead. ... at a previous meeting, Alan Huff had been made an official "Hot Roast Beef Sandwich." ...Roger Zelazny was overheard to mention that Harlan Ellison still owed him two dollars."
From Mid-October, 1966
Roger Zelazny reports "at the Tricon...Harlan approached with a firm and dignified gait, smiled benevolently and said: "Zelazny, you're disgustingly drunk." Which I of course replied to with the joke about the Mexican hayride (which everyone knows to be a sober story), by the way of refutation. Then, shaking his head and averting his eyes from the subtle wit contained therein, he refunded my two dollars."
From Mid-November, 1966
J.C.Haldeman reports: "The fan panel had Jack Chalker and Charlie Brown, among others doing battle. They were discussing science and science fiction. Jack said that almost all the science he knew, he had learned from science fiction. Charlie drew upon his years of experience and replied that he had been in the same position 15 years ago, and found that all the science he had learned from science fiction was wrong."
From February 1967
Bill Berg reports on the Balticonference: "... Chuck and Dawn Rein brought in a garbage can full of popcorn bearing a sign saying "eat garbabe". The popcorn was devoured in about half an hour. Jay Haldeman made several of us Honorary Haldemans, presenting us with appropriate identifying badges."
From February 1968
Ted White reports: "Alexis Gilliland's article on a superrace is good thinking, and has inspired in me the ideas for at least two books, for which I shall remain grateful."
Robert Silverberg reports: "Alexis suggests that THORNS may not be s-f, which bugs me considerably, because it brings up that old business about how any book that deals with people and emotions can't possibly be s-f..."
From June 1968
Minutes of June 7: "There will be a July 4th party at Jay & Alice's (Haldeman) for WSFA members, but not for BSFS members. Peggy Rae (Pavlat) mentioned that the Regency-Congress (Disclave 1968 hotel) was robbed. Jay & Alice house was also robbed. Now both BSFS and robbers are no longer welcome there."
From The WSFA JOURNAL's previous incarnation, excerpted at random by Joe Mayhew for your inspiration.