Organizations

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

Both local and general organizations exist in fandom, with many historical efforts at state and regional ones. Fan organizations have been called clubs, guilds, leagues, societies, associations, federations, and by miscellaneous names like Scienceers, Fictioneers, Artisans, Orders, Legions, New Fandom, Futurians, Fanarchists, Washington Worry-Warts, The Cult, Galactic Roamers, and Michifen. Some groups, like various Insurgent aggregations, have no formal setup -- only a collective name; but usually there is a formal constitution and officers. Requirements for membership may be nonexistent and are almost always easy. Dues and usually an Official Organ are de rigueur for those with formal organization. Officers may include president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and sometimes Official Editor; and there are such variant terminologies as director, chairman, Dictator (spwsstfm), Grand High Cocolorum (iaopetc.), general manager, pic, BEM, Hi Priestess, chief pilot, ktp. Other officials include various boards and committees, most of these appointive. The first organizations, locals, go back at least as far as 1928. The demand for a general fan organization has been persistent, tho the path is strewn with wreckage and with the accumulation of experience many veterans become fanarchistic. Fly-by-night organizations flowered particularly in the First Transition and Fifth Fandom, and became nothing but their OOs or nothing at all. "The organizing instinct/ cannot be suppressed".

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

There are both local and general organizations in fandom, with some efforts at state and regional. Fan orgs have been called clubs, leagues, fictioneers, societies, guilds, associations, federations, orders; and miscellaneous names like Scienceers, FFF, IAOPUMUMSTFPUSA, Unltd, Phantasy Legion, Scientifilmakers, New Fandom, Golden Gate Futurians, Washington Worry-Warts, Intellectual Brotherhood of Pro-Scientists, Columbia Camp, Galactic Roamers, Windy City Wampires, and Michifans. They may have no formal setup, just be a collective name, but usually there is a written constitution and officers. Requirements for membership are usually easy or non-existent. Dues and an Official Organ are de rigeur for those that are formally organized. Officers may include a president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and Official Editor, which such variant terminologies as director, chairman, vice director, Dictator (spwsstfm), Grand High Cocolorum (IAOPETC), general manager (TFG), Hi Priestess (FooFooism), managing secretary, chief pilot (Galactic Roamers), coordinator, ktp. Other officials found include official critics, regional representatives, and various boards and committees. Officials in the latter group are usually appointed by the president; the first-named are ordinarily elected by the membership. There first organizations, locals, go back at least as far as 1928. The demand for a general fan organization has been persistent, tho the path is strewn with wreckage, and with the accumulation of experience many veteran fans became fanarchistic. Fly-by-nite organizations flowered particularly in the First Transition, and became nothing but their Official Organs of nothing at all. The organization instinct Cannot be suppressed.

---

Miscellaneous

This is a miscellaneous page