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Southern Star, v. 1, issue 4, December 1941

Page 7

Denvention Daze     SOUTHERN STAR    Page 7

ning place was Picadilly Bombshelter No. 3, London.
     Various other matters were discussed until, the hall becoming too populated, the meeting broke up.
     At about this time Walt Daugherty came in, and unaware of the fact that the real meeting had already taken place, called to order the second afternoon session of the convention. Resolutions were first taken up and voted upon. The convention voted in favor of a British Science Fiction Relief Society ((Send some promags now to John Cunningham at 2050 Gilbert St., Beaumont, Texas, who'll ship em o'er seas.)), whose purpose would be to make available science fiction to readers in England who had trouble receiving copies of magazines and books.
     Art Widner then rose and made a motion, authored by Lew Martin, to the effect that any city bidding for a convention should have at least one person of legal age there to take responsibility. This motion failed to pass.
     Since there were no more resolutions submitted, Ackerman rose and gave his speech for the day. He spoke of how Ackerman could speak much better with his typewriter than with his voice, and therefore it was silly for him to get up and make a speech, and he took ten minutes in which to say it, ramblingly, beating around the bush, vaguely, and all purposely, to ensure the fact that Ackerman would never have to make a speech again. Curiously, I do not understand why Ackerman does not like to speak before an audience. He has quite a nice voice, and he speaks clearly and with good enunciation, and he seems to have little trouble coordinating his thoughts. Science fiction conventions are marvelous exercise for learning how to speak in public. I know. I'm still learning.
     To prove which I got up on my hind legs, announced the FAPA election results and put in a plug for the FAPA. It is fun speaking through a public address system. Makes me feel like a crooner.
     Then followed discussion as to how the truth of articles and gossip in fanzines can be determined. Naturally, no conclusion was reached, for the simple reason that there is no answer. Science fiction fans may be honest as the day is long, but they also have a terrific sense of humor. You can't make them write "joke" at the top of a page when they are pulling a gag.
     Walt Daugherty then talked about many things and cabbages and kings. He gave his opinions concerning organizing fandom. He desired one organization to unite fandom, and mentioned the NFFF as the possibility. The FAPA, he thought, should be better.
This led to his presentations of medals to five prominent fans, his purpose being to give some idea of what sort of standards the national organization might look for. Medal number one went to Ackerman, for services rendered to fandom in general. Number two went to damon knight for contributions to fan humor. Three went to Julius Unger for news. Four went to Roy Hunt for the best fan art work, and the fifth went to Wiggins for the best general fan magazine, taking all angles into consideration.
     E. Everett Evans spoke of the many long-range ideas that fandom might work on to influence the pro mags, find newcomers and make them interested, and to form fan agencies for various purposes. He ended with a motion that the convention should go on record as desiring a long-range program for the benefit of fandom and that the convention should appoint a committee of five members to prepare the long-range plan to present at the next convention
     An amendment was made by Rothman to incorporate this into the NFFF and give it a vote of confidence to perform the long-range program.

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Denvention Daze SOUTHERN STAR Page 7 ning place was Picadilly Bombshelter No. 3, London. Various other matters were discussed until, the hall becoming too populated, the meeting broke up. At about this time Walt Daugherty came in, and unaware of the fact that the real meeting had already taken place, called to order the second afternoon session of the convention. Resolutions were first taken up and voted upon. The convention voted in favor of a British Science Fiction Relief Society ((Send some promags now to John Cunningham at 2050 Gilbert St., Beaumont, Texas, who'll ship em o'er seas.)), whose purpose would be to make available science fiction to readers in England who had trouble receiving copies of magazines and books. Art Widner then rose and made a motion, authored by Lew Martin, to the effect that any city bidding for a convention should have at least one person of legal age there to take responsibility. This motion failed to pass. Since there were no more resolutions submitted, Ackerman rose and gave his speech for the day. He spoke of how Ackerman could speak much better with his typewriter than with his voice, and therefore it was silly for him to get up and make a speech, and he took ten minutes in which to say it, ramblingly, beating around the bush, vaguely, and all purposely, to ensure the fact that Ackerman would never have to make a speech again. Curiously, I do not understand why Ackerman does not like to speak before an audience. He has quite a nice voice, and he speaks clearly and with good enunciation, and he seems to have little trouble coordinating his thoughts. Science fiction conventions are marvelous exercise for learning how to speak in public. I know. I'm still learning. To prove which I got up on my hind legs, announced the FAPA election results and put in a plug for the FAPA. It is fun speaking through a public address system. Makes me feel like a crooner. Then followed discussion as to how the truth of articles and gossip in fanzines can be determined. Naturally, no conclusion was reached, for the simple reason that there is no answer. Science fiction fans may be honest as the day is long, but they also have a terrific sense of humor. You can't make them write "joke" at the top of a page when they are pulling a gag. Walt Daugherty then talked about many things and cabbages and kings. He gave his opinions concerning organizing fandom. He desired one organization to unite fandom, and mentioned the NFFF as the possibility. The FAPA, he thought, should be better. This led to his presentations of medals to five prominent fans, his purpose being to give some idea of what sort of standards the national organization might look for. Medal number one went to Ackerman, for services rendered to fandom in general. Number two went to damon knight for contributions to fan humor. Three went to Julius Unger for news. Four went to Roy Hunt for the best fan art work, and the fifth went to Wiggins for the best general fan magazine, taking all angles into consideration. E. Everett Evans spoke of the many long-range ideas that fandom might work on to influence the pro mags, find newcomers and make them interested, and to form fan agencies for various purposes. He ended with a motion that the convention should go on record as desiring a long-range program for the benefit of fandom and that the convention should appoint a committee of five members to prepare the long-range plan to present at the next convention An amendment was made by Rothman to incorporate this into the NFFF and give it a vote of confidence to perform the long-range program.