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Science Fiction Weekly, v. 2, issue 2, May 26, 1940
Page 7
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page seven FUTURIAN NEWS SINCE JULY, 1939, the Futurian Society of New York has undergone a steady metamorphosis, growing from a fan club of the usual variety into a group of a new, and perhaps more advanced, type. Regular club meetings became more and more infrequent; spontaneous, almost daily, gatherings became the order of the day. New members were not encouraged; old members ceased the squirrel - cage aim of getting members, which has been the finish of all real life in previous clubs and set out to work as a closed unit for futurism purposes in science-fiction. In effect the club became a closed circuit, a balloon, or bubble perhaps, in consequence of which it rose out of the un-ending slough of regular [illegible] into new heights. From being a fan club, it became, without addition of any who had made their successes previously, a semi-professional club. More than half of these whose status in science-fiction was that of a fan or amateur, are now courting on science-fiction for a least part of their livelihood. From its ranks come an editor, an agent, an artist, a n d several authors. The Futurian Society does not hold meetings in the sense that other clubs do. Theoretically, science-fiction clubs are supposed to function at their meetings. The QSFL, to take a good example, meets once a month. This meeting is the only actual function of the society at which all members participate. And about all the members do is to rate stories and o.k. action of committees. The QSFL work between meetings is done by a few individuals; the rest of the membership presumably has nothing to do save the endless aim of enlisting new duos-payers. This general outline-of-activity could hold true for nearly any of the many fan-clubs. The Futurian Society, on the other hand, functions constantly, day by day. The enlisting of new members, far from being an aim, is more or less discouraged. New members are enrolled only through the process of acting and working with t h e Futurians until the person in question has become one of them. There is no definite test or time-limit. The Futurians have been working on professional magazines, writing stories which see print (and on which Futurian advice is sought and given), aiding fan magazines, putting out a weekly paper, organizing the Science Fictioneers, aiding in the makeup of the Futurian League, helping new and aspiring artists and writers to make the grade, giving welcome suggestions to other professional magazines and editors. They do not need to rate stories; the Futurians are experts in their own right. They do not need to organize socials on a stiff formal and "unprecedented" scale; they have them as a normal part of their club life. They have no dictators, no overbearing officers, nor formal dues - collectors. The Society is simply run by an Executive Committee, which is boss between membership - meetings, and a Director, who functions as chief between Executive Committee meetings. If the functioning of the Director is not satisfactory to the Exce. Committee, than person is simply replaced upon their decision; if the membership is n ot satisfied with the functioning of the Exec. Committee, the personnel of that body is quickly and easily changed. There is no weighty, overbearing constitution by means of which individuals or groups within the organization can put through "legal" skullduggery and personal aggrandizement at the expense of the membership. Prescht Exec. Committee members (who choose their own Director) are Leslie Perri, (Secretary), Donald A. Wollheim (Treasurer), Cyril Kornbluth, (Official Editor), John B. Michel (Member-at-Large), and Robert W. Lowndes, (Director). The Futurian Society of New York is an affiliate of the Science Fictioneers, having been given charter # 2. Seven months ago, the required number of Futurians applied for a charter from the SFL as the Kings Science Fiction League, but received no response. Their rnquest still holds good. /The above is published as a suggestion for strategy in running fan-clubs. While the Futurian Society owes some measure of success to specific personalities, it has been the method of function which has made it a successful fan-organization./ page seven
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page seven FUTURIAN NEWS SINCE JULY, 1939, the Futurian Society of New York has undergone a steady metamorphosis, growing from a fan club of the usual variety into a group of a new, and perhaps more advanced, type. Regular club meetings became more and more infrequent; spontaneous, almost daily, gatherings became the order of the day. New members were not encouraged; old members ceased the squirrel - cage aim of getting members, which has been the finish of all real life in previous clubs and set out to work as a closed unit for futurism purposes in science-fiction. In effect the club became a closed circuit, a balloon, or bubble perhaps, in consequence of which it rose out of the un-ending slough of regular [illegible] into new heights. From being a fan club, it became, without addition of any who had made their successes previously, a semi-professional club. More than half of these whose status in science-fiction was that of a fan or amateur, are now courting on science-fiction for a least part of their livelihood. From its ranks come an editor, an agent, an artist, a n d several authors. The Futurian Society does not hold meetings in the sense that other clubs do. Theoretically, science-fiction clubs are supposed to function at their meetings. The QSFL, to take a good example, meets once a month. This meeting is the only actual function of the society at which all members participate. And about all the members do is to rate stories and o.k. action of committees. The QSFL work between meetings is done by a few individuals; the rest of the membership presumably has nothing to do save the endless aim of enlisting new duos-payers. This general outline-of-activity could hold true for nearly any of the many fan-clubs. The Futurian Society, on the other hand, functions constantly, day by day. The enlisting of new members, far from being an aim, is more or less discouraged. New members are enrolled only through the process of acting and working with t h e Futurians until the person in question has become one of them. There is no definite test or time-limit. The Futurians have been working on professional magazines, writing stories which see print (and on which Futurian advice is sought and given), aiding fan magazines, putting out a weekly paper, organizing the Science Fictioneers, aiding in the makeup of the Futurian League, helping new and aspiring artists and writers to make the grade, giving welcome suggestions to other professional magazines and editors. They do not need to rate stories; the Futurians are experts in their own right. They do not need to organize socials on a stiff formal and "unprecedented" scale; they have them as a normal part of their club life. They have no dictators, no overbearing officers, nor formal dues - collectors. The Society is simply run by an Executive Committee, which is boss between membership - meetings, and a Director, who functions as chief between Executive Committee meetings. If the functioning of the Director is not satisfactory to the Exce. Committee, than person is simply replaced upon their decision; if the membership is n ot satisfied with the functioning of the Exec. Committee, the personnel of that body is quickly and easily changed. There is no weighty, overbearing constitution by means of which individuals or groups within the organization can put through "legal" skullduggery and personal aggrandizement at the expense of the membership. Prescht Exec. Committee members (who choose their own Director) are Leslie Perri, (Secretary), Donald A. Wollheim (Treasurer), Cyril Kornbluth, (Official Editor), John B. Michel (Member-at-Large), and Robert W. Lowndes, (Director). The Futurian Society of New York is an affiliate of the Science Fictioneers, having been given charter # 2. Seven months ago, the required number of Futurians applied for a charter from the SFL as the Kings Science Fiction League, but received no response. Their rnquest still holds good. /The above is published as a suggestion for strategy in running fan-clubs. While the Futurian Society owes some measure of success to specific personalities, it has been the method of function which has made it a successful fan-organization./ page seven
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