Midamericon Memories Reflections of the 34Th Worldcon Table of Contents This Section of Progress Report 1 Provides a Look Back at the First Midamericon in 1976

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MidAmeriCon Memories Reflections of the 34th Worldcon Table of Contents This section of Progress Report 1 provides a look back at the first MidAmeriCon in 1976. We have reprinted some of the articles included in their progress reports with intros and footnotes from MidAmeriCon Chairman Ken Keller. Also included are photos taken that weekend and a reprint of a Star Wars ad placed in MidAmeriCon’s publications. We hope you enjoy this blast from the past as we step into the future. Tomorrow is now. How The Grinch Stole Worldcon By Bill “The Galactic” Fesselmeyer R-3 Star Wars Ad R-5 A Proposed Constitution for World Science Fiction Conventions By Bob Tucker R-11 Photos from Big MAC R-13

Ken Keller, Chair of MidAmeriCon (Credit: Fred A Levy Haskell)

MidAmeriConMidAmeriCon I Program Program Book • The first hardback Worldcon program book Publication Notes •• WraparoundThe first hardbackGeorge Barr WorldCon dustjacket program book •• StoriesWraparound by Howard George Waldrop Barr and dustjacket Harlan Ellison MidAmeriCon II has been thinking long and hard about how •• IncludesStories Progress by Howard Reports Waldrop and pocket and Harlan program Ellison while progress reports can take a step forward. Our paper format • suppliesIncludes last. Progress Reports and pocket program while has a b/w printed interior to help ensure that costs are kept supplies last. low. For full color interiors, please check us out online at JimJim Satt Satterfielderfield $ In addition to http://midamericon2.org/ 35 your name badge, 22092209 NW NW Summerfield Summerfield DriveDrive including Lee’sLee’s Summit, Summit, MO MO 64081 64081 MidAmeriCon gave For more information see the 2015 side shipping members hospital bracelets of this progress report. http://bigmac.thedemigeek.com to deter counterfeit badges http://bigmac.thedemigeek.comCheck, PayPal or Square invoicing accepted for payment. Check, PayPal or Square invoicing accepted for payment. R-1 How the Grinch Stole Worldcon In which Bill “The Galactic” Fesselmeyer takes potshots at Practically Everybody

INTRODUCTION BY KEN KELLER

Rereading the late Bill Fesselmeyer’s “How the GRINCH Stole Worldcon,” I was struck by how witty and clever it still is today. That’s always the hallmark of great pieces of fannish writing. They withstand the test of time, well beyond the era that produced them. It’s been 40 years since GRINCH first appeared in MidAmeriCon’s Progress Report #2 (1975).

By the very early 1970s, the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) Constitution was being routinely modified every year by motion and vote at the Worldcon business meeting. These changes often fostered debate and confusion, sometimes creating loopholes. This process continued well after Discon II, where Kansas City had won its bid to host the 1976 Worldcon.

During an early MidAmeriCon comcom meeting, held downtown at our hotel the Radisson Muehlebach, I began what I thought would be a proforma discussion: under which version of the WSFS Constitution should MAC choose to operate? I was expecting a quick slam-dunk decision on this from the 25 to 30 concom members present. To me, Discon II’s revised constitution seemed the logical choice. Fans being fans, however, what ensued was anything but slam-dunk. Bill Fesselmeyer pointed out what I had also realized: under the current WSFS rules we actually had several options. He elaborated, and soon the discussion became so convoluted that meeting chair John Taylor banged his gavel, tabling further discussion. He then proposed and had approved a motion appointing Fesselmeyer a one-man committee to sort out all the relevant facts for the next concom meeting. Fesselmeyer complied, ably sorting the wheat from the chaff, coming fully prepared the next month. A short, timed debate then followed. I then moved the motion and a vote was taken. MAC adopted Discon II’s revised constitution as our own.

Bill’s imagination, however, didn’t stop after that concom meeting. His fannish research had fueled a pervasive train a thought that he just couldn’t shake. Driven by a wild surmise, Bill took his clever notions to the limit, writing what became one of the great fannish parodies, this one about MidAmeriCon and Worldcon business meetings. It was then published in our 2nd progress report. Since then, over the years, GRINCH has been reprinted several times in fanzines. It’s also been reprinted in the anthologies Alternate Worldcons (1994) and Again, Alternate Worldcons (1996), both edited by Mike Resnick.

And now, once again, it’s back home in a generational MidAmeriCon II progress report. My my, what goes around certainly comes around!

REPORT OF THE SPECULATIVE multitude of mutually contradictory and the time there were three current FICTION RESEARCH SOCIETY ambiguous constitutions adopted. In constitutions in effect, there was never TO THE 10th WORLD fact, one of the few coherent stories that a constitution to which a convention SPECULATIVE FICTION comes down to us from the even fewer committee could be bound. Photos taken at MidAmeriCon CONFAB ON THE SUBJECT OF survivors of that period immediately (Credit: Fred A Levy Haskell) ADOPTING A CONSTITUTION before “All Fandom Was Plunged Into This sad state of affairs arose because a War”1 is the rather bizarre episode of the convention site was chosen two years The sudden demise of “fandom,” the mail ballot that never got mailed. before it was held. The convention predecessor of the thusiast state so many committee was supposedly bound only years ago, can be traced directly to In order to explain the various crises by the rules in effect when they made the Constitution of the World Science caused by the constitution it is necessary their bid. However, in the same year they Fiction Society—or rather to the to understand that, although most of won the right to host a “world-con,” a

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new constitution—or parts thereof— Keeping in mind, then, this system had no intention of conducting such would be adopted. Also, the next year, of constitutional anarchy, this is the a mail ballot. at the intervening convention, still story of the mail ballot that was another would be adopted, superseding never mailed—and how it led to the Furthermore, MAC informed Aussiecon, all previous constitutions. By the time GRINCH stealing worldcon. it wouldn’t consider approval by the the convention was held there were three Aussiecon business meeting enough different constitutions in effect.2 In 1974, at Discon II in Washington for adoption; the constitution the D.C., a Kansas City group won the Australians elected to use clearly stated It was not uncommon for a provision to right to host the worldcon in 1976. that a mail ballot had to be conducted be voted in one year and immediately They, however, were bidding under the for ratification. It was also their opinion voted out the next—before it ever constitution adopted the year before that Aussiecon was incompetent to run became operative in the third year. in Toronto. At the Discon II business their own mail ballot as the constitution (Convention committees in the first and session a constitutional amendment stated that the next committee had second years following would declare was adopted to the effect that any that responssbility. The only concrete that the rule was adopted after they won future “perfected proposals” approved suggestion they had was that Aussiecon their bids so they were, therefore, not at a business meeting had to then pass the mail ballot on to the 1977 bound to obey it as they had pledged be submitted for ratification to the convention. The 1977 committee would to uphold only the constitution in membership of the next following be obligated by the Discon II rules as effect when they won.) If, however, a convention. It also specified that this was those were the rules in effect when that committee liked something in the new to be done by mail, and that the next committee bid, and that no changes constitution that was contrary to the following committee was responsible could be allowed until the Aussiecon constitution in effect when they won, for counting the ballots before such ballots could be mailed for ratification. they would merely declare that, as proposals could become effective. long as it had been approved anyway, The Aussies thought this was pretty silly, the fans were entitled to have their It may be noted that a small group of but consented to do so in order to fulfill legally voted wishes carried out at the people rammed this amendment through their obligations under the constitution earliest opportunity. the poorly attended business meeting they had chosen. by a vote of 32-22.5 This amendment The converse was also true—if a was apparently motivated by the fact The problem came when the business procedure was out, the committee that the next convention was to be held meeting at MAC7 repealed the mail could still use it, claiming that it was in Australia, thus out of the reach (and ballot requirement. permissible when they won the bid.3 control) of most U.S. fans who could not afford to attend in person. The 1977 committee had grudgingly Eventually this state of affairs became accepted the ballots for ratification, so chaotic convention committees The Australians, by every account nice but delayed mailing them until the last were using parts of all three (or four) people and well-liked by all, were not possible moment.8 The 1977 Hugo ballots pertinent constitutions they liked, slow to see that this move was directed were not mailed until after MAC; the and refusing to be bound by portions at them, and decided to use the new 1977 committee decided (following they didn’t. Toward the end, one constitution adopted at Discon II. fannish tradition) to abandon the Discon committee simply declared that the Accordingly, they sent the amendments II constitution and adopt the MAC three constitutions in effect had mutually approved at their business meeting to constitution; they returned the ballot conflicting provisions, so they had no MAC (Kansas City apparently did not to Aussiecon. other choice but to use their own best make a pleasing acronym, so it was judgment. They then proceeded to do all called MidAmeriCon, or MAC) to be In a desperate gamble the Aussiecon sorts of things not provided for in any of ratified by mail ballot.6 MAC promptly committee forwarded their amendments the constitutions—and several that were shipped them back, saying the rule was to the winning committee (1978) at prohibited by at least two of them.4 not in effect when it had bid, and it MAC, only to have them returned with a

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note to the effect that, as the mail ballot Discon II constitution during the The GRINCH committee shared this had been repealed, they were not going same con at which the Vienna bid feeling and had already stated there to waste time and money on two-year- won—thus binding the committee would be no spacie programming old amendments that had already been winning after AustraCon to actually allowed at their convention. Needless to superseded by the MAC constitution mail the AustraCon ballots. (Vienna had say, this announcement had crystallized under which they had elected to operate. promised in advance to use the Discon II resentment among the spacies, or constitution were it adopted.) “spacetics,” as they preferred to call At this point the Australians, in disgust, themselves, who had put together the put all the profits from Aussiecon GRINCH won the next year and, of Newark bid and had won. It is obvious into a trust fund. The purpose of the course, having bid under the Discon II that very few spacies had bought fund was to send the ballots to every rules, could be held to them. AustraCon memberships to GRINCH which, World Science Fiction Convention could not abolish the mail ballot without although not excluding them, had Committee in perpetuity until one of using the mail ballot, so everything little to attract those not interested in them consented to mail it. The second looked rosy. mainstream spec-fic. They were then generation of Trust Fund Administrators faced with the fact that anti-spacies is still mailing them out, year after year, The Austrians made one mistake, would have the right and power to to each succeeding World Speculative however. They held the business and ratify or reject the Newark bid. Spacies Fiction Confab Board of Governors, site selection meetings conjointly. The immediately began joining GRINCH apparently believing them to be the heirs GRINCH, quoting articles 3:01 and 4:01 (and at a substantially higher price to the Worldcons. of the Discon II constitution12 declared because of an escalating schedule of that, as the site selection was part of rates). In fact, they mounted such a That is why today the mere mention of the business meeting, the winning campaign to save Newark it is how the mail ballot counting is coming city, Newark, had to be ratified by mail estimated that in one month they will send old-time spec-fic thusiasts into balloting of the GRINCH members.13 doubled the total membership, and fits of laughter. BOGs of Confabs refuse quadrupled the treasury. to waste their time and money on such An Austrian court held that “Moved— an antiquated mail ballot—besides, Newark hold the Worldcon in. . .” was GRINCH infuriated the spacies by it has become somewhat of a thusiast indeed a perfected proposal and must be the simple tactic of delaying the tradition: no winning BOG feels submitted to the GRINCH members. registration of all these new members official until it gets the ballots from The court also prohibited AustraCon until after the mail ballot was rushed the Australian solicitors .9 from disbursing funds to Newark until out, returned, and counted. It was a rare after the mail ballot. spacie, indeed, who was allowed to vote This, then, was the state of affairs before on the Newark question. “all fandom was plunged into war,” a war There was already considerable ill feeling which achieved almost 100% casualties, between the GRINCH committee and A U.S. Federal Court declared that either through “fafiation” or “gafiation.”10 the Newark committee, and this is the there was nothing in the constitution Because of the state of confusion act that “plunged all fandom into war.” that required the GRINCH committee regarding the WSFS constitution, one At that time a very large number of to register people promptly, and that committee was actually able to “steal” people were involved in a culty sub- sending out the mail ballot was allowed the Worldcon—the GRINCH (GR and movement centered around a television by the Discon II constitution. Island, Nebraska, Chonvention).11 show Lost in Space. Thusiasts of straight spec-fic felt these so-called “spacies” were More than a little annoyed at the In a situation reminiscent of the episode not interested in the rest of the spec-fic personal harassment (not to mention of the mail ballot, a bid was won by a genre or in the convention as a whole, the lawsuits) directed their way by the foreign city—Vienna (AustraCon)— but were coming to the Worldcons spacies, GRINCH refused to refund and, not being entirely void of learning in such numbers as to make the cons any membership fees. Furthermore, capacity, the WSFS readopted the overcrowded and unmanageable.14 when it found that several spacies had

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stopped payment on their checks, they had made a binding contract with the and had not been counted until late in to sign an agreement never to write, the incorporation papers of the Masters PROPOSED CONSTITUTION prosecuted. Courts at all levels held that hotel. The courts also held that a suit the summer, the Federal Court once publish, sell, or attend anything having to of Secret Fandom, Inc. that those august FOR THE WORLD SPECULATIVE they had every right to do so. There are to prohibit GRINCH II from being “By again ruled that time did not allow do with Lost in Space again. This fafiated personages were none other than the FICTION SOCIETY legends of convicted spacies publishing Invitation Only” was without merit as for the polling of the Society, and that almost the entire spacie movement, GRINCH committee members. “fanzines” from their cells. virtually all conventions operated under the surviving committee should make and did fafiate every publishing spacie, Article I Do good. such an arrangement. the decision. leaving the remainder of the cult with no The Masters of Secret Fandom, living Article II Avoid evil. The Austrian court was persuaded to means of contact.19 up to their name, chose not to reveal Article III Throw a confab. turn over the funds which would have While most of these actions were still GRINCH II chose to make the even which city in Venezuela MatildaCon gone to the winning bidder under section in court, GRINCH I took place. Almost constitution adopted at GRINCH I At GRINCH II even those spacies was to be held. They claimed that it was FOOTNOTES 3:05 of the Discon II constitution.15 An no spacie sympathizers attended and, as effective immediately, as per article who had bought full memberships nobody’s business but the members— appeal by Newark was unsuccessful. a result, the GRINCH business session 4:0117 of the Discon II constitution, and at GRINCH I, and were eligible to and they would be told when they 1. It is odd how they all used the exact passed a completely new constitution. announced that elections would be held attend, did not show up. As a result the received their invitations. same phrase. Newark next got a “show cause” The new constitution did away with the at GRINCH II to see where the next membership consisted almost entirely order why GRINCH should not poll geographical rotation plan for Worldcon Worldcon site would be. of those who had received invitations. The next year, known invitees to 2. Plus, in some aspects, such as financial the Society by mail. GRINCH had it sites; abandoned the mail ballot for GRINCH I passed on all its surplus funds MatildaCon were asked where the next reporting after the convention, they quashed with a two-fold defense: first, site selection; decreed that the site To back up for a moment, another (which exceeded 15 million dollars, as convention would be held. Their answers might be affected by anything passed that GRINCH was then only a couple selection would be one year before the significant event took place which was, as the committee members magnanimously should by now be predictable: “If you are at their own convention, bringing the of months away and there was no time, convention was held16; and did away with the old expression goes, “the last straw” donated their shares of the damage invited, you will be told.” total number of operative constitutions and second, that a lot of their time was the mail ratification of the actions of in the demise of fandom. At the same settlement to the convention). It is said up to four. being taken up answering Newark’s business meetings. time GRINCH I was being held in Grand that GRINCH II was the most lavish MatildaCon was the last of the recorded other lawsuits. The court agreed that Island the spacies, to protest what they Worldcon ever. The sole surviving Worldcons—after it, none was ever 3. This was, of course, all perfectly legal. time indeed did not allow and that the As was to be expected—because of considered to be high-handed treatment member that we have been able to announced again. There were rumors GRINCH committee should (under the the extremely large spacie membership by the GRINCH committee, organized locate, one Bob Tucker, whenever asked that it had been dissolved, and there 4. One committee, for example, awarded rules of the constitution) decide what to in GRINCH I—the site selected for the a “RumpCon” in Newark. Some rather about the GRINCH II strategy, will were rumors that it was still being held itself the Hugo for best “fanzine” do about the next year’s convention. next convention after GRINCH II was nasty things were said about GRINCH at only make an arcane gesture and chant, annually, but only invited members knew in the previous year for its own for another spacie bid: this time in Los RumpCon, both by the committee as a “Smooooooth!” where—and they had to take a vow of Progress Reports. Of course, it decided that GRINCH II Angeles (LosTCon). The mail ballot ran whole and by individual members. Some secrecy or they would never be invited to was in order and immediately booked 14 to 1 in favor of the Los Angeles site. of these remarks were printed in the At the site selection meeting, a surprise another. In fact, there is a thusiast legend 5. This amendment ironically provided a hotel—but not as large as the one However, GRINCH I followed the lead daily convention publication in a sort of bid (although apparently known of by that the Masters of Secret Fandom still that no longer could a small group of they were using for GRINCH I. Then of AustraCon and held the site selection inquiring reporter column. all the invited members) was made for exist today, keeping an eye on us to see people ram an amendment through a they announced that, based on advance and business meetings jointly—which Venezuela by a group that did not appear how we develop, and in the meantime poorly attended business meeting. registration for GRINCH I (over half gave them the right to have LosTCon As a result, the GRINCH committee and who would identify itself only as are still holding the World Science of which were spacies who had bought ratified by the membership of sued the RumpCon committee, the “The Masters of Secret Fandom, Inc.” Fiction Convention annually.21 6. Aussiecon had printed the ballots at supporting memberships in an effort GRINCH II. authors of the remarks, and every The Venezuela bid won rather handily, their own expense, even. to save Newark), the facilities were not registered member of RumpCon for and shocked the attendees by naming Therefore, ladies and gentlemen of large enough to host a convention with As the membership of GRINCH libel and slander. The courts held that, as fifty professional guests of honor and two the 10th World Speculative Fiction 7. MAC was still operating under rules unlimited attendance. They chose to II was “By Invitation Only”—plus an unincorporated body, the members hundred fan guests of honor—for whom Confab, the SFRS recommends that no not requiring a mail ballot to amend limit it, with the exception of those who those who had bought memberships of RumpCon were individually and all expenses would be paid. constitution more complex than the one the constitution. had already bought full memberships to at GRINCH I (which included only a collectively liable for damages, which was submitted should be adopted, for fear GRINCH II, to “By Invitation Only.” handful of spacies)—all the amendments assessed at a very modest $1,000 a head. Of course, they had known in advance that the thusiast state, like all of fandom 8. (4:01) Such perfected proposals, were ratified, with the exception, However, the membership of RumpCon that the GRINCH II committee would before it, be plunged into war. if approved by a majority of those After another trip to court, it was to the surprise of absolutely no one, was slightly more than 20,000, which pass on their surplus funds, which present, shall be submitted by mail decided that, as GRINCH I had the of LosTCon. This again threw the brought the total value of the judgment after convention expenses still totaled Respectfully submitted, ballot to the entire membership of responsibility for throwing the disrupted responsibility of arranging the next to more than twenty million dollars! almost 15 million dollars. The MoSF the Society by the next following convention, the committee could not Worldcon onto the shoulders of the The amazing part is that GRINCH did announced that MatildaCon20 was to be E. E. “Doc” Seuss committee, no later than the be reasonably expected to choose a surviving committee: GRINCH II. collect 15 million dollars.18 The other five by invitation only, as was GRINCH II. (Chairman of the committee to consider nomination ballot for Hugo awards, for site outside its own area, and that they As the mail ballot had not been sent million was used as bargaining power It later turned up in an examination of adopting a constitution.) ratification or rejection by a majority out until the last possible moment, against the other attendees, who had of those voting. R-8 R-9 How the Grinch Stole Worldcon (continued) A PROPOSED CONSTITUTION FOR WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTIONS 9. Perhaps similar to the tradition the take effect at the end of the next RumpCon received a letter shortly BY BOB TUCKER World-cons had of passing the gavel. convention, unless the Committee thereafter saying that to knowingly of that Convention (which is repeat libel is libel, so desist or 10. FAFIA: Forced away from it all; administering this mail ballot) else. Interestingly enough, it was INTRODUCTION BY KEN KELLER GAFIA: Getting away from it all. chooses to make it effective when the signed “The Masters of Secret vote is tallied.” Fandom” and was on paper that When not writing professional mystery and science fiction under his “Wilson Tucker” byline, Bob Tucker pursued a parallel 11. CHonvention is sic; fans would bore the “GRINCH XIX, The 75th passion which spanned more than a half-century. He became one of science fiction fandom’s best known fan writers, fan often put an H in an inappropriate 18. They settled with the insurance World Science Fiction Convention” editors, and convention personalities. The “fannish pro” label certainly applied to Bob and his long career. place, such as chonvention or “can of company of the studio that produced letterhead. Although it may have been bheer”—in a moment of levity, the Lost in Space. According to SFRS a hoax, the thusiast desisted. In science fiction fandom’s published histories, Bob is credited with introducing humor into 1930s fandom’s often “sercon” (i.e., SFRS voted to consider sticking an H investigation of old TV Guides, serious and constructive) young and frequently humorless sub-culture. Using his natural affinity for wit, satire, and parody, his in a can of beer worse than sticking the program had been off the air writing was frequently published in the era’s hectographed and mimeographed fan magazines, including his own. These low- in a straw. for years, although a Saturday circulation efforts were referred to as “fanmags,” sometimes being abbreviated in print as just “fmz,” and were the life-blood morning cartoon version was still of science fiction’s slowly growing pocket universe. (In fandom’s evolving fanspeak nomenclature, the term “fanzine” was not 12. (3:01) The Society shall choose the on. That studio was foolish enough coined until 1940.) location of the Convention to be held to have purchased a membership two years hence at a meeting held at to RumpCon. Forty years ago, MidAmeriCon’s toastmaster Bob Tucker read Bill Fesselmeyer’s essay “How the GRINCH Stole Worldcon” an advertised time during each World with a good deal of amusement when it first appeared in MAC’s Progress Report #2. Being mentioned in it only spurred on Science Fiction Convention. (4:01) 19. Stories have come down to us Bob’s imagination, honed to a fine edge by decades of fannish writing. Inspired by its tongue-in-cheek bravado, Bob went on to The Society shall conduct business that some of the spacies switched compose a similar though shorter take on the frequently beset and ever-changing World Science Fiction Society Constitution, at a meeting held at an advertised their allegiance to another defunct offering a completely new take on it, Tucker-style, for MAC members to ponder. This first appeared in MidAmeriCon’s time during each World Science TV show called Star Trek.— Progress Report #3 (1975). Fiction Convention. Thusiasts find this too incredible to take seriously. In 2006 Bob passed away at age 91. The WSFS Constitution, through the annual WSFS business meetings, is still beset with 13. See footnote 8. changes every year, forty years after Tucker first set his humorous brickbats to paper. Reading it again carefully, I wonder... 20. There never has been an adequate was Bob Tucker’s real intention so many years ago to actually show science fiction fandom a way out from under Worldcon’s 14. It was said that some spacies would translation of that name into unending Robert’s Rules of Order-governed tyranny? Read on, MidAmeriCon II member, it’s never too late for us to implement travel half way across the country to mundane, but one thusiast reports Tucker’s diabolical plan! see an episode for the 123rd time. that there was a folk song popular in the 1950s and 60s to which 15. With sites being selected two years the chorus went: “Matilda she take Preamble: We, the victimized science Article One: All previous and now- science stories, collecting garish cover in advance, there are therefore at de money and run Venezuela!” If fiction fans of the United States and existing world convention constitutions art and lesser illustrations, trading comic least two Convention Committees this is the reference for MatildaCon its many Colonies around the world, shall be abolished, together with their books, selling back- issues and scarce in existence. If one should become the MoSF were indeed adding insult in order to form a more perfect series Societies, and no provision of them shall books at astronomical prices, stealing unable to perform its duties, the to injury. of conventions, establish justice for the be binding upon the present. Objectors artifacts they cannot afford, praising surviving Convention Committee downtrodden fan, insure the privacy to this Article shall suffer the penalties of shoddy anti-science films, encouraging shall determine what to do, by mail 21. There is some slight proof that this of room parties, provide for the defenestration. infantile television programs, criticizing poll of the Society if there is time for might be true—Bob Tucker, last common thirst, defend ourselves against unread novels, toadying to ego-swollen one, or by decision of the Committee known survivor of GRINCH II, hucksterism, promote the welfare of Article Two: The general purpose of authors, and by exhibiting themselves in if there is not. disappears for about a week every the sponsoring committees and their a world convention shall be to gather public places as slave girls, belly dancers, year around Labor Day and will say groupies, and secure the blessings of together in one place, or two hotels and bugeyed monsters, mutants, off-worlders, 16. Instead of two years with another nothing about where he has been hedonism to ourselves and our posterity, a municipal auditorium1 if that is not belligerent apes, pointy- eared aliens, convention intervening. other than “Smooooooth!” Also, do ordain and impose this constitution on possible, all those rugged individualists rocket jockeys, mythical magicians, errant one thusiast who reprinted part the backs of future committees and their who do not read science fiction but knights, slans, mad scientists, faery queens, 17. “If ratified, the amendment shall of the libelous comments from heirs or assigns. who pay lip service to it by: publishing and Ming the Merciless. illegible fan journals, composing pseudo-

R-10 R-11 A PROPOSED CONSTITUTION FOR WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTIONS (continued) Photos from Big MAC Article Three: Yang the Nauseating2 is. committee as outlined above shall have FOOTNOTES David Dyer-Bennet been paid in United States currency. 1. MidAmeriCon’s programming was Article Four: Every world convention held in its two main hotels, the committee shall schedule a business Article Six: George Scithers4 shall be Radisson Muehlebach and nearby meeting, and publicize the time and place parliamentarian in perpetuity of the Phillips House. Two of its larger of that meeting before the final session business meetings, or longer if he chooses. evening events were held in the of the closing day, but said meeting need nearby Music Hall in Kansas City’s not be held in the same city where the Article Seven: All sums of money Municipal Auditorium. convention is meeting. The convention obtained by and from the membership committee may, at its discretion, impose fees, auctions, art shows, huckster tables, 2. The name that the late fantasy and a head-tax on those attending the business program sales, head-taxes, fines, duties, science fiction writer Robert Lynn meeting. and imposts of every nature shall remain Aspirin adopted for his activities the sole property of the sponsoring in both the Society for Creative Article Five, Section 1: World committee; and further, their unpaid Anachronism (SCA) and in science conventions shall be held annually, or debts remaining after the close of the fiction fandom. more often when practicable, anywhere convention shall not be due, but shall be within the geographical confines of the binding on the next committee. 3. Dur ing the original MidAmeriCon forty-eight continental States; except, era, a Worldcon bid city had to fall that they may be held in either of the Article Eight: All program offerings within three defined North American two remaining States, or in the Colonies including workshops, panels, special geographic zones that rotated overseas, when the sponsoring bodies meetings, dinners, speeches, movies, east, midwest, and west, the cycle at those foreign locations provide free chalk talks, award ceremonies, then repeating. Overseas Worldcon transportation to and from a United auctions, demonstrations of magic and bids were allowed during any year, States coastal port; and further, when legerdemain, guest appearances, costume regardless of the rotation zone. This the sponsoring bodies at those foreign extravaganzas, television and film 1975 essay offers proof-positive locations persuade the current sitting previews, seminars, juggling exhibitions, that Bob Tucker was the first fan to committee to allow their bid to be debates, business sessions, bidding and propose dropping the three-zone debated in open meeting. For such balloting, cockfights, dancing, honorary bidding rotation system decades purposes of persuasion, guile, threats, teas, dum-dums, club meetings, art shows, before this action was finally adopted and bribery may be deemed permissible body-painting, light shows, huckstering, for Worldcons by a vote of The World behavior. opening and closing ceremonies, meet Science Fiction Society (WSFS). the author parties, tightrope walking, Section 2: There shall be no particular duelling, autographing sessions, genre 4. For many years, the late George order of progression from one convention lunches, banquet, Hugos, Elmers, lectures, Scithers was not only a well-known site to the next3, and any sponsoring slide shows, filk singing, parachute drops, fan, but a Hugo Award-winning body at any city within the geographical and trivia quizzes may be omitted from fanzine editor, a Worldcon chair confines of the forty-eight continental the program at the discretion of the (1962), a small press book publisher States may bid for a convention at any sponsoring committee; except, that one (Owlswick Press), and a frequent time of their choosing, providing only orgy per night shall be mandatory. Film Worldcon business meeting that they notify the chairing officer of and television cameramen shall be barred parliamentarian; he once again the business meeting before the close of from these last activities. served in that capacity in 1976 that meeting, and before the results of the at MidAmeriCon. Scithers was balloting, if any, are announced. Article Nine: Inasmuch as these Articles also a twice Hugo Award-winning are deemed enough in themselves, and this professional editor (Isaac Asimov’s When the sponsoring bodies at foreign Constitution held as a perfected whole, SF Magazine), a twice World Fantasy locations make such bids, the Colonies any and all Amendments are prohibited. Award-winning professional editor of Great Britain and Australia shall (Weird Tales magazine and for Life enjoy preference and priority; providing, Achievement), and a professional persuasion provided to the sitting book anthologist.

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