From: "Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Third oldest . . . [WAS: Re: [WSFA] Re: Minutes of the  November 19th meeting are online]
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 04:01:17 -0500
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elspeth Kovar" <ekovar at worldnet.att.net>
To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 3:07 AM
Subject: [WSFA] Third oldest . . . [WAS: Re: [WSFA] Re: Minutes of the
November 19th meeting are online]

> At 02:39 AM 11/27/04, Keith F. Lynch wrote:
> >"Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net> wrote:
> > > (That said, I can think of three *regional* SF conventions older
> > > than Disclave, and that's not even counting the Worldcon.  So what's
> > > this "WSFA held the third oldest SF convention using our very casual
> > > model," all about?)
> >
> >Philcon (1936), Westercon (1948), and Boskone (1941)?
> >
> >Boskone is the tricky one, since they started the numbering over in
> >1965.  But the first one was in 1941.
> >
> >Were these the three you were thinking of?
> >
> >(The first Disclave was in 1950.)
>
> Okay, I'll admit it: I wasn't there at the time, don't have the records
of
> what happened when, and while good at online research didn't check.  I
just
> went with what I've been told by WSFAns and others, that Disclave was the
> third oldest.
>
> Which isn't to denigrate either of you!  Rather, I'm recognizing your
> expertise and also hoping to refocus this subject line on something
> useful.  Neepery is a fannish tradition (and fannish neepery is not only
a
> lot of fun but something to be collected) but Ted's comment about the
gist
> of my post is probably more constructive -- not to mention timely -- at
the
> moment.
>
> I'd assumed that what I've been told is correct and that Disclave was the
> third oldest, and would love to have the pros and cons documented.  But
can
> we do so under a different subject header?

Keith has already made my point for me, but I was thinking of Cincinnati's
Midwestcon, which also started in 1950 -- but earlier in the year, I
believe -- and, more importantly, has occurred annually without
interruption ever since.  It was and is the original "Relaxicon," and was
an instant success as a weekend convention (something Disclave didn't
aspire to until it was revived in 1958).

I'm sorry if my paranthetical remark diverts attention from your main
point, Elspeth.  It is absolutely true that it was by far the most
important issue.   To return to it, I underscore the importance of openess
and candidness at SMOFcon -- within the correct context, of course (looking
for worthwhile advice).

--Ted White