Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 06:07:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: N Lynch <sfbookfan at yahoo.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: rehash of fandom
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

--- "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com> wrote:
> >(5) are prominent as a charity group, not as a
> group of geeks
> >who get together, etc.
>
> Exactly my point.  What's the reason that fandom
> can't have that too?

Because fandom ISN'T.  The prominent charity groups
are just that - charity groups.  They may socialize,
BUT the members are required, first and foremost to do
volunteer work.  Do you honestly see WSFA requiring X
hours of charity work as a membership requirement?  Do
you honestly see requirement to be a fan as X hours of
required charity work?  Do you honestly see proceeds
from WorldCon going to establish a charity that every
Worldcon member is required to support and work for?

No, I don't either.  And THAT is what would take for
fandom to be considered as a charity group who gets
together to party now and then.   Conventions started
as a way for people to meet those they had
corresponded with, not as a way of pooling volunteer
efforts.

It is not the nature of fandom to be a service
organization first and foremost.

Nicki

"The man who enters a library is in the best society this world affords; the good and the great welcome him, surround him, and humbly ask to be allowed to become his servants."  -Andrew Carnegie
=====
MIMOSA web site: http://www.jophan.org/mimosa

__________________________________________________