Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 08:21:53 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: [wsfa-forum] History of D.C. fandom article (draft)
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

> eva.whitley at gmail.com 2/7/2006 7:51:02 PM >>>
>Rich Lynch wrote:
>
>>At the first Friday meeting, I volunteered to write a short
>>"History of DC Fandom" article in response to an e-mailed
>>request by Grant Kruger, for an upcoming edition of _The
>>Southern Fandom Confederation Handbook_.  I've completed a
>>draft (below).  Comments are welcome, especially those that
>>propose substantive changes.
>>
>You might want to cross-check this against the 1959 Fancyclopledia
>entry
>for WSFA. I have a copy if you need it.
>
>>One bit of fact checking I need: I feel pretty sure that
>>Joe Haldeman was once a member of WSFA.  Am I correct?  (If
>>so, I _may_ need to update the last paragraph.)  If he was
>>once a WSFA member, when did he leave WSFA?

My own memory is fuzzy on that period.  You might want to contact Joe &
Gay.

>><snipped>
>>By the early 1960s, Disclaves had become multi-day events
>>centered around Memorial Day weekend,
>>
>I thought Disclaves at that time were on Mother's Day weekend.

They were - my first two Disclaves were the Mother's Day weekend
events, see http://wsfa.org/disclist.htm for dates.  I believeit wasat
the Skyline Motor Inn that the International Cookie Conspiracy came
about.

>
>><snipped>
>>
>>Over the years, WSFA has hosted other notable conventions
>>besides the two Discons., including the 2003 World Fantasy
>>Convention, the 2004 SMOFcon, and a 1999 writers conference
>>co-hosted with the Smithsonian Institution.  The smallest
>>but one of the most entertaining of these special
>>conventions occurred on February 29, 1980, when a one-off
>>"Datclave" was held in commemoration of a February with a
>>fifth Friday (WSFA often hosts parties on fifth Fridays in
>>months where there is one).

WSFA liked the idea ofthe end of Feb relaxacon and did a few more.  One
was held here in Baltimore.  Joe Mayhew had possension of the letterhead
of the failed DC 1960 worldcon bid (Capicon '60) and in a continiuing
sense of WSFA silliness that relaxacon was called  ... Capicon '60.  I
think one of the GoHs was Procter Silex.

>>
>Jack used to say there was a member* who habitually wanted things
>tabled
>to the "Fifth Friday in February." Someone noticed
>that in 1980, there
>would be a 5th Friday in February, so a con was called for. (*Dave
>Halterman, maybe?)

I believe it was Don Pauley.  There was much discussion asto what to
name the thing.  LeapCon was suggested, along with others(?) that didn't
quite have the right flavor for a relaxacon.

I noted since WSFA puts on DisClave, the relaxacon should be called
DatClave.  And so it was...

>
>>The strength of WSFA has
>>always been its membership, and over the years there have
>>been many accomplishments by WSFA members, including twelve
>>Hugo Awards, two John W. Campbell Awards,

Dos this include just wins?

> a monthly cable
>>television show about science fiction, Fast Forward, and
>>the recent publication of a WSFA Press short story
>>anthology, Future Washington.

The very first WSFA Press book, Lucius Shepard's THE FATHER OF STONES,
was a finalist for the Hugo, SF Chronicle, and WFC awards.  It did win
the Loucs award.  & the magazine version was a Asimov's Reader Poll.
<http://locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit81.html>

>>
>
>Jack won the Skylark when he was a WSFA member.

NESFA managed to schedule the award ceremony for... Saturday at like 10
or 11am?  For those of you who didn't know Jack, he was very much not
awake at that hour.  Very much not awake.

>
><rest snipped> ---Eva

Gotta run.  Offto Philly today, then onward to NYC for the rest of the
week.  Back here over theweekend, then Monday... "stuff" then offto New
England with occasionl email access...

mjw