Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 23:00:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: File 770 #152 is out
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

"Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com> wrote:

> The same thing that prevented her from sending the letter, also
> prevented her attendance at several WSFA meetings in a row, ....

For sufficiently small values of "several."  If the WSFA Journal is to
be trusted, she missed January's and February's Third Fridays, but was
at February's First Friday.  (March and April meeting minutes are not
yet online.  I checked wsfa.org/minutes.htm, which should have minutes
of any and all meetings not yet in a WSFA Journal online, but it
contains nothing but minutes from last June (!).)

> Agreed.  It is unlikely that we will have another secretary that
> had your attention to detail and dedication to getting the job done
> properly any time soon, though we can always hope I suppose.

It wasn't just me.  Read old WSFA Journals from the 1980s and 1990s.
Or look at the old Disclave souvenir books from those decades.  WSFA
once had lots of people who cared about quality.  Most of them have
long since left.  WSFA members should ask themselves why, before the
next election.

> Blase and organizations intended for fun and social interaction
> often go together, and you don't need to feel personally picked on
> over it.

I know it's not just me.  WSFA and Disclave/Capclave have long had a
reputation for unfriendliness.  I've heard more than one author talk
about how back before they were famous, Disclave used to kick sand in
their face.

> When it isn't fun anymore, one should stop doing it.  It's not like
> we get paid for it or anything.

Exactly.  Unfortunately, some people's idea of fun is to do their best
to trash other people.  My suggestion is simply that clubs shouldn't
elect or appoint such people to positions of power, authority,
respect, or honor.  They don't need to be kicked out of the club,
but their sniping should only take place from the back of the room.