The WSFA Journal

THE WSFA JOURNAL

January 1985

Volume 8   Number 6

Happy New Year From R'lyeh!

WSFA Minutes

Meeting of December 7, 1984, at the Gillilands'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting was called to order at 9:19. No minutes were read as no minutes had been taken at the last meeting. The treasury stood at $6,475.58. The WSFA Journal was handed out.

Committees

ENTERTAINMENT: Doll Gilliland reminded everyone that the Pagan Tree Trim and the Solstice Dinner would be held at the Gilliland abode on December 21st and 22nd respectively. If you're planning on attending, please let Dolly know what you'll be bringing to the Solstice Dinner so she can coordinate the meal.

Also, Dolly recommended a possible club party to go view "2010: Odyssey Two" sometime in January, or February if time to get together is short.

DISCLAVE '85: Chairman Mike Walsh announced that he finally had a GOH - Ed Bryant. Registrar Beverly Brandt questioned him as to the special rates for WSFAns BEFORE the first flyers are sent out. It was decided to continue the special $5 rate until such time as the flyers are mailed out - sometime in February; rates will then go up to $15.00; $20.00 at the door. If you're smart, you'll join NOW!!

FEBRUARY RELAXACON: Chairwoman Lee Smoire and the club finally decided to return to the Howard Johnson's Motel - we were there a few years ago. The room rates are $36.00 for S/D; $4.00 more for each person thereafter. The hotel is located on Route 40 West.

OLD BUSINESS: Zip!

NEW BUSINESS: Zip!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Avedon Carol has ballots for TAFF.
  2. Brian Lewis is taking a collection to buy a gift for Mike Dirda thanking him for his help in enabling WSFA to go to the "Dune" premiere.
  3. Rosa Oliver reported: a) That the Marine Corps is sponsoring a "toys for Tits Collection" (?)! 2) Rosa has lost her job and is looking for a new one.
  4. Jack L. Chalker announced: a) The family cat, Rocket J. Cat, died of lung cancer, and b) his latest book, "Masters of Flux and Anchor" comes out this week.

The meeting was thunderously adjourned at 9:51.

More Minutes

Meeting of December 21, 1984, at the Gillilands'; Alexis Gilliland presiding.

The meeting vas called to order at 9:24. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The treasurer was absent so no report was made.

Committees

ENTERTAINMENT: Doll Gilliland read the list of people attending the-next day's Solstice Dinner (see menu elsewhere in this Journal). The subject of a New Year's Eve party was mentioned but dropped as no locale could be found. IMPORTANT NOTE: The first meeting in February was originally going to be held in the Gillilands' hotel room at the "Take My Con ... Please!" convention where Alexis was going to be FGOH; however, this con has now been cancelled so the meeting will be held - as usual - at the Gillilands' abode.

DISCLAVE '85: Zip!

FEBRUARY RELAXACON: Chairwoman Lee Smoire has dubbed it "No Name Con" and had flyers available with "flooze, booze and jacuz". She has included a hotel reservation form on the flyer as the hotel doesn't have any postage-paid reservation cards. When reserving a room, mail the info to Lee - she'll make the hotel reservation for you. There is a cut-off date of two weeks before the convention so get in touch with her FAST!!!

OLD BUSINESS: WSFA Trustee Walter Miles brought up the problem that the Disclave '86 Chairman Election had violated WSFA Bylaws. The Bylaw states: "The Disclave Chairman shall be elected at a regular meeting designated by the membership. The Trustees shall prepare a slate of nominations for all club officers scheduled to be voted upon and announce that slate at the regular meeting JUST PREVIOUS to that of the election." Neither was done; therefore, Jack Heneghan's election to the post was invalid. After a discussion of the problem, Doll Gilliland moved: "That the Trustees present a slate of nominations and that the club have an election for the chairmanship of the '86 Disclave at the next meeting." It was seconded by Jack Heneghan. The motion was carried unanimously. The Trustees then presented Jack Heneghan as the slate choice. Other nominations for this position can come from the floor at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS: Zip!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Brian Lewis relayed to the club that the gift for Mike Dirda - a Jack Vance novel - had been purchased and delivered to Somtow who, in turn, will pass it on to Mike.
  2. Alexis Gilliland pointed out that his and Dolly's rebuttal to the December WSFA Journal containing the article on Dune by Somtow and Tim Sullivan was available; please check it out.
  3. Lee Smoire noted: a) New Australian airfares have been announced, they're about $100- $150 cheaper than the current Apex. She has info on it; if interested, please see Lee. b) This past Monday was Jack Chalker's 40th birthday! She, Mike Herrick, and Jul & Mark Owings had called him on the phone and sang: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Old Fogie, Happy Birthday to you!" The Chalkers weren't home at the time, and their answering service recorded the song; they have not heard from Jack yet!!! c) Her Tree Trim ornament of a little bear has its nose a bit off to one side but she thought it appropriate to give to the Gillilands 'cause "the nose is a little out of joint!" (It was pointed out that it was a Bad News Bear!!!)
  4. Joe Mayhew, on behalf of WSFA, presented your secretary - the infamous Santa Bevy - with a lovely Xmas gift: a Bentley BX-11 Super-8 Movie Projector! (Editor's Note: Thanks to all of you!!!)
  5. After thanking the club, Santa Bevy announced that her usual gift-laden six carrier bags were upstairs waiting to be handed out. Those concerned should come and collect.
  6. Lee Smoire indicated that she had brought an addition to the usual WSFA munchies: cookies in the shapes of kangaroos and koalas!

The meeting hurriedly adjourned at 9:48.

Artists' Corner

Charles Gilliland ushers in the New Year with a scholarly Cthulhu.

Other artists in this issue include Alison Munn on Page 2 and Steve Stiles on Page 3.

Thanks to those who contributed.

Solstice Dinner

The following is the menu for the Solstice Dinner; thanks to Doll Gilliland for compiling the list. Needless to say. a fun time was had by all!

Turkey Ham
Veggie Hors D'oeuvres & Caviar Dip
Deviled Eggs
Cheese. Pineapple & Pearl Onion Kabobs
Turkey - Big Bird
Cornbread Dressing
Noodles Parmesan           Sweet Potatoes Smoire
Bean Casserole           Green Bean Casserole
Lasagne               Broccoli Casserole
Sauerkraut             Barley Casserole
Mushroom Salad
Citrus Salad
Jello Mold
Cranberry Sauce
Fresh Baked Bread
Pecan Pie               Pumpkin Pie
Ruggula                 Petit Fours
Chocolate Mocha Cake
Vanilla & Egg Nog Ice Cream
Tea                   Beer
Eggnog                 Coffee
Soft Drinks               Champagne Punch

Upcoming Cons

Jan. 11-13:
ESOTERICON II located at the Sheraton Heights in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. GOH: Marion Zimmer Bradley, With: Katherine Kurtz, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, others. Membership: $35 Write (w/SASE, checks made out to MFWSFA) to Esotericon, c/o Jay & Catherine Hutschnecker, Box 329, Little Ferry, N.J. 07643
Jan. 11-13:
HEXACON 7 located at the Brunswick Motor Inn in Lancaster, PA. GOH: Gahan Wilson, Membership: $12. Write to Hexacon c/o Bruce & Flo Newrock, Box 270-A, RD 2, Flemington, N.J. 08822
Jan. 18-20:
CHATTACON 10 located at the Read House in Chattanooga, TN. GOH: C.J. Cherryh, MC: Wilson Tucker, FGOH: Irvin Koch, With: Robert Adams, Timothy Zahn, David Cherry. Membership: $17. Write to Chattacon, P.O. Box 921, Hixson, TN 37343
Jan. 18-20:
RUSTYCON II located at the Sea-Tac Hyatt in Seattle, WA. GOH: Gordon Eklund, AGOH: Kevin Johnson, FGOH: Steve Fahnestalk. Membership: $18. Write to: Rustycon II, P.O. Box 47132, Seattle, WA 98146
Jan. 25-27:
DECADENT CONFUSION located at the Hilton Hotel in Plymouth, MI. GOH: Alan Dean Foster, FGOH: Julia Ecklar. Membership: $15. Write to AASFA/Confusion, P.O. Box 8284, Ann Arbor, MI 48107

An Editorial

When I became Editor of the WSFA Journal (WSFAJ) back in June of 1983 I looked forward to FINALLY contributing something solid and useful to the club. I was told at that time by a former editor, Joe Mayhew, that I could "make or break someone with it, the 'Almighty Word' so to speak". I told him at that time that I had no intention of doing as as I'm not and never have been interested in politics, fannish or otherwise. I wanted to make the WSFAJ something the members would look forward to. Also, it has long been one of my rules that where arguments are concerned I would NOT make up my mind until I had heard both sides of the story. In the past issue of WSFAJ it probably looks like I broke my own rules. Tim & Somtow and Alexis & Doll have both stated their views on the Dune debacle and due to the fact that I have been taken over the coals for printing T&S's first piece, I thought I should explain to you, the members of WSFA, why I did so; therefore, this editorial.

The first mention of the "Dune" premiere came to my ears via Timothy R. Sullivan in the latter half of October. We were discussing the possibility of his taking up residence in my home when he mentioned that he had received an invitation to the "Dune" premiere. I asked him if there was any chance that he could take a guest because I'd been reading about the making of the film and was most anxious to see it. He said that he wasn't sure, but that he'd check into it and let me know; if so, then he'd take me.

I heard nothing more on the subject until the latter half of November when WSFAn Alison Munn called me at work and told me that she had received an invitation also. As Tim is a professional SF writer I could understand why he had received one, but Alison? I was miserable until I got home from work only to find that I TOO had received one! I was thrilled and immediately called Alison to impart the good news. Alter a long discussion we both agreed to ask for four tickets; at least we could try, right? Alison took off the next day for PhilCon while I was forced to stay at home with the flu. Upon her arrival home on Sunday she called ae and said, "Well, I found out who's responsible for us getting our invitations: Dolly! Just about everybody in WSFA is going!!!" I immediately called Dolly to thank her, but the first inkling of something amiss cropped up when she said, "You know it's nice to have people call you and thank you for doing something like this, but it's not so nice when others call and ask you why they haven't received one. So, if anybody calls you and asks you how you got your invitation, tell them you don't know." (?) Now, if you're willing to accept the egoboo for doing something nice, you should also be willing to accept any blame attached to it. Besides, she was asking me to lie to fellow WSFAns and I really didn't appreciate it.

Anyway, I soon received my four tickets, as did Alison, and invited my friends, only one of whom was a fellow WSFAn, Newton Ewell. I called artist Terry McCune who said he'd already received an invitation, Warren Rodgers who told me that he'd already been invited by Bob MacIntosh, etc. It seemed to me that, indeed, everyone in WSFA had been invited, so I invited outside friends. I found out too late that such was not the case. I won't go into who I talked to and found out that they had not been invited, but two stand out: WSFA Vice President Joe Mayhew and 1985 Disclave Chairman Mike Walsh. Two of the club's officers!

Needless to say there is even more I could bring up, but there are certain phrases of Dolly's that bear repeating here. During the three to four hour "screamathon" as Tim so quaintly puts it, she made these remarks, and I quote:

B.: Why didn't Joe Mayhew receive an invitation?

D.: Why should we invite someone who has hurt us over the years the way Joe has? You invited your friends, didn't you? So we invited ours. Would you invite someone you don't like?

B.: Yes I would, if he was a club officer as Joe is. Why wasn't Mike Walsh invited?

D.: Well, he lives in Baltimore and I thought this was more WSFA area-oriented than BSFS. For that matter, I didn't mark anybody who lives in Baltimore. I didn't even mark Steve Stiles and he's a friend of ours.

Ooops! Well, so much for friendship! Isn't Steve Stiles a professional artist? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

All this must sound like I hate the Gillilands; not so. I have very much enjoyed the discussions we have had in the past and which I'm sure will cease with this publication; I'm sad about this. What I DO resent is the Gillilands deciding who could go and who couldn't. I also deplore the fact that they decide what WSFA will or won't do; for example, the recent attempt on their part to abolish the February relaxacons. If they don't want to go nobody is going to force them, but why deprive us who like to attend the event from doing so? I understand that WSFA also went on boat rides in the past, but ......

What I'm trying to say is that not only is WSFAJ the Voice of the Club, I consider it also to be the Conscience of the Club. When I published Tim and Somtow's remarks in the December WSFAJ it was with the foreknowledge that the Gillilands would be furious and would want to publish a rebuttal; however, I was handed Tim and Somtow's remarks the night BEFORE I WENT TO PRESS and I would have no time to wait for a Gilliland rebuttal. But professional publications also print items and publish the rebuttals in future issues; I planned on doing the same with WSFAJ. The Gillilands, however, could not wait that long - so they said. Well, I'm sorry that they couldn't wait, but I DO have deadlines to meet. I was also not aware that WSFAJ is published solely for their glory and edification; I thought that WSFA members had the right to know why some of them hadn't been invited and they deserved to know NOW!

Alexis and Doll are fond of pointing out that the "Dune" premiere was NOT a WSFA function. This is true, it was NOT a WSFA SPONSORED function, but it was made a WSFA CONNECTED function when the Caroline Peachey Association contacted Alexis in his status as WSFA's President and Dolly gave them the marked 1983 WSFA Xmas list. Therefore, Alexis has no right to wave it off as he has been doing at recent club meetings.

Now for the frosting on the cake. At the recent WSFA Tree Trim AND at the following day's Solstice Dinner, Dolly "suggested" - and rather heavily I might add - that I "should publish only the apology and nothing more". Why? Well, if she wants an apology I've already said it in the preceding paragraphs; although I wouldn't call it one. I'm not sorry for bringing this mess to WSFA club members' attention. I love WSFA and the people in it and it hurts me to see the majority of you denied your rights by the King and Queen of WSFA. Tim Sullivan was right when he said, "... they don't give a damn about most of you. ... Are they right? Are you going to take this lying down?" What are you people, Men or Mice? What does it take for you to see what is happening to WSFA? Alexis and Doll are always knocking those of us who are media fans, yet they were right there when it came time to go to a MOVIE premiere! Interesting .....

I have already resigned myself to not being reelected to the secretarial position at the next election; I'm sure the Gillilands will personally see to it. But just remember this, nobody else who's ever been secretary and editor of the WSFA Journal tried harder to give you a journal to be proud of, and nobody now or in the future will be as proud as I was to have been the WSFA Journal editor.

1984 WSFA Xmas List

Additions & Corrections

Please make these additions and corrections to your 1984 WSFA Xmas List:

Clifford R. Bell, Jr.
[censored]
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-9434

Donna Gause
[censored]
Thurmont, MD 21788
(301) 271-7392

Doug Humphrey
P.O. Box 555
Beltsville, MD 20705

Kim Hutchinson
[censored]
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 577-8527

Bill Jensen
[censored]
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 345-7420

Dave Kaplan
[censored]
Wayne. N.J. 07470
(201) 694-1149

Robert Lovell
[censored]
Mountain View. CA 94041

Ginny McNitt
[censored]
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 824-0323

Walter Miles
[censored]
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 986-4519

Larry Schroeder
[censored]
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
(301) 766-4595

Buck Todd
[censored]
Thurmont, MD 21788
(301) 271-7392

Erica Van Dommelen
4245 S. 16th Street, #30
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 521-6079

Mark White
[censored]
Columbia, MD 21045
(301) 992-5639

Ted White
[censored]
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 532-0623

Change Regina Cohen's Apt. # from 18 to 1B

Gary Bennett: (301) 279-7621
Joanna/Wayne Dionne: (301) 423-5673
Mike Kozlowski: (716) 892-7453
Rebecca Prather: (703) 534-2274

Sorry about the errors, folks!

The WSFA Journal is the impregnable monthly newsletter of the Washington Science Fiction Association. Editor-in-Chief: Beverly L. Brandt, 3326 Lauriston Place, Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel. No.; (703) 573-8230

January's New Books

KEY: (H) -Hardback,
(P) Paperback and
(T) Tradepaperback

Adams, Robert: Castaways In Time #2: The Seven Magic Jewels of Ireland - $2.95 (P)
Anthony, Piers: Xanth #5: Crewel Lye - $3.50 (P)
Asimov, Isaac w/Charles G. Waugh & Martin H. Greenberg (Eds.): Isaac Asimov's Magical Worlds of Fantasy #3: Cosmic Knights - $3.95 (P)
Asprin, Robert: Myth Conceptions - $2.95 (P)
Baen, Jim & Jerry Pournelle (Eds.): Far Frontiers Vol. I, Spring 1985 - $2.95 (P)
Battin, B.W.: Mary, Mary - $3.50 (P)
Busby, F.M.: Rebel's Quest - $2.75 (P)
Card, Orson Scott: Ender's Game - $13.95 (H)
Chalker, Jack L.: Soul Rider Book 3: Masters of Flux and Anchor - $2.95 (P)
Cherryh, C.J.: Chanur's Venture - $2.95 (P)
Clarke, Arthur C. & Peter Hyams: The Odyssey File - $3.95 (P)
Cleve, John: Spaceways #19: King of the Slavers - $2.95 (P)
Dalmas, John: The Scroll of Man - $2.95 (P)
Drake, David & Karl Edward Wagner: Killer - $2.95 (P)
Foster, M.A.: Owl Time - $2.95 (P)
Greeley, Andrew M.: The Magic Cup - $3.50 (P)
Haiblum, Isidore: The Hand of Ganz - $2.75 (P)
Herbert, Brian: The Garbage Chronicles - $2.95 (P)
Kagan, Janet: Uhura's Song - $3.95 (P)
Kress, Nancy: The White Pipes - $14.95 (H)
Lem, Stanislaw (Franz Rottensteiner, Ed.): Microworlds: Writings On Science Fiction and Fantasy - $15.95 (H)
Martin, George R.R.: The Armageddon Rag - $3.95 (P)
Mitchell, Elizabeth (Ed.): Alien Stars (C.J. Cherryh, Joe Haldeman, Timothy Zahn) - $2.95 (P)
Peat, F. David: Artificial Intelligence: How Machines Think - $7.95 (T)
Proctor, George W.: The Chicago Conversion - $2.95 (P)
Ptacek, Kathryn: Blood Autumn - $3.50 (P)
Sarrantonio, Al: The Worms - $11.95 (H)
Schmidt, Dennis: Twilight of the Gods: The First Name - $2.95 (P)
Sky, Kathleen: Witchdame - $2.95 (P)
Sternback, Rick: Handbook For Space Colonists - $10.95 (T)
Swanwick, Michael: In the Drift - $2.95 (P)
Thurston, Robert: Q Colony - $2.75 (P)
Vardeman, Robert E.: The Jade Demons #1: The Quaking Lands - $2.95 (P)
White, James: Star Healer - $2.75 (P)
Williamson, J.N. (Ed.): Masques: All-New Works of Horror and the Supernatural - $14.95 (H)
Wold, Allen: The Pursuit of Diana - $2.95 (P)
Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn: A Mortal Glamour - $3.50 (P)
Dray Prescott #33: Werewolves of Kregan - $2.50 (P)
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future - $3.50 (P)