Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club
Dec 18, 2003 Meeting Agenda
I. Discussion of our Response to Student Life Query
1) -Who came up with the idea for this club and why? (How did it get started?)
The Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club has many points of origin; it is not one person's idea. The Club is a merger of two clubs, a Science Fiction Club which met for the first time on October 19, and a Fantasy and Science Fiction Club which met for the first time on November 20.
The first club was founded by two students from the 2002 Freshman Seminar on Science Fiction and Modernity, taught by Professor Boyd. It meets at 7pm every Sunday in Nemerov Hall to discuss television programs, notably Stargate SG1, and to write a screenplay for presentation at next year's ARCHON, the St. Louis Science Fiction Convention. This club posted fliers to attract members.
The second club was founded by the students and professor of the comparative religion and comparative literature class, "Middle-Earth and Bharata Varsha," taught in Spring of 2003. This class had invited the Tolkien scholar, T. A. Shippey, and his assistant, Keith Kelly, to give a guest lecture or discussion. Neither was available in 2003, but we have invited them to speak in Spring of 2004. This club also posted fliers to attract members. The founding members of the first club approached the second club to propose a member-sharing agreement or merger.
The club also includes at least one member who, in a response to a Fantasy and Science Fiction Club flier, noted that she had considered starting her own club, and probably would have done so if she had not seen the flier. She is willing to be interviewed and quoted in Student Life.
There may be other informal science fiction, fantasy, and Tolkien discussion clubs we do not know about, too small to qualify for Student Union recognition. If they wish to join us, they would be welcome.
Finally, the staff of the Liggett-Koenig dormitory have been most helpful in encouraging our club, and providing facilities and publicity.
2) -When will meetings start?
The combined club has already met three times this semester. The Science Fiction Club (now the Science Fiction Group of the Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club) will continue to meet on Sundays at 7pm, for one hour meetings to watch and discuss Stargate SG1 episodes. The Fantasy and Science Fiction Club has agreed on a schedule of Saturday meetings for the first month of Spring 2004. We have divided into four Groups: the Fantasy Group, Tolkien Group, Science Fiction Group, and Cinema Group. We now have about 15 active members, including students, faculty, and research scientists.
A. Schedule of First Month (venues TBA):
1. Saturday, January 24 [Cinema Group Meeting]
Lord of the Rings Movie Marathon (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers)
2. Saturday, January 31 [Tolkien Group Meeting]
Discussion of The Lord of the Rings (book and movies)
3. Saturday, February 7 [Science Fiction Group]
Showing of the first Star Trek episode with Captain Kirk, followed by the first Enterprise episode with Captain Archer.
4. Saturday, February 14 [Fantasy Group]
Celtic Folklore in Fantasy and Science Fiction (perhaps in collaboration with another campus group)
B. Schedule of Second Month: This will follow the same sequence as the first month, with different content (venues TBA).
3) -What is this club and what will it involve?
The Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club is a group of like-minded fans who wish to provide networking services for the entire community of fans at Washington University, other local universities, and the community at large. We will soon have a permanent website. Other clubs may join us to share membership while preserving their autonomy. We plan a series of activities and fundraisers (including a marathon fiction reading session) in order to qualify for Student Union funding and SGAC recognition.
4) -Who can join?
The Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club is open to all science fiction, fantasy, and Tolkien fans. We are a faculty-friendly and staff-friendly club, although only Washington University students may serve as President or Treasurer, and no more than half of our members may be non-students.
5) - What is the main goal of the club (what do you hope people will get out of it)?
The Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club promotes appreciation and understanding of fantasy, science fiction, and the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. We aim to provide a place where fans of all ranks and ages may relax and discuss the stories we all love, just for fun. On the other hand, we also promote the serious academic study of science fiction and fantasy literature and fandom. We will meet to share resources, and to promote science fiction and fantasy study (serious and fun) at Washington University and in the local community. Our goal is to maintain an open, expanding network of fans.
Religion and politics may divide people, but stories bring us all together.
Our temporary website is: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~jhbauer/tolkien_and_f%26sf.htm#washufantasyannouncements
For meeting minutes: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~jhbauer/tolkien_and_f%26sf.htm#washufantasyminutes
Our draft constitution (to be revised soon) is: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~jhbauer/tolkien_and_f%26sf.htm#washufantasyconstitution
Please feel free to read our posted minutes (but please do not quote without permission)
Sincerely,
Jerome Bauer,
Program in Religious Studies,
on behalf of the Washington University Fantasy and Science Fiction Club
PS My Elvish name is Airesso; this information courtesy of one of our members from SLU!