Incorporation Is Too Restrictive
The incorporation of the World Science Fiction Society, intended to create an institutional parent for the World Science Fiction Convention, was a controversial issue in 1958. WSFS, Inc. effectively died at that year's Solarcon, which repudiated its authority, and has been a fannish bugbear ever since. There were, however, prominent voices raised in its favor, as shown by Sam Moskowitz's "public service announcement" in Belle Dietz's zine Ground Zero.
Now that the World Science Fiction Society has been incorporated, too many of us egotists have the feeling of being penned in. The corporate setup is too restrictive:
1. It restricts a member of the Society from becoming liable for a convention’s debts. After all, fans should have the right to lose their shirts if a convention should lose money.
2. It restricts a person who is holding Society funds from making off with the money. Loud complaints have been heard from some of our members.
3. It restricts a convention treasurer from refusing to make financial reports. This has cut down the number of fans available, as it has only left the honest ones willing to take the job.
4. It restricts the Recorder-Historian and others from keeping the records of the Society in a dark, unattainable dungeon. This is a terrible danger: Fans will get to know what’s going on.
5. It restricts people from acting in the name of the Society without any authority. It doesn’t even let anyone call himself a director unless he’s been elected.
6. It restricts all sorts of other improper acts which leaves all the chiselers out in the cold. It’s getting so nobody can make a dishonest buck on fans nowadays.
By now, we are sure you agree: INCORPORATION IS TOO RESTRICTIVE!
(Presented as a public service by the following:)
ASSOCIATION OF UNINCORPORATED GONIFFS
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF CHISELERS
AMALGAMATED EMBEZZLERS OF AMERICA
THE SECOND STORY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
“WE ROB WHILE THEY SLEEP” FEDERATION
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CONFIDENCE MEN
| home
