Conference hips::babylon5

Posted on AOL
Subj:  from jms re: fan club
Date:  97-04-28 05:19:31 EDT
From:  Jms at B5       

          One of the most dangerous things in the world is a writer who
          has finished writing for a while, has met his deadlines, and can
          now address other issues.
          
          One such issue that has been nibbling at the back of my brainstem
          has been the Babylon 5 Fan Club.  I've felt for some time that it
          was not living up to its potential, and has been laying fallow for
          some while.  The Universe Today newsletter was okay, but it could
          have been better.  The club was okay, but could have been better.
          
          Okay is never sufficient.  We either move forward or we fall back,
          there is no such thing as holding position.  Especially with the
          fan club, because as a fan myself, I have to feel that people are
          getting their money's worth out of the club, and frankly, I'm not
          sure they have been.  Now that I have time to turn my attention to
          the problem....
          
          A number of changes have been made to improve the situation for
          the current members, and for future members.
          
          1) We are going to substantially improve Universe Today and get it
          out on schedule.  To facilitate this, we are announcing that Mike
          Zmuda, publisher of the Centaurian Sentinel, probably the best of
          the B5 fanzines out there, has been made editor of the newsletter.
          Sandra Bruckner, publisher of the Zocalo, has been named co-editor.
          Both begin work effective May 1st.
          
          Knowing the great work these two have performed individually, we
          have every anticipation that their combined efforts on Universe
          Today will make it the sort of publication we've always wanted it
          to be.
          
          2) Sandra has also agreed to take over as website administrator
          for thestation.com, maintaining it and improving it and updating
          it as circumstances warrant.  The B5 Fan Club Web Site has also
          been wandering a bit, and this will correct that problem.
          
          3) Jim Lockett, founding head of the B5 Fan Club, has moved on
          to other projects, and we wish him all the best in his future
          endeavors.
          
          4) A more assertive position will be taken in promoting the club
          at conventions, in advertisements, and in developing merchandise
          specific to the fan club.
          
          5) Finally, because of my sense that the members of the Fan Club
          have not gotten all that they could have out of the club during
          its debut, we are going to ROLL OVER ALL YEAR ONE MEMBERSHIPS to
          a second year.  If you joined prior to April 1, 1997, you are
          automatically comp'd in as a member for a second year without
          charge.  Doug and I will personally swallow the expense of that.
          
          It is our desire that the Official Babylon 5 Fan Club should be
          the best entity of its kind ever created.  Now that we have made
          some mid-course corrections, we are back on track to becoming
          that.  And we think you will approve of our plans for improving
          and expanding the operation as we move ahead over the rest of 1997.
          
          jms