Minutes, 18 September 1996 Recorded by Susan Marie Groppi, mailed to hrsfa-announce 20 September -------------------------------------------- HRSFA's introductory meeting of the 1996-1997 Academic Year HRSFA Officers: Co-Chair Kyle Niedzwiecki kniedzw@fas Co-Chair Alexei Tymoczko atymoczk@fas Treasurer Chris Hall crhall@fas Int. Secretary Susan Marie Groppi groppi@hcs Ext. Secretary Aaron Mandel amandel@fas Editor Cyrus Mody ccmody@fas Meeting called to order by Claudia and Matt Ender. Introduction made by Puppet Dictator Chase Tingley. Kyle and Alexei, our illustrious and well-beloved co-chairs, introduced themselves and described the history and nature of HRSFA. HRSFA is nine years old, going into our tenth year, and we have a reputation primarily for being eclectic. HRSFA was originally founded by the members of smaller groups (a comics appreciation club, a gaming club, a star trek club) who were all turned down by the administration. HRSFA was approved by the administration, and Alexei's theory is that they approved us so that they can more easily identify the freaks. HRSFA is different from most campus groups ("Because, unlike most groups, every single member is completely crazy" --AT) because it's completely driven by the membership. The SIGs are the lifeblood of HRSFA, and most if not all HRSFA activities fall under the jurisdiction of a SIG. Alexei outlined some of HRSFA's more prominent activities--the Wyld Hunt, the Myld Hunt, the Masq, the Coming and Going of the Hour ("A celebration in honor of the great god Chronos--" "You dress in black and burn things." --KWN and AT, respectively). The power of HRSFA rests in the general membership. Remember this. It's very important. It's also a clever segue into introducing Chris. Chris Hall, Treasurer, explains the benefits and logistics of membership. After a lengthy question-and-answer period, in which Chris is probably just flustered because someone else had the cashbox, Chris was declared Puppet Treasurer. Benefits of Membership: 1) 10% discount at Pandemonium and Your Move Games. (note: this discount is NOT NOT NOT at Games People Play.) 2) one dollar off all HRSFA events. 3) borrowing privileges at the HRSFA library. Aaron Mandel is introduced and proclaims that there's nothing to say about being external secretary, except the movies, which only happen once a semester, so you should go to Cool Movie PSIG if that's what you're in to. Cyrus Mody was introduced and spoken for in absentia, mostly that Fusion was cool and would be more thoroughly introduced later. Susan Groppi was introduced and insisted that everyone fill out those annoying little membership flyers. SIG descriptions then commenced. Star Trek SIG: Officially, we even support Voyager. Sigh. Eli Lebow is going to try to organize group watchings, and publicize viewing schedules. If you know of any currently existing Star Trek watching groups that want HRSFA to play with them, let him know. Milk and Cookies: Julia Starkey described Milk and Cookies as the "kindler, gentler, non sci-fi" part of HRSFA. We build a fire or die trying. We have cookies and milk and tea and hot cocoa. We read children's stories and fairy tales and wear pajamas. Yeah. Gaming: Aaron Landry said a lot of stuff about Gaming SIG, but your poor befuddled Internal Secretary only managed to write down the three main purposes of Gaming SIG. 1) Let everyone know what games are going on 2) Match up interested people with new campaigns 3) Organize Vampire. Contact Aaron if you want to play or especially if you want to GM. I seem to remember him saying something about gaming sixteen hours a day, but I suspect I've repressed the whole incident. Magic: Moses Liskov is heading Magic: The Gathering SIG. They meet weekly and are currently organizing into two types of play, "friendly" and "tournament". Contact Moses if you play Magic. If you play one of those other weird collectible card type games, contact both Moses and Aaron Landry, just to be safe, because we're not sure where they fall. MENTOS BREAK courtesy of Alan Sundell. Cool Movie PSIG There aren't enough cool movies being shown at Harvard, and Alexei and Chase founded Cool Movie PSIG to combat this problem. Last year they showed around 31 movies. Tonight they showed Tron. Keep watching hrsfa-announce for notices of future PSIG showings. Babylon 5 SIG When the season starts, we'll try to have regular on-campus showings again. Several places have been volunteered, but we're holding out for somewhere with more space. Talk to Drew Glazier for information on joining B5 catch-up SIG, which is devoted to catching up on past episodes. Talk to any active SIG member about what you've missed; we'll all be more than happy to tell you lots of stuff. Comics They're not just for boys, and they're not just for 14 year olds. Comics SIG meets in Susannah Mandel's common room. If you checked "Comics" on your sign-up-paper-thingy, you'll be hearing from her. If not, keep watching hrsfa-announce. Library HRSFA's library, consisting of over 2000 books, videos, games, comics, and stuff, is currently undergoing reorganization and thus closed, but wicked cool nonetheless. No, really, I mean it. We've got a few projects right now, most prominently re-cataloging the current collection and cataloging the huge donation. Contact me for information on how to help now or just join library staff later, or I'll contact you if you expressed interest. Fusion Rose channeled the absent Cyrus--Fusion is published approximately yearly, completely student-produced, and desperate for stuff. Contact Cyrus Mody. BBC Meets according to interest, watches Blake's 7, Red Dwarf, Dr. Who, and stuff. Last year, interest was really small and erratic. If there's more this year, it'll meet with renewed vigor. Arisia A yearly sci-fi convention in the Boston area, Arisia is always looking for student volunteers to get involved with the organization and running of said convention. This year it's running 10-12 January, with special guests R.A. Salvatore (of Forgotten Realms fame) and Bob Eggleton (Hugo winner for art). If you're interested in working with Arisia, contact me and I'll get you in touch with Joel Herda. MST3K Watches the TV show and stuff. If you'd like to run the SIG, contact Matt Duhan, who has graduated and thus isn't running SIGs. Anime Sort of eclipsed by the Anime Society, but we co-sponsor Anime Aaargh with them every year. Again, if you'd like to run Anime SIG, contact Matt Duhan. Writer's SIG and Filk SIG Both lying dormant with the graduation of Amanda and Moiraine, but Susannah Mandel wants to bring new energy and life to them. Writer's SIG is looking for any kind of writing to workshop, preferably sci-fi but hey we're open to other stuff. Filk is a kind of science fiction fan folk stuff, contact Susannah for more information. Note to the New HRSFAns and Prospective HRSFAns: don't be overwhelmed, we're a bit much to deal with right away, but honest, we're really friendly. REGULAR BUSINESS: Ig Nobel Awards, 3 October: A ceremony to honor acheivements that cannot or should not be duplicated. We're a co-sponsor, we get a delegation and we also get to help run the ceremony. Our very own Chris Hall is going to be one of the Human Spotlights, although no one is quite sure if he knows what he's getting himself into. Or out of. If you're interested in being either an usher with HRSFA or part of the HRSFA delegation, email one of the officers. Terry Pratchett might be able to come speak at Harvard. We're working on it, we'll let you know. HRSFA Fall Party: 28 September Alexei's Common Room Watch This List for More Details Memberships: Five dollars now, eight after the second meeting. The second meeting will be help on 29 September, so you can still purchase a membership for five dollars at the Fall Party. The meeting was adjourned to cookies and sign ups. Your exhausted secretary is signing off for now. Mwah. -- Susan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The body is a dance. Hating the dance interrupts the choreography." -HS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ groppi@hcs.harvard.edu -=- http://hcs.harvard.edu/~groppi