fwa
Fan Writers of America (fwa), a spoof on SFWA, was founded by Ted White at L.A.con II in 1984, but the next year settled in as a mainstay at the Corflu banquet every year, where the Past President of fwa is elected, i.e., the president for the year just past. The past presidents simply bask in egoboo without the need of expending effort on pointless tasks, like trying to get the fwa organized. (A concept not copied from the similar ECLSFS — Ex-Chairman Liverpool Science Fiction Society, a 1950s U.K. club — but independently invented, as Ted White has confirmed.)
For purposes of fannish inclusiveness (and perhaps American imperialism), with regard to fwa, "America" is defined as "the entire world." Indeed; some U.K. fen have been elected fwa past president.
At Corflu 39 in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Tom Becker moved to change the name to Fan Writers Association (fwa). This passed after a lively discussion with alternate proposals. For example, Patrick Nielsen Hayden proposed Fanzine Workers of the World (FWW, to be pronounced "FOO") via Geri Sullivan's Zoom connection to the festivities. Those gathered declared (for purposes of inclusiveness and perhaps fannish inclusiveness?) that "fan writer" includes fan artist and other activities of a similar nature that don't specifically involve writing.
You join fwa the same way you join fandom or become a trufan: If you do fan writing and think you could be a member of the fwa, then you are a member. It's that simple.
fwuk[edit]
In initial response to fwa there was, briefly, a fwuk (Fan Writers of the United Kingdom). The late Arthur Thomson (ATom) came up with the name, which was used more because British fans liked the sound of it than because they felt they needed an imperialistic organization of their own. Or even an imperialistic organisation of their own.
Past President of the Fan Writers of America[edit]
The Past President of the Fan Writers of America (i.e., the president for the year just past) is elected at the Corflu banquet every year. Each past president simply basks in egoboo without the need of expending effort on pointless tasks, like trying to get the fwa organized.
Some years, two past presidents were elected, the second past president election recognizing a person for a year further in the past than the previous year: e.g. the Corflu 2 election of Suzle Tompkins for the previous year (1984) and the election of Terry Carr for a more distant year (1982).
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