A Piece of the Action/Issues 61-70

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Issue 61

A Piece of the Action 61 was published in April 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #61
  • an announcement that Sharon Ferraro Short has resigned her position as "APOTA editor and CONsultant"
  • an ad for NTM Collected
  • Laura Virgil reports on the Star Wars concert (narrator was Leonard Nimoy) by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on February 26; it featured a Moog Synthesizer
  • an ad for Star Con Denver '78
  • an ad/report about the L-5 Society, "an international organization working to make space settlements a reality by 1990."
  • artist for his issue was Mary Stacy-MacDonald
  • a report on the Star Trek World Expo Convention in New York City and notes that it was the first time that there was a blood blank there: {{Quotation} This idea began at Science Fiction cons, and is one of the better ideas we've heard of!" This con also had a new feature: the Fanzine Reading Room. "The zines were loaned by the Paterson (N.J.) Public Library from their large collection. Copies of old and current zines were avidly scanned and probably enjoyed. The Paterson Library is unique, as far as we know, in having such a collection. Roberta Rogow of Trekindex is responsible for the Librarystarting the collection and many zine publishers have generously donated copies for the collection... Hopefully, we will hear of other collections in public libraries in the future, now that fans know it can be done.}}
  • in response to the "warning" in APOTA #55, this announcement was published (For more of where this was headed, see Open Letter to Star Wars Zine Publishers by Maureen Garrett.):
    As of February 14, 1978, this is the official status of Star Wars fanzines. The Star Wars Corp. wants to keep track of what SW zines are coming out. They are not out to hassle, sue, etc. anybody, they just want to convince 20th Century Fox legal department that there are more than five SW fans that are interested in publishing zines. Even if you are planning a zine, they would like to know about it. (For those of you who have already published zines, I was told in a telephone call from Craig Miller that he was 'certain nothing would happen.

  • a long letter from Shirley Maiewski (This issue, at least the neutrality part, was addressed previously in issue #34.):
    A problem has been brought to my attention that I believe needs careful consideration by all. I have-received at least three letters, and have been told in person, that members of STW have been expressing opinions in answers to fan's questions, which have not been in keeping with STW's firm policy of "neutrality". While we are NOT saying that you cannot express your own feelings, we DO ask that you do not "take sides", when writing on STW stationery, or as speaking as_ an STW member. WE know it is very difficult, once you are identified as an STW member, not to be considered as SPEAKING for STW. There is a very delicate line there. I personally am finding it impossible to "speak my mind" on certain subjects, without people interpretating what I say as a pronouncement of STW. I am, therefore, having to keep some of my feelings to myself. Other members of STW are having this same problem. Please, people, be careful. Too many people have worked too hard and too long to have STW's name and reputation spoiled because a few people aren't able to take care what they do and say in the name of the Welcommittee. For example: there is a great controversy building up among fans about the reasons why Leonard Nimoy may or may not be in the new Star Trek movie. It is tearing Fandom apart in many ways. We all have our own opinions on this subject, and are entitled to them! However, it would be better, when writing as an STW member, that we be careful NOT to take sides. None of us REALLY knows - we only have heard rumors and "what somebody told me!". If anyone feels that they can't be neutral on this, or other subjects relating to Fandom, please let ME know and we will try to work it out somehow. If you get a letter you don't feel you can honestly answer, return it to your Area Captain and let someone else handle it.

Issue 62

A Piece of the Action 62 was published in May 1978 and contains 16 pages.

first page of issue #62
  • a reprint of an article about the ST movie that was from the Dallas Morning News
  • Dear Grace Lee answers this question: "What is your routine at home like? Are you as contented as you appear? Do you fight with your husband? Do you like your children? Do you believe in free love? Please don't be angry with me but my boyfriend said you'd tell it like it is!" She answers that she fights with her husband "all the time -- we are true intimates and lovers." She says she likes most of her children, and as for free love? "You don't get anything for free!"'
  • a fan, Donna Hutt, has issued a poll regarding Star Trek and related questions. "Results of the poll will be published in book form." There were 535 poll sheets sent out to unspecified fans.
  • a graphic of the Enterprise hovering over a planet, an example of "a new video game offered by Southwest Technical Products Corporation of San Antonio. The display was generated using the graphic terminal GT-6144 and STPC's 6800 Computer System."
  • a long review of "Project U.F.O"
  • a number of half-page ads: Spockanalia, Masiform D, Star Con Denver, and the DeForest Kelley Association of Fans, as well as a large ad for August Party #4 ("Come to a convention... Don't go to a show.")
  • a review of the Star Wars pro book, "Splinter of the Mind's Eye"

Issue 63

A Piece of the Action 63 was published in June 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #63
  • a full-page ad for Stellar Con '78
  • Dear Grace Lee is asked these two questions: "How did you feel inside when all of the original case was together at the press conference?" and about the movie, "Will she still love the Captain, and what rank will she have?"
  • an ad for the zine To Share the Dawn
  • a full-sized illustration of what looks like a stylized space shuttle
  • the STW Blind Services is struggling:
    BLIND SERVICES UPDATE: Scores of socially conscious STAR TREK fans have volunteered their help in recording ST materials for the blind. However, we simply do not have enough tapes to to around at this time. Our goal is to provide services to any visually handicapped fan who desires them, ana we want to provide these services as efficiently as possible. In order to meet these goals, we must have more tapes, more reading material, and funds to purchase badly needed equipment and supplies. We also need someone with tape duplication equipment who will produce copies of our master recordings, if you or your club would like to contribute, please write us at our new address...

Issue 64

A Piece of the Action 64 was published in July 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #64
  • Cheree Cargill has stepped away from the post of trivia ("Computer, Dear") and Don Harden has taken her place
  • Dear Grace Lee answers a question regarding the new movie: "Will Spock still like the Captain?" Her answer: "Spock will, of course, still like the Captain."
  • Shirley Maiewski reports that the mail to STW has really dropped off, and as a result, there hasn't been much for the Welcommittee to do
  • a long review of the movie "Capricorn One"
  • an ad for the zine Illusions
  • an explanation of some new copyright rules submitted by Jean Lorrah:
    Under the old law, up to last December, the editor or publisher of a compilation (fanzine, magazine, anthology, etc.), who copyrighted it in his own name, owned the copyright to everything in the compilation unless and until he assigned the rights back to the individual authors and artists, which most fanzines did anyway. Under the new law, this is no longer true. The editor of a compilation should still copyright it in his own name (or that of his press or club or whatever), but he now owns the copyright only to the compilation as a whole (that is, he can reprint that that same exact book as often as he wants to, and no contributor can stop him), but each individual author and artist owns the copyright to his own work automatically, unless he has sent the editor/publisher a written transferral of copyright. No author or artist need ask for a written transfer or release of rights, nor for permission to reprint his work elsewhere. EDITORS: The new law requires that every piece in a compilation be marked with a copyright notice before the name of the author on the title page of his piece, unless that author has given the editor a written transferral of copyright. (Look at NTM COLLECTED, VOL. ONE for correct form.) ARTISTS & AUTHORS; Under the new law you need no longer register your own copyright of something of yours that has appeared in a compilation, in order to receive full protection under the law. When the editor registers the entire compilation, he is considered to have registered your copyrights along with his own. This information comes from the April, 78 COSMEP Newsletter (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers), paraphrased (not quoted) from ON COPYRIGHT AWARENESS, copyright 78 by Jim McDonald

Issue 65

A Piece of the Action 65 was published in August 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #65
  • this issue has a long letter by Gene Roddenberry explaining some things about the movie
  • Lori Chapek-Carleton replaces Sharon Ferraro as the CONsultant
  • the STW has a full-page ad selling Star Trek buttons and badges
  • Intergalactic Trading Company has a full-page ad selling Star Trek Convention program books and other doo-dads such as pens, license plates, labels bumper stickers, and T-shirts
  • Dear Grace Lee answers two questions about the new movie: has she seen the new bridge? -- and "Have you met the new India girl? What is her name? Is she pretty?"
  • Shirley writes that letters to STW have been much fewer in number, and she doesn't know why; she also complains that there has been way too much non-Star Trek material being contributed to the newsletter:
    We have been going quite far afield in APOTA, and we have had to insist that we stick to our original purpose which is to give out news of Star Trek alone. We are not the Star Wars Welcommittee, or the Close Encounters Welcommittee or even the NASA Welcommittee... while we all support NASA and its plans for the future, and WILL answer questions we receive about it, we must limit ourselves to Star Trek.

Issue 66

A Piece of the Action 66 was published in September 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #66
  • Shirley Maiewski warns that the newsletter is losing money and that folks need to kick up the donations, as well as actually paying for their subscriptions
  • an update to the copyright notice in the last issue:
    In the July issue of APOTA we reported some new changes in the Copyright Law. We used as our source the April, 78 COSMEP Newsletter (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers)... In the most recent edition they have the following correction to that article. It is NOT necessary to place the author's copyright notice on his work„ The editor's copyright of the entire compilation is considered to copyright each author's work in the author's name unless the author has signed a transfer of copyright to the editor. However, nowhere in this correction of the previous article was there mention of the fact that one should NOT place copyright notices on the individual author's work. So, an editor should copyright in her own name only, and register the copyright. One thing is certain: do NOT put that old "copyright is hereby assigned to the authors and artists" in your zine. That creates a legal tangle in which every contributor owns, not the part that he created, but part-interest in the ENTIRE ZINE. To reprint, an author would have to get the permission of everyone who appeared in the zine. Until the law is clarified, the editor should send each contributor a letter assigning back to her the rights in her own work. This is not supposed to be necessary under the new law; the rights are supposed to return to the author automatically - but until we can find out whether COSMEP was wrong on that point, too, we can't hurt anything by being extra careful. Jean Lorrah has written to the Library of Congress for more clarification on this new law and we will report what she finds out in upcoing issues, (info supplied by Jean Lorrah)

Issue 67

A Piece of the Action 67 was published in October 1978 and contains 8 pages.

first page of issue #67
  • a long article about the space shuttle, Enterprise's, heat shield and some repairs
  • Dear Grace Lee answers these two questions: why did she cut her hair short, and how old was she when she got married and had kids
  • the editor scolds STW members a bit: she knows they have expenses for postage, stationary and such relating to membership but there are 142 members and only a handful are paying for their subscriptions; the last financial report put the STW $700 "in the hole"; she also warns members against "taking sides" in fannish controversies -- "a little thought on your part may save STW from embarrassment."
  • a short report about August Party, "proving once again that a successful convention can be held without Big Name 'Stars.' Over 1100 fans attended and from all reports, had a fine time. There were panels on Fandom, films, costumes, a Gong Show, a busy Dealer's Room, but the fans themselves made it worth all the while."
  • an ad for the zine Rising Star
  • this issue includes a list of 16 professional performers who have done a recording of the Star Trek theme on an album

Issue 68

first page of issue #68

A Piece of the Action 68 was published in November 1978 and contains 8 pages.

  • wherein you find out Gene Roddenberry's middle name is "Wesley"
  • Dear Grace Lee answers two more questions, one a repeat from the last issue—that one about the haircut
  • an announcement that Greg Jein, "a Star Trek fan from way back has achieved fame as the maker of the model of the mothership in Close Encounters"
  • a full-page ad insert from April Publications advertising a variety of stuff from I.D. cards, to stationery, to Star Trek Travel Brochures, records, and the Vulcan Language Guide—you can even buy a Vulcan Back Statement: "This realistic statement shows your Checking Account at the First National Bank of Vulcan. Includes all transactions in Vulcan Credits including Deposits and Withdrawals."
  • the mailroom reports that they received just 92 letters last month

Issue 69

first page of issue #69

A Piece of the Action 69 was published in December 1978 and contains 8 pages.

  • the mailroom reports receiving 52 letters last month
  • the editor says the STW will continue their stance of neutrality involving disputes between fans and disputes between dealers and fans
  • a listing of ten items being offered in "round one" of the next STW auction
  • a pretty meager issue...

Issue 70

first page of issue #70

A Piece of the Action 70 was published in Jan/Feb 1979 and contains 8 pages.

  • the editors suspect that the reason for the drop in letters to the STW is because most fans' questions have been answered,and that other professional magazines, such as Starlog answers the questions the STW used to get—most of recent letters were about the new movie anyways; "We are cutting down the size of the STW by attrition, so that our members don't have to wait so long between letters and thereby lose interest. We hope that fans will continue to turn to us for help, and also, will continue to support the Welcommittee in its endeavors."
  • this issue reports on an article about Star Trek in the newspaper supplement, Parade
  • an ad for Illusions
  • Shirley Maiewski reports on "A Visit to the Star Trek Sets"
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