Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society
| Fan Club | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society |
| Dates: | 1968-? |
| Founder(s): | Rosemary Ullyot, Maureen Bourns, & Alicia Austin, the editors of Kevas and Trillium |
| Leadership: | |
| Country based in: | Canada and United States |
| Focus: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society was a fan club. At least one fan called it an excuse for a private party. [1]
In 1973, the fan club published the zine GRAS Star Trek Memory Book, edited by "Mrs. Keith Wilson."
The club also has an irregular newsletter called The Logbook.
The main event of this fan club appears to have been a surprise party held in honor of Gene Roddenberry at the 1968 Baycon, one which was a hush-hush private party hosted by members of The Cartel (some members were Rosemary Ullyot, Maureen Bourns, Alicia Austin, Bjo Trimble, Vera Heminger, Devra Langsam, and others).
Some Descriptions and Origin Stories
From Inside Star Trek #3 (September 1968):
Gene Roddenberry attended the 26th World Science Fiction Convention, held in Oakland over Labor Day weekend. Also among the attendees were Bill Theiss, Stephen Whitfield, John Dwyer, Joan Pearce, Robert Bloch (the author of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "Catspaw" was just back after a rainy summer in England working on movie scripts and complained with Californian indignation of his pallor), Harlan Ellison, Norman Spinrad, David Gerrold, and Mark Lenard (who played the Romulan Commander and Spock's father, and is now a regular on a new series, Here Come the Brides, which also features Robert Brown, Lazarus in "The Alternative Factor," and David Soul, Makora in "The Apple").
The high point of the convention for Roddenberry was probably a large private party held by three Canadian fans of Star Trek (Alicia Austin, Maureen Bourns, and Rosemary Ullyot) for people to meet him — to give the information given him beforehand. What Roddenberry did not know was that these three, working in conjunction with several others, had decided months before that the creator of Star Trek ought to have a fan club and had started GRAS (the Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society). With the connivance of practically everyone around him, GRAS was kept secret from Roddenberry, until the night of the party, when a scroll of membership, book of appreciative letters, and portrait of himself (by Alicia Austin) were presented to him. [2]
From Anti-Matter #2 (December 1968) :
The Cartel is headquarters for — The Mark Lenard International Fan Club (for Spock's father, Sarek), the Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society (GRAS), and the Rick Carter International Fan Club (Canadian branch).
From Anti-Matter #3 (March 1969):
Kooky Project Number # and Kooky Project Results: LEGALIZE GRAS! -- Here is another one of TILOSK's ridiculous subversive experiments. Naturally, when we speak of GRAS, we do not refer to a psychedelic weed, but to the Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society. The experiment is to find out just how suspicious the Post Office Dept. is Simply mail something that sounds crispy to the Commandant in an envelope with the words: "LEGALIZE GRAS" written in large letters on the back. Such as: uncooked rice, a few corn flakes or something equally noisey [sic]. Then we'll see how many of these suspicious envelopes are opened for inspection before they are delivered. The results of this experiment will appear in Anti-Matter #4. Whatever you do, DON'T send real grass! We'll all be carted off to a Federation prison.
From Great Bird of the Galaxy #1 (1976?):
The Gene Roddenberry Appreication Society functions with the approval and cooperation of Gene Roddenberry. News and information are issued to members throughout the club's newsletter, which is published at irregular intervals. Send $2.00 to Sheryl McNevin and join the rest of us nuts.[3]
In 2005, Devra Langsam wrote:
I could on for *far* too long about the 1969 World SF convention at which all of the above ladies (plus myself and another fanatic friend) pulled off a surprise party for Gene Roddenberry called: GRAS "Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society" where he was *completely* flummoxed by a room party presentation of an honor scroll, art gifts and other cool acknowledgements. Ancient history but very sweet memories --- somewhere I know I have some "instamatic" (remember those little plastic cameras?) pictures! *guh* takes me back --- [4]
Some Context
from a con report, likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
from a con report, likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
from a con report, likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
likely published in an unknown issue of Kevas & Trillium or The Logbook
photos from the party
photos from the party
photos from the party
photos from the party
photos from the party
References
- ^ The GRAS thing sounds more like an excuse for a private party, than an actual club. From a note in this issue of "Inside Star Trek": "Applications for membership GRAS -- which has no dues and no plans for future activities...
- ^ con report in Inside Star Trek #3 (September 1968)
- ^ from The Logbook #3
- ^ a comment she made at Men On Men: Why Do Women Enjoy Slash?