Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek Fan Club of Concerned Fans

Fan Club
Name:	Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek Fan Club of Concerned Fans
Dates:	established on January 21, 1969
Founder(s):	Michael Sobota
Leadership:
Country based in:
Focus:
External Links:
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Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek Fan Club of Concerned Fans was a fan club.

Among other things, it published LNSTFCCF Bulletin (also called "Yearbook") which was compiled by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, a devoted member.

Michael Sobota was the president, UNICEF Chairman, and editor of the club's bulletin.

The club's motto was "ST Forever & Ever!"

This club was a chapter of LNAF until early 1971 when it was ejected.

About

Are you interested in a club that wants to preserve STAR TREK? To honor LEONARD NIMOY? To show LEONARD NIMOY and STAR TREK they're the best? If you do then the LEONARD NIMOY and STAR TREK FAN CLUB of CONCERNED FANS is for you. Dues are $2.42 (or $2.00 plus seven 6¢ stamps). It includes copies of newsletters, bulletins, plus an intro-booklet -- a newly designed conglomerate of STAR TREK, LEONARD NIMOY, UNICEF & CLUB information, biographies, and photos. Every publication contains many different types of articles. If you are creative, talented, or just enjoy interesting clubs, please five us a try. The club is affiliated with: the LEONARD NIMOY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of FANS, the SPOCK'S SCRIBES, the NIMOY SCRIBES, and is registered with the INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL of FAN CLUBS and the CLUB INFORMATION SERVICE. If you'd like to receive a LNSTFCCF membership form, please send a sase to the club's president, Michael Sobota.

Their motto is "ST Forever & Ever," and this is one club that holds up to its motto. Established in the latter part of the 60's this club is now one of the most prominent ST clubs around. The major reason for this clubs [sic] success is due to their ambition president, Mike Sobota. And and all ST fans should take heed to Mike's plea. "Are you interested in a club that wants to preserve STAR TREK? To honor LEONARD NIMOY?? To show Leonard and ST they're the best?? If you do, then the LNSTFCCT's for you... [some info snipped that comes directly from the flyer]... Its offset cover by Miss Tim Courtney more than enhances its beauty. Every publication features Spoctacular contests and/or offers. If you are creative, talented, or just enjoy joining good clubs, please give us a try.

Sponsor of The Strekzine List

Boldly Writing outlines the club's role in Star Trek fandom: "The LNSTFCCF had a short but influential history, especially because it published one of the first fanzine listings later in [1971]... compiled by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, [it] contained fanzine data and statistics only. Of the 57 fanzines listed, 30 were identified as discontinued or suspected of having been discontinued, and 25 did not respond to the LNSTFCCF survey. Those who responded gave statistics on the circulation, dates published, contents, etc. Spockanalia showed the highest circulation (500), Captain's Log the lowest (20)."

Strekfan Roster Questionnaire

The club also sponsored the 'Strekfan Roster Questionnaire' which was included in a number of zines. "This was the first announcement of a survey of Star Trek fans. Although LNSTFCCF folded before completing the survey, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, who originated the questionnaire and analyzed the data, sent the results to other fanzines and included them in Star Trek Lives!"

Complete list of zines that the Roster Questionnaire was in: Pastaklan Vesla #3, T-Negative #9/10, The Voyages #1, Impulse #3, Galileo II, and the LNSTFCCF Yearbook

Relationship with LNNAF and Subsequent Ejection

Some members of fandom did not like the power that the LNNAF had over other Star Trek fan clubs at the time, specifically the requirements of dues and alliance in exchange for information and access to the celebrities and information. For some context, see the April 1967 issue of Vulcanalia

There was the long-running feud between S. Cornelie "Sam" Cole and LNSTFCCF editor Michael Sobota about LNAF chapter membership documentation and Sobota's membership in Spock's Scribes. Sobota and Cole both tell their sides of this story in detail.

From Cole:

Here is an interesting club. You'll break your jaw trying to pronounce it -- "The Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek Fan Club of Concerned Fans." When I first heard from Mike Sobota, the president, I was worried about him. His enthusiasm was a little frightening with all that determination behind him. He wasn't afraid to ask for advice or help when he needed it, and he wasn't afraid to give it unasked. Mike and I have been through a lot together, and I must say I've never met a more forceful dynamic young man, striving always to improve his issue by going in the direction he feels his members want him to and yet always flexible. He does succeed. Just stop and take a deep breath now and then, Mike, we need you and your talent. Here's a club to join. I did and have never been sorry.

This club was ejected from LNAF in early 1971:

It is with regret, because of lack of cooperation, that I announce that the LNSTFCCF chapter headed by Michael Sobota is no longer affiliated with tho LNAF. Now the above does not moan any individual member of Mike's club is "out" of the LNAF. If you aro, of course, a member of the LNAF, you are most welcome and shall remain members. A year ago last January I was asked to take the position of Chapter Director for tho LNAF, Louise and I, with Leonard Nimoy's approval, set up guidelines and rules aimed to help and guide new chapters and help to oldor chapters make any changes necessary to continue and improve their affiliation. Those were meant to and do apply to all chapters, and the overwhelming majority stick by and appreciate them. Fan clubs are supposed to be fun and enjoyable, but a president, whether it is a small chapter through affiliation or the "mother" chapter should never lose sight of WHO the club is for and their responsibility to being a club president to their members as well as to the "mother" club. A president who acts as an individual without considering how the resulting action will effect the members does not understand the responsibility of being a club president. Guidelines and rules are necessary in everything whether it be fan clubs or life itself, they must be followed, and maintained in order that a high standard be assumed and kept. This is the only fair policy to everyone involved, and it shall remain so. Tho attitude of a chapter president is most important for a truly successful and enjoyable club, which should be a credit to themselves, and the LNAF.

A 1971 Publication

In August 1971, the LNSTFCCF published a zine which appeared to be a yearbook, but most of which was dedicated to two items. The first was the documentary "If The Mind Is Free" and comments by fans. The second was related to Louise Stange, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and miscommunications regarding the primary focus of LNAF chapter clubs.

The zine also included a complete transcript of LNSTFCCF member Jean Cora Mendey's May 14, 1971 appearance on WOPA-AM in Oak Park, where she was interviewed by Wayne Osborne about the LNSTFCCF and Star Trek fandom. There are also reviews of Nimoy's TV-movie Assault on the Wayne and of T-Negative 8 by Jim Mulé, including a scathing review of the Kraith novella "Spock's Affirmation"; some poems, art and stories; several pages of letters and classified ads; zine returns (acknowledgements that one received a zine and a summary of what you thought of it were then considered courteous as well as helpful feedback); and announcements about "Star Date 3113.7", a two-act multimedia presentation written by L.S. Wallace, Jr. and presented by the Denham Springs Community Theater in Baton Rouge, LA.

"If The Mind Is Free"

ATTENTION! This publication is dedicated to bring to the Nimoy fan the local Chicago Special of which Leonard was executive producer; and to inform the Nimoy fan of the recent fandom conflicts in which this club was most unfortunately involved. -- The LNSTFCCF STAFF.

The Chicago Special was "If The Mind Is Free", which aired January 24, 1971 on WMAQ-TV. Paid for, produced and hosted by Nimoy, it was a documentary about the transformation of Chicago St. Mary High School into a radical experimental environment. St. Mary was on the West Side where most students -- black, Hispanic and white -- lived in extreme poverty and degradation. Conduct as well as classes were completely free and open. Students were encouraged to make management decisions. Punishment was abolished along with uniforms, and students were encouraged to talk openly about sex, gang violence, drugs, television, war, ecology and other matters they dealt with in the everyday world. Like many Chicago Catholic schools St. Mary had never received adequate funding from its diocese, and the revolutionary curriculum caused many parents to remove their children. "If The Mind Is Free" was meant as a fundraiser. Nimoy initially got involved because he'd heard that one of the classes was devoted to Star Trek. The transcript from the entire show is included in the zine.

The Primary Focus of Chapter Clubs

Jacqueline Lichtenberg also suffered repercussions for her fan activity with this club, although she said miscommunication and confusion often happen with science fiction fandom. As she worked on the characterization of Spock for Kraith, she had questions for Nimoy about the gestures and phrases seen in "Amok Time". She gave her questions to Soboda to be mailed along with other fan questions directly to Nimoy. She caught some flak from LNAF president Louise Stange for this as Nimoy's secretary Teresa Victor had mailed the package to her thinking it was club-related material. Everything related to the LNAF chapter clubs was supposed to go through Stange before Nimoy saw it. Apparently Stange saw Lichtenberg's questions as proof that the club was focusing on Spock rather than on Nimoy.

Ads and Flyers

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  club flyer from 1971, printed on the back page of The Strekzine List

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  a 1971 flyer, printed in The Captain's Log #2