On Fanlore, users with accounts can edit pages including user pages, can create pages, and more. Any information you publish on a page or an edit summary will be accessible by the public and to Fanlore personnel. Because Fanlore is a wiki, information published on Fanlore will be publicly available forever, even if edited later. Be mindful when sharing personal information, including your religious or political views, health, racial background, country of origin, sexual identity and/or personal relationships. To learn more, check out our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Select "dismiss" to agree to these terms.
TERRACON 1986 STATEMENT
| Open Letter | |
|---|---|
| Title: | TerraCon 1986 Statement |
| From: | |
| Addressed To: | |
| Date(s): | |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek |
| Topic: | TerraCon (UK con) |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
TerraCon was a Star Trek convention hosted by fans in the UK and ran from 1976-1980.
When this con series ended in 1980, a similar con called EmpathicCon and headed by Keith Jackson and Dot Owens (two organizers of TerraCon) was held in 1983 and 1984.
Some of the runners of "TerraCon" and "EmpathicCon" planned a "TerraCon" in 1986, but after a year of planning, it was canceled.
The "TERRACON 1986 STATEMENT" is the open letter that was printed in Empathy News, and perhaps other places. It was signed by Keith Jackson, Carol Keogh, and Keith Cook. [1]
Why Was the Con Cancelled?
Several reasons for the cancellation were: 1. DeForest Kelley was a planned guest for Midcon, which was to occur four weeks after TerraCon. The concom was concerned that fans and their money/vacation time would be spread too thin for two cons so close together.
2. Paramount stuck its snout into the fray, citing that some may be confused and think that the British Star Trek Convention Series was "official."
We became aware of a letter from Paramount's Legal Department, banning the use of the word "official" to describe Star Trek conventions. Linked with this was the publication of the background letters to this decision - referred to by some, as the Richard Arnold letters [2]. Whilst TERRACON 1986 was not advertised as a Star Trek convention, nevertheless it is still associated primarily with Star Trek - and the current reputation of Star Trek fandom in this country is not good as it once was. The in fighting, squabbling, bickering and other uncivilized goings-on at the "business" meetings and elsewhere, have all been noted by those who have more interest in the "Star Trek Property" than any of us. The results of this now appear to be with us. At the moment we all feel very tired of the whole mess. The fun we used to get out of running a convention is no longer there, or if it is, does not justify the financial risks inherent in any such venture.
3. Just as the "Richard Arnold letters" were circulating, another UK Star Trek fan club announced they were planning a con called The Genesis II Star Trek Con, changing the date to the same weekend as the proposed TerraCon:
We do not deny the right of anyone to hold and/or attend a convention whenever and wherever they choose, but this naturally had some implications as far as TERRACON was concerned. It may be that this coincidence of dates is due simply to lack of research, but although the GENESIS II Committee includes members of Empathy, they have professed to be ignorant of the date of TERRACON 1986.
4. The attendance of older, more experienced fans was falling, while there was an influx of more new fans. These new fans didn't really follow the understood customs of fandom, and didn't committ and register to cons in a timely manner:
This may be due to the economic climate at the moment or just because they are waiting to see if friends are going. Whatever the reason, the result is the same.
There comes a point when hotels have to be confirmed or the committee is subject to penalty clauses. When it is time to make the decision what matters is "registrations in the bank" and not "registrations promised". To put it bluntly, promised registrations are of no use whatsoever to any committee.
The concom ended with:
The financial risk of TERRACON 1986 not paying its way was, therefore, on our minds during our discussions of the situation, but of more importance was the risk of not being able to provide the fans at the convention with the friendly, family atmosphere that they -and we- were hoping for.
It was against this background that we decided to proceed no further.
We are naturally disappointed, and can't help wondering just how far Paramount will be tempted to go to protect its legal rights in this country. It will probably depend on how quickly (if?) fandom put's its own house in order.
The Letter
first page
second page
References
- ^ Dot Owens had recently passed away, and therefore was not a participant.
- ^ "For those wishing to expand their knowledge of the Richard Arnold affair, a part of the letters have been published in TRANSWARP, and the legal letter from Paramount in STAG." -- the fan club that published the first newsletter in question is Transwarp