The Official Babylon 5 Fan Club

Fan Club
Name:	The Official Babylon 5 Fan Club
Dates:	1996?-?
Founder(s):
Leadership:
Country based in:
Focus:	Babylon 5
External Links:
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The Official Babylon 5 Fan Club apparently had the heavy hand of JMS involved.

It, among other things, published a newsletter called Universe Today (Babylon 5 newsletter|Universe Today]].

In April 1997, JMS Himself commented on this newsletter and some changes:

One of the most dangerous things in the world is a writer who has finished writing for a while, has met his deadlines, and can now address other issues.

One such issue that has been nibbling at the back of my brainstem has been the Babylon 5 Fan Club. I've felt for some time that it was not living up to its potential, and has been laying fallow for some while. The Universe Today newsletter was okay, but it could have been better. The club was okay, but could have been better.

Okay is never sufficient. We either move forward or we fall back, there is no such thing as holding position. Especially with the fan club, because as a fan myself, I have to feel that people are getting their money's worth out of the club, and frankly, I'm not sure they have been. Now that I have time to turn my attention to the problem....

A number of changes have been made to improve the situation for the current members, and for future members.

1) We are going to substantially improve Universe Today and get it out on schedule. To facilitate this, we are announcing that Mike Zmuda, publisher of the Centaurian Sentinel, probably the best of the B5 fanzines out there, has been made editor of the newsletter.

Sandra Bruckner, publisher of the Zocalo, has been named co-editor. Both begin work effective May 1st.

Knowing the great work these two have performed individually, we have every anticipation that their combined efforts on Universe Today will make it the sort of publication we've always wanted it to be.

2) Sandra has also agreed to take over as website administrator for thestation.com, maintaining it and improving it and updating it as circumstances warrant. The B5 Fan Club Web Site has also been wandering a bit, and this will correct that problem.

3) Jim Lockett, founding head of the B5 Fan Club, has moved on to other projects, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

4) A more assertive position will be taken in promoting the club at conventions, in advertisements, and in developing merchandise specific to the fan club.

5) Finally, because of my sense that the members of the Fan Club have not gotten all that they could have out of the club during its debut, we are going to ROLL OVER ALL YEAR ONE MEMBERSHIPS to a second year. If you joined prior to April 1, 1997, you are automatically comp'd in as a member for a second year without charge. Doug and I will personally swallow the expense of that.

It is our desire that the Official Babylon 5 Fan Club should be the best entity of its kind ever created. Now that we have made some mid-course corrections, we are back on track to becoming that. And we think you will approve of our plans for improving and expanding the operation as we move ahead over the rest of 1997.

jms