Utah Speculative Fiction Council
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The Utah Speculative Fiction Council (UtahSF) is a non-profit organization designed to allow all the different speculative fiction related organizations in Utah to have a common forum which fosters discussion and inter-group cooperation--a guild of sorts. UtahSF does not determine policy for or interfere with the internal affairs of its member groups, but instead acts as an advisory and support organization for any interested Utah speculative fiction group. UtahSF is completely independent of any particular club, group, or organization.
Each member group has equal representation, allowing members of UtahSF an equal and better opportunity for finding and sharing new ideas, as well as opportunities for finding new members. UtahSF also allows member groups to better negotiate with local companies, hotels, etc., in order to coordinate better deals for running events such as festivals, conventions, etc. UtahSF exists to assist all Utah speculative fiction organizations grow and prosper, and to help create a spirit of unity among Utah fans.
All Utah speculative fiction groups of any type are invited to join, including fan clubs (such as Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Stargate, Star Trek, anime, etc.), writing groups, costuming groups, local conventions, gaming clubs, artist/art groups, etc. Any Utah group that wishes to join is encouraged to do so, and UtahSF actively seeks out new groups and ways to assist all of Utah fandom.
[edit] History
The Utah Speculative Fiction Council was created because a need was seen for a central location for finding information about all the various Utah speculative fiction groups. Discussions among the founders of UtahSF began around 2002 during some planning meetings for a Utah science fiction convention. A first attempt to form something like UtahSF was made by changing the corporate name of the convention and setting it up so that other groups could be sponsored. After two years, it was apparent that this method wasn't working as the founders had intended. It was then determined that the best course of action would be to form a completely new group, independent of any one group, that could accomplish the goals of better inter-group communication and cooperation.
On April 6, 2005, UtahSF was officially registered with the state of Utah as a non-profit organization after the selection of three trustees for the new organization. During the next few months, the final structure of the main organization was hammered out, and the first official meeting of the council was held on August 20, 2005. At this meeting, the officers were selected, and the founding member organizations of UtahSF joined the council.
[edit] Member groups
The following groups are members of UtahSF:
- Anime Banzai - The first anime convention in Utah, and largest fan convention in Utah
- AutumnCon - A general sf&f convention held annually at the end of October
- Belegarth Medieval Combat Society - A historical LARP group
- CONduit - A general sf&f convention held annually in May
- End of the World - The anime club at Salt Lake Community College
- Life, the Universe, & Everything - An academic sf&f symposium held annually in February or March at Brigham Young University
- MountainCon - A media sf&f convention held annually, usually in September
- Mutual Admiration Society - A Utah-based fan fiction writers group, through FanFiction.Net
- Quark Science Fiction and Fantasy Club - The sf&f fan club at Brigham Young University
- Reading for the Future Utah - A chapter of Reading for the Future, an international literacy group
- Rebels Associated - A Star Wars fan club
- SG 42 and Utah Puddle Jumpers - A Stargate fan club
- SLAAKers - The "Salt Lake Area Anime Kurabu"
- USS Alioth - A Star Trek fanclub
- USS Kelly - A Star Trek fan club and flagship of the The Seventh Fleet (an umbrella Star Trek fan club organization)
- USS Po - A Star Trek fan club, based on the USS Kelly
- USS Ticonderoga - A Star Trek fan club
- USS Tsunami - A Star Trek fan club
- Utah Costumer's Guild - A chapter of the International Costumers Guild
- Utah Educators for SF - An organization of teachers and other educators in Utah
