Hello! Some quick updates that people may be interested in knowing. As I’ve said numerous times, the “league” concept is not one person’s idea or domain. Nor do I know who the participant organizations will turn out to be. Nor will it necessarily shape into exactly the form that’s been discussed in posts on this site.

That said, there’s some noteworthy changes in the Minnesota Society for Interest in Science Fiction—where until recently this writer was on the Board of Directors and served as Vice President for a few months in 2009.

It’s been mentioned in several different communication organs that the Society changed our structure, so here’s what happened:

1. CONvergence was spun off into its own 501c3 nonprofit organization.
2. The current directors of the convention make up the board of the new organization, Convergence Events, Incorporated
3. The Society bylaws were changed to reflect this by reducing the number of Society board members to five.
4. A basic partnership has been agreed to between the two organizations.

Additionally, there have been board of directors elections in both organizations, and new people will soon step up to take on these service roles.

In the meantime, the two organizations have each designated some of our representatives to talk with Anime Detour about a mutual event, storage, and office space. A joint committee representing all three groups has made significant headway. This “Facilities Transition Committee” performed needs analysis and has researched potential locations. Right now the only talk has been lease, not buy. No doubt that joint body will report back to the three participants with recommendations soon.

Why does any of this matter?

Conceptually speaking, the league has begun. Not simply because there’s two organizations working in concert where before there was one—though that’s noteworthy. Not just because three groups have entered serious conversations about sharing space—and that’s also noteworthy.

Outside observers might roll their eyes—”you’re changing. you’re doing some shared backend. yawn.” BUT! These are geek-friendly, volunteer-run organizations. Historically such organizations have been change averse. To see the possibility of change and the realities of change embraced by our people in the way they have been is remarkable.

Often change aversion is perfectly justified. And each of us also knows the challenges of adapting to change, of making decisions appropriately, and promoting new things while preserving traditions. We possess a seriousness about the stewardship of our community resources and common responsibilities. We also know the experience of struggling to acquaint each other with change—and the occasions when traditions begin to change into unreconciled opposition.

If you could have been on the ground at the public meetings and recent elections, you would see interest and excitement around these joint ventures. Because people in our organizations have shown high amounts of energy and undisguised enthusiasm for the changes. I banked on the possibility of that enthusiasm, and so far it’s exceeded expectations.

As an early and vocal advocate for the spinning off of Convergence and MISFITS, I have unreserved excitement for the new way of relating to each other. I have said that in dividing one way and reconnecting in another, we give each other the best chance to tightly focus on our evolving missions. And we open new faces of the two as connection points to our broader community.

Also, and I at least speak for Convergence here, we are supremely excited to try out this shared space project with Anime Detour. What an opportunity! I would like to see us avoid paternal behaviors toward other conventions—I think Convergence has a golden chance to show leadership in such a cultural shift—and recognize the role they deserve to play in the area. (Plus they’re the biggest convention in town, after all!) We share many common bonds and there’s ample reason to combine our strengths where it makes sense.

If you haven’t been there to see it, get to a public meeting of one of the organizations talked about here. Ask around. There’s a lot of people expecting and embracing challenges, rather than balking at the possibility of change. The energy level is high, and the talks are about possibilities. This is the hope of our vision: that we look for commonalities, exploit those commonalities, and grow. It’s happening already. How about that?