by Chris Callahan
There are many SF and related-interest organizations in the Bucconeer area. Here's a list of some groups, with contact information. The general interest groups are given first.
Many Bucconeer committee members belong to either the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) or the Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA).
BSFS meets the second Saturday of each month at its clubhouse (3310 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore) and has a party on the fourth Saturday. They host the Easter weekend con, Balticon, known for its science programming and for what's reputed to be the best regional masquerade on the East Coast. Call their clubhouse at 410-JOE-BSFS (there's usually someone there on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays). E-mail: bsfs@digex.net. See related story.
WSFA meets at members' homes in Virginia and Maryland, with Fifth Friday parties as appropriate. Business meetings start around 9 p.m., with socializing and smoffing afterwards. WSFA hosts the Memorial Day con, Disclave, home of the famous DisCave consuite. Meetings are usually scheduled for first Friday in Virginia and third Friday in Maryland. For information and directions, call the Gillilands at 703-920-6087, or check out the WSFA Web site at http://www.wsfa.org. See related story.
The Silver Spring Science Fiction Society holds monthly dinner meetings the last Wednesday of each month, and co-sponsors two picnics a year plus an annual awards banquet in October. For information, contact Martin Morse Wooster at P.O. Box 8093, Silver Spring, MD, or phone 301- 565-7820.
The What IF Science Fiction Fantasy Information Forum is an employee organization at the Library of Congress. Drop in on the What IF forum held in one of the conference rooms on the second Wednesday of the month in the James Madison Memorial Building. Meetings start at 12:10 p.m. Bring your lunch if you like. There may be a single speaker or a panel on topics related to SF, fantasy, science, or fandom. For information on upcoming programs, e-mail me at callaha2@mail.loc.gov, or Sinya Schaeffer, the coordinator, at sisc@loc.gov. Or check out LC MARVEL. The URL will work in a gopher or WWW browser: gopher://marvel.loc.gov/11/employee/clubs/scific.
Also local is FanTek, "an Association of People with Varied Interests in Lots of Different Things," including SF, technology, music, history, computers, tropical fish, games, good food, etc., etc. It hosts three cons a year: EveCon, near New Year's Eve; CastleCon in the summer, and a HalloweenCon, all held most recently in Frederick, MD. To get information on FanTek or its cons, write to FanTek, 1607 Thomas Road, Friendly, MD 20744, or e-mail Bruce Evry at bruce@fantek.org.
In the DC area, the Gaylactic Network affiliate is Lambda Sci-Fi. It is mostly a social fan group, meeting at a DC member's home on the second Sunday of each month "95% of the time." Meetings start at 1:30 p.m. for business, and 2:00 p.m. for social activities and discussions. They publish a monthly newsletter with club event updates, movie and book reviews, etc. Contact them by e-mail at lambdasf@aol.com; by snail mail at Lambda Sci-Fi, P.O. Box 656, Washington, DC 20044; by phone at 202-232-3141; or on the Web at http://members.aol.com/lambdasf/home.html.
Going further afield, there's the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS). It meets on the second Friday of each month at International House, 37th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. Business meetings start around 8 - 9 p.m., with a speaker afterwards. It has several special interest discussion groups, including books, music, and art. The club also sponsors the annual Philcon (this year, November 14 - 17). For information, call the PSFS Hotline: 215-957-4004, or e-mail the club president, Tony Finan, at nemesis@netaxs.com.
Getting to groups with more specific interests, the first is the International Costumers' Guild. The guild specializes in all aspects of SF, fantasy, and historical costuming and is truly international–there's a chapter in Australia. Each year a different chapter sponsors CostumeCon, which has a regular east/west rotation with an occasional foray into the Midwest. The two chapters in the Bucconeer area are the Greater Columbia Fantasy Costumers' Guild (GCFCG), P.O. Box 683, Columbia, MD 21045, and the Northern Virginia Costumers' Guild, 6313 Davis Ford Road, Manassas, VA 22111.
The Interactive Literature Foundation, based in Merrifield, VA, is a non-profit organization promoting interactive literature events (live action role playing or theatre-style games), both in the US and around the world. The ILF hosts Intercon twice a year, usually in March and October, with events, panels, and workshop. ILF publishes Metagame magazine and the ILF Calendar-Newsletter, both quarterlies. Contact them by snail mail at P.O. Box 196, Merrifield, VA 22116-0196; e-mail at ilf@capaccess.org; or check out their Web page at http://www.ilfinfo.org.
The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA) is dedicated to the research and recreation of medieval and Renaissance history (defined as pre-1600 AD). Each SCA member develops a "persona" complete with name, background, clothing, (known as garb), and gear for a particular time and place. The society is organized into several kingdoms, which in turn are made up of baronies and shires. Bucconeer is located within the Kingdom of Atlantia. Information about the groups, including contact points, can be found online at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/atlantia.html. Off the Web, you can reach Kingdom Seneschal Baroness Keilyn FitzWarin (aka Beth Morris) at 7830 Hanover Parkway, #103, Greenbelt, MD 20770 or at bmorris@access.digex.net.
The Northern Virginia Gamers welcomes all science fiction, fantasy, and historical gamers. They meet at 7 p.m. every Friday (unless otherwise noted) at the Game Parlor in Chantilly, Virginia. Phone 703-803-3114 or e-mail novag@mail.com.
The Prydonians of Princeton is a fan-run SF and media club. It holds monthly meetings in New Jersey, but has a monthly newsletter available to members anywhere. The newsletter covers just about all media SF (Trek, B5, B7, Dr. Who, etc.) To join write to Prydonians of Princeton, P.O. Box 3194, Princeton, NJ 08543-3194; e-mail Prydonians@aol.com; or check out their Web site at at http://members.aol.com/prydonians/home.html.
There are many Star Trek groups in the Bucconeer area. This listing is probably not complete. First is the Star Trek Association of Towson. They meet the first Sunday of each month at the Mt. Moriah Lodge in Towson, Maryland at 1 p.m. For information phone Inge Heyer at 410-338-5017 (24 hours) or e-mail at heyer@stsci.edu. She's chairman of Shore Leave 19, to be held July 11 - 13, 1997 at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn in Maryland.
Here are some other local Trek groups, with contact points. Members of International Star Fleet Association (ISFA) are identified.
USS Triton, NCC-71819 Inc. (ISFA): e-mail gmensy@aol.com (Gary Mensy); write to P.O. Box 1172, Glen Burnie, MD 21060; phone 410-674-2404.
USS Highlander, NCC-10530 (ISFA): write to 1218 Stillmeadow Place, #1D, Frederick, MD 21703-1345.
USS Alpha Centauri (ISFA): write care of Shirley Weaver, P.O. Box 422, Temple Hills, MD 20757.
USS Chesapeake (independent): meetings include Deep Space 9 and Voyager viewings. E-mail randy hall@aol.com; phone Randy Hall at 301-854-2055.
DS495 (independent): meetings on the first Saturday of each month in Arlington, Virginia. For information contact Gail Drood, 911 N. Daniel St., Arlington, VA 22201; e-mail DCDS495@aol.com; phone Rachel Wyman at 703-820-1081.
Romulan International Empire: locally, write to High Ambasssador dRy Mas, Embassy Sivas Terrasz, 7813 Colonial Spring Blvd., Alexandria, VA 22306-2849; e-mail RADumas MD@aol.com.
IRW Path Finder (member RIE): role-playing activities; write Howard Newby, 1724 C. Crimson Tree Way, Edgewood, MD 21040; e-mail cmdrceri@aol.com.
Klingon Language Institute: write to P.O. Box 634, Flourtown, PA 19031-0634 or phone 215-836-4955.
There are LOTS of organizations out there, for just about any SF or fantasy related interest. These are a few of them. Enjoy exploring!