Prometheus
Newsletter of the LFS
The Libertarian Futurist Society has fared well in recent years, with our first national conference, an improved web site, confirmation of our nonprofit, tax-exempt statues and much more.
Although this is my "farewell" column as LFS board president, I'm not going away or burned out; I will remain active on the board and as chair of the Best Novel finalist judging committee. Rotation of leadership is a healthy step that helps make our organization function better and gives more LFS members opportunities for leadership. This is an opportunity to look back at my five years as board president and discuss the next steps in the Society's growth.
Although the Prometheus Awards continue to be far better known within science fiction than the organization that sponsors them, we've raised our visibility—and membership—in recent years via display ads in magazines and convention programs, and via our first mass outreach mailing to Laissez Faire Books fiction readers. We've also improved our awards process by establishing a division of labor through our finalist judging committees and by clarifying and expanding the eligibility rules for the various awards. As a result, we've achieved several milestones: Kings of the High Frontier became the first digitally published novel to win the Prometheus Award. 's "The Emperor's New Clothes" became the first story (as opposed to novel) to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and this year, Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner" became the first television series and first dramatic presentation to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Not one of these milestones would have been possible without broader membership participation, the establishment of a strong board of directors, which meets quarterly by e-mail, and an enhanced system of working committees. So let me take this opportunity to call for more LFS members to step forward and get active. You can have fun while making a difference—and as a bonus, get to know some pretty darn nice libertarian sf fans. Although the LFS is a small organization, we have made a bigger difference in recent years. With your help, we can do even more.
As I look ahead to the next few years, I see several areas for LFS members and leaders to build upon, especially membership recruitment, committee development, and membership participation in the awards nominating and voting process.
As part of that effort, we are working on a new membership packet to send to all LFS members before the end of the year. The packet will include the first membership handbook, with a directory of officers and committees, an explanation of awards nomination and voting procedures, and an outline of other LFS programs, policies, and rules.
Also, since word of mouth and personal contact remains the most effective way to recruit new members, the membership packets will include a set of newly reprinted LFS introductory brochures and flyers, in the hope that members will pass them on to likely friends and distribute them at libertarian conferences and sf conventions. (Anyone who would like larger quantities of free brochures and flyers, for an upcoming convention, should request them at least a month in advance, along with the number of flyers needed.)
At the suggestion of LFS member Charlie Morrison, the LFS Board also has begun to discuss the possibility of printing wallet-sized membership cards, as some other libertarian organizations do. Certainly, our Life members, Benefactors, and Sponsors—who support the LFS at the highest financial levels—deserve to be recognized and thanked with such an extra perk. And if a number of other members told us they would value such cards, we could consider printing them up in larger quantities. Please let us know what you think of this idea.
However much the LFS grows and whatever new programs we launch, we must never forget our unique mission, which links two fractious and fragmented communities: libertarianism and science fiction fandom.
So far as I am aware. we are the only libertarian organization that primarily has a cultural/artistic focus rather than a political focus. That is our social niche and our greatest strength. By recognizing works of fiction that champion individual liberty and/or expose abuses of coercive power, the LFS is rewarding pro-freedom artists and authors and encouraging more pro-freedom art. Without such bestselling fiction, authors such as and —or later generations of authors such as —would the modern libertarian movement even exist?
By continuing to honor the work of such pioneers, the LFS upholds a visionary strategy to achieve a freer future. Visionary, because we recognize that people must be inspired by ideals before they can make those ideals a reality. But practical, too, since most people need the help of art to fully imagine the specific contours of a better world.
-Michael Grossberg
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