LASFS Luminaries

Mike Thorsen, posted on the LASFS LJ Community, July 15, 2010

For the past couple of years, the state of LASFS' monthly power bill has been a matter of some concern to us. Recently, it was proposed that we replace the old-style florescent fixtures in the front building with fixtures that would mount CFL's, to provide equal or greater illumination at less than half the wattage per fixture. The plan was approved and implementation was begun.

Those of you who have visited the clubhouse in the last couple of weeks have seen the result of that start. The new fixtures, mounting three 13-watt CFL's each, provide all the light or more than did the old lighting boxes, which mounted two 40-watt tubes each. Once we switch out all the old lights, our monthly kilowatt hours, and thus our power bill, should be significantly reduced.

Unfortunately, we now have a problem.

Earlier in the year, it was necessary to undertake long-neglected repairs to our air conditioners and to the roof of our back building. These repairs put a large dent in our budget. Now it seems that a similar roof reconstruction will be necessary for the front building as well, and it too is expected to be costly.

The money we had set aside for acquiring fixtures with which to relight the library just got eaten by the upcoming roofing repair. So the lighting project is stalled until we can obtain the hardware.

There are 11 fixtures to replace in the library, and each fixture costs $20. Additionally, we will need 33 bulbs to put in them. 12-packs of 13-watt CFLs cost a little less than $20 at Home Depot. So we need 13 $20 donations from our members (and/or guests) in order to put our house in order with the DWP.

An example of what we wish to buy has been staged on the Treasurer's desk, along with a somewhat less long-winded version of this post. Each fan who donates $20 to the cause will get their nam added to a list of "LASFS Luminaries" which will, when complete, be posted in the front building to honor those who helped LASFS to bring light out of darkness.

July 22nd: 

Michael Thorsen
Leigh Strother-Vien
David T. Okamura
Tom Safer
Karl Lembke.

As of July 22nd, $120 has been donated.  In addition to the lights in the main area of the front building which were already done, 5 fixtures and 1 box of bulbs have been purchased so far.  Four of the five fixtures have been installed in the first two rows of the library.

We still need to purchase 6 more fixtures and bulbs to go in them, and install them -- 2  in library row # 3, 2 over the checkout desk, and 3 in the stacks room.

Many thanks to those who have donated so far.  We've still got a ways to go, but the early response is encouraging.  Another 8 donations and we can put this thing to bed.

You can help raise money for LASFS by buying gift items at Zazzle.com.  
(added November 24, 2009, by Staff).

You can help raise money for LASFS by using GoodSearch and GoodShop .   (added January 4, 2009, by Staff)

You can donate books to the Library (but check with the Librarian first).    

written by "Anon Fan"
(not an official LASFS spokesman)

Did you know that most of the LASFS' day-to-day costs are paid for by the weekly membership dues? This is why it's important to attract new members and welcome new folks who dropped by to see what we’re all about. Here is your chance to show off your sparkling personality while taking care to curb over-enthusiasm. With practice you can learn to angle your clever remarks so that they find us so fascinating they come back for seconds or thirds.

LASFS seems to have a little trouble on getting them to come back for "seconds and thirds." Here's a tip: Stick with Peculiar, Weird, or Wonderful. Avoid telling them about (or being) Scary, Confusing, or Boring. These were the top three complaints of newbies on my straw
poll of 2007 and 2008.

LASFS’ second biggest source of funds is the yearly LOSCON. So buy a membership, space cadet, and we can pay the air conditioning bill and clear the air at Thursday night General Meetings! VOLUNTEERS are ALWAYS NEEDED for the work, work, work involved in putting on this show.  The folks who put together Loscons include many whom you would never run into at the regular meetings.  Find out who coordinates volunteers (the LOSCON webpage here is a reasonable place to look) and ask how you might be used. Remember there is value in humility and humble work. Chop wood, carry water. Very Zen. You never know; you might meet somebody interesting,.....but, you'll probably just see fans.

Other regular sources of funding include the regular meeting auction programs. GOOD STUFF is always welcome. Check with the fellas currently handling the action.  Direct cash donations for things like sainthood ($1000) or towards Michael Mason's or Allan Rothstein's Pillar fund are considered acceptable. LASFS has non-profit status as a 501(c)(3), so donations are tax deductible. Think of The Glory That Could Be Yours! Respect! Admiration! Awe-struck admirers!

Then there is that Other Kind of Donation…

We’re all gonna die, even the Methuselahs (they'll just have Time Enough to get bored first). Why leave your money to fiscally irresponsible relatives who will bad talk you when you’re gone, when it could go towards continuity of LASFS where people can bad talk you every Thursday, alive or dead? This assists the  LASFS to continue in its honorable duty to the Next Gen, to help provide distraction to hormonally overburdened young fans. LASFS gives them a place to go Thursdays, on first and third Fridays and on Second Sundays, or else they might find themselves roaming the streets, irritating urbane mundanes with rocket launches and nano experiments...

Got books? Consider leaving your collection of sf to the LASFS Library….If the club can’t use it, we can sell it for fund raising. This can get out of hand easily, so see the Librarian first and make sure the books are easily saleable. Please, no junk.  LASFS Librarian is a volunteer position.  Don’t overburden the volunteers with your generosity. Making it easy is part of the gift.

Fourth Saturdays are work parties at the LASFS.  Fan Parties are notorious for…just fans, I suppose. At least it seems so since the 70s petered out.  Care and feeding of the LASFS property is a burden to be shared amongst the membership.  Step up to the plate and do your share.  Show up and take direction (hard, I know). Let’s make it shiny so we produce feelings of envy in our fellow SFclubs, thus encouraging them to match and top us to wipe off our smug grins of superiority. I bet you thought SCIFI, Inc. had a lock on smug.

With fen assist, LASFS can continue to nurture the spread of Fandom Worldwide! It is our destiny. Can you feel it?