journal.novachild.com: A NOVEL (regarding the TDWVS)

A NOVEL (regarding the TDWVS)
4/22/2005

Novachild asked me to post this for him, as he forgot to do it last night. It's a letter to the Tulsa Dr. Who Viewing Society, of which he has been the Organizer for six years.

Greetings, fellow Whovians:

Being the "Organizer" for the Tulsa Dr. Who Viewing Society has been many things to me over the last six years. I have enjoyed it immensely, and I feel enriched by the experience. I want to share some of my experience with all of you, and then make an official announcement.

The Beginning:

I began posting announcements about the TDWVS in February of 1999, shortly after I obtained a significant amount of episodes on VHS. I wanted to share the experience with other fans, get them together and see what happened. I knew there had to be other fans of this fantastic show around here, and it was exciting to find out just how many!

(My wife) helped me a lot. She liaisoned with the library and came to every meeting. She would go to Kinko's to print the newsletter when I was running behind on other things. I really miss that, but now she has to work weekends so it's just not practical for her.

In the beginning, it was all excitement and nerves. I was a different person then. I had no exposure to fandom of any kind, and suddenly I found myself knee-deep in it.

We were meeting in the Story Time Room for the first six months, on horrible a/v equipment and speakers I brought in myself (boom box speakers). It was surreal at the beginning, but everyone who came was very enthusiastic and willing to share a great deal of their energy with others.

I will always remember the first meeting as the "Whovian Anonymous" meeting. When I asked everyone to introduce themselves, it became a round of confessions, and it was hilarious! I counted 17 heads that day, but (my wife) and Tim have corrected me a number of times by saying that it was well over 20. I remember Scott Montgomery especially, because he was decked out in his Pertwee costume and was rather flamboyant and a lot of fun. And I remember Tim; he was a little thinner then and generous with his space and his libation.

Lifelong friendships and acquaintances were made that day, and I still keep in touch with many of those old TDWVSers.

A lot more people showed up the first year. We averaged around 15-16 people per meeting, and we even had a newsletter that I put together every month for two years (Timelord Invasion). I eventually had to stop making the newsletter, because it was costly and extremely time consuming. We used to take donations back then, and the donations dwindled to the point where they were no longer covering the costs of printing. I offered it up for others to take up the mantle, but alas nobody volunteered, so I let it die a quiet, painless death after 24 straight issues.

Because we stopped printing a newsletter, I decided to stop accepting donations. This was probably a bad idea, now that I look back on it. Imagine what sort of money we could have raised for big events by now!

Nobody seemed to notice much when the newsletter went away, which was a big relief for me! I didn't want to have to answer for my actions. Frank noticed it the most, probably, because he was always very supportive of them and said he was collecting them all. So was Scott Montgomery, a member I haven't seen in awhile and miss dearly. I felt honored that somebody would value the newsletters the way they did, and the submissions from Joel, Scott and others were always well received.

Sadly, none of them exist electronically, and I didn't keep very many, so Frank's collection is likely all that remains of my newsletter.

When we moved into the Lecture Room, things improved because we didn't have to worry about being AS quiet. Since there were no windows, we could actually enjoy the presentation, because we could see it! I purchased some rather expensive Bose indoor/outdoor speakers so we could hear the show better, and before every meeting I had to run a hundred feet of speaker wire under the chairs and hope that nobody would trip over them. If I remember correctly, Ned tripped over them once or twice and put a nice little dent in the speaker casing. So I started putting the speakers on the floor instead :)

When we moved into the auditorium, it was like someone handed us the keys to their Lexus. I never thought I'd see Doctor Who on a screen that size, and those of you who were around before, you can remember how wonderful it was. When I was a kid, this was how big the screens were at the theater! And here we were, watching Doctor Who in all its shaky-set glory. Fantastic.

We even managed to wrangle enough money to get John Levene (Sgt. Benton) down here for a weekend. I met him in St. Louis (many thanks to Zoe!). He was wonderful, but unfortunately the attendance was rather low and we didn't make enough money to pay him for the event (aside from hotel, meals, and transportation). He gave his heart and soul that evening, and we proved that we could do BIG THINGS with our 'Organization' if we really wanted to. John was still grateful for the weekend vacation - even though we basically stiffed him! We still keep in touch to this day, through email and the occasional telephone call (he's a bit nuts, but I enjoy him anyway). I think that my relationship with John and Jennifer has taken on a life of its own, outside of the appreciation I have for the show. It's a wonderful thing.

This year, we've started some great projects. We're having a garage sale this month to raise money for a TDWVS-sponsored video room at Conestoga. I'm (someday very soon) going to design our second Tee-Shirt, the funds of which are also going to pay for the video room and another event if there are funds left over. Attendance has increased because we have a new series to watch, and our perseverance has paid off a great deal in the last few meetings.

My Announcement

After 6 long and wonderful years of being the "Organizer," I'd like to hang up my 'title' and role for awhile. I think I've done a good job at it, and I'm so thankful to have been such an integral part of it. I think I deserve a break. I held on until new DW was available, which was my original goal anyway!

I just need a fresh start; a clean slate. It would be a disservice to all of you for me to continue in this role, as I've worn myself out of the desire to maintain it!

The TDWVS has been one of the great successes of my life. I never realized it would affect me on such an emotional level. But it has, and here I am, exalting the experience and passing it on with a bit of a tear in my eye. I've made excellent friends, and I've been influenced by some of the most wonderful and positive people I've ever met. The TDWVS can survive without me at the helm, especially if we all remain positive, enthusiastic, and supportive of whoever takes up the role.

I wish to thank every one of you, past and present, for supporting the TDWVS and my role in it. Zoe, for your encouragement. Chris, for your perseverance and support. Ned for your volunteerism. Scott Montgomery, for your submissions to the newsletter and your hospitality. Joel Getter, for your submission to the newsletter and your enthusiasm for what we do. Tim Smith, for generosity and kindness that knows no bounds. Elizabeth and Michelle, for your constant loving affection for the show and your willing participation in everything. Dean Harvey, for your generosity and amazing loyalty. Serendipity, for your supportive presence, communication, and willingness to come down and help us celebrate our birthday! And so many people who are here in the sidelines, or gone to other things, I give you all my thanks and appreciation.

That said...

The TDWVS Always Needs an "Organizer"

One of you will be the next Organizer, or there just won't be one. Don't assume you know who it will be; let's give everyone a willing chance to step up. Let the idea sink in, and this Saturday, I expect to see posts from people willing to take the role.

Before I completely dissolve my role, we need to go over some important facts about what an Organizer is and isn't.

First of all, an Organizer listens. He/She isn't a 'boss' at all. Being an "Organizer" really means being an uber-volunteer, somebody that does legwork to make sure things are done, somebody that shows up whether he/she wants to or not, someone that remembers to consider the input and ideas and enthusiasm of other members before making decisions, and someone who doesn't get heated and short-tempered when things don't go so well (it's ok every now and again, but not a good habit).

That said, an Organizer should be appreciated by everyone involved. He/She is making a serious effort, sacrificing time and resources to smooth out the creases and make things go in a positive way. One should not constantly embattle themselves with the Organizer unless it is sincere, and positive, and constructive. One should not gang up on the Organizer unless one is prepared to take on the role him/herself. Keep it apolitical and civil.

An Organizer is able to delegate tasks when needed, take on responsibilities when no one steps up to the plate, and not complain too much about it when others don't meet their 'expectations' (best not to have any). After all, it's a Viewing Society, not a day job.

An Organizer needs to be able to inject enthusiasm in others, and draw out talents of others for the betterment of the Group Experience. An Organizer is responsible for arranging meeting dates, times, and equipment with the Library's Media Center. The Organizer is responsible for maintaining positive relationships with the Media Center, too (he he). That includes not stomping on Security Guards just because they treat members like crap (I've been tempted beyond belief).

Oh, and the Organizer gets everyone out on time, regardless of whether the screening is over or not! Otherwise, no more TDWVS at the library.

And when an Organizer feels that he has done all he can with the enthusiasm, patience and tolerance that he has, he needs to find support within the group to urge him on for another year or two before hanging up the hat. Trust, talk, and be sincere. And don't leave an unresolved situation.

That's what it's like to be an Organizer. And now I ask all of you: Who wants to be the Organizer now?

Don't respond immediately. Take your time to really think about it. Respond with a Yes or No sometime on Saturday, April 23 AFTER the meeting. Come to the meeting pretending to be the Organizer. I'll make a poll with the names of the delegates, and we'll decide it that way. I'll hang on til the first May meeting and give everyone time to really think about it.

Thank you for your patience, kindness, understanding and support. I appreciate you all in many ways, and could never have lasted this long without you.

Best of Luck to the next one.

Yours Truly,
(Novachild)

P.S. I still wouldn't mind keeping the non-DW poll, though! I've got LOTS of unused material.

posted by Edward Svengali @ Friday, April 22, 2005,

4 Comments:

At 1:11 PM, Ned said...: Once! I tripped over the wire once! And I was nowhere near the speaker. This actually comes at a bad time, I fell Tuesday and sprained my left shoulder. It's getting better, I can move my arm without screaming now.

On a more serious note: What do you do? More precisely, what do you do that I wouldn't delegate to you anyway. Beyond acting as liasson to the library, I don't see much.

I'm not trying to be insulting; however, no matter how things may have started, at present leadership is largely equally divided between you and Chris with Dean and myself buzzing around the edges.

A while back you said I didn't appreciate what you did for the group. Convince me -- Ned

PS: I just created a blog just so I could respond as requested. Sheesh!
At 1:12 PM, Ned said...: This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
At 4:57 PM, novachild said...: Part of the reason I resigned is that, after about 3 years, I basically had nothing left to give except continuity. Life also started handed me more things to challenge me. Because I'm a closed system with finite resources, I cut back my involvement here, there, and here and there.

Basically, we used to do a LOT more as a group than we do now. It used to be more than just dragging ourselves to meetings. We'd meet afterward for Dinner EVERY MEETING. We'd hit movies fairly regularly, have parties, picnics, etc.

It became too demanding to arrange all this myself, but it was always difficult if not impossible to find volunteers to facilitate these activities. Even after asking time and time again, nobody really volunteered to handle these activities.

But I stuck to it, and called upon Chris to help with some of the basic things so I could trim back my involvement even more.

Chris stepped in and took up the slack, an act he needs to be seriously acknowledged for. He helps with nearly everything, and he's very supportive of all our activities. Then you took up the signage.

At some point, I realized that a lot of my wasted energy was spent being disappointed and having too-high expectations. I thought perhaps I was a drag to the system, and in some ways, that's probably true.

But in the end, it's just easier this way, and better. Because things can get stale with the same person doing them year in and year out. And I want it to continue with enthusiasm.
At 5:55 PM, Ned said...: I understand and appreciate all you've done for the group. I feel priviliged to to be your friend.

But you didn't answer my question. There are only a few possible succesors to you; and, like it or not, I'm one of them. (For the record the others are are Chris, Elisabeth, and PTB help us Chuck.) If I am to volunteer, I need to to know just how many snakes are in the pit.

This is important -- Ned