This piece first appeared in essentially this form in the Minicon 30 program book.
Minicon is sponsored by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society as its official fund raiser, but I have long considered it one of our best services to the fannish community. It is an opportunity for creative, interesting people to share ideas and build friendships. It creates a special feeling of community that helps each of us in our daily lives. Because of its size, Minicon serves -- indirectly -- as a fund raiser and contact point for many small fan groups.
Minicon 30 will be my 25th Minicon. I've seen it grow from 500 to over 3200. What I have always liked about Minicon was the opportunity to learn, see new things, hear new music, and meet good friends. The best part of any convention is the people there. We have some truly first rate guests this year. Its hard for Minicons of today to match the intimacy of those early, small conventions, but we do the best we can. Welcome to a celebration with 3200 of your close, personal friends!
Minicon is what you make it. If you are new to Minicon, look around, ask questions, and get to know people. You are among friends, even if you dont recognize them. If youve been coming for years, like me, be yourself, answer some of those questions, and help make Minicon 30 a wonderful event.
Science Fiction Fandom is about friendship. Those of us who found it and stayed have stayed because it helps us find people we really like to be around. If you like the people who call themselves a Fan then you probably are one.
Ten years ago, I was moderately famous (or infamous) within the Committee for telling people that Minicon was a SCIENCE FICTION convention. So why do we have program items dealing with french fries, alternate life styles, and Dr. Who knows what else? Simple. We, fans, have a lot of different interests. Even within science fiction or fantasy literature, there is a very broad range from light escapism to the very thoughtful. SF literature is a broad foundation for the fannish subculture. Its like the trunk of a tree with major branches and sub-branches.
Science fiction is a good foundation because it deals so strongly with change, sometimes on a massive scale. It is a medium for ideas. It lets us explore freely. Science fiction itself has changed. There are more writers and the overall quality of writing has improved. Fandom changes, too, as people join and leave and change. I think it will always keep that interest in new ideas and in things that are different in some way.
Someone once asked for a definition of fandom. Fans are exceptional people. I know, because every time I try to describe them, people tell me exceptions. Welcome to Minicon 30. Dont forget to bring your smile and your sense of humor!