Month: June 2013

I would like to thank Lisa Spangenberg for finding the SFWA Harassment policy for me. I’m glad they have one.

Reproduced here:

The SFWA administration, employees, members, and volunteers are responsible for assuring that all persons who participate in SFWA programs and activities do so in an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. Sexual harassment is unlawful and impedes the realization of SFWA’s mission to inform, support, promote, defend and advocate for our members. SFWA will respond promptly and effectively to reports of harassment and discrimination of any kind and will take appropriate action to prevent, to correct, and if necessary, to discipline behavior that violates this policy. This policy applies to any events or spaces sponsored by SFWA, including but not limited to the SFWA discussion Forums, the SFWA website, the Nebula Awards Weekend, and the SFWA suite.”

That’s well written. I think that now the part for SFWA to exercise is the part I’ve put in bold:

SFWA will respond promptly and effectively to reports of harassment and discrimination of any kind and will take appropriate action to prevent, to correct, and if necessary, to discipline behavior that violates this policy.

Part One: Done. I know many of the grievants have received notes from the SFWA officers. Part Two: I assume that is what is going on now. Organizational time can be a bit slower than what most people think is prompt.

But, it is clear that the gentlemen that wrote the column(s) are in clear violation of the organization’s policy. I think that the organization will be more careful about what goes into the bulletin from here on out, and I would imagine correction would be the next stage.

Good luck, SFWA Board. Again, kudos for the policy. It’s pretty flexible, and allows for almost all possibilities connected to your organization. Now, just get a link to it on the front page of your site! (Unless I am just a jet-lagged dork who can’t see it. If so, nevermind.)

Here we go.

You might remember that I’m board president of the Mindbridge Foundation. This dubious distinction means that I often get to field pleasant and unpleasant conversation as a representative of the organization. It also means I get to make the meeting agendas. Yeah. It’s a worthy thing. I also have an interest in organizations and visions because of it. So…let’s talk about SFWA.

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I’m not even there yet, but I’ve had questions about joining SFWA when I do get there. First of all, I already belong to a freakin’ huge union that gives me benefits to all sorts of wonderful support (and it is the NEA). Secondly, I may end up being a better fit in SCBWI or another organization, as I don’t know if what I write when I have a writing career will be a good fit for SFWA. And thirdly, I have a tendency to wade into messes and try to fix them, so I may stay away from SFWA just so I don’t have another item on my to do list. 🙂

And then there’s the recent controversy regarding the Bulletin.

Continue reading “Discrimination Policy: Where’s SFWA’s?”

Well, I’m back.

There are details from both Wiscon and the writing retreat that I was just on to catch up with, and I will as best I can, but I’m occupied now with getting ready to go to Vietnam and catching up with work so I can leave without leaving a black hole here. I will post as I can.

I had a great writing workshop, but I’m glad to be home with my husband at a lower altitude. Curse you mountains, why do you have to be so high?

Anyway, I suppose that I need to take a look at this SFWA thing. Because, you know, as head of a geek organization, I have a sort of interest. Post coming soon. It’ll be fraught with policies.

Anyway, nice to touch base with all of you, if only for a second. Work continues. Writing continues. Nothing else to see here, except a trip to the camping store for serious DEET and to Menards for paintbrushes.