When I first stood for Chair of the BFS I promised myself it wouldn’t be for long. I never really specified how long but was conscious that a society benefits from a constant influx of fresh ideas and that, once I’d run out, it was time for someone else to bring some to the table. It hasn’t quite worked out like that, but then life rarely does.
All of the committee balance their duties with their work and private lives and sometimes that can be a tricky balance to achieve. Since coming onboard I have had a more than usually busy life... Work has been constant (which is good!) but often all-consuming and, if anything that trend has increased over the last eighteen months. Only too aware that a Chair run ragged and unable to cope with his duties was the last thing the BFS needed I announced to the committee my intention to stand down. I wouldn’t leave anyone in the lurch, I think far too much of this society for that, but I was approaching a very real crash if I continued to try and juggle so many balls in the air.

Out of that conversation a solution presented itself, Stephen Theaker has been an absolute dynamo on behalf of the BFS, frequently performing above and beyond his role as Dark Horizons editor in order to keep things moving. I knew he had the skills to make an excellent Chair and told him so. I confess I had imagined that he would stand this coming September (and I would propose him for the role heartily). However, the committee agreed that there was no time like the present. If I was struggling -- and I was -- then did it not make more sense for him to saddle-up for the role now, feel his way with it as a “temporary” Chair so that, come September he had already hit the ground running and -- should he be voted in --  the transition would be seamless.

That is what has happened. I can’t thank him enough for offering, he always has the best interests of the society to heart and I only hope he is sworn into the position officially come the next AGM, clearly he will have my vote.

I will continue to act as Chair of FantasyCon for this year and will then vanish from official roles for awhile. However, it’s been a pleasure to be involved and the society will always be incredibly important to me. Onward!

I would certainly like to echo the comments that say the BFS is ALWAYS open to change, as Stephen says we thrive on it. Status Quo be damned!  This is a society and it needs to continue to evolve. New faces are vitally important to us and I can honestly say that everything the committee is up to at the moment is being done with that in mind.

Thanks for posting your thoughts Adrian, it is deeply appreciated as these sorts of conversations are important. I hope that you attend this year's FantasyCon, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on it. 

You're pretty much spot on with the picked out of a hat comment, Des!  When editing the long list down I simply adjusted the tables as simply as Word would allow with no concern as to an order of the nominees.  So, no, not alphabetical, in fact no order whatsoever.

Paul, if you go to the online shop you can renew online there. 

http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=1&Itemid=73


I'll make sure a link is added to the specific "Join" page though as that's certainly a silly oversight.

And yes, we may have to look into employing a web admin as despite our best efforts nobody from the membership seems to fancy the post!

Marlowe -- Helen contacts those whose membership is due for renewal however drop her a line at secretary@britishfantasysociety.org and she'll check for you.

Sorry Caroline, promise it wasn't on purpose! And yes, okay, mine's not bad either...

Not when Mark Morris and Sarah Pinborough are writing it!

Rest your voice, Des?  Never!  As you say it needs voices like yours to guide people towards where the should put their vote, you shout it from the rooftops...

There are some surprising omissions Des it's true but an Oversight Committee isn't the answer in my opinion.  These awards are recommended and voted on by members, we can be surprised at what they don't put forward of course, even berate them for it if we wish!  Still, swooping in afterwards and altering matters rather robs the awards of their point.  People can still add a book or press under the "other" category so the thing to do is to make sure that those omitted push for the membership to do so (by whatever publicity means they wish) because once the shortlist is published those omissions will be permanent.

The British Fantasy Society is pleased to be able to host the UK launch of Poe, a new anthology from Solaris that celebrates two hundred years since the birth of Edgar Allan Poe.  The book features ?remixed and reimagined? versions of Poe?s tales by such talents as: Pat Cadigan, Sharyn McCrumb, Kim Newman, Lucius Shepard, M. Rickert and Nicholas Royle.

This free event will be held at the historic Ye Olde Cock Tavern on London?s Fleet Street. Ellen Datlow will be on hand to present readings by Pat Cadigan and Kim Newman with copies of the book available for purchase and signature.

POE: UK LAUNCH AND SIGNING
Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1AA
Date: Saturday 31st January
Time: 2pm.

Nearest Tube: Temple (0.3 miles), Chancery Lane (0.4 miles), Blackfriars (0.4 miles)

British Rail: City Thameslink (0.3 miles), Blackfriars (0.4 miles), Farringdon (0.6 miles)

Smack him Teague! Shake him for some book money too.

Does everyone in Wales carry weapons?  I know I would if I lived there.

Who's up for physically intimidating the bastard til he coughs up?  Anyone?

As all the money being raised by the raffle is going to charity we would really appreciate people getting the word out about this.  Let's make it a big fun night that gets a good wad of cash together for a worthy cause.

[THE BFS CHRISTMAS OPEN NIGHT5th December, Ye Olde Cock Tavern, London]

THE BFS CHRISTMAS OPEN NIGHT
5th December, Ye Olde Cock Tavern, London
 
The British Fantasy Society invites members and non-members alike to join us for pre-Christmas cheer at Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1AA from 6pm onwards...
 
Come along and help raise buckets of cash in the most agreeable company north of the River Thames!

The British Fantasy Society's Charity Raffle Spectacular for the St. Mungos's Homeless Charity. http://www.mungos.org/
   
Dave McKean very graciously signed copies of this years FantasyCon Souvenir Magazine along with a very nice poster for Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book - two sets will be handed out to the lucky ticket holder on the night. Extra special gifts for your tree also include books donated by PS Publishing, Gollancz, Tasmaniac, and Nightshade Books to name but a few.

For that X-tra Special Christmas thrill Tim Lebbon offers and is indeed more than happy to kill one raffle winner in his next dark fantasy novel for Bantam Spectra, ECHO CITY FALLS.
 
In his very own words '...Thing is, in Echo City, dead isn't necessarily forever... they might end up modified, brought back as chopped humans to serve as purpose-bred fighters, or scopes, or sex slaves.  Who knows?  Only me. And I'm not telling 'til I know who the winner is...'
 
So Remember, Remember the 5th of December... it certainly beats an evening at home with the In-Laws!
 
THE BFS CHRISTMAS OPEN NIGHT
Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1AA
 
Time: 6pm onwards
 
Nearest Tube: Temple (0.3 miles), Chancery Lane (0.4 miles), Blackfriars (0.4 miles)
 
British Rail: City Thameslink (0.3 miles), Blackfriars (0.4 miles), Farringdon (0.6 miles)

Welcome indeed.

'We still have weather...' Troo?  Was that a Bill Hicks Arizona Bay reference by any chance?

I live in Spain Vanessa so will join you in mocking these damp and chilly fools.

Welcome Zoe,

For God's sake though, what on earth would you want to grow up for?