Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network
| Fan Club | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network |
| Dates: | June 1991-May 1992 |
| Founder(s): | Randi/Randy Ryborg and Paramount Pictures |
| Leadership: | Randi/Randy Ryborg |
| Country based in: | Ontario, Canada |
| Focus: | Star Trek |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network was a Star Trek fan club based in Ontario, Canada. It published one issue of Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network Magazine, which also functioned as a con zine for The 25th Anniversary Gala.
At the time it disbanded in May 1992, it had approximately 1000 members.[1] To give an idea of money involved, membership was $20 a year for Canadians, $30 for foreign OR for two years it was $40 for Canadians or $60 for foreigners. Based on Canadian CPI inflation data, CA$20 in 1991 would be equivalent to approximately CA$39.97 in 2026.
It was a for-profit endeavor and was initially officially sanctioned. However the club's licence was canceled a month before the 25th Anniversary event for "demand[ing] too many photos and [because] there wasn't a need for such a club in Canada".[1] Ryborg went ahead with the fan club and the anniversary event regardless due to the amount of interest already generated; ultimately the club lost $120,000.00 when official sponsors withdrew their support (as the club was no longer official) and ticket purchases were insufficient to cover the shortfall.
Complaints that membership packages weren't provided soon surfaced, and there were also allegations of harassment by club president Randy/Randi Ryborg of other fan clubs at Creation Con 1991.
By May 1992, it was reported in WARP: The Official Newsletter of the Montreal Science Fiction & Fantasy Association that the club was no longer operational, that Ryborg was pursuing legal action against Border Productions, who had allegedly skipped town and left him holding the debts and facing bankruptcy, and that club members were contemplating legal action of their own.
For the full story, see the 1992 WARP article.
1991 Description
Hailing frequencies are OPEN! Beam aboard today!Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network is the premier Star Trek Fan Club in Canada. Come aboard and get all the news, views and reviews of the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew - almost like being there! This fall and winter will be a very active time for all things Star Trek. September sees the 25th Anniversary Gala at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and the start of the fifth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In November the first edition of the Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network Magazine will hit the stands (ask for it at your local bookseller). December is the month we are all waiting for; for in December we shall be lining up for the new feature film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Make sure you don't miss our coverage of these and other 25th Anniversary events.
Beam aboard today!
Your Membership Kit will include:
- Membership Certificate (suitable for framing).
- Credit Card style Membership Card.
- Embroidered Club Crest.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation full colour cast photo.
- Six issues of the all new Star Trek Canada: The Active Fan Network Magazine (bi-monthly)
- Exclusive Club Pin
WARP Article
From the May 1992 article in WARP: The Official Newsletter of the Montreal Science Fiction & Fantasy Association [2]:
Star Trek fans were delighted last year as newspapers across the country carried the announcement that a new Star Trek fan club was forming: one which would serve members from across Canada, and would enjoy the approval and support of Paramount Pictures, the company which produces and owns the copyright to Star Trek. The organization would be operated out of Toronto and would publish a regular magazine for members, as well as offer special merchandise and opportunities. When several representatives of the group appeared at last year's Creation event in Montreal, a number of fans jumped at the chance to Join, lured by promises of glossy publications and efficient organization. The delight and optimism soon turned to cynicism and bitterness, as long promised membership kits failed to arrive, and orders for merchandise and paraphernalia, paid for by members, failed to materialize. Further, accusations of unethical and possibly illegal activities persisted, alleging that STC clubs organizers had used their sanctioning from Paramount to intimidate and extort money from other clubs. Now, the clubs' fate is in limbo, its commitments unmet, its reputation devastated, and a class-action lawsuit brewing from displeased members who feel they have been fleeced.
Ryborg used to belong to Star Trek Fan Club known as the USS Confederation. Facing what he described as 'harrassment' from other clubs who despised competition, he contacted the Canadian Paramount representatives to insure that his newsletter did not violate copyright law, and was told that it did. However, the Paramount rep was impressed by the quality of the newsletter and offered him the chance to run the official Canadian Star Trek Fan Club, if he was willing to pay for the license. Mr. Ryborg paid the money and was informed that he was now the official Canadian fan club. That was in June, 1991.
One of the complaints was that Ryborg was attempting to extort money from other clubs under threat of "turning them in" to Paramount for violation of copyright. WARP 9 president Chris Cartier was initially a supporter of Ryborg, until an incident at Creation in Montreal, where, according to Cartier, Ryborg approached the WARP 9 table and demanded almost 50% of the money Chris raised through newsletter sales and memberships. "I'm official, you're not", Ryborg is alleged to have said as justification of the demands. WARP 9 ignored Ryborg’s demand, but rumors continue that some clubs were intimidated into surrendering money to Ryborg. Ryborg dismisses these allegations as 'personality differences' although Star Trek Canada reportedly received a letter from Paramount instructing them to desist from 'bothering' WARP 9 anymore.
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second page of the article
References
- ^ a b "Fandom: Star Trek Canada sets course to Oblivion" by anonymous, WARP v6 n.2 (1992)
- ^ Fandom: Star Trek Canada sets course to Oblivion" by anonymous, pdf of WARP: The Official Newsletter of the Montreal Science Fiction & Fantasy Association v.6 n.2 (1992)