The UFO Constitution
Article One: Becoming a Member
To become a member of the United Fanzine Organization co-op, one must inform the Chairman of one's application and send a copy of his/her comic or zine to all members listed on the UFO roster. The membership will then vote on acceptance. (If the applicant's zine or comic is available to view online, the applicant may email the members a link to the pages for evaluation in lieu of mailing a printed copy; however, applicants should send
a printed copy to members who are not regularly online or who specifically request the applicant to mail them
a printed copy.) If a majority of the membership votes "yes" on the applicant's admission, he/she becomes
a member. Applicants who receive a majority of "no" votes may apply again for membership at a later date.
Article Two: Membership Requirements
(a) All members are required to publish a minimum of 20 pages of new material (comic or text) per year.
Digital publications with equivalent material will count toward membership requirements.
There is no maximum limit to the number of titles one may publish as memberzines.
(b) Each member is required to mail a free copy of each memberzine, as it is published, to all other co-op
members. Digital publishers should send an email to each member notifying them of their new zine or site
update. (Due to the cost of printing and mailing, members who publish print zines are not required to mail their
zines to those publishing only digitally, but are encouraged to do so.)
(c) Each member is required to submit a column to at least every other issue of the UFO Newsletter
(Tetragrammaton Fragments). The purpose of member columns is first to review the memberzines that
one has received and second discuss club business (such as voting on amendments and applicants).
T-Frag contributions are limited to a maximum of 10 pages each issue per member, unless the member
receives the Chairman's consent to allow a higher page count for that particular issue of the newsletter.
(d) Member dues are $20.00 annually. These dues help to cover co-op promotion, and printing and mailing
of the bi-monthly UFO Newsletter. If a member falls behind in his/her annual dues and/or publishing
requirements, the member may ask the Chairman for a brief extension. If the member is dropped for
failing to meet publishing requirements or newsletter participation, any remaining money in their account
will be used toward their subscription to the newsletter. A member who has fulfilled their membership
obligations may be expelled from the UFO only by a unanimous vote of the other members.
(e) The UFO is limited to 25 members. Others applying after the limit is reached will be placed on a waiting
list and considered for membership in the order in which they applied. Waitlisters have the option of
submitting a column to the UFO newsletter but they are not required to do so. It is at the discretion of
each UFO member whether to send their memberzines to those on the waitlist since it is not required.
UFO members are allowed to be members of other co-ops while they are in the UFO.
(f) Honorary Members are persons who have been voted into that position by a majority vote of the members. They may contribute to the newsletter, but have no voting power, are not required to pay the annual dues,
and are not required to meet publication requirements. It is at the discretion of each member whether to
send an Honorary Member a copy of their memberzine or not, as it is not required.
Article Three: Memberzine Requirements
(a) Each UFO publication must carry the UFO symbol on one of its four covers (exterior or interior front and
back), preferably the front exterior cover. Digital publications must display the symbol on their first or second page.
(b) Each UFO memberzine (print or digital) is required to carry the UFO Checklist. Members may alter the
wording in the Checklist as it appears in their own publications, as long as the changes are accurate and
non-detrimental to those listed. (For minis or zines of 16 pages or less, an Abbreviated Checklist may be
used, with simply the titles and prices of the books, and the names and addresses of the respective
publishers.)
(c) The UFO does not censor its material, however responsibility and use of good taste and common sense in
publishing are encouraged. The Chairman must publish member columns in the UFO newsletter unedited
as long as they are within the page-count limit and not illegal or obscene in content.
Article Four: The UFO Chairman
(a) Annual election: A Chairman shall be elected in September, by a majority vote of the members, to a
one-year term commencing in November. (Those running for the position of Chairman should start their
campaigns no later than the July issue of the newsletter.)
(b) Responsibilities: An elected Chairman has the duties of editing and publishing the bi-monthly UFO
newsletter, conducting the general co-op business, managing member dues accounts, or delegating these
affairs. In consideration of the time and effort expended in the production of the UFO newsletter, a newly
elected Chairman will be allowed two years -- dating from the publication of this first NL -- to publish an
issue of his/her regular small press book, instead of the one zine a year requirement for the other members.
(c) Emergency Chairman: It is important that the UFO Chairman appoint an Emergency Chairman
immediately upon assuming office. The Emergency Chairman shall assume the office of UFO Chairman
if the elected Chairman resigns the position prior to the next election, or if the elected Chairman fails to
publish the newsletter for more than 100 consecutive days.
(d) Removal: There is no limit to the amount of terms a Chairman may hold. The Chairman may be removed
from office only by a majority vote. A Chairman who decides not to run for another term should make this
known to the members prior to the publication of the July newsletter, so that other members may have time
to announce their campaigns for the position.
