World Science Fiction Society
WSFS Business Meeting
Loncon 3 is administered under the rules and auspices of the World Science Fiction Society (referred to by the abbreviation “WSFS”), which has governed Worldcons for more than seventy years. WSFS will have a business meeting at Loncon 3 to consider changes to its constitution, and to announce the results of the site selection votes for the 2016 Worldcon and, if required, the 2015 NASFiC.
WSFS also has a number of standing committees to perform tasks assigned from the business meeting. Among these is the Mark Protection Committee, which protects the service marks of the World Science Fiction Society (including the name “Worldcon”) used by Worldcon each year.
Business Meeting Overview
The World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) consists of every member of the current Worldcon. (The membership of Loncon 3 will become the membership of WSFS after the closing ceremonies of LoneStarCon 3, the 2013 Worldcon.)
The WSFS rules, published in the Worldcon’s souvenir book, consist of a Constitution containing the rules for the Hugo Awards and for the selection of future Worldcons, as well as the Standing Rules for the conduct of the Business Meeting. Every attending member of Loncon 3 can attend the meeting, propose changes, debate those changes, and vote on them.
Changes to the WSFS Constitution, including any changes to the rules for the Hugo Awards, must be approved by votes at two consecutive Worldcons. In addition, new proposals may be introduced each year. The Business Meeting may defeat and amend new proposals. Meetings are conducted under a relatively formal structure, codified in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, and the WSFS Standing Rules.
The deadline for submitting new proposals to the Business Meeting is fourteen (14) days before the first Preliminary Meeting. The Presiding Officer may accept otherwise qualified motions submitted after the deadline, but all such motions shall be placed at the end of the agenda.
Business Meeting Times
The Business Meeting is always held on the second, third, and fourth mornings of the Worldcon (rarely, a meeting on the fifth day is required).
WSFS Constitution and Standing Rules
We will post the current versions of the WSFS Constitution, Standing Rules, Resolutions of Continuing Effect (ROCE) and business passed on from the LoneStarCon 3 Business Meeting within 90 days of that meeting. The current versions and business in hand can be found on the LoneStarCon 3 website .