If you are interested in fan-based volunteering beyond what is
compiled here, check out Transformative
Works and Cultures, an online journal launched in 2009 that
looks at various aspects of fan fiction (fan-created fiction inspired
by their favorite movies, TV shows and books), comic book fandom,
movie fandom, video game fandom, comic and fan conventions, and more.
Specifically, see The
media festival volunteer: Connecting online and on-ground fan labor,"
a 2014 paper by Robert Moses Peaslee, Jessica El-Khoury, and Ashley
Liles, which uses data gathered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in
September 2012.
This information is taken from the organizations' Web site. This is
by no means a comprehensive list of fan-based activities in 1999, but
it is a good sampling of what was happening. Not all of these groups
are still active, but the Web sites, probably all archived at
archive.org, provide a good record of their activities:
- Susan's La Femme Nikita Message Board
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi?acct=mb66652
Members of this online community raised $12,000 Canadian to benefit
the Mira Foundation, which provides helper dogs to people with
disabilities; the money represents one dog fully trained and ready
to be assigned.
- Fans of Nicholas Lea - Focused on Making a Difference
http://www.nickleague.org/
During an interview in July 1998, actor Nicholas Lea of the
"X-Files" said of his fans, "I just think sometimes that the focus
is a little misplaced... I would love to see everybody here take a
third of that energy and put it into their family or their
community, or the people on the street who need our help." His fans
did just that, creating "The Nick League" to organize fund raisers,
on and offline, to support various charities. They are planning
their first online auction for Summer 1999, and through e-mail
requests to fans, have already raised more than $1500 for charity.
- Elvis Connection
http://home.navisoft.com/planet/elvis.html
Formed in 1993 with Graceland's approval. They are not a fan club,
but an organization with a mandate to unite fans and raise money for
charity. To date, nearly $7,000 has been donated to charity.
- STARFLEET International
http://www.sfi.org
Founded by Star Trek enthusiasts in 1974, chapters (Starships) of
this group "offer opportunities to have fun while you serve your
community. We recognize crew members who have done extra service or
distinguished themselves in service to STARFLEET. In keeping with
the problem-solving themes of Star Trek, our members do more than
meet and talk about the show. The crews of the Fleet are active in
support of charity. We believe that time is our most valuable gift,
so we donate time to help persons and charitable organizations. We
conduct fundraisers and volunteer our services to help our
community." Charities which STARFLEET takes part in include the
Overseas Coupon Project, Stampede, and the Hershey's Chocolate
Project.
- Support Our Sentinel
http://world.std.com/~sentinel
Fans of the TV show "The Sentinel" have engaged in several
philanthropic efforts, through online and off-line efforts. Most
recently, the fan club for the star of the show, Richard Burgi, held
an online auction that raised more than $6,000 for the National
Audubon Society. Most of their many off-line philanthropy efforts
have had an online component for outreach.
- PEACE - Adrian Paul Fan Club
http://members.aol.com/peaceapfc/
Dedicated to the PEACE (Protect Educate Aid Children Everywhere)
Fund, joining corporate America and Hollywood to generate aid for
children in need whether it be financial or educational. Founded in
the Fall of 1998 by Adrian Paul, under the auspices of Athletes
& Entertainers for Kids.
- Meat Loaf UK Fan Club
http://www.mlukfc.com
Holds fundraisers for the Cleft Lip & Palate Association, and
use the Internet to coordinate and promote their philanthropic
efforts. MLUKFC will be hold an online charity auction soon, with
all proceeds again to CLAPA.
- International Fans of Shania Twain
http://www.shania.com/stfanwk.htm
Works to support the singer's favorite charities, including Second
Harvest, Kids Cafes Fund, and Breakfast for Learning.
- Christian Bale Fan Club
http://www.christianbale.org/cbfc.htm
Proceeds from the fan club are directed towards Christian's
charities which include: Greenpeace, The Redwing Sanctuary, the Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund, and the Happy Child Mission, a school for
street children in Brazil.
- New York Rangers Fan Club
http://www.monmouth.com/~drogers/rangers/Team/nyr_club.html
They raise money to help with the fight against Leukemia, Cancer,
child abuse, and other charities that the RFC supports.
- Mac Attack Pack!!! Cardinals Care
http://www.macattackpack.com/
This not-for-profit organization, formed in 1997, says it is
"already one of the most successful fan clubs in the Major Leagues",
with members in more than 40 states. "Cardinals Care" is an
"expression of the St. Louis Cardinals' commitment to its Community.
The focus of Cardinals Care is on "Team Play" and on "Giving
Something Back" to the community that has supported the Cardinals
through the years.
- Circle of Friends / Casey Biggs Fanclub/ AIDS
http://www.muohio.edu/~thomasrd/fomoh.html
This non-profit charity organization supports the
philanthropic interests and professional activities of actor Michael
O'Hare. Charities supported include House of Ruth, a shelter for
battered men, women, and children; Hale House, a facility caring for
children with AIDS; Gay Men's Health Crisis Center, a center
providing assistance to all AIDS victims; Foundation for Community
Encouragement; the Sierra Club; Muscular Dystrophy Association; and
the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, a support agency
for anyone in the industry in financial need
This page is a companion piece to Fan-Based
Online Groups Use the Internet to Make a Difference
These resources were developed originally for The Virtual
Volunteering Project and were written and compiled by Jayne
Cravens, unless noted otherwise.
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culture & communities of volunteers
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