SPIRAL TOWER PRESS: Introducing TRIAPA

Official TRIAPA seal by Sage

Amateur Press Associations (APAs) are not-for-profit unions of fan writers who are interested in document design, publishing, criticism, and creative activity (creative writing, drawing, gaming). APA members produce their own "zines" and send these "zines" to an OVEREDITOR, who collates the associations’ publications into a unified document and assures that they are distributed to members. APAs have a long history in fandom and today provide a useful alternative to the other forms of fan communication.

TRIAPA is an APA organized by Spiral Tower Press to give fan writers the opportunity of participating in this venerable tradition of fandom and print history. The focuses of TRIPA are three sets of three: the pulp genres of sword and sorcery, cosmic horror, and space opera; the past, present, and future of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror; and chronopolitanism, compassion, and hope.

If you are interested in participating, simply contact Spiral Tower Press at spiraltowerpress@gmail.com

You can download the eight mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #8

You can download the seventh mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #7

You can download the sixth mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #6

You can download the fifth mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #5

You can download the fourth mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #4

You can download the third mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #3

You can download the second mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #2

You can download the first mailing here: TRIAPA Mailing #1

By-Laws of TRIAPA

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: TRIAPA

a) The name of this association shall be TRIAPA, a reference to the mysterious "Black Trigon," a mystical and eldritch artifact of fell power as well as an unfathomable symbol, the bane of cryptolectualists.

Section 2: Purpose

a) The purpose of TRIAPA shall be to promote the collegial exchange of ideas, creative work, amateur art, information, and publications among fans, fostering a sense of community and collaboration, and upholding the document design tradition zines and APAs.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility

a) Membership in TRIAPA shall be open to any individuals of goodwill who have an interest in writing, reading, and analyzing our chosen genres–sword and sorcery, cosmic horror, space opera–and other associated topics.

b) Membership is also open to doodlers, comic artists, poets, and hobo-bards.

Section 2: Application and Admission

a) Prospective members shall submit a completed application to the APA that provides all requested information. Membership shall be granted upon approval of the application by the APA's Board of Directors, also called the "Conclave of the Trigon."

Section 3: Membership Categories

a) Regular Members

b) Honorary Members: Individuals who have made significant contributions to the genres of sword and sorcery, cosmic horror, or space opera. Honorary members shall be referred to with the honorific “Dark Lord.”

c) Student Members: Individuals who are enrolled as full-time students and have an interest in the history of the amateur press.

d) SUPREME OVEREDITOR (SOE): The individual responsible for collating individual zine submissions and distributing them appropriately.

Section 4: Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities

a) All members of TRIAPA shall have the right to:

i) Submit a (maximum) 2 page A4 or 8.5 by 11 inch zine as a PDF monthly to the SOE.

ii) Receive publications and communications from the APA via the Spiral Tower website.

iii) Vote on matters put forth for membership approval.

iv) Serve on committees and hold elected positions, subject to eligibility criteria and term limits as specified in these by-laws.

Section 5: Termination of Membership

a) Membership in the APA may be terminated for such reasons such as violation of the by-laws, or conduct deemed detrimental to the association, as determined by the Board of Directors ("Conclave of the Trigon").

Section 6: Roster and Anonymity

a) The roster will not be made public; members are permitted to use pseudonyms or aliases to maintain their comfort level of anonymity.

Article III: Governance

Section 1: Board of Directors, also known as the “Conclave of the Trigon”

a) The APA shall be governed by the Supreme Overeditor (SOE) and Conclave of the Trigon (CT), consisting of elected members.

b) The CT shall have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the association, enforce the by-laws, and manage the affairs of the APA.

c) The CT may hold regular meetings, open to all members, to discuss association matters.

d) The SOE is a dynastic-style position; upon desiring to abdicate, the SOE determines who their successor is, proposes the successor to the CT, and the CT shall vote to accept or refuse succession. If the CT and the SOE cannot agree on succession, TRIAPA shall be terminated forever. If the SOE dies before determining a successor, the CT must organize a gladiatorial-style battle that will give those who desire to become the SOE the opportunity to fight for their claim. The fights shall not be to the death.

Section 2: Officers

a) The officers of the APA shall include a SOE, Chancellor, Chamberlain, and Sergeant-at-Arms, strategically ambiguous titles that designate no specific responsibilities.

b) The officers shall not have specific responsibilities as defined by the by-laws; they shall serve a term of 1 solar year.

Section 3: Elections

a) Elections for the CT and shall be held annually and organized by the SOE, unless a quorum condition of membership--10 active members--is satisfied; if the the quorum condition is not satisfied, the SOE is authorized to appoint members to CT positions.

b) The election process shall be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, allowing all members to cast their votes.

Section 4: Committees

a) The CT may establish committees as needed to carry out specific functions and projects of the APA.

b) Committee chairs shall be appointed by the CT and shall report on their activities during regular meetings.

Article IV: Meetings and Activities

Section 1: Annual Meeting

a) The APA may hold an annual meeting, providing members with an opportunity to gather, exchange publications, and discuss amateur press-related topics.

Section 2: Regular Meetings

a) Regular meetings of the APA may be held allowing members to network, share updates, and engage in fandom-related activities.

Section 3: Special Meetings

a) Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or upon the written request of 50% of the members. Notice of such meetings shall be given to all members in a timely manner.

Section 4: SpiralCon

a) The APA may hold a special meeting or social at SpiralCon, currently held in July at Christopher Newport University

Article V: Finances and Availability

a) Section 1: Dues and costs

i) TRIAPA will be free to all forever.

Section 2: Availability

a) TRIAPA will be published as free PDF and be readily available for the public to access and read.

Article VI: Official Slogan: TBD

Example 2-page zine