How to Join the SPS
(Small Press Syndicate)
If you like to make your own comics and want to be with a group of people who share your passion then joining the SPS is a good start. To join the SPS all that you need to do is
contact the current chairman and pay your yearly membership dues. Currently the yearly dues are $17.00
What does Membership in the Small Press Syndicate involve?
As a member you will get 6 issues of the club newsletter, "Rap Sheet" a year. This newsletter is a place where you can publish articles, comic strips, make announcements and so on. "Rap Sheet is available to all members who wish to take advantage of it. Since the content of "Rap Sheet" is comprised mainly of contributions from the Membership, it's very diverse. Quality varies from issue to issue but is generally what the members who contribute to it make of it.
Currently "Rap Sheet" is assembled the old-fashioned, small press way. Complete master pages of contributions (called columns) are sent to the chairman via regular mail and pasted up for photocopying. The chairman then copies, assembles and mails finished newsletters to the membership and subscribers. Some provision is available for columns to be e-mailed to the chairman but quality can not be guaranteed.
The Chairman is the person who runs the club and he is voted into and/or out of office each year. The chairman sets the rules for what can and can not be published in the newsletter Rap Sheet". Generally speaking, the SPS is open to a wide variety of topics, comics and articles. However, restrictions are applied on content that is illegal, such as "flagrant" copyright infringement, or certain kinds of pornography. The best general guide is, if it will get you into trouble with the law then it won't be allowed into the newsletter. Also, because the chairmen changes from time to time, quirks about what is considered acceptable varies from chairman to chairman.
The SPS also elects a "Viceroy" to fill in for the chairman should he or she be unable to perform his duties. Just like the Chairman, he or she is elected once a year and only serves in the chairmanship role if he is called on to do so.
Membership in the SPS entitles you to have your comics listed in a feature titled "New Releases" which profiles the books that the chairman receives from the membership every few months. This is usually reprinted in the "Rap Sheet" for all the members to see. Reprinting the "New Releases" feature in your own comics is encouraged as a way to help promote books by the SPS members.
Members also are encouraged to utilize SPS logos, and ad pages available here on this web site for display on their own books. The use of these items is purely voluntary though they are considered a good, inexpensive way to help promote small press comics and the SPS.
Members are encouraged to freely trade their comics with other members and to offer feedback when asked for. Because not everyone appreciates feedback or can afford to give copies away, this too is voluntary.
The SPS is governed day to by a set of loosely defined and seldom followed rules spelled out in the SPS Constitution. (scroll down to read it) These are the sundry aspects of the club that mainly pertain to elections, publishing of "Rap Sheet", settlement of disputes and so forth.
What are my obligations?
Members of the SPS have only one obligation. To pay their yearly membership dues. It would be nice if we could afford to give away copies of "Rap Sheet" but we simply can not afford to do so. That is why payment of dues is the one thing that is not voluntary.
What if I don't want to join the SPS but still want to get "Rap Sheet"?
If you don't want to join the SPS but still want to get "Rap Sheet" so you can remain closely connected to the SPS, we offer "Subscriptions" for $13.00 a year. To get a subscription contact the current chairman by e-mail or regular mail for details.
All prices and terms listed here are subject to change. Since this part of the website is generally the last to get updated, you should contact the current Chairman if you have any questions or want extra details.
The Small Press Syndicate constitution
PREAMBLE
The SPS is a group of Small Press writers, artists and publishers who've banded together to support each other's creative efforts and promote the art of self-published comics. Membership is open to anyone who creates their own comics and members receive the club newsletter. They also have the privilege of contributing columns and artwork to the newsletter, participating in club projects such as jam comics, and trading comics with other members.
I. Membership
A. Anyone wishing to join the Small Press Syndicate may do so by informing the Chairman of their intent to join and submitting a sample copy of their publication, along with payment of one year's dues. You will not be considered an official member until property acknowledged by the chairman. B. Membership requirement:
1.The sole requirement for membership in the SPS shall be payment of annual dues
2. To fully take advantage of SPS membership, it is suggested that members:
a. Publish or participate as writer or artist in at least one publication per year
i. The chairman, due to his responsibility to publish the club newsletter, shall be exempt
b. Contribute to the club newsletter
c. Vote in elections for chairman and viceroy
d. Use the SPS logo on their publications
e. Trade comics with other members
C. Termination of membership may result from any of the following:
1. Failure to pay dues
2. Ejection by chairman for offensive, disruptive or inflammatory articles or
cartoons submitted to newsletter (refunding of dues will be at chairman's discretion)
3. Voluntary resignation
II. Organizational Activities
A. The SPS will publish a newsletter containing articles, cartoons, etc. from the members. Format and Frequency to be determined by the chairman. Articles will run as written, with no editing of content, though they may be reformatted to fit the available space as the editor (chairman or viceroy) sees fit
B. Other organizational activities, including group projects and catalogs, will be decided by the Chairman, who in good faith represents the needs of the club.
III. Executives
A. A chairman shall be elected each November to serve a term of one year to begin the following January. Duties of the chairman shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Collection, allocation and recording of dues
2. Publishing and distributing the newsletter
3. Maintenance of membership records
4. Presiding over club activities
5. Other duties as they become apparent
B. A viceroy shall also be elected each November to serve a one year term to begin the following January. The Viceroy's duties shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Replacing the chairman should he for any reason be unable to perform his duties.
2. Other duties as delegated by the chairman
IV. Dues
A. Dues rates are to be set by the chairman
B. Dues shall be used to cover dub expenses such as printing and mailing the newsletter and other special projects
C. The chairman may offer subscriptions to non-members at a rate of his choosing
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