[...] accomplish its goals, and made everyone look bad. The situation led to me questioning the need for the group in February 2007 and starting a discussion on how to solve volunteer group [...]

I don’t know, I do think it is good to have a force to get more women working and reading comics, even in just the direct market and DC/Marvel worlds. Is FOL as it currently is capable of doing that? I’m not sure.

I was following some of the recent hirings of NFL head coaches and saw they had a comittee that sent lists of qualified minority candidates to the teams with openings. Because they are making an effort to be more diverse.

Could FOL do that type of thing when a comic company has openings? (or do they and I’m just not aware of it?)

I also wonder about the name as well. Does the Lulu character still have the name recognition and relevance to creators and fans today?

[...] In response to my earlier posting about how Friends of Lulu hadn’t answered my followup questions about their Empowerment Fund, I got an email from the current president of the group, Shannon Crane [...]

Ms. Carlson,

I was sent a link to your blog and read your recent post about our empowerment fund.

First, I need to correct an error in your posting: We did offer a refund last year to those who donated, as we were given misleading information regarding our purpose with this program.

Second, I’m tired of trying to tip-toe around the issue as we approach this topic. So here’s the deal: Ronee Bourgeois suggested to our entire board that we start an empowerment fund. We agreed that yes, it would be a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, instead of being patient to let the ENTIRE board come up with guidelines, rules, etc, she announced the new fund to the comics community without the board’s consent. We found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We did what we could to make it work, and now we find that this is not something that we will pursue any longer.

Third, Ms. Carlson, when you contacted us you gave us no context of what your purpose was for asking your questions. I’ve never heard of Comics Worth Reading, and I’m sure you understand with the convention season, our upcoming awards, the new anthology (which is finished and awaiting printing), membership drive planning, the board of directors’ real-life full-time jobs, and the fact that we run this organization on a complete volunteer basis, that we can’t get to every query ASAP. Patience is a virtue.

I’d also like to know why this year-old “controversy” has been the focus for so many people regarding Friends of Lulu. We are a 12 year old organization with a history of doing great things. How about focusing on the many things we get right? Maybe you could talk about our new anthology. It’s called The Girls’ Guide to Guy Stuff and will be released prior to San Diego Comicon.

I congratulate you on your successful blog. Will you be at New York Comicon? Perhaps we can meet up and chat comics.

Best,

Shannon Crane
President, Friends of Lulu

call for entries for a new FoL anthology. (Which engendered an…interesting…set of comments.) Anyway, the deadline for the Call was December 2006; assuming the schedule’s holding, I imagine we might be hearing news of this FoL project in the nearish future. Assuming it comes together (and depending on what the actual scope of the anthology turns out to be) this could be another FoL activity that’s useful to the community…

Keep the pressure on FOL, Johanna.

(I fear seeing what sort of swastika this blog is going to put next to my name on the comments. I understand the desirability of having a little design generator, but the actual results are a mite disturbing.)

As to the larger question as to whether or not FoL has outlived it’s usefulness:

Look, it’s certainly not the case that there are no longer any issues regarding female participation and readership in comics. One imagines that there are plenty of ways FoL can still have a useful place in the comics community. (I understand that the New York chapter helps organize and sponsor occasional panel events at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, for instance; those sorts of activities might not be eye-catching, headline-creating, blog-fodder activities, but they’re still useful.)

I get the sense that FoL faces some challenges endemic to many largley volunteer-run organizations: it’s just plain difficult for such an organization to maintain the adminstrative infrastructure that’s often expected of such a charity. Add to that that FoL’s charter seems to be so broad as to allow key members to run with their passions (which, make no mistake, can be a good thing) but seemingly not so controlled as to ensure solid implementation and oversight of those birthed-in-passion plans, and there are some reasons to be, if not concerned about, then at least aware of what’s going on at FoL. Which is why it’s great that you’re following up on the Empowerment Fund.

Anyway, I think FoL certainly has a place in the comics community. I think it’s still potentially useful. But I also think, perhaps particularly at this time, it could benefit from a measure of organization, focus, and transparency as it defines its mission for the future.

Ed: if they can’t find the money or don’t have access to it, possibilities that can be inferred from their previous response, they can’t refund. Although I agree with you, they should.

The more pressing question is whether or not Friends of Lulu can still be effective in bringing women to comics.