For the past nine years, ERIC L. WATTS has been chairman of the annual TREKLANTA convention, a small con in the Atlanta area that has always been very supportive of Star Trek fan films. In fact, for the last half-decade, Eric and Treklanta have hosted the annual BJO AWARDS—originally called the Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards, and rechristened the “Bjo’s” after the woman credited with saving Star Trek from an early cancelation in 1968, BJO TRIMBLE.
Those awards, and the Treklanta convention, have been a special boon to the Star Trek fan film world, letting us celebrate—year after year—the best our community has to offer. Eric has never charged fan filmmakers a fee to register for the Bjo’s. Trek fan productions were simply included in the contest if they met the qualifications…and most did.
Eric has done so much for the fan film community. Now he needs us to do something for him…and it’s pretty much an emergency!
Treklanta has never drawn huge crowds, and that has resulted in years finishing in the red. Rather than default on commitments and risk businesses no longer willing to do business with Treklanta, Eric would pay off the shortfalls out of his own pocket, using credit cards when there was too much to cover with available funds.
As the years went on, the credit card debt piled up with Eric only able to pay the minimums and interest mounting. Eventually, just making those minimum payments delayed Eric’s ability to submit his own mortgage payments on time.
Now Eric is about to lose his home, still buried in credit card debt, all because he wanted to keep a convention going that celebrated Star Trek and its fan films.
It’s tempting to do a whole bunch of woulda/shoulda/coulda to Eric. But advice on handling things differently over the last nine years isn’t going to fix the immediate problem. Eric needs $6,000 to pay his past-due mortgage, and another $5,000 pays off the convention’s credit card.
Eric has just set up a GoFundMe campaign, and in the first 7 hours, 13 fans donated $635 (including $50 from me)…or about 6% of what he needs. There’s still a long way to go, but the news is only just beginning to make its way around fandom. Please help spread the word and, if possible, make a donation…even if it’s just a small one.
Click here to save Treklanta, the Bjos, and Eric’s House.
Once we help put out this fire, we fans can step up with some ideas to help make sure that Eric doesn’t fall down this slippery slope again (like maybe charging fan filmmakers a small $10 or $20 registration fee to enter the Bjo Awards contest). But right now, it’s all hands on deck to help someone in need.
Below is Eric’s public plea for assistance. You can tell this was not an easy video for him to make, and all the more reason to try to offer him some desperately needed assistance…
Best wishes to Mr Watts in overcoming this financial challenge.
The best little Star Trek convention in fandom!
I don’t often contribute to campaigns, but I can relate to Eric.
The good of the one…
It seems the Fandom is responding. Thanks John for bringing this to our attention…
The Good of the One……..
Eric
I hope that Mr. Watts might get this message….
“I have never been to the TrekLanta Convention but I appreciate your commitment to Star Trek Fandom. Take these gifts, restore your finances, and never again let your passion overwhelm your personal requirements, or the requirements of the Star Trek Fandom. Your peace of mind is more valuable than our shared fandom. God Bless You !!”
I am a holder of several mortgages. Almost none of the folks who have gotten in trouble have been this honest. If they had, I’d have been able to help them more. I wish I held his mortgage. I’ve been to a TrekLanta, and was looking forward to attending another one. I just bought a new car, so my own cash flow has been pinched, but I’ll gladly make a contribution. I’m fairly certain I met Mr. Watts. This, this is family. We fans can help one another.
I’m sure Eric appreciates every dollar, Scott.
And hey, if your cash flow recovers in the next few weeks, remember that I’ve still got a crowd-funding campaign for my fan film “Interlude” open until the end of October. 🙂
First, I’d like to thank Jon for sharing my GoFundMe campaign on his blog, so quickly and with his personal endorsement. Thank you, Jon! Second, I’d like to thank everyone who posted a comment above. Your compassion and understanding are greatly appreciated. Last, I’d also like to thank everyone who has so generously donated to my cause, without rebuke, without reprimand and without demands. You are the epitome of the very best that Star Trek fandom and indeed, humanity itself has to offer. Thank you so very much.
Well, I’m glad to see that you’re slowly inching up, Eric. But keep on promoting it. As I discovered with my own GoFundMe for “Interlude,” when you stop asking, they stop giving. 🙂
Good luck, my friend!