2026-07-29T22:25:27-07:00 2025-09-30 990 2024-10-01 521098281 BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED BALT 4105632737 102 Seevue Ct Apt F BEL AIR MD 21014 DALE ARNOLD PRESIDENT 4105632737 2026-07-30 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Dale S Arnold 102 Seevue Ct Apt F Bel Air MD 21014 115958 0 X https://bsfs.org/ X 1963 MD The Baltimore Science Fiction Society exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts, primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphical, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by speculative fiction. 13 13 0 180 0 0 50617 45378 52571 61191 62 17 6483 -176 109733 106410 1900 2624 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 110588 134809 112488 137433 -2755 -31023 216804 212550 4646 0 212158 212550 The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society that exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts, primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphic, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by speculative fiction. 0 0 93495 0 82500 THE ANNUAL BALTICON CONVENTION IS HEADED BY A AUTHOR GUEST OF HONOR AND THE WINNER OF THE ROBERT A. HEINLEIN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED WORKS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND TECHNICAL WRITINGS TO INSPIRE THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE. ALSO FEATURED ARE THE CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR WINNERS OF THE COMPTON CROOK AWARD FOR THE BEST FIRST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL. AN ARTIST GUEST OF HONOR ALSO IS FEATURED. OVER 100 OTHER WRITERS AND ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN A MULTI-TRACK SCHEDULE OF PANELS PROVIDING CONVENTION MEMBERS WITH GUEST OF HONOR SPEECHES, PANELS, AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. OF NOTE, IS THE SCIENCE TRACK OF WORKING SCIENTISTS DELIVERING CURRENT RESEARCH TO KEEP WRITERS ABREAST OF NEW FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES INCLUDING PHYSICS, SPACE EXPLORATION, BIOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCE, AND OTHER FIELDS. CONVENTION MEMBERS ALSO EXPLORE EXPRESSIONS OF SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE IN MOVIES, VIDEOS, GAMING, MUSIC AND AN ART SHOW. BALTICON ANYWHERE IS USES STREAMING TO INCLUDE PARTICIPANTS FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS AND DELIVER VIDEO CONTENT DURING THE CONVENTION AND THE FOLLOWING MONTH. 3548 2915 SUPPORT AND PROMOTE BASIC LITERACY IN GENERAL AND SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMPTON CROOK AWARD THE BEST FIRST NOVEL IN SCIENCE FICTION DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR, THE ANNUAL YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST, THE ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL LIBRARIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL BOOK AND ART FESTIVALS. THE ROBERT A. HEINLEIN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED WORKS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND TECHNICAL WRITINGS TO INSPIRE THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE IS CO-SPONSORED BY BSFS AND THE HEINLEIN SOCIETY, WHICH PAYS HALF OF THE COSTS OF THE AWARD EACH YEAR. 6586 0 0 MONTHLY ACTIVITIES OFFERED FOR FREE FOR WRITING DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLORATION OF LITERATURE AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS DERIVED FROM WORKS IN THE GENRE. HOSTED A SEMI-MONTHLY WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS OF EACH MONTH IN WHICH WRITERS REVIEWED WORKS IN PROGRESS. THE GROUP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON HAVING WORKS BY PARTICIPANTS PUBLISHED. AFTER MARCH 2020, THESE SESSIONS WERE HELD ONLINE USING A CONFERENCING PLATFORM. HOSTED A MONTHLY ONLINE SPECULATIVE POETRY WORKSHOP IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS PRESENTED WORKS AND COLLABORATED ON WORK BASED VARIOUS THEMES. HOSTED A MONTHLY HYBRID BOOK DISCUSSION EXPLORING NEW AND CLASSIC WORKS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR. PRESENTED A BOOK DISCUSSION FOR ONE MARYLAND ONE BOOK IN CONJUNCTION WITH MARYLAND HUMANITIES. HOSTED MONTHLY ONSITE MOVIE NIGHTS TO VIEW NEW AND CLASSIC FILMS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR. HOSTED MONTHLY VIEWING SESSIONS, WITH AN ONLINE WATCH-ALONG COMPONENT, OF ANIME VIDEOS. 2265 2472 BSFS maintains a Little Free Library in front of its building. During FY25, 608 books were distributed to the community in East Baltimore. Books for children were 59% of the total and of these 25% were in Spanish. Books4Kids funded the Spanish language books for children. 3031 6308 The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon commemorates Bobby's decades as a school teacher and BSFS volunteer by raising funds for BSFS Books for Kids to "to put books in the hands of children." BSFS Books for Kids will gift funds raised to the PTA, or program at the school administered by the Maryland Book Bank, at selected school for the purchase of books ordered by students for personal recreational reading. Funds also are used to purchase Spanish language children's books to put in the BSFS Little Free Library. 190 31 AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, BSFS HAD OVER 18,000 CATALOGED ITEMS IN A LIBRARY OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND RECORDINGS OF SPECULATIVE FICTION. THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE MET MONTHLY TO REVIEW BOXES OF DONATIONS, ADD NEW ITEMS TO THE COLLECTION, AND PACK UP DUPLICATES FOR DONATION TO THE HEINLEIN SOCIETY AND OTHER LITERACY GROUPS. VOLUNTEERS ON THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE LOGGED OVER 300 HOURS DURING FY 2025. REVENUE FROM DE-ACCESSIONS AND SALE OF DUPLICATE VOLUMES IS RESTRICTED TO PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION; 5486 0 8811 109115 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 MD X X X DALE ARNOLD 4108382542 403 FULFORD AVENUE BEL AIR MD 21014 X Megan Allen-Kingsland Director-at-Large 10 0 X 0 0 0 Robert Markowitz Balticon Vice Chair 10 0 X 0 0 0 Aurora Pierce Director at Large 5 0 X 0 0 0 LEONA A THOMPSON DIRECTOR AT LARGE 5 0 X 0 0 0 KELLY SHANNON PIERCE SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS COORD 10 0 X 0 0 0 THOMAS HORMAN BALTICON CHAIR 20 0 X 0 0 0 JOSHUA PERKOFF DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE 5 0 X 0 0 0 Dale Arnold President 15 0 X 0 0 0 Patricia Kinlock Corresponding Secretary and BSFS Board Chair 5 0 X 0 0 0 John Robison Parliamentarian 5 0 X 0 0 0 Maria Markham Thompson Treasurer 10 0 X 0 0 0 Steven Joel Zeve Assistant Treasurer/Balticon Treasurer 5 0 X 0 0 0 Michael Rafferty Recording Secretary 5 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2273 2364 0 6901 33840 18880 45378 BALTICON 813410 61191 61191 0 0 0 0 0 0 61191 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3219 2364 3278 -59 0 -59 5904 6270 -366 -366 0 0 SODA MACHINE REVENUE 722515 218 218 0 0 BOOKS NOT FROM COLLECTION 459510 31 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 249 106410 61091 0 -59 0 0 2624 2624 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3919 3919 0 0 1029 1029 0 0 14611 3699 10912 2976 1006 1970 0 0 0 0 0 731 0 731 0 12249 12249 0 0 0 0 0 0 67124 66604 520 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8866 4450 4416 8062 4615 3447 UTILITIES 9341 4669 4672 0 BUILDING MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS 3071 1421 1650 0 LIBRARY 2830 2830 0 0 137433 109115 28318 0 4953 2288 84402 62197 0 0 1023 12047 0 0 0 6443 4396 0 260146 132420 115263 127726 0 0 0 0 4720 3896 216804 212550 4646 4646 0 X 212158 212550 0 0 212158 212550 216804 212550 X -31023 0 0 0 0 31415 X 0 0 0 X 13595 18007 35115 43105 52163 161985 0 63987 73042 57688 67344 262061 13595 81994 108157 100793 119507 424046 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 424046 74 17 75 62 17 245 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 17 75 62 17 245 0 0 0 0 0 340 226 289 250 249 1354 14009 82237 108521 101105 119773 425645 0.99624 0.99440 0.00058 0.00123 X Schedule A, Part III, Line 12 BSFS SELLS SODAS AT MEETINGS, RECYCLES SODA CANS FOR CASH, AND SELLS A A FEW DUPLICATE COPIES OF BOOKS DURING ITS MEETINGS. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1794 0 X X X 1 10000 0 10000 125577 0 96472 29105 0 0 0 0 124569 0 35948 88621 0 0 0 0 127726 Schedule D, Part III, Line 1 Schedule D, Part III, Line 1 - Schedule D, Part III, Line 1 - THE BSFS BOARD HAS ADOPTED THE CHANGES OF SFAS 116. THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND MEDIA IS NOT CAPITALIZED OR AMORTIZED. PROCEEDS FROM ANY ITEMS THATARE DEACCESSIONS ARE USED FOR THE DIRECT CARE AND PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION. MATERIALS DONATED TO BSFS DO NOT BECOME PART OF THE COLLECTION UNTIL ACCEPTED AND CATALOGED. MATERIALS NOT ADDED TO THE COLLECTION ARE PERSONAL PROPERTY WHICH BSFS SELLS TO RAISE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION, DISTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY BSFS MAINTAINS IN FRONT OF ITS BUILDING OR DONATES TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROMOTE GENERAL LITERACY. Schedule D, Part III, Line 2 BSFS RECEIVES DONATIONS OF ART, COLLECTIBLES, BOOKS, AND OTHER ITEMS DERIVED FROM THE SCIENCE FICTION GENRE FOR AN ANNUAL AUCTION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BOBBY GEAR MEMORIAL CHARITY AUCTION. THE FUNDS RAISED ARE USED TO DONATED TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE BOOKS TO CHILDREN TO DEVELOP LITERACY AND USED TO TO PURCHASE SPANISH LANGUAGE CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE BSFS LITTLE FREE LIBRARY. Schedule D, Part III, Line 4 The Baltimore Science Fiction Society exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts. Primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphical, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by SF. THE BSFS LIBRARY PERMITS FREE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC OF THE LITERATURE OF SPECULATIVE FICTION IN THE FORM OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND MEDIA FOR USE BY ANY INTERESTED PARTY TO READ OR VIEW FOR PURPOSES OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION OR ENJOYMENT OF WORKS CREATED IN THE GENRE. AT THE END OF FY 2025 THE HOLDINGS IN THE COLLECTION WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,000 ITEMS. BOOKS 4 KIDS AUCTION 8801 2364 6437 0 0 0 0 0 3278 0 0 8801 2364 6437 0 0 0 0 0 3278 3278 3159 Schedule G, Part I, Line 1 Auction revenue and donations to Books4Kids Schedule G, Part II, Line 1 Gross receipts from donation of items for auction, auction value received from donated items, and cash donations. In-kind donations are valued at the amount received at auction. In-kind donations are expensed at the same value. Net to BSFS Books 4 Kids is value of the auction and donations. Schedule G, Part II, Line 9 Items donated for use in the charity auction are valued at the amount received in the auction sale ($3,218) and small amount for plastic ducks ($31) sold for $1 each. X 2265 Thrift Store unless new X Role playing and board Games with accessories 11 13298 Value provided by donors, usually retail prices X Food 2 3037 Market value on receipts X Equipment 1 280 Market Value from purchase receipt 0 0 0 0 Schedule M, Part I, Line 4 DONATIONS TO THE BSFS COLLECTIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN REVENUE PER SFAS 116. COLLECTION OF BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND MEDIA IS NOT CAPITALIZED OR AMORTIZED. PROCEEDS FROM ANY ITEMS THAT THE ARE DEACCESSIONS ARE USED FOR THE DIRECT CARE AND PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION. MATERIALS DONATED TO BSFS DO NOT BECOME PART OF THE COLLECTION UNTIL ACCEPTED AND CATALOGED. THOSE MATERIALS ARE PERSONAL PROPERTY WHICH BSFS MAY SELL TO RAISE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION OR DONATE TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROMOTE GENERAL LITERACY. BSFS DOES NOT MAINTAIN A PROGRAM OF SELLING EXCESS BOOKS. A DE MINIMUS QUANTITY OF BOOKS IS PURCHASED FOR NOMINAL AMOUNTS BY VISITORS TO THE BSFS BUILDING. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY DONATIONS: New books donated to the Little Free Library are recorded at their retail value. Used books, almost all of the donations received, are valued using thrift shop methods at $1.00 each. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 - Maria Markham Thompson, the Treasurer elected by the members of BSFS is the mother of Leona A. Thompson, elected as a Director-at-Large. Kelly Shannon Pierce, elected as the Chair for Balticon 59, is the mother of Aurora Pierce. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 Section 8: Identity of Members. The members of the Corporation shall be composed of the following classes: Active membership Life membership Balticon Membership Honorary membership (a) Active members shall have full membership privileges including: the right to vote, to hold office, to receive all meeting notices, to receive BSFAN, and to attend the Baltimore Science Fantasy Conference (Balticon) without payment of a separate admission fee. To become an Active member, one must have attended two (2) meetings at the BSFS Principal Office or four (4) total meetings by any means including video teleconference or other electronic method selected by the board within the preceding twelve-month period prior to application, and pay pro-rated annual dues when the written application is submitted to the Treasurer. (b) A Life member shall have all the privileges of Active membership for life. An Active member may become a Life member by payment, of an amount equal to 10 times the current annual dues of an active member, to the Treasurer; this amount may be paid in installments upon application for life membership so long as payment in full is received within twelve (12) months of the initial payment. The Corporation may also bestow Life membership at any meeting of the Corporation by a vote of three-fourths of the members voting. (c) Balticon members have only limited membership privileges including: the right to attend the Baltimore Science Fantasy Conference (Balticon), to attend meetings, but not the right to vote or hold office. To become a Balticon member one must pay the dues to the Balticon Treasurer. (d) Honorary members have the same limited membership privileges as Balticon Members including the right to attend meetings, but not the right to vote or hold office. Honorary memberships may be bestowed at any meeting of the Corporation by a majority vote. Honorary memberships will be for a period of one year. (e) Annual dues shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the membership entitled to vote. All renewals of membership are to be paid at the start of the Corporation's fiscal year. New members who join at other times of the year will be charged dues on a pro-rated scale to be voted by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of the membership. An Active Member whose dues are delinquent for one month shall no longer be a member of the Corporation. Upon payment of the dues, membership shall be immediately reinstated. (f) No person shall be denied membership in this Corporation or participation in any of its activities because of race, sex, religion, age or national origin. (g) Each member shall keep the Corresponding Secretary supplied with a a current address to which official correspondence shall be mailed. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7a (a) Active members shall have full membership privileges including: the right to vote, to hold office, to receive all meeting notices, to receive BSFAN, and to attend the Baltimore Science Fantasy Conference (Balticon) without payment of a separate admission fee. To become an Active member, one must have attended two (2) meetings at the BSFS Principal Office or four (4) total meetings by any means including video teleconference or other electronic method selected by the board within the preceding twelve-month period prior to application, and pay pro-rated annual dues when the written application is submitted to the Treasurer. (a) Active members shall have full membership privileges including: the right to vote, to hold office, to receive all meeting notices, to receive BSFAN, and to attend the Baltimore Science Fantasy Conference (Balticon) without payment of a separate admission fee. To become an Active member, one must have attended two (2) meetings at the BSFS Principal Office or four (4) total meetings by any means including video teleconference or other electronic method selected by the board within the preceding twelve-month period prior to application, and pay pro-rated annual dues when the written application is submitted to the Treasurer. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7b BY Laws Article VI Section 2: Loans. No officers or agents of the Corporation are authorized to effect loans, advances or other forms of credit at any time unless prior approval is obtained from the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the membership of the Corporation. Article IX. Section 1: Amendment of By-Laws. A proposed amendment to these By-Laws must be submitted in writing at a meeting of the Corporation. The Corporation may then, by a majority vote of the members voting, call for a ratification vote on the proposed amendment at a specified future meeting of the Corporation. All Active and Life members shall be notified of the proposed amendment and of the meeting at which the ratification vote is to take place at least seven days prior to that meeting. A proposed amendment may be amended at the ratification meeting only if the amended amendment changes the By-Laws by a lesser amount than the original proposed amendment. An amendment to these By-Laws requires a vote of two-third of the members voting to be ratified. A ratified amendment shall become effective as a part of these By-Laws at the conclusion of the meeting at which the ratification vote was taken or at any later time specified in the motion to ratify. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Electronic copies of the draft 990 were distributed to members of the Board of Director for review and discussion before filing. The tax return was included as an agenda item at the meeting of July 11, 2026. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board members are actively involved in major decision making for key expenditures. All major transactions are arms length with unaffiliated entities. The conflict of interest policy was discussed at a meeting of the Board and that was documented in the minutes. The Board minutes are published in the monthly newsletter. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 The BSFS articles of incorporation, by-laws, policies, including Code of Conduct, and tax returns are posted one the website under Organization on its website https://bsfs.org. BSFS does not have published financial statements other than the tax return. The tax return also in available on the website of Guidestar, https://www.guidestar.org. As required by Maryland law A copy of the current financial statement of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc. is available by writing to PO Box 686, Baltimore, MD 21203] or by calling 410-563-2737. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 BSFS USED CASH RESERVES DURING FY 2025 TO COVER THE OPERATING LOSS IN PROGRAMS AND INSTALL A NEW HEAT PUMP FOR THE BUILDING AND ADDITIONAL SHELVING FOR THE BOOK COLLECTION. NOT APPLICABLE - A TIMELY EXTENSION WAS REQUESTED