Darkover Council

Some Darkover fans organized themselves by joining "Darkover Councils," also known as "Towers." These gatherings are a form of fan club.
Councils were listed in the Darkover Newsletters, were there is much about their formation, rules, and activities.
"Darkover Councils" were most popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Jacqueline Lichtenberg in charge of council organization.
==Scope==
In March 1978, a plan was announced that the newly forming Darkover Welcommittee would from then-on be the source of information for Councils. This was done to take some of the work off of Lichtenberg's shoulders, and to shorten the Darkover Newsletter where council info had become too unwieldily. "As noted elsewhere. Keeper's Tower will now cover only latest NEWS of the Councils in the DNL. The list of active Councils will be published by WELCOMMITTEE and made available to all interested parties at cost plus SASE." from Darkover Newsletter #11
There were 10 Councils listed in the August 1977 Darkover Newsletter, and in January 1978, there were 51.
As of February 1980 there were 98 registered Councils, 75 of which were Chartered.
===Management and Types===
Jacqueline Lichtenberg explained in 1980: "The difference between Registered and being Chartered is simply that Chartered Councils send me a list of names and addresses of their members, and keep me informed of additions and corrections to the list. For this level of activity, they get a lovely frameable Charter for the organizer of the Council, and blue membership cards for each member." Darkover Newsletter #21
Lichtenberg explained in 1977: "We have two kinds of Councils: 1) those which function basically by mail, being almost pen-pal clubs, and those which are strictly local, holding meetings every now eind then. It is possible to belong to more than one Council." Darkover Newsletter #6
===Issues===
Councils were, perhaps, fleeting in existence, and often seemingly poor at correspondence.
In 1981, Jacqueline Lichtenberg tried to get a handle on just how many Councils were up and running. She sent out a questionnaire to every Council, and reported: "We've heard from 44 Councils, two of which are officially disbanded... There are yet 67 Councils that have not responded... though the Post Awful seems to have delivered it to them." Darkover Newsletter #24
==Bradley's Newsletter==
Each Council had to purchase a subscription to Bradley's newsletter.
In 1978, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, the fan in charge of Council registration and accountability, asked: "I am now asking for all Councils to report the news of their doings to me for the Keeper's Tower report. I'd like to know how many meetings you've held, what you did at them, whether you publish, whether your Council letter is available to outsiders, how many RR loops you are running, and any other fan interests you have." MZB interjected that each Council had better have at least one subscription to this newsletter.Darkover Newsletter #11
==About==
From Ambrov Zeor #6 (January 1978): 
==Jacqueline Lichtenber's Control==
Jacqueline Lichtenberg was in charge of registering and organizing councils. She communicated with fans about her decisions and made announcements in a section of the Darkover Newsletter called "Keeper's Tower," which was the name of her own Council. See Keeper's Tower.
In November 1977, Lichtenberg wrote about one reason why she kept a firm hand on the naming reins: 
==List of Councils==
* Aldaran Council
* Alton Council
* Arilinn Council
* Armida Council
* Australian Darkover Council
* Caer Donn Council
* Carthon Council
* Chieri Council
* Council Hastur
* Council of Emyn Beriad
* Council of the Heights
* Council of the Hellers
* Council of the Shadowlands
* Crystal Chamber Council
* Darriel Council
* Four Moons Council
* Free Amazon Council
* Friends of Darkover
* Keeper's Tower
* Kilghard Council
* Serrais Council
* St. Valentine-of-the-Snows
* Thendara Council
* Valeron Council
==Early 1978 Councils==
File:council1.jpg|list from Darkover Newsletter #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council2.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council3.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council4.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council5.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council6.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council7.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
File:council8.jpg|list from "Darkover Newsletter" #9/10, addresses redacted
==List of Darkover Newsletters & Zines==
* Kierestelli
* Kireseth Newsletter
* The Sword of Serrais
* The Stone and the Stars
* Valle Doro Guildhouse Newsletter
* The Voice of Valeron
* Weyrdly Towering
==References==
Category:Darkover Fan Clubs