The IAFA seems entirely dysfunctional

So .... it seems pretty clear that the IAFA, the major organization for the academic study of fantasy, is currently something of a dumpster fire. I won't mention the absolutely horrendous last three issues of Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, which were published after the retirement of Brian Attebery; that's another blog post, but the editorial team's lack of experience was pretty obvious. For right now, I just want to talk about the IAFA itself, and even from my semi-outsider's perspective as a rank-and-file member -- the whole organization looks to be in absolute disarray.

For some background, there were major discussions last year about moving our annual conference, the ICFA, out of Orlando, Florida. That's not been unusual lately. Scholars in the humanities are overwhelmingly left-leaning, and some people across several different academic organizations have wanted to make political statements by boycotting holding conferences in red states. (My own view is that academic organizations shouldn't make political statements, and I hate this entirely pointless virtue signaling, but whatever.) Anyway, the IAFA collectively decided last year that it was better to stay in Florida for now .... and that, so I thought, was that.

Then a survey went out a few weeks ago from the IAFA Public Information Officer, bringing the issue up again. "Well," I thought, "this is odd. Wasn't this question settled?" But I did my duty as a member, and filled out the survey, and forgot about it.

Two days ago, though, we got another email from the IAFA Conference Director. She wrote that, although she's positive that the Public Information Officer was acting in good faith (it's ominous that she even had to make that point, btw), that survey did not have the sanction of the IAFA leadership, and so the Conference Director went on to reiterate all the very good reasons that the IAFA collectively decided to remain in Florida last year. Then she announced her resignation as IAFA Conference Director, effectively immediately.

Reading between the lines, it seems pretty clear that there's a lot of infighting going on. People want the organization to advance their political agenda, and they go cowboy on their plans, which ends up disrespecting and marginalization other leaders in the organization. It all seems quite toxic.