Jim Fiscus’ long service to SFWA began when he volunteered to serve as the SFWA Liaison to Westercon in 1990, hosting an Oregon wine tasting. He repeated the event in 1995, hosting an Oregon beer tasting at that year’s Westercon. In the mid-90s, Fiscus began writing a column for the SFWA Bulletin looking at the business and legal aspects of the publishing industry, including an explanation of the Tasini case, contracts which were hostile to writers, and other aspects of the law. Fiscus oversaw a review of the SFWA Handbook from 2002-3.
When Russell Davis was elected SFWA President in 2008, he appointed Fiscus to fill his position as Western Regional Director, a position Fiscus held until the California re-incorporation, at which time he became a Director-at-large until 2015. While serving as a Director, Fiscus served as Chair of the Orphan Works Committee. When the Orphan Works Committee was re-formed as the Legal Affairs Committee, Fiscus remained on board as co-Chair with Michael Capobianco. Fiscus also joined the Contracts Committee in 2014 and became Chair when the former chair stepped down.