Nominations are now open for a Down Under Fan Fund delegate from North America to the 53rd Australian national science fiction convention Continuum X, Melbourne, June 6-9, 2014.If a nominee is willing and able (must be both) to attend also the 35th New Zealand natcon Conclave II, Auckland 24-27 April, this should be stated.
DUFF, founded in 1972, and supported by donations from s-f fans all over the world, sends a delegate from North America to Australia – New Zealand, or the other way, in alternating years.
Delegates are chosen as active members of the s-f community whom fans on the visited side would like to meet. The delegate travels as much as possible, makes friends, radiates goodwill, and becomes the Adminstrator in turn on the home side until the next cycle. Delegates’ trip reports are sold to support the Fund.
I am the current NA Administrator. The ANZ Adminstrator is Bill Wright.
Three NA nominators and two ANZ nominators are required for each westbound candidate. Candidates should submit a written platform of about 100 words and a donation of at least US$25 or C$ equivalent.
Nominations will be accepted until midnight 6 Jan 14 Pacific Standard Time. The ballot will be published as soon as possible thereafter with candidates, nominators, and platforms. Voting will probably close 31 Mar; maybe earlier should a substantial likelihood emerge of also attending the NZ natcon.
Send United States paper mail to me, John Hertz, 236 S. Coronado St., No. 409, Los Angeles, CA 90057, U.S.A.; call me if you wish, (213) 384-6622; checks in US$ should be payable to DUFF. Send Canada mail and donations to René Walling, 431 Church St., Beaconsfield, QC H9W 3R9, Canada. Jeanne Bowman the 1992 delegate of our sister Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund will ecumenically accept PayPal donations and E-mail, jeannebowmanduff@gmail.com.
Bill Wright may be reached electronically at bilw@iprimus.com.au (or, if he happens to be traveling, bilwmahail@gmail.com); or write to me for his real-mail address. Consult him about donations in A$ or NZ$.