Since 1972 the Down Under Fan Fund, a fan-supported fellowship, has encouraged closer ties between science- fiction fans in Australasia and North America through an alternating exchange of representatives. DUFF delegates attend the Worldcon or a national convention in the host country and visit fans they might otherwise never meet in person. Delegates are responsible for raising funds and administering DUFF until a new delegate from their continent is elected, and are expected to publish trip reports which can be sold to aid the fund.
This time the race is for an Australian fan to travel to Renovation, 17 August 2011 to 21 August 2011 (See: http://www.renovationsf.org.)
Nominations for the Australasia to US trip must be received by the administrators by midnight Thursday 31 March 2011. This year voting will close 20th May 2011. DUFF is entirely fan/volunteer run by the winning candidates from the previous election.
Nominations can be sent to:
American DUFF Administrator
John F Hertz
236 S Coronado St #409
Los Angeles CA 90057
Phone: (213) 384-6622
Australian DUFF Administrator
Emma Hawkes
9/36 Cape Street
Osborne Park WA 6017
Phone: 08 9443 4581
Email: ehawkes@iinet.net.au.
Anyone may nominate who is active in fandom. "Active in fandom" means involved in fannish pursuits, such as participation in clubs or conventions or fanzines, amateur film/video production, singing, costuming, social l ife, fanfic writing, etc., in our community, whether in real life or on-line.
For the Australasian-US trip, each candidate must be nominated by three Australasian fans and two North American fans. Each candidate will have a written platform and promises (barring Acts of God) to travel to the 2011 WorldCon, and to serve as administrator of the fund until the next American delegate is elected.
Nominations for DUFF are to be accompanied by a 150 word platform and a donation of $25 for DUFF. Payment can be made by:
You can find more information from Emma Hawkes or John Hertz (phone 213 384-6622 or fax 213 384-6630).