DUFF, the Down Under Fan Fund
2013 Ballot

Founded in 1972, and supported by contributions from all over the world, DUFF sends a delegate from North America to Australia – New Zealand, or the other way in alternating years, attending the World Science Fiction Convention if it is on the receiving side or otherwise at least one national convention, with any further fannish travel that is practical, meeting fans, making friends, radiating goodwill, publishing a trip report, and becomes the DUFF Administrator in turn until the next cycle on the delegate’s home side. The new delegate is also expected to publish a trip report, copies of which may be sold to add to the fund.

In 2013, the 71st World Science Fiction convention will be LoneStarCon 3, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, in the USA, from August 29-Sept 2, 2013. Nominations were accepted until midnight 31 March 2013. 
Candidates to be eligible had to have three Australian or New Zealand nominators, and two North American nominators, to provide a written platform, and to contribute a donation of at least $25 Australian or equivalent.

Votes will be accepted until midnight 10 June 2013, and must be accompanied by a donation of at least $5 Australian, Canadian, United States, or $7 New Zealand. Anyone active in fandom on or before 1 Jan 2013 may vote. “Active in fandom” means a natural person involved in fannish pursuits in our community, such as participation in clubs or conventions or fanzines, singing, costuming or social life, physically, electronically, or otherwise. Ballots must include the voter’s name, postal address, and either phone or email contact information. Paper ballots must be signed. Voters who think they may not be known to an Administrator should include the name and contact information of a fan who knows them and who can be confirmed by the Administrators. A copy of this ballot can be found online at http://www.difference.com.au/fandom/duff2013.pdf

DUFF uses the preferential system of balloting, which yields an automatic runoff if needed and assures a majority win. The voter ranks choices in order of preference, e.g., 1, 2, 3. If there is no absolute majority for one choice after a first count of votes, first place votes for the lowest ranking choice are dropped and the second place votes on those ballots are assigned to the choices named. This goes on until one choice has a majority. It can therefore be important to vote preferences other than first place, although this is not required.

Mail this ballot with your donation, or pay by PayPal and state preferences and voter information through the Personal tab.

CANDIDATES
Bill Wright
Australasian nominators: Bruce Gillespie, Mervyn Binns, Martin James Ditmar (Dick) Jenssen
North American nominators: Murray Moore, John Purcell
Bill Wright joined fandom in the 1950s and is a lifetime member of the Melbourne SF Club, founder member of Anzapa, founder member of the Nova Mob (Melbourne's SF discussion group) and was secretary of Aussiecon, 33rd Worldcon in Melbourne in 1975. He also organised the Australian side of the Bring Bruce Bayside Fan Fund in 2004. His fanzine Interstellar Ramjet Scoop is now an e-zine on eFanzines. Currently he works  for the Australian Science Fiction Foundation. Bill will be an able representative of the Australasian science fiction community at Worldcon and will write a ripper of a trip report.

Clare McDonald-Sims
Australasian nominators: Rose Mitchell, Perry Middlemiss, Janice Gelb
North American nominators: Curt Phillips, Chris Garcia
I found SF when my high school librarian got tired of me asking for reading recommendations and suggested I start with A; Asimov came up and I never looked back. I found fandom through Star Trek (via the books) and stayed for the company. More of a behind-the-scenes type than a leader, I’ve attended three Worldcons in three different countries so far and helped on Committee for Aussiecon 4. I relish being pushed out of my comfort zone, and therefore love to travel. If I win, I promise to say “G’day” to as many people as possible while at Worldcon.

A. Voter Preferences

Bill Wright 			___

Clare McDonald-Sims 	___
	
Hold Over Funds		___

No Preference		___

Write In …………………………….

B. Voter Information

Name…………………………………………………………...

Signature……………………………………………………….

Street Address…………………………………………………

City……………………………………………………………...

State or Province………………… Zip or Post Code……….

Country………………………………………………………...

Contact Phone or Email………………………………………

If you think you may not be known to an Administrator, please provide the name and contact information of a fan who is likely to be known to the Administrators and can vouch for you:

C. Donation
In US$: by PayPal to Ulrika O’Brien (ulrika.obrien@gmail.com) noting this is a DUFF payment; or by check (made out to “Down Under Fan Fund”) sent to John Hertz, 236 S. Coronado St. #409, Los Angeles, CA 90057
In C$: by PayPal to Ulrika O’Brien (ulrika.obrien@gmail.com) or by cheque to René Walling, 431 Church St., Beaconsfield, QC H9W 3R9
In A$: by PayPal to David Cake (dave@difference.com.au) noting this is a DUFF payment; or by cheque (made out to “Down Under Fan Fund”), either sent to Australian Science Fiction Foundation, P.O. Box 215, Forest Hill, VIC 3131, or included with your ballot. 
In NZ$: ask Norman Cates (norman.cates@gmail.com) for details.

D. Your preferences, voter information, and notification of how you made your donation should go to either one of the DUFF administrators. 
Australia & New Zealand					North America 
David Cake 							John Hertz 	
6 Florence Rd.						236 S. Coronado St. #409 
Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia				Los Angeles, CA 90057 USA 
Phone: +614 1207 3082 (mobile)				Phone: (213) 384-6622 
Email: dave@difference.com.au

Reproduction of this ballot is encouraged, provided it is reproduced verbatim, apart from the name below.
Anyone doing so should substitute his or her name here: David Cake