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 annual exchange of representatives. DUFF is supported by voluntary contributions from fans all over the world. 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.

DONATIONS: DUFF exists solely on the donations and contributions of fans and fan organizations. Please give generously. Anyone may contribute and donations in excess of the voting donation are gratefully accepted. Checks should be made payable to Janice Murray (in North America) or Terry Frost (in Australasia). Money should always be sent in the administrator's home currency.

VOTING: DUFF uses the preferential system of balloting to guarantee an automatic runoff and a majority win. The voter ranks the candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3). If there is no absolute majority for one candidate after the first count of votes first-place votes for the lowest-ranking candidate are dropped and the second-place votes on those ballots are assigned to the candidates named. This goes on until one candidate has a majority. It is therefore important to vote for second, third, etc. places, especially if you choose to write in a candidate. (The voter is not required to fill in more than their name, address and first choice.) Ballots must be signed and accompanied by a donation of at least $4 in US currency or $6 in Australian currency. You must return the entire ballot (both sides). Each voter may vote only once.

VOTERS' ELIGIBILITY: Anyone who has been active in fandom on or before January 1, 1998 may vote. `Active in fandom' means involved in fannish pursuits such as fanzine writing or reading, convention running or attending, amateur film/video production or club participation. Voting is limited to natural persons.

CANDIDATES: Three North American Fans and two Australasian fans have stood as nominators for each of the three candidates. Each candidate has provided a $25 bond, a brief written platform and a description of previous Australasian travel; and promised (barring Acts of God) to travel to Aussiecon 3 in Melbourne, Australia, September 2 - 6, 1999 and to serve as administrator of the fund until a new North American delegate is elected.

DEADLINE: BALLOTS MUST BE REACH AN ADMINISTRATOR BY MARCH 31, 1999. SEND THIS ENTIRE BALLOT WITH US$4 OR A$6 (OR MORE) DONATION TO AN ADMINISTRATOR.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY. LIST IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE (1, 2, 3 ETC.):

(__) Lise Eisenberg

(__) Janice Gelb

(__) Andy Hooper

(__) Write-in

(__) Hold Over Funds

(__) No Preference

Name:

Signature:

Donation (Your generosity is appreciated.)

Street:

City:

State/Province:

ZIP/Postal Code:

Country:

Phone #:

E-Mail:

The voters must be natural persons who have been active in fandom since January 1, 1998. If you think you may be unknown to the administrators please give the name of a fan or fan group (other than a candidate or nominator) who can vouch that you meet these criteria.

Reference:

Reference address:

Brilliant, witty, gregarious brunette with tropism for Australians seeks brainy raconeur for (whoops--wrong ad). After 27 years of putting up (with) DUFF, GUFF, and FFANZ winners, I seek reciprocity. Thanks to fandom, I've become an aficionada of far-off places and 'interesting' experiences. I've heard Mongolian rock & roll, dined at Abbey Road Studios and seen Footrot Flats: The Musical. I've eaten Vegemite, on purpose, more than once. Here in New York, I've chaired Corflu, hosted Fanoclasts, written the occasional fanzine. I've even counted 'Australian' ballots, and hope to do so again as DUFF Administrator. I love Australia and want to come back.

Previous Australasian Travel: I traveled to Australia in 1985 to attend Aussiecon II, and visited fans in Sydney and Melbourne. I also saw the Auckland airport, at great length.

Nominators: North America -- Lucy Huntzinger, Jerry Kaufman and Suzanne V. Tompkins, Nigel Rowe.
Australasia -- Eric Lindsay, Perry Middlemiss.

Having read Nevil Shute's The Legacy at least three times, and having recently seen my first Cadbury Yowie, I'm hoping to get the chance to travel to Australia as a DUFF representative. I've been a con-runner and apahack for *yikes* 20 years and am known for my extensive (and timely!) convention reports. I've enjoyed the company of the Australian fans who've made the trek to North American worldcons, and I'd very much like to meet more Australian fans and see their native habitat. (I promise to try not to coo excessively at the koalas.)

Previous Australasian Travel: None.

Nominators: North America -- Mike Glyer, Joe D. Siclari and Edie Stern, Pat and Roger Sims.
Australasia -- Stephen Boucher, Jean Weber.

I peer in speculation at dusty pink Australia on an upended library globe. By habit pressed against the globe stand, it avoids the burnishing of fingertips and pencil points that obliterate more familiar provinces and parallels. Deserts are clean pointillist speckles, great bays retain their ragged geometry, mountain ranges drag a thumb in the waters of the chalk-blue sea. What would one traveler from a distant murky forest find in all that sharp landscape? I will go over the long, grimy blue arc of the ocean, into that dim pink unknown, and bring back a story of my habits there.

Previous Australasian Travel: None

Nominators: North America -- Victor Gonzalez, Robert Lichtman, Ted White.
Australasia -- John Foyster, Irwin Hirsh.

Australasia
Terry Frost
4/8 Walker Street
West Brunswick, Victoria 3055, AUSTRALIA
Home Phone: 61 (03) 9388-2434
Internet: hlector@netspace.net.au

North America
Janice Murray
PO Box 75684
Seattle, Washington 98125-0684, USA
Phone: (206) 524-1206
Internet: JaniceMurray@compuserve.com