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 Gelb (in North America) or Cathy Cupitt (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, 2000, 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 serve as nominators for each of the candidates. Each candidate has provided a $25 bond, a brief written platform, and a description of previous Australasian travel. They have also promised (barring Acts of God) to travel to Swancon 2001, April 13 - 15, 2001, in Perth, Australia, and to serve as administrator of the fund until a new North American delegate is elected.

DEADLINE: Ballots must reach an administrator by JANUARY 15, 2001. Send this entire ballot with US$4 or A$6 (or more) donation to an administrator.

VERIFICATION: The voters must be natural persons who have been active in fandom since January 1, 2000. 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:

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

(__) Naomi Fisher and Patrick Molloy

(__) Steven Silver

(__) Write-in

(__) Hold Over Funds

(__) No Preference

Name:

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Donation (Your generosity is appreciated.)

"DUFF delegate" means two years of serious publicizing, promotion and fundraising work -- huge responsibilities, needing people with a flair for socializing and administration.

Fortunately, we excel at these, working with manic enthusiasm and energy. And having already touristed Down Under, we'd love to meet Australian fandom without the invariable, impossible, first-time ambition of seeing everything.

Previous Australasian Travel: One fannish trip to Aussiecon Three, and twice (including our honeymoon) using Marriott travel awards, flying coach each time.

Nominators: North America -- Mark and Priscilla Olson, Bruce Pelz, Mike and Carol Resnick; Australasia -- Perry Middlemiss, Alan Stewart

Previous Australasian Travel: None

Nominators: North America -- Mike Glyer, Evelyn Leeper, Tom Whitmore; Australasia -- LMark Loney, Rose Mitchell

Australasia
Cathy Cupitt
P.O. Box 915
Nedlands, WA 6909, AUSTRALIA
Home Phone: 8-9471-1268
Internet: ccupitt@geocities.com

North America
Janice Gelb
1070 Mercedes Avenue #2
Los Altos, CA 94022 USA
Home Phone: (650) 949-1198
Internet: j_gelb@yahoo.com