Welcome to the NAFF race for 2011! NAFF stands for the National Australian Fan Fund, and provides funds for a fan to travel across Australia to attend the National Science Fiction Convention. NAFF usually provides funds to cover part of the cost of airfare (or traveling expenses) and/or convention membership. The National Science Fiction Convention changes every year between each of the major cities in Australia.
The Natcon for this NAFF race is the 50th Australian Natcon and is being held at Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty. Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty will be held in Perth over the Easter weekend 21 -25 April 2011. It features Ellen Datlow and Justina Robson as International Guests of Honour alongside Sean Williams as National Guest of Honour and Sarah Xu as Fan Guest of Honour. More information can be found at: http://2011.swancon.com.au.
Call for nominations
Fans residing in all Australian states and territories except Western Australia are eligible to be nominated as this year's NAFF delegate. Nominees must be nominated by 3 Australian fans, with at least ONE nominator coming from outside the nominee's home state/territory. Nominees must pay a $20 nomination cost; attend the Natcon and take part in events as required; produce a NAFF report by the next Natcon and commit to administering the NAFF fund for the two years after their win.
Nominations and the names of nominees are to be forwarded to Gina Goddard (gandt@iinet.net.au) or Sue Ann Barber (activeim@hotmail.com) by midnight 28th February 2011. The voting process will commence by 7th March. Any queries can also be forwarded to the same email addresses.
A testimony from your current NAFF delegate
I was lucky enough to be elected NAFF delegate in 2010 and attended the 49th Natcon, held concurrently with Aussiecon 4, the Worldcon, in Melbourne. I had a wonderful time. As NAFF delegate I was given the opportunity to present at the Ditmar awards, appear on panels and go to many a party. Being the NAFF delegate gave me the chance to meet many fans that I otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to greet. In fact, I felt that it was incumbent on me to do so. Other fans were very welcoming and friendly. As the 2011 NAFF delegate you could be given the same opportunities or many others. It's really up to you about how much of a public role you want to play – some delegates in the past have taken the opportunity to just have a darn good time! Please consider nominating: you won't regret it!
Gina Goddard (NAFF delegate 2010)