The Down Under Fan Fund is taking nominations for the 2018 race that will send a delegate from Australia or New Zealand to San Jose for Worldcon 76 (August 16-20, 2018) or another major convention in North America in 2018.

DUFF, founded in 1972 and supported by donations from SF fans all over the world, brings a delegate from Australia/New Zealand to North America, or vice versa, in alternating years.

Delegates are chosen as active members of the SF community whom fans on the other side of the Pacific would like to meet. The delegate travels as much as possible, makes friends, radiates goodwill, and becomes the administrator until replaced by the next delegate. There is an expectation (not always fulfilled!) that delegates will write a trip report during or after their trip. Delegates’ trip reports are sold to support the Fund.

The current administrators of the fund are Paul Weimer in North America and Clare McDonald-Sims in Australia.

Five nominators (3 Australian/New Zealand nominators and 2 North American nominators) are required for each nominee. A written platform of about 100 words should be submitted by the nominee providing some information about themselves in a fannish context. Nominees are also asked to provide a bond of at least 25 Australian or New Zealand dollars.

DUFF voting is done by secret ballot, and is determined using the instant runoff method.

Nominations will be accepted through January 31. Send your nominations to Clare McDonald-Sims at [email protected].

Further details about DUFF can be found at: https://downunderfanfund.wordpress.com/

Address DUFF inquiries to:

• For Australia/New Zealand: [email protected]
• For North America: [email protected]

[Thanks to  Paul Weimer for the story.]