Steve and Sue Francis are back from the Aussie NatCon and have very kindly sent along a preliminary DUFF trip report:

“We have just completed our trip to Australia as DUFF 2008 representatives. New friendships were made with fans from Perth, Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide and Melbourne. We also visited with people that we knew from our previous trip to Australia in 1999. One of the requirements of the DUFF representatives is to attend a major Australian convention during their trip Down Under. This year it was the Australian NatCon/Swancon 33 in Perth.

“The second task that falls to the current DUFF representative is to prepare and distribute a trip report for the year in which travel is completed. That report is now a work in progress. We hope to have it finished before the end of the year. Copies will be available for $5.00 wherever you find us or by mail.

“The third task we will be undertaking is to raise funds during the next two years thru auctions, table sales and by collecting any donations from fans who are willing to support the DUFF fund. To that end we will be attending the following conventions around the country:

ConGlomeration Louisville KY April 18-20
MidWestCon   Cincinnati OH June 26-29
WesterCon   Las Vegas NV July 3-6
Denvention   Denver CO  Aug 6-10
Armadillocon    Austin TX Aug 15-17
The FranHurst Family Reunion Relaxacon  Louisville KY Oct 3-5
SmofCon 26    Columbus OH Dec 5-7
ConCave 29.5 (New Year’s Eve Party)  Horse Cave KY Dec 26-28

“There will be a DUFF table at Denvention next to the Australia in 2010 bid table and the Xerps in 2010 table. You might hear some tall tales of our Australian fannish tour at the table, so come by and say G’day Y’all. — Sue and Steve Francis 2008 DUFF Representatives.”