Down Under Fan Fund
Encyclopedia
The Down Under Fan Fund, also known as DUFF, was created in 1970 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular members of science fiction fandom
familiar to fans on both sides of the Pacific ocean.
), and the rise of fanzine
fandom centred around Melbourne, Australia; e.g. Australian SF Review, SF Commentary, ANZAPA
. He based the procedures of DUFF on the already-existing TAFF (Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund), which began in 1952.
In addition to donations, fans hold auctions at science fiction conventions to raise money for DUFF. Frequently art, books, t-shirts, and other ephemera of fandom are auctioned off for this purpose.
.
Voting is by secret ballot, using instant-runoff voting
; and is open to anyone who has been active in fandom for the prior year or more and who contributes to the Fund. Ballots are signed, to prevent ballot-box stuffing and to enable the election administrators to identify each voter as a known member of fandom.
Although the winner is expected to attend Worldcon or a specific national convention, DUFF delegates generally also tour the country before and/or after the convention in order to meet a variety of fans.
Winning DUFF candidates are expected to write a trip report, which customarily takes the form of a fanzine
or a series of fanzine articles. These fanzines are sometimes sold in order to help raise funds towards future DUFF trips. In addition, winners take over the administration of the fund for their region (Australia/NZ or North America) for two years until the next regional DUFF delegate is selected. At any given time, there are at least two administrators, one for each region.
Westbound races (ex-USA) are marked << and eastbound (ex-Australasia) >>.
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
familiar to fans on both sides of the Pacific ocean.
History
DUFF was created by John Foyster in 1970 as a means of increasing the face-to-face communication between science fiction fans in Australia and New Zealand, and North America. It coincides with the push within Australian fandom to host the World Science Fiction Convention in Australia in 1975, (Aussiecon33rd World Science Fiction Convention
The 33rd World Science Fiction Convention, informally known as Aussiecon, was held in Melbourne, Australia, 14–17 August 1975, at the Southern Cross Hotel. Its guests of honour were Ursula K. Le Guin , Susan Wood , Mike Glicksohn , and Donald Tuck...
), and the rise of fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
fandom centred around Melbourne, Australia; e.g. Australian SF Review, SF Commentary, ANZAPA
Amateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
. He based the procedures of DUFF on the already-existing TAFF (Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund), which began in 1952.
Funding
DUFF is funded through the support of fandom. Candidates are voted on by interested fans all over the world, and each vote is accompanied by a donation of not less than $US5 or $A6. These donations, and the continued generosity of fandom, are what make the whole concept of these fan funds possible.In addition to donations, fans hold auctions at science fiction conventions to raise money for DUFF. Frequently art, books, t-shirts, and other ephemera of fandom are auctioned off for this purpose.
Procedure
Each candidate posts a bond, promising to travel (if elected) to a major convention on the other side of the Pacific; and has provided signed nominations and a platformPlatform
- Physical objects and features :* Diving platform, used in competitive diving* Jumping platform, naturally occurring platforms, or platforms made in an ad-hoc way for cliff jumping* Oil platform, a structure built for oil production...
.
Voting is by secret ballot, using instant-runoff voting
Instant-runoff voting
Instant-runoff voting , also known as preferential voting, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a...
; and is open to anyone who has been active in fandom for the prior year or more and who contributes to the Fund. Ballots are signed, to prevent ballot-box stuffing and to enable the election administrators to identify each voter as a known member of fandom.
Although the winner is expected to attend Worldcon or a specific national convention, DUFF delegates generally also tour the country before and/or after the convention in order to meet a variety of fans.
Winning DUFF candidates are expected to write a trip report, which customarily takes the form of a fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
or a series of fanzine articles. These fanzines are sometimes sold in order to help raise funds towards future DUFF trips. In addition, winners take over the administration of the fund for their region (Australia/NZ or North America) for two years until the next regional DUFF delegate is selected. At any given time, there are at least two administrators, one for each region.
List of DUFF winners
Past DUFF winners by year.Westbound races (ex-USA) are marked << and eastbound (ex-Australasia) >>.
- 1972 << Lesleigh Luttrell
- 1974 >> Leigh Edmonds
- 1975 << Rusty HevelinRusty HevelinJames "Rusty" Hevelin is a science fiction fan, fanzine publisher, collector and huckster. He has been an active member of the science fiction community since the 1930s, publishing his own fanzines such as H-1661, as well as contributing to many others. He has been Fan Guest of Honor and...
- 1976 >> Christine McGowan
- 1977 << Bill Rotsler
- 1978 >> Paul Stevens
- 1979 << Ken Fletcher & Linda Lounsbury
- 1980 >> Keith Curtis
- 1981 << Joyce Scrivner
- 1982 >> Peter Toluzzi
- 1983 << Jerry Kaufman
- 1984 >> Jack Herman
- 1985 << Marty & Robbie Cantor
- 1986 >> Nick Stathopoulos, Lewis Morley, Marilyn Pride
- 1987 << Lucy Huntzinger
- 1988 >> Terry DowlingTerry DowlingTerence William Dowling, born at Lystra Private Hospital , is an Australian writer, freelance journalist, award-winning critic, editor, game designer and reviewer...
- 1989 << John D Berry
- 1990 >> Greg Turkich
- 1991 << Art Widner
- 1992 >> Roger Weddall
- 1993 << Dick SmithDick Smith (software)Dick Smith is a Chicago, Illinois-based software engineer, computer consultant and a science fiction fanzine publisher.-Science fiction fandom:...
& Leah Zeldes Smith - 1994 >> Alan Stewart
- 1995 << Pat & Roger Simms
- 1996 >> Perry Middlemiss
- 1997 << Janice Murray
- 1998 >> Terry Frost
- 1999 << Janice Gelb
- 2000 >> Cathy Cupitt
- 2001 << Naomi Fisher & Patrick Molloy
- 2002 >> Julian Warner
- 2003 << Guy & Rosy Lillian
- 2004 >> Norman Cates
- 2005 << Joe Siclari
- 2008 << Steve and Sue Francis
- 2009 >> Emma Hawkes
- 2010 << John HertzJohn Hertz (fan)John Hertz is a long-time Los Angeles, California science fiction fan.Winner of the Big Heart Award at the 61st World Science Fiction Convention , he is active in the fanzine community, publishing the fanzine Vanamonde. Three collections of his fanwriting have been published, West of the Moon ,...
See also
- TransAtlantic Fan FundTransAtlantic Fan FundThe Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, often known as TAFF, was created in 1953 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular members of science fiction fandom familiar to fans on both sides of the ocean, across the Atlantic.-History:...
(TAFF) - GUFF
- FFANZ