A press release:

Founded in 1972, and supported by contributions from all over the world, DUFF sends a delegate from North America to Australia – New Zealand, or the other way in alternating years, attending the World Science Fiction Convention if it is on the receiving side or otherwise at least one national convention, with any further fannish travel that is practical, meeting fans, making friends, radiating goodwill, publishing a trip report, and becomes the DUFF Administrator in turn until the next cycle on the delegate’s home side. The new delegate is also expected to publish a trip report, copies of which may be sold to add to the fund.

In 2013, the 71st World Science Fiction convention will be LoneStarCon 3, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, in the USA, from August 29-Sept 2, 2013. Nominations were accepted until midnight 31 March 2013. Candidates to be eligible had to have three Australian or New Zealand nominators, and two North American nominators, to provide a written platform, and to contribute a donation of at least $25 Australian or equivalent.

Votes will be accepted until midnight 10 June 2013, and must be accompanied by a donation of at least $5 Australian, Canadian, United States, or $7 New Zealand. Anyone active in fandom on or before 1 Jan 2013 may vote. “Active in fandom” means a natural person involved in fannish pursuits in our community, such as participation in clubs or conventions or fanzines, singing, costuming or social life, physically, electronically, or otherwise. Ballots must include the voter’s name, postal address, and either phone or email contact information. Paper ballots must be signed. Voters who think they may not be known to an Administrator should include the name and contact information of a fan who knows them and who can be confirmed by the Administrators. A copy of this ballot can be found online at http://www.difference.com.au/fandom/duff2013.pdf

DUFF uses the preferential system of balloting, which yields an automatic runoff if needed and assures a majority win. The voter ranks choices in order of preference, e.g., 1, 2, 3. If there is no absolute majority for one choice after a first count of votes, first place votes for the lowest ranking choice are dropped and the second place votes on those ballots are assigned to the choices named. This goes on until one choice has a majority. It can therefore be important to vote preferences other than first place, although this is not required.

Mail the ballot with your donation, or pay by PayPal and state preferences and voter information through the Personal tab.

CANDIDATES
Bill Wright
Australasian nominators: Bruce Gillespie, Mervyn Binns, Martin James Ditmar (Dick) Jenssen
North American nominators: Murray Moore, John Purcell
Bill Wright joined fandom in the 1950s and is a lifetime member of the Melbourne SF Club, founder member of Anzapa, founder member of the Nova Mob (Melbourne’s SF discussion group) and was secretary of Aussiecon, 33rd Worldcon in Melbourne in 1975. He also organised the Australian side of the Bring Bruce Bayside Fan Fund in 2004. His fanzine Interstellar Ramjet Scoop is now an e-zine on eFanzines. Currently he works for the Australian Science Fiction Foundation. Bill will be an able representative of the Australasian science fiction community at Worldcon and will write a ripper of a trip report.

Clare McDonald-Sims
Australasian nominators: Rose Mitchell, Perry Middlemiss, Janice Gelb
North American nominators: Curt Phillips, Chris Garcia
I found SF when my high school librarian got tired of me asking for reading recommendations and suggested I start with A; Asimov came up and I never looked back. I found fandom through Star Trek (via the books) and stayed for the company. More of a behind-the-scenes type than a leader, I’ve attended three Worldcons in three different countries so far and helped on Committee for Aussiecon 4. I relish being pushed out of my comfort zone, and therefore love to travel. If I win, I promise to say “G’day” to as many people as possible while at Worldcon.

Related articles previously published on SFScope:
2013 Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) Race Opens (4 February 2013)