A press release from the TransAtlantic Fan Fund:
The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund was created in 1953 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular fans familiar to those on both sides of the ocean across the Atlantic. Since that time, TAFF has regularly brought North American fans to European conventions and European fans to North American conventions. It exists solely through the support of fandom. Interested fans all over the world vote on the candidates, each vote being accompanied by a small minimum donation. These votes, and the continued generosity of fandom, are what make TAFF possible.
Voting in the 2012 race is open to anyone active in fandom prior to December 2010, and who donates at least UK£2 or US$3 to TAFF. Larger contributions will be gratefully accepted. Voting is by secret ballot: only one vote per person, and you must sign your ballot. You may change your vote at any time prior to the deadline. Votes in this race must reach the administrators by 23:59 on December 9th 2011 (GMT in Europe, MST in North America).
Donations: TAFF gratefully accepts your freely given money and material for auction; such generosity has sustained the Fund for more than 50 years. TAFF is fandom’s longest-running travel fund, and one of its worthiest causes—give early and often!
Candidates: Each candidate has posted a bond, promising—barring unforeseen, unavoidable circumstances—to travel, if elected, to the 2012 Eastercon in Heathrow, London (Olympus, April 6-9, 2012). They have also provided a platform, and all of their nominators have personally contacted the administrators to submit their nomination.
Nominees are:
Warren Buff: “I came to fandom from an odd angle, but since I got here, I’ve been exploring its varieties. I got into conrunning enough to chair the 2010 NASFiC, I edit a clubzine for the Southern Fandom Confederation and write the occasional LoC or article for others, and generally expanded my knowledge of SF by asking older fans for reading suggestions. All of this is a blast, but so far, I’ve only done it in North America. I plan to come to Olympus, win or lose, but winning would fund a further week traveling around the UK visiting even more fans.”
Nominated by James Bacon, Paul Cornell, Chris Garcia, Tim Illingworth and Lloyd Penney.
Kim G. Kofmel: “I discovered fandom in Ottawa, Canada in the 1970s. I’ve pubbed perzines, worked on conventions, costumed, written short stories & poetry, and learned smooothing from Tucker himself. I live now in Houston, Texas but still have strong ties to Ottawa, Toronto, & Detroit fandom. I’m overly active in the Houston Science Fiction Association (ApolloCon! Great con! Come see!!). Since I’m working the North American side of the London in 2014 Worldcon bid I’m excited about this opportunity to experience UK & European fandom at Eastercon. I promise to bring the hat—and I promise to publish a trip report.”
Nominated by Flick, Brad Foster, Jeanne Gomoll, Alice Lawson, and Pat Virzi/Mueller.
Jacqueline Monahan: “This flagrant Vegrant (Chicago native) is intrigued by fanhistory and its documentation. I am rarely at a loss for words, either verbally or in print. I am the co-OE for SNAPS (60th issue just out, 17 JM contributions to date) with articles in Beam, Further Ado, and Small & Far Away, among others. Named Best New Fanzine Fan (2010 FAAN Awards); Editor of Alan White’s new e-book, The Zombie Effect. I promise not to try to make a Buckingham Palace guard laugh; I will produce a fantastic TAFF report, naming names and exposing social gaffes at my own expense. Just wait.”
Nominated by Sandra Bond, Nic Farey, Steve Green, Curt Phillips and John Purcell.
Download the ballot here.