2010 Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund Race (Brian and I are running)

[netmouse]

Press Release: 2010 TAFF Race: Nominations Open

The 2010 TAFF race (eastward: North America to Europe) is now open for nominations. The winning delegate will attend the 2010 Eastercon, Odyssey, in London over the Easter weekend, 2-5 April, 2010. (Odyssey's website is http://www.odyssey2010.org/.)

To stand as a candidate, you must provide:

Five nominations from known fans, three of whom must be resident in North America and two resident in Europe. All of these should send a signed nomination via postal mail -- or, if sending the nomination by e-mail, include a phone number for verification

A written platform, not exceeding 101 words

A $20 bond (US or Canadian dollars)

A pledge you will take the trip if you win

All nominations, platforms, pledges and / or bonds must arrive with either the North American or European administrator (see below) by midnight GMT on Sunday, 4 October, 2009.

Brian and I are planning to run. Please let me know if you're up for sending a nomination in for us. I haven't written our platform yet but we do pledge to go if we win.

Regardless, do please support the funds; they are very cool.

One of the various sets of messages I got to pass back and forth before this year's worldcon was an inquiry as to whether or not Neil Gaiman would donate a tuckerization (someone's name showing up in a story of his) for the fan fund auction, benefiting all three fan funds (TAFF, DUFF and CUFF). He did, and it went for $700. Helping make that sort of nifty thing go through was one of the most delightful things about my responsibilities last month.

Comments

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

If you think my nomination would help (and not hurt) your chances, I'm certainly willing to endorse you.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

ah, fannish politics. *grin*

I think I've got the North American side covered, m'dear. The challenge will be regarding the other side of the pond, I think.

But thanks muchly!

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

What is the definition of a "Known Fan?"

[foms.livejournal.com]

Are you now or have you ever been...?

[gary-farber.livejournal.com]

Practically speaking: you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows a current administrator, up to the point where the administrators decide it's gone too far, and whomever the current administrators are get to decide their own policy on this.

I don't know that anyone's vote has ever been excluded. It's there to prevent ballot-stuffing by someone going to all their co-workers and relatives and anyone they meet on the street, etc., who haven't actually committed any fanac in any possible way. It's not an effort to make sure Only The Right Kind Of Fans Can Vote, honest. If there's any doubt and cause, typically past administrators have just asked the voter to put down either the name of someone they know who is a well-known fan, or mention some type of fanac they've done.

This is only my own explanation, and in no way do I speak for TAFF.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

I believe his question was just about the requirement for being *nominated* by a known fan. But thanks for the explanation...

[gary-farber.livejournal.com]

Oh, right, sorry.

I was absent-mindedly thinking of the line that's almost forever been on the bottom of the ballot: "If you think your name may not be known to the administrators, please provide the name and contact details of an active fan (not a fan group, a candidate, or their nominator) who is known to them and who is willing to vouch for you:"

Practically speaking, as you said, and as you know, Bob, there's what could be referred to as "fan politics" in whom you ask to be a nominator, in that you want to choose people whose endorsement will maximise the attractiveness of your candidacy.

Otherwise the same explanation I gave as regards voting applies.