What is TAFF? 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. TAFF exists solely through the support of fandom. The candidates are voted on by interested fans all over the world, and each vote is accompanied by a donation of not less than $3 or £2. These votes, and the continued generosity of fandom, are what make TAFF possible.
Who may vote? Voting in the 2004 race is open to anyone who was active in fandom prior to April 2002, and who contributes at least $3 or £2 to the Fund. 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 any time prior to the deadline.
Deadline: Votes in this race must reach the administrators by midnight, 5 June, 2004.
Voting details: TAFF uses a preferential ballot system which guarantees automatic runoffs until a majority is obtained. You rank the candidates in the exact order of your preference for them. If the leading first-place candidate does not get a majority, the first-place votes for the lowest-ranking candidate are dropped, and the second-place votes on those ballots are counted as first-place votes. This process repeats itself until one candidate has a majority. Your votes for second and third place are important, but you may give your candidate only one ranking on your ballot. In order to win, a candidate must receive at least 20% of the first-ballot first-place votes on both sides of the Atlantic, separately. Any candidate failing to receive this minimum percentage on either side will be dropped, and the second-place votes on their ballots counted as first-place votes in the next ballot count. Thus candidates and their supporters will need to canvass fans on both sides of the pond. You may send your ballot to either administrator, but it will be tabulated with the other votes from the side of the Atlantic on which you reside. Votes from fans not resident in either Europe or North America will not count towards either 20% minimum, but are important to the outcome of the race.
Hold Over Funds: This choice, like "No Award" in Hugo balloting, gives you the chance to vote for no TAFF trip this year, if the candidates do not appeal. Hold Over Funds may be voted for in any position, and is exempt from the 20% requirement; thus, if it receives a majority of the votes on the final ballot, no TAFF trip will be held this year regardless of how many votes Hold Over Funds received on the first ballot.
No Preference: For voters who prefer not to choose between candidates, but don't want the trip held over.
Donations: TAFF gratefully accepts your freely given money and material for auction; such generosity has sustained the Fund for over 40 years. TAFF is fandom's oldest travel fund, and one of its worthiest causes -- give early and often! Please contact your nearest administrator for details.
Candidates: Each candidate has posted a bond, promising -- barring Acts of God -- to travel , if elected , to: Noreascon 4, in Boston Massachusetts September 2nd to 6th 2004 and has provided signed nominations and a platform (overleaf).
Please read both sides of this ballot before voting. Send entire sheet as your vote.
Name:
Address:
Phone number or e-mail address (we do not list or exchange this information):
Signature:
Enclosed is __________ as a contribution to TAFF. Please make cheques etc. payable to "Randy Byers" or "Tobes Valois", not to "TAFF", and in the currency of the administrator's country. If you think your name may not be known to the administrators, then in order to qualify your vote, please give, in the space below, the name and address of an active fan (not a fan group, a candidate or their nominator) who is known to them and to whom you are known: Active fan known to administrator _____________
2004 TAFF BALLOT -- Europe to North America
James Bacon
I live in Ireland. I run fun, mad conventions, serious awards, strange clubs, and help elsewhere. It's all a good laugh and terrific fun. I like the social, partying aspect of the SF scene, bouncing around, laughing, drinking, meeting new people, and roping people into the madness. The best bit is the friends. I would hope to make more in the States, or at least inflict myself upon poor American fans. I have a serious aspect I keep well hidden, but it oozes out occasionally. I always thought going for TAFF would be a cool way to meet many new people for a bloody good time.
Nominators: Claire Brialey, Yvonne Rowse, Dave Langford, Tracy Benton, Dave V. Baker
Anders Holmström
Your Swedish all-purpose, multifunctional fan came into Fandom through fanzines. I might have been content with just the books if it weren't for some wonderful conventions and their cornucopia of cool stuff. I've learned to drink Real Ale, won costuming awards, filked, gophered, gamed, sat on panels and hung around with authors in Scandinavia, England and Ireland. I've helped run smaller cons, seen many movies, read thousands of books and fanzines (not AT the conventions) and had articles published in award-winning fanzines (OK, with help). I love how Fandom is so diverse but still close knit - something we should cherish.
Nominators: Max Hawkida, Dave Hicks, Lilian Edwards, Jae Leslie Adams, Matthew Mishalak
Please read and fill out both sides of this sheet. Send in entire sheet as your vote. Do not detach this portion!
I vote for (rank 1, 2, 3 etc.):
[ __ ] James Bacon
[ __ ] Anders Holmstrom
[ __ ] Hold Over Funds
[ __ ] No Preference
Send ballot & donation to:
Randy Byers, 1013 North 36th St., Seattle, WA 98103, USA
Tobes Valois, 20 Bakers Lane, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 9QW
Reproduction of this form is encouraged. It is the official voting vehicle and must be reproduced verbatim. Anyone doing so should substitute their name here:
Tobes Valois