1980 TAFF Ballot

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 across the Atlantic. Since that time, TAFF has regularly sent European fans to the USA and brought American fans to European conventions. TAFF exists solely through the support of fandom. The candidates are voted for by interested fans all over the world, and each vote is accompanied by a donation of not less than fifty pence. These votes and the continued interest of fans are what makes TAFF possible.

WHO MAY VOTE? Voting is open to anyone who was active in fandom (clubs, fanzines, conventions &c.) prior to July 1978, and who contributes at least 50p ($1) to the fund. Contributions in excess of the minimum will be gratefully accepted. Only one vote per person is allowed -- no proxy votes -- and ballots must be signed. Details of voting will be kept secret: write-ins are permitted. Money orders, postal orders and cheques should be made payable to the administrators.

DEADLINE: Votes must reach the administrators by April 12th, 1980.

VOTING DETAILS: TAFF uses the Australian system which guarantees an automatic runoff and a majority win. You rank the candidates in the exact order you wish to vote. If the leading first-place candidate does not get a majority, the first-place votes of the lowest-ranking candidate are dropped, and the second-place votes on those ballots are counted. This process goes on until one candidate has a majority. It is therefore important to vote for second and third place on your ballot. It is also a waste of time to put one name in more than one place.

HOLD OVER FUNDS: This choice, similar to "No Award" in Hugo balloting, gives the voter the chance to vote for no TAFF trip if the candidates do not appeal to him, or if he feels that TAFF should slow down its trips. "Hold Over Funds" may be voted for in any position you wish.

PUBLICITY: TAFF normally appeals for donations, but this year we're appealing for publicity and more voters. Though we're always grateful for extra cash, we'd be even happier if it came in the form of an extra vote -- and you can help by publicity and persuasion in fanzines, letters, convention booklets -- and by word of mouth at local groups and fan gatherings. Extra ballots for distribution are always available from the administrators.

Candidates: Each candidate has promised, barring acts of God, to travel to the 38th World SF Convention in Boston. They have posted bond and provided signed nominations and platforms which are reproduced overleaf, with the ballot.

SEND BALLOTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO:

European Administrator

American Administrator

PETER ROBERTS
18 WESTWOOD, COFTON, STARCROSS
near EXETER, Devon, UK

-OR-

TERRY HUGHES
606 N JEFFERSON ST
ARLINGTON, VA 22205, USA

* Reproductions of this form are encouraged provided the text is reproduced verbatim *

side 2:

[PLATFORMS]

Jim Barker

After lurking for years on the fannish sidelines, Jim burst into view in 1976 by illustrating for Maya (that notorious Hugo-nominated genzine). Since then he's been a prolific supplier of high-class, witty fanart to many places, including Twll-Ddu, DNQ,, Drilkjis, Nabu, Gonad the Barbarian, Maya, Mota and publications of the BSFA (British SF Association). His co-authored cartoon strip 'Half-Life' (with Chris Evans) has an enormous following in Rutland; he is fan GoH at the 1980 UK Eastercon. Jim is large, bearded, partially drunk, somewhat inaudible, and like all the best UK fans is a convivial Celt (ie. Scots): he has thus topped the Checkpoint poll (as fan artist) and received both Hugo and FAAn nominations. It's obvious that Jim is uniquely qualified to be the 1980 TAFF delegate.

Nominated by: Harry Bell, Brian Earl Brown, Rob Jackson, Dave Langford and Taral.

Dave Langford

After lurking for years on the fannish sidelines, Dave burst into view in 1976 by publishing Twll-Ddu (that notorious Hugo-nominated personalzine). Since then he's been a prolific supplier of high-class, witty fanwriting to many places, including Mota, Inca, Gonad the Barbarian, Nabu, Drilkis, DNQ,, Twll-Ddu and publications of the British SF Association (BSFA). His co-edited sercon fanzine Drilkjis (with Kevin Smith) has an enormous following in Liechtenstein; he has featured on many UK con committees and programmes. Dave is tall, clean-shaven, partially sober, somewhat deaf, and like all the best UK fans is a convivial Celt (ie. Welsh): he has thus topped the Checkpoint poll (as fan writer and editor) and received both FAAn and Hugo nominations. It's obvious that Dave is uniquely qualified to be the 1980 TAFF delegate.

Nominated by: Jim Barker, Mike Glyer, Leroy Kettle, Bob Shaw and Victoria Vayne.

I vote for (list 1, 2, 3):--

__________ JIM BARKER

__________ DAVE LANGFORD

__________ HOLD OVER FUNDS

Signature:


Name:


Address:




Enclosed is ________ as a contribution to TAFF (make payable to Peter Roberts or Terry Hughes, please, and not to TAFF).

If you think your name may not be known to the administrators, in order to qualify for voting, please give the name and address of a fan or fan group to whom you are known:

Name & address:


PLEASE READ PUBLICITY NOTE OVERLEAF