2011 TAFF Ballot
Europe to North America

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. It exists solely through the support of fandom. Interested fans all over the world vote on the candidates, each vote being accompanied by a donation of not less than UK£2 or US$3. These votes, and the continued generosity of fandom, are what make TAFF possible.

Who may vote? Voting in the 2011 race is open to anyone active in fandom prior to April 2009, and who donates at least UK£2.00 or US$3.00 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 any time prior to the deadline.

Deadline: Votes in this race must reach the administrators by midnight GMT, 26 April 2011 (7pm EST; 4pm PST).

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 either side of the Atlantic. 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. Candidates and their supporters will thus 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 ocean where 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, should you feel none of the candidates deserve your support. 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 trip will be held this year regardless of how many votes that option 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 more than 50 years. TAFF is fandom's longest-running 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 the 2011 Worldcon (Renovation, 17-21 August 2011). They have also provided signed nominations and a platform (published overleaf). Please read both sides of this ballot before voting. Send entire sheet as your vote.

Name & address:


Telephone number or e-mail address:

(We need your full contact details. TAFF may need to contact you regarding your ballot or to send out newsletters. We do not publish this data or pass it to any other organisation.)

Signature:


Enclosed is __________ as my contribution to TAFF (minimum US$3.00 or UK£2.00)

Please make cheques/checks payable to either: "TAFF" for all UK (£) cheques mailed to Steve Green
"Anne Gray" or "Brian Gray" for US ($) checks mailed to Anne & Brian Gray

We have also set up PayPal accounts. Please use either of the e-mail addresses shown below, indicating your contact details and voting preferences in the 'comments' section.

If you think your name may not be known to the administrators, please provide the name and contact details of an active fan who is known to them and is willing to vouch for you (not a fan group, a candidate, or one of their nominators):

Active fan known to an administrator:

2011 TAFF Candidates

Graham Charnock: "Vote for me. If you know me, you know why you should. If you don't know me visit my website www.cartiledgeworld.co.uk for biographical details and access to other craziness, which should persuade you. If I am elected I promise I will cut a swathe across North America like a rabid shrew released from a trap. I will party until my balls drop off and then glue them back on and party some more, and I will then report home in full widescreen hi-def detail. That is my solemn promise. Hey, it's what you want and it's what I do."

Nominated by Harry Bell, Sandra Bond, Rich Coad, Mike Meara, Robert Lichtman

John Coxon: "My name is John Coxon, and I got into fandom through being secretary of ZZ9 before editing a fanzine (Procrastinations). As well as winning "Best New Fan" FAAn Award, I edited Eastercon LX's newsletter, and my experience and enthusiasm will translate into my report and administration. Additionally, I'd like to experiment with other methods of reporting on my adventure. I'd love to show North America what makes British fandom brilliant and I think I'm the right person for the job! (As a bonus, I also promise to staple (hard copies of) my trip report, if someone will lend me a stapler.)"

Nominated by James Bacon, Claire Brialey, Chris Garcia, Dave Langford, Steve Stiles

Liam Proven: "I'm Liam – no badge name. I've been an active fan since Conspiracy '87. I'm not partisan; I'm not a gamer, but I've been known to play. Not a fanzine fan, but pubbed a couple of ishes. Not a costumer, but dress up sometimes. Get on with almost everyone. Do the odd panel, moderate 'em even, and volunteer at cons. I write for a living, so I promise an entertaining and prompt conrep. Finally, since I'm self-employed in a hostile financial climate, this is the only way I'll ever get to an American con – but I can take a long vacation!"

Nominated by Bridget Bradshaw, Lilian Edwards, Nic Farey, Lloyd Penney, James Shields

Paul Treadaway: "I'm probably best known in fandom as a conrunner, due to my work with the two Glasgow Worldcons. The pattern was probably set at my first convention, Conspiracy, where I walked through the door and was instantly recruited to sell raffle tickets for Fans Across the World. In fact, if elected, this will be the first Worldcon since then where I haven't either been on a Worldcon committee or helping to sell a Worldcon bid! I look forward to the chance to meet a wide range of fans, and of course renew my acquaintance with the friends I've already made."

Nominated by Vincent Docherty, Fran Dowd, Mike Glyer, Tim Illingworth, Maureen Kincaid Speller

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.): [__] Graham Charnock

[__] Liam Proven

[__] Hold Over Funds
[__] John Coxon

[__] Paul Treadaway

[__] No Preference

Send ballot and donation to:

Europe: Steve Green, 33 Scott Road, Solihull, B92 7LQ, UK
  [stevegreen [at] livejournal.com]
North America: Anne & Brian Gray, 2726 Sagebrush Cir #203, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, USA
  [akg.netmouse [at] gmail.com]

For more information on the TransAtlantic Fan Fund, visit our website, taff.org.uk.

Reproduction of this form is encouraged. It is the official voting vehicle and must be reproduced verbatim.

Anyone doing so should substitute his or her name here: Steve Green, Anne & Brian Gray