*1998 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. 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 $2 or 1 pound. These votes, and the continued generosity of
fandom, are what make TAFF possible.

*Who may vote?* Voting in the 1998 race is open to anyone who was
active in fandom prior to September 1996, and who contributes at
least $2 or 1 pound 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 25th April 1998.

*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 to Bucconeer, the 56th Annual
World Science Fiction Convention, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA,
5-9 August 1998, if elected; 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 "Dan Steffan" or "Martin Tudor", 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:


[side 2]


*1998 TAFF BALLOT: Europe to North America*


*Chris Bell*

I attended Conspiracy '87 as a publisher, and fell for fandom.
I've been to every Eastercon since, working my way up from
winning the quiz and Masquerade at Follycon (1988) to running
Membership and Hotel Liaison at Sou'Wester (1994) and Reconvene
(1999)--via fanzines, filk cons, Security, Ops, Author's
Minder.... My only Tech contribution has been bringing the
coffee. One can't do _everything_.

I don't know enough American fans: one American con isn't enough,
I'm addicted, I need another fix. If I win TAFF I promise
faithfully to write a trip report and to do my very best as
administrator.

     *Nominators:* Tim Broadribb, Thog the Mighty (aka Paul
     Barnett), Bruce Pelz, Andy Sawyer, Ben Yalow.


*Bridget "Bug" Hardcastle*

In 1990 I discovered fandom, the joys of con-going and lively
conversation. Fanzines swiftly followed, publishing _Obsessions_
on subjects including chocolate (something I still hold close to
my heart--where it melts and leaves stains). I enjoy my fanac,
I've chaired an Eastercon from an electric wheelchair (with
attached eggwhisk and sink plunger), and, with Cackling Harpy
fandom, run the FarberFund. I correspond with foreign fans by
letter, e-mail, and poctsarcd, and would love to meet them and
have interesting cross-cultural culinary experiences. I'm
particularly enthusiastic about Bucconeer because of my rumoured
pirate ancestry and fondness for John Waters movies!

     *Nominators:* Andy Hooper, Robert Lichtman, Michael J
     "Simo" Simpson, Pam Wells, Walt Willis.


*Maureen Kincaid Speller*

I've spent eighteen years doing what fans do. I've been on
convention committees, including several Mexicons and Intuition,
the 1998 Eastercon, and I run the British Science Fiction
Association. I frequent rec.arts.sf.fandom, write for apas and
fanzines, and duplicate _Banana Wings_ (my collection of
duplicators is exceeded only by my legendary collection of
earrings). My own fanzine, _Snufkin's Bum_, is appearing with
increasing frequency. 

My perception of fandom is primarily one of getting together with
friends. With all the American friends I've made, I'd like to
sample fandom US-style. I'll even show you my Gestetner earrings
...

     *Nominators:* Claire Brialey, Christina Lake, Dave
     Langford, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Geri
     Sullivan.


_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.):

     [  ]  Chris Bell

     [  ]  Bridget "Bug" Hardcastle

     [  ]  Maureen Kincaid Speller

     [  ]  Hold Over Funds

     [  ]  No Preference


_Send ballot & donation to:_

     Dan Steffan, 800 S Ivy St, Arlington, VA 22204, USA.

     Martin Tudor, 24 Ravensbourne Grove, Willenhall, West
     Midlands, WV13 1HX, England.

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:  _Dave Langford_