WHAT IS GUFF? The Going Under Fan Fund (known in alternate years as the Get Up-and-over Fan Fund) was established in 1979 to further contacts between European and Australian fandom by bringing a well-known and popular fan from one hemisphere to attend a convention(s) in the other. GUFF 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 fee of not less than one pound sterling or two dollars Australian. These votes and the continued interest and generosity of fandom are what make GUFF possible.
WHO MAY VOTE? Voting is open to anyone who has been active in fandom (fanzines, conventions, clubs etc.) since June 1985 at least and who contributes at least one pound sterling or two dollars Australian to the fund. Contributions in excess of this minimum are gratefully accepted. Only one vote per person is allowed; proxy votes are forbidden and you must sign your ballot. Details of the voting will be kept secret. "Write-in" candidates are permitted. Cheques, postal orders and money orders should be made payable to the appropriate administrator and not to GUFF.
VOTING DETAILS GUFF uses the Australian preferential ballot system, which guarantees an automatic run-off and a majority win. You rank the candidates in the order in which you wish to place them. If the leading first-place candidate does not get a majority of the total votes cast the first-place votes of the lowest-ranking candidate are dropped and the second-place votes on those ballots are then counted. The 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 any candidate in more than one place.
HOLD OVER FUNDS This choice, similar to "No Award" in BSFA and Hugo Award balloting, gives the voter the chance to vote for no GUFF trip, should the candidates not appeal to them or if they feel that GUFF should slow down the frequency of its trips.
DONATIONS GUFF needs continuous donations of money and material to be auctioned in order to exist. If you are ineligible to vote or don't feel qualified to vote, why not donate anyway? Just as important as donations is publicity – in fanzines, letters, convention booklets, and by word of mouth – to increase voter participation and fandom's overall interest in and awareness of GUFF.
THE CANDIDATES Each candidate has promised, barring acts of God, to travel to the 1987 Worldcon (Conspiracy '87) in Brighton, UK, if elected, has posted a bond of $10.00 and has provided signed nominations and a platform, which is reproduced overleaf, along with the ballot form.
DEADLINE Votes must reach the administrators by 31st January 1987.
SEND BALLOTS AND DONATIONS TO:
EUROPE: Eve Harvey AUSTRALIA: Justin Ackroyd 43 Harrow Rd GPO Box 2708X Carshalton Melbourne Surrey SM5 3QH Victoria 3001 U.K. AUSTRALIA Reproduction of this form is encouraged (urged, even) provided that the text is reprinted verbatim. Anyone reproducing it should substitute their own name(s) below.
This ballot reproduced by Terry Hughes.
GUFF 1986/87 CANDIDATES' PLATFORMS
VALMA BROWN
I want to shout at Dave Langford and go to dinner as requested by Hazel Langford. I want to meet all those beaut Brit fans I missed at Aussiecon, see the ones I did meet and meet all the ones that Maggie wouldn't let out. I have a soft spot for British accents and because of this weakness Leigh Edmonds will be accompanying me to make sure I come back. I have been involved in fandom since 1971. I am currently a co-editor of FUCK THE TORIES and co-publisher and boss of THE NOTIONAL. I like conventions, fans and parties where I can talk to people. I love talking to people.
Nominators: Hazel Langford, Joseph Nicholas, Marilyn Pride, Yvonne Rousseau, and Grant Stone.
IRWIN HIRSH
Unbearded, and hatless at conventions, Irwin nevertheless possesses all the qualities to be a worthy fan fund winner and a fine administrator. In 9 years he has published 100+ fanzines, including SIKANDER, THYME (with Andrew Brown), and for 6 apas and has been a member of 3 convention committees, including the running of a Worldcon film program. His other interests include films, music, fine art, sports, fine food, and making good use of metropolitan transit systems as a way of discovering cities. A freelance assistant film editor, Irwin would like to be Australia's Steven Spielberg when he grows up.
Nominators: John Foyster, Carey Handfield, Dave Langford, Marc Ortlieb, and Arthur Thomson.
JEAN WEBER
Having discovered fandom at Aussiecon One, I have been publishing WEBERWOMAN'S WREVENGE since 1980. I am an enthusiastic apahack and book reviewer, an organizer of conventions until I learned better, have been Editor of ANZAPA for two years, and am suspected of a prurient interest in other people's personal relationships. I'm well-known for my feminist views, my (lack of) taste in rum, and my dislike of large groups (so why do I enjoy conventions?). How much of the above is true? Bring me to Conspiracy in 1987 and find out – if you dare. (Trip report within one year.)
Nominators: Sally Beasley, Leanne Frahm, Joy Hibbert, Cath Ortlieb, and Sue Thomason.
I vote for (list 1, 2, 3 etc):
( ) Valma Brown
( ) Irwin Hirsh
( ) Jean Weber
( ) Hold Over Funds
( ) __________ (write-in)I enclose ____ as a donation to GUFF. (Make cheques etc. payable to Eve Harvey or Justin Ackroyd, not to GUFF.) SIGNATURE:
NAME & ADDRESS:
If you think your name might not be known to the administrators and that your vote might thus be disqualified, please give the name and address of a fan or group to whom you are known.