TAFFlon
Tudor #2 1/2Nominations are now open for the 1997/98 TAFF Race from North America to Europe.
Candidates who wish to represent North American fandom at Intuition, the 1998 British Eastercon in Manchester from 10-13 April 1998, should ensure their nominations (three from North America and two from Europe), 100-word platform and $20.00 bond reach one of the TAFF Administrators by 1 August 1997.
The European Administrator, Martin Tudor, intends to produce the next full issue of his TAFF newsletter in early August along with ballot forms for the race. Anyone wishing to ensure they receive paper copies of this should send an IRC (outside UK) or stamped, self-addressed envelope (UK only) to Martin Tudor at the address below (electronic copies can be guaranteed by e-mailing him).
Currently the European fund, having paid off the debts which occurred last year, stands at over 1,200 pounds Sterling. (Unfortunately, apart from an initial payment in November 1996 of 200 pounds Abigail Frost, the former Administrator, has not repaid any more of the money she misappropriated.) The current healthy state of the fund is due to the overwhelming generosity of fandom -- further details will appear in TAFFlon Tudor #3.
However, despite its comparatively healthy state the European fund is still eager for more money. The European Administrator still has a couple of the glorious, bright red TAFF t-shirts, illustrated by Dan Steffan. (US size 'L', just twelve pounds per shirt by post.) The first four installments of the 1996 trip report Have Bag, Will Travel are still available for only two pounds per set. (This is available on the World Wide Web, courtesy of Dave Langford, at http://taff.org.uk/reports/TAFFrep.html.) The completed report (with lots of splendid illustrations) will hopefully be available in November 1997 for a mere (minimum) four pounds donation to TAFF (or the equivalent of six pounds outside the UK), inclusive of postage and packing. Copies of Bernie Evans's The Tudor Dynasty, featuring fanzine articles by Martin Tudor and illustrations by Dave Mooring and Dave Hicks, are also available for two pounds each.
Copies of TAFFlon Tudor are being distributed as widely as possible from 19 June 1997. Feel free to copy and distribute as you wish -- but please copy verbatim. Copies are available for donations of material and/or cash to TAFF, stamped self-addressed envelopes and editorial whim.
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 one pound Sterling. These votes, and the continued generosity of fandom, are what make TAFF possible. 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.
Sterling cheques/money orders payable to 'Martin Tudor', US dollar cheques/money orders payable to 'Dan Steffan'.
The North American Administrator is Dan Steffan, 3804 South 9th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204, USA. The European Administrator is Martin Tudor, 24 Ravensbourne Grove, (off Clarkes Lane), Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 1HX, England (e-mail taffman@empties.demon.co.uk).