In May of this year I took over as Acting Administrator for Juanita Coulson. Marty Cantor (DUFF 1985) had been handling the fan fund banking since 2010 at the request of the administrators and was ready to pass on the responsibility. When I agreed to take the position he closed out the DUFF bank account in Los Angeles and sent me a check of $4,717.84. I deposited it into a savings account in Palo Alto, donating the $5 minimum to open the account, and set about enhancing DUFF’s online presence. I also took over organizing the fundraising, focusing on Sasquan, the 2015 Worldcon.
Tom Becker made contact with the family of the late Art Widner (DUFF 1991) and arranged to select and transport some of his science fiction collection as auction material for the fan fund. Tom has really good taste. The items that went to auction did very well for us. Special thanks to Toni Weisskopf of Baen Books and Naomi Fisher (DUFF 2001) for their donated items. I apologize if I have left out anyone’s name who donated items directly at the con; your names have not made their way back to me. The total raised at the Fan Funds Auction at Sasquan was $1,111.00.
Norman Cates generously raised $398.65 at GenCon for DUFF on his own initiative, bless him and his excellent auctioneering skills. In addition, Cynthia Gonsalves bought a book from the Art Widner collection for $30.00.
Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, donated $2,000.00 to DUFF, an unexpected and much appreciated boost. Thanks to Glenn Glazer, Bruce Farr and the chairs of Sasquan for thinking of us!
I spent $15.22 posting a box of books to Randy Byers who was in charge of the Fan Funds Auction materials. There were no other expenses.
The current fund stands at $8,247.27. Fundraising will continue in 2016.
Thank you to everyone who donated time, energy and money to DUFF NA. I am deeply grateful to be stewarding a healthy fund thanks to our generous supporters, and personally gratified that so many find sending delegates between international fandoms a worthwhile endeavor.
Lucy Huntzinger (DUFF 1987)
DUFF, the Down Under Fan Fund 
Thank you, Lucy, for taking over DUFF at a time when a fan more active than I was needed in the post.
I should point out that I had only one major “expense” during my time as treasurer of DUFF NA. When both David Cake and John Hertz were administrators and David was visiting LASFS, the three of us went into the APA-L Room and had a discussion of finances. After comparing the finances of both sides of the fund it was decided that DUFF NA should send $3,000 to the Southern fund and that I did shortly thereafter.
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Very right and proper. I know that TAFF NA donated its $2,000 from Sasquan to the European side as Nina will have fewer fundraising opportunities in her shortened time between races since the decision to swap directions and run another Europe->NA race. Possibly the average fan is not aware that our fan funds do help each other out. I think it’s both wonderful and reasonable.
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This reminds me of something I had forgotten. At the FanFund Auction at Aussiecon II, the auction raised LOTS of money for DUFF. A discussion between Jack Herman (the Australian DUFF Administrator), Robbie and me came to the conclusion that with GUFF raising little money at that auction and that the Southern part of DUFF was now in good financial shape, a bit of that money (I forget how much) should be given to GUFF. Which we did.
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