LAFF: Latin American Fan Fund / Fundo do Fã Latino-americano / Fundo de lo Fanatico Latinoamericano

The Latin American Fan Fund is being created to encourage contact and the exchange of ideas between Latin American fandom and the international fan community by bringing fans from Latin America to the World Science Fiction Convention. The first worldcon we are aiming to bring people to with the fund is the 2011 Worldcon in Reno, Nevada - Renovation.

What do you mean, "Latin America"?
Latin America is loosely defined as the Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries south of the United States, located in the Americas. Tighter definition for purposes of fund administration might emerge from the Latin American fen who get involved in setting up the fund.

Is there a Latin American fan community? Yes. There are active science fiction and fantasy fans and writers in many Latin American countries, most notably Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and México. There was even previously a Brazilian Fan Fund from 1992 to 1995.

How can I help?
Donations are one of the most direct ways to help, along with running fundraising auctions or other efforts at cons, but we could also use help from anyone who can translate between Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and from fan artists and faneditors who are interested in helping spread the word. Furthermore, we are seeking assistance from anyone with experience navigating immigration laws and the process of acquiring travel visas for people coming from Latin American countries.

If you would like to help with fan fund outreach, fundraising, ballot distribution, or administration, please let us know that as well.

How can I donate?
You can paypal money to LAFF.FFL@gmail.com or send a check in local currency to the LAFF contact in your country, made out to that person.

Who is doing this?
Anne Gray, Gay Haldeman, Marcello Simao Branco, and others. Invitations are still going out. If you are interested in helping, please contact us.

We are doing this in consultation with Andrea Bell, translator and editor of the Cosmos Latinos anthology.

What do you have to do to be a LAFF delegate?
In order to become a LAFF delegate, you need to be active in the fan community, and have to submit a one- or two-paragraph platform (a description of yourself and why people should vote for you) and to donate the equivalent of $20 to the fund to demonstrate you are in earnest. The winner of the LAFF election is expected to travel to the next World Science Fiction Convention and to write up a trip report about that experience, and also to help administer LAFF for two years.

The deadline for submitting your candidacy for the 2013 LAFF race, which will send someone to LoneStarCon 3, is August 1, 2012

Please do not run for LAFF if you have previously been denied a visa to the country where the next Worldcon is to be held, or know of any other condition that precludes you from getting a visa to travel there.

Contacts

General - LAFF.FFL@gmail.com

USA - Anne Gray - akg.netmouse@gmail.com, 5006 Royene Ave NE, Albuquerque NM, 87110

Brazil - Marcello Branco

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