Aussiecon Three Business

Business

This page deals with three different kinds of convention business: the business of the Worldcon itself; the Hugo [or Science Fiction Achievement] Awards; and the Dealers' Room.

Worldcons and the WSFS
Aussiecon Three Business Meeting
Site Selection
Hugo Awards
Dealers' Room
Student Science Fiction Contest

The Worldcon is governed by the rules of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). These rules mandate the way in which Worldcons are selected, the constraints on the organising committee, the awards that must (and can) be presented, and the organisation of WSFS business at each Worldcon. Each Worldcon has to conduct Business Meetings to deal with WSFS business and administer the selection of the site for the Worldcon three years hence.

Visit our Links page for some useful links related to Aussiecon Three, previous Aussiecons and Worldcons in general.

The Aussiecon Three Business Meeting

The Business Meetings of the WSFS will be held on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and if needed, Monday, from 9 am. to 11 am. Check the Program Guide at the con for the location of these meetings.

The Friday meeting has been designated as a Preliminary Business Meeting, where the agenda for the Main Business Meeting will be set, and time limits for debates determined.

The Sunday Meeting has been designated as the Site Selection Meeting, when the results of the site selection for the 2002 Worldcon will be made known.

All members of Aussiecon Three are members of the WSFS and are entitled to participate in, and vote at, the Business Meetings. All new business must be submitted to the Chair of the Business Meeting, Jack Herman, before noon on Thursday to receive a place on the Agenda.

Article V of the Constitution and the Standing Orders govern the conduct of the Business Meeting.

On this site will be found copies of the current WSFS Constitution, the Standing Rules of the WSFS Business Meetings, the Business Passed On to Aussiecon Three, and the Special Rules for the Aussiecon Business Meetings.

Any concerns with the Business Meeting can be addressed to business-session@aussiecon3.worldcon.org

Site Selection for the 2002 Worldcon

The Site Selection ballot is now available on this website in both HTML (7kb) and PDF (55kb) format.

Information for Bidders

Bids to hold the 2002 Worldcon must be in accordance with the Constitution of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). A copy of the Constitution as passed on by BucConeer, the 56^th World Science Fiction Convention, was published in Progress Report 3. It is also available from the Aussiecon Three home page. Prospective bidders are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Constitution.

One requirement of Article IV, Future Worldcon Selection, is that bids to hold the 2002 Worldcon be filed with Aussiecon Three no later than 180 days prior to the official Aussiecon Three opening ceremony.

The official opening ceremony of Aussiecon Three is scheduled for Friday, 3 September 1999. Accordingly, bids to hold the 2002 Worldcon must be received by Aussiecon Three on or before Sunday, 7 March 1999.

Aussiecon Three will accept bids in writing to hold the 2002 Worldcon:

by mail to Aussiecon Three, GPO Box 1212K, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia;
by hand to the Aussiecon Three WSFS Division Head, Stephen Boucher.

Each bidding committee must present, in addition to the name of the city and the members of the committee, adequate evidence of an agreement with its proposed site’s facilities, such as a conditional contract or a letter of agreement. Each bidding committee must also state the rules under which their proposed Worldcon Committee would operate, including a specification of the term of office of their chief executive officer or officers and the conditions and procedures for the selection and replacement of such officer or officers.

Another requirements of Article IV is that sites for the 2002 Worldcon must be either in the Western zone of North America or outside of North America.

Information for Voters

The Site Selection ballot is now available on this website in both HTML (7kb) and PDF (55kb) format. Voters in the ballot must be either supporting or attending members of Aussiecon Three.

Additionally, voters will be required to pay a voting fee. The voting fee will be determined by Aussiecon Three after consultation with the committees bidding for the right to hold the 2002 Worldcon. Details of how to vote and the voting fee will be distributed with the site selection ballots.

Voting, including payment of the voting fee, entitles the voter to a supporting membership in the winning bid, regardless of the actual vote cast by the voter.

Members wishing to vote may do so by mail or in person at the convention, where a voting station will be manned and clearly sign posted. Details of the winning bid, along with voting details, will be announced at a Business Session of the WSFS during Aussiecon Three.

Any concerns with the Site Selection or other WSFS details can be addressed to WSFS@aussiecon3.worldcon.org

The Hugo Awards are the Oscars of the science fiction world. They are presented at each year's World Science Fiction Convention to honour work published in the previous year. These are readers' and viewers' awards and the winners are determined by members of the awarding Worldcon.

The current World Science Fiction Society Constitution provides for the following Hugo categories: Novel, Novella, Novelette, Short Story, Related Book, Dramatic Presentation, Professional Editor, Professional Artist, Semiprozine, Fanzine, Fan Writer, and Fan Artist. The constitution also allows for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best New Writer, to be voted upon in a similar manner to the Hugo Awards, but which is not classified as a Hugo Award. The John W. Campbell Award Eligible Author Website provides information about authors who are eligible for the 1999 John W. Campbell Award Memorial Award for Best New Writer.

Article III of the Constitution governs the Hugo Awards.

The Hugo winners will be announced at the Hugo Awards ceremony at the Worldcon, Aussiecon Three, which will be one of the main events on the convention's programme. The Hugo winners and full details of voting and nominations will be available from the 1999 Hugo website shortly after the Awards Ceremony, which is on the evening of Saturday 4th September 1999, Melbourne time.

There is a lot of additional material about the Hugos at the worldcon.org web site.

Any concerns with the Hugo Awards can be addressed to Hugos@aussiecon3.worldcon.org

Hugo Eligibility Questions and Answers

The Dealers' Room

Applications and the reservation of tables for the Aussiecon Three Dealers' Room are now available. All dealers must have an attending membership for Aussiecon Three before an application will be considered for acceptance. Aussiecon Three reserves the right to reject any dealers' room application it deems inappropriate to the purposes of the World Science Fiction Convention and its governing body, the World Science Fiction Society.

WHERE The Aussiecon Three Dealers' Room will be situated in either of the Bellarine 6 or Bellarine 7 rooms of the Melbourne Convention Centre. The eventual choice of room depends on the number of bookings for the Dealers' Room.

TABLES & EXTRA STAFF The size of each table is 2100mm x 750mm (82.5" x 29.5"). Each table will be supplied with two chairs. Each dealer may book up to five tables. If bookings outweigh the available space, dealers who book four or five tables may have the number of their tables reduced to three or four tables. Aussiecon Three will endeavour to make space available for all reservations so that the diversity of offerings to members is as large as possible. A waiting list will be put in place only if absolutely necessary. If you book three or more tables, this entitles the dealer to one "staff" membership to assist on the tables. This membership entitles the holder access to only the dealers' room. Provisions will be made for access to meal and bathroom areas.

COST A $A50.00 per table deposit, to a maximum of five tables, is due upon booking. The anticipated final price is $A100.00 per table.

WHEN

Wed 1st September 1999 12.00 - 18.00
Thurs 2nd September 1999 09.00 - 12.00

Proposed open times:

Thurs 2nd September 1999 12.00 - 18.00
Fri 3rd - Sun 5th September 1999 10.00 - 18.00
Mon 6th September l 999 10.00 - 15.00

FREIGHT & AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS These are the responsibility of the dealer. If a dealer is bringing any amount of stock into Australia a customs declaration has to be made. Ensure that your shipment has appropriate documentation/invoices. Allow 48 hours to clear their goods through customs - even more if possible. Do NOT falsify invoice values - Australian Customs are very efficient and knowledgeable. Books are sales tax and duty free, but nearly all other kinds of merchandise seen at conventions are inflicted with sales tax and/or duty. We will attempt give the best possible advice to any questions in this area. Please don't hesitate to send your questions, special requirements or problems to the Aussiecon Three Dealers' Room address, via fax (+61 3 96391511), or via e-mail to dealers@aussiecon3.worldcon.org, and we'll do our best to answer all questions as quickly as possible.

Click here for a copy of the Dealers' Room Application And Reservation Form. Please note: completed reservation forms must be posted to the convention address in Australia or faxed to the number above. Emailed forms are not acceptable.

Click here to see more details of the Dealers Room opening hours and attending dealers.

Guidelines for the second annual Student Science Fiction Contest

The second annual Student Science Fiction Contest is sponsored by Aussiecon Three, the 57th World Science Fiction Convention, Conucopia, the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention and Baltimore Worldcon 1998, Inc.

Science fiction and fantasy expand horizons and open new worlds for its readers. The stories it tells can take us to the farthest reaches of the universe, explore some new facet of the world around us, or take us to a magical realm.... Science fiction and fantasy aren't limited to the written word. Science fiction and fantasy art can illustrate a story or tell one of its own.... Science fiction is grounded in science fact. The science of today, whether it is John Glenn returning to space with NASA or the cloning of Dolly in Scotland, can serve as the basis for science fiction stories.

Aussiecon Three, the 57th World Science Fiction Convention, and Conucopia, the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention, in conjunction with Baltimore Worldcon 1998, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, are sponsoring a contest for the best short story with a science fiction or fantasy theme, the best science fiction or fantasy artwork, and the best science essay. This contest is open to all students in 12th grade or below. Each student may enter/win in any or all categories, but may only enter once in each of the categories.

The short story must be an original story with a science fiction or fantasy theme. It must be in English, typewritten using a standard business font and double spaced. It must be at least 5 pages long for students in elementary school, 10 pages long for students in middle school, and 15 pages long for students in high school. Entries will be judged on their originality and creativity, grammar and spelling, structure, character development, plot development, and the use of science fiction and fantasy elements.

The artwork must be an original work with a science fiction or fantasy theme, in either pencil, pen & ink, pastels, charcoal, or paint. It must be a flat, two-dimensional piece that is mounted in a mat suitable for hanging, at least 5" by 7" and no more than 12" by 17". It may be an illustration of an existing story or an original idea. Entries will be judged on their originality and creativity, artistic technique, and the use of science fiction and fantasy elements.

The science essay must be a factual work including references. It must be in English, typewritten using a standard business font and double spaced. It must be at least 3 pages long for elementary school students, 6 pages for middle school students, and 9 pages for high school students. Entries will be judged on grammar and spelling, structure, and use of references.

In Australasia, entries should be mailed to Student Science Fiction Contest, GPO Box 1212K, Melbourne VIC 3001. From the rest of the world, entries should be mailed to Students Science Fiction Contest, P.O. Box 314, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701, USA. Entries must be postmarked by 1 April 1999. Finalists will be notified by May 14, 1999. Winners will be announced at special ceremonies at Aussiecon Three and Conucopia.

More information:

General information about the second annual Student Science Fiction Contest is available from: http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/contest/index.html

These guidelines for the second annual Student Science Fiction Contest are available from:
http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/contest/rules.html

The entry form for the second annual Student Science Fiction Contest is available from:
http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/contest/form.html

Aussiecon Three will be held September 2-6, 1999 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
http://www.aussiecon3.worldcon.org
email: info@aussiecon3.worldcon.org

Conucopia will be held August 26-29, 1999 in Anaheim, California, USA.
http://www.99.nasfic.org

BucConeer was held August 5-9, 1998, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org

World Science Fiction Society, WSFS, Worldcon, Science Fiction Achievement Award, Hugo Award and NASFiC are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.

Aussiecon 3 Webmaster: Tim Richards. Website queries: webmaster@aussiecon3.worldcon.or g. General queries: info "at" aussiecon3.worldcon.org