Not everything written in WA last year was nominated, but all nominations made went on to the ballot.

I didn't announce or declare an intention to shortlist at any stage, so even with nineteen stories on the short work category, I didn't feel that it was something I could just do arbitrarily.

So yes, it's a big list - but then people who vote in the tin ducks will decide who they thought was their favourite. Not to mention - why shouldn't we be proud of what people thought was worthwhile to nominate? I certainly am, and I think there are some great examples of people's talent in this list - especially the fan works list, as I'm much more familiar with it :)

Congratulations to all who have been nominated, and good luck in the vote :)

I am so glad to finally get the details out!

P.S. I'm considering it my penance of having such a long list that I have to work out the optional preferentials for it all, so it's not a case of me making it easy for myself! (I don't think I've done that once with regard to the awards...)

Where am I? DPC Feeling... accomplished Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, awards, swancon, tin ducks, voting

* I worked, and got a lot of stuff done. Including the spreadsheet of doom on time for my boss to go to a rather unpleasant meeting. (It's never a good idea to go to the higher ups and not be able to give an indication of where your budget is at...)

* I had lunch with kae_dash, mystic_one and Mad Dog which was lovely, even if I was lethargic and wishing I didn't have to go back to work.

* I had a productive conversation with the TISC people, and have been reassured that it is unlikely that I would need to pay the course fees for the degree I want to do, up front. I am increasingly excited about doing this.. I am so looking forward to it, and am so ready for it, I don't quite have the words to express this. Some of you already know what I'm planning on applying to study, and the rest of you will have to wait till I make appointments with the University of my choice and find out the rest of the significant details, such as whether I can start this year or have to wait till next year.

* I met up with callistra after work, ostensibly to head to a feminist group meeting. On my way to meet her at the address, she got lost so I met her in Subi instead. Settling of baby happeneed, and then driving the correct way through Subi in order to get to the address.

We made it, just on time and largely organised, only to find that it had been cancelled unexpectedly but they hadn't had Calli's email to let her know. So we meandered down to the nearby park to facilitate sushi eating, and baby cuddling. I then called cupidsbow to see if she was up to unexpected company, and delightfully, she was!

We spent a pleasant few hours discussing, chatting, and of course, watching some song vid - I have a marvellous collection thanks to cupidsbow now, and I can't wait to sit down and watch them when I have some spare time. It was easy and lovely and I enjoyed it a lot. Calli and I have a loose plan to venture out every so (undetermined) often together to socialise. I'm very much looking forward to this as I love time spent with Calli, especially one on one or in a small group, it's just awesome, in the same way that Friday nights are awesome.

* Arrived home, squeaked happily at harveystoat and got hugs, burbled happily at K, who burbled back in a lovely mood.

* I did productive awards stuff, and am a few breaths away from releasing the Tin Duck shortlist and opening the voting - apologies for the delay but there have been a few more eligibility queries than usual for people I'm unfamiliar with being in WA or not :) I've had some very pleasant email exchanges though.

* Two friends took specific steps today in order to do something for themselves, and in both cases it involved letting go of something. I'm pleased for them, proud of them, and sending love because of the various stresses and hurt involved. That and sending love also because they rock and I adore them.

Where am I? home Feeling... happy Compelled listening... "Chasing Cars" - Snow Patrol Define... # amazing conversations, amazing friends, awards, feminism, nominations, shortlist, song vids, study, swancon, tin ducks, university, voting, women, work

The short summary before I go into detail for those who don't have the time/interest/patience to read below the cut.

* Tin Duck nominations have been drafted into spreadsheet, this has been sent to Other Relevant People for checking.
* Some eligibility emails have been sent re Tin Ducks if it was easy enough to do as I was transcribing.
* More discussion on the Ditmar Google group - some huge amount of email has passed through this group in the past week, and while at times it's been painful, frustrating and exasperating, I also feel like we're generally circling in the right direction.
* NAFF race is over, waiting on replies from candidates and then I can announce the outcome.
* Discussion/meeting with cupidsbow has happened and we've mostly nailed down our OTW panel for Swancon, including having drafted black_samvara onto it.
* Gynaecon Panel for Swancon with dalmeny has been finalised.
* I've registered for the sf.org.au wiki so that I can offload various masses of information that should be recorded other than in my head, or email or journal. This resource is aimed at being a massive source of information as a resource for the Australia wide community, and has languished unloved a bit for a while - I'm encouraging YOU all to help that change.
* Put in my own nominations for the Tin Ducks.
* Managed to get K's in too.

I have yet to:
* Call Supernova person for 2009.
* Make a couple of venue phone calls for Swancon 2009
* Check eligibility of Tin Duck list
* Publish Tin Duck Shortlist, and open the voting.
* Finalise the other potential panel items that may go ahead.
* Publicise the details of this year's NAFF race finalisation.
* Organise the NAFF delegate to get here, and associated stuff.
* Remind people to vote for Tin Ducks and NAFF
* Write my Ditmar Admin Report
* Draft my proposal's for the WASFF AGM and Natcon Business Meeting
* Finalise the Swancon FAQ for printing.
* Finalise my NAFF Con report for printing.
* Follow up on how my props for the awards are going and try and find more time to actually do stuff for it, also, make grateful and appreciative noises in wolflullaby's direction for taking this on for me.
* Update the sf.org.au wiki
* Finalise the WASFF site so it's ready to launch.
* Follow up on awards trophies.
* Organise someone to take photographs of the 2008 Swancon Art Show to publish online ready for the Ditmars and Tin Ducks next year, this is in line with the eligibility list that girliejones wishes to publish online at ASiF! and what I'd also like to have on the sf.org.au wiki.

Gods knows what else - that's the top of my head.

( And here the detail starts... Ditmar Vortex )

Other than the above, I'm seriously counting down to Swancon, and the fun, the people, the madness and rushing, the relaxation, the sleep deprivation, the masses of cuddlyness and sensuality, the games, the discussions and conversations, the Box... parties - the whole lot. I can't wait till it's here, till I'm immersed... and then I will be glad for it to be done, as for someone not on the committee, I seem to be spending quite a bit of time on things at present. By quite a bit I actually mean reasonably a lot. I'm not working nearly as hard as the committee is though :) I'm reassured by this :)

Okay... bed time.

Where am I? home Feeling... exhausted and yet happy Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, 2009, achievements, amazing conversations, awards, changing the world, ditmar vortex, ditmars, dot points, lists, making the world a better place, nominations, social, swancon, the box, tin ducks, to do, voting

This is via editormum and girliejones:

http://asimmum.livejournal.com/73722.html

http://girliejones.livejournal.com/865745.html
Tehani Wessely and I were talking on the phone last night and mulling over Ditmars stuff, as our ilk are wont to do. And she mentioned that she thought there should be a package of the short stories and maybe the novellas that are nominated on the ballot that could be sent out with the Ditmar Voting Ballot. They do it with the Oscars - it's one of the coolest aspects of being in the guild and being able to vote - you get all the movies sent to you to watch before you vote.

So we mulled it over and thought ... hey! that's not so hard to do! And really, most of us never see all the art that's nominated either, how hard is that to include? And the other stuff? What if the best new talent contenders each provided a little mini bio that you could read? And what if all the relevant links to all the online material were compiled and readily available for voting perusal?

And so, at 11.30 last night she and I were emailing and googling away. And I have to say, the response has been overwhelming. Authors and artists are giving permission left, right and centre and already this morning we have a pretty decent-looking package compiled. We're still waiting for a few items but for those of you eligible to vote on this year's Ditmars ballot we will be presenting: Your 2008 Ditmar Ballot!!! A package of fiction, nonfiction, artwork, links and bios. It will be winging it's way to your inbox very very soon.
---

girliejones writes tonight with regard to the above that there are some good things about Ditmars, and she's right - certainly this is one of them!

As Admin, I've enjoyed much of the correspondence I've had with people throughout the Australian scene. Additionally, I've gotten to see what people nominated before anyone else - which was rather cool and it appealed to me :)

Also, I love things that celebrate talent and inspire others, which I think is one thing that the Ditmars do.

Here's to the good things about the Ditmars, and to there being more of them!

Where am I? home Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... "The Only One" - Darren Hayes Define... # 2008, awards, ditmar voting package, ditmars, positive things, voting

Voting is open to members of Convergence 2 and Swancon 33 (2008) members.

Details have been emailed out, but if you missed it, or are interested then comment and I'll pass details on to you.

I'm about to go to bed, I'm feeling tired, but have had a spark of happy energy running around my system from unexpectedly chatting to a loved one. I may even have had some coherence and made some sense, perhaps was even useful.

My care is slowly creeping back.

My rant on why the awards matter is still forthcoming. As is the possibility of another one that looks at the reasoning behind the distinction between fan and professional, and the connotations therein. (This via black_samvara who also mentioned cupidsbow)

Maybe I should do a FAQ on how to care for your local fannish volunteer (ala caring for your introvert etc).

Where am I? home Feeling... exhausted Compelled listening... "Casey" - Darren Hayes Define... # awards, ditmars, fandom, moments, swancon 2008, thoughts, voting

I have had a very very busy and productive day:

- sent out reminders for NAFF voting (vote!)

- sent emails to people re NAFF with bank details, cheque details and answering other questions

- did spreadsheet for the votes on the NAff candidates so its easy to track the amount of votes and for who etc.

- started tin duck spreadsheet

- started work on ditmar voting form

- didn't kill woman i'm working with for overcomplicating explanations and processes again. black_samvara i look forward to our diagramming on Friday!

- went to iProc training, fell in love with it.

- was useful to black_samvara in carting groceries home for her in my spare hour before we headed off to the city for a hotel walk through.

- hotel walk through went well, am positive.

- walked to train station, the long way via discussion with R, was horrified by replacement bus for train, and whimpered at the thought of standing all the way to Kenwick.

- by this point I'd been wandering about all day in fairly comfortable shoes, but not so comfortable many hours after the fact, and I think I've quite solidly bruised them. I was in enough pain that the getting home thing just filled me with wibbleness.

- the 2 replacement stops for maddington and kenwick are at the extreme ends of each station furtherest away from my house as possible. Getting off bus in Maddington (I'd hoped it was the closer of the 2), I nearly sat down where I was and bawled.

- bus on its way into the city came along, caught that and very very very very wonderful bus driver kindly did me a good turn and let me off at the stop near my house. Am very grateful to her, and to the universe for providing for me, as that one more thing today would have been just a bit too much.

- reviewed the program items list that strangedave posted with his 'nifty' form that i filled out a bajillion times. He may hate me now.

- avoided watching and listening to the hillbilly horror film that K's laughing at where there are bits of body everywhere amongst other things. He stopped trying to tell me about it when I pointed out that he'd have to take care of me tonight if I had nightmares. Yes I am that susceptible to some things.

Where am I? home Feeling... thankful Compelled listening... movie of awfulness in background. Define... # 2008, amazing friends, dead feet, general, naff, sc2009, swancon, universe providing, voting, work

The deadline for voting for NAFF draws near!

February 24th 2008 and it's done and dusted!

Three worthy candidates:

Aimee Smith
Paul Poulton
Edwina Harvey

Votes cost $5 and go directly towards the funding of the delegate's trip to Perth. If you don't know the candidates, or aren't comfortable voting for them, but wish to support NAFF, a donation towards fundraising would be gratefully accepted.

Further details on voting can be found here: www.swancon.com

Comment if you have any questions or queries - feel free to email me also: transcendancing@gmail.com.

Where am I? DPC Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, fan fund, naff, voting

Hi all,

I would like to announce that the Voting for NAFF is now open!

Votes must be received by the candidates or the administrators by Sunday 24th February.

Any Australian fan can choose to vote for the NAFF nominee. The voting process contributes to the fundraising - so each vote costs $5. There is no limit to the number of times you may vote.

Votes are being collected by Emma Hawkes (ehawkes@iinet.net.au), Grant Watson (fanboy@gmail.com), Sue Ann Barber (activeim@hotmail.com), Ju Landeesse (transcendancing@gmail.com). You can hand over cash or cheques to any of these people or pay by PayPal to Sue Ann Barber (activeim@hotmail.com). Please email if you would like details for direct deposit.

Information on NAFF can be found: www.swancon.com/naff. Voting forms will be downloadable from the site this afternoon.

( Candidate information below )

Where am I? home Feeling... excited Compelled listening... "The Weight of the World" - Roxette Define... # fan funds, naff, voting