World Science Fiction Society

The name Worldcon is owned by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), an unincorporated literary society whose purpose is to promote interest in science fiction. WSFS has no standing officers, only small standing committees, and its membership comprises the members of the current Worldcon.

As a member of Aussiecon 4, and therefore WSFS in 2010, you may:

If you have any questions about WSFS, the 2010 Hugo Awards or the 2012 Worldcon site selection, please contact Aussiecon 4’s WSFS Division Head Vincent Docherty at wsfs@aussiecon4.org.au

WSFS Constitution

 Web page

 MS doc file

 Pdf Document

Hugo Awards

The Hugo Awards are awards for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. They were first awarded in 1953, and have been awarded every year since 1955. The awards are run by and voted on by fans. The Hugo Awards are awarded each year at the World Science Fiction Convention.

More details can be found at: http://www.thehugoawards.org

For the 2010 Hugo Awards, members of Aussiecon 4 (who join by 31st January 2010) and members of the 2009 Worldcon Anticipation, can nominate up to five people or works from the previous calendar year (2009) in various categories. The list of categories is defined in Article 3 of the WSFS Constitution here: http://www.wsfs.org/bm/const-2009.htm Note that the committee of Aussiecon 4 have decided not to create a special Hugo category in 2010, as permitted in the WSFS constitution.

Nomination and voting are now closed, but details of how to Nominate are here.

Once the list of nominees is finalised, only members of Aussiecon 4 can vote to decide which will win the award.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at: hugoadmin@aussiecon4.org.au

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Site Selection

Sites for future Worldcons are determined two years in advance by vote of the current Worldcon's members.  Members of Aussiecon 4 may vote for the site and Committee of the 2012 Worldcon.

Chicago in 2012 was the only organization to file the by the March 6 deadline, and is the only bid on the 2012 Site Selection ballot.

Aussiecon 4 members who pay the voting fee and vote automatically become Supporting Members of the 2012 Worldcon.  The Site Selection ballot and voting instructions will also be available in Progress Report 3.  Mail-in ballots will be accepted through July 31, and there will also be on-site voting at Aussiecon 4. The ballots are posted on the Site Selection page .

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Business Meeting

The WSFS constitution determines the rules for site selection, for the Hugo Awards, and for amending itself. It is discussed and amended by the WSFS Business Meeting, usually in three morning sessions on the second through fourth days of the Worldcon.

The Business Meeting also empanels a number of standing and ad hoc committees to deal with review of amendments and with certain administrative functions. The most important standing committee is the Mark Protection Committee (MPC), which is responsible for maintaining the society's trademarks and domain names.

The officers of the Aussiecon 4 WSFS Business Meeting appointed so far are:
  Presiding Officer:  Kent Bloom
  Secretary:  Don Timm

Worldcon Reports

Business, committee reports, and financial statements from Worldcons required to report to the Business Meeting must be received at the Business Meeting address (BusinessMeeting@aussiecon4.org.au) or otherwise delivered to the Business Meeting staff by Tuesday, August 10th to ensure it will be included in the pre-printed Agenda.  The final deadline for submission of new business, with appropriate copies per the Standing Rules will probably be 6 pm on Thursday, Sept. 2nd, depending on the actual time of Opening Ceremonies that day.

Questions should be directed to the Business Meeting address.

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Disclaimer: Aussiecon® 4 is convened under the auspices of the Victorian Science Fiction Conventions Inc (ABN 90 257 542 181) and as such, is governed by its rules and regulations. Victorian Science Fiction Conventions Inc. is a not for profit association incorporated under the Victorian Associations Act, 1981. Aussiecon 4 is supported by the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Melbourne [ www.melbourne.vic.gov.au] . "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC", "Hugo Award", and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.