Author: Erin Underwood

BIO: Erin Underwood is the senior event content producer for MIT Technology Review’s emerging technology events. On the side, she reads, writes, and edits SF. Erin also reviews movies, TV series, and books on YouTube.

Join Me Virtually at New Zealand’s SF Convention ReConnect, June 2-4, 2023

by Erin Underwood

I’m going to be participating virtually as a Fan Guest at ReConnect, June 2-4, 2023.

ReConnect is a 2023 convention for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans and professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. Two+ days of panels, discussions, talks, and socializing — all online to revitalize fandom in preparation for the 2024 national convention.

As the current Down Under Fan Fund delegate, this virtual convention is near and dear to my heart. I look forward to visiting Australia and New Zealand later in the year. So, attending Re-Connect virtually is just the thing to get the fannish wheels moving again.

You should join me and register for Re-Connect! Registration is free, and donations are welcome… In fact, donations are warmly welcomed. 🙂

The program should be posted shortly:
https://reconnect.zohobackstage.com.au/ReConnect2023#/?lang=en

Heading Down Under

by Erin Underwood

Well, here we are two years and one pandemic after I won the race to be the DUFF delegate from North America to attend ConZealand. At this point, I think I may be the longest serving DUFF delegate since this group was first established in the ’70s. So, let’s put that to an end and get the DUFF wheels moving again.

It is with excitement that I am writing this post today. Given that travel is nearly back to normal in Australia and New Zealand, I am planning a trip to Australasia toward the end of the year.

I’m currently looking into timing, potential meetups, and places to visit. Initially, I am thinking of visiting 1-2 cities in Australia and likely the north island of New Zealand.

As my plans come together for a DUFF trip this year, I will share the details here. If you have suggestions for places to visit or people to see, please feel free to comment here or share your ideas with me via email at erin.m.underwood (at) gmail (dot) come.

Also, as an early heads up, the next DUFF race will run next year to bring a fan from Australasia to North America for the 2024 NASFIC. I’m working on pulling that information together and will share the details later this year as well.

If you would like to help support the Down Under Fan Fund, please make a gift today.

Delegate Team of Administrators:

  • North America: Erin Underwood: erin.m.underwood (at) gmail (dot) com
  • Past North American Delegate: Paul Weimer: jvstin (at) gmail (dot) com

The DUFF Post-Pandemic Update for 2021

by Erin Underwood

Hello everyone, I am Erin Underwood, the current DUFF delegate. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. It is my honor to work to connect U.S., Australian, and New Zealand fans in-person and virtual during my term in this role.

Last year, as the newly appointed DUFF delegate, I was slated to travel to New Zealand to represent the U.S. at ConZealand, the 2020 Worlcon. For obvious reasons, this didn’t happen due to Covid 19 and the pandemic, which basically shut down the world for travel and large gatherings.

As the world begins to open up again and as people tentatively resume getting on planes to attend conventions and other in-person gatherings, it’s time to take a look at what the future holds for DUFF and for me as the DUFF delegate.

The current DUFF delegate plan will be for me to travel to the Australia/New Zealand region and to represent U.S. fandom in 2022. My hope is that by then, we will see fan conventions reopen in this region since there are still lingering travel restrictions and uncertainty about when large in-person gatherings will be permitted and how soon the local conventions in New Zealand and Australia will get going again. Since my trip to Australia/New Zealand is being pushed off until at least 2022, the next DUFF race will most likely happen in 2023. I will keep everyone updated on how this timing works out as the pandemic recedes and convention details unfold.

In the meantime, I don’t see any reason not to pull together some fun virtual activities meant to stimulate communications and connections within the DUFF community. So, be sure to keep an eye on the DUFF blog and to follow DUFF in social media.

If you have any questions, please be sure to let me know.