Simon Litten
Simon has worked for NZ Fandom in different ways
over the years. This nomination recognizes all his work on a local and a national level.
It includes his specific chartered accountancy work as well as his more general
contributions to the running of organized NZ SF Fan activities.
Wellington Phoenix Science Fiction Club
Simon has been a part of organized New Zealand
Science Fiction fandom since May 1989 when the Phoenix Science Fiction Club was first
founded.
Simon is a founding committee member of this
Wellington-based SF club, as well as a founding member.
He has always been on the committee of Phoenix since
it started in 1989. Phoenix terms start in May of each year.
Treasurer 1989 to 1997
President 1997 to 1999
General Committee member 1999 to 2000
Treasurer 2000 to 2004
Vice-President 2004 to 2005
General Committee member 2005 to 2006
Vice-President 2006 to 2007
Simon is the current serving President of the
Phoenix SF Club
As a committee member of Phoenix, he has also
assisted in the running of the Phoenix Board Gaming Special Interest Group.
A Club Treasurer's duties include collecting
membership fees, banking club money, paying off club expenses, writing receipts, filing
tax returns and doing the club yearly accounts. Start-up duties include getting a IRD
number and opening up a bank account.
ConCom Activities
He was on the ConCom of "Gone With the
Wind", the 2002 National New Zealand Science Fiction convention held in Wellington.
He is currently on the ConCom of Conjunction 2008,
this year's National New Zealand Science Fiction convention.
SFFANZ
Simon has been a SFFANZ committee member from 2002
onwards to the current year, with the exception of 2005 when he stepped down from SFFANZ.
Simon is the current serving president of SFFANZ.
As part of his general SFFANZ duties, he wrote the
current SFFANZ constitution. He also wrote the NZ SF convention constitution that was used
back in 2002. This convention constitution has been useful to subsequent New Zealand
national conventions.
General Contributions
Simon has also attended Australian national SF
conventions in Melbourne and Perth. While this was in the capacity of "attendee
only", this has helped build useful fan links across the Tasman and he gained some
basic knowledge of the Australian SF publishing industry while he was visiting there.
Simon also attended AussieCon3, a World Con held in
Australia in 1999 - as an attendee.
Simon Litten has been extremely active
this year in SFFANZ, Phoenix and Conjunction...occupying positions of importance on
committees for all three. (Most of my comments are tied to his work with Conjunction
since we are both on that committee, but recognise that there is much overlap).
My observation is that his devotion to working in
the interests of SF fandom in NZ is very high, even to the point of taking on personal
financial risks (in the case of Conjunction) to help ensure that the organisation is able
to progress forward with planning_. He's worked tirelessly within Conjunction to
push the committee and keep us on track. He's not above doing any particular job if
asked. His duties range from the challenging (hotel liaison) to simple-but-critical,
single-handedly selling the bulk of raffle tickets for a Conjunction fund-raiser that
netted the organisation a much-needed chunk of cash.
His knowledge of the fandom landscape and history in
Wellington/NZ is excellent, which is one of the reasons he's so helpful within these
various organisations. An advantage to him being involved in all three clubs is that he's
able to make connections between the groups, thinking of ways that they can benefit one
another. In effect, he's working in a silent role as coordinator/liaison between Phoenix,
Conjunction and SFFANZ...looking out for the interests of all three, seeking collaboration
where possible, and making sure that each group's interests are met.
He is encouraging to fellow fans when they achieve
things, and makes an effort to say "Well done". This is good leadership. And,
despite events that would have tried the patience of most people to the breaking point, I
have never seen Simon lose his cool or treat people harshly. He's a good guy at heart.
He wholeheartedly deserves a nod, and I felt
compelled to give it. |