THE LONCON PROGRESS REPORTS - Number 2.

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Overseas Publicity

British Publicity

Programme Committee

Film Liaison

Frank Arnold
Fred Brown
Dave Cohen
Philip Duerr
Peter Hamilton
Ewan Hedger
Terry Jeeves

John Carnell

Roberta Wild

Charles Duncombe

Joy Clarke
Vincent Clarke

Pamela Bulmer
Ken Bulmer

Dave Newman
Norman Shorrock

Peter West
John Brunner

Eric Jones
Ethel Lindsay
Nigel Lindsay
John Roles
Arthur Sellings
Ken F. Slater
Walter A. Willis

On an international footing, it means that members of the Society in America would almost all vote on achievements within their own country, British members within the British field, plus voting on the two British reprint editions (which would be unfair to those American magazines not reprinting); and Continental and Australian members would vote on either British or American according to which was distributed in their country. Further, since the British reprints are many months behind the publishing date of the corresponding American editions, confusion would arise as to which British issues were eligible for inclusion in 1957.

With this JOURNAL each member will receive a Postal Ballot Form on which to record his choice for all three Awards. For the prozines, two votes may be cast - one for British and one for American (British reprints will count as British magazines), but where only the national publications of a country are read, only one vote need be recorded for the best magazine of that country.

ALL BALLOTS MUST REACH THE CONVENTION SECRETARY NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST 1957 and must be recorded on the official ballot form, which bears your membership number. Your decisions should be based on magazine issues published between July 1956 and July 1957, quoting the outstanding reason why you consider your choice to be the best.

Don't lose your Ballot Form -- fill it out and post it by the beginning of July without fail !

Firstly (and this seems important to quite a lot of people) we don't propose to hold any formal programme sessions in the mornings. There will be something to entertain those hardy spirits who are up and around though! A Jazz concert on tape, perhaps --- excerpts from broadcasts

Looking at the overall picture, each day of the convention falls, fairly loosely, into a different category. Friday will be devoted mainly to meeting old friends and, we hope, making new ones. Saturday, fairly serious in parts but opening with a bang and building up to a grand finale. Sunday, definitely on the lighter side with plenty of scope for trufanniah activities. Monday the day for WSFS business and goodbyes but accompanied by plenty of light relief. That's the way we've planned it and we hope you'll like it.

Now for a bit of detail. The Official Opening of the Convention will take place on the Friday evening at nine o'clock - on the dot. This w1ll be mercifully short so that people can go back to the serious business of the evening like talking and drinking. We'll introduce the Chairman, the President, and the Guest of Honour and maybe mention some of the celebrities who are present. Then we'll leave you to your own devices, though

The Chairman has already mentioned the Luncheon session which will take place on the Saturday. This should be a lot of fun for all concerned - we suggest that you reserve your place early to be sure of getting in. For those who don't like formal meals of this nature, the hall will be open to spectators when the speeches (we use the word advisedly) commence. However, the best points of vantage will be at the tables themselves so why not enjoy the meal as well? After all, you never know who might be sitting next to you.

Starting late on Saturday evening will be the Fancy Dress Party. We want this to be a really colourful Affair and we need YOUR support. There will be a competition for the costumes and we will have some good prizes in categories such As "The Most Original Rig-out", "The Most Ingenious Costume", " The Horriblest (lovely word) Disguise" and so on! Music for dancing, a bar in the ballroom, and probably a late night buffet served on the spot ... there's a lot of detail to be settled yet.

Sunday is more difficult to write about, but it will in the main be for the fans and (we hope) by the fans. We can't say much without giving away a few jealously guarded secrets but we CAN say that if you want to do something yourselves, well - the more the merrier, and

On Monday, of course, one of the high-lights of the business sessions will be the balloting for the 1958 Consite. We've got a feeling that there'll be some strenuous rivalry between sites on the American West Coast - and excitement will probably run high. It's probable that there will be other business to transact as well, but that remains to be seen. We imagine that Monday evening will be devoted to tearful farewells though once again there will be a background programme for those who want it.

Among the other items already planned will be the auctions. These have become traditional in science fiction conventions all over the world but we're going to try a different slant on things this year. Instead of one long section resulting in boredom for the audience and exhaustion for the auctioneers, we propose to have two or three sessions strictly limited in length and have the pick of the lots on show beforehand so that people will have an opportunity to see what they would like to bid for in advance. We've already had the offer of some excellent lots for the auction:

And that's about all we can tell you et the moment , There's plenty in the wind, and the way things are beginning to shape looks good to us!

Don't feel that you will have to miss the Worldcon because of the children.

Arrangements have been made to provide capable babysitters for the youngsters, and older children will be taken on eight-seeing tours. Let Us know right away how many children you will bring and their ages.

Enjoy a four-day break while we look after the children...

FOR THE JOURNAL AND THE
PROGRAMME BOOKLET ARE:

Full page: Half pages 1/4 page: 1/8 page:	40/- 25/- 15/- 10/-	$6.00 $3.50 $2.00 $1.50
Booster ads are
	2/6d	35c
	for two lines.

These charges are for space only; copy must be prepared by the advertiser ready for photography, preferably 1 1/2 times the printed size.

Send your order and copy as soon as possible. Closing date for the next JOURNAL is: JUNE 22

Closing date for the PROGRAMME BOOKLET

The Committee is headed by David A. Kyle, President: Secretary-Treasurer, Ruth E. Landis; and Vice-Presidents, George Nims Raybin and Belle C. Dietz.

As April 30th is closing date in America for round trip reservations and this JOURNAL will not be in the mails until May 6th, we are giving only brief details here. American fans who have not requested reservation may still be fortunate to obtain passage up to May 30th if there have been any cancellations. Members still interested should write immediately to the Secretary at 251 West 102nd Street, New York 25, New York.

THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY OF OBTAINING ROUND TRIP FARE AT LESS THAN SINGLE PRICE.

The New York Committee have arranged a round trip schedule, leaving Idlewild Airport, New York, on Friday night, August 30th, in a Pan-American DC-6B, arriving at

* ARRANGENENTS HAVE NOW been made for the collection in New York of membership dues to this year's World Convention, instead of transmitting cheques or cash to London.

Applicants should send one dollar to Franklin M. Dietz Jr., 1721 Grand Avenue, Bronx 53, New York, stating this sum is for the 1957 World Convention Society membership. Membership cards and all Society literature will then be issued from London.

American pro and fan mags please copy!