Policies on Membership and Transfers

The following is a description of the different types of memberships in Torcon 3 and some of the rules and policies of Torcon 3 concerning the exercise of the rights attached to those memberships. 

Some of these rights, rules and policies are governed by the Constitution of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) and apply to all World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons); others have been determined by Torcon 3 itself and as such may differ from those of past and future Worldcons. 

When you purchase a membership in Torcon 3, you become a member of the World Science Fiction Society for the period of time from the end of the previous Worldcon (ConJosé) until the end of Torcon 3. To continue to be a member of WSFS you must become a member of subsequent Worldcons. 

Membership Rates 

All membership fees are set in Canadian dollars. All credit card transactions will be processed in Canadian funds and will be translated to members' own currencies by their credit card companies. We provide a US$ rate as a convenience to those persons who wish to pay us by cheque or international money order and therefore need to know a fixed amount for their payment.

Supporting Members 

As a supporting member of Torcon 3 you will have the following rights and privileges: 

  1. To receive all general publications of Torcon 3 published prior to the convention, but published after the date you purchase your membership (in general, this means our periodic progress reports). We generally do not mail copies of earlier publications, but if you really really want them, ask us and we may have copies available. 

  2. To receive all general publications of Torcon 3 published at the convention (the souvenir book, pocket program, restaurant guide, etc.) except the special children’s program. These will be mailed out at a date after the convention is over. (This does not include the informal daily newsletters and program update sheets). 

  3. To receive all general publications of Torcon 3 published after the convention, if any are published. 

  4. To participate in the nomination balloting and vote in the final balloting for the Hugo Awards which are to be presented at Torcon 3, so long as you purchase your membership prior to the closing date for nominating, or voting. 

  5. To participate in the nomination balloting for the Hugo Awards which are to be presented at Noreascon 4 in 2004 (but NOT to vote in the final balloting - to do so, you must purchase a membership in Noreascon ) 

  6. To vote in the site selection process which will determine where the Worldcon will be held in 2006 (subject to paying an additional fee which will then entitle you to a supporting membership in the winning convention). 

  7. To submit business to the WSFS Business Meeting that will be held at Torcon 3, but not to attend that meeting. 

 

Attending members 

As an attending member of Torcon 3 you will have the same rights and privileges as a supporting member, plus the following: 

  1. To attend Torcon 3 for all five days of the convention (from August 28 to September 1, 2003). 

  2. To attend and vote at the WSFS Business Meeting which will be held at Torcon 3. 

Updated 24-Apr-03

Child members: 

For purposes of Torcon 3 a child membership is required for a child aged 6 to 12 at the time the convention begins (born after August 28, 1990 but before August 29, 1997) and may be purchased for a child who is younger, if desired. A child member has the right to attend Torcon 3 for all five days of the convention but must at all times be in the company of an attending member who has full authority and responsibility for the actions and safety of the child member. A child member has no nominating or voting rights. A child member of Torcon 3 does not receive the general publications but will receive a special child's souvenir book. Torcon 3 plans to provide Child Care. A child member may be placed in child care (subject to space availability) for an additional fee and subject to the rules of the Torcon 3 Child Care department.

Kid-in-tow: 

Children under the age of 6 (born after August 28, 1997) do not require membership status and will be admitted free of charge. A Kid-in-Tow badge will be issued for identification purposes and must be worn at all times. A Kid-in-Tow who is old enough to be out of diapers may be placed in child care (subject to space availability) for an additional fee and subject to the rules of the Torcon 3 Child Care department. Note that the Child Care fee for a child with Kid-in-Tow status may be greater than the fee for a child who is a Child member.

Infants (now replaced by Kid-in-Tow)

Please note the following: 

1) The additional fee and rules of the Torcon 3 Child Care department have not yet been determined. 
2) Anyone who has purchased a Child membership for their Child who now falls under the Kid-in-Tow status is entitled to a refund. We urge you to apply for that refund prior to the convention in order to make your registration at the convention as smooth as possible. Please contact us directly at members@torcon3.on.ca to arrange your refund.

Day memberships 

Torcon 3 will be selling memberships for single or multiple days of the convention. These must be purchased at the convention, not in advance. A day member of Torcon 3 has the same rights and privileges as a supporting member, except as follows: 

  1. A day member may attend the convention for the specific days for which he/she has purchased the membership. 

  2. Day members may not participate in the nomination or final balloting for the Hugo Awards which are presented at Torcon 3. This is because voting for the Hugo awards closes prior to the beginning of the convention. 

  3. Day members do not receive the general publications of Torcon 3 which are published prior to or after the convention. 

  4. Day members are entitled to receive copies of the general publications of Torcon 3 published at the convention (the souvenir book, pocket program, restaurant guide, etc.) subject to sufficient quantities being available. It should be noted that appropriate quantities of these publications will be set aside to be made available to supporting and attending members who are entitled to copies and only after those copies have been reserved will a determination be made as to whether copies are available to day members. 

 

Pre-supporters 

Persons who pre-supported the Toronto in 2003 Worldcon Bid are not members of Torcon 3. They must purchase appropriate memberships. However, in order to recognize the contributions made by pre-supporters to our success in winning the right to hold Torcon 3, pre-supporters who become members and attend Torcon 3 will be entitled to a 10% discount off of their purchases of most ‘sales to members’ merchandise.

 

Eligibility to vote in Site Selection 

According to the WSFS Constitution, “Corporations, associations, and other non-human or artificial entities may cast ballots, but only for ‘No Preference’. ‘Guest of’ memberships may only cast ‘No Preference’ ballots.” 

Therefore, supporting or attending memberships which are held in the name of stores, corporations, “guest of”, teddy bears, etc., must be properly transferred to a real person before they can cast a preferential vote in the site selection balloting. 

It should also be noted that site selection voting for the 2005 NASFic will most likely take place at Torcon 3. If this is the case, then all mention as to the 2006 site selection balloting applies equally to the 2005 NASFic site selection balloting. 

 

Transfer of memberships 

Torcon 3 will not refund membership fees. However, members are free to sell or transfer their memberships to others so long as Torcon 3 is properly notified and the following rules are adhered to. 

As of the date of transfer, the purchaser will receive all of the rights and privileges of membership from that date onwards. Any rights and privileges already exercised by the transferor will not be exercisable by the purchaser. For example, if the transferor voted in the site selection balloting but did not vote in the Hugo awards balloting, then the purchaser may not vote in the site selection balloting, but may vote in the Hugo awards balloting. 

No rights, including nomination and voting rights, may be detached from a membership. When a membership is transferred, all future rights and privileges are transferred with it. For further clarification, if a person transferring a membership wishes to vote in site selection or Hugo balloting, they must do so before they transfer the membership. 

Memberships which entitle a person to attend the convention (attending, child, day) may not be transferred after the member has registered in person at the convention. 

In order to transfer a membership in advance of the convention, Torcon 3 must receive from the transferor a verifiable email or a signed request prior to August 10, 2003 - formerly July 15, 2003). Transfers will also be processed at the convention, but persons to whom memberships are being transferred must bring with them a written request SIGNED by the person who is transferring their membership to them.

It is up to the purchaser to satisfy themselves as to whether or not voting rights on a membership have been exercised. Torcon 3 will assist in verifying such information if a request is received from a potential transferor to provide that information to a prospective purchaser, provided there is no cost to Torcon 3 to do so. 

If you have any questions concerning any of the above, please contact members@torcon3.on.ca.

Last updated: 14 July 2003

Send comments or suggestions to members@torcon3.on.ca