WSFS is an acronym for the World Science Fiction Society, which is a club that was created to sponsor World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons). As defined in its rules, it is an unincorporated literary society. The stated purposes of the Society are:
- to choose the recipients of the annual Hugo Awards (Science Fiction Achievement Awards)
- to choose the locations and committees for the annual World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons)
- to attend those Worldcons
- to choose the locations and committees for the occasional North American Science Fiction Conventions (NASFiCs)
- to perform such other activities as may be necessary or incidental to the above purposes.
As the current Worldcon, CoNZealand is therefore responsible for:
- hosting and running the WSFS Business Meeting
- administering the 2020 Hugo Awards for works and contributions made during 2019, and the 1945 Retro Hugo Awards for works and contributions made during 1944
- administering site selection for the 2022 Worldcon.
If you are a full or supporting member of CoNZealand then you are a member of WSFS.
As a WSFS member (through CoNZealand) you are entitled:
- to nominate works for the 2020 Hugo Awards, the Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and the 1945 Retro Hugo Awards.
- to vote for those awards once the final ballot has been published.
- to vote for the location of the 2022 Worldcon.
- to attend the WSFS Business meetings during the convention.
- if you are not already a member of the 2021 Worldcon, DisCon III, nominate works for the 2021 Hugo Awards, Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book. (The 2021 Hugo Awards will be administered by DisCon III.)
Additionally, any member of Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon, who is not already a member of CoNZealand, has the right to participate in the nomination stage of the Hugos.