NEO Furs

Morphicon Miscellanea - April 2012

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:06:15 GMT

-= The End is Nigh =-

Yes, folks, the long wait is almost over. With only two weeks to go until Morphicon 2012: Fables & Furry Tails you can finishing sharpening your claws and preening your coats and think ahead to packing. If you haven't already, head on over and pre-register at Morphcion.org. While the early-bird discount is over (partially because the bird was consumed) it's still an easy way to get one more thing taken care of before the con.
As always, we have a plethora of panels and almagama of activities planned to keep you entertained. The Spectacle of Doom, Fursuit Parade, and Frozen Oasis all make a return this year. We'll also have the Dealer's Den and Artist's Alley open to help you buy and sell, what else, art! The patio will be available if you simply want to hang-out and, for those of you who want to earn a discount for next year, your Gopher Wrangler would love to hear from you if you'd like to volunteer!
Feel free to contact your Morphicon staff should you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

-= Meet the GoH's: Text Edition, Part 2 =-

Having already answered a pair of questions for you in the previous edition of Morphicon Miscellanea, Heavy Horse and Sigil, this year's Guests of Honour, agreed to answer two more. While we realize four questions are not enough to know a GoH, we do hope you stop by their respective panels at the con and learn a bit more about, and from, them.

You can find they're latest bits of knowledge at www.Morphicon.org.

-= "Yew" Know What You Want =-

Two more chapters of Heavy Horse's Yew Manor! We have taken the time to upload two of the final three chapters of this wonderful story to Morphicon.org. Heavy has agreed to read Yew Manor in its entirety at the con and we'll let him finish his story for you. At the conclusion of the con, Yew Manor will be posted in one piece on Morphicon.org. We encourage you to attend Heavy's reading to his wonderful piece so you might achieve closure just a little bit sooner.

-= Welcome to Goodbye =-

Speaking of closure, it is with a heavy heart and drooping tail I must mention your publicity fox will not be returning after this year's con. It has been a honour to serve on the Morphicon staff these past two years and I thank everyone involved and, especially, those who've enjoyed (or simply put up with) my ramblings. Have no fear, we are not planning on leaving the position vacant and are already speaking to others who have expressed interest.

That said, Morphicon is continually evolving. Furs come and go and we are always looking for those interested in helping plan and execute the next great con experience. If your ambitions are loftier than being a gopher or panelist, we encourage you to speak to someone on staff. You never know, it just may be you writing the newsletter in the future!

Thanks for the ride! - Foxx (in a box)

Bagstuffing Party - Saturday April 28th

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:21:02 GMT

WHAT
Morphicon is just around the corner, and we need to put together the conbooks as well as fill up the convention bags. Every year people show their love through HARD PHYSICAL LABOR, and this year is no different. No, really though, we do need people, and the work isn't that hard. It's more of a slight distraction from seeing everyone before the convention. Think of it as the first unofficial day of the con!

We'll have snacks/drinks and then later on in the evening, pizza! Mmmn, pizza. But please keep the pizza off of the conbooks. This isn't Morphicon 2012 : Greasy Pizza Hands.
So, like, how can you possibly beat that deal? Good friends, free food, and all you have to do is play assembly-line slave for the convention for as long as it takes till the books are all done.
As an aside, we're also making props for the Spectacle of DOOOOMMM alongside the bagstuffing.

WHEN
April 28th (Saturday) - 6pm

WHERE

1350 Wild Oats Dr. Columbus, OH 43204

Bob-Tailed Foxes & One-Week T-Shirt Deadlines

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:49:16 GMT

Shhh! Do you hear it? The wailing that sounds like a woman's scream? Make no mistake, that is not a woman - it is a wampus cat. A very /irritated/ wampus cat. Why is Kattywampus upset? It's simple - she needs your art. She /craves/ your art. With only a week to go until the deadline for the t-shirt competition (ends March 15th!), she has received very few entries. Her appetite is insatiable and she requires quantities of artwork.

Please help. I don't want to lose my tail (which is only one of the appendages that will go missing, I'm sure). I'll do anything. How about a free Patron registration? Fine. To the winner I will give the free Patron registration AND the design on the t-shirt for everyone to wear! As a further incentive to gather art, I'll even give away a free Sponsor registration to the runner-up PLUS the cover of the pocket programming guide! And I guarantee everyone who submits art relating to Morphicon's theme of Fables & Furry Tails will get inserted into the con book! All relevant details are located on the Morphicon website (www.Morphicon.org), written in a sweet and innocent manner by said wampus (don't be fooled!!!).

Help me keep the bob-tailed fox an Aesop's fable. Send your art. Eternal thanks will be yours. And remember, avoid slinking shadows in the night. It very well could be...the Kattywampus.

Morphicon T-Shirt Contest Now Open!!!

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:43:39 GMT

There once was a con in Columbus,
Who had a problem quite humongus,
The shirts to be worn,
Remain unadorned,
So we call upon you - please save us!

That right folks, we need your help! The t-shirts we so love to have every year are still blank slates in need of love. We're calling upon all artists, established or not, to submit your artwork for the annual Morphicon t-shirt contest. Entries need to be rated G to PG-13 and must relate to this year's theme Fables and Furry Tails. The deadline is March 15th and you could win a free Patron or Sponsor level registration!

For more information, including submission guidelines, please see our website - www.Morphicon.org. We look forward to see what kind of wonderful you can come up with!

Furrality - an anthropomorphic animal roleplay

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:27:52 GMT

INDEX PLOT CHARACTER CREATION GETTING STARTED

Calling All 'Suiters - Woollybear Parade!

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 04:13:56 GMT

If you're looking for possibly one last hurrah for the year, grab your fursuit and come participate in Woollybear Parade in Vermilion, Ohio on October 9th! The parade route is approximately one mile long and we would love to have you there to participate in the Morphicon entry. Full-suits and partials are preferred but we won't turn away anyone with ears or a tail. The only thing we ask if you have fun at one of the last events of the year! Come meet fellow furs and make a few friends. Those interested can contact Vidaroke, to whom we're very grateful, at xdarkfangx[at]gmail.com. More information on the festival can be found at www.vermilionohio.com. Hope to see you there!

Calling All 'Suiters - Woollybear Parade!

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 04:12:54 GMT

Final Picnic Call for One and All

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:39:10 GMT

With a week to go until the Morphicon Annual FREE Picnic we are making one last push to get everyone signed up. We have a rat and a fox scheduled to do the shopping later in the week and we want to make sure you're included in our list. Please take a few minutes if you're planning to attend so we can ensure there are enough eats for you. You do not need to register with the Morphicon website to do so (though it would be nice), just visit Morphicon.org and click on the 'Annual FREE Picnic' link on the left. Enter your name and you're done! As of now we have just about half the number we did last year. Please, let us spend the money and feed you!

Days: Eleven Until Picnic Heaven

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:09:44 GMT

That's right! So few days until the Morphicon Annual FREE Picnic that you can count them on both hands (if you happen to be polydactyl)! There's nothing more we need you to do than mosey on over to Morphicon.org and lets us know you'll be there! Simply click on Annual FREE Picnic and signup (and perhaps register with the website as well?)! It's quick, it's free, and we just want to make sure we have enough to feed you! See you there!

WPAFW STUFF

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:44:05 GMT

OMSG DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING SOON

http://akirashima.livejournal.com/773812.html#comments

YEAH RIGHT MY FURRIES! IT IS THE WPAFW. GO THERE AND SEE WHAT LIES AHEAD!!!!!!!!

This message is meant to be informative and not so much a big pile of spam. though spam is delicious when fried and diced up in say eggs or mac and cheese and did you know spam now comes in awesome flavours including bacon now. ... Ummm sorry got sidetracked. But yeah see i was all nice and put all the pictures and links in that link up there rather than spam you guys with my pretty mug and threatening pictures of kittens. spam is good though.

Morphicon Miscellanea - September 2011

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:36:03 GMT

MORPHICON MISCELLANEA - SEPTEMBER 2011

-= Morphicon 2012 - Furry Tales & Fables =-
Once upon a time there was a furry convention in Columbus, Ohio named Morphicon. Now Morphicon was a small con, not like its more famous cousins, but it welcomed any and all who were looking for a bit of fun and relaxation in May. Now, it so happened that Morphicon decided it was time to pay homage to its roots. Looking back further than its birth in 2003, Morphicon chose to focus on the origin of all cons, namely that of folklore. Thus, for 2012, Morphicon is proud to announce its theme will be Furry Tales and Fables. Pulling from stories passed down through the ages, we will celebrate anthropomorphics from all cultures to make this con one like never seen before. Please join us May 3rd-6th next year to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event!

-= Furry Tales & Fables Guests of Honour =-
This year we have invited two Guests of Honour to Morphicon: Sigil and Heavy Horse. We are deeply honoured to have two wonderful artists, the formal visual, the latter written. Rather than do them the disservice of saying something unflattering, we've decided it best to let them speak for themselves.

Sigil is a relatively new artist, but has found her home very quickly in the Furry Fandom! Starting in 1998 she began the long road through anime fan-art and terrible X-man fan characters that eventually led her to furries. Egged on by her husband, in early 2008 she joined the popular website FurAffinity (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sigil/) and her world was never the same. Working now as a freelance furry artist and going to school full time, Sigil is happier than she's ever been. While usually working in digital medium, Sigil loves making art using pencils, markers, inks, watercolor, acrylic...you name it! She attends several cons a year, and does her best to teach a few panels at any she attends, focusing on artist/client relationships and how to start out or improve as an artist. Her latest project is a collaborative erotic portfolio called "Monster Haus", featuring monsters, strange creatures and people who are more than a little tied up. She is incredibly honored to be a Guest of Honor and is looking forward to participating in 2012's Morphicon!

Heavy Horse (aka Alan Loewen) is an established writer with 20 publishing credits to his name, his first story appearing in the Summer, 1998 edition of the now defunct PawPrints Fanzine. You can follow his adventures at his writing blog at http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/. In 2007, Heavy Horse co-wrote Mask of the Ferret with author, Ken Pick in the Eppie award-winning anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God. A hard SF piece with strong anthropomorphic themes, Mask of the Ferret received an Honorable Mention from the 2008 Washington Science Fiction Association. Heavy lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and three sons, a sheltie named Socrates, a homicidal sun conure lovingly named The Death Chicken, and far too many cats. Deeply honored to be a part of Morphicon 2012, he hopes to entertain with his stories old and new, and, as a retired stage magician, will gladly do a magic trick or two if politely asked.

We ask you to join us in next year in celebrating these two artists and thank them both deeply for taking time out of their busy schedule to spend some time with us.

-= Free Food for Furs! - Morphicon Picnic 2011 =-
In the tradition of years past, Morphicon will be hosting a free picnic for all those able to attend. We will again have it a Sharon Woods Metro park, located just north of I-270 off Cleveland Ave. The date for this years event will be September 24th, rain or shine! Food, drink, and entertainments will be provided but feel free to bring anything you want to share. Last year's even attracted 63 furs and we would love to do that again! Stay tuned for the announcement of the RSVP page so we can ensure we have enough eats for everyone but mark your calendars now!

-= Woollybear Parade =-
Once again, Morphicon will be participating in the Woollybear Parade in Vermillion, OH. We are trying to make this into an annual event and our friends at NEOfurs are helping to make this possible. The Woollybear Festival is an annual event featuring food, music, and entertainment! In addition, there is the parade where fursuits are encouraged If you're wanting to try out your new suit, show off your veteran moves, or just want to walk with other furs, mark your calendars for October 9th. For additional information or questions, please contact publicity@morphicon.org. Keep your eyes posted on the Morphicon Google Group for ride-share / caravan information

-= The Quick Brown...Dog? =-
Yes, jumped over the lazy fox. To say there has been quite a bit happening with the Morphicon staff would be an understatement. As it always does, life intrudes upon the fandom and prevents things from flowing as they should. That doesn't mean, however, your staff hasn't been making preparations for next year's con. We're still busy redesigning a website to put all previous ones to shame and implementing features you've told us you want. We do listen, you see. It's just, in this, we're adopting the stance of the tortoise instead of the hare: slow and steady. Rest assured, Morphicon 2012 will be something special!

-= September Fable - The Old Hound - by Aesop =-
A hound, known in his youth for strength and never yielding to another animal in the forest, in his advanced age encountered a boar. He seized it by the ear but, because of the decay of his teeth, was unable to maintain his hold on the creature. His master, seeing the boar flee into the woods, set upon the hound with foot and stick. Once the owner's anger seemed to have run its course, the hound said, "It was not my fault, master. My spirit was as strong as ever but I cannot help my infirmities. Rather than being punished for who I am, I should be praised for whom I once was."

NEO Furs Annual Picnic

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:35:33 GMT

Where: Kendall Park, Penisula Ohio (below is the map)
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Kendall+Park,+Peninsula,+OH+44264&fb=1&gl=us&ftid=0x883120a6b3915f71:0xcddc8a7a3d072375&ei=n-zDS_zVD4P_8Abqy4iKCQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ8gEwAA

Its July 30st. 11am to 7pm (tear down til 8)

Pre-reg will still be 8 dollars and 10 at the door. RegPlus (like a sponsor) is 15 dollars. It will include a small goody bag and a special reg bracelet.
Paypal is saish.cala[at]gmail[dot]com please include your Furry name, Real name, address and phone number.

There will be fursuiting, food and fun at this picnic. We serve lunch and hot dinner

NEW EVENTS
Garage Sale:Its like artist alley. The tables inside the shelter will be used for the garage sale from noon to 4. You can claim some space inside and do commissions or sell furry related items (No adult items). Please use discretion and do not sell items with value over 50 dollars.[size=x-small]The picnic is not responsible for what you sell, or the profit you make. Do use common sense in the garage sale, at any point the staff sees fit, we can shut down the garage sale. Please do not argue if that happens, it is for safety reasons.[/size]

Charity Auction: You may donate as many items as you wish to be auctioned off. The auction will be done Raffle Ticket style. You will get 5 raffle tickets with your picnic registration. We will hold the raffle shortly after dinner (items will not be on displayed before dinner). You can purchase tickets for $2 for 5 or $10 for 25. The raffle will go on until about 6:30.
Save a mom pregnant dog rescue is our charity http://www.saveamomrescue.com/

Prom Queen and King: For fun only, we will provide a poster Prom King and Prom Queen. On the poster, write your name on it if you would like to be in the running for Prom Queen or King. During the charity auction, we will have voting. Then at 6:30, when prom king and queen are decided, the will be the ones who get to draw the winners for the charity auction!

As a side note:
Anyone who would like to help please send me an email at skookumhime[at]gmail[dot]come. We will need equipment for music, a person willing to DJ (with lots of music), people to help set up and tear down, we will need Fans and Extension cords.

Also, this offer extends to non North East ohio furs and non furs alike :3 This is a very laid back atmosphere :D

There will be more neofur events being posted up here in the future

The small print: We do have the right to refuse admission to those who have been banned from the neofur forum, so please don't include or invite those you know have been banned. We serious do take the no drama policy serious, and will have local police numbers ready if need be. We hope it doesn't ever get to that point :c

Pre-Registraion is OPEN for the Western PA Furry Weekend! Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2011

Sun, 08 May 2011 14:46:36 GMT

Hey yinz out there!

I'm excited to announce that pre-registration is open to attend this year's Western PA Furry Weekend, scheduled for September 30 through October 2! Now in its 11th year the WPAFW provides a fun-filled and intimate social event revolving around an outdoor BBQ in the park. Come join us for a weekend of fun and friends!

Our Featured Artist for 2011 is local furry artist Kyote!

This year, we'll be raising donations in support of Clarion PAWS through our fantastic Charity Raffle. Clarion PAWS is a Pet Adoption and Welfare Society serving Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, and Venango counties in North-Western Pennsylvania. Currently they are embarking on a capture, spay-neuter, and release program to control the stray cat population in the major population centers of Clarion, Forest, Jefferson and Venango counties in PA.

Pre-Registration at the low price of $25 is available until Sept. 12 for Friday and Saturday activities. "Early Birds" registering before June 30th can grab a membership for only $20!

You may also register as a Sponsor for $50 which gets you a cool sponsor gift, extra raffle tickets, head-of-the-line privileges for delicious eats at the park, and of course our undying gratitude. You know you don't want to miss out on that!

For additional information as well as our special hotel room rates please visit our website at www.wpafw.org.

The Staff and I look forward to seeing you here!

Blithe
Registration; WPAFW'11

Morphicon Miscellanea - April 2011 Edition

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 03:47:20 GMT

April 2011 All-Encompassing Edition

It's the Final Countdown!
(Cue bad 80's music!)

Only a few weeks separate us from Morphicon 2011 - Furries in Wonderland! Flinters and Roxikat are both waiting to meet you and amaze with their artistic prowess! If you still have pre-registered, mosey on over to our Registration page and avoid the line the day of the con!

It is also worth noting, this is the last edition of Morphicon Miscellanea before the con. As such, this version contains most all the information you need to know about the important events and the con itself. Please read through that which you may have passed over in previous editions so you don't miss out on any of the greatness!

A room-share discussion is currently happening on the Morphicon LiveJournal page. Please take a look if you'll be needing a room for the weekend and need someone to bunk with. You may also consider joining the Morphicon Google Group as there is already talk of ride-shares on there. Both locations will become more active the closer we get to the con. Don't miss out!

Programming Schedule Has Been Posted!

The programming schedule has been posted on the Morphicon website (http://morphicon.org/schedule.php), and once again we have a ton of really awesome content lined up for the convention! Panels on writing, art, fursuiting, gaming, puppetry, discussions of what the fandom is really all about, and shared interest group (SIG) panels for your favorite critters, and the usual large performance events... We still have a few spots open on the schedule to squeeze in an extra SIG or panel, so if you have something you want to see that's not already planned contact us at: Programming[at]Morphicon.org.

Ursa Major Awards Return to Morphicon!

The tenth annual Ursa Major Awards for excellence in the furry arts will be presented on Friday, May 13 at 7:30 pm at Morphicon in Columbus, Ohio.

More than 1300 voters selected their favorites in ten categories of works featuring intelligent and/or talking animals first published during the calendar year 2010: Best Motion Picture, Best Dramatic Short Work or Series, Best Novel, Best Short Fiction, Best Other Literary Work, Best Graphic Story, Best Comic Strip, Best Magazine, Best Published Illustration, and Best Game.

Voting and interest was especially brisk as a number of nominees promoted the Awards and urged their fans to vote, resulting in an almost 20% increase in turnout over last year.

More formally known as the Annual Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Awards, the Ursa Major Awards are intended as Anthropomorphic (a.k.a. Furry) Fandom's equivalent of the Hugo Awards presented by the World Science Fiction Society, mystery fandom's Anthony Awards, horror fandom's Bram Stoker Awards, and so forth.

The Ursa Major Awards are administered by the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA), a membership organization dedicated to promoting anthropomorphic literature and arts. Discussions are ongoing to improve their effectiveness and expand their presence throughout furry fandom. All suggestions are invited via the Ursa Major Awards web site at .

Masquerade and Fursuit Parade!

Morphicon provides several great opportunities to show off your fursuit, whether it's partial or full, paw-made or purchased. On Friday night, there will be a competitive Masquerade that will be judged by experienced costumers. Awards will be given for both construction and performance in 4 categories: Juvenile, Novice (beginner), Journeyman (intermediate), and Master. There are also awards for the Best in Show and the Best Use of Con Theme. The awards themselves will be in keeping with the con theme and will be good souvenirs.

If you made your fursuit yourself, you can wear or bring it to Pre-Judging and be eligible for the construction awards. You can then show off your suit on stage during the Masquerade performance and be eligible for more awards. If you purchased or borrowed your suit, or just don't want to be judged for construction, please show off on stage anyway because you're still eligible for the performance and "Best" awards. All acts should be 2 minutes or less. If you don't have an act or your own music, we have thousands of songs for you to dance to on stage. Be forewarned -- you never know what the soundman will pick, so it's better to plan your own!

Then on Saturday afternoon, there will be a fursuit parade through the convention space. The line-up will start in the Morrison room and end on the patio with a group picture. Parts of the route will go outside; however, if it's raining, the route will be shortened to stay inside. (Wet suits are a bad thing!) There will be many opportunities along the route for picture-taking, including Factory Square, the main stage, and the Patio.

If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, such as being a Masquerade judge or fursuit wrangler, please email Masquerade[at]Morphicon.org.

Writers Wanted: Iron Author Competition

We managed to track down writing-track head Foxx (in a box) to ask him a few questions about the Iron Author competition. While not as difficult to corner as our illustrious con-chair (Foxx is in a box, after all), also being staff means a furry, er, flurry of activity is going on.

What is Iron Author?

IA is a competition to see who can write the best, worst story. It typically features a topic which relates to the theme of the con. It is also given a special bit which must be included in the writing and is only given out at the Iron Author introduction.

Who can compete in Iron Author?

Anyone can compete, there are no restrictions for the basic competition. Likewise, the story can be poetry or prose, we're not picky. In fact, we encourage writing of all types. There is also the possibility of having an adult Iron Author competition this year. If this happens, more info will be given during the IA introduction.

Is there a prize for the winner?

Ultimately, IA is a fun, and non-serious, competition, with the emphasis on fun. That said, we do try to have some sort of prize in place as a reward for those who punish us with their bad writing. Last year was a bronzed "corn dog" won by Anima. We're hoping to have something similar in place for this year's con.

Anything else you can think of?

Anyone interested in competing should attend the IA introduction. Likewise, anyone who has a question about the competition, or wishes to serve as a judge, should feel free to contact Foxx (in a box) at the beginning or end of the writing panels. It would also be wise to see what we're looking for by searching out the story "Eye of Argon"...at your own risk, of course.

It's Baaa-aaack!: The Frozen Oasis

As many of you know the Frozen Oasis is a traveling room party providing frozen cocktails, dance music, a dancing fox boy, a panda bartender, and a kick ass light show that rivals a lot of the dances at cons around the country. On Foxday night at Morphicon, Frozen Oasis will venture where no furry convention party has ever before - to Wonderland... a mysterious and magical place where the Frozen Oasis party is a convention sponsored event. So come sample our drinks, shake your tails on the dance floor and let our laser light shown make you shine and sparkle. Open all night. 21 + only.

Fursday Night Art Projects

Continuing the tradition of hands-on creative fun the night before the con really gets started, we will have not one but two Fursday night art projects this year! First will be painting the tea sets to be used in the Unbirthday Party on Friday night. The sets will then be put into the charity auction on Sunday, so along with the chance to have fun and be creative with your friends on Fursday night, you'll also help a good cause! The other Fursday night chance to be creative will be painting the cases we have for the video game room consoles this year. Snacks and beverages will be provided, so come by Fursday night and join in the fun!

Morphicon Call for Gophers!

I'm not exactly sure what type of calls a gopher makes, but I know what calls a gopher responds to: Shiny! Shiny!

I'd like to invite you (yes, you!) to notify us now of your desire to gopher in 2011!

Volunteering itself is awesome! Generally you get to have a sense of pride and good-feeling over having helped out your local convention, but even more importantly: For every 5 hours credit you earn, you get a $10 discount on your next year's convention registration, up to a full basic registration (15 hours = $30). Anyone with any discount level is AUTOMATICALLY guaranteed the early registration rate of $30 for basic registration. That means if you earn a total of 15 hours credit, you get a free ticket for next year! Isn't that awesome? You can use your discount when pre-registering online, and you can use it at the door! It's a total win!

But this message isn't just about gophering, it's about notifying us ahead of time that you want to gopher! Notifying us ahead of time lets us get a better idea of how many gophers we'll have, but more importantly: IT EARNS YOU A SHINY!

This year our shiny is something special: A limited, one-time only, theme-specific collectible item! This will ONLY be given to those gophers who notify us ahead of time that they want to gopher! After that, this specific shiny will no longer be available TO ANYONE!

That's right - you will receive a limited edition collectible shiny! And unlike last year's shiny that never materialized, this shiny exists within our plane of existence, and is 100% physical. You can even hold it in your hand! How do I know? We've already got it prepared!

So, if you would love to be our very favorite gopher, please let us know ASAP! Please send a message to gophers[at]morphicon.org at any time until May 10th! The earlier you send, the more we love you, because that gives us more of an idea of how many gophers we'll have.

Also this year, we're trying something new: Signups! When you show up at the con, we'll have a decent-sized graph of all the different places we require constant gophers! This could be something typical, such as door-guarding for the Dealer's Den, or being a Fursuit handler during fursuit events (such as the parade, or with the Spectacle of Doom!(tm)) OR it could be something unexpected, such as door guarding the bar-mitzvah we were unaware was going on up until some furries decided to go where they shouldn't have!

Signups allow you to decide ahead of time what times you'll have free to get in some volunteering hours, so you aren't being asked to door-guard during the event you want to attend, and allow us to have more time to manage getting gophers around and getting things taken care of that we can't really pre-plan! It's a win-win!

So remember: Shiny! Volunteer now! Signups! And SHINY!

-- Gedrean, official Gopher Wrangler/Herder/etc ["Gopher-Queen" - Ed.] for Morphicon 2011!

Morphicon Insider: Raffle Tickets & Charity Auction

In an unprecedented two-for-two, Morphicon con-chair, Jewel, was cornered once again and asked to answer a few questions, this time about those tickets you receive in your bag when you arrive at the con and the charity auction.

What are they for anyway?

You can use them one of two ways. The first way is by going to the charity raffle and putting them into the drawing. Items will be given out at random to people based on tickets drawn from a hat.The second way is you can attend Trickster's Furry Fair Quiz. The tickets are used there to see who will be contestants. Though, even if you don't get picked, the audience can still participate.

How does one go about getting more tickets?

You can upgrade your registration level (higher levels get more tickets) and you can buy them at registration for $1 apiece. They'll also be on sale right before the charity raffle, and the Furry Fair Quiz.

Is the charity raffle like any other raffle and does the ticket holder need to be there?

Yes, the charity raffle is just like any other raffle. You do need to be present to win items. We make an exception for dealers, and artists stuck in their respective spots during the raffle. All they need to do is write down their name on the back of each ticket. We'll send someone around to collect them before the raffle begins.

What is the charity auction and how is it different from the raffle?

The silent charity auction is setup in the back of registration/con ops, in the Potter Wright room. You don't need any tickets to bid on those items. You just write down your bids, and use your badge number. It's a good idea to check back during the convention, because oftentimes attendees bring items with them to add to the raffle when they arrive.

How does one go about donating items for the auction and/or raffle?

If you're interested in donating something, please feel free to contact operations[at]morphicon.org.

Anything else someone should know about the auction and/or raffle?

All the proceeds go directly to our charity, F.U.R.S.. In addition to the raffle, the silent auction, and the Furry Fair Quiz we have another charity event called the Pet Auction where people bid on dances with fursuiters.

And there you have it, answers to questions which may have been niggling in the back of your mind. If you have a question you'd like to have answered in an upcoming edition of Morphicon Miscellanea feel free to send it to publicity[at]morphicon.org.

And Now a Word from SonicBlu

Greetings, everyone. SonicBlu here, and I'll be the Performance Track head of Morphicon this year. For the "performer" in you, we have many different shows that may interest you. Feel free to peruse the descriptions of each show and keep them in mind when you attend Morphicon this year. We'd love to see you there!

Spectacle of Doom

Hear ye, hear ye! The highlight show of the convention needs YOUR help! If you've ever wanted to experience performances on our stage, you may want to come to the aid of your convention by accepting a role in our Spectacle of Doom show. This show is scripted, so you won't have to worry about trying to think up something on your own. In the Spectacle of Doom, we'll need stage performers (mostly fursuiters), puppeteers, and voice actors. We'll have an open casting call before rehearsals, so come on down and see if you got what it takes to become a performer in the absolute must-see show of the entire convention.

Furry Variety Show/Morphicon Tonight

Have you got a skit you've been working on and would like some stage time to perform it? You can do so during the Furry Variety Show/Morphicon Tonight! Just come to Furry Variety Show (FVS) rehearsals and bring your material with you. If you don't have any material but you would still like to perform on the stage, just talk to SonicBlu during FVS rehearsals, and we'll fit you in. With thousands upon thousands of background songs at our disposal, we can easily give you your 2 to 5 minutes of fame right on our stage. Don't be shy, just come to FVS rehearsals and RSVP to be in the show. The FVS will be combined with our late-nite talk show Morphicon Tonight, so performance times will fluctuate, depending on how many acts are queued, reserving at least 30 minutes for interviews with the guests of honor.

The show always starts off with our traditional "Silly Fursuiter Tricks", so at one point or another, SonicBlu Darkfold may be wandering around the con floor looking to pick out a fursuiter at random to open the show. If you are interested, just do something silly for SonicBlu, and he may just select you to appear as the show's opener. If you're not interested, don't worry. Nobody will be forced into doing anything they don't want to do. Simply tell SonicBlu whether you are interested or not when he springs the question: "How would -YOU- like to open Morphicon Tonight with your silly fursuiting tricks?"

Atomic Comedy Hour of Doom

Attention all wannabe comics, laugh factory professionals, and those that have never performed live standup comedy (but always had that dream.) You may want to RSVP to appear on our stage for the Atomic Comedy Hour of Doom, which will be going on the stage right after the Spectacle of Doom. Depending on how many people we have signing up, the routine time per participant may fluctuate to conciliate with the one-hour time bracket.

Oh! Pawpets! Live!

This year on the Oh! Pawpets! Live show, we'll be reenacting the Oh! Pawpets! Show's first musical: Bwing's Twansfowmation, where Bwing T. Fewwet will be getting a whole new makeover. It's out with the old boring blonde fur, and in with the new look, with a whole soundtrack to boost while we perform the "makeover" live on our stage.

Morphicon 2012 Theme Decided!

Since you've made it this far through the newsletter, we'll treat you with a bit of extra information. After much deliberation and, one would believe, a few sleepless nights (which may or may-not be due to the con), the Morphcion Board has decided upon the theme for 2012 - [CENSORED] and promises to be one of the most fantastic cons ever! Come help us celebrate [CENSORED] and [CENSORED] and fun for [CENSORED]! Stay tuned for post-con newsletters where we'll delve more into Morphicon 2012 - [CENSORED]!

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:54:39 GMT

Hey NEOFurs!
A group of us (7 +) from Rochester are taking our of our semi annual crazy ass road trips to a Waffle house this Saturday night (1/8). Since none are present anywhere around here we have chosen the closest waffle house which is the Waffle House at 2850 G. H. DRIVE AUSTINBURG, OH 44010. We should arrive there about 230-300am(Sunday by the time we get there) if anyone would like to join us it would be great! Feel free leave a comment and I will PM my cell to you and we can make arrangements.

Laters,
~Soron

Morphicon Miscellanea - December 2010 Edition!

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:07:35 GMT

-= That Time of the Year =-
Yep, Winter is here again in Columbus. The snow's blowing, folks are travelling, and everything's just plain cold. For you thinner furred among us, there is no better time to use the weather as an excuse to cuddle up next to your other half. For those with thicker coats, see you on the snowball field!

-= This Year's Theme - An Interview =-
Just because we're huddled in our homes trying to keep warm doesn't mean your dedicated staff isn't diligently working on Morphicon 2011. This month, your publicity fox cornered, *ahem*, sat down with our Con Chair Jewel and asked a few questions about this year's theme.

Why Furries in Wonderland?
The movie coming out was definitely a consideration, it adds a bit of timeliness to the choice. Another factor was that Alice In Wonderland is an excellent source to mine for inspiration. I think it's important for a convention theme to be visible to the con attendees. The theme should manifest itself in many ways throughout the convention. It should add a noticeable flair to aspects of the convention, things like decorations, content of performance events, t-shirts, etc. Alice in Wonderland is a great source for inspiration. There's so many iconic characters, places, and things from it. Everyone recognizes the phrase "Off with their heads" and understands the context that it comes from. In that sense Alice in Wonderland adds a lot of symbols that we can draw from to communicate the theme to the attendees.

Hasn't it been done before at other cons?
It has, but that shouldn't stop us from revisiting a good theme. Besides, we at Morphicon are going to do the theme in our own special way. Hopefully even better than when it was done in the past! There's also the issue of the sheer number of conventions now, it's practically impossible to avoid repeats. I believe the year before we did Inner City Critters that another nearby convention did Urban Furs.

Any ideas on what special events (outside the norm) we may have?
Well Morphicon always has the Atomic Battle of Doom, which is a nerf and foam boffer melee like none other. It's really kind of crazy to watch, and every year it gets bigger. There's also the free food which is always popular, and we might do something with an 'unbirthday' event, but there's nothing set in stone for that yet. We are still quite a ways out from the convention proper.

Is there anything else you'd like to add while I have you here?
I would definitely recommend the Spectacle of Doom to anyone who likes adult humor. It's a bit raunchy, but always a ton of laughs. Trickster does the writing every year, and I honestly think it only gets better each time. I'd also like to point out the charity quiz show that Trickster hosted last year. We'll be doing that again, and it was a big smash, so I'd encourage everyone to attend. Even if you don't get selected to play the audience can participate in the game. Besides, there's nothing more funny than seeing some poor confused fur try to remember what species Zig-Zag is.

As a last bit, and we haven't 100% finalized this yet, we should be having Frozen Oasis as an official convention event in place of the Friday dance. There's still some scheduling considerations that we need to figure out, but chances are they'll have the entire Adam's room (yes the far one near the lobby that nobody can find) for the party.

-= Tips for Travel =-
Seeing as more than a few of us will be on the move this season, and don't have a pack of sled dogs living next to us, we would like to offer a few tips for travelling. Please don't use this as a comprehensive list, this should just be used as a heads-up. To see a complete list of recommendations, please see www.TSA.gov if you plan to fly or www.Ohio.gov for trips by auto.

If travelling by plane, please arrive at the ticket counter at least 90 minutes early. The closer we get to Christmas, the longer the wait to pass through security. Also, you will need to remove your shoes and empty your pockets before passing through to the boarding area. If you plan on bringing a laptop it will need to be separate from other carry-on baggage. Lastly, you will not be able to bring your own beverages past the screening area. Bottled water and other refreshments should be available on the other side.

If travelling by car or truck is more your thing, keep in mind any, and every, thing can happen. In addition to your usual gear (jack, properly inflated spare tire, etc), you'll also want to add a nice, warm blanket to the list. A warm set of sock and waterproof boots aren't a bad idea if you have the room. A small amount of food and water is recommended in the event you're in less travelled areas. Lastly, if you have one, make sure your cell phone is properly charged.

Hopefully these recommendations will all be unnecessary. In the event they are not, however, we hope they will help to ensure you and yours have a safe and happy holiday season.

-= Panels, Here! Get Your Hot Panels! =-
With Morphicon only being a three day event, and with the large number of panels to choose from, we, your staff, would love to have your opinion on what you would like to see or attend at this year's con. We want to make Morphicon 2011 the best we can and, for that, we require your input. Art and gaming panels will again be present, as will writing and crafting panels. Spirituality and SIG's are both good bets, also. The question is, what would you like to see? Give us your raves and rants for panels past and tell us what you would like to include if we don't have it already. Until the new website is up and running, feel free to send your comments and ideas to programming @ morphicon.org and we'll make sure they get to the correct Track Head.

-= Frozen Fur Balls Con't =-
We are still working on having a fursuit bowling event. Though we would like to have it in January, it appears we will be shooting for sometime in February. A poll will be posted online soon so a date can be decided and registration will be necessary so we can get an accurate number for a group rate. Unlike the picnic, this will not be a free event. That's not to say something special might not be done, however. Stay tuned for more information or contact publicity @ morphicon.org? if you have any questions or ideas.

-= Still Searching for Artists - Now With Incentives! =-
Woohoo! We're getting art! But a few pictures doth not a conbook make. As always, we are looking for art for the various publications we put out and would love to see what you can come up with. Any donated art will have that artist's name put into a random drawing for a Morphicon t-shirt from years past! Your contribution will be appreciated and mentioned, but now you could also get some cool swag! Send any and all submissions to publicity @ morphicon.org!

---

Want to see additional content or have something to say about the latest newsletter? Please visit the enhanced HTML version at Morphicon.org and let us know what you think!

[EVENT] Furry Christmas Party! 12/19 - Ellwood City, PA

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:13:11 GMT

What: Furry Christmas Party!

When: Sunday, December 19th @ 2pm

Where: Ellwood City, Pennsylvania (Address supplied with RSVP)

RSVP with Akira Shima at akira.shima AT gmail.com or PM him on FA (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/akirashima/)

This will be a Holiday Dinner Pot Luck. Please be prepared to bring a hot or cold covered dish item and a 2-Liter of soft drink to share with other attendees. A couple dessert dishes or packages of cookies would also be appreciated. Please let the host Akira know what you'd like to bring so he can coordinate dinner and prevent everyone from bringing a green bean casserole. :)

After dinner, all are welcome to hang out and socialize with friends. :)

[x-posted with permission from Akira]

[EVENT] Kiyara's December Pittsburgh Fur Meets! 12/18 & 12/31

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:18:50 GMT

That fun and crazy 'yena is at it again and is opening up her den for a New Year's Eve Bash on December 31 at 4pm. http://www.pa-furry.org/node/1766/2011s-first-kiyara-house-party

ALSO...

She is hosting her normal monthly get together a week earlier, because of Christmas, on December 18th starting at 4pm and running into Saturday. http://www.pa-furry.org/node/1765/2010s-last-kiyara-house-party-pittsburgh

Mark your calendars to be there as well.

[x-posted with permission for Kiyara]

5 day reminder - fursuit op Wampum Area Christmas parade

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:17:08 GMT

"Wampum, PA Christmas Parade"
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Parade step-off time 1pm. Arrive by 11:30am.
Wampum, PA School Gymnasium, across from
355 Main Street, Wampum, PA 16157

Costumers and handlers are needed to participate. The parade is a walk around 4 city blocks out and back. After there will be a children's time with Santa that we've been invited to hang around for and pose for pictures with the kids. They will provide snacks and drinks I think. The address for the Municipal Building is, 355 Main St Wampum, PA 16157. We get changed in the old locker room in the gymnasium across the street. Please contact me if you are planning to attend so I can give them an idea of how many to expect, or if you have any questions, you can email me at blueshepp(at)gmail.com or comment here or pm here :)

thanks Noob

(fursuit op) Wampum area christmas parade

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:47:26 GMT

"Wampum, PA Christmas Parade"
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Parade step-off time 1pm. Arrive by 11:30am.
Wampum, PA School Gymnasium, across from
355 Main Street, Wampum, PA 16157

We have been invited back to the Wampum christmas parade again this year since we were a big hit last year, we will need costumers and handlers to participate.
we will meet at the old gymnasium across the street from the Municipal Building at 11:30 where we can change in to suit in the old locker room in the gym, after we get changed we will lineup at the ball field just a short walk from the gym, the route is around 4 city blocks long in ond out. Afterward we can hang out with the kids as they wait to see Santa and get some photos taken, I believe there will be drinks and snacks afterward. After all the festivities are over there is a restaurant that we can hit up for dinner.
If you can give me an email if you are planning to attend it would be appreciated so I can have a number to expect, also if you have any questions you can email me at blueshepp(at)gmail.com

thanks Noob

Fursuit bowl Birthday Bash!

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:05:32 GMT

I'd like to host a fursuit bowling birthday bash to get to know local furrys and just have a fun day out. I'd like to have it on the weekend Sunday March 6th. I'm planning on renting out the party room for snacks,drinks and food (provided by the bowling ally). I'm also going to set up a place for suiters to change. I'm asking for $5 a person. This will go to things like cost of renting the lanes. I will also have a table space cleared off for artists who wanna draw while we play. Everyone who bowls must pay there own bowling bill. Not everyone who shows up has to bowl but I ask that youbuy food and contribute to the bowling ally in some way. I'll have wrist bands for those who have payed the $5. Suiters are 100% welcomed and encouraged I know i'll be in my suit! I'm hopeing to rent 3-4 lanes. There will be a suiter only lane and the rest will probly be a mix depending on how many suiters show up.

How dose this sound to people? I'm going to talk to a few bowling places to make sure this is okay to do. This is my first time hosting an event and I hope it gose smooth. It'll be in celebration of my 20th birthday. Your more than welcomed to make suggestions and help me plan this event so that it's at the best it can possibly be. This event will be located in pittsburgh, PA.
*EDIT*
Place chosen!
Sports Haven Bowling
143 Carol Ave | Bridgeville, PA | (412) 257-2695
It's a family owned buissness thats excited to have us and is offering half off bowling if we come on sunday! Thats $1.55 a game WOW! That makes it cheap enough that everyone can play. 25 or more people show up and the shoes are free! 25 or more people and he'll let us have the baquit room to and eat in change in. You need to RSVP quick so I can reserve the amount of lanes we need. The more people the better!
RSVP to kandiplurgirl@aol.com with your name plus how many people your bringing and i'll add you to the list. So far I have 4 people. Time of day will be 4:30pm till whenever

Thanks,
Daisy Dragon

Time to start thinking about your new years' plans!

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:29:53 GMT

So, what are you doing for New Years' Eve?
If I were you, I'd be planning on spending an awesome time at the New Year's Furry Ball! Every year, the pennsylvania furries have put together a fun gathering with food, music, and drinks for a one night all-out party to eclipse all other parties. Well over a hundred people have showed up year after year to ring in the new... year... in style! (I've said the word year so much it's losing meaning!) This year (dammit!), however, we've teamed up with The Furst State (who put on awesome events on a more than monthly basis!) to put together a new years' event to beat all other new years events!

Catered dinner!
Real bar!
Live DJs!
A ballroom!
Video games!

Tell me more!

Where: The Embassy Suites Newark-Wilmington/South, 854 S College Ave, Newark DE 19713

When: December 31st, 2010 at 8:00pm-1:30am with free AWESOME breakfast the following morning!

How Much: $36 ($35 plus one dollar service fee for the ticket) pre-registration, $40 at the door. If you're feeling extra-charitable, we have the option of buying a 'sponsor' ticket that costs $50. This confers no benefits except our undying love and gratification and the fuzzy warm feeling of knowing you helped make other people feel fuzzy and warm (thanks to all the extra booze and amenities.)

How Do I Pre-Register? Pre-registration is being handled through TicketDerby. To buy your pre-reg tickets, click here. The process is easy, but if you encounter any problems please contact me at protocollie@protocollie.com. We'll announce the date that pre-reg closes in a few days when we have details ironed out. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pre-register if you can. We have to pay the hotel a sum of money that contains four digits in advance of the event and would really like to not have to front it out of pocket - you'll be doing us a great service if you do. Please bring at least an ID with you so we can match it up with registration, but to make things extra fast also bring your printed ticket.

What about a room? We'll have a site soon for you to buy hotel rooms over the internet, but for the time being you can call the hotel at 1-302-368-8000 to book a room - just mention the New Year's Furry Ball. All the rooms in this hotel are suites, and have fold-out sofa beds. You can book either a room with two queen beds or one king, and both are available for the low price of $99.

For more information, our official centralized post on the event is here and you can follow the nyfb community for updates.

[WPAFW] Pre-reg ends in Two Weeks!

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:07:39 GMT

Hey everyone!

The Western Pennsylvania Furry Weekend is coming up on October 1-3, 2010, in Pittsburgh, PA. That's just over a month away and the staff and I have been busy getting everything ready for your arrival and a fun weekend of furry fellowship.

First, let me send my thanks to everyone who's pre-registered for the Western Pennsylvania Furry Weekend already for the basic and supporter levels! Thank you so much for your support of the event.

Everyone else...well what are you waiting for? Pre-registration closes on September 12th and with it your chance to save some $$ from the "at the door" rates.

Well for those of you still on the fence about attending, we've updated our website with a full Schedule of Activities for the weekend along with descriptions of the events we have arranged for your enjoyment. Aside from the signature "Fur-b-que" picnic at the park on Saturday, we have a puppet show, a menagerie full of fursuit antics, and dances on Friday AND Saturday nights. There are also games, a drum circle, a geocache, and laser tag. If you just want to come, relax and hang out with friends, we've got plenty of room for that too. All this is thanks to the hard work of our Operations Chair Cadpig Lion.

WPAFW.ORG

Akira Shima is once again gathering donations from near and far to once again provide a Charity Raffle that is second to none in the fandom. Our Charity Raffle is run like a "Chinese Auction." To augment the tickets that come with your registration, we sell additional tickets you place in the bucket for the specific items you want to try and win. All proceeds from the ticket sales are donated to our selected charity The Beaver County Humane Society. Over the past two WPAFW's the generosity of our attendees has raised $2500 for this worthy non-profit group.

Pre-registration rates right now are $25 for a Basic Friday and Saturday registration; a savings of $5 off the "at the door" rate for the entire event.
Pre-registration rates for Supporter memberships are only $40 and come with all sorts of swag to sweeten the deal: color print of the cover art, extra raffle tickets, front of the line privileges for lunch and dinner, as well as a special something currently in the works. Also! ONLY Pre-registered Supporters will get a $5 gift card to Denny's...have "breakfast on us" or save it for another time.

Registration will be open at the event. "At the Door" Basic registration is $30 on Friday & Saturday, $25 for Saturday Only. This year you can register or upgrade to Supporter for $40 or the difference between your pre-registered rate and the Supporter rate. On site Supporter registrations will get the same swag as supplies last, with the exception of the Denny's gift card.

We do have a small block of rooms available at the Comfort Inn Pittsburgh North at the rate of $74.99 a night which puts you right in the heart of the action Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations must be made by calling the hotel and reserving a room. The group name and number are available on the WPAFW website.

WPAFW.ORG

Don't miss out on this annual event! Join us for Furry Fun in the Autumn Sun on October 1, 2 & 3, 2010 in the scenic Allegheny River valley just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Western Pennsylvania Furry Weekend 2010!

Swift Fox
Director; WPAFW'10
Oct. 1-3, 2010
www.wpafw.org

Looking for crash space...

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:26:20 GMT

I know this is pretty much a long shot but I'll leave this out here in hopes that maybe I'll get a reply.

Anyways. I have been traveling quite a bit to see a dear friend near Akron. I intend on visiting again this week. I managed to get two days off in a row and I was hoping to be able to stay up in the area to see them both days. Sadly, due to their living situation, I am unable to stay ate their place overnight. I also am annoyed at the cost of a hotel room for just one night and simply can not afford to pay the exorbitant costs of a room.

Thusly, I am putting out a request here for some possible assistance. I was wondering if anyone close to the Akron area is willing to loan me crash space (couch, ect) for an evening. I wont be having much stuff and would only just need to sleep for some hours. If anyone in that area can lend a hand, please feel free to drop a reply on here and I'll send you some more contact info so we can possibly work something out.

Oh, it would be for this Friday night....

Pre-Registraion is OPEN for the Western PA Furry Weekend! Oct. 1-3, 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:49:12 GMT

Hey fellow Furries!

Just a reminder that pre-registration is open for to attend this year's Western PA Furry Weekend, scheduled for October 1, 2, & 3! Now in it's 10th year the WPAFW has been providing a fun filled and intimate social event revolving around an outdoor BBQ in the park.

Our Featured Artist for 2010 is local furry artist Flanowa J. Hopscotter.

We'll be raising monies again to continue our support of the Beaver County Humane Society through our fantastic Charity Raffle.

Basic Pre-Registration is $25 for Friday night's and Saturday's activities.
We also have a Sponsor Registration option for $40 which gets you a color print of the program cover art, extra charity raffle tickets, front of the line privileges, swag, and our esteemed thanks.

For Additional Information as well as our special hotel room rates please visit our website at http://www.wpafw.org.

The Staff and I look forward to showing you a wonderful time!

Swift Fox
Director; WPAFW'10