Midwest FurFest September Newsletter

Midwest Furfest: From the Con Crier
September 2003
Greetings from Midwest FurFest!

In This Issue:
A Note From the Editor
Upcoming Deadlines
Calling All Creative Types!
Get a room!
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Sponsorships? Did You Say Sponsorships?
Save Time and Postage! (Let us tell you how!)
Let's Make a Deal...
Look, Ma! I'm famous!
Mailing lists
Midwest Furfest: From the Con Crier
September 2003
Greetings from Midwest FurFest!

In This Issue:
A Note From the Editor
Upcoming Deadlines
Calling All Creative Types!
Get a room!
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Sponsorships? Did You Say Sponsorships?
Save Time and Postage! (Let us tell you how!)
Let's Make a Deal...
Look, Ma! I'm famous!
Mailing lists

<-*-*-*-> A Note From the Editor <-*-*-*->

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Your editor is a flake!

No, seriously, I'm not a flake... I just got hit with a sudden gust of Real Life, and I simply didn't have time to put together a newsletter before now. I apologize to the staff members who have been waiting for me to get this info out there to the populous. And I apologize to those of you out there who have been waiting with bated breath for the merest morsel of information about our wonderful convention. You can breathe more easily now, for I bring to you... the September Newsletter for Midwest Furfest! [cue important-sounding, awe-inspiring music]

Read on, my friends!

--Moryssa, your friendly neighborhood flaky newsletter editor

<-*-*-*-> Upcoming Deadlines <-*-*-*->

Sep 30 - Last date to receive $30 registration rate
Oct 15 - Deadline for con book submissions
Oct 31 - Deadline for Artist registration
Nov 1 - All mailed registrations mustbe postmarked by this date
Nov 15 - Deadline for Online registration
Nov 21-23 - Midwest Furfest 2003

<-*-*-*-> Calling all creative types! <-*-*-*->

We are still looking for a few good artists for this year's art show! Our panels are both cheap and plentiful so there's no excuse not to show off your talents with us and perhaps even make a little money. Panels are $3 as are half-tables.

Deadline for panel registration is Sept 30, after which service is on a case-by-case basis so definitely get them in now! The form is available on the website(http://www.furfest.org/events/artshow/art_show_reservation.pdf). While you're there, you can also check out the Rules (http://www.furfest.org/events/artshow/art_show_reservation.pdf).

For buyers, we are looking forward to a fine selection of artwork to display and sell this year, too. Rules will be comparable to last year and we will again be accepting payment in multiple forms of paper (cash,
check, money order, traveler's checks) and plastic (Master Card, Visa) currency. Time is running out, so start saving your shekels now! You can also stop by our webpage and check out the buyers' rules(http://www.furfest.org/events/artshow/how_to_buy)

<-*-*-*-> Get a room! <-*-*-*->

MFF2003 will be held in the same hotel as last year-- The Woodfield Hyatt, which is located at 1800 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg, IL. The phone number for the hotel is (847) 605-1234.

The room rate for the convention is $89 a night.

The more rooms we have reserved, the better our relationship with the hotel... so what are you waiting for?! Call and make your reservation! Now! Hop to it! Run... run ... run!!!

<-*-*-*-> Let Your Voice Be Heard! <-*-*-*->

The Midwest Furfest Discussion Board is now open to the public! Point your browser to http://www.furfest.org/discussion and read or join in the conversation. Remember: you need to be a registered with the website in order to post - website registration is easy and free, though please note that it's not the same as registering for the convention! Topics of discussion include Programming, Events, Ride Sharing, Room Sharing, Travel, General, and News. Please stop by, check it out and let us know what you think!

<-*-*-*-> Sponsorships? Did You Say Sponsorships? <-*-*-*->

Midwest Furfest is proud to offer a wide variety of benefits to our sponsors. Extra Sponsor goodies include a special sponsor-only print by one of our guests of honor, a free convention T-shirt, lunch with the guests of honor, a limited-edition pin by Thomas ("Newshounds") Dye, and a special surprise! Last year's surprise was a handy badge wallet (the first such to appear at a furry convention). What will it be this year? Your sponsorship will also help you show your support for Midwest Furfest, and we thank you! Sponsorships are only $100, and can be purchased either online by filling out a registration form and mailing it in, or they can be purchased at the door.

<-*-*-*-> Save Time and Postage! (Let us tell you how!) <-*-*-*->

Remember, you can register online for Midwest Furfest any time, day or night. Point your browser to http://www.furfest.org/registration/ and click on "Register Online". If you prefer, you can always print out a registration form and mail it to us with a check or money order. Here's the important deadlines you need to know:
September 30, 2003 - Last chance for the early preregistration rate of $30. Memberships are $40 thereafter and at the door.
November 1, 2003 - Last chance to mail registrations (must be postmarked by 11/1/03). Remember to allow extra time for international mail.
November 15, 2003 - Last chance to registration online.
Missed all the deadlines? Not to worry. We'll be happy to register you at the door! Finally, remember that many questions about Registration can be answered by reading the Midwest Furfest Registration FAQ, which is located at http://www.furfest.org/registration/faq

<-*-*-*-> Let's Make a Deal... <-*-*-*->

The Midwest FurFest Dealers Room is for all intents and purposes, filled. We have a larger room than we had the first two years, with a few new dealers and many returning favorites. A list of dealers who will be at this year's convention, including links to many of their web sites, is available at http://www.furfest.org/dealers . We do have a waiting list currently going, so if you'd like to be added, contact our Dealer's Room Head Honcho. Inquiries about dealer room operations or status should be sent to dealers@furfest.org.

<-*-*-*-> Look, Ma! I'm famous! <-*-*-*->

Would you like to submit artwork or stories for the conbook? We are extending the submission deadline until October 15th! If you have a story, please provide it in a text file or artwork as a high quality gif or tif. Email them to publications@furfest.org.

Would you like to submit an advertisement for the conbook or newsletter, please email publications@furfest.org for more information.

We are also looking for reporters/photographers for the newsletter this year, you will get gopher hours for the stories and photos you submit. For more information, please email publications@furfest.org.

<-*-*-*-> Mailing lists <-*-*-*->

Midwest FurFest has two mailing lists available: MFF-Announce is for official announcements only. You should receive only a few messages per month maximum from this list.

MFF-Talk is a discussion list, a place to ask questions or talk about Midwest FurFest. The number of messages on this list will depend on the subscribers. There is also a digest format available for this list.

You can subscribe to any of these lists by emailing major@furfest.org with any subject, and in the message put:

subscribe mff-announce or subscribe mff-talk or subscribe mff-talk-digest

When you subscribe to either list, information will be sent to you on how to unsubscribe, should you wish to do so later. 'Major' (Majordomo) is an automated process, you should not send mail to 'major' other than subscribe, unsubscribe, and other commands that will be explained in your welcome message. Any questions about 'Major' may be directed to puma@catbox.com

<-*-*-*-> In Conclusion <-*-*-*->

ANY QUESTIONS? Perhaps our website has the answer! It's being updated by the week, so stay tuned at:

www.furfest.org

It includes contact addresses for many MFF staffers too, as well as a "who's going" page and pages for ride and room shares.

Midwest Furfest & MFF Newsletter are productions of Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc 2003