Further Confusion 2011 January Newsletter

1.  Guest of Honor news
2.  Hotel Room Blocks are now Closed
3.  Using Debit Cards at the Hotel for your room
4.  Mini-Bars at the Fairmont
5.  Elevator Etiquette
6.  Dealers Room and Furry Market Place update
7.  Live Animal Events
8.  On-site Gaming
9.  Critterlympics
10. myFurCon
11. A note from our Operations department

1.  Guest of Honor news

Sadly, our Guest of Honor, Paul Kidd will not be able to join us due to visa issues. The wheels of government spin at their own rate. However, Paul's guest Bruce Rowe, known to some of you as Harry The Hat will be taking over some of the panels that Paul to present. We look forward to having Paul join us again in the future.

2.  Hotel Room Blocks are now Closed

Both the Fairmont and St. Claire convention rate room blocks are now closed. It may still be possible to reserve a room at either, but will be priced at their current normal rates.

3.  Using Debit Cards at the Hotel for your room

It's becoming more and more common for people to use debit cards to reserve and/or pay for their rooms.

Debit cards work very differently than credit cards, and could result in you being unable to access funds in your checking account; both during the convention and until up to 7 - 10 business days after the convention. For the most accurate information, please call the hotel directly at 1.800.346.5550.

4.  Mini-Bars at the Fairmont

For those staying at the Fairmont, remember that the mini-bar has a system to automatically charge for anything that is removed from it. Even if it is removed for a moment and replaced. So, be careful of the mini-bar charges.

5.  Elevator Etiquette

During heavy use times the areas around the elevators will get crowded. Please be considerate of people with special needs (such as those in wheelchairs, on crutches, etc) and fursuiters who are overheating and need to get to their rooms. FLARE will be wrangling elevator queues during these times, please cooperate with them as they try to get everyone where they need to go in a timely manner.

6.  Dealers Room and Furry Market Place update

If, for any reason, you are NOT going to be able to make it to the convention, it is imperative that email us at 'dealers@furtherconfusion.org' as soon as possible. Failure to let us know that you are going to be a no-show will result in a forfeiture of the money you spent on the space you signed up for. But if you let us know BEFORE the convention, we can arrange to get you a refund and let one of the folks on the waiting list have the spot you would be leaving vacant.

Dealers Room setup will begin at 5pm on Thursday, January 13th, 2011.
Furry Market Place setup will begin at 8am on Friday, January 14th, 2011.
Dealer Room dealers may start checking in for their badges AT the Dealer Room (Regency Ballroom) at 4pm on Thursday, January 13th, 2011.
 
While it is unlikely for the above times to change, check the south doors (the line of four pairs of doors) of the Regency Ballroom for posting of any changes. (If we can get Dealer check-in and/or setup started earlier on Thursday, we will.)

Dealer Assistants get their badges from main registration if they are pre-registered members of the convention. All Furry Market Place vendors need to go to the PRE-REGISTRATION line at main registration.

7.  Live Animal Events

We are delighted to announce that after last year's absence from our schedule, we will have a live animal event this year. The animal event will take place on Saturday at 11am in the main ballroom of the St. Claire, which is our overflow hotel just a block away, NOT the main hotel. Spotticus will be presenting Servals. Seating is limited.

8.  On-site Gaming

Are you interested in bringing your D&D books and running a game? How about your binder of Magic cards and having a few friendly matches? If you want to run a small event, let us help you! If you want your game to be listed for sign ups in the convention bag gaming schedule, toss us a line with what you want to do and when you want to do it at programming@furtherconfusion.org, or contact Flare Starfire (Gaming Lead) with any questions at flare@shirerecords.com .

We look forward to having a nice game filled weekend with you!

9.  Critterlympics

Yes, it's back! The Critterlympics, fandom's oldest and bestest fursuit-based semi-athletic pseudo-competition, returns to Further Confusion for its ninth astounding year! Do YOU have what it takes to step onto the field of somewhat dubious honor and face the best of the beasts? There's
only one way to find out, and that's to sign up and take your chances! The Imperial Ballroom can only hold so much awesomeness, so space is limited! Sign up at the Info Desk starting at 12-noon on Saturday, and not a minute before! The Games themselves take place on Sunday, starting at 12-noon in the Imperial Ballroom. Be there or forever live with the shame of not knowing whether you might have won!

10. myFurCon

We are happy to announce that MyFC is back for 2011 to help make your con experience a little easier. MyFC is the easiest way to check the official schedule and show which events you'll be at. You can also create a profile to help keep in contact with your friends and find new ones. You are free to post as little or as much info you want there, and you can use privacy options to control who can see it. Even better, you can post your own events! If you are hosting a room party or other get-together, be sure to post it here, it's a great way to see who might be coming! Also, the very helpful user Tricuspa has added some catch-all events for dinners out and general meet ups that you might want to check out.

<http://my.furtherconfusion.org/>

So, set yourself up an account on myFC and schedule yourself for at LEAST one event on the My Further Confusion website. Want to do more? Help other con-goers meet new folks in their area by attending a regional Chin-Wag event. We've got something for everyone and everywhere.

11. A note from our Operations department

Con Ops is ready to go with an almost complete staff, there are a couple holes in the middle of the night Thursday and Friday nights, Please direct a reasonably responsible night-owl to any of the Con Ops or Operations leads. Our Info Desk will be up and running next to the walkway on the ballroom level  connecting the main hotel with the tower block. 

We always need volunteers to help out during the con, and if you would like to help out with some Gofuring and earn yourself a free membership, stop by the Volunteers office in the Redwood Room (ballroom level of the main hotel) and sign-up!

This is our last newsletter before the convention starts, but remember to look out for issue #0 of our At-Con Newsletter which will have any last minute things that you will need to know to help you enjoy Further Confusion 2011.

We'll see you there!

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Further Confusion
info@furtherconfusion.org
<http://www.furtherconfusion.org/>