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oklacon
oklacon

~oklacon

Photographer |
Member Since: Sep 27, 2010 11:40
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Recent Journals

  • Oklacon 2015 Has Been Cancelled Indefinitely
    5 years ago
    55 Comments | View Journal
  • Oklacon Has Some Big Changes to Announce!!
    6 years ago
    67 Comments | View Journal
  • Well we goofed! Pre-Registration Extended!
    6 years ago
    0 Comments | View Journal
  • Well we goofed! Pre-Registration Extended!
    6 years ago
    0 Comments | View Journal
  • 1 More Day to Pre-Reg!!
    7 years ago
    1 Comments | View Journal

Oklacon Has Some Big Changes to Announce!!

6 years ago
Dear Oklahoma Furry Community,

For twelve years, fellow Oklahoma furs have put together a local gathering that grew from a little camping group called Oklacon into a big source of pride for our community - the largest outdoor furry convention in the world, right here in our great state. Since 2003, countless furs have pitched in a hand, met other furs for the first time, and make lifelong friends at our weekend event every October. For those of us fortunate to have gone for one, two, or all twelve years, it's been an experience we cherish for the life-long friendships we've made there, and we've even shared in the joy of hosting a wedding or two along the way.

A lot has changed in twelve years! Many faces have changed both at the con and behind the scenes as furs come and go from the community - though many have stayed the same. Together, we made a mess of the kitchen, sang songs into the wee hours of the morning around the campfire, and joined in probably the best weekend experience of many of our lives in Roman Nose State Park for many years. It's been an awesome journey.

Long journeys have their share of elation and heartbreak, and Oklacon is no exception. Some of you have been personally involved with awesome outcomes or trying times, and if you have, you understand better than most the emotional rollercoaster and hard work that goes on behind the scenes in putting on such an event. For those of you that stood with us these years, that offered wise counsel or a paw to unload a truck or cook a meal, our hats off to you and all you have done to make this such an awesome experience for not just us, but for our whole community. I think you could easily agree that one way or another, Oklacon has helped make and strengthen our Oklahoma furry community into something very unique strong that most other states don't have anything like.

But, as they say, all good things, sadly, must.. evolve!

For the past five years, there has been a change in management at our venue, Roman Nose. We have worked hard to abstract away the different people, personalities, and policies this change in the state park staff there had on our group, but some of you have felt a chill indifference from the park managers and rangers in the past few years. While park rangers and staff are not allowed to be very choosy, by law, about what groups reserve spaces in the park and host events there, they have made it very clear they personally object to our group at many levels -- they don't appreciate the core of our being - our fandom - or the artwork, fursuits, or other elements that make us unique and special. They've made several overtures against our group for those in attendance in same-sex relationships, and we've been asked, at times, to try to ask attendees of the same sex not to hold hands. In certain instances, rangers have hassled our attendees simply because of their look, and suggested perhaps they were substance abusers, simply because they didn't look the part for what the newer management wanted their park to cater to - families with children.

Managing these absurdities from our facility contacts comes with the territory of working with a larger event, particularly in a public facility that cannot outright deny you. Before now, we've chosen not to speak about them as the ignorance of a few was, if disappointing to witness, manageable to ensure we could still produce an awesome experience for our fandom in a beautiful venue. Any fur who runs a convention as a liaison with a large contract hotel could tell you these relationships are part business and part a balancing act that works as long as there is not substantial risk for whatever agreement or contract is in place with the venue.

Unfortunately, our balancing act was thrown asunder during Oklacon 2014, when three first-time attendees showed up a night before opening ceremonies, intoxicated themselves, and engaged in public sexual intercourse in the middle of group camp in night. This unprecedented display of poor taste crosses a line on many levels - sex is not what our fandom is about. Substance abuse is not what our fandom is about. Irresponsible behavior that puts others at risk for disease or unplanned pregnancies is not what our fandom is about. By registering for Oklacon and engaging in this behavior in a public state park, in a space reserved in the name of the convention, these individuals represented our fandom in these ways, in full view of the general public. It also crossed the line from 'obscene' to 'illegal'.

In the State of Oklahoma, women cannot legally consent to sex if they are intoxicated, even if they consent before or afterwards. Park management, appropriately, reported this incident to the Blaine County District Attorney as required by Oklahoma law. Various Oklacon volunteers who witnessed this event also provided written statements of the incident to fully disclose what occurred and to document Oklacon's appropriate handling of the issue - upon discovering this incident we stopped it, we immediately reported it to the rangers as we are legally required to do, we in good faith disclosed all the facts (including the registration details of the three involved and the minor forms for any registered minors at the time of the event), and we ejected the three individuals in question from Oklacon, sending them back home early to their respective states.

Some months later, the park rangers realized they did not document the event properly, and reached back out to Oklacon for additional follow-up to the statements we provided. The Blaine County District Attorney, in his official capacity, requested through the rangers a full attendance list for Oklacon 2014 so that he may potentially contact each Oklacon attendee to find out if they could corroborate the written affidavits they already had. Oklacon did not feel this was right or required by law - while we had been forthcoming about the incident, providing written affidaviats and all information we had about those involved, we did not feel it was appropriate for us to turn over the names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, car tag numbers, and dealer tax ID numbers of those who had no involvement or knowledge of the incident. While some of you reading this wouldn't mind getting a call from a county prosecutor and asked questions on a tape recorded phone conversation, many of you would not only find this uncomfortable, but a breach of trust by Oklacon in protecting your private information. We at Oklacon declined the request, and indicated it could fully comply, but only if legally compelled to do so by an official subpoena.

No subpoena came, and no details on our attendees other than the three involved in the incident were shared. It has become clear, however, the new management at Roman Nose believes this is the nail they were looking for to decline Oklacon's future booking in the park. In an unprecedented move, Roman Nose returned our deposit check, provided us a two sentence denial letter, and has referred us to their state general counsel (their lawyers) for any questions.

We have followed up with their general counsel, but we have reached an impasse where we would need to seek a legal remedy to resolve the situation. But, let's be realistic. If the park doesn't want us so badly that they would take these steps in attempting to scare us away or procedurally bar us from using the facilities, any technical victory we could accomplish in the short-term to force our way in would make Oklacon untenable in its long-time venue. While we may be the world's largest outdoor furry convention, we're still small in revenue and on a shoe-string budget - fighting the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department in court is not within our financial means. There is clearly a way we can use the laws and policies that require equal rights to access and has an appeal process for all decisions to try to appeal this decision. But, costs aside, do we as a community even want to win entrance to Roman Nose at all costs, even if it meant hassling by staff and rangers the whole weekend? No, our dignity as a fandom is not worth that.

The board and volunteer group that helps plan and execute Oklacon has thought long and hard on this matter and what our next steps might be. We considered many options including fighting for re-entrance to Roman Nose, changing formats, taking a year off to regroup, merging with another event, moving to private land, or simply liquidating all assets as a divestiture for our charity. After three months of incredibly difficult search work (and special thanks to Drazil, Warnndog, and Wildstreak for their tireless efforts in this area), we have found a new home at Sequoyah State Park for Oklacon 2015.

This means two important items have changed: our date and our venue. The date of Oklacon 2015 is changing to one week earlier, the weekend of October 22 - 25, 2015 (one weekend earlier). Our long-time venue, Roman Nose State Park, is changing this year to Sequoyah State Park.

We apologize that this update may surprise you just four months out from our convention date. It was not until this very week we had final confirmation of our reservation of the facilities in order to make this announcement to you. Please know that while we understand this change may cause some hardship on your part as your planned time off work may need to be updated, rest assured we are doing everything we can to ease this transition, including transferring your lodge or cabin reservation to equivalent (and in most cases, upgraded) accommodations at our new venue. Keep your eye on our website and on social media, as there are lots of great updates to make to let you know about the improved facilities at Sequoyah and exciting new opportunities for events with lakeside facilities and a newly-remodeled lodge and 500% larger lodge on-site in addition to CLIMATE CONTROLLED A-FRAMES. :)

We're sure you have many questions, and some important answers ahead of those:

1. Our registration site, procedures, policies, and pricing are unchanged for 2015. You may register at https://oklacon.com as always.

2. No change has been made to our Guests of Honor: we are still excited to welcome Redrusker and Foxfeather to Oklacon as our talented and honored guests.

3. No change has been made to our charity: we are still supporting the important and great work of the WildCare Foundation of Noble, Oklacon for 2015.

4. We did try to keep the same date we previously announced, but were unable to do so at this, or any alternative venue we could find.

5. Tent prices at Sequoyah are slightly higher, up from $8 to $12 per night. As always, these are pass-thru costs to attendees if you choose to set up a tent, but now that climate-controlled A-Frames are available, this may be a more attractive alternative for some tent campers. Tents are still permitted on our new group camp site, so that remains an option for you.

6. Any volunteer comps, contest winnings, etc. that would have given you free or discounted attendance for Oklacon 2015 will, of course, be honored. Oklacon is still Oklacon, no matter where we may be.

7. We understand you may be disappointed, frustrated, or even angry at the way the Roman Nose State Park staff have behaved. We are too. While we do not foresee any outcome that would change our updated plan, if you are an Oklahoma resident, you do have the right to speak up and be heard about the operation of Roman Nose State Park. After all, you are paying for it with your tax dollars. If you wish to receive contact information for those that oversee that park, you may reach out to registration[at]oklacon.com and we will provide you with contact details.
67 Comments
fuzzwolf
fuzzwolf

fuzzwolf

Publisher
#link
6 years ago
Wow, this is really surprising to me. I honestly had no idea the park management had such negative views of our group for so long. I credit the con staff for for keeping the show running smoothly and without that drama being made apparent. It's disappointing as I did enjoy the environment of the park, but I can't continue to support Roman Nose with that bigoted attitude attitude toward same-sex relationships.

Hopefully the three attendees who caused the trouble last year have received lifetime bans. When you do something quite that stupid, you're likely to do something equally idiotic again in the future so the less seen of them, the better.

The new park sounds like it has some great upsides compared to Roman Nose. I look forward to seeing it sometime.
oklacon
oklacon

oklacon

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Well, as with many cons, we do our best to deal with all the wrenches in the plans, and make sure y'all only have to deal with having a great time!
fuzzwolf
fuzzwolf

fuzzwolf

Publisher
#link #parent  
6 years ago
That's the mark of a well run con, in my opinion. Things could be on fire and exploding behind the scenes, but if the audience doesn't know and has a great time then mission accomplished.
matmew
matmew

Matmew

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
I never knew all the problems that has been happening at Roman Nose. I'm sorry for all those involved, that has been made uncomfortable by the staff, at the park.

I'd always wanted to go to Oklacon. It's actually not far from my home. But I've never been able to schedule it. Congrats on the new location. Just wish I'd made it once.
oklacon
oklacon

oklacon

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Well, we will continue to have it, it just might be a little further than expected this year! We'd love to have you join us this year so feel free to get in touch with our social media contact, Daxter@oklacon.com!
matmew
matmew

Matmew

Watcher
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Thank you. But it's too far for me this year. I'd always thought about trying to stop by for a day / afternoon. Kicking myself now. I might be able to make it one day. But for now, it'll be too far to travel. Thanks.
mwalimu
mwalimu

mwalimu

Writer
#link
6 years ago
Earlier today I announced a furry convention locator tool. Less than 8 hours later, Oklacon becomes the first convention to have its information updated.

I've also made some edits to the relevant articles in Wikifur. Please feel free to check them for accuracy and make any corrections.
blueotter
blueotter

blueotter

#link #parent  
6 years ago
Thanks, mwalimu!
soulcat012
soulcat012

soulcat012

Photographer
#link
6 years ago
Wow, thats a complete shocker. It has been quite noticed the park staff and the rangers attitudes toward us the past few years. What a joke and a shame that they have to be such jerks especially when the matter in had was handled appropriatly.
mobiustrap
mobiustrap

MobiusTrap

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
I trust that those 3 first time attendees, along with ejection, will no longer be welcome again after a disruption of this severity. I had hopes of attending Oklacon this year, as I've loved Roman Nose and the convention. I'll have to rethink about this now. Not sure if I'll be able to readjust my schedule and finances in time. Not to mention, I will have to do major transportation reevaluation as well. Most disappointing.
blueotter
blueotter

blueotter

#link #parent  
6 years ago
I would not expect to see them again. They will likely be dealing with the charges associated with their action for many years to come.

This was disappointing to us as well, but we're committed to 'make lemonade' out of the situation. We truly are excited about our new park venue and believe it will be a great move that will allow us to grow with many new activities and memories to come.
mobiustrap
mobiustrap

MobiusTrap

Watcher
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Best of luck with the new location. Hopefully the staff of the park will be more welcoming. Indeed, it does look like the new place will give room to grow as well. Roman Nose has been nice, but it's such a small park compared to most of the other parks. Tulsa just isn't a drive I trust my car to make. I also already set time off of work for the original Oklacon time frame so I may not be able to move that now that it's been set and approved. If not this year, perhaps another year I'll be able to make it out there.
balooursidae
balooursidae

Baloo_Ursidae

Photographer
#link
6 years ago
Well now, I hope Oklacon reaches out to the Watonga Chamber of Commerce with a thank you and an explanation. Because I'm pretty sure they'd love to know why they're losing a huge chunk of their tourism (Oklacon accounted for 11% of Watonga's economy, according to the head of the chamber, who mentioned this while shaking my hand as I was pumping gas to go home after Oklacon 2013; the town loved us), and that, in turn, is going to fuck with a lot of people's livelihoods in a town that is dependent on tourism. I'm pretty sure they'll be interested on knowing who ran off the second largest chunk of their tourism.
fuzzwolf
fuzzwolf

fuzzwolf

Publisher
#link #parent  
6 years ago
That's a really good point. Furry cons always bring a ton of money to the city they're hosted in and for a town that small we added quite a lot to the local economy.
scaliesubstance
scaliesubstance

Scalie_Substance

Musician
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Agreed!! And I really hope that Oklacon chooses to fight this legal bull and go back to having its con at Roman Nose. Beautiful place, lots of good memories...not much can rival it.
balooursidae
balooursidae

Baloo_Ursidae

Photographer
#link #parent  
7 years ago
I honestly don't see that as a productive means to go forward, due to the eerie parallel to why Conifur Northwest isn't a thing anymore. And why AllFurFun was never a thing. Just give the Chamber a heads up that the con isn't gonna be in town for the forseeable future, but over in Hulbert instead, and why. Deliberately driving off the convention is *not* going to sit well with the town given how big of a chunk of their economy we are (seriously, competitive with the cheese festival).
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link #parent  
5 years ago
thing about legal is it doesn't matter how much you have money wise if you don't fight it then that's the cheapest you will ever be no money can fix that sort of reluctance to fight for a communities rights.
jugularjaguar
jugularjaguar

JugularJaguar

Photographer
#link
6 years ago
I went to the state park site and I do not see any photos of the group camp. Got any photos to share?
blueotter
blueotter

blueotter

#link #parent  
6 years ago
Yes, Drazil has some and we'll be posting on Facebook a number of pictures over the next few weeks.
khonasfox
khonasfox

khonasfox

Watcher
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Cool. I was also going to ask about pics, or if you can put a dot on a map to mark the location of the group camp site (so we can google earth and look it over). I was looking around and couldn't find it. One key question - is there paved parking at the group camp site? I ask, because I'm a super sponsor, and one of the nicest things y'all did was the paved parking for us - it's rather important to me. Alas, this was the driving force behind my google earth'ing earlier, to see the layout and parking situation. Looking forward to the pics and info to come.

K Fox
[deleted]
oklacon
oklacon

oklacon

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
We are definitely hoping for the best! We do have good feelings about this new venue :)
tybron
tybron

Tybron

Writer
#link
6 years ago
Well after the fascist backpack-searching and A-frame scanning the park staff did at Oklacon 8 and further, I'm not too surprised. I knew with the idiots pulling what they did last year, there'd be a large chance the park would consider it the last straw and kick us out. Sometimes I hate being right.

The real loser in this deal is Watonga, and of course it's going to suck having to drive (or in my case, probably score a ride) pretty much to Tulsa to attend Oklacon.
balooursidae
balooursidae

Baloo_Ursidae

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
It's entirely possible that the Eastern Flyer will be able to get you to Tulsa, in which the station's going to be right by my office downtown and would be able to pick you up from there. Wagoner's about halfway to Tahlequah on the 42nd Rainbow Division Memorial Highway from Tulsa.
oklacon
oklacon

oklacon

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
Looking at times travel from OKC (if I remember correctly), it's only a bit further away than Roman Nose!
truebluefox
truebluefox

true_blue_fox

Digital Artist
#link
6 years ago
Last year was my first year attending Oklacan and I had a wonderful time. It was run well and everyone was so kind. I look forward very much to attending this year and am excited to see the new venue as well~ ' u '
blueotter
blueotter

blueotter

#link #parent  
6 years ago
It was such a pleasure meeting you -- you did a fantastic commission for me, and I can't wait to see you again! :D
truebluefox
truebluefox

true_blue_fox

Digital Artist
#link #parent  
7 years ago
I'm so glad that you like it Blue~ It was wonderful working with you and I hope to see you at the convention as well! ^ ^
cjager
cjager

CJager

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
Well I hate hear y'all had to deal with that level of BS, But I know The con as a whole will do better in the new park. The park and the area is some what used to furs. I say some what because I live close by and I am very open about the furry "Thing". But the new venue is very close to me and there is a tractor drive the same weekend of the con, So we may just come and pay y'all a visit. Also we the members of the lake region furs welcome y'all to our area.
wirecat
wirecat

WireCat

Fursuiter
#link
6 years ago
Looks like a cool place where are we supposed to be camping at?
oklacon
oklacon

oklacon

Photographer
#link #parent  
6 years ago
We will be at the group camp site. We have similar a-frame, but temperature controlled!
tanooki00
tanooki00

Tanooki00

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
Incidentally, it might be worthwhile to reach out to the furry communities in Tulsa, Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, and St. Louis, to let them know, specifically, (for those that don't usually follow Oklahoma events) that Oklacon is now closer to them. Probably Fort Smith, Arkansas, too.
cjager
cjager

CJager

Watcher
#link #parent  
7 years ago
Screw the NWA group, There is a lot of bad blood between the NEW furs and the ones in Adair, Cherokee County's.
tanooki00
tanooki00

Tanooki00

Watcher
#link #parent  
7 years ago
Well, in any case, all relevant groups oughtta be told about the change in venue. The sooner they hear about it, the more likely Oklacon can get more attendees for whom the old location would've been too far.
howlingwolfmoon
howlingwolfmoon

Howling_WolfMoon

Watcher
#link
7 years ago
That is Very sad to hear :( I was security Volunteer During Oklacon 2014, and saw that Incident about a minute after the heads of the convention had already spotted it So I Know what happened... But I cant speak of it further (I am bound to Confidentiality) But its still very sad How it turned out in the end... i was so looking ford to going to OklaCon and that State Park again. Sighs. Well Not After reading all that. who knew. tiz-a-real-shame just how closed minded Some people can be now days.

(Most would not know me by My Convention Name or the Furry name i go by on here As on here i am called something different So For those of you that are wondering just who I am, I will let the Wolf out of the bag: Hello My name is "Alpha Darkwolf" Its nice to meet you all. I hope To be at Oklacon again this year but we will see how it all plays out...)
tanooki00
tanooki00

Tanooki00

Watcher
#link
7 years ago
I looked at the park's website, and found the park map. I don't know which campsite we'll have, but it looks like the closest site to the lodge is about a full mile away. It would DEFINITELY be worthwhile to get someone with a van to volunteer it as a shuttle between the campsite and the lodge. Events being held so far from the campsite has been a HUGE complaint among campers in the past. A TON of furs rideshare to the con, and drivers don't always want to drive their vehicles (and risk losing a nice parking spot), mid-con.
castian
castian

castian

#link
6 years ago
This will be my first year to attend a con. So I'm kinda happy that I did t come last year and grow attached to the old park. Though I am kinda disappointed that everyone will be just as clueless as I am about the park it's self. But anyways I'm sure I will have fun and enjoy every second I am there at the con!
bjbear2001
bjbear2001

BJbear2001

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
I'm sorry to hear about the troubles Oklacon has had. I'm late in reading up, I know. I hope the three furry aliases were passed on to Dragon Momma, Uncle Kage, and others.--What they've done to all furry relations is intolerable in my opinion. I haven't been to Oklacon in a few years, but have been keeping up with the generous photos, videos, and journals, documenting peoples' awesome experiences at Oklacon. Distance was one reason that I couldn't attend, but now it actually seems doable. So I'm planning to prereg. tonight.

I hope that the change in location is a benefit to attendees, overall. I know that both OKC and Tulsa have international flights.

I will see you all for the pre-con. picnic August 9th @ noon, at Sequoia Park
howlingwolfmoon
howlingwolfmoon

Howling_WolfMoon

Watcher
#link
6 years ago
sadly i do not think i will be able to make it this year After all (Tiz - A - Real- Shame) but my ride will not be going. So maby next year. I wish you all A Great time This year at Oklacon at the New Location.
xsenkai
xsenkai

xSenkai

Digital Artist
#link
6 years ago
It's annoying that just a few people could ruin it for everyone. However I want to say WELCOME to Sequoya Park :) I've been there a couple times and love it there. This will be my first year attending Oklacon and I'm looking forward to it ^^ This will be my second time attending a con. Not sure if I'll have any friends coming along or by myself but I hope I can meet/make some awesome friends while there :)
zendai
zendai

Zendai

Anthro Artist
#link
5 years ago
Hats off to y'all for being such upstanding people...I would've just posted their names since those "select few" ruined YEARS of fun.
steeleheart
steeleheart

Steeleheart

Art Whore
#link
5 years ago
I wonder if you have passed on the information of the three people involved in this tragedy to other conventions?

Quietly of course...
steeleheart
steeleheart

Steeleheart

Art Whore
#link
5 years ago
I stand corrected... I should have said the information of the FOUR people that were directly involved in this should be shared with other conventions' boards do that this doesn't happen again.
jadebleufox
jadebleufox

JadeBleufox

MOVED TO FLO
#link
5 years ago
Oklacon is no more fellow furs...
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7054050/
raishiin
raishiin

Raishiin

Fursuiter
#link
5 years ago
For some reason, that kind of conduct doesn't even surprise me. It's inappropriate sure, but not surprising. Some furries are really, really stupid.

What I would find surprising, or even just a little appalling, is that the park staff would allow some people to ruin it for everyone like that. It truly sounds like they were just looking for a reasonable sounding excuse. I wouldn't want to go to a park or for that matter a state where that was acceptable. You guys can easily just ban the people and call the park security if they tried to come back couldn't you? It should be understandable that their actions are not approved of or representative of your group.

It's about the same thing as having a few strangers come to a church congregation having an event in the park and doing stuff like that. Do they want to deny the church afterwards even though while those strangers may be Christian and considered welcome at first their behavior was in no way endorsed by them? Of course not, that's absurd. :p
pyrophin
pyrophin

Pyrophin

Landscaper
#link
5 years ago
I don't claim to know much about Middle America and it's policies but it really sounds like the park wanted the event gone and this was a good excuse. A couple posts up was someone saying they were inspecting backpacks and scanning tents(?) looking for problems since Oklacon 8... once management starts that business the writing is on the wall IMO.

Really hope the event planners searched for private property / neighboring states / whatever that would allow the event to continue before shutting everything down, if there legit was NO where else to hold it then yeah, them's the breaks. If you get a bunch of animal people together and give them liquor, etc.. there is a chance they may do animal things. Really is not a surprise or (personally, I feel) that much of a problem.
tybron
tybron

Tybron

Writer
#link #parent  
5 years ago
To clarify, an A-Frame is an A-shaped cabin, with or without air conditioning, typically filled with bunk beds and usually associated with group camps. The park rangers were searching everyone for alcohol because a few furs couldn't stop drinking themselves into the local ICU. Oklacon is far from the first con to have alcohol-related issues with attendees and sadly, won't be the last.

As for finding another venue, they'd be limited to probably a few hotels and frankly with only one month's notice I can't see finding that kind of venue to be at all feasible financially, logistically, or otherwise. Moving it out of state would also probably defeat the purpose.
pyrophin
pyrophin

Pyrophin

Landscaper
#link #parent  
5 years ago
That's pretty bad. If I ever went to an event and they wanted to search my room / tent / cabin, etc.. it'd be the last time... There is no reason for that if everyone is over 21.

I agree, it would be a stretch to find a venue that quick, save the event for the year but shutting it down permanently and dissolving the LLC is seems a little drastic.

I've no dog in this fight and have no plans of ever stepping foot in OK, but it's always sad to hear a big event is no more.
tybron
tybron

Tybron

Writer
#link #parent  
5 years ago
Well, there is "reason" for it if you're in a state park, and that state has archaic blue laws banning any alcoholic beverage over 3.2%. The rangers decided, after years of previously relaxing enforcement of that law, to severely enforce it.

If this was a hotel con, as I said, things would be different. Hotels usually don't care as much about alcohol consumption as long as it's kept in private rooms. There was, at one point during Oklacon's lifetime, a task force made to see about making a hotel con as well, but Texas Furry Fiesta started up and the demand for a hotel con in the tri-state area was quickly met.

Dissolving the LLC may have been a hardcore move, but the reputation was demolished beyond repair. Think about it, every attempt to make another con would result in another asshat phone call to the venue akin to "You're seriously letting this business rent rooms? They're banned from state parks!!!"
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link #parent  
5 years ago
being banned for any reason usually isn't enough for someone to be immediately barred fear is no justification there is no just to be safe, if you can't prove that event was a big problem and not that of a few individuals then theres no legal right to bar.
tybron
tybron

Tybron

Writer
#link #parent  
5 years ago
Legally, businesses can accept or refuse business to anyone for any reason or no reason, provided it does not violate discrimination laws.

Barring an LLC from renting 100+ hotel rooms because a select few attendees committed sexual felonies and their administration, through so-called "obstruction of justice" (I still don't see how refusal to violate the privacy of 200+ uninvolved people counts as obstructing justice, but I'm not an overzealous D.A.) got them barred from state parks, unfortunately, does not fall under such laws. Is it paranoid to do so? Yes. But again, liability. The hotel management wouldn't want to risk a scandal.

As much as I would love to be able to fight this (and strangulate the rat-bastard that "tattled"), this is a "You can't fight City Hall" situation. The ultimate losers in this are the charities and the local economy of Watonga, who really got a boost from our con being at RNSP for the last 11 years.
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link #parent  
5 years ago
remember business that affects income anywhere specially a big chunk is a violation to the city's very existence and therefore a big problem. the city alone would be capable of shutting the people who run the park down and replace them by having them shipped off to other parks elsewhere if deemed appropriate. but a park is technically public and therefore has no right to decide who can come and go so long as its not impeding the city's or towns income directly or other laws.
tybron
tybron

Tybron

Writer
#link #parent  
5 years ago
If this was a city park we were talking about, you'd be right. But it's not. It's a state park, complete with it's own resort hotel, fishing ponds, hiking trails, campgrounds, canoeing, all the fun stuff you might expect from a state park.

No one tells Yellowstone National Park what to do, except the feds. Similarly, no one tells the Oklahoma Parks and Recreation board what to do except for the state (and by extension, state taxpayers). Roman Nose State Park is not Watonga's property, in fact, the OUTSIDE of Watonga's jurisdiction entirely (it's a good 15-minute drive from Watonga city limits). The reason Watonga profited from us being there is because a lot of furs would patronize their gas stations, liquor stores, motels and restaurants in-town.
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link #parent  
5 years ago
yeah my bad forgot about state parks. mind you i am not from the states so i cannot say with 100% certainty all the facts but i can express logic and such.
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link #parent  
5 years ago
forgot to mention the decisions by a few while hidden under the guise of professionalism is still bigoted and it doesn't take a genius to see that, if the town figures that the choices of a few bigoted assholes is fucking with the money then they will most likely deal with it by having them removed and denying them a say they do not own the park the county does and therefore the beliefs of a few doesn't outweigh those of people who are being affected by such a decision so might be time to have every attendee who is local and non local to start going around and tell people that because of the actions of a few they may need to take up complaining to city hall to have the issue dealt with and force the rangers to do their jobs and not do what they think is their job.
patchpackrat
patchpackrat

Patch_packrat

Traditional Artist
#link
5 years ago
Sorry to hear about this debacle.

The past prejudice by park staff, and the con attendee calling Sequoyah with what sounds like bad intentions, makes it sound like you couldn't get a fair break, no matter how effectively you solved the situation when it happened.

I have been tracking some incidents of prejudice and might do an article about this. Here was another -
http://dogpatch.press/2015/05/26/ne.....ur-b-que-hoax/

Can you clarify anything about the incident with three intoxicated people? Intuition tells me it's likely they were all intoxicated at the same time. So were they all raping each other?

You specifically mention that all three showed up and "intoxicated themselves" (plural), but then it says "women cannot consent" while intoxicated. Let's assume that is mistaken wording, because isn't it "nobody" can consent while intoxicated?

Setting aside legal violation, if the supposed victim was equally involved as implied, and doesn't consider it a personal violation and this just has statutory charges... it shows the insane puritanism behind this. Such a situation should be public lewdness at worst. It's both bigoted to men, and paternalistically sexist to women to treat only one person as incapable of consent. You might as well prosecute someone for raping themselves for masturbating while drunk.

Let me know if you can help clarify this, so a future article doesn't misrepresent you.
mewtwolover
mewtwolover

Mewtwolover

Digital Artist
#link #parent  
5 years ago
Can't wait to read the article about this if you do it.
howlingwolfmoon
howlingwolfmoon

Howling_WolfMoon

Watcher
#link
5 years ago
OK Whoever Called The new park and Ran your mouth off ~SHAME ON YOU!~ Sure Oklacon 2014 had 3 people make really horrible decision but they where taken care of. there where a couple 100 people that attended that year Why is the Couple hundred That where there being made to pay for the 3 peoples Stupid decisions!
Well i hope your happy with yourself because of you Oklacon is no more and A very good and fun get-together has been forever destroyed. . . Sighs. . .well at least i got to go one time :(. well to all the friends i made at Oklacon. it was nice to get to meet you. Tot he Staff At Oklacon: it was fun being able to work with you all at least one time... so long and fair well. *Howls Sorrowfully At The Moon*...
chiptcfkahai
chiptcfkahai

Chip_TCFKAHAI

Fursuiter
#link
5 years ago
Thanks, Oklacon, for the unforgettable memories and incomparable friends.
kashime
kashime

kashime

Crafter
#link
5 years ago
honestly I think if you worry too much about the finances you will never get justice and thats what most want when they push people into such a corner they want you to give up and not fight for a right that is the communities simply because they have no idea what they are doing or talking about.

if a few individuals get barred its not the end of the world but if the event gets blocked its a real injustice simply because they cannot accept that incidents happen and should in no way become related simply because people want to see it as related.

 
Comment hidden by its owner
horsejumper
horsejumper

Horsejumper

Fursuiter
#link
5 years ago
Won't someone think of the children!?!?

They did? I see. Convention gone now children safe.

Damn
anthrootterperson
anthrootterperson

anthrootterperson

Undecided
#link
5 years ago
If only the guy (We ALL know who he is) had went to con staff instead of, lets see, going over staff's head and DIRECTLY CONTACTING the state park rangers, Oklacon would have been safe. Watch out for said individual and his werewolf games. He is a serious security threat to any convention.
howlingwolfmoon
howlingwolfmoon

Howling_WolfMoon

Watcher
#link #parent  
5 years ago
I Totally Agree with you on that. 200%... It was already being handled Before He called the Park-Rangers. Suddenly I end up hearing They where on there way becasue someone called them. I mean Really! (Any Convention that wants to Keep Themselves as a convention should Keep him out of it hes a Nark. in the worst Way.)
howlingwolfmoon
howlingwolfmoon

Howling_WolfMoon

Watcher
#link
5 years ago
PS: i just heard from a friend of mine that was there with me that they heard him "the person with the Werewolf game" say that they didn't like Oklacon but another con instead then stated to my friend that he could get Oklacon closed down if he wanted to... and then that is exactly what he did. so yea we do all know who did it.

Furcon's Be Aware Please. Its not even really his game... the Game of Werewolf has an interesting history see it here yourself if you wish don't just take my word for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia.....8party_game%29
 
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maggot-mosh-pit
maggot-mosh-pit

maggot-mosh-pit

Writer
#link
3 years ago
Randomly showed up here from some wikipage. It's a damn shame what happened. I'm sorry to hear everything you worked for was destroyed by three people. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.
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