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Thank you Indyfurcon for all the memories (and more to come)
8 years ago
Back in 2009 a rag tag group o furs got together and thought "why don't WE throw a con???"
I was relatively new to furry back then - my first furry event being FCN back in april 2008.
I suddenly found myself delving HEAD FIRST into the fandom then. Going to FCN, Morphicon, AC, MFF that first year! There I met some super awesome people that i'm still close with!
JUST as I'm starting to break out of my shell some of those friends (Tora and Roxas especially) got me into planning iFC2010 - the first year. I drove, or flew, down to Indianapolis several times to meet with the staff and contribute. But I refused to staff. Not because i didn't WANT to - but because i wouldn't commit to something i didn't know i would be able to follow through on. After all I was still living in Canada at the time so "staff a convention" wasn't something i thought i COULD do.
Then iFC year 1 happened. And while I didn't officially "volunteer" I helped where i could. Contributed in whatever way i was able to. The staff TREATED me as staff even though i felt i didn't deserve it. And I was hooked. The satisfaction of putting on an event where hundreds of people could come together and enjoy themselves was addictive.
Year 2 I was JOAT (jack of all trades) staff member. "Put me where you need me!"
Year 3 I was put on the board of directors. I did a year in Sponsors/Hospitality. Year 4 when Roxas took over as chair I took over programming - which i didn't mind. But the following year is when I hit my stride. Year 5 Alkali swapped with me and took over programming and I took over social media. That year was SO much fun communicating with everyone on twitter/facebook/etc.
At the end of year 5 Roxas had to step down a year early from his chairing due to family circumstances. He nominated me as chair - and not a single person in the room objected to his choice. It was one of THE most memorable moments of my entire life.
The past 3 years, serving my term as chair, the convention grew significantly in both attendance AND - importantly to me - charitable donations.
Our last year at the sheraton, before I took over we were at mid 500's attendance with about 6k raised for charity.
This past year -third at the marriott and third with me at the helm - we had 1214 ppl and raised about $14,500 for charity.
The overwhelming amount of feedback that has been POSITIVE about the convention BOGGLES my mind.
This was 100% a TEAM effort. It would not have been possible without every single amazing and wonderful staff member and volunteer and the generosity of SOOOOOO many of our attendees (a few of them ESPECIALLY so). But the fact I got to serve as leader during this time is overwhelming.
I knew getting into the role that it would be for just a few years. That summer 2017 would be wonderful and sad for me, stepping down. But it's ok.
Because i'm not going anywhere. I know that I still have a roll (rolls?) to play.
I won't know exactly what those roles are for another month or so.... but there is one thing i do know. With Nikki at the helm as chair for 2018-2020, with the hard working staff and volunteers that we have (and more to join?!?) with the AMAZING attendees of iFC, and with our slow but steady expansion into the 2 overflow hotels and staying/expanding at the marriott indy east, that iFC is going to continue to be - pardon my language - FUCKING AMAZING!
Also - to my Board and Staff who, even though *I* was not telling anyone until closing ceremonies - secretly TOLD A BUNCH OF ATTENDEES that it was my last year and proceeded to get "Thank you notes" from them. I LOVE/HATE YOU GUYS :) Having to wait til the wrap up meeting in September before i am allowed to read any is going to be so hard.
I won't deny - part of me is glad I can ease off of iFC a tad and concentrate on other projects a bit now....
But as I said - I'm not going anywhere. iFC is part of me. Now, and forever.
Thank you for 8 fantastic years iFC. Thank you for being a convention i can unequivocally say i am FUCKING PROUD to have been chair of. And thank you in advance for putting up with my tomfoolery to come.
I less than three you all
Dez
Former iFC chair
I was relatively new to furry back then - my first furry event being FCN back in april 2008.
I suddenly found myself delving HEAD FIRST into the fandom then. Going to FCN, Morphicon, AC, MFF that first year! There I met some super awesome people that i'm still close with!
JUST as I'm starting to break out of my shell some of those friends (Tora and Roxas especially) got me into planning iFC2010 - the first year. I drove, or flew, down to Indianapolis several times to meet with the staff and contribute. But I refused to staff. Not because i didn't WANT to - but because i wouldn't commit to something i didn't know i would be able to follow through on. After all I was still living in Canada at the time so "staff a convention" wasn't something i thought i COULD do.
Then iFC year 1 happened. And while I didn't officially "volunteer" I helped where i could. Contributed in whatever way i was able to. The staff TREATED me as staff even though i felt i didn't deserve it. And I was hooked. The satisfaction of putting on an event where hundreds of people could come together and enjoy themselves was addictive.
Year 2 I was JOAT (jack of all trades) staff member. "Put me where you need me!"
Year 3 I was put on the board of directors. I did a year in Sponsors/Hospitality. Year 4 when Roxas took over as chair I took over programming - which i didn't mind. But the following year is when I hit my stride. Year 5 Alkali swapped with me and took over programming and I took over social media. That year was SO much fun communicating with everyone on twitter/facebook/etc.
At the end of year 5 Roxas had to step down a year early from his chairing due to family circumstances. He nominated me as chair - and not a single person in the room objected to his choice. It was one of THE most memorable moments of my entire life.
The past 3 years, serving my term as chair, the convention grew significantly in both attendance AND - importantly to me - charitable donations.
Our last year at the sheraton, before I took over we were at mid 500's attendance with about 6k raised for charity.
This past year -third at the marriott and third with me at the helm - we had 1214 ppl and raised about $14,500 for charity.
The overwhelming amount of feedback that has been POSITIVE about the convention BOGGLES my mind.
This was 100% a TEAM effort. It would not have been possible without every single amazing and wonderful staff member and volunteer and the generosity of SOOOOOO many of our attendees (a few of them ESPECIALLY so). But the fact I got to serve as leader during this time is overwhelming.
I knew getting into the role that it would be for just a few years. That summer 2017 would be wonderful and sad for me, stepping down. But it's ok.
Because i'm not going anywhere. I know that I still have a roll (rolls?) to play.
I won't know exactly what those roles are for another month or so.... but there is one thing i do know. With Nikki at the helm as chair for 2018-2020, with the hard working staff and volunteers that we have (and more to join?!?) with the AMAZING attendees of iFC, and with our slow but steady expansion into the 2 overflow hotels and staying/expanding at the marriott indy east, that iFC is going to continue to be - pardon my language - FUCKING AMAZING!
Also - to my Board and Staff who, even though *I* was not telling anyone until closing ceremonies - secretly TOLD A BUNCH OF ATTENDEES that it was my last year and proceeded to get "Thank you notes" from them. I LOVE/HATE YOU GUYS :) Having to wait til the wrap up meeting in September before i am allowed to read any is going to be so hard.
I won't deny - part of me is glad I can ease off of iFC a tad and concentrate on other projects a bit now....
But as I said - I'm not going anywhere. iFC is part of me. Now, and forever.
Thank you for 8 fantastic years iFC. Thank you for being a convention i can unequivocally say i am FUCKING PROUD to have been chair of. And thank you in advance for putting up with my tomfoolery to come.
I less than three you all
Dez
Former iFC chair
You have done great things while at the helm of IFC. It has been a great con!
I have also been encouraged by the number of "Minor Furs" and their family and guardians that are now attending. You and your great staff, have kept it a comfortable atmosphere!
Here's to many more IFC cons, and as always, looking forward to seeing you again!
God Bless You! I love you family!
*HUGS*
CEF
* bunnyhugs *