NZFurs Chat forum: FurCoNZ 2009 - Let's get it going now!

Howdy. For those that already know me, well... hello! I am Lyctiger. For those that have absolutely no idea who I am, one can either go check out the NZ Furry directory - http://www.furry.org.nz/furslist/details.php?id=123, or FurAffinity - http://www.furaffinity.net/user/lyctiger/

Now the introduction is out of the way, let me bring your attention to something else: FurCoNZ 2009.

As 2009 is now well under way, and more of you are wondering what’s going on with this year’s annual New Zealand furry gathering/meet/con/camp-out. Well, something definitely is happening.

I’ll be the main organizer for FurCoNZ 09, along with the help of a few others. If there are any questions/suggestions about FCNZ, please direct all communications to me. I can normally be reached via:

E-mail: lyctiger AT yahoo DOT com (You can figure it out)
Yahoo IM: lyctiger

Over the coming weeks, more exact details for this year’s gathering will be posted here to the mailing list and to FCNZ’s website (http://www.furconz.org.nz), which Meow has kindly agreed to keep updated and online for us all into the future. Right now, here are what you need to know (and save your questions/comments until you’ve read the entire message). Just leave a comment below.

What: FurCoNZ 2009.

When: The weekend of 27th – 29th November, 2009

Where: Auckland/Hamilton region (most likely within the Greater Auckland area). We’ll aim to have the location decided before the end of this month (April).

Cost: We’ll be aiming for a per person cost of $60-$70, that is inclusive of accommodation and food (3 meals a day) over the weekend, excluding cost to get there (that is your responsibility). This is roughly the same as originally budgeted for FCNZ’08 before donations are taken into account.

Now, let’s get in depth with the above.



LOCALE:
For the past 2 years, FCNZ was held at the end of November/start of December, and that has generally worked well for the majority. Therefore, the last weekend of November is pencilled in right now for this year. Location wise, many (heated) discussions have had between many. At the end of the day, the area that is going to be easiest to access, the Greater Auckland region, for the majority is the most logical choice. Looking back at the previous 2 years, most people (70%+) were from the Auckland/Hamilton area. Also, this year we might have potential overseas attendees and Auckland is the major international airport into this country, thus making it more accessible for those people.

Now, let me get this straight. Does it mean we don’t value those that live elsewhere in this country as much as those living in Auckland/Hamilton? Absolutely not. It is simply logistics here. From the attendance records of the previous 2 years, it is much easier say, for the dozen or so people that lives in the South Island to travel up North, than to have about 3 to 4 dozen or so that lives in Auckland to travel down South (if we were to hold it in say, Christchurch).

We may very well have a FurCoNZ sometime down in the South, I personally would like to hold one in Queenstown, but unfortunately it won’t be FCNZ’09.

COST:
We’ve been very fortunate to have such generous people donating huge amounts in the past (FCNZ’07), hence people were able to essentially attend for a weekend, including food and accommodation for free. Unfortunately the economic environment for the past year or two simply sucked, and we’ll run things a bit differently this year.

The aim is to have FCNZ’09 cost NO MORE THAN $70 for the weekend, that is including accommodation and food (3 meals a day). The final cost will be worked out once we have the final location and other logistics sorted out. But for now, budget for $70. If you are to save up starting now (April), by the end of October in 7 months time you’ll have $70 saved up. That is $10/month, roughly $2.50/week, or $0.40/day. If you can’t set aside $2.50/week or $0.40/day, all I can say is, you shouldn’t even be thinking of coming to FCNZ’09 as your financial/life priorities needs a serious look into. This may sound harsh for those that are on a really tight budget but unfortunately at the end of the day, bills needs to be paid for FCNZ to happen.

Does it mean we won’t be doing donations this year? Absolutely not. Any donation amount, be it $5, $50 or even $500 will help make this event even more awesome. It will help with organizing extra events, field trips, better food, and better equipment. Also, any amount leftover will be put forward for use in organizing future events (for example FCNZ’10).

That’s it for now. As I’ve previously mentioned, more details will be announced and posted up on the NZ Furry mailing list/forums and the FurCoNZ website in the coming weeks, with the most important details (namely location and cost) hopefully sorted out by the end of this month (April).

Any more questions/comments/suggestions please feel free to discuss with me. Thank you very much and let’s get FCNZ’09 going!

lyctiger

i vote for huia again. and if we need more space i say go to the kiwanis lodge (still at huia, just the other side of the road.)

Hmm. While Huia was an excellent location in 2007, I question whether it would work for this year. In 2007 we already exceeded the max amount of people for the cabins (55 or so?), this year I'm sure there would be many more furs along, and I don't think the 6 person limit that Kiwanis lodge offers would accomodate that.
Though in saying that - seeing that it is in Auckland, at least some of the Auckland furs would likely head back to their own homes to sleep. Apart from drunk-nights I doubt I'd personally want to sleep over again after my sleepless time (I will not forget the symphony of snores..) in the cabins in 2007. It's just good to have the space to ensure that everyone will be able to be accomodated.
But honestly, I have nothing better to suggest, that I know of :p

We're still in the process of looking into a firm location for this year's meet, and as originally mentioned, hopefully a site will be finalized by the end of this month.

A fair few has approached me in regards to using the Huia Kiwanis lodge/campsite again for this year. While we have not ruled out visiting Huia again, and in fact it is being listed as the "backup plan" (as we've been there before so we're familiar with the location and facilities), a new campsite will be preferred. Again, we'll have a definate answer by the end of April.

Regarding capacity, Huia Kiwanis officially sleeps 46 people. The criteria for this year is a site which can host 50 to 70 people. Unless the data and information that I have in front of me are wrong, the attendence are as follows:

- 2007: While the maximum number of people there peaked at around 50, we only had roughly 35-40 people sleeping over at any given night (being Saturday night). I can clearly remember for that year not all the 6-bed cabins are full, in fact, the cabin next to us (No. 2) only had 4 people throughout the weekend.

- 2008: The Pohingina site can sleep 70, according to website data there were 59 registered attendees, while at the actual event the number peaked at around 40, with 36 being the number that needed a bed (again, being on a Saturday night).

So... in a nutshell, we didn't manage to fill the previous 2 year's meet to capacity.

We certainly hope for a higher attendence rate this year (50-60 being the target), so *if* we do vsit Huia again capacity might be a problem, hence why a new site is being looked into and preferred at this stage.

As long as you guys have it in New Zealand, pfft I'm there again. =3

well im in,and i should be able to make a donation,allbeit small unfortunately,but ill still pay my part and if i can find a ride be attending aswell,just gimme time and where and ill be there,hopefully i can make it this year,missed the last two sadly

We should totally hold it on the moon!

hahahahaha agreed thtd be awsome

Hello every furr.
i am starting to sort out a roadtrip for the furcon this year. starting from as far south as it needs to be and working its way up to the con.

as it is a long way till con, i have decided to start this now as its a good time to.

for startes, i will need a list of all the furrs needing a ride of sum sorts to get to and from the con.

then i can start working out the prices. at first i was thinking on a van (or more depending on the amount) then i was told that a bus would be better as i have had a furr offer to drive for us.

if you are interested in this, please add me to msn, or even hit me up in mIRC.

thanks and i hope to see you all at the con

I'll be going with you Stormer! Hopefully I'll be bringing a few peoples with me as well :P

cool. well, its a little way off yet, and i think i will discuss it more when i go up to aucks in a couple of weeks time...

It needs to be held in the South Island sometime :s

Maybe round Chch area? *hint hint* lol >^.^

Furcon 09 is going to be great I can't wait to see all the furs i not met from all around nz!

Yeah me too! This'll be my first time though.

We should totally hold FurCon in Hamilton.

The previous "meets" have been held in hamiltron/taupo..
But we can't hold it in the city, there's too many people now..

Where abouts in the 'tron are you?

I'm sorry, the 'tron?