FloofAid

Edited poster for FloofAid (fake future website)

    Coming after the founding of Furacuse comes the arrival of FloofAid (FurAid, a rescue centre for real cats and dogs, was taken, even though many furry conventions support those), the worlds first registered charity for helping the less fur-tunate afford tickets and travel to cons across the country, including to Furacuse, which will raise money for FloofAid, which seems ironic, having a con to benefit having people get to other cons, but also fursuits, since life these days is expensive enough, let alone floof. Cons are usually non-profit and thus an organisation or two registered with the IRS is the way to go, yet I don't know the first thing about this myself, and I just don't want to become the Willie Nelson or Bob Geldof of furries. I'd have to find others to run this with in order to get clearance.

    For now, you can contribute to my usual outlets at Ko-Fi (see earlier post), GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo (@Sposato120, the only place I can accept cryptocurrency, which I'm not wholly familiar with myself, but can convert to real cash there), and CashApp ($Sposato2024). This is not another scam. It comes from me not being able to get to Eufuria, FurPoc, Furrydelphia, Fluffalo, Anthro New England, Anthrocon, or any con for that matter. I just want to pay it forward and help others who deserve it just as much, from young kids to those on disability like myself to others in a bad place that want to be a part of the fandom. While it is a luxury like fine jewellery, it's just not as grandiose per se. Even buying materials to make your own fursuit can cost just as much as having someone else do a commission or getting a premade. FloofAid can even help with that. You'd be surprised how many call themselves furries, but have little to show for it. Even those just starting out their own lives are just getting by.

    While AI is looked down in the community, I have made it my medium for designing. While Canidae are dominant, I put in three dollies and even threw in a Dutchie (rainbow dragon) and I'm not sure what that is (grey floof). I got them from the CNY Pride parade when using ChatGPT to create this from previous images. I didn't want just canines and felines because that's too easy. I even have a couple of hyenas, as well as deer, rabbits, birds and bears in the local group (we've only discussed the furcon).

    Once both NGOs are officially established, I will look into events such as Dougs Fish Fry or adult prom, to opening a Savers that has FloofAid as the local partner in Syracuse, despite Thrifty Shoppers regional dominance over two other national chains combined. Fursuits occasionally appear at Goodwill or other charity shops in random parts of the country, and we'll accept ones that are unsellable for even dirt low prices. We could provide a tax receipt, despite only one out of ten donors even bothering to itemise because it's barely takes off of most peoples taxes. Paul Newman didn't believe in write-offs and the estate continues that policy. Maybe Newmans Own or Warren Buffett could send a few bob over! Also, if you live outside CNY or can't come by, you could ship the fursuit Ground Advantage, but it might not be Savers' policy, yet the diehards will come looking for us to get some rock bottom deals.

    When Furacuse gets going, maybe FloofAid will too, but for now, you can contribute this way. The name FurryCuse may also have been suggested.

Furacuse

Furacuse poster made with ChatGPT

    As much as I would love to go on a trip to a furry convention in another town, it remains unattainable for many in the fandom, with the economy right now. Even Eufuria in Albany is out of my league this year. I learned that Fluffalo in Buffalo is actually held this year in a fishing club in Hamburg several miles down US 20 (it's a sizeable, yet low budget rental space, even for there), but it's in October, a couple weeks before Furpocalypse in Stamford, CT in the Tri-State, one of the largest in the Northeast, along with Anthrocon in Pittsburgh. I think Syracuse has the capacity for a furcon itself, and it has been discussed in the local Telegram group. RetroGameCon is also that time of year at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse, which does have some furries, so it could be done. There are a few hotels nearby, and more in the suburbs, given the State Fair and eventually Micron. The location between the North Country, eastern Ontario, northeastern Pennsylvania, Twin Tiers, and the two existing cons on both sides of Upstate would bring in the people to at least break even, although we want to make a profit, yet we can't compete with Alleghany County being a smaller area with less infrastructure and resources.

    If downtown won't work, then there is Randolph House Hotel in Liverpool, which had been Sheraton, Holiday, and Ramada Inns before coming full circle under the latters sister franchise. It's right off the Thruway, has large event rooms and can have blocks booked, with all the floof under one roof. It'd be a bit of a hike from the bus, especially for those new to the area stunned by Centros paltry frequency, unless it's improved by the time this is established (that's for a whole other post). At least there'd be a few competitors nearby for overflow. The plaza could have a shuttle, but there are some things I won't get into here at this time. I think the CD Record Fair will remain at its current home at St Georges Macedonian Orthodox Church on NY 173 in Onondaga, even though I would never clash with that. There's no one time to do it, but I wouldn't when it's too cold for a start like in the boys' area.

    The dates provided are just an example, so nothing is there this year. Anything of this magnitude requires months of planning and thousands of dollars of sponsorship and investment. Even Furrydelphia had to start somewhere. I just wish more things could be in my area, which is how this blog came to be in the first place, and even this is something that is late to arrive in CNY. Had less trouble with IKEA.

    Since most cons are non-profit, this will raise money for a sister project called FloofAid, which will be the next post. It'll be a registered charity to help those in the fandom with less get to other cons as well as their own fursuits. I know that defeats the purpose of Furacuse, but it would be smaller than ones in the major metros, yet FloofAid will get the less fur-tunate the floof of their dreams, and even to this if they live too far from Syracuse or any con at all. Not even the biggest chain is on every corner.

GoFundMe

Doggy's holding on to that money!

 Please help.