Please remember that ultimately, these rules are designed to allow Furlandia to run its full course without disruption or early cancellation, to ensure a baseline of mutual respect as we enjoy the con together, and to leave the venue & the general public with a favorable impression of the convention & community. Thanks, and without further ado:
You agree, by your purchase and/or acceptance of a Furlandia attendance pass, to the conditions outlined below.
0. Summary.
You will abide by federal, state, and local laws, the hotel’s expectations of conduct, a set of basic rules governing respectful and responsible behavior, and common courtesy. Attendance is at-will and at the sufferance of Furlandia’s organizers; dangerous or disruptive people will be ejected from the convention. You are responsible for your own person and property. Take photos and audio/visual recordings for personal use, but please observe boundaries and respect personal wishes. No press. We reserve the right to refuse service. No refunds after 4/10/13.
1. Definitions & jurisdiction.
Furlandia (“the convention”/”the con”) is a privately-run, anthropomorphic animal arts-themed event, for the purposes of education, entertainment, community-building, and charity, to be held May 10-12, 2013 on premises rented from the University Place Hotel & Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln Street, Portland, Oregon.
- “Organizers” refers to the top-tier staff responsible for administering and financing Furlandia.
- “Partner” refers to the individuals, collectives, and enterprises contributing vital support and effort to the organizers in planning and financing the convention.
- “Participant” refers to an individual playing a defined role in the convention, such as a vendor, workshop presenter, performer, or staff volunteer.
- “Attendee” refers to a member of the public who has registered to attend the convention.
- “Venue” refers to the hotel hosting the convention, and can be expanded to include any location hosting a satellite function of the convention, such as a meet-and-greet or private recital.
- “Convention space” refers to the areas of the venue in which the convention’s activities are conducted, including rented event rooms, common areas (lobbies, pools, hallways, etc.), and external spaces on venue property.
These policies consider registered attendees and participants to be within the convention space at any time during the convention unless they are (a) not on the venue’s property, (b) inside the private space of their enclosed vehicle in the venue’s parking lot (in which case the venue’s own policies may still apply), or (c) inside the private space of a venue hotel room that is not booked in the name of the organizer. These policies are in effect in all areas of convention space at all times during the event.
You agree that the convention space within the venue is not a public space. You agree that the area outside the convention space is not the domain or responsibility of the convention’s organizers or partners. You understand that venue rules supercede convention rules, and that venue rules remain in effect in areas of the venue outside the convention space. You agree that the organizers cannot reasonably be expected to enforce convention policies outside of the convention space.
2. At-Will Attendance
Furlandia is a private event held on rented premises. The act of purchasing a pass and agreeing to the attendance policy is a good-faith gesture that extends an at-will invitation to attend Furlandia from the organizers to the purchaser; any individual’s attendance is at the sole discretion of the organizers, and the invitation may be revoked if the attendee’s actions cause trouble, hazard, or damage, again at the sole discretion of the organizers. The organizers reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Additional attendance policies apply to minors; see here.
3. Indemnity.
You are fully responsible for your own and your children’s person, property, and conduct, and hold Furlandia’s organizers, partners, and venue harmless against any & all sorts of injury and theft/damage arising from any circumstance. You acknowledge that the safest place for your property is on your person, in your line of sight, or locked in your hotel room.
4. Safety.
Attendees and participants may be ejected from Furlandia for engaging in injurious or illegal behavior. Warnings may be issued entirely at the discretion of the organizers, and their authority is superseded by the venue’s management and security staff. In particular: there will be zero tolerance for providing alcohol to minors or selling/distributing prohibited drugs at Furlandia.
5. Conduct.
You agree to create a safe and welcoming environment for Furlandia’s attendees and participants by behaving responsibly and respectfully. You understand that Furlandia’s participants, attendees, and activities will be under scrutiny, and your behavior will contribute to the precedent that future venues will refer to when deciding whether or not to host Furlandia. You agree not to brandish objects in such a manner as may endanger other attendees or participants, become deliriously intoxicated in the convention space, subject other attendees to unwelcome attention/behavior, or engage in harassment based on age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. In particular: role-play is not a justification for abusive behavior. You agree not to create a hostile, offensive, or disruptive environment for guests of the venue who are not attending or participating in the convention, and to abide by the venue’s expectations of conduct whether or not you are a paying guest of the hotel. You agree to limit public displays of affection to “PG-rated” demonstrations in the convention space. You agree to abide by posted signs laying down rules for elevators, queuing, open hours of rooms, etc. You agree to display your pass on your front above the waist at all times during the convention.
6. Photography and recording.
Photography, videography, and audio recording is permitted at Furlandia for personal use, and within guidelines.
Thank you for respecting the personal wishes of individual attendees and participants regarding photography and recording, and for respecting the intellectual property rights of our participating writers and artists. Accordingly, please don’t:
- photograph or record anyone who specifically requests you do not.
- record workshops or performances without the explicit permission of the presenter or performer.
- make a photographic subject of art or merchandise without the explicit permission of the artist or vendor.
- photograph or record people in personally or professionally compromising situations.
You agree that the likelihood of being photographed in the convention space by agents of the convention or venue and other attendees/participants is implicit in your attendance/participation in Furlandia. If you are uncomfortable being photographed at Furlandia, you bear the burden of being aware of when cameras are in use, communicating that you do not wish to be photographed, and reasonably accommodating photographers by stepping out of frame when you see them setting up a shot. A visual cue, such as a badge sticker, will be provided by the organizers so that you may instantly visually identify yourself as non-photo-friendly.
You agree that your likeness or voice, captured with your explicit or implied consent as outlined above, may be used royalty-free in perpetuity, in promotional or commemorative media produced by the organizers (i.e. video retrospectives, hallway commentaries, etc.).
7. Privacy & Media
You affirm that you are attending Furlandia in good faith as a fan of anthropomorphic arts & culture, and not in any paid or unpaid capacity as a journalist or investigator, to study, discover, or make public any person’s or group of people’s affiliations, identities, or activities. You re-affirm that the convention space within the venue is not a public space.
8. Ejection
Persons ejected from the convention, whether by the organizer or the venue, are entitled to no appeal or refund. The option to hear appeals or offer refunds is at the sole discretion of the organizer (except when superseded by the authority of the venue); issuance of a refund or granting of an appeal is not an admission of wrongdoing or error by the organizers or partners. The organizer has full discretion and authority to eject attendees or participants at any time for any disruptive, dangerous, or illegal behavior in the organizer’s subjective view.
9. Refunds
Registrations may be canceled and the price of purchase refunded up to 30 days prior to the convention by applying in writing to admin@furlandia.org with “CANCELLATION” in the subject line. No refunds will be issued after 30 days prior to the event (April 10, 2013). For a prompt and direct response, please initiate cancellations/refunds with the organizer rather than through the refund application mechanism of any online payment processor.
10. Privacy policy
In order to consider you a registered attendee, Furlandia must collect your full legal name and at least one piece of reliable contact information. Your personal information and methods of contact will be used to identify you and issue your pass at the convention; to inform you of important changes in Furlandia’s policies, programming, scheduling, or venue; to communicate about specific issues related to your registration or payment; or to pass along information which may improve your convention experience (such as child care or pet boarding close to the venue). Note that this is entirely at the discretion of the organizers, and that advertisers may NOT purchase an “email blast” for the purpose of spamming our attendees.
Your personal information is NOT for sale or release to any third party except as required by law and will NOT be accessed by sponsors, dealers, or other commercial associates. The organizers disclaim any liability for damage due to breaches of privacy or security suffered by email providers, payment processors, and other online services.
11 . Policy revision
These policies may undergo revision prior to the convention. Policy changes will be announced on the Furlandia Twitter account (@Furlandia), and the final policies will be posted in public view at the convention’s registration desk. If you find revised policies unacceptable after you have registered, please email the organizer at admin@furlandia.org for clarification or to have your registration cancelled and refunded prior to April 10, 2013.