Waystation

I had started a post last night about the term Kestra'chern, which is something I identify with despite it being a fictional term. Instead, I want to write about Waystation FurCon, the convention that I'm the Chairperson for.

Sometime over the summer of 2011, my friend Spectrum and I were lamenting that a con that we love dearly is, for lack of a better term, failing and the leadership is resistant to change that will improve the con and bring in new membership. We both have great ideas for how to run a convention, so we get to talking about where we'd have it at and what we'd call it. St. Louis doesn't have a furry con currently, so why not form a con in the middle of the year in the middle of the country? We decided on May, regarded as the "middle of the year" in the US Furry Con circuit. It's 6 months away from MFF, the major convention for the Midwest, and doesn't land on Memorial Day weekend, which is a major holiday shared with a couple different conventions.

Waystation is one of the many things that is keeping me sane. I've realized in recent months, when I'm not working on a serious project outside of work, I spin up into a discordant tizzy and it's not good for those around me. Leading the Waystation Team is also giving me the practical knowledge I need to develop my leadership skills since my real life job isn't meeting my needs in that department. What I've realized, especially recently, is that I already have the practical knowledge to be a supervisor, imparted from my years in high school as the Student Director of our plays and musicals and my years as Rocket City FurMeet's Volunteer Coordinator. I just got the wind knocked out of my sails for a bit.

But we're steadily moving. If you've ever been around me, my motto in recent months has been "I'm in the business of making things happen". And I am. If you can get my full support behind a concept or idea, I -will- ensure that it happens somehow. That's why Waystation has most of its staff positions filled already with good people who will be an asset to the con. I just need to get everyone talking more. =P

This con will be successful. We have over a year leading up to our first event, which means we'll have the time to smooth out any bumps that may come up. I've seen what rushing can do and I refuse to see that done to Waystation.

As for why we chose "Waystation" for the name of our con, we're in the middle of the country and the middle of the year. A waystation is traditionally known as a point in a journey that you can rest and recover before continuing on your way. The idea is that Waystation will have a balance of energy and relaxation that will benefit our attendees.