Oklacon Online Community

bluewolfy4 @ 09:56 am: Win a FREE admittance for a friend to come with you to Oklacon!
For those of you with a Twitter account - check this post:

https://twitter.com/#!/oklacon/status/204945023840686080

Basically, if you preregister, prepay, and retweet that tweet by May 31, you will be entered to win an attending comp for a friend who has never attended Oklacon before. Come share in our tenth anniversary by partaking in the world's largest outdoor furry convention, right in the middle of Roman Nose State Park in Oklahoma.

The best things in life are meant to be shared, and the best things in life are free. Doesn't get better than that, folks! :)

bluewolfy4 @ 05:34 pm: Calling All Campers with stories to share!
For those who have attended Oklacon for several years, we would appreciate some personal stories about your experiences, the friends you made, the roadtrip there and back, the things you did, the campsite, etc. Was it your first con perhaps, and someone or something made a big impression on your life? We're working on preparing a very special 10th anniversary conbook this year that reflects back on what makes Oklacon special to our furry family both to recount great times and experiences and give some perspective of how we came to be such a unique and tight-knit family that calls RNSP our reunion spot. Please think about that over the coming weeks, and if there's a story you'd like to share, write it up in no more than two pages and forward it to conbook@oklacon.com for consideration in this year's book.

We may take some liberties in editing entries for spelling or length, but we will fully credit your contribution. :)

bluewolfy4 @ 01:33 pm: Lodge Filling Up!
For those who have never attended the largest outdoor furry con in the world before, a fair warning -- the lodge for Oklacon is 2/3 full. Now is the time to preregister to nab one of these while you can. Those wishing to camp, stay at the motel in town, or take one of the free-with-registration bunk beds need not worry -- but those of you wanting a new comfy lodge room, should. :) Nab yer spot today here: https://oklacon.com/

bluewolfy4 @ 11:54 pm: Decade Attendees - Who Are You?
The Oklacon staff are working on identifying those who have attended every Oklacon since 2003. As of this year, you would have been to Oklacon for ten years in a row. There's actually a few of you furs we know of, but as our early convention's record-keeping was a bit lacking, we're trying to make sure we've accounted for everyone who might fit this category.

If you haven't guessed, we're working up something special for you select few to show our gratitude. :)

So, if you feel this describes you, please drop us a line to registration @ oklacon [dot] com so we can do some sleuthing our side end to verify. We'll post this a few times throughout the year, as we want to make sure we account for you all!

bluewolfy4 @ 12:36 am: Chance to win a free guest admission to Oklacon 2012
If you'd like a pretty good chance to win a free attending complimentary admission for one friend who has never attended Oklacon before, then check out our Twitter account @oklacon

Basically, you must click here to register for Oklacon 2012, prepay, and then click here to retweet this message. If you do all three of these things by March 31, you'll be entered into a drawing after that date from the furs who did the same for this comp. There's a very good shot at this, for those keen enough to be watching this blog. :)

We offer contests like this all year long, so if you're not doing so already, Follow @oklacon

bluewolfy4 @ 12:45 am: Oklacon - There and Back Again
What a fantastically successful year!

Oklacon 2011 was the biggest yet, with exactly 300 registered attendees showing up to make one heck of a party in Roman Nose State Park.  We have had a very successful track record over nine years of smashing the per-capita donation rate for charity, and this year was no exception.  We raised $8,193.88 for Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary.  This includes $1,120 raised through the Super Sponsor Soiree, $900 through charity poker, $3,876.50 through the charity auction, and $265 raised during closing ceremonies when we announced we were close to $8K, busting our old record, last year, of $5,365.  The remainder was donated through the Safari's donation jar at their Dealers' Den table.  This brought us to an astounding $27.31/fur donation rate, surpassing every other convention I've seen in 2011.

We not only did some great work for charity, we had a hell of a time.  Between the revamped dances, the plethora of outdoor events, a slew of fursuiter activities, and our gorgeous setting and favorable weather, everything I've seen over FA, FB, and Twitter has been exceptionally positive to report.

I'd like to give special thanks to the entire volunteer group, and especially a shout-out to Nolan, Seagull, Wolfie, and Warnndog, who were instrumental, along with many, many others, in making this year a success.  My hats off to everyone who pitched a tent and pitched in to help where needed.  The share-and-share-alike spirit of Oklacon is alive and well.

For those who left before closing, we were also pleased to announce a few important things:  We have created a partnership with our great friends at Furry Fiesta to offer a dual-convention discounted registration rate.  Details on the OC-FF pass will be announced on the Oklacon 2012 in a few weeks.  Next year only, we will offer a "Lifetime Registration" option, where any level, times ten, if paid by October 1, will entitle you to a lifetime registration at that level.  Finally, the 2012 theme was announced as "It Came from Planet X!", a nod to the B-scifi/monster movies of the '50's, and our first GoH was announced, Uglylilmonster.  If next year is anything like this one... well, watch out! :)

And finally, thanks to all my friends who support the convention, Safari's, and me.  I always just smile when people ask if I had a good time.  Sure I do!  It is a little weird organizing a convention -- it's an experience you miss, even though you're there, and everyone tells you about what you just missed all weekend long.  In all seriousness though, knowing everyone had such a great time and knowing together we did something amazing for charity, made the whole year worth it for me.

I hope to see you all at Furry Fiesta 2012, and then again as our furry family, next October.  Be safe, all.

bluewolfy4 @ 11:15 pm: Oklacon Preregistration is Closed! (And... some stats to chew on)
Final results:  261 preregistered, 13% higher than last year!

Species counts (with five or more represented):
1. Foxes - 34.. which is over two entire A-Frames worth!
2. Wolves - 24
3. Dragons - 14
4. Dogs - 13
5. Cats - 7
6. Mixed Breeds - 7
7. Other felines - 7
8. Bears - 5
9. Huskies - 5
10. Otters - 5
11. Tigers - 5

Other fun registration stats - by age+sex and by state:



As you can see, Oklacon remains a very "young" con, attracting younger, and often, new furs.  The vast majority of Oklacon attendees are between 18 and 30... and we are now attracting furs from every part of the US -- Texas to the Dakotas to California to Florida.  And this year, we even have someone coming across the ocean, from Wales, to join us... which is the odd "State" in the above graph!

Finally, if you did not preregister, please remember to either bring a tent, book a motel in town, or find a friend who already has space and stay with them.  We cannot guarantee tent spots on Group Camp #2 will be available to those who did not preregister, but we'll work with the park to find other close options in the park for those folks who come with tents at-the-door.  If you choose to take a motel in town, make sure you're getting the "OKLACON" discount, instructions for which are on the website.

We're looking forward to seeing you all, and stay tuned, as we'll post and tweet more information as we get closer to the world's largest, best outdoor furcon experience out there! :)

bluewolfy4 @ 04:27 pm: Two Lodge Rooms - Rare Find :)
We have two guests that wish to make other arrangements, but have non-refundable lodge deposits committed to the park.

If anyone would like to take a lodge room in their stead, we've opened them up on Oklacon.com.  Since preregistration is only open one more day, this is a very limited chance to grab a space in the lodge.

Not only would you be staying in the finest, newest lodge in the Oklahoma State Park system, near all the evening events and inevitable room parties, but you'd also be helping out two furs who would receive their deposits back if someone else takes over their reservation.

Questions?  registration at oklacon . com. :)

bluewolfy4 @ 11:05 am: PREGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW!
A brief reminder, preregistration for Oklacon ends tomorrow! With 244 preregistered to date (109 of which are from Oklahoma), this will undoubtedly be our biggest year yet! Join us all at the world's largest outdoor furry convention, right in our own backyard, by preregistering at OKLACON.COM

bluewolfy4 @ 12:22 pm: Updates on Accommodations - More Tent Spots Added!
So, some status updates for y'all! :]

CABINS: Sold out.
LODGE: Sold out.
TENTS: 7 spots left. (We've added five more - they will go quickly on the ground, if any are left, so if this is your plan, prereg this week!)
A-FRAMES: 56 spots left. If we counted the 'unpaids' in this number would be 33. Remember, if and when we run out of A-frame spots, those who have prepaid will be first in line to get one of these beds, and will have a special badge-mark that denotes they get one.
DEALER'S DEN: Sold out.
MOTELS IN TOWN: Last time we spoke with them, they were about 20% full

Registered count to date: 204
% Ahead of last year: 27%
At this rate, prereg is projected to end at 230, which would put the projected at the door number about 300.

We have a significant number of new faces this year, thanks to the Newcomer Group Discount.  We welcome our friends from California, South Dakota, Florida, and even Europe this year!!  A gentle reminder, October 1 will be the last day any Referral or Newcomer discounts can be recognized, so reg's, payments, and e-mails requesting credit must be all in by Oct 1, 2011.

See you in one month!

-BlueOtter