EE update and "Itz-a-Con 2021" / COVID19 reminders

 A few reminders: 

JM is running a PA-based "Evil Expo" this July. 

Facebook event

Itz-a-Con 2021 (part of/in conjunction with EE)

Covid-19 reminders: 

https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/ 

Gathering limits are still in place (as of 4/7/21), 25% maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size, and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

If you are so inclined, PA has a public health complaint form to report businesses if they are not in compliance. With 500+ people listed as "going" on the FB event, I am not sure of the limits of the location. 

In my opinion, non-essential social gatherings are in poor form and show a lack of regard for the health and safety of communities. 

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Gathering limits in place: Indoor events: 25% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement Outdoor events: 50% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home

Katsucon

 I'm sure my readers are already aware, but Katsucon is cancelled this year. This is the best way to handle the pandemic situation. Please support them when they return! 

        A message from all of us at Katsucon! 

------

Text: 

As we head into this weekend, we know everyone is missing the excitement and joy that Katsucon normally brings this time of year. 

Trust us, we know the feeling. 

As you know this is the first time in 27 years we won’t be together to appreciate the elaborate cosplays, shop the vendors and artists ready to help with our normal and obscure anime shopping needs or just roam the Great Halls of the Gaylord National Convention Center trying to make it from panel to panel and hunt down Guest signatures.

We’ll miss the confused looks of random tourists as a horde of Wizards storm the Nandos.

We’ll miss the impromptu 3AM Beyblades battles in a discarded Captain America shield. 

 We’ll miss enjoying the amazing National Harbor and the local areas restaurants and shops. (Ok maybe just Nandos)

We’ll miss the inside jokes, the late night snacks, the mysterious teeth and the Sunday morning severe dehydration. 

We’ll even miss that damn Gazebo. 

Most of all we’ll miss our friends and our Con families. 

For those of us behind the scenes this weekend is typically the culmination of thousands of hours of dedicated work carried out by our entirely volunteer staff and department heads, spread out all over the country. 

Without Katsucon we’re deeply missing the collaboration among friends and peers that occurs in all the planning of programming, dances, and Guest events that we are all so passionate about. 

We know it's hard to look at your suitcases this weekend and not wonder just how many cosplays you could fit into it or to find yourself thinking logistically how you could get 14 foot wings into a car packed with 7 people. 

We know it's disappointing not to be able to show off the pneumatic claws you made or the cute cape you poked your hands over and over trying to sew.  

This past year has definitely flipped our world and culture all around. 

But rest assured... we will be back. 

Like a Phoenix, we will rise from the ashes and come back bigger, better, and safer for #Katsucon2022! 

We will miss seeing all of you; our biggest fans.

 Please continue to stay safe and stay tuned for updates and announcements throughout the year.

 

Reminders (Feb 2021 edition)

 A few reminders for all folks: 

Public gatherings are not safe at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Virtual events are fine, as long as the people presenting are safe (i.e., not all gathered in one place).

There is a chronic abuse problem in the convention community (as pointed out here). 

I only post what I hear. I don't hear everything. If something needs to be corrected, updated, posted about, I need to be contacted (email, or I do read all the comments on this blog. In fact, I approve 99% of them for public consumption as well). 

This blog is not my sole focus. I took almost a whole year off and only started posting again because I was asked to (I made one post between Jan 2020 and Dec 2020, in regards to a dear friend's passing). I was contacted and asked to post about possible local predators in the scene, hence my post about looking for more information (here), partly based on the original Broken Staircase spreadsheet. 

There are awful people, and awful situations, in the convention community. There are also people who don't understand that no means no, even if that isn't your safe word (at least check in with your partner, please). Yes, there are two sides to every story, but the person initiating the abuse/consent violation may not understand that they are going past boundaries (or they may not care), so therefore, we must listen to the victim, especially once it moves beyond just the people directly involved. Also, please don't forget that people can get into abusive relationships and not realize it at the time. That doesn't mean that their trauma is not valid. 

I digress. 

No matter who you are, no matter where you live, please stay safe out there. 

links: 

Trauma Informed Care

Best Online Therapy Programs

National Domestic Abuse Hotline

Signs of an abusive relationship

Warning signs of gaslighting

CDC travel during COVID-19

Precautionary Quarantine Requirements (NY State)