Twin Cities' KARE-11 follows Minnesota furs Julie Bowman and Timothy Fay to ConFurence 8 in this generally upbeat news segment from 1997. [bearetic/furry reddit]

See more: Videos of the convention by FurriesInMotion.

Here is a direct copy of what I just finished posting on AFF.

read on...

Below is an announcement that Uncle Kage asked me to pass on to Flayrah

On alt.fan.furry this morning, Doodles announced Confurence is dead...read on...

Last minute reminder:

ConFurence 2003: The Furry West will be April 25-27 at the Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center, in Burbank, California. This marks our FIFTEENTH annual anthropomorphic convention and exhibition in Southern California, which is quite a milestone.

The hotel has promised to keep our room reservation block open all the way up to the days of the convention, and our room rates are locked in. Standard hotel rooms are $102 per night and Jr. Suites are $135 per night, for up to two guests in the room. 3rd and 4th guests pay an additional $20 each per night.

The Hilton Burbank Airport is a pet-friendly hotel. Contact them directly for their specific policies so you might not have to leave your pets at home.

(read on...)

ConFurence 2003: The Furry West may be the 15th year of our convention, but it is full of things never before tried at ConFurence:

(Read on...)

Our Guests of Honor at ConFurence 2003: The Furry West include the popular artist: Dark Natasha, the incredible fantasy artist: Theresa Mather, anthropomorphic sculptor and long-time fan Ruben Avila, popular filksinger, Leslie Fish, and popular artist, Roy D. Pounds. Rounding up our guest lineup is the one and only Omaha Sternberg, and Comic Book Artist Joe Staton!

But we didn't stop there! Also Appearing are several notable guests who are interested in attending panels, night events, or setting up a table in the Dealer's Room:

We just got permission to announce: Joining us at ConFurence 2003 will be CHARLES ZEMBILLAS.
(Who?)
Charles is the founder of The Animation Academy, a school for aspiring animators and cartoonists in Burbank. Previously, Mr. Z worked as a game designer for Sony -- where he designed the characters of Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Jak & Daxter.

You must reserve your hotel room for CF2003 before February 15, 2003 if you intend to sign up for the Furry West Homestead Act of ConFurence 2003.

"Furry West Homesteaders" (Up to 4 in each hotel room) get free memberships to the convention, in addition to some of the same benefits that Sponsors of the convention will receive. This includes getting into the Art Show a full hour before anyone else is permitted to enter.

I wish, oh I *REALLY* wish I could tell you who just accepted to be a guest at ConFurence 2003... However, due to contractual obligations, he would have to jump through legal hoops and we would end up getting buried in paperwork before being able to make any kind of announcement of his being a guest at any public function.

However, I *CAN* tell you that he is the Director of one of the anthropomorphic Motion Pictures nominated to receive this year's Ursa Major Award and he will be at ConFurence 2003: The Furry West as our surprise Guest of Honor!!!

This year's Ursa Major nominees for best Anthropomorphic motion picture are:
* Ice Age
* Spirit: Stallion of the Cimaron
* Spirited Away
* Lilo & Stitch
* Stuart Little 2

We just *can't* tell you who it is before the convention, but he is the director of one of the above films.

Darrel L. Exline
Director, The ConFurence Group
Chairman, ConFurence 2003: The Furry West

It's called the Furry West Homesteader Act of ConFurence 2003, and it means FREE MEMBERSHIPS to those who participate.

All it takes is to reserve your hotel room at the Hilton before February 15, and you and your roomates (up to 4 per room) can get FREE MEMBERSHIPS to ConFurence 2003: The Furry West. You can also phone the Hilton at 818-843-6000 during business hours.

CF2003 takes place on April 25-27 at the Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center in Burbank, California (northern Los Angeles County). If making reservations online, use the 3-letter event code "COC" to get the correct rates ($102 standard, $135 Suites, extra $20 for 3rd and 4th guests per room)

Remember: Your reservations need to be made BEFORE February 15, and you need to send in the Homesteader Act form (PDF Format) by March 1 (Pre-registration deadline) to claim your free memberships.

More information is online at confurence.net/cf2003

The Progress Report mailing just went out yesterday and today. If you were a member of CF2002 or pre-registered for CF2003, watch your mailbox for a large envelope.

Why is it so large? Because to save money on postage, we inserted the InFurNation newsletter (published by the folx at furrystuff.com) into the envelopes being used for our own mailing.

The ConFurence Group purchases InFurNation subscriptions for members of ConFurence as a benefit of membership, but since funds were low on their end, it worked out better that ConFurence paid for the shipping instead of for subscriptions.

Dealers and Artists: All the mailings included both the information packets for Dealers and Artists in them. Information on getting a Dealer's Room table, Space in the Artshow, or submitting artwork or advertising in this year's Souvenir Program book are all included in the mailing.

Southwest Airlines has been named the official airline for ConFurence 2003: "The Furry West".

When flying Southwest into any of the 4 major airports in the area, use our "Nogotiated Corporate Rate code" of J8534 and you will receive a 10% discount off Southwest's already low airfare.

The ConFurence Group is proud to announce The Furry West Homestead Act of CF2003.

In keeping with ConFurence 2003's "The Furry West" theme, people who stake their land claim early (ie: reserve a hotel room for ConFurence by February 15, 2003) can get free memberships to the convention for themselves and up to 3 of their roomates.