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| − | {{Infobox convention
| + | '''YIFF IN HELL FURFAGS''' |
| − | | name = AnthroExpo
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| − | | logo = [[File:AnthroExpo2020.png0|250px|AnthroExpo]]
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| − | | subject = Furry
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| − | |location = {{flagdiv|usa|[[Wikipedia:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|Oklahoma City]], [[Wikipedia:Oklahoma|Oklahoma]], [[Wikipedia:USA|USA]]}}
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| − | | url = https://www.anthroexpo.net
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| − | | status = Ongoing
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| − | | first = January 31st - February 2nd, 2020
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| − | | current = January 21st - 23rd, 2022
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| − | |organizer = [[Our Way Oklahoma]], LLC
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| − | | previous charity partners = [http://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/ 2020 Charity Partner: Wildcare], [https://naacp.org/empowerment-programs 2020 Virtual Charity Partner: NAACP Empowerment Programs, [http://www.asianmhc.org/ 2021 Virtual Charity Partner: Asian Mental Health Collective], 2022 Charity Partner TBA
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| − | }}
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| − | {{Template:AnthroExpo}}
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| − | '''AnthroExpo''' (also known as '''AnEx''') is a hotel-based [[furry convention]] that takes place at the [https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/okcsi-sheraton-oklahoma-city-downtown-hotel/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2/ Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown] in [[Wikipedia:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]. | + | |
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| − | The aim of AnthroExpo is to provide a welcoming place for fandoms in Oklahoma and regionally, to promote dealers and artists alike, and to bring about a renewed sense of community for furries.
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| − | From thier official Website's Mission & Goals Page<ref name="Missions and Goals">[https://www.anthroexpo.net/mission-goals From their official website] Retrieved May 24th, 2021</ref>
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | ''Our Way is a socially constructive goal to make change happen for the better, with high regard for respect, transparency, and the common welfare. It’s our mission to always endorse the good that members of this rapidly growing community have to offer. OWO is not just a company that operates a convention, and none of us work for a profit. Our team strives to innovate, educate, and inspire the furry fandom and beyond with positive leadership. We wouldn’t do it any other way.''
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | | + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | ''Oklahoma is at the heart of the nation. Furthermore, this is our home and we’d like to give back to it as much as it’s given to us. Our state boasts a rich culture and a pioneering spirit that has made many of our company founders and staff into the outstanding people they are today. “It’s an Oklahoma thing,” a standard of courtesy and respect that makes us stronger together. There’s a vibrant local furry community here that we want to give a home to through meets, conventions, and charity work. Recreationally, Oklahoma City has experienced much growth and expansion over the last decade, and it’s about time we followed in (fur)suit.''
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | | + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | *'''As of 2021, AnthroExpo took on the moniker of "Fandom" convention, aiming to bring a combined focus of fandoms to enjoy the convention.'''
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | | + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | ==[[Wikipedia:Kickstarter|Kickstarter]]==
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | AnthroExpo began their [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bresama/anthroexpo-oklahomas-premier-hotel-fur-con/description/ Kickstarter] on November 9th, 2018, with an all-or-nothing goal of $2500. It has since completed its goal, earning a total of $8401.
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | | + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | ==[[Guests of Honor]]==
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | 2020
| + | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R6BcdYGzRk&t=6s |
| − | * [[AuroraBloom]] [http://twitter.com/aurorabloomm]
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| − | * [[Sub-Level 03]] [https://twitter.com/sl0tweet]
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| − | 2021
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| − | * [[Coopertom]] [https://twitter.com/thecoopertom]
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| − | 2022
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| − | * [[SBGothik]] [https://twitter.com/SBGothik_Arts]
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| − | * [[Chise]] [https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout]
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| − | == Charity Support ==
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| − | AnthroExpo previously supported [http://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/ Wildcare], a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of wildlife [[Wikipedia:Noble, Oklahoma|Noble, Oklahoma]], as the convention's official charity partner for 2019-2020.
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| − | On June 9th, 2019, they held their first official fundraising effort for WildCare - a "Charity Auction Picnic" At Mitch Park in Edmond, OK. The event welcomed roughly 40 visitors and raised $750 over four hours.<ref name="ANEXCAP2020">[https://www.facebook.com/AnthroExpo/posts/1348931518607023 Charity Auction Picnic stats]. Retrieved June 9th, 2019.</ref>
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| − | In June 2020, AnthroExpo staff hosted a virtual charity drive over Twitch to raise money for the [https://naacp.org/empowerment-programs/ NAACP Empowerment programs]. It was announced on June 26th that their streams raised a total of $2,260 for this cause.<ref name="NAACPDrivestats">[https://www.facebook.com/AnthroExpo/posts/1704138553086316 NAACP Charity Streams Stats]. Retrieved June 26th, 2020.</ref>
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| − | In April 2021, AnthroExpo hosted an Online "Virtual" convention via multiple platforms to raise money for the [https://asianmhc.org/ Asian Mental Health Collective]. The total raised from this event from April 10th to 11th was $1,500.
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| − | In January 2022, AnthroExpo's charity partner was [https://www.sisuyouth.org/ Sisu Youth Services], a non-profit organization which provides overnight shelter, clothing, hot meals, and case management to Oklahoma City's LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness, ages 15-24. The total raised during the convention from January 21st to 23rd was $7,777.
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| − | ==Themes and Attendance==
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| − | * 2020: Retro Renegades - 607 attendees, 150 fursuiters, with $7,503 raised for charity. <ref>[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1224208211256979459 AnthroExpo 2020 By The Numbers] by @AnthroExpo. Retrieved February 2, 2020.</ref>
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| − | * 2021: AnEx Online: Shipwrecked - 772 attendees, 239 Peak Viewers on Twitch, 79 VR Chat Users, 43 Minecraft Users. Reported from Convention Executives to this article directly.
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| − | * 2022: CasinOWO Royale - 669 attendees, 74 fursuiters (with the parade hosted Sunday), with $7,777 raised for charity. <ref>[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1485403929487753220 AnthroExpo 2022 By The Numbers] by @AnthroExpo. Retrieved January 27, 2022.</ref>
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| − | ==[[Mascots]]==
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| − | The official mascots for AnthroExpo are Andrea the scissortail flycatcher, which is also the state bird of Oklahoma, and Exavier the prairie dog. They are featured on official artwork, including the website, and eventual merchandise.
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| − | ==[[Staff]]==
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| − | Staff for AnthroExpo can be viewed [https://www.anthroexpo.net/staff on the Convention Website linked here].
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| − | == 2018 == | + | |
| − | [[File:Expollc.jpg|right|frame|AnthroExpo's initial logo indicating a proposed 2019 event. The LLC was itself was mentioned in the 2018 Kickstarter.]]
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| − | On Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 the convention announced their official dates and venue location while simultaneously opening pre-registration through their website. AnthroExpo at this time was scheduled to be held on October 18-20th, 2019 at the Wyndham Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK.<ref name="homepage">[https://www.anthroexpo.net/ AnthroExpo website homepage]. Retrieved November 28th, 2018.</ref>
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| − | The convention announced on December 10th, 2018 their online room block access.<ref name="roomblock">[https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/groups/hr/anthro-expo-2019 AnthroExpo Hotel Roomblock]. Retrieved December 14th, 2018.</ref>
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| − | == 2019 == | + | |
| − | On January 30th, 2019 the convention announced that they would be postponing their originally planned convention dates from 2019 to 2020. Of the factors behind this decision, one included the forced removal of an unnamed major organizer and backer for the con, who was quickly ousted from staff due to probable misconduct involving minors. The second was the announcement of a second hotel-based convention in Oklahoma, who had recently proposed their dates to be two months ahead of AnthroExpo's scheduled debut. <ref name="2019 cancellation">[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1090786508842254341 2019 Cancellation Statement]. Retrieved January 31st, 2019.</ref>
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| − | On March 11th, 2019, the new dates for the convention were announced for January 31st - February 2nd, 2020. The convention was set to take place at the Wyndham Hotel, which was said to be undergoing large-scale renovations at the time.
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| − | On New Years' Eve of 2019, convention chairs were made aware that their hotel venue would not be open during the con dates due to incomplete renovations. Their hotel contract and booking list were transferred to the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown.
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| − | == 2020 ==
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| − | On January 2nd, 2020, the convention announced that AnthroExpo's venue had changed to the Sheraton Downtown Oklahoma City near Bricktown.
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| − | Over the weekend of January 31st - February 2nd, AnthroExpo: Retro Renegades saw 607 attendees, 150 fursuiters and $6,003.63 was raised for WildCare Oklahoma by attendees. OWO LLC donated a company match of $1500, raising the combined weekend total to $7503.63.<ref name="2020Stats">[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1224208211256979459 Stats for 2020]. Retrieved April 17th, 2020.</ref>
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| − | == Pandemic Response ==
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| − | AnthroExpo announced registration and Dealer's Den Applications for its 2021 convention "CasinOWO Royale" on February 26th, 2020, before major event cancellations began taking place in the United States.
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| − | After months-long discussion with the venue and a formal vote by its Board of Directors, the convention announced on October 9th, 2020 that it would postpone its second iteration from 2021, announcing its new dates for January 21st - 23rd, 2022. <ref name="2020Postponement">[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1314664449664409601?s=20 2020 Covid Postponement Letter]. Retrieved October 9, 2020.</ref>
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| − | Going into 2021, convention leadership announced a formal virtual convention and that work on a 2022 physical convention was still in the works, and as of May 24th, 2021 hotel booking and pre-registration is open for the physical convention to proceed. Convention leaders continue to review updates to CDC guidelines and local/state guidelines to ensure proper procedures are in place for the safety of attendees for the 2022 event.
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| − | == 2021 ==
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| − | It was formally revealed in January of 2021 that AnthroExpo would host a Virtual Convention. AnEx Online: Shipwrecked! was marked for the weekend of April 10 & 11, 2021. <ref name="Vcon Announcement">[https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1346128320367357955?s=20 Virtual Convention Announcement]. Retrieved March 11th, 2021.</ref>
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| − | AnthroExpo announced the opening of their Hotel Block for their hotel after the virtual convention concluded. <ref name="Hotel Block 2022"> [https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1381630688370307078?s=20 Hotel Block Announcement]. Retrieved May 24th, 2021.</ref>
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| − | The convention announced the opening of Pre-Registration for their 2022 convention on May 7th, 2021. <ref name="Pre Reg 2022"> [https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo/status/1390667736838074369?s=20 Pre-Registration Announcement]. Retrieved May 24th, 2021.</ref>
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| − | == References ==
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| − | <references />
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [https://www.anthroexpo.net/ AnthroExpo] - Official Website
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| − | * [https://twitter.com/AnthroExpo AnthroExpo] on [[Twitter]]
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| − | * [https://instagram.com/AnthroExpo AnthroExpo] on [[Instagram]]
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| − | * [https://www.facebook.com/AnthroExpo/ AnthroExpo] on [[Facebook]]
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| − | {{Conventions}}
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| − | [[Category:Conventions]]
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| − | [[Category:Oklahoma]]
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| − | [[Category:2020 births]]
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