2011 SpoCon Election Forum

Fellow ConCom,

I have been nominated for both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions for SpoCon 2011. I really appreciate all of the support and confidence shown by the nomination for the Chair position by our sitting Con Chair, David Morris, as well as the nomination for the Vice-Chair positions and the vote to allow me as a candidate for the Chair position even though I have not previously held a Department Head position. With that said I feel that it would be in the best interest of SpoCon and the 2011 convention that I formally withdraw my candidacy for the Chair position and apply my full attention on the Vice-Chair position for SpoCon 2011.

Some of you have known me for many years, some for just a few years, and some of you have never really met me other than across the ConCom meeting table so I would like to take a little time to go over some of my activities and qualifications for being the Vice-Chair for 2011. For SpoCon 2008 and 2009, I was not a member of the ConCom but attended as a regular convention attendee, yet even though I was not an official volunteer, I did assist in the break down for both conventions. I officially became a ConCom member this past fall as well as a Director on the Board. The flexibility of my business schedule allows me to participate in various SpoCon activities. Since becoming a part of ConCom, I have attended and/or assisted with several SpoCon related activities such as the Evening with the Dead Gentlemen, Game Day, helping in the formation of the by-laws for SpoCon as a participant of that sub-committee and most recently I have been elected to the Vice-Chair position after unforeseen circumstances left that position vacant. As part of my Vice-Chair duties, because there are several departments without Department Heads, I am overseeing the Operations department for SpoCon 2010.

In addition to my activities for SpoCon, I have been a volunteer for GameCon. I am also an officer for Toastmasters, another non-profit organization, where I am the current Vice President of Education for the SNIT Toastmasters club in Coeur d’Alene and have been the Sergeant at Arms for the past two years for that club. I was the chairman for the by-laws sub-committee for FAN Foundation for which I received a Certificate of Merit and in the community I have and do volunteer many hours at the Gamer’s Haven store in Post Falls.

I feel that my participation in FAN Foundation, Toastmasters, and SpoCon in particular give me practical experience in coordinating resources, heading committees and running meetings as well as a thorough understanding of the SpoCon organization and the rules it runs under. I am proud to be the Vice-Chair for SpoCon 2010 and I look forward to the opportunity to serve in that capacity for a full year term for the SpoCon 2011 convention.

SpoCon ConCom,
I have been nominated to be Vice Chair for 2011 and I would love to take this position on. I am supposed to post all my qualifications on this forum, so that you all have a better idea on who you would like to vote for. I would hope that my prior work with the con would have spoken for myself more than anything I can put here.
I have only been with the con since last July, but in that time I feel that I have accomplished many things. I have missed only one official concom meeting, sorry I was in the hospital having a baby. I have also helped write the bylaws, volunteered whenever I could, helped in registration for GameCon, and ran hospitality for game day. This year I have been the logistics head, while doing so I have implemented a new way of keeping track of inventory, and worked on many other smaller projects for the convention. There are many other parts of the convention that I have helped on, and am up for a job where I can do more. I have tried to get to know everyone on the concom, so you know me and my drive to get things done when they are needed. I have also made many contacts by going to other conventions and making new friends.
I have been on the board of FAN Foundation since September. At this time I am the secretary of the board. During this last year I have written the code of conduct, dealt with the all the state paper work, ran meetings, helped bring GameCon Spokane on the FAN Foundation and am now working on the IRS 501(c)3 status. I was just given a certificate of merit for superior dedication to the duties of my office.
I have just graduated SCC with an A.A.S in general business and another in accounting. I have been a mother for five years, and though that experience I am used to jumping through hoops and organizing people, making sure that everything is where it is needed and there on time. Before I was in school I worked in customer service and understand that end of our convention and feel really comfortable talking with new people. I feel that the experience I have will benefit the convention and help me in the position of vice chair.
I want to make sure if I am elected to vice chair that I am not just a figure head, that I will be able to help and do the work that is needed. The plan I want to go forward with is getting the concom to communicate and work together better. The concom is divided and we need to unify to bring 2011 about. I will do this by making sure that meetings are places where things get done, and that the forums are being used to their full potential. I want to make sure that all our customers are heard, and we are serving them in the best way that we can. We are going to have to move our concom meetings and finding a place that will fit us all, and quiet enough, will be on the top of my priority list.
2011 is a decisive year for us. There are many decisions that need to be made and those need to be made in a timely manner. Not only is 2011 the year that we move to a new facility, but it’s also the year that we show the rest of the world that we are here to stay. This next year is going to be stressful and have many problems that will need to be worked on. I work well in stressful situations and know that I can help with the 2011 move. My plan is to facilitate this by becoming your vice chair and helping the chair bring their vision about. I think my tract record has shown what I am capable of, and I am hoping that you all let me show you what I can do as Vice Chair.

Chad I believe that you have to be in attendance to vote. We did not put in any stipulations into the By-Laws for voting in abstensia. In fact I believe we made it specific that you had to attend to vote...in order to head off problems that we foresaw.

Like Chad, I will not be able to attend this next meeting (the sheriff's office calls it 'mandatory overtime,' I call it taking over your life,) and I will not be able to cast my vote.