2011 Charity Proposal: Toonseum
Around this time of year, Anthrocon usually solicits for suggestions as to which organization we should support for the coming convention. Candidates are normally restricted to those that help animals, and we've supported fourteen excellent groups since 1997, raising more than $100,000 to help cats, dogs, birds, wild animals, and organizations that utilize animals to help humans. This year, we'd like to step outside the box to support a different type of institution.
The Toonseum (http://www.toonseum.org/) in Pittsburgh has been a huge cheerleader for our convention and community, and has served as a vital link between Anthrocon and the commercial and tourism side of the city. For several years, they've contributed to both our Art Show and Dealers' Room, provided programming for our schedule by bringing in professional cartoonists and animators, held special events and displays at their facility timed specifically to correspond with our year's theming, have given us opportunities at guests of honor that would otherwise be beyond our reach, and are looking into the possibility of hosting costuming events with us in mind in the future. Within the last year, they moved their facility from several blocks away to right across the street from the convention center. And they recently became accredited as a 501(c)3, partly in hopes that we might be able to help them in return. We feel that supporting the Toonseum in this way would help cement our relationship, promote a worthwhile museum that shares our interests, and raise our community profile in Pittsburgh.
Anthrocon is, of course, fueled by its attendees, and we cannot be successful in our endeavors if they do not have support. We understand that some may have reservations about supporting an institution that advances animals in cartoon artwork rather than actual animals or service animals. So we'd like to find out if selecting the Toonseum as our charity this coming year is something you, as a group, could get behind.
Please let us know in comments if you feel that the Toonseum is a choice for charitable contribution that you would be willing to support for 2011. This is not an individual commitment to financially contribute, but rather a consensus that the selection is agreeable. If you do not feel that this is where Anthrocon's charitable funds should be directed, please recommend a preferred alternative that better adheres to our original ruleset (http://www.anthrocon.org/node/4618/charity-suggestions-2010-edition). If there is significant pushback against the idea, we will consider other candidates. We will announce the selected charity in the traditional December/January timeframe.
Thank you,
- Brian Harris (Rigel)
Anthrocon Charity Director
I like this idea a lot. After all cartoon animals and artwork make a pretty big portion of the fandom, and i think it's only right to support organizations like toonseum.
I think it's a good idea in keeping with the con, but at the same time I don't feel like it's a 'real' charity if you get my drift. It feels good to do something that helps real animals in danger, or real people. This is really not going to HELP anyone who needs it, if you follow. Not saying the toonseum doesn't need money, but.
Another whole-hearted endorsement! I'm especially pleased to hear of the good relationship AC has forged with the Toonseum.
Hi! This is Jim Martin. I was one of your 2010 Anthrocon Guests of Honor. Most of you know that I am a big supporter of the Toonseum, but I agree that Protocollie makes an excellent point. However, what you may not know is that the Toonseum does not operate solely as a museum of cartoon art. The Toonseum does offer many programs that do help people and the community. For example, during their "Dog Days of Summer" exhibit this past summer, the Toonseum had local Animal Shelters bring in shelter dogs that were up for adoption and held a fundraising event where artists and cartoonists would draw a portrait of your own pet with all proceeds going to the local animal shelters. Since animated animals make up a large portion of the cartoons and comics we all love, this sort of event will surely happen again and again.
So while supporting the Toonseum does not directly help real animals in danger, you will be supporting an organization that supports those kinds of organizations. Additionally, as Rigel stated, you will helping a young not-for-profit group that is supportive of Anthrocon and its fans, as well as a museum that helps to promote and preserve the animals in cartoon artwork that many of you enjoy.
Thank you for letting me take the time to explain more fully what the Toonseum does. The Toonseum would not exist without the support of people like you. Thank you, too, for considering the Toonseum as a possible recipient of your charitable contributions.
Knowing this, I feel better. As much as I love cartoons and all that, I really do like to know that the money's not just going to something we enjoy, but that it will actually improve quality of life for someone (furry or not.)
No, thank YOU for joining us in order to explain this! I wholeheartedly agree with the Toonseum being our Charity.
I'm feeling pretty ambivalent on the subjec, myself; i love the ideqa of supporting a group that's done so much to support us, but i also really love the idea of focusing our efforts towards caring for animals, be they homeless pets or wildlife. Then again, my budget is pretty limited, so i don't know that i'd be bidding on anything either way. Whatever folks decide, i'll be happy.
If the end result is that folks come out pretty evenly divided, another possibility would be to look into a companion cause to split the proceeds, either a very small local animal shelter that might be overwhelmed by our full donation or some little organization based in ohio or new jersey (since organizations are still very close, but aren't usually elligible because they're not quite local enough). Just a wild notion, and one that we probably have really good reasons for not doing before now. 
Personally, I think it's a brilliant idea. The Toonseum promotes an artform that shaped a good amount of our childhoods. Most furries I know have been heavily influenced by comics and cartoons, and that history should be preserved.
The various charities are well deserving, but no more deserving than anything else. I say let the Toonseum be the charity next year.
An organisation certainly doesn't have to be directly helping animals to be worthy of consideration, only that it is acting in a manner beneficial to the furry community. I say that the Toonseum would be an acceptable beneficiary of Anthrocon's charity.
I support that choice as a worthy charity
I believe Jim Martin has said it all.
It's a charity that helps other charities (the types we support), and it's a charity that directly supports
a medium we all care about. It isn't JUST about "this is good for AnthroCon" (which it IS), but also
about supporting a worthy charity.
Do you guys support S.O.C.K.S? I see them around here all the time.
I am unfamilair with that group. Can you provide us with their website?
Personally I think it is a good idea, and its not like can't donate our own money to animal charities outside of anthrocon, right?
SO RAD! I'll definitely submit an auction item to support this charity! As much as I love animals and support shelters (my own dog is a shelter critter and he's the best dog in the world 
) along with natural habitats, the Toonseum is totally worthy. A most excellent suggestion, Rigel!
Considering one of the curators/sponsors was our GOH last year, I think it's rather fitting. Maybe he'll come back because of it.
I like the idea!
Can't really go wrong with something that supports comics, animals and furries!
A hearty YES from me!
Cartoons are a crucial part of my life--correction, they are my life. I would not have a job if it wasn't for my love of animation, sequential arts and the like. I've worked as a graphic designer, cartoonist, illustrator and teacher, teaching kids from ages 5-18 about cartooning and bringing ideas to life through art. And through that love, I found the furry fandom and saw that I wasn't the only "crazy" person that loved to draw animal people!
When I first heard that the Toonseum was now across the street from Anthrocon, I jumped for sheer joy knowing the fact that one of the places I've always wanted to visit would be right there for me to enjoy along with the convention...double bonus!
I've read some of the replies of people on other places that disagree with the possible choice. Think about it, guys...how many of you have toony characters that represent you? How many people were introduce to the fandom through Looney Tunes? Robin Hood? The Lion King? Balto? Where would many of your fursonas be if you didn't have someone to bring your character into reality just with a few pencil strokes?
Honestly, when I read those comments I felt a little personal stab. Are we a group of people that like to parade as fantastic creatures, yet shrivel at the idea of supporting the abilities that brought us here in the first place? With the hundreds of thousands of dollars AC has helped to raise for various animal organizations over the years, I think that it's only fair to give to the artistic endeavors that allow our inners selves to become our outer selves, if only for a few days out of the year.
Wow, didn't expect to go on like that and I really hope that this doesn't read as a rant, but animation/cartooning/sequentials are subjects that are near and dear to me. I'm planning for AC 2011, and if the Toonseum gets to be the charity of choice, then you can definitely expect me to be there in full support. Thank you for reading.
*Gets off of soapbox*
I like the idea and support it.
I also would like to toss out the idea that if you think that not all people will get behind it then do two of them. One like Toonseum that helps people and animals indirectly and do one that helps animals directly like a shelter. I know that no one would get as much but something is better then nothing.
I thought of this cause isn't a furry an animal with human traits? I mean two things make a furry why not have a con that supports two things?
Just thought I'd toss the idea out there, I'm fine with Toonseum just so you know
We long ago decided against trying to support more than one charity each year. The notion of having two charities compete, of having people tell us, "I want my money to go to this charity and not the other" just doesn't sit well with us. Besides, with multiple charities it dilutes the amount each one gets.
Ok then I'll vote for Toonseum
I don't have strong feelings for or against them as this year's charity, but I do about the following. My apologies if I should've either made it a separate thread, or waited till the call for donations.
Quoting from Rigel's LJ
About 1/6th of the raffle items never got picked up, so that means we have to lug them back home. Normally they'd be back in the raffle earning more money next year, but some of them didn't even garner ten tickets, so those will have to be discarded in order to make room for other items that will.
If I were a donor or had put tickets on the items, this would upset me 
Is there a way, if they're not picked by xxx time, to either:
1. Return them to the donor, or
2. Draw two tickets for each item, the second as a "back-up" winner who can claim the item if the first winner doesn't by the deadline. I realize this'll require a second deadline, after which the item is either returned to the donor or discarded.
I'm not trying to create drama or a flame war, discourage donors, or cast aspersions on Rigel's handling of the charity auction/raffle, but hopefully we can come up with a process that's fair to the donors, the "bidders" (raffle-ees?), and the staff...
I've got a couple of Adam Raccoon books I'm considering donating, but if there's a chance they'll end up being tossed because they didn't get enough tickets, I might better put them on ebay or something
When you donate an item to a cause, that item is no longer yours. When you donate old clothes to a shelter, you do not get them back if they do not find a new owner. If you donate your appliances to Goodwill, you will not get them returned if they are too shabby to find a new owner. If you donate your car to Purple Heart, you will not get it back if it does not run. It is a common-sense policy that has already been established as fair in practice, and our project works the same way. If you feel that there is a risk that your item will not garner ten tickets, then it may not be a wise donation.
The deadline to pick up items is at the end of the convention, when the Dealers' Room closes and all business must be vacated from the room. People are claiming items right up to the very last second, with the Dorsai dragging them out by their badges. So it is not possible to put forth a second deadline for another set of supplemental winners.
I'm sorry if these policies discourage you from donating.
First to note on the choice of Charity Recipient:
Jim Martin huge supporter of said proposed Charity the Toonseum and last years Guest of Honor gets my support as well in believing it is a valid and worthy cause. I also support Rigel's inkling to "think outside the box" this year. I've assisted him and Xydexx in somewhat-recent years at the Charity tables and to have the good sense to think "this is a year we could switch gears" doesn't mean that even looking to 2012 we may go back to the standard animal rescue/shelter/assisting living types of charities. The only thing we may 'miss out on' is the cuuuuuuUute puppies and kitties and birds and snakes and.. whatever else has 'shown up' in live display in years past.
Second to note on raffle items/events unclaimed:
Again, working in past years with Rigel I witnessed first hand some of the decisions that are 'tough but unfortunate' and 'necessary' when it comes to unclaimed raffle wins. It's not meant as a snub or intended to devalue any donated prize. Someone simply didn't care enough to claim their win and it's tricky and (frankly unreasonable) to a.) try to track the winner down or b.) return it to original donor/owner. Kage said it well also that unclaimed items have gone to the chosen charity to have for extra raffle/fundraisers of their own for future events for themselves.
I think it's an outstanding idea.