Introductions first,
Hello my Name is Kenton Cook I am 21 years old, I have been working for the convention for 3 years and going to the convention for 5. Most of you have probably seen or heard me running about the convention as Floor Manager last year. I have almost ran for ops last year but felt that due to my personal life at the time I could not put forth the proper time nor effort needed for this position. However, this year I feel that I could do the con proud.
Apologies second,
I know it has taken me a while to post and for this I apologize but I was doing 2 things that I feel are very important for someone to do if they plan to run the Operations of a convention our size, Researching and Communicating.
Also I would like to apologize for the length that the following post may take due to the many questions that have been asked and the collective answers.
Now down to business.
As for my favorite Pocky flavor I would have to say… Pocky. I mean seriously how can I choose? ANYWAY, now for the coating on that crunchy schtick.
To keep things simple I will do this in chronological order:
How will you try to make sure Tech continues to evolve and make sure it is used most efficiently before and during the con?
By communicating with those in charge of tech and those in charge of Programming. When it comes down to it the problem that most often comes up is that Tech is one of those babies that shows up at an orphanage but 2 parent couples claim that it is theirs. But I feel that by talking with the techs themselves and maybe even setting up a managerial position in that department. However one thing that needs to be clear is that who will run Tech is truly up to the new board to decide, because even Liaisons helped run Main Events this last year. Also one of the other huge concerns is that staff has always been short when it comes to inventory, setup, and tear down of all the general equipment that is involved with Kumoricon. Therefore I plan to take up with the board about possibly creating 3 or more new positions within either Operations or Programming that will help with Inventory, Set up, and Tear Down. Of course 1 of the positions being inventory, and 2 of them being both set up and tear down. This way we will have staff whose job it is to help us move equipment back into the locker. There has already been talk of creating a quartermaster position within the staff forums for those who don’t already know. This is all still under much debate and I do not plan on taking any action on it without first consulting the board and all those previously involved with the Tech area.
Are you now, or do you plan to be a director or manager of another convention where your term will overlap with your term as a Kcon director?
I am not, and do not plan to be a director nor manager of any other convention what so ever. If I am Director of Kumoricon then my time and effort are to be poured into Kumoricon and no other convention.
How difficult / long of a commute is it for the nominees to make it to a portland meeting?
I live in Beaverton OR, and am 15 minutes walking from a major transit center. I do have a vehicle I use from time to time, but even if I am trimet bound I can be downtown in little over an hour. Most often I get downtown in 20 mins.
Nominees:
What would you personally think would be among the best suggestions for remedying the obvious difficulties with both pre-reg and at-con reg processes?
First off, for how wrong some things went, I want to thank and congratulate the entire registration team. Even in the face of the difficulties they stood tall and took on the horde of 4,470 con attendees, all without computers and still made it as pleasant as possible. Also many thanks to the maid squad for assisting with the lines and making sure that they were kept happy/organized throughout the con.
Now, as for the issues, No one knows them better than the actual Registration team, thankfully I have been able to sit down and talk with quite a few of them. But most of all I have been able to speak of plans they have and what will help them most in the coming years. Thanks to this information I have derived that I would like to announce that if elected I will be appointing Rachael Kirkland as my registration manager. She has some great Ideas as far as making sure that things go smoothly. Some of which include: Posting at con registration hours both online and at the convention, Posting a FAQ for registration concerns so that some situations can be dealt with and not having the con-goers e-mailing reg staff with the same questions on a constant basis, keeping a database with all past, present, and future Registration to keep it all organized and available. Lastly, thanks to Dawn Hewitt and her vast knowledge of cons, scratching the whole lanyard idea for a more efficient and cheap printed badge holders. That way con goers will no longer have to stress about the lanyards for their cosplays, and Staff wont have to bother authenticating a checked-in attendee. Also making sure that people have read through the con rules that they agree to at time of registration by having their be check boxes on both registration forms and the online registration.
Is making those changes the domain of the Ops director? Or is there someone else (perhaps the Chair or the entire Board) who would have to approve certain things, e.g.,: Adding new Coordinator positions; changing who has access to software and/or email? If software and email aspects are, say, presently under Publicity, is there someone who could facilitate things such an Ops Liason to Publicity (the way that Beau was Jaki's Liason to Ops)? Ditto with Signage and Relations?
Some of the things I have mentioned do need to be taken up with the board of directors. But most of the normal registration is taken care of by the registration manager. I already know I can count on Rachael to communicate well with other sources, and to ask for help when she needs it. But as far as decisions go, this is why Communication is the key focus for me this year. Without Communication this con will fall. I plan on meeting with all former directors and managers of all departments to see where they feel Operations can improve, and try to improve on what seems to be the key factor in making this year a successful year for operations. One last thing I would like to ad, whether or not I am appointed to the position of Director of Operations, I will share all information that I have learned and share it with whomever may be placed in said position so as to assure that communication and history are learned from and not forgotten.
Do you have any new ideas for registration?
I do but I am sure to collaborate all my thoughts and efforts with Rachael to make sure that she approves of the methods and ideas in which I go about doing them. Also as previously mentioned, Planning lots and lots of it, cause if things run smooth before con, they might run smooth during.
Do you have any new ideas for yojimbo management?
Yea, Separate and Dominate. Now I am not suggesting that yojimbo not be part of operations, cause that’s just crazy talk. However, Yojimbo will become a more clean cut grouping, I want my Yojimbo managers to be able to operate with me maybe stopping in to say 'hi, how is it going.' I would be first and foremost Operations Director, to direct, not manage my departments. As with every other department, I want there to be a plan, with a back-up plan, with a back-up plan for the back-up plan. That way the only time people need to come to me is if either there is no plan for a situation or that everything has gone wrong and I need to step in. Now with that said, I have some ideas that may help yojimbo become more organized, so that by the beginning of spring I may not need worry about that department. Such as a small test in which all yojimbo must pass in order to become yojimbo this year, a written test, but one that shows they at least understand the policies of being yojimbo before they are allowed to wear the yojimbo colors or the like. Also more concentration on teaching the first years and the inexperienced yojimbo so that veterans can concentrate on being ready by time of con, we need all the help we can get this year, but if it isn’t good help, then it is not helping.
How quickly could you adjust your schedule to attend a board meeting? Less to do with Ops, just a general nominee question.
Very quickly, and even if I cannot get the time off work, that is what having an Assistant is for.
