Announcing Rising ConFusion’s COVID-19 Policies and message from our Chair.

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Hello the Peoples of the Rising ConFusion Community. 

As Chair, I have an important COVID-19 policy announcement for anyone within our community that intends to purchase a 2022 Membership Badge. Before delving into the facts of the Policy itself, I ask for your cooperation by reading this announcement through its entirety, please. 

First: We have been listening! Myself, members of the ConCom, as well as the AASFA Board of Directors have been paying close attention to every community member offering their thoughts or requests, regarding the idea of requiring Proof of Vaccination and Mask requirements in order to attend Rising ConFusion. 

I ask all of us to be considerate and respectful of our fellow community members’ thoughts regarding the topic. Policies regarding COVID-19 safety are charged with opinions and concerns. Despite that, there is a need for Rising ConFusion to definitively set policies, and this announcement is to do just that. 

Second: I have been working with the County Health Department, as well as seeking guidance from Michigan State, and the CDC. In the coming weeks we will be including a dedicated resource page on our website, which will provide our membership with links to various places such as testing facilities, the Michigan COVID Track APP, and other important COVID-19 Health resources. 

Our goal with the COVID-19 Policies is to continue our objective of being a welcoming, safe, supportive membership environment, while honoring our responsibility as planners of the event to ensure that we do everything within our capabilities to provide as much safety to our membership as is possible. 

Third: I am aware that decisions made may not be the decision that you, as an individual, wanted. It is frustrating to be unable to find solutions to hosting an event during a pandemic that every community member would agree to. At no point do we want anyone to feel ostracized, unheard, or pushed out in some manner. 

My approach to this was simple; listen to community members as they spoke, educate myself on the local/state laws and guidelines, while seeking guidance from the appropriate places such as our local county Health Department, the Michigan State Health Department and the CDC. 

To that end, I believe we’ve constructed our policies in a manner that is as inclusive as possible to every community member that wants to attend Rising ConFusion. 

We are aware that some community members have already pre-registered to attend, prior to these policies being announced. We will be emailing every pre-registered member this week, with instructions on how to apply for a refund of their pre-registration, should that be the best for them. Refunds will only be issued to pre-registrations dated from Nov 10, to Nov 15, 2022 and only available until January 1st, 2022. 

On to the Rising ConFusion 2022 COVID-19 Policies. You can locate this policy at anytime on here.

2022 Mask Mandate and Proof of Vaccination or Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Policies

For over 47 years, the peoples of ConFusion have come together and supported one another in order to create amazing conventions. As the years continued onward, ConFusion members have worked together to continually learn, grow and recognize changes we needed to enact in order to become more inclusive, supportive and safe. 

The ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic has brought yet another instance for our community to once again adapt and grow, while working towards an even more supportive and safe environment. Please review our 2022 Policies.

Mask Mandate:

Everyone (age 2+) is required to wear an approved Mask while attending Rising ConFusion 2022. An approved Mask must, at a minimum; fit properly and snuggly, fully covering your nose and mouth, and secure under your chin. 

  • Masks/Face Coverings Not Permitted: 
    • Masks with exhalation valves 
    • Face coverings, including bandanas, that are unable to be secured under your chin
    • Neck Gaitors
    • Masks with mesh materials
    • Masks which contain holes or are significantly damaged
    • Costume masks
    • Clear, open bottom, plastic face shields, only. (may be worn in conjunction with an approved mask)

This policy applies to all members (Age 2+) including staff,dealers, artists, presenters, guests, and cosplayers, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. There are no exceptions to the Mask Mandate, however, as always, email us at accessibility@confusionsf.org for help with accommodations for those with disabilities. 

Proof of Vaccination or Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test: 

Everyone age 18+ is required to provide one of two options

  • Proof of Vaccination with Valid Government ID
  • Proof of a Negative COVID-19 Test taken within the 72 hours prior to picking up your badge, upon arrival. 

For the health and safety of all members attending Rising ConFusion 2022, we are requiring proof of vaccination. Understanding that there are numerous reasons for a member’s possible inability to provide proof of vaccination, we wanted to include the Negative COVID-19 test option. 

If you elect to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 Test, we require the testing to be completed within 72 hours prior to your arrival and badge pick-up. Please plan your COVID-19 testing to coincide with when you plan to arrive and pick up your badge. 

 We are currently looking at options that will allow pre-registered members to provide their Proof of Vaccination (only) in advance, digitally. We will announce how to do that, when we have established a method. It will not be required, but we do want to provide that option. 

Anyone opting for Proof of a Negative COVID-19 Test must provide that at-the-door, as you pick up your badge.

AASFA and Rising ConFusion WILL NOT be responsible for validating the authenticity of the information provided. 

Members Age 17-0 Requirements: 

Anyone ages 2-17 is required to wear an approved Mask, per our Mask Mandate above. 

The CDC currently recommends that you do NOT put a mask on a child under the age of 2. We support the CDC Guidelines with our youngest members.

Rising ConFusion understands and empathizes with Parental and Guardian difficulties during a pandemic. We strongly encourage you to follow current CDC Guidelines with regards to your child/children and vaccination or COVID-19 testing. We care about your children too! 

We want to respect and support the medical choices a parent or legal guardian makes for their child. Because of the pandemic, we will be altering our traditional KidFusion and TeenFusion programming, slightly: 

  •  There will be NO Pizza party in either Kid or TeenFusion for 2022.  
  • We will not be providing snacks and beverages to KidFusion and TeenFusion for 2022. Please do not send your child/teen to their programming space, with snacks or drinks. 
  • All KidFusion or Teen Fusion programming will be held in their assigned room, and on our schedule, but we will not be providing hours of “hang out time”, movie nights, etc. Only scheduled programming will be occurring in our KidFusion and TeenFusion spaces for 2022. 
  • Any member under the age of 7 that does not abide by the Mask Mandate within the KidFusion or TeenFusion spaces, will have their parent/legal adult contacted in order to immediately correct the issue.
  •  Repeated issues may require us to prohibit your child from attending any programming without their Parent or Legal Adult in attendance.

 Happily, we have seen time and time again, how our youngest members thrive and shine while abiding by ConFusion policies. We believe they will do the same this year! 

Final Words

We recognize that our policies may, or may not affect your decision to attend Rising ConFusion. We support you in whatever decision you need to make. 

We understand that the above policies can in no way guarantee safety from COVID-19, however; we believe strongly in our decisions to do everything within our capabilities to mitigate the risks, as much as possible. If every member at Rising ConFusion does their part, collectively we can hold our event, while also responsibly protecting ourselves and each other. 

We’ll have more announcements regarding Programming, GoH’s, Room Parties and Dealers/Artist Alley soon. Our Pre-Registration is open, as is our Hotel Reservation Link. Check them out!

Any question, comments, concerns, email chair@confusionsf.org 

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Strong!
Rising ConFusion 2022 ConChair, 
Lithie Dubois – she/her