[Pa-furry] RE: Western PA Furs

[Foxes' Den]

I haven't quite been able to put my claw on exactly why we have difficulties 
getting furs together for fur meets out here.

One reason is the topography of the area.  There's no easy way to get from 
here to there.  This is even more so if you don't have your own car as mass 
transit here in Pittsburgh is a "Hub" system.  This means that to get 
anywhere else in Allegheny County or beyond, you have to travel into 
downtown Pittsburgh and transfer to another bus.  To further complicate 
matters, you have to do that between 6am and 6pm or forget it unless you're 
on a major bus route.

Reason two, the furs in Western PA, about 50 strong, are scattered across 
region.  Very few Furs live in the City of Pittsburgh.  Most of us live 20 
minutes to an hour, or more, away from each other and there  really isn't 
anyone centrally located with the time and facilities, (space, parking, & 
funds) to organize stuff.

Reason three, time and schedule conflicts.  I'll be honest, I have trouble 
hooking up with two or three furry friends just due to my schedule and 
theirs just not being compatible.  And when there are things that are 
planned, work, school, family obligations just keep the attendance down.

Reason four, most of the furs who have tried to host events have gotten 
burnt by free loading, disrespectful or socially inept furs and it was 
costing them too much financially, physically and mentally to continue to 
have "open" furry gatherings.

It's not that things aren't being planned.  Furry gatherings pop up here in 
Western PA, they're just not really "regular" happenings.  Best places to 
keep your ears open for new activities and events are on this mailing list, 
on the PAFurry Forums, and on Live Journal on the Pittsfurghers and PAFurry 
communities.  Granted, you're likely to miss them amid all the posts for 
events in the central and eastern side of the state, but they do pop up from 
time to time.

I'm not really sure what else to say.  With the obvious exception of 
Anthrocon, we Western PA furs  have the annual Furry Weekend, being held 
October 6-8, (www.wpafw.org) and Furst Night, a furry gathering held on New 
Year's Eve each year.  Monthly furmeets here in Western PA are in the 
process of being reinstated after several stalled attempts.  It may just be 
that we invest more time and interest in a handfull of large events rather 
than a host of small meets.

If you're in Western PA you're certainly not alone.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox