It is not automatic, but there is little you need to do to claim your shiny. Simply come to Dulles after your panel(s) and speak with a volunteers department staffer. We will confirm who you are and the event you lead, and then provide you your shiny.

No. The badge earned for volunteering is for MFF 2026. We do not have a way to make it for this same year unfortunately.

You will need to fill out the digital application to volunteer (which you can and should do using the big button above) and sign a waiver in person (usually in the Dulles-Hyatt Regency O’Hare room). After that you simply need to check in with us in the Dulles-Hyatt Regency O’Hare room to start the shift you want to work and receive your vest for that shift.

You can do all of this in person as well if you decide to volunteer at the convention.

You do not need anything but yourself.

Though a phone with Telegram is the ideal way to communicate with the rest of the Division. We recommend you have a bottle of water with you and a map/schedule of the convention. The only other thing you will need is the volunteer vest that we provide.

Volunteers is headquartered in the Dulles room of The Hyatt Regency O’Hare. It is frequently abbreviated Dulles-HRO. This is one floor up from the street level, in the fishbowl area’s second floor.

View the interactive map for more details.

Yes, with caveats.

For Wednesday the 3rd, gophers will need to have purchased a badge online (you’ll be able to do this at that time if you haven’t already) and be able to show proof of that purchase on your smart phone and legal name matching photo ID to staff at stations that need help. That staff will then have you sign the volunteering waiver.

Thursday the 4th, gophers will be able to do all of this in the Dulles-Hyatt Regency O’Hare room, but pre-purchased badge, digital proof, and matching ID are still required.

If you are unable to show your proof of purchase digitally (print outs are not adequate) or unable to make the purchase ahead of registration for some reason, please comes talk to our staff in Dulles on Thursday after 3PM or wait until you have your badge to volunteer. Thank you!

Also please use the gopher application button above so we can communicate to you further details about how to volunteer for these shifts.

No, but we recommend it when possible. Signing up ahead of time lets you select what task you would prefer to do and when it best fits your schedule. If you prefer to wing it or don’t know your schedule ahead of time or just have some sudden free time, you can also just walk in and check with us.

Yes, unless otherwise directed by Volunteers Staff, you must check in with us at Dulles-Hyatt Regency O’Hare before starting a shift. Failing to do this may cause your hours to not be recorded properly.

Check out with local staff in the area in a way that records you were there and so we know which staff to ask if necessary. Most commonly people will take a picture of their badge with a staffer’s badge as proof and contact info all in one picture. Hold onto your vest as well. The next day simply check out at with Dulles as if you had just finished that shift.

Let us know as soon as possible, ideally in person, but as long as you get an acknowledgment, contacting Volunteers Staff online is okay too. We ask that we be informed at least 2 hours ahead of the shift to make sure we can cover it.

If you are at a task and need to suddenly leave early, please inform the local staff immediately and have them contact us.

Please alert the local staff so they can relieve you themselves. We recommend informing them of your need to leave 15 minutes prior to that time to avoid this scenario.

Volunteers can help in many ways, but they are not allowed to:

• Lift heavy objects. Keep it under ~10lbs (1 Gallon of water)

• Dangerous work. If special skills or certifications would be required, or OSHA would be displeased, it’s not for gophers to do.

• Access or view furfest internal computer systems

• Handle money or payments

• Handle Personal Identifying Information (ID’s, Passports, reg info etc.)

• Make decisions for the convention. Always refer to staff when you don’t know what to do.

For most things just inform the local staff around you.

If you cannot reach them, contact the Volunteers Department staff (usually by Telegram).

If the situation is a potential security or medical issue, contact Safety or First Aid with the phone number on the back of your badge. If you cannot reach those teams contact local staff to do the same. If for some reason you cannot reach anyone and the situation is life threatening, call 911.

Follow the instructions of local staff. Make sure you are safe before helping others. Do not try to be a hero.

Please bring it to the attention of the Volunteer Staff specifically. If it is something we need to know about immediately, such as an incident, tell us in person so we can address it promptly. If it’s regarding future convention improvements, you can email us at volunteers@furfest.org so we have it written down.

For most, the tragedy of the ushankas has been resolved. If you still have not received your ushanka or something else, please contact gophers@furfest.org or talk to us in person at the convention.