(Richard Man has been nominated as a candidate for the position of President of the ICG 2006
by Betsy Delaney of the Silicon Web Costumer's Guild,
nomination was seconded by Karisu of the Silicon Web Costumer's Guild.)
Candidate Statement for President of the ICG (inc.), 2006
Richard Man
The International Costumers' Guild, Inc. (the ICG) was started in the early 80s to serve global costuming enthusiasts. Together with its member chapters in the US and the world, the ICG has had goals of providing educational, cultural, social, and community service opportunities for amateur and professional costumers alike. However, as the saying goes, "The World's a Changing." New challenges have cropped up, some so fundamental that they threaten the continued existence of the Guild itself. We must work to make the ICG relevant to current and future costumers, as well as making sure to preserve our past in an accessible manner.
If elected, I would push for the following initiatives:
- Stop the Secession of Member Chapters
A major benefit to the member chapters of the ICG is the umbrella 501 (c)(3) non-profit status. As a response to 9/11, there have been changes in Federal rules and regulations on non-profit organizations. The questions of whether the ICG can continue to provide such benefits without access to member chapters' internal financial information has become an issue. As this issue has not been addressed or communicated to the member chapters effectively, some member chapters are considering seceding. The second largest chapter (GBACG) has in fact voted to leave the ICG effective as of Feb. 2006. There are concerns that other chapters may also follow suit.
While ultimately the ICG may not be able to provide umbrella non-profit status to the member chapters without unduly meddling to the chapters' internal finance, the ICG should still work with the remaining chapters to address their concerns. In addition, as the GBACG has a sizable membership roster, the ICG must see if we can get the GBACG chapter back into the Guild. - Increased Value to Members and Non Members
The ICG needs to provide more value for members and non-members alike:
- Provide web resources such as online forums and other materials. As the web has become pervasive in modern life, more and more costumers look online for information. Think "googling." The ICG website should appear when a web surfer types in keywords such as "costuming resources."
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One of the most valuable ICG assets is the photo and video archives. The ICG needs to ensure that these archives are in good condition. They must be organized and, within a proper scope and acquisition of permissions, be made available online. This is our past history, and we must work to make it available to as many people as possible.
- Other resources may include"Yellow Pages" for costumer makers, costuming articles, links to other costuming sites etc., an ICG-member web forum (perhaps with chapter subforums), etc.
- Provide web resources such as online forums and other materials. As the web has become pervasive in modern life, more and more costumers look online for information. Think "googling." The ICG website should appear when a web surfer types in keywords such as "costuming resources."
- Outreach
Most costumers do not know that the ICG exists, and many of the ones that do may not have kind words to say about us. The ICG must become a forward and outward looking organization:
- Actively recruit new members from the huge new crop of media-oriented costumers such as the Anime and Furry communities. These cosplayers and costumers can provide new blood to the community as they are generally from a younger demographic group than today's average ICG members. There is no reason why any schism and lack of communication should exist between the various costuming communities.
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Actively work with various SF/Fantasy and Anime conventions to promote the use of ICG Masquerade Guidelines for masquerades. There is no reason for some of the newer conventions, particularly the Anime conventions, to reinvent the wheel.
- Continue to encourage (again, the newer) conventions to bring costuming panels and workshops to their programming.
- Consider obtaining materials from the archives, Costume College, various costumers etc. and publish materials for fund raising purposes.
- Actively recruit new members from the huge new crop of media-oriented costumers such as the Anime and Furry communities. These cosplayers and costumers can provide new blood to the community as they are generally from a younger demographic group than today's average ICG members. There is no reason why any schism and lack of communication should exist between the various costuming communities.
- Balancing the Volunteer Workload and Spend Money Wisely
As a volunteer run organization, the ICG is in danger of "punishing" willing volunteers by overloading them with work. There are also officer and other positions that may require professional help, especially in the areas of legal and accounting practices. The ICG should utilize its financial assets wisely and get professional help when necessary. Other positions such as web site design, the newsletter, and membership management may also benefit from additional volunteer and professional help.
Candidate Biography:
Richard Man is an avid semi-professional photographer. With over 5400 photographs, mainly from convention masquerades, his photographic site, http://www.dragonsgate.net/photopost has over 780,000 views since 2004 (50,000 views in the second half of March alone!). Richard and his wife, Chris, have been active in the SF community since late 70s / early 80s. He has served the community as (an unpaid volunteer) Masquerade Photographer for a number of AniMagics and Baycons, SiliCon '05, and was the official photographer and one of the Fan Guests of Honor at Anime LA 2006. He will be the official photographer of Costume Con 26.
While not an active costume maker himself, Richard's wife and two children have won major awards at SF cons, Worldcons, and Anime cons. While he was aware of the ICG for many years and a friend of many in it, he did not join the ICG until he joined Silicon Web in 2004. His day job involves running a small software company with customers all over the world.
[Edit 1, March 21, 2006]
Contact:
Please send email to richard@imagecraft.com with any questions. Questions and answers applicable to this candidacy may be viewed at this correspondance page. :-)
[/ Edit 1]
Candidate Photos:
Someone made a great suggestion: how about posting a picture of myself! Of course, a simple request like that should be easily satisfied right?? Well, not if you are the photographer BEHIND the camera most of the time!
It took me a while to dig around. Turns out my wife put a picture of me taken at Anime Expo a few years ago in my Yahoo "icc_didjiman" profile (she had costumed me as Van Fanel from the Anime TV series "Escaflowne") Here it is, and a "civvies" pic too (click photos for larger versions):
Here's another picture my wife took:
