SOAP
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
.png)
- In its literal form, soap is also an important part of the 6-2-1 rule.
S.O.A.P stands for the Society Of Anthropomorphics, a furry community and Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Virginia Tech. It is unique among furry groups due to its registration with a major university, which allows SOAP to use university meeting and online spaces for free, and offers advantages to networking.
Contents |
History
Soap was founded by Nius, Pathia, Tango, and other furry fans at Virginia Tech who desired a separate, distinct organization for planning events specific to the furry community. The organization was officially registered with the university on Wednesday, October 10, 2001.
Membership
As a Registered Student Organization of Virginia Tech, membership is unrestricted— anyone may join including students, faculty, staff, and members of the general public. Currently there are about 24 active members including students, university staff, local members, and local friends of the furry fandom. SOAP does not collect membership fees.
Officers
Leadership positions in the organization are defined by the requirements set forth in the University Policies for Student Life. A president, treasurer, and officer-at-large are elected each fall semester. Additionally, the organization may choose a Faculty/Staff adviser who will act on behalf of the organization within the university.
The officers for the 2008-2009 school year are as follows:
- President: Kai Seward (Mxali)
- Vice-President: Alex Slates
- Treasurer: Tyler Mills
- Staff Adviser: Jacob Dawson (Crimson)
- Authorized Contact: Peg Fisher
Activities
SOAP tends to be a very close-knit group, and more of its activities tend to be spontaneous and/or informal as opposed to the planned meets of other groups. It's also not uncommon for out of town furries to join in on some of the larger SOAP community gatherings.
Meetings
Weekly meetings are held every Friday evening when classes are in session, unless deferred due to other local commitments, in Squires Student Center on the VT campus. Meetings are free-form and open to the public. Meeting room announcements or changes to the meeting schedule are posted on the mailing list (link below). Traditionally, a party follows the weekly SOAP meeting, although the host may vary.
Local events
Some events are planned in conjunction with other local fan groups, including VTSFFC - The Science Fiction and Fantasy Club at Virginia Tech, VTAS - The Animation Society of Virginia Tech, and Spiel - a campus gaming club (Spiel is the German word for "game"). Members of Soap also serve as staff of Technicon and Rising Star, two local Science Fiction Conventions that have been extremely welcoming of furry fans. SOAP members also host many informal gatherings and parties, often arranged on-the-fly through the SOAP mailing list or through mass text messages.
Community service
In 2008, SOAP has begun to work on a community service project called "Smiles for the Memories." The purpose of this project is to raise money for Operation Smile in honor of the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre. The ultimate goal is to donate enough to Operation Smile to provide at least one cleft lip and palate repair surgery in honor of each victim of the shootings.
Conventions
SOAP members often carpool to and/or room together at conventions. The major conventions at which SOAP generally has a large presence are Midwest Furfest, Furry Weekend Atlanta, and Anthrocon. In 2008, several members also plan to attend Furry Connection North.
