Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association

The Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (also known as ALAA) is the membership organization that presents the annual Ursa Major Awards (formally known as the "Annual Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Awards"). Its goals are the promotion of anthropomorphic media through such projects as this award, and the yearly compiled Recommended Anthropomorphics List.

Discussions are currently taking place to improve their effectiveness and expand their presence through the furry fandom. All suggestions are invited. Nomination and voting on the Ursa Major Awards is achieved through and thanks to the furry fandom at large.

History
The ALAA began as the Awards Committee of the ConFurence Group, which agreed to create it in 2001 at the proposal of Fred Patten, who felt that the furry fandom should have an award for excellence in anthropomorphic literature and arts, similar to the science fiction fandom's Hugo Awards, mystery fandom's Boucher Awards, and the similar awards of almost every other form of literature and art.

The Awards Committee of ConFurence 2002 and 2003, which conducted the voting for the 2001 and 2002 Awards, consisted of Fred Patten, Rod O'Riley, and Kay Shapero. During the organization of the Awards for its second year, it had become evident that the Awards' association with ConFurence was inadvertently restricting its scope, due to the misunderstanding that the Awards were meant only for ConFurence and that participation from the furry fandom at large was not wanted. It was decided to separate the Awards from ConFurence (fortuitous, since ConFurence was discontinued after 2003). The Awards Committee expanded by asking for volunteers including representatives from other Furry conventions in late 2003, and became the independent ALAA on 1 February 2004. The 2004 Ursa Major Awards, for literature and art of 2003, were presented at C-ACE 2004 in Ottawa.

Nominations for each year's Awards, for the best anthropomorphic literature and arts of the previous calendar year, traditionally open on the first day of Further Confusion in mid-January and extend through the end of February. The Awards are presented at a Furry convention held between May and August. When the voting begins and how long it lasts depends upon when the presentations will be held. Although the Ursa Major's primary base and most of its voters have been in the United States, participation and eligibility are worldwide; there have been nominations of works published in such countries as France and Japan.

Today, the main functions of the ALAA are the maintenance of the annual Recommended Anthropomorphics List (by Kay Shapero), the maintenance of the ALAA/Ursa Major website (by Chakat Goldfur), and the preparation of the Awards trophies and the audiovisual display shown at their presentation (by Rod O'Riley). Fred Patten is the ALAA's Corresponding Secretary. The ALAA's directors administer the call for nominations, the preparation of the final ballot, and the nominating and voting each year starting in January. They also vote on the sites of future Awards presentations (or, in the years when no convention volunteers, they solicit a venue).

In addition to the directors named above, several invited furry conventions have appointed a representative to be a fully participating Director of the ALAA. As of July 2014, the conventions and their representatives are:


 * Anthrocon (PeterCat Kappesser)
 * Califur (Rod O'Riley)
 * Camp Feral! (Potoroo)
 * FA: United (Dragoneer)
 * Furry Fiesta (Shockwave)
 * Further Confusion (Tom McDaniel)
 * Mephit FurMeet (Christopher "Tyger" Roth)
 * ConFurgence (Bernard Doove)
 * Midwest FurFest (Robert King)
 * Morphicon (Ostrich)
 * RainFurrest (Gene Armstrong)

Some conventions, such as Eurofurence, Furry Weekend Atlanta and Rocket City FurMeet, while continuing to operate, appear to have left the association. Others, such as Anthrofest and FurFright, are no longer operating.

The ALAA also solicits individual volunteers who are interested in participating in the association's existing activities, and others in the future that may promote the recognition and improvement of anthropomorphic literature and arts.

Registration
The Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association was registered as a Washington non-profit in March 2007, but its registration fell inactive in 2008. Fred Patten was listed as chairman, while Kay Shapero, Rod O'Riley, Peter Kappesser and Gene Breshears were directors.

Contact
The ALAA's mailing address is: Anthropomorphic Literature & Arts Association c/o Furry Stuff P.O. Box 1958 Garden Grove, CA 92842-1958