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Tell us about yourself.
My name is Brian Mogged, though most people know me as Kurst. I’ve been a furry long enough that one of my fursuits could probably apply for a driver’s license. I always struggle with these “about me” questions because my life has had many phases. I was born and raised in Wisconsin in a small tourist town with a strong farm community. I moved to the Twin Cities after college because it was where I needed to go to grow. The small town didn’t support who I was becoming, and I needed to move to find work and community.
On the fandom side, I’ve been involved with furry and other fandoms since the BBS days. I was around during the first BBQs and early Minnesota Furs gatherings in the late ’90s. Even though I attended events back then, I didn’t consider myself a very active part of the local community until around 2005. From that point on, I volunteered in website development, social media, event planning, and treasury. I was lucky enough to work with friends and talented people who helped Minnesota Furs become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. From 2012–2016, I served on the MNFurs Board as Treasurer and a board member. I later stepped down to serve as the Furry Migration Convention Chair. After three years in that role, I stepped back from leadership in 2019 at the advice of friends and board members who wanted me to take care of myself.
During the pandemic, I reconnected online with international furry groups, but I realized how much I missed volunteering and helping people in person. The last six months have been a rollercoaster and not at all what I expected. I’m not the same person I was even a few months ago. But the one constant is that I genuinely enjoy helping people. Even before recent events in my life, I’d been talking about applying to the board again because helping others and enabling them to do great things means a lot to me.
This community, this chosen family, is a huge part of who I am.
What brought you to the furry fandom?
Growing up, I felt alone. Even in a crowd, I always felt separate. I escaped into the worlds of Looney Tunes, Robin Hood, and classic Disney animation. Those characters felt more alive to me than the real world, and in many ways, they became my friends. When I found the furry fandom, I found people like me, people who didn’t know where they fit, people looking for a place to belong. I found my people.
How will you continue to volunteer in the community after being elected to the board?
I’ve volunteered before, during, and after my previous terms on the board and as convention chair. I don’t see myself stopping. If anything, I want to do more. But I also believe the healthiest thing for the organization is to share knowledge, empower others, and support the people who have the skills to do amazing things.
Personally, I want us to evolve, improve, and lead something new. I don’t want us to keep doing the same things simply because they’re familiar. I want us to grow while staying true to our mission.
How do you view events like Furry Migration and Midwinter Frolic impacting the Minnesota Furs community today and tomorrow?
Midwinter Frolic, Bear Essentials, Furry Migration. These are larger events created by the community that welcome our friends from across the country and around the world. They’re extensions of who we are, not the “end goal” of the organization.
These events help fulfill our 501(c)(3) mission. They show the city and state who we are in a positive, visible way. They also show the furry community at large what a strong and welcoming local fandom can look like here in Minnesota.
There future is just as bright, expand, and be their own thing but at the same time distinctively keep it local furry Minnesota get togethers.
What strengths will you bring to the board?
First, I genuinely care about this community. I want people to succeed and feel comfortable being part of Minnesota Furs.
Second, I know I won’t be here forever, and life is fragile. I want people to enjoy their lives and feel welcomed in the furry community. We are all volunteers. We aren’t here to run things like a corporate business . We’re here to help our family and friends. Too many people forget that.
At the same time, I understand nonprofits. We need to ensure we operate in a way that protects our 501(c)(3) status. Over the years, I’ve attended conferences and taken training in nonprofit governance, and I want to share that knowledge with current and future board members.
Professionally, my background spans business administration, recruiting, law, and HR. While I don’t like “bragging,” I know these skills help when guidance is needed. My goal is to support the parts of the organization that do require business-like structure without losing our community-focused heart.
I’ve also worked closely with creative members and guest artists, giving me perspective on their needs. My goal is that everyone feels heard and supported by leadership.
Being a Minnesota resident with reliable transportation (go Forester!), I’m available for local tasks picking up mail, filing paperwork, representing MNFurs at events, or helping in person when needed. My schedule allows for in-person support, which complements my technical and communication skills.
Finally, my past roles in MNFurs taught me that great organizations thrive when new ideas and long-standing experience come together. Our strength comes from how we support our people. That’s the core belief I want to bring back to the Board if elected.
What areas do you want to further develop in yourself, and why?
As an introvert, I want to keep working on being more outgoing and comfortable speaking in front of groups . Skills that faded during years of isolation. Staying involved with people through volunteering is one of the best ways to maintain that growth.
I also want to improve at delegating responsibility and letting go, even when things might fail. Failure can be a powerful teacher, and empowering others matters.
How can Minnesota Furs reach out to other communities locally and nationally?
When I was previously on the board and working with Furry Migration, we were active in the Furry Convention Leadership Roundtable (FCLR) to help establish best practices across furry organizations. Staying engaged in that work is important, attending meetings, volunteering for roles, and sharing our nonprofit experiences to help others.
We’ve also had strong connections with local sci-fi and anime conventions. We previously worked toward informal meetups and idea exchanges between regional leaders. I know the current board has been re-engaging in this area, and I believe we should support those efforts whether or not we sit on the board, because collaboration only strengthens all involved.
What are two things you would like to see accomplished or improved during your tenure?
Instead of the usual “more volunteers” or “more events,” I want to focus on deeper long-term goals:
- Strengthening our 501(c)(3) educational mandate.
We need to actively do what we told the IRS and the state we would do. Part of that is establishing a long-term scholarship or grant program that fits our educational mission. When forming MNFurs, we planned to develop something like this within 5–10 years, but it hasn’t happened yet. Other nonprofits fund youth programs, art initiatives, cultural exchanges, etc. We have many opportunities to support art, writing, music, nature studies, and more.
Additionally, I want to help develop nonprofit software tools through MNFurs. Things like volunteer tracking, voting systems, or event tools, so other organizations can access low-cost or no-cost alternatives instead of expensive commercial options. As this is part of what non profits do, help each other not burden them with expenses.
- Documenting and sharing the full history of MNFurs.
Not just one perspective, but the combined voices of artists, gamers, writers, planners, and fans who built this community. We need to preserve this knowledge while we can still learn directly from those who were part of it. Combined with deeper nonprofit training, this history helps prepare the next generation of leaders.
- Expanding creative and volunteer development.
As an organization, we should help people grow their natural talents, whether artistic, technical, or organizational. Scholarships, grants, and development programs are things we said we would build when we formed MNFurs. It’s time to act on that, especially in today’s world.
In the end I know a lot of things have changed in the world, in my life. I’m going to be here and I am willing to donate my time and money helping out the org. I am proud of what this org has accomplished and I would like to be there for another chapter in the book. And I want to see this org last another 10 years, even if I volunteer and member.
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