Jeff “JJ” Johnson

[MnFurs Election Committee]

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, I’m Jeff, also known in the community as JJ Husky. I’m 38 and have been part of the fandom since 2008. My main fursona is a blue husky, and I’ve recently added a hyena character named Jessie. I enjoy activities like disc golf, ball golf, bowling, and ice hockey, and I’ve officiated volleyball, hockey, and high school football. Outside of sports, I’m into video gaming, movies, board games, and card games. Professionally, I’ve worked as a web developer and now work in software quality assurance. I enjoy hanging out in small groups and making friends with shared interests. I’m approachable and enjoy talking to just about anyone.

I currently Co-Lead the Registration department for Furry Migration, and I’m focused on improving the experience for our attendees. I’m running for the board of Minnesota Furs to give back to a community that has brought me friends, a strong sense of belonging, and my partner. I believe that by giving back, we’re helping shape a successful future for the next generation of fans.

What brought you to the furry fandom?

I was initially brought to the furry fandom by curiosity. I started by exploring Second Life, finding others and hanging out and interacting with them. I later saw a story on the local news and found the leader of the fur group. I reached out to him and started to attend some events. As I met others, I lessened my time online and started to interact with more in person. After I attended my first convention in 2013, I was hooked.

How will you continue to volunteer in the community after being elected to the board?

Since 2021, I’ve been on staff at Furry Migration, starting in the registration department, and in 2023, I became the co-lead of registration. My goal is to continue improving the registration process for our convention attendees.

I’ve also recently taken on the role of division lead for Furry Migration, where I will apply skills from my career to help organize and support the departments I oversee. Additionally, I plan to attend Minnesota Furs events to gain a better understanding of the organization’s activities and to better serve its members.

I believe in maintaining an “open door” policy, where anyone can share suggestions or raise concerns. I also intend to help with local events, offering a board presence and supporting those efforts.

How do you view events like Furry Migration and Midwinter Frolic impact the Minnesota Furs community today and tomorrow?

I believe events like Furry Migration are attracting a diverse group of people and providing them with a strong sense of belonging. The community within Minnesota Furs is already thriving, and as we continue to grow, we’re setting the organization up for future success. By encouraging the next generation of furries to get involved and give back, we can ensure a lasting impact. Growing events like these promote inclusion, friendship, and a sense of community.

What are your strengths that you will bring to the board?

One of the key strengths I would bring to the board is honesty. I believe that transparency and openness are essential for the growth and sustainability of any organization, as they help build trust within the team and with members. Another strength is perseverance. In the Registration department, we’ve faced challenges while working to update and modernize our processes. Despite these struggles, I have remained committed to moving things forward and finding solutions. A third strength is communication. Effective communication is crucial in any organization, and I believe that over-communication, within reason, is vital to avoid misunderstandings. In my professional career, this approach has allowed me to build strong relationships with my managers, as they are always aware of progress and any challenges I am facing early on. I would apply this same approach to ensure the board and members of the organization are consistently informed and updated on relevant matters.

What do you feel are areas where you want to further develop yourself? Why?

One area I am actively working to improve is my self-esteem. Through my experience staffing Furry Migration and leading a department, I have made significant progress, though I recognize there is still room for growth. Recently, my professional career has taken an important step toward my goal of entering management, as I continue to develop my self-esteem and advocacy skills. Building on what I’ve learned, I am eager to take on additional responsibilities that will further support my personal and professional growth.

How can Minnesota Furs reach out to other communities local and national in furry and other fandoms?

As Co-Lead of Registration, I’m working with other registration leads to share experiences from their respective conventions, and I think we can do the same with other communities. We’ve already begun this with MARS Con, and I believe inviting other community leaders to our event can help build goodwill and open doors for

collaborative events beyond conventions. Additionally, we can reach out to other local fandom groups to encourage collaboration. As the lines between fandoms and furries continue to blur, this presents a great opportunity to create more positive impact in the community.

Another idea is to gather Furry Community Leaders for a retrospective meeting to discuss what works well, what could be improved, and how we can apply lessons from other communities to benefit our own. Finally, we could leverage the geographic diversity of our convention membership to connect with other community leaders and expand our reach.

What are two things that you would like to see accomplished/improved during your tenure?

One area I would like to improve is the cohesion between the Minnesota Furs Board of Directors and the Convention Staff for Furry Migration. In my experience, there has been some friction between the two groups, and certain tasks that seemed straightforward from the convention leadership’s perspective appeared to be more challenging to implement. Leveraging my strength in communication, I aim to enhance collaboration between the board and convention staff, reducing friction and fostering a deeper understanding of the decision-making process on both sides. This will help streamline efforts and ensure more efficient and effective outcomes.

A second area I’d like to focus on is modernizing our data collection processes for events like Furry Migration. Currently, we rely heavily on paper forms, and I believe we could digitize at least some of this data collection to create a more convenient and efficient experience for both attendees and their parents/guardians. I have received feedback from several parents who were unaware of the need to complete forms because they couldn’t submit them online. While I understand that digitizing this process may introduce some questions and potential risks, I believe that with proper discussion and planning, we can address these concerns and significantly enhance the overall convention experience.

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