COVID-19 Health & Safety Policies
For FSCOK Event ParticipationUpdated: February 19, 2023
At Soonercon and all Future Society of Central OK events, your health and safety are our top priorities. We’ve implemented new guidelines and policies based on current CDC Guidelines, local public health guidance from OK state and the City of Norman, and Atrium Hospitality protocols to help support a safe and comfortable experience, and we will continue to update you here as safety standards evolve.
These recommendations include encouraging our members to wear face coverings, practice social distancing whenever possible, practice good hand washing hygiene, etc. during the convention, as well as encouraging folks to get vaccinated, test regularly, and to follow the CDC’s isolation protocols if you are ill or are asymptomatically positive.Please review the updated protocols below for more information about what you can expect at Soonercon. Please check back often because additional details about policies and procedures will be posted here as they are made available. Soonercon is a membership-only event, and all members are expected to comply with all Soonercon Rules and Policies and FSCOK Bylaws.
Every member, including attendees, fans, exhibitors, artists, guests, volunteers and staff, are expected to comply with our health and safety requirements:
Face Coverings
Face coverings may be required at Soonercon, based on CDC Guidance available at the time of the event. This would mean that everyone is required to wear an approved face covering while attending Soonercon, including functions located in the hotel and in the hotel elevators. Face coverings must fit properly and snugly, fully covering the mouth and nose, and be secure under the chin.
Costume and Cosplay:
These policies would apply to cosplay and costume pieces. Face
coverings must be visible at all times. For this reason, headwear and cosplay pieces which cover the face in a manner which does not visibly fit the face covering requirements will not be permitted. We appreciate your understanding. The exception to this face covering requirement is for contestants and the exhibition of their costumes during their assigned costume contest prejudging session, Hallway Costume Contest photo op(s), and while onstage in costume exhibition during the contests.
Room Parties:
If a face covering requirement is in place, masks should be worn at all times when not eating or drinking at open Soonercon room parties.
A limited supply of disposable masks will be available at Convention HQ if your personal face covering becomes unusable during your time at the convention. It is considered best practice to have a backup face covering with you.
Face coverings are not required to be worn in personal hotel rooms or whenever eating and drinking in the hotel’s bar or restaurant spaces, swimming pool or the fitness center.
Increased Sanitation and Hygiene
FSCOK is working closely with the Embassy Suites and implementing their evolving safety plan based on CDC, governmental and industry best practices. It is the responsibility of every individual to maintain good personal hygiene, including washing your hands frequently.
Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the venue, and publicly accessible restrooms for all persons are located in the convention center and in the hotel.
Soonercon staff and volunteers will endeavor to complete periodic cleaning of function spaces during the event.
Game Room and Workshops:
Please use provided cleaning supplies to wipe down high-touch surfaces before and after your session at your designated seat. Thank you for your assistance with this. Please discard all used cleaning materials in a trash receptacle.
Reduced Capacity
Soonercon may have reduced capacity from prior years. In this instance, attendance and badges will be limited and we are working closely with the venue to determine how many people are permitted in the building each day and at any given time.
Follow All Signage and Directions from Staff
Operational adjustments may occur throughout the event in order to ensure the health and safety of all attendees. Please adhere to all signage and direction from all staff.
Follow the Convention Rules and Policies
Please be aware of and respect the personal boundaries of your fellow attendees so that everyone can enjoy their time at Soonercon. All members are expected to acknowledge and adhere to all Soonercon Policies during the event.
Health and Safety Acknowledgement:
Please ensure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place fortravel to the United States and for travel to Oklahoma.
Be advised that a risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any event or public space, including Soonercon. Prior to purchasing membership for and attending Soonercon, please ensure you have read the latest CDC Guidelines for Prevention. By attending Soonercon, you acknowledge this inherent risk on behalf of yourself and/or any Minor for which you serve as Guardian, and, as a condition of entering Soonercon, you acknowledge, understand and confirm each of the following in accordance with applicable health guidelines:
- You and/or any Minor over the age of 12 for which you serve as a Guardian will activate your Badge and/or any Minor over the age of 12 for which you serve as a Guardian’s badge prior to entering the Event;
- You and/or any Minor for which you serve as a Guardian will abide by all Future Society of Central OK health-and-safety requirements;
- You and/or any Minor for which you serve as a Guardian are not currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, as identified at CDC.gov or positive test regardless of symptoms.
- Prior to attending Soonercon you and/or any Minor for which you serve as a Guardian have not been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a quarantine or testing as per CDC Guidelines.
For purposes of this acknowledgement, a “Minor” means any individual who is under eighteen (18) years of age or has not reached the age of majority as defined by such individual’s jurisdiction of residence, and a “Guardian” means such Minor’s parent or legal guardian or other individual attending Soonercon who is over the age of eighteen (18) and acting in loco parentis for such Minor.
Do not enter Soonercon or the Embassy Suites Convention Center if you cannot confirm all of the above criteria. If at any point during your time at Soonercon you do not meet all of the above criteria, you will be required to isolate and may be relocated or asked to leave the Embassy Suites Convention Center at the sole discretion of event management.
Please note: The guidelines in this document are based on information currently available regarding the behavior and characteristics of the COVID-19 virus, public health information and local or state guidelines with respect to large gatherings in any particular community. As more clarity with respect to these variables emerges, it is expected that these guidelines may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Policy Enforcement, Accessibility & Questions
The above policies and procedures will be enforced by FSCOK board members, Soonercon staff and event volunteers, as well as the convention’s hired security personnel. Soonercon reserves the right to contact local law enforcement when necessary.
Failure to comply with these guidelines after receiving one verbal request to do so will result in the member’s immediate termination of participation at Soonercon and revocation of their membership without refund. If a person refuses to exit the event when asked to do so pursuant to this policy, security will be notified and the person will be escorted from the convention center venue. Should law enforcement become involved, a person may be subject to trespassing and other charges.
All incidents involving failure to comply with Soonercon Rules and Policies and FSCOK Bylaws are subject to incident reporting per the organization’s incident reporting policy.
If you are exhibiting symptoms, have a positive test, accessibility needs, exemption requests, and questions regarding these policies, please email info@soonercon.com and a member of our team will contact you directly.
Adopted as amended at the 01-30-22 FSCOK board meeting for immediate implementation.
Revised 02-19-23 at the FSCOK board meeting. Version 2.0 as of 02-19-2023.