Volunteering
You can get all kinds of things by working a few hours on easy tasks. Sit in front of a door checking attendance badges, carry things, watch the Anime room and change DVDs, load or unload the truck, or other random unskilled labor.
If you want to sign up in advance, email our volunteer coordinator, Anna. That way you can work in advance of the convention, which is worth twice as much toward your rewards.
Anna is the one on the left. Find her in the lobby at the convention to get an assignment.
How Whuffie Works
Work is measured in our volunteer currency, Whuffie.
This is different from other conventions. Whuffie is spent rather than accumulated. For instance, if you earn  10, spend 3 on beef, and spend 4 on a t-shirt, you only have 3 left. This means you WILL NOT get reimbursement unless you work another 7 hours, get back up to 10, and spend that 10 to get reimbursed. |
One hour earns one Whuffie. (1)
Work done on Thursday or Monday earns 2 Whuffie (2) per hour.
You are only eligible for rewards for work recorded through our volunteering team.
Sign up for volunteer shifts in advance through volunteers at penguicon dot org, or show up on the day to the Volunteer table in the Atrium.
Leave your phone number to take Whuffie-earning opportunities as they arise!
The volunteer table will be handing out vouchers for many of the rewards. You will turn in the voucher for the reward. If you bring Whuffie to the tshirt person or the reimbursement person to get a reward directly, they will send you to the volunteer table to get a voucher.
If you bring a voucher after its expiration time, it will be of no value.
Whuffie must be turned into the volunteers table by Sunday before 1PM, although they will be accepting turn-ins all weekend.
All rewards are in limited supply. First-come, first-serve.
Volunteer work done after Sunday noon is eligible for a reimbursement check to be mailed after the convention.
This year's Whuffie must be spent this year and will not hold value next year.
During Closing Ceremonies at 3 PM Sunday in Ballroom 7/8 we will call up to the front those who receive special awards! Bring unspent Whuffie!
Rewards:
- Jump in Line for Breakfast.......... 1
Spend 1 Whuffie at the Volunteer Desk FRIDAY NIGHT for a voucher. Give voucher to breakfast servers on Saturday morning to jump to the front of the line for the free breakfast. It's probably starting at 9AM, but get there early. You're guaranteed the jump, but not the food if it's gone. - Crash Space.......... 2
Spend 2 Whuffie at the Volunteer Desk on the day you wish to sleep. The hotel rooms are shared among volunteers. There is a room for men and a room for women. Bring your own sleeping bag. Items are left in the room at your own risk. - Old Year T-Shirt.......... 2
Spend 2 Whuffie at the Volunteer Desk to get a t-shirt from a previous year. Sizes are limited. - Brazilian Beef........... 3
Spend 3 Whuffie at the Volunteer Desk by Saturday 7 PM to get a beef ticket. Between 4 to 8 PM Saturday, stand in line at cookout and exchange ticket for a plate of Brazilian Beef. - This Year T-Shirt........... 4
Spend 4 Whuffie at the Volunteer Desk to receive a voucher. Give voucher to Angie Fox in Dealer Room for a shirt by 1 PM Sunday. If there are no more in your size, return voucher to Volunteer Desk to get your Whuffie back. - Next Year's Badge............ 8
Spend 8 Whuffie to the Volunteer Desk to get a registration certificate that entitles you to a free membership at Penguicon 2010. This is both authorization for a price of zero, and reg form in one. Fill out the form and give it to Aaron Thul in Registration or mail it in. - Reimbursement............ 10
Spend 10 Whuffie to the Volunteer Desk to get a voucher. Give voucher to Chuck Child at Ops (third floor balcony by the elevator lobby) between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM Sunday for reimbursement of what you paid to get into the convention (if the convention breaks even). - Contest........ Most Whuffie Accumulated! Hardest Worker! Most Unspent Whuffie!
Awards handed out at 3:00 PM Sunday Closing Ceremonies will include:
- $25 gift card to Comic City
- Tuition for sword training with Aegis Sword Academy.
- Ticket to Star Trek Exhibit at Detroit Science Center.
- Free Hotel Room night at Penguicon 2010.
- Medallion with Tux on it for the Volunteering Heroes.
Recap
Q:
"I am a volunteer. I earned three Whuffie, and used it to get steak at the cookout. Then I earned one more Whuffie. Does that mean I have four and get a t-shirt?"
A:
No, you have one. When you spent all three of your Whuffie on beef, you went down to zero. Then you earned one, so you now have one. If you want a t-shirt, you must now earn an additional three to get up to four.