Dear KansasFest Community,
I am writing today with an important update regarding KansasFest 2025. After careful consideration, the committee has made the difficult decision to transition this year’s event to a virtual-only conference, which will take place July 18-20, 2025. This means that the previously announced in-person gathering at Wichita State University from July 15-20 has been cancelled.
I want to personally apologize for the circumstances that led to this change. The responsibility for this situation falls on me, and I deeply regret any disappointment or frustration this may cause.
Why the Change?
The decision to cancel the in-person event was not made lightly. After initially considering WSU as our venue, we failed to perform the necessary due diligence to ensure it met the needs of all attendees. The SB180 legislation in Kansas has raised serious concerns about the safety and inclusion of some members of our community. KansasFest has always strived to be a welcoming and inclusive event, and after listening to community feedback, we determined that proceeding with WSU would compromise those values.
We initially believed we had made a well-balanced decision in selecting the venue, but in doing so, we compromised our core values. Rather than immediately listening to the community’s concerns, we made the grave mistake of trying to justify a position that, in hindsight, was indefensible. Worse yet, we took far too long to correct our course.
We recognize that this misstep has eroded the trust of our community, and our priority now is to rebuild that trust through meaningful change. This is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reset—to ensure KansasFest remains a welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable event for all.
Our Path Forward
To prevent similar issues in the future, we are implementing several key changes:
- Increased Transparency & Community Engagement
- The KansasFest Organizing Committee will commit to greater transparency and more frequent communication.
- We will establish structured channels for community feedback to ensure your voices are heard in shaping the future of KansasFest.
- New Venue Selection Process
- We will develop and document a clear set of criteria for future venues, ensuring they meet essential accessibility, inclusion, and logistical requirements.
- This will include evaluating state and local policies, venue-specific rules, ADA compliance, housing and dietary accommodations, and overall accessibility (such as proximity to major transportation hubs).
- The community will now play a direct role in vetting and voting on the future venue to help us find a long-term home that aligns with our values. Since it is impossible for the committee members to travel and personally investigate every potential site, we will rely on community input to help research, assess, and recommend suitable locations based on the developed criteria.
- Leadership Transition
- As part of this reset, I am announcing that I will step down from the KansasFest Committee effective July 31, 2025.
- I believe it is time to bring in new leadership with fresh ideas to ensure KansasFest benefits the Apple II community and continues to grow and thrive for years to come.
Looking Ahead
While this year’s shift to a virtual format is disappointing, we are committed to making KansasFest 2025 an engaging and memorable online event. We hope you will join us as we navigate this transition and work together to secure a strong, inclusive future for KansasFest.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and support. We appreciate this community and look forward to shaping the future of KansasFest—together.
Sean Fahey
KansasFest Committee President