ANST - Kingdom membership

[jonwillowpel at juno.com]

Duchess Larissa  does have a point but I am one of those members who
refused to pay my national due for three years because of the "pay to
Play". I also personally know of 5 people, who were members of the SCA,
who have dropped out of the SCA because of the "Pay to Play". 

I spent a lot of money on stuff for the SCA. My wall hanging are not
supported by any group. The ones stolen from me at the gulf war from the
royal pavilion were not reimbursed. The prizes I give are not provided to
me out of the site fees.  The torches, torch fuel  and rugs I have put
out for bardic and dance events come from my pocket book. I am not paid
for the time or gas I spend going places to teach or entertain. I, by my
self, am worth hundreds of dollars to the SCA each year. I would bet each
one of us that goes and supports our events are also worth a goodly
amount to the local SCA. Is is worth 35 dollars a year or 2 dollars an
event to upset us. Isn't that a lot like killing the golden goose. 

You may say "why should that upset you?"  I have brought a goodly number
of new people to events over the years and I have paid to get them in.
Two dollars isn't much but it adds up. Also I am ashamed to say to a
potential member. Please come to this event but you are going to have to
pay more because you are not one of us. Lots of groups  give discounts to
new members but we just punish them and push them away. 

Membership gives us a say in the organization. It allows us to hold
office, pick baron/ess, autocrat  an event , and fight in crown. It gives
us a voice. It shows a true commitment to the organization. If we want to
increase membership we need to get more of our people involved.  We need
to stress the advantages of membership. Usually people are not sure that
they want to get that involved at first. Getting into the SCA involves a
lot  of money at first. After a person has been playing for a year or two
then they want to help shape the organization. Becoming a national member
is the first step in becoming involved. If it was apparent that a say in
the organization went with being a member I believe that more people
would join. I do not mean democracy (heaven forbid). I just mean having
your opinions listened to.

Yours Willow

On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 16:30:38 GMT "Trish Kvamme"
<ladyoftherose at hotmail.com> writes:
> I was sad to see some controversy about paying for memberships.
> 
> I truly believe if a person has spent a few months with the SCA and 
> has 
> found that they enjoy the game and are willing to put forth a 
> significant 
> portion of their income to acquiring the things they need to be 
> "medieval" 
> then they should really consider becoming a member.
> 
> Indeed our mundane monetary obligations should come first, but if a 
> person 
> is willing to spend hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars 
> a year 
> going to wars, making armour and costumes, acquiring feast gear, a 
> pavilion 
> or sun shade, a trailer to carry there stuff around, asking them to 
> be a 
> contributing member to the organization which is taking up most of 
> their 
> spare time and change isn't such an imposition.
> 
> I think that newcomers should be giving time to make sure that this 
> is what 
> they are looking for as I stated above, and I don't think a person 
> with a 
> lapsed membership should be given a bad time (it happens to 
> everyone) but if 
> we believe in the SCA we should support it with our memberships.
> 
> The girl scouts, boy scouts, Moose lodge, Mason's, Eastern Star, (I 
> am not 
> making a religious statement here) Harley Davidson Society, Sci-Fi 
> Fandom to 
> name but a few all have membership fees and newsletters, appropriate 
> attire 
> that is expected, meetings and events for their groups, and I really 
> don't 
> hear alot of controversy regarding membership from that quarter.
> 
> And I do put my money where my mouth is.  I have been a member since 
> 1982 
> and both my husband and I send in our own separate memberships
> because we like the convenience of having two Kingdom Newsletters 
> (read in 
> here - where did mine go, ah here I found one *grin*)
> 
> I think a wonderful idea to try here in Ansteorra would be to offer 
> a paid 
> membership or a membership renewal as a prize for an occasional 
> contest or 
> tournament.
> 
> I hope I am not the minority here...
> 
> Larissa
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> 
>
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