[Ansteorra] Proposed change in waterbearing
zubeydah at northkeep.org
zubeydah at northkeep.org
Wed Jun 18 08:54:59 PDT 2008
Waterbearing is a topic near and very dear to my heart. Below is the missive I
sent to the board in response to the proposed change.
- Zubeydah
-------------------------------------------------------
As a member of the waterbearing community, I feel I must respond to your
current proposal on changing waterbearing.
With deepest respects, I must disagree with it in the strongest terms.
While ferretting out the individual requirements of each and every city / town
where the SCA might have an event is impossible, careful, hygenic, organized
waterbearing is *NOT* impossible: We've been doing it with smashing success for
6 years (at least) in northern Ansteorra. I have been both a Baronial and a
Regional Waterbearer, and eared Master Waterbearer rank in the Ansteorran
Guild. I have instructed over 50 students in appropriate measures for
sanitation, basic hygiene, appropriate foods to serve, warning signs of heat
injury, etc. Events in our area regularly set aside budgets of $50-$150 for
waterbearing. Due to our efforts, it is taken *seriously* as being a way for a
group to improve the quality of their event -- good waterbearing has such a
wide reaching affect -- and to make all those participating feel welcome and
their needs taken care of.
To hear that the Board of Directors is walking away from waterbearing because
of _potential_ liability - and then handing that liability over to those who
will still do this job, because they know how important it is - brings me deep
upset. This is ill-advised. This is not the right course to take.
The waterbearing community has been working to change from within; both to
influence "contact" kingdoms to become non-contact, to share resources, there's
even been talk of fundraising across kingdoms to help at wars such as Pennsic
to become non-contact.
This proposed does not limit the society's liability - indeed, it may increase
it. A lawsuit is just as likely to arise from services NOT being available as
it is from poor service. If, as is rumored, the Society president has already
said that he'll fight any interferance with feasts -- which, by their nature,
carry many of the same health risks -- then why is it that the Board is willing
to simply take the easy route on waterbearing?
Realistically, an combat event is still an event without a feast being served.
But a combat event without waterbearing is a medical hazard waiting to happen.
Please, reconsider this proposal, and do not make it into Society Law.
Respectfully submitted,
Lady Zubeydah Jamilla al-Badawiyyah
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