[Ansteorra] Our Words on Pennsic Support

[King of Ansteorra]

Hello All,



 We would like to start by saying thank you to Mistress Seraphina, Master
Cynric and their crew. Your Herculean efforts to ensure that everyone who is
lucky enough to partake of Pennsic this year will have a truly wonderful
experience.



 We would like to say thank you to Sir Angus for bringing to light a problem
in our system of not only communication, but in Our system for taking care
of Our populace while We are abroad.



 We would like to say thank you to all who have weighed in on this topic
because it has allowed Us some valuable insight into the collective
feelings, hopes, dreams, and most importantly expectations of Our good
Ansteorra.



 All of that being said, We must "Come down firmly on both sides of this
issue" and say that both Mistress Seraphina and Sir Angus are correct. We
will explain Our feelings on this, and then offer a possible, all be it
short term solution.



 1. It has been said to Us that Pennsic is the one place regularly
attended by Our populace where households, regions, factions and the like do
not enter into the mind. We are Ansteorra. A group. A people. A Kingdom. We
would love nothing more than for that to continue to be true. To that end we
need a communal area at a war this far from native soil to congregate and
share in the experience. For that the Kingdom provides a pavilion. The
Kingdom has not in the past provided trash bags, water, ice, oranges,
pickles, coffee, or showers. Especially showers! These types of amenities
have been provided by individuals at their own expense with expectation that
they would be reimbursed by those who use these things in the form of tips
and donations. This has not happened in the past as consistently as it
should. The expenses have usually exceeded the donations. Unfortunately We
have to say that that is the risk an individual incurred for a volunteer
effort. This is an injustice to them because no Ansteorran would deny
another their hospitality.



2. No one other than the Crown's representative has the authority to charge
Our populace a fee. Our populace purchases the right to attend Pennsic.
We have an allocated spot of earth on which to camp for those who have
purchased said entrance. Group meal plans, group showers, mass water
purchases and the like are 100% encouraged. We should act as a group in all
ways for the betterment of all.



3. Land is allocated and reserved through the efforts of others for both a
Royal area with the communal gathering place and for the general populace to
camp. If we have a larger turnout we could possibly get the two combined,
but that is unlikely so the status quo is for the foreseeable future just
that. With this arrangement it is entirely possible for someone in the
Ansteorran general camping area to use none of the things provided by either
the Kingdom or the individual. However that is only true if you do not speak
to your friends by torch light, eat a pickle, drink water, shower, have
coffee, come to court, or in any other way enter the Royal / communal area.
I cannot believe that Our Knights, Laurels, Pelicans, Dons, Centurions, etc.
etc., would shun Our hospitality and not come to court. :-)



*Now for the solution. We are speaking with our Officers and We are working
on a short term Kingdom source for an amenities (water, pickles, coffee,
ice, shower, etc.) fund to ensure that Our populace is happy, healthy, and
clean. A long term solution will still need to be found; so perhaps instead
of harsh words, all Ansteorrans can work together to find a solution that
all feel is fair for the future.***



Gramercy,



Lochlan & Gwen

Rex et Ragina Ansteorrae