[Ansteorra] Fwd: News from the Pennsic Mayor *Pre-Registration ends 6/9!*

[Kingdom Seneschal]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pennsic Mayor <pennsic.mayor at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 8:22 PM
Subject: News from the Pennsic Mayor, please share

Greetings to the Kingdom Seneschals of the Known World,

I respectfully ask that you forward this email to the seneschals of your
Kingdoms that they may share it with their populace who may be attending
this year's Pennsic War. There are a number of changes this year and we
want to make sure that no one is caught unaware by them. Many are happy
changes. Some will require adaptation. Pennsic Staff thanks everyone for
their understanding.

New for Pennsic 42:

   - VERY IMPORTANT: You must *register online by June 9th at 11 pm* on the
   Coopers Lake site (www.cooperslake.com) if you want your registration to
   count for your groups land allotment.
   - NOTE: Pennsic is running *one week earlier* than in previous years:
   from July 20th (Troll does open at noon on July 19th, but no one can come
   on site or set up until after *Land Grab *which* begins at 8 am* on July
   20th). *Site closes at NOON on Saturday, August 3rd* (you should plan to
   be off site by then).
   - Good News: The Bridge that was out last year has been replaced and is
   now two lanes. Bad News: *There is road construction on I-79 between 422
   and 108* until July 26th that may cause slow downs. Check traffic maps
   if you generally arrive from the north or south on I-79.
   - Troll will be open 24/7 on weekends, but *Troll will be closed from
   midnight until 6 am, Monday to Thursday* of both weeks of Pennsic. You
   may want to plan your arrival accordingly. (See the Cooper's Lake Pennsic
   Registration website for more info.) If you arrive when Troll is closed you
   will be directed to park on the Battlefield and will have to wait in your
   car until Troll opens. There will be Porta-Johns nearby.
   - Good News: The Barn has been converted to an expanded Camp Store and
   has added a full time restaurant. The new camp store will carry supplies
   from Lowe's as well as local fresh fruit and vegetables. More good news:
   *All the activities previously held in the Barn will be held in the new
   Great Hall*, a 165' x 65' foot structure the Coopers have build on the
   west side of block N01 in the Serengeti.
    - As in previous years there is NO using electrical outlets in any
   Cooper building or Pennsic facility for charging (cell phones, laptops
   etc.). Good News: if you are volunteering at a Pennsic point, you may be
   allowed to charge your cell phone *while you are doing your volunteer
   shift*. If you have a medical need for use of electricity check with
   Disability Services.
   - Good News: *There is a new well* to support the increased demand for
   water, and *all water at Cooper's Lake is now chlorinated* for your
   safety. Bad news: there is still iron in the water, and it still turns
   brown, but it is just iron and will not hurt you. More good news: the
   Coopers are building an expanded water treatment facility that will also
   filter out the iron, but that will not cover the entire campground yet.
   Stay tuned for next year.
   - VERY IMPORTANT NEWS: *any group or individual that leaves their
   campsite trashed after Pennsic will lose their land seniority! *Over the
   last few years the number of campsites that have been left trashed
   (furniture abandoned, ground littered, trenches and pits not filled in, and
   even fires left burning) has been growing. Please leave your site as good
   or better than you found it! Your whole group will be penalized if the land
   is left a mess.
   - Because Pennsic is closing down one day earlier than in previous
   years, *most all activities are moving up one day earlier*: Classes
   start on Tuesday of Peace Week, Opening Ceremonies are on Saturday the
   27th, Combat begins on Sunday of War Week. Nonessential Pennsic facilities
   will begin closing on the last Thursday evening/Friday morning. Plan your
   last night parties for Thursday or Friday night. Everyone must leave site
   on Saturday. Good News: you have an extra day to get home and unpack.

I know these seem like a lot of changes, and that most people resist
change. Over the 29 years that I have been attending Pennsics, I have seen
this event grow and change considerably. The Serengeti was once a cornfield
and the battles were on Runestone Hill, then it became a parking lot, later
it was the battlefield, now it is camping space. Once upon a time classes
were only held in the main bath house, now we have an entire university.
Pennsic has weathered and adapted and grown to be the largest event in the
Known World, and as we continue to grow and adapt we will likely have more
changes. I think we get better and better each year with each change.
Especially when we can all work together to make the magic that is Pennsic.

I wish you all a happy and safe Pennsic; the Pennsic Staff and I will do
our utmost to make it so. I look forward to seeing you all in July--old
friends, and new friends, and friends not yet met.

Yours in Service,

Chai

-- 
Chai'usun
Mayor, Pennsic 42
mayor42 at pennsicwar.org