CR - please read with an open mind........

[kmlott at prodigy.net]

Greetings to the populace. 
Let me apologize first for taking up the bandwidth.  
I have tried to contact certain key people in this matter, by phone,
without success.  
First of all, as a re-introduction, I am Lady Annabel Kincaid and I
reside in the Steppes.  I am currentyly the baronial MOC and will be
stepping down in January after 2 years.  I am also the Central Regional
MOC.  It has come to my attention, through outside sources, that there
are "grumblings" about the fact that I have asked not to be the "one in
charge" of children's activities at the coming Coronation.  As I have
said, I tried to contact the KMOC about this but can not get through to
her.
My reason for writing this is not the grumblings, when has a grumble
ever really hurt anyone?, my reason is to ask "How much do you have to
do, before you can say no for the first time?"

Before I go any further, let me say "Thank you" and "Bless you" to every
person that has ever volunteered to help me.  Now on to the question. 

A little background about me might help with the answer, for example my
FIRST SCA event was Gulf War 3 years ago.  My second event was Mahadi
and Valeria's coronation.  I did not play again until the following Gulf
War where I was on the all-womens catapult team.  My next event, and 1st
Steppes event was Steppes Warlord as head of children's activities (with
a cast on my foot).  

I will not go into every detail, but in the past year (1998) I have held
childrens activities at Steppes 12th Night(my 1st one to go to), I went
to Gulf War as part of the catapult crew and while there pulled a 2 hour
stint in the children's activity area (and even coerced a fellow MOC to
join) and did water-bearing during both field battles, I did acitivities
at Steppes Warlord (I also planned for 3 months and hosted the
children's heavy tourney, as well as cramming 3 mnths of planning into
30 minutes so that the light community could be represented), I did
activites at Steppes Artisan, I autocrated Steppes Fall Court this past
November and I am currently planning Steppes 12th Night.  In my everyday
world, I work on average 41-45 hours per week and do volunteer work
through my company.  And to top it all off I am in the process of trying
to plan a July 3rd wedding that will be taking place about 2000 miles
from where I live.  I go to sleep exhausted and wake up exhausted.  
When I asked the event stewards of TRH Gunthar and Sara coronation not
to put me down as the head of childrens activities,but to just put me
down for (1) activity, it was the 1st time I have said no since I took
the baronial position.  This is my hobby.  I joined the SCA to be
involved, to learn, and to meet new friends.  None of us get paid to do
this.  And if it wasn't for the fact that it is Gunthar and Sara's
Coronation, I don't know if I would even be there.  

Now back to the question, When is it okay to say NO?, and Am I really
"shirking my duty"?
I did not do any of the above mentioned things with the soul purpose or
goal of getting an award.  I am not walking around with a yellow belt
around my waist or a sable crane around my neck.  I have done everything
I mentioned for 3 very simple reasons:
1.  I love children and wanted to try give them a fun way of playing 
with us.
2.  I love this kingdom and the people in it.  I love going to events
and hearing the drums and the war crys and the first bang of sword
against shield. 
and
3.  I wanted to try to help keep the dream alive.

I will remain doing what I have been. I will remain a part of this
society.  And hopefully, I will eventually be forgiven for saying no. 
Until then I would ask that those wishing to reply to my question,
please do so privately.  

Thank you...

In service to the dream and the future,
Ly Annabel Kincaid
(or as the children call me Auntie Bel)
Barony of the Steppes
Kingdom Ansteorra
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