[Elfsea] Galen on the park debate

[Paul or Galen]

Galen here...

I'm torn.

I don't have a strong opinion about where to hold fighter practice.  I'd
go much farther than I presently do, and I'd cheerfully attend practice
closer to home (BTW, I travel an hour and a half some days to get to the
practice at my house on Tuesdays.  I work in Carrollton until 6:00 pm,
so I'm often the last one there and in armor).

A lot of people do have strong opinions.  No surprise there.

What with all the new information coming to light just today, I'm
tempted to postpone the decision until the January Moot, to give more of
us time to visit more parks and evaluate what's being said.

On the other hand, I'm not sure the barony can survive carrying on this
conversation that much longer.  I'm left with the impression that quite
a few of my officers, advisors and friends don't hold each others'
opinions in the high esteem that I hold them all.  I have seen offense
taken where none was intended, and the convenience of some members of
the barony -- those who live both farthest east and farthest west --
discounted by other members of the barony.

Let me share with you some of the philosophy I bring to the table:
I've been in the SCA for 22 1/2 years.  The heralds tell me that I have
received more honors from the SCA and its branches than any other person
in the kingdom.  The greatest of these honors, in my opinion, is the
title of Baron of Elfsea.  Far more people had a voice in that honor
than in any other, and those whose voices were heard in my appointment
had a very real stake in the selection.

I am YOUR baron; if you choose to acknowledge me.

I am the baron of every person who claims me.  I am baron to anyone who
says to me, "you're my baron".  Elfsea, as we all know, isn't an area of
land; it's a group of people.  Seneschals may define those people in
terms of zip codes; I define them in terms of who says to me, "you're my
baron".  No matter where they live.  The folk of Loch Ruadh, Dragonsfire
Tor, Three Bridges, and even those who claim me as their baron but
technically live in the Steppes, Glaslyn, Lindenwoord or Trimaris, are
no less folk of Elfsea, to my mind, than anyone who lives in south
Arlington or east Fort Worth.  To me, the people of Elfsea are the
people who claim the Baron and Baroness of Elfsea, regardless of actual
residence, or other loyalty.  (And for anyone who'd prefer that
Allessandra and I weren't their baron & baroness, there's another
baron & baroness down the road with a similarly welcoming attitude.)

It pains me to see some who perceive that they're not viewed as full
members of the barony.  We must not allow ourselves to be made to feel
that way, and we must take care not to say or write things that might
make people feel that way.

Another issue that's come up is one dear to my heart -- archery.  We've
never had archery practice at the same location as our fighter
practice.  Suddenly, with the prospect of moving, many of us would like
to see the two practices co-located.  That adds a whole new dimension to
the problem.  I hope our active archers will understand if we're not
able to find a suitable place to do both target archery and SCA combat.
As of today, I haven't heard of _any_ place where we know we can hold
target archery.  So that may be a "moot" point.

The discussion tonight of moving fighter practice will be concluded by
consensus.  If there seems to be a consensus to move to a particular
park, we'll move there.  If there's a consensus to postpone the decision
to January Moot, we'll do that.  If there's no consensus, I'll urge
postponement.

But we need to do a better job of respecting each other, and showing
each other that respect.   I hope that all of you will try to adopt a
little more of my point of view:  Let's try to determine what's best for
the whole barony, let's take a more inclusive view of who the barony
consists of, and let's have faith in the good intentions of those around
us, even if they sometimes fail to make those good intentions clear in
their words.  I'm calling for increased unity here.

I look forward to seeing you all at Moot tonight, as close to 7:00 pm as
I can manage.

- Galen
Baron of Elfsea, where Life is Good


"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but
shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
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