[Elfsea] Issues at hand

Tue Jun 3 21:11:52 PDT 2008

Good evening all,

Having been a sideline player for a while, I see that there are some valid issues being raised here currently. If I may adress them in order of presentation:

Number one is related to individual preferances.  Location, temperature, party, and planning.  How far am I going? How hot is it out?  Who is going to be there and is there a reason to stay after dark?(event and group personal planns)  Does someone have an idea for the empty participation time and is willing to emplament the startup plan?  These have always been my considerations. They always very from event to event and situation of the year.

Number two is related to participation of sorts.
Why am I going?  If it is an Elfsea sponsored event, I go to suport the Barony.  Meaning I am hardly in camp, I am volunteering, and there is always something to do.  If it is an away event, I go to see friends from other Baronies and make new friends while I am there.  I wish I had more time to enjoy the many opportunities of our Guilds and Groups to make better my  Baronial connections in them, And life goes on...  The suggestion for cohesion sounds like a winner. It would give a much needed sense of together for many and a haven to find friends and hang out in the empty spaces of time.

The third is related to planning.
For event stewards there is a list of things that must be planned, should be planned, and just don't get around to.  This can provide a wonderful event.  Mind you I have been to events where there was more to do than there was time.  But the opposite is also true.  And dead time may also aply to non-eating periods,  such as after tournament but before court.(clothing changes, settups, etc...) There should be no reason why group games,  bardic preformances, and other ideas can't be suggested to the group and Barony before hand as a gap filler.  It can happen.

Fourth is a prime example of suggestion to group and Barony that is simple, to the point, and a worthy fix that makes sense to me.

Lastly, The Highland Games is a sad situation.
Having been there as a volenteer and as a passerby,  this is a hard loss in many ways.  My understanding was not enough volenteers and the circumstance of participation.  Previous note is that passersby see a vender booth and not a demonstration. Those that do see demo don't stay thru the demonstration. Frustration runs both sides of the coin.  Makes it tough to want to repeat the experience.  Recruitment was the purpose of the demo and to my reconning it has not worked all that well. Though there is something to be said for effort,  this does not seam productive on either part.

I hope these views help.

Lady Leannen MacNeil

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tamara Carlton 
  To: elfsea at lists.ansteorra.org 
  Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 11:41 AM
  Subject: [Elfsea] Issues at hand

  Good morning.

  Now that the list seems to be working again.  I will add my voice to the discussions.

  I still consider my self as being new to the SCA and therefore can see
  issues with new blood 
  where experience blinds us.

  1, Warlord and other recent events have ended at the 4pm court.  Because
  we are only 
  willing to travel a couple of hours, home is close and easy to leave at
  that point.  I left 
  unexpectedly early from Warlord this year.  I had planned to stay until Monday
  morning.  However, at 
  5pm on Sunday, everything was over and there wasn't ANYTHING planned
  after
  that to keep 
  me.  I watched as most of the tents came down and residence left.  Not
  wanting to be the 
  only ones left at camp again, I also left and was home before dark.  Not
  really worth pulling 
  out the whole kit for just one night.  Because of this I may consider
  day
  tripping even 
  Warlord.  It was actually disappointing.

  My favourite event so far was the DFT Guardian in 2007.  The evening
  potluck dinner after 
  dark on the tourney field with the finals of the bardic competition was
  a
  treat!  Even the 
  auction was great!

  2, There is a lack of cohesiveness.  We need an Elfsea populas camp
  'Mom'.
  I like the idea 
  of an Elfsea group camp at EVERY local event.  Perhaps a BIG banner for
  us
  to rally under? 
  (A populace banner.) The offer of camping together at Warlord was not
  clear to me, I am 
  sorry I missed that.  

  I know that several of us have started sewing together and plan to make bling for elfsea.  
  This will help the feeling of being part of the group.  Banners,
  banners,
  banners especially 
  ELFSEA banners!

  3,  Ideas for 'dead time'.  Well this only mildly applies.  I would like
  to see a communal 
  dinning area.  Just tables set up where we can bring our own food and
  sit
  with others instead 
  of isolated in our own tent or click.  This will help new people from
  being unwittingly shunned.  Of course an Elfsea camp would solve this.

  Not necessarily a potluck, but that would be great too!

  4, Fighter Practice.  I find Sunday practice frustrating.  Often I miss
  it, or show up when it was 
  cancelled.  When I manage to hit it, I only find it by knowing faces. 
  Where's the banner?
  A simple pop-up with an Elfsea banner would help.  It gives a sense of
  group, and allows 
  newcomers to find us.  I like the idea of making more of it, especially
  on those
  weekends when 
  there isn't an event nearby.

  5, Highland Games.  I chose not to respond for the free tickets back on
  May 1st.  I pay my 
  way in anyway.  I will be going even if Elfsea does not.  Volunteers do
  not usually make solid 
  plans 5 weeks out with several events in between.  Then next time I
  heard
  anything about it, 
  it was cancelled.  The only thing I can grasp is that we lost faith that
  people will come 
  through. From what I have seen, Elfsea people will step up to the task
  when the time comes.  
  More reminders and requests might help.  

  I hope my comments further the discusion and do not cause hurt feelings.

  Lady Caitrina

  Tamara
  Volunteers at all-con.org

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