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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Greetings Namron,<BR>I should probably stay out of
what is going on but...here I go. I know I am an outsider to Namron but I hope
some of you think of me as a friend and as such this is why I am sending this
email. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think Master Athelstan, Adena, and others have
the best idea regarding the current issue with the Hospitaller. Personally I can
not help to think there is some misunderstanding in what was said, implied, and
intended. I know Lady Elodie very well as she is a member of the populace in
Northkeep and I can assure you that she did not intentionally imply that Namron
is old, run down, or any such condition, or that you should change your group to
be like any other. Elodie is a very nice person and may have done a poor job of
explaining her decision or the reasons behind them. She has apologized, and that
already says a lot. If you take another look at the letter you can see Elodie
was trying to be nice and considerate of the people who had applied for your
Hospitaller's position she just did not make the best choice of wording to
convey her thoughts. How ever you feel bout how Elodie's email was written my
suggestion is that you take a very deep breath, let that one out, then take
another one, think about it for a little bit then if you still feel you need to
do or say something about this write an email to Lady Elodie or give her a call
and talk with her person to person. The prescribed method of conflict resolution
with in the SCA does say to first try to work out your issue with the party
involved, if that does not work then seek your local Seneschal, or the
individuals direct superior for assistance as an arbitrator. How ever you
proceed I imagine you will see that Elodie did not mean to cause the strife that
is stirring in your Barony, nor did she intend to imply that Namron is "old and
busted".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Writing letters up and down the chain of command
with out first talking to Lady Elodie is going to frustrate more people and make
this issue more difficult than it really needs to be. Also writing letters to
the Kingdom and Crown with out using the proper process can cause grief and
possibly get you considered as a pot stirrer, which I am sure is not anyone's
intention.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you have been to a Seneschal or Hospitaller
meeting at King's Round Table\Red Tape in the last couple of years you know that
the Kingdom and the SCA as a whole is looking for new growth. Administrators
have said multiple times that they would love to see more demos aimed at adults,
especially at Colleges. Why would this be done other than an attempt to get
people at a younger age. Why younger? Because the fact of the matter is that the
average age of people playing right now is higher than it has been in decades
past, and most of us that continue to play are not getting any younger..I keep
hoping that I will get younger but age only runs in one direction :) Right now
the SCA has a low retention for younger adult players all across the known
world. The excitement and enthusiasm of youth is something that
Hopsitallers are encouraged to seek out for recruitment. Moonshadowe a group
founded at a university decades ago, has great success in recruiting and
retaining college age adults. I believe that Lady Elodie's idea was to try to
inspire Namron, a group with an even bigger university, to try and mimic some of
the ideas that Moonschadowe uses for recruitment and retention. I think new
ideas for recruitment and retention may have been Elodie's only other intent
besides naming your new Hospitaller.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>With all that said please forgive my long email and
taking up so much space on your list. I replied simply because I have come to
care about Namron and many of the people there. I have seen all the progress
made in the last three years in your fine Barony. I would hate to see something
as simple as this misunderstanding over a choice of words regarding the
Hopsitallers position cause a black mark in other peoples opinions of how well
Namron is doing. I know that by involving myself I am likely to draw some fire
but I have been thru a lot with folks in your fair Barony already and I know
that I can take it and still remain a friend...if you do not like what I have
said please feel free to seek me out at an event some time soon and let me know.
Regarding this Hospitaller issue I encourage you to do not make more of this
than there really needs to be, please take the time to collect your thoughts and
then talk to Lady Elodie before you do anything else. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Kindly,<BR>Ian </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(posting from Kelandra's
account)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>