[Northkeep] Demos (and some rhetorical questions...)

[Keith Duke]

Ha!....Wellllll... Goodness... Since we're a *nationally* chartered
Non-profit, and there is no quantification *anywhere* of the amount of
education *or* when/where/how it takes place... I think that the demo(s)
they did this year in hmmmm... maybe in Stargate.. Or somewhere in Atlantia
or up in Calontir would fulfill the education requirement... (LOL)
 
My point is that we need not get bogged down in legalities nor references to
legal code, or even legal opinion from any source regardless of
qualification or lack thereof. 
 
Because really - who cares about all that foofah? 
 
A fact of SCA life - We do demos...  Have for years and will continue to do
so, as far a I can see... And it doesn't matter one bit whether they're
required or not.
 
Sometimes they come off well
Sometimes they reek and are a misery to all involved.
Sometimes they are exactly the fun and educational experience that you would
want them to be...
Sometimes they are nothing but free entertainment for the attendees (Think
children's birthday party clown level stuff! Ha!)
 
But, what got me started on this thread... I do have to take a small, and
hopefully polite exception.... *Informing* me (and most adults, I find...)
that I *must* do something, is quite possibly the fastest way known to
creation to either achieve exactly the opposite, or absolutely nothing at
all.  And maybe that wasn't intended in the original post(s). (That is/can
be a limitation inherent in this media) But what came across was *not* a
positive "Wow you guys missed a great demo and I think you would have
enjoyed it" or even "Sorry we didn't see anyone there but it was
fabulous!"...
 
Which gets back to an earlier point in an earlier post - we are all
volunteers in a volunteer organization. And not to put *too* fine a point on
it, people do vote with their feet in any organization like this. Burden
them in some fashion beyond what they are comfortable with - be it
financially, emotionally, time wise - whatever - and they will leave, or
modify their involvement to something smaller, to get back to their comfort
zone... 
 
So - Encourage demo participation? Oh my yes...  I can tell you first hand
that demos can be utterly enjoyable and incredibly fun - I will *always*
remember the extended, exhausting *blast* of a demo we did at Edgefest some
years back.. What a hoot! (and later in the mosh pit - in armor - was fun
too!)
 
And aside from encouraging... Asking nicely and/or reminding
politely...Definitely.
 
I think we'll achieve more of the desired goals with "Carrot motivation",
than with "stick motivation"....
 
 
Again, please keep in mind that my opinions are my own... So, please don't
blame Sir Balvin if you happen to think I'm an idiot.
 
Regards,
 
 
Piotr

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Stewart [mailto:skerritheviking at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 2:09 AM
To: cchipman at nomadics.com; The Barony of Northkeep
Subject: RE: [Northkeep] Demos (and some rhetorical questions...)




That does not change what the IRS interprets it to mean in relation towards
our organization.  Although I kind of like that idea about international
sports.......Combat cardweaving?

skerri





Carl Chipman <cchipman at nomadics.com> wrote: 

Quote (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/501.html
<http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/501.html> ):

 

"Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and
operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for
public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or
international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its
activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or
for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net
earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on
propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as
otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or
intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any
political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for
public office. "

There are no statements in there that say what kinds of education are
required.   Heck if we wanted too, we could seek shelter under the
"international amateur sports competition" clause (we'd be ignoring 9/10ths
of the rest of the SCA in that case though) since we don't provide
facilities or equipment (ok, maybe not due to loaner armour).

Finally, the only members of the SCA are the ones who pay membership.  Since
we allow those who don't to come to classes, events, etc, THEY could be
considered the public too.

Like I said, I think we should do demos, just don't yell "WE HAVE TO!!!".

Jean Paul

Carl Chipman
Nomadics, Inc. <mailto:Inc.cchipman at nomadics.com> 
cchipman at nomadics.com
 <http://www.nomadics.com/> http://www.nomadics.com

 

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