[Ravensfort] How say you?

Thu Jul 19 12:30:00 PDT 2001

Well said!

         Ld. William SkullSplitter

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "jacinth" <jacinth at mail.ev1.net>
Reply-To: ravensfort at ansteorra.org
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 11:14:50 -0500

>Unto the populace and all guests reading this list:
>
>After reading the backlog of messages in my mailbox from this
list, I
>feel honorbound to come forward.  I really hate to open myself up
to
>flames and argument, especially after all of the acid and bile I
have
>read on this list, but I think I will say my piece and get it
over with
>so that I can relieve myself of some of the anguish this has been
>causing me and I believe we have all had enough of that on this
>subject.  I'd prefer to speak to everyone individually to prove
that I
>am sincere, but I don't think that will happen before more
serious harm
>is done.  I am going to be brave; please listen with an open
heart....
>
>On July 7, 2001, we were given the announcement of who the
rightful
>heirs of their Sable-winged Excellencies would be:  Niklas and
Kezia.
>While I was relieved that I would not have to walk in their
shoes, I
>did feel a sort of trepidation at the decision.  Mostly, I knew
that
>it was likely not going to be good news for some folk in our
family.
>I am a peacemaker at heart, and I am devoted to the softer arts; I
>truly would prefer that everyone could live and play together
happily.
>I would like to state that Their Royal Majesties did not make this
>decision lightly, as they had a very hard decision to make about
who
>would be the new Baron and Baroness; each and every candidate had
good
>qualities that made them a desirable choice... all had strong
points
>and weak points.
>
>While I would have prefered an open vote, I really doubt that it
would
>have stilled the complaints.  I personally feel that I am an
adult and
>quite capable of handling the knowledge that I am not the most
popular
>(which I've really never cared a hang about, anyway), or that
there are
>candidates that have more qualifications (I am what I am, so what
does
>it matter?).  Those who call me friend and sister accept me for
who I am
>and that is enough for me.  It is splitting hairs to complain
over the
>poll; I say that we were all equally well liked and probably came
down
>to the second line: who else would you like as the next B&B?
Niklas
>and Kezia would not have gotten the nod if there hadn't been at
least
>that much, I'm sure.  After all, it has been pointed out several
times
>that this is after all is said and sifted a POLL.
>
>I think that Athaulf is quite right that the complaints are not
>necessarily causal to the announcement; that being the case, I
think
>that those that are dissatisfied or unhappy should make
themselves part
>of the solution instead of remaining part of the problem.  The
trouble
>is, it is easy to complain; the hard part lies in the fact that
some
>people are not willing to do anything about it.  Do you think
that just
>because we have a Baron and Baroness that you have to ask for
permission
>to do things like they are your Mommy and Daddy (no offense
intended)?
>It is usually polite to do so if it directly involves them, but on
>things like 1) should we meet and do A&S, 2) I need to work on my
>armor, can we get together so you can help me, 3) my fighting is
out of
>practice, and so is so-and-so, lets get together and work on it...
>these do not require permission, so if you feel you want to
organize
>something, DO IT!  The biggest thing I have heard is that there
has
>been little attention to the Southern part of the Barony; if there
>isn't something in your area and you don't want to drive to
Huntsville
>(which is a big complaint), then set something up!  Time and
again I
>have offered to do A&S for anyone in Spring, Conroe, and the
Woodlands;
>I hear of people who are interested, but when I scheduled
something no
>one showed up (except you my dear Clarissima... okay, and
Hrafna).  I
>challenge you:  if you want me to teach a class, I'll do it or
find
>someone who can (if it is something I have no experience in).
You get
>me a time and place, and I am there.  If you don't know how to
organize
>it, then ask someone who does!  I'd happily give you advice on it
from
>my experiences.  If you are going to talk the talk, then walk the
>walk.  If there is something else bothering you, then find
someone who
>will listen AND help you resolve it (don't just use it as a b**ch-
>fest).  If you have a problem, I would be happy to listen and
help you
>get it fixed; I may not be Baroness, but I know how to work in the
>system.  Honestly, ask yourself what you really want.  Are you
>complaining just to complain, or do you have a legitimate gripe?
Is
>there something that YOU can do about it?  One thing that I have
learned
>is that you have to take ownership in the problem before it will
be
>solved; don't expect someone else to do it for you.  If more
people
>kept that in mind, then perhaps more could be happier.  I can go
on and
>on about this (it is one of my biggest gripes), but I can't take
>ownership of other peoples problems; at this point, I am probably
>preaching to the choir, but maybe someone is listening?
>
>As for forming a totally separate group, I believe that Cedric
has a
>right to do what he feels is best.  I respect his desire to
support
>the people in the area, however I do not agree that this is the
right
>time and place.  The way I see it, a group is a personification of
>identity; you feel like you belong to a group.  That is why we had
>groups like Bois de Argeant and such... people felt alienated and
>thought they had no identity....  I am sad to think that feelings
have
>degenerated to a point where some of our own members no longer
feel
>that the are a part of Raven's Fort.  I challenge Niklas and
Kezia to
>change this feeling by doing what it takes to include EVERYONE so
that
>we all can be a family again; if someone organizes a regular
meeting,
>show up occasionally.... don't expect everyone to kowtow in
>Huntsville.  Meanwhile, I will do my part; I will support A&S in
the
>area for anyone who is interested.  If there is anything else I
can do
>to serve my Barony, the Baron and Baroness has only to let their
desire
>be known to me.
>
>At any rate, now is the time when we should be standing firm and
>supporting the Barony!  We have the best group in the Kingdom.  I
know
>it, and others know it, too.  Give Niklas and Kezia a chance
before you
>condemn them.  If you have problems after the fact, then bring
them
>up.  Complaining about maybes and probablys before they occur is
self-
>defeating.  Even if you don't like them, at least give the titles
the
>respect that they are due; the Baron and Baroness are the
>personification of the Crown in our group and should be treated
as such.
>
>Vivat the Baron!
>Vivat the Baroness!
>Vivat Raven's Fort!
>
>Warm Regards,
>
>-Jacinth de Warwick-
>AoA, OST, ORH (most especially)
>
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>Ravensfort at ansteorra.org
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>

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