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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I was speaking more about the mindset of the people that live in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Many of the Woodlanders (?) work in Houston.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Even those that do not work in Houston head south for entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There are more restaurants and frankly, more everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>That pattern is not easily broken.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Why head north into an area which you are unfamiliar with less to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I lived in the area for over thirty years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Stargate was where I started my SCA life, but switched to Raven’s Fort after a few years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I thought that I could more easily advance my SCA career in a smaller area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>That could not have been more wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Household bias and nepotism are ugly things, but that is another issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>My point is, with no meetings in Conroe, people are more likely to play in Stargate or Gates Edge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Yesterday when I suggested that our B & B should consider stepping down early <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>because they don’t want to make the drive I was dead wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I apologize for overstepping.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have no right to suggest or insight into when it is best for them to do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>What I should have offered as an alternative if the Conroe meetings stop is <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(Don’t be shocked. I’m gonna use the “C” word.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>a discussion about creating a Woodlands / Conroe metroplex canton. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(The Canton of North Star ?)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There have been two failed cantons in Raven’s Fort’s past.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>One in Cleveland and one in Montgomery, both small towns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Both were household cantons which kind of damned them from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>A Woodlands / Conroe canton has a much, much greater chance of success.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It is already the most densely populated area of the Barony.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We have far more active members than the required five minimum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There are already Peers and Royals in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I believe that it would be a very short time before shire elevation and who knows after that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Please do not get me wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Raven’s Fort is my home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I would be very happy if the meetings in Conroe continue and the issue is put to rest... forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>However, if the Conroe meetings do stop, it would put an undue burden on the south barony populace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Logistically, it would allow the SCA to grow and prosper in an under developed area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Ironically, the members in Huntsville might eventually have to drive to College Station for their Populace meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>No one wants to see that happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thank you for your input.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>V NV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org [mailto:ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Darlene Burns<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 04, 2014 5:37 AM<br><b>To:</b> RF<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ravensfort] The demographics of Raven's Fort<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'm not sure I totally agree with you, Marius. It's a 35 minute drive (according to Google maps) to downtown Houston and a 40 minute drive to Huntsville (again according to Google maps). It would look as though The Woodlands are pretty much balanced between the two points. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Now my personal experience is that both of those time estimates are about 20 minutes too optimistic. If I lived on that side of the county, I'd give myself an hour to get to either destination even in the best of traffic. But in most cases, the stretch between Woodlands and Conroe is the heaviest traffic...after that it thins out and you can drive faster. But heading south, it just gets more and more congested. With being at such a balance point, I think what would influence myself would be the people I was driving to be with.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The Shire started initially because drive times into Houston were so awful...and that is back in the 90's. It's only gotten worse in the last 20 years. If I had that history and moved to the center of the county to the Woodlands, I'd have a tendency to drive North rather than South. If all I were considering was the drive times involved.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 4:40 PM, byzytym <<a href="mailto:byzytym@consolidated.net" target="_blank">byzytym@consolidated.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>My point exactly.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We can only take advantage of the fresh blood if we have a presence in the area.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>People in The Woodlands will drive into Houston rather than Huntsville if Conroe is not an option.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>V NV</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org" target="_blank">ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org" target="_blank">ravensfort-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Raven's Fort Ansteorra<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 03, 2014 3:44 PM<br><b>To:</b> Doug Bell; <a href="mailto:ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org" target="_blank">ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ravensfort] The demographics of Raven's Fort</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Very true my friend. On top of that we are about to have to deal with the population explosotion due Exxon-Mobile woodlands new campus. Many families are about to move in our zip codes!<br>Which means fresh blood :)<br>D</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>On Thursday, April 3, 2014 1:02 PM, Doug Bell <<a href="mailto:magnus77840@yahoo.com" target="_blank">magnus77840@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Baron Nicholas and I had this discussion back in the early 2000s while looking at the demographic data for the barony both SCA and real world. He had the data and I had taken some demography classes in my college's Geography department.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Raven's Fort has the area of a small Principality with the population found in many large shires. Rural baronies are not common in the SCA since a barony is usually grounded in a major city. The Province of Mooneschadowe is another example of a rural barony but centered around one small town and college. Raven's Fort was founded as a rural barony with many small population clusters in small towns but scattered over a large area. This is an unusual distribution for an SCA group. This distribution is also why you can't solve the problem of driving distance with cantons. One of these population centers by itself is not large enough to support a stable auxillary group over time.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>As Houston grows outward the barony begins to look like Canada with the population concentrating in the southern zip codes.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Given another 10-15 years this will get to the point where 80-90% of the members will be in the southern quarter of the barony. You will have to manage these changes as best as you can but every future officer in the barony needs to remember the issue.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Countries like Chile, Indonesia, and Russia have some of the same demographic population versus geography issues, so it is not just an SCA creation. Real world nations haven't come up with a perfect solution to population distribution trends either.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><br>safe journeys my friends<br>Magnus</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>_______________________________________________<br>Ravensfort mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org" target="_blank">Ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ravensfort-ansteorra.org" target="_blank">http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ravensfort-ansteorra.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>_______________________________________________<br>Ravensfort mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org">Ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ravensfort-ansteorra.org" target="_blank">http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ravensfort-ansteorra.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>Annes<br>"Munerius Ultra Sanitas" <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>