[Sca-cooks] Fwd: Please Post to Web and cross-post everywhere- From Pennsic Mayor

Mon Jul 12 18:50:32 PDT 2010

I very much wonder where he's gotten it in his head that it is
unlawful for under age people to learn about brewing. Certainly it;s
an unlawful activity for them to practice, just as it's unlawful for
American citizens to distill potable alcohol, regardless of age, but
there is nothing unlawful about learning about brewing- or pretty much
anything else, for that matter.

On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 7:28 PM, Elaine Koogler <kiridono at gmail.com> wrote:
> For those who have wondered, here is the Pennsic Mayor's explanation of the
> new policy regarding youth.
>
> Kiri
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: <wildecelery at aol.com>
> Date: Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 2:31 PM
> Subject: [Sca-cooks] Please Post to the Web and cross-post everywhere- From
> Pennsic Mayor
> To: SCA_Childrens_Officers at yahoogroups.com,
> society_youth_forum at yahoogroups.com, JolieH2000 at aol.com,
> sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org, Freeholdrk at yahoogroups.com,
> SCA-FREEHOLD at list.uvm.edu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Spiegel <vondervelde at gmail.com>
>
>
> To: webpage at pennsicwar.org; publicinfo at pennsicwar.org;
> culturalaffairs at pennsicwar.org; eventresources at pennsicwar.org;
> university at pennsicwar.org; aspoint at pennsicwar.org
> Sent: Mon, Jul 12, 2010 2:23 pm
> Subject: Please Post to the Web and cross-post everywhere- From Pennsic
> Mayor
>
>
> >From the Mayor of Pennsic 39 Concerning Minors in A&S Classes
>
>
>
> Greetings to all from the Mayor of Pennsic 39!
>
> Let me first say that the war is coming together very well and we are
> looking forward to many great activities and wonderful memories.
>
> I am writing to clear some air and to take direct charge of the minor
> policies at the University. Please note as I continue this letter that all
> relevant youth policies dealing with young children are still in full
> effect.  (See Rule 11 of the Pennsic Site Rules) I do want to review with
> everyone the current policy in the University dealing with the teens (and
> twelves J ). Where do we stand today? As of the last update, Minors (12-17)
> were allowed to attend Adult A&S Classes if they were escorted by a
> responsible adult appointed by their parent or legal guardian. Each escort
> was allowed to be responsible for more than one child, but the escort did
> have to remain in the class while the minor was there.
>
> The question has come up many times demanding to know why this change is
> being made. Well, there are many reasons a few of which I will share here
> (mostly to try and keep this letter under the length of my dissertation J).
>
> On March 25, 2010, a post went out from the SCA Board of Directors as
> follows:
> Announcement from the Board of Directors, SCA, Inc.
> The directors and corporate staff have the unfortunate obligation to inform
> the membership that the SCA, Inc. has been named in a civil suit seeking
> damages as a result of sexual misconduct of an adult toward minors.
> Unfortunately, at the time the activities occurred, the individual was a
> member and officer of the SCA. The SCA clearly did not sanction the alleged
> misconduct, had no prior knowledge of the misconduct, and had never received
> any complaints concerning the adult involved prior to his arrest.
>
> This suit originated in Pennsylvania, USA, and was filed in January of 2010.
> Complete information regarding this suit is not yet known, as it is still in
> the preliminary stages.
>
> The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. intends to take all appropriate
> actions available to defend itself against the allegations in these suits.
>  As we are able, we will continue to update our membership.
> Board of Directors
> SCA, Inc
> As any responsible autocrat of Pennsic might do, I went to my senior staff
> and requested that they review all of their policies and procedures to make
> sure that we were in complete compliance with ALL youth policies. They did
> an amazing job to review ALL Pennsic policy, rules, procedures and
> activities in two months in a herculean effort. They could not have made me
> any more humble to know how hard they were willing to work. At the May Staff
> Meeting held during Aethelmearc War Practice (a GREAT event, FYI), we put
> our pieces on the table and created solutions to any problems or grey areas
> found. The Division of Cultural Affairs’ policies were found to be grossly
> out of compliance, and the staff began working on a fix for them.
>
> As we began to overhaul these youth procedures and policies, we began to get
> feedback from a wide variety of sources: Society, teachers, students, past
> staff. We discovered that we had grabbed the proverbial tiger by the tail.
> We had much larger issues that we had thought at first. Many issues began to
> be brought forth. Minors received materials through teachers at the
> University that they legally were not allowed to posses. Minors were
> attending classes that were not appropriate for their age, and teachers were
> unsure of the mundane laws dealing with their topics and Minors (brewing for
> an example). Issues were raised about the uncomfortable situation of going
> up to a minor and requesting their age (think man in 40’s and girl in teens…
> creepy much?). Many, many discipline issues were raised dealing with the
> behavior of some teens during classes in the past (I will not innumerate
> these to protect the children from embarrassment). With all of these issues
> raised and many discussions held, the staff created the only policy they
> felt they could legitimately execute with the resources they had. There were
> many potential policies put forth, but time and time again the staff ran
> into the wall of resources, background checks, and volunteers.
>
> The great thing about SCA people is that when there is a dire need to help
> children, people are eager to step forward. We are not a Society of
> Complainers, but a Society of Doers. Since our most recent postings we have
> had many wonderful people step forward and offer their time to help. These
> people (many of whom have SCA background checks) are willing to give up
> parts of their vacations to help try to give our University more resources.
> So with these new resources, we are able to set a new policy and add a new
> service to facilitate our solutions.
>
> New Pennsic University Teen Minor Policy (12-17): (Established 7/12/2010)
> Minors are welcome to attend Pennsic University classes. Individual teachers
> and classes may have restrictions due to topic, materials, request of
> instructor and such. Unruly or disruptive youth will be asked to leave the
> class as per Society Seneschal Handbook Policy. Classes specifically geared
> for minors are handled through Youth Point and will adhere to all relevant
> policies for youth activities. No classes through the University and Youth
> Point specifically for minors will be permitted in private camps or merchant
> booths. Further, any minor who wishes to attend regular University class in
> a private encampment or in a merchant booth must be escorted by a
> responsible adult appointed by their parent or legal guardian.
>
> New Pennsic University Service:
> The Pennsic University Ambassadors are a group of volunteers organized
> through A&S Point to aid teachers and students. They will roam through the
> University areas prepared to help teachers if the “Two Deep Leadership
> Model” is necessary, aid with basic classroom discipline if required, and
> assist all members of the populous to find class times and locations as
> desired. Our Ambassadors are there to help with quick easy questions. For
> more in depth questions and normal University business, please visit A&S
> Point in the middle of the University.
>
> Again, please let me thank all of the staff and volunteers who are making
> this new addition possible. If you would like to volunteer to help with the
> ambassadors, please come past A&S Point and sign up! Further, if you are SCA
> background checked and would like to lend a hand we are in desperate need of
> you. Please come past A&S Point and speak to us.
>
> Please note that the Pennsic Book went to press almost a month ago and the
> material dealing with this issue will be incorrect. We will make available
> at Troll an insert updating this policy, but please know that on this issue
> the original published text will be incorrect J.
>
> Sincerely,
> Master John von der Velde
> Mayor, Pennsic 39
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sca-cooks mailing list
> Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org
>
>
>
> --
> "It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is
> invisible to the eye."
> --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
> _______________________________________________
> Sca-cooks mailing list
> Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org
>

-- 
Saint Phlip

So, you think your data is safe?
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/23/schneier.google.hacking/index.html?hpt=T2

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Priorities:

It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.

.I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary
notices I have read with pleasure. -Clarence Darrow