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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I haven't commented on this out in a public forum
yet so here's my two cents on it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I was told about this I was taken outside and
told from a range of ten feet and reluctantly. With good reason. I
raged. I screamed. I cried. I cursed my enemies (real and
imagined), total strangers, and dear friends with the same vile tongue. I
composed an elaborate conspiriracy theory involving crowns, great officers,
blackmail, revenge, cowardice, and cast of hundreds. A little to much
bureacracy for Shakespeare but a compelling plot nonetheless, best told at
night with dramatic lighting(hot cocoa optional). Like all such theories it
was compelling, lined up with all known facts, made sense with the
personalities involved, and couldn't be proved or disproved either
way.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So other than some emotional catharsis and a basis
for a bard piece what did I accomplish? Nothing. Nothing wasn't
going to do anyone any good. I may have felt better but was that going to
fix anything? Was pointing at whoever I blamed this week and calling them
a Son of a Bit** going to save Blacklake, the other groups, the west?
No.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>No one feels good about this. No one
should. No one that I have met, talked to, corresponded with, or discussed
with likes what is happening. No One. That is the fact of the
matter. I won't say that someone somewhere isn't doing a happy
dance. Human nature allows for serial killers and child molesters so there
may be someone who is happy about whats going on, but if there is I dont know
them. So stop the blame game please. It's not accomplishing a damn
thing but making everyone more angry and bitter. When bad things happen
those that survive it feel guilty. Ask a shrink and they will tell you all
about it. They will also tell you about the tendency of those that are
victims to lash out at those that are not. 'What makes you better than
me? Why me? You must be part of it!' I believe it's called
Transference. In period we would be burning people at the stake or hanging
them for being witches and making a pact with the devil so that evil things
wouldn't happen them but to everyone else. Instead we spread rumor and
write nasty emails. Flame them on the internet instead of at the
stake. A fine distinction worthy of the SCA, modern materials for a period
activity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pug isn't the devil. Nor is Ulsted, Aaron,
Julia, Chaing, Kainin, Gavin, the shire of Trelac, the Barony of Bonwicke, the
Great Officers of State, prominent members of other shires in the west, or
anyone that wants the money from Gothic. Or me. I'm sweet, cuddly,
and generally well loved.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So where does that leave us? Well it leaves
me without a villain for my bardic, but besides that it leaves all of us in
the same place. Work the problem. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Everyone involved screwed up to some extent and now
we need to fix those mistakes. Everyone get up and move. If one of
the problems is how we are doing the paperwork call the regional/kingdom
officers and get a time you can sit down in person or over the phone and go over
every line. You may think they are putting to much emphasis on that but
get real. This is a kingdom that covers more inhabited landmass than
almost any other(I believe it's the third) and has about 5000 people
playing at any given time. Those reports are all they have to go on in
some cases. To think that they can run it in the same casual way we run
our local groups is wrong, bordering on stupid. Go hold a kingdom office
if you don't believe me. That difficulty goes up by an order of magnitude
at the corporate level. The paperwork isn't more important than the
people. At that level it almost IS the people. Thats unfortunate but
it's what has to be. Don't like it? Join the BoD and then go get to know
every single person in the SCA. I'll wait.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me also say this. I-20 is a two way
street. There's some construction around Eastland but it's not bad.
No more complaining about none of them coming out here till we get out there
more. BTW I'm going to Squires and Cadets and Steppes Warlord in May if
someone wants a ride.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Do some demos. Population is a big concern
and one demo a year isn't going to cut it. We should also talk to everyone
that comes up and call those who are interested, dont wait for them to call
you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In April the BoD is meeting in Dallas. We are
on the agenda and will have time to speak with them. Show up. Show
up in hope. Show up willing to roll up your sleeves and work for what you
love. Show up in humility knowing that we did make mistakes (and we did,
deal with it). Show up proud in that no matter what happens we will
continue to be who we are and can overcome whatever comes our way. Show up
and be counted as one people willing to do whatever is needed to convince them
that we should exist. Again, I'll be there, let me know if you need a
ride. Oh and if you're going to rant, rave and call people names, do us
all a favor and stay home. Makes torches to run through the streets
and wave in the air. It's period and at least we'll have some
torches.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gerrold Von Drachenhohle</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>