[Artemisia] Re: Artemisia Digest, Vol 18, Issue 18

[Bartholomew Hightower]

Hi Gefjon,

The truth of your words in clear.  It is undeniable that the only thing that keeps our kingdom running is the tireless efforts of countless named and unnamed individuals who pitch in and get the job done.  Without their work, we simply would not have events to go to.

Perhaps it is just my perspective that differs.  I am fortunate to live in the best group in Artemisia, the Shire of Cote du Ciel, where it seems there is always a hand or two or ten to help when help is needed.  I am proud that I am allowed to represent them as their seneschal.

As their administrive officer, I need to call on them to come and pitch in several times during the year.  Many of them respond, but there are a number of individuals in our shire who simply cannot or will not be there to help when needed -- because of their lives, or their jobs, or even just because they have not the desire to put in all the hours required. 

In my view, it is important for these individuals to know that they are as welcome to come and play as anybody else.  I *want* them to show up and have a good time at our events.  I *want* them to travel to other events if they can.  If they are tired of the SCA grind, I want them to remember what they love about our game.  If they are new to the current middle ages, I want them to find out what the rest of us already know.  

If a person has only a few hours to give to the SCA, I don't want them to spend that time peeling potatoes unless they really like peeling potatoes -- I would much rather them spend their time making memories, because those memories will bring them back when they *do* have time.

-bart





Gefjon wrote:

>
>Hi Bart,
>
>I totally agree that in a volunteer organization such as ours you can't (and
>shouldn't) be able to force anyone to play in a manner that he or she
>doesn't wish to.  That said, many of our groups are small, and if people
>don't support their groups at the local level we would not *have* an
>organization.  For the most part, those who are willing to give their time
>and effort locally are the backbone of the SCA.  They are the ones who do
>the work behind the scenes to put on the events that everyone enjoys.  It
>can be frustrating to see people participating at events hundreds of miles
>from home but never see them when there are things that need doing locally.
>
>
>Gefjon
>  
>