Date: Fri, 11 Mar 1994 11:46:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Christopher Belknap <topher@giant.IntraNet.com>
Subject: RE: A Plot to keep our burough "members"
To: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
Message-Id: <0097B45CC2B8F040.20E02F8B@giant.IntraNet.com>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT


	Greetings,

	I would like politely to disagree with a part of the plan just
	submitted by Elayne.  I think that supporting our fellows in
	the society who might not be solvent enough to afford a
	membership in the SCA Inc is a great idea.  If you wish to do
	so, please GIVE them a membership.  This is noblesse oblige,
	or generosity, and is to be encouraged.  Asking for anything in
	return is indentured servitude.  If you need or want help
	during events with child care etc. then you should arrange to
	hire a willing person and pay them with cash (remembering that
	if it entails more then 50 hours in any quarter that the IRS
	requires payment of social security taxes :-).  They can use
	the cash to buy a membership if that is their desire.

	I realize that this is a fine distinction.  Part of the
	problem lies in the sense of obligation incurred when
	'payment' is fixed and is payed before the rendering of
	services.  For instance, were I to pay X's membership in
	exchange for X's promise to bring me beers at 3 events to be
	named later.  If X was not planning to attend an event, but I
	asked to have beers at that event, X would feel either that he
	was neglecting his obligations to me, or that I was forcing
	him to be at an event (and pay the site fee) which he did not
	wish to attend.  Also if I asked if he was attending the
	event, I could not be completely sure in my conscience whether
	he intended to attend BEFORE I asked.  If the relationship
	became intolerable there is no way to rescind my 'payment'.
	This last point is the difference between employee or
	contractor and indentured servant.

	I think that mixing the mundane obligations with the persona
	ones is a remarkable bad idea.  My persona has sworn an oath
	of service to the Baron, however I (mundane person) do not
	feel obligated in the slightest to perform mundane (even if in
	SCA context) services for him.  (it sounded from Elayne's
	discusion of demoiselles etc. that she was getting too close to
	this for my comfort.)

	Also,  If you wish to GIVE a membership to someone, please
	discuss it with them first.  I realize this is probably common
	sense,  just thought I would make sure.


				In Service to the Baron and the Society,
				I remain,

				Corwyn