Message-Id: <Uhgp0re00WB657a50w@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 1994 23:29:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Schroeder <ds4p+@andrew.cmu.edu>
To: Outbound News <outnews+netnews.rec.org.sca@andrew.cmu.edu>,
        antir@kwantlen.bc.ca, sca-west@ecst.csuchico.edu,
        carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu, e5@uriacc.uri.edu, sca-reform@MIT.EDU
Subject: Unofficial Event Kit

Good gentles all, greetings and kind thoughts your way from Bertram...

I attended the Board Meeting.  I was less than thrilled with the
various low-level decisions made, though the concept of a Grand
Council that will help map out the future of the SCA is not a
*bad* idea.  It's just that a two-year time-frame makes its
efforts less than useful in the short run, and it's in the 
short run that we'll have to cope with filing waivers after
waivers, onerous exchequer policies, and $3 fees from all
who are not "paid members."

  I'd like to propose something that's a POSITIVE step
  in the process that can be taken now, soon, in the
  near future.

  We've all talked about the alternative of holding more
  unofficial events.  I'd like to propose we get busy at
  figuring out how to do so more easily.

  We need to create a "How to throw an unofficial event"
  booklet or flyer that shows people how to find sites
  that may accept us without requiring insurance, how
  to advertise unofficial events, how to *get* insurance
  (perhaps through the Living History Association), how 
  to create useful waivers if need be, and so on.

  This would not and should not be viewed as a replacement
  for the *Society*, but as a world-wide alternative to the 
  *Corporation* and a place to "play-test" how to set things 
  up in a simpler and less expensive way.  I envision it as
  something short and sweet that can be easily duplicated
  and circulated, electronically and in hard copy form.

  VOLUNTEERS are welcomed to step forward and help with:

      o Exploring options for insurance (like the LHA)

      o Looking into waiver requirements

      o Researching alternative site ideas

      o Helping with art-work/copy for the booklet

      o Suggesting "names" for this service

      o Determining and solving international issues

      o Ideas for how to get the word out

      o Adding more good items to this list... 

  By setting up such a service we will have practical experience
  with insurance issues, with waiver issues, with communications
  issues, and so on.  This information should be invaluable to
  the Grand Council as they evaluate alternatives for the future
  direction of the Society.  Perhaps, with luck, many of the ideas
  we are able to "play test" will be included in the Grand Council's
  recommendations and we may be able to end up with a Corporation
  that is more sensitive to the burdens its current regulations
  place on participants, autocrats, officers, and so on.

  SO. I'm asking, friends.  Is anyone interested in working 
  with me to help prepare a "kit" for helping autocrats put 
  on unofficial events?  How 'bout folks interested in
  running such unofficial events?

  This is exciting!  I look forward to hearing from you.

    Many thanks -- my best -- Bertram

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
         'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 
         'Tis the gift to come down   where we ought to be.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 Bertram of Bearington . Debatable Lands . AEthelmearc . East Kingdom . SCA
 Dave Schroeder . Technical Manager, CIScorp . Pittsburgh . PA 412.731.3230