[Archers] Archery, activities & autocrats

[Martha Fletcher]

Or more to the point -

True, on the day of the event the MIC is in charge of safety but the planning for safety is the venue of the autocrat.

Don't offer activities in the first place that you know you cannot support according to current SCA rules. 

Offering something in the event announcement and then on the day cancelling it because the autocrat did not properly vet the site, is not the way to leave a good impression or encourage people to come back to your groups events. 

Nothing can be done about cancellations due to weather, illness, etc. those things are out of the staff's control, but knowing a site's limitations before hand are not.

Ooof...*jumping off the soapbox*   

Martelle

> My two chickens here- 
> 
> Yes, I feel a good autocrat SHOULD be versed in what a
> particular activity needs. 
> 
> Maybe not to the level of what the group's officer knows,
> but any competent autocrat should know beforehand if the
> event site they are proposing to a group can accommodate all
> the activities they wish to offer. 
> 
> A competent autocrat has lined up their main staff and
> spoken to them about their plans and consulted with them if
> an activity is possible at the site chosen BEFORE the bid is
> submitted. If a site cannot accommodate an activity then OH
> WELL. Site visits for marshal activities HAVE to be done
> BEFORE a bid is submitted, not after.
> 
> This may sound harsh and a tad unforgiving but the autocrat
> is in charge of the safety of the participants. Trying to
> fit 5 pounds of turnips in a 1 lb bag just does not work and
> when things go badly it makes the group and autocrat look
> incompetent.
> 
> As much as we may want to offer something for everyone,
> sometimes we can't, and that's okay.   
> 
> yours,
> Martelle