[MR] Vivats to that 5%!

[Glynis Gwynedd]

I believe that the folks working at the event sitting troll and MOL,
heralding the list and court and camp, manning the heraldic consult table,
marshalling the list, marshalling the archery range, arranging and
monitoring children's activities were included in the 5% that he was
speaking of.
 The other 95% would be the ones who blow in, attend the event, make the
messes and don't even pick up after themselves, much less help pick up at
the end of the event.
 Events have, in my opinion, changed in purpose and presentation, without
anyone really noticing it. I believe that many folks may have the idea that
coming to an event is something like coming to a ren-faire, only one where
they get to play too. I know that many people my age (29) and younger have
grown up in a world where you pay to get in, you do whatever you paid for,
and you leave.
 I don't think they realize that there is a need for helpers to run the
event. As a Society we have grown to encompass folks from all ages and
backgrounds, and I'd say a lot of that 95% was never around in the days when
an event was put on by everybody for everybody to enjoy. As a newcomer,
finding Highland River Melees 10 years ago, I never had a clue that there
was a need to help out at events. For that matter, it really wasn't until
the past couple of years (when I served as Deputy Autocrat for Highland
River Melees the past 2 years) that I realized that there even WERE all
those other things that needed to be done.
 I was surprised the first time I heard someone say something along the
lines of "This is the first event I've been to in 4 years that I didn't have
to run something." Shocked, even, that a person would go to that many events
and actually WORK all of them.
 It is my feeling that if this is to be addressed, it should be handled
differently as newcomers come into the groups, and perhaps be gently
addressed to the older newcomers who are still around. I truly don't think
folks think about just how much work there is to be done "behind the scenes"
both running an event, and running a group.
 I also say Vivats to those who help, but more Vivats to those who help
others know they NEED help and contribute to the solution of the problem.
 This posting is in no means a rant, rave, or chastisement of any one
person, merely a statement of my feelings on the matter.

 On 10/26/05, Lucinda Welenc <lwelenc at cablespeed.com> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 13:50:54 -0400
> oldstormcrow at aol.com wrote:
> > Many vivats to that 5% of event attendees who actually
> >help out! A rather dismal percentage, wouldn't you say?
> >Why is it that the cook(s), kitchen staff, autocrat(s),
> >and a tiny handful of other folks are the only ones
> >cleaning up after events?
>
> Well, some of us put in time at the event sitting troll
> and MOL, heralding the list and court and camp, manning
> the heraldic consult table, marshalling the list,
> marshalling the archery range, arranging and monitoring
> children's activities -- we also pay our event fee and
> spend the event *working*. It may be what we enjoy doing,
> but that doesn't make it any less 'work' than the kitchen
> crew.
>
> Others have jobs either within the local group or the
> Kingdom, and feel that the many hours of work we put in
> behind the scenes entitles us to go to an event and enjoy
> ourselves. I don't know how many hours it takes for
> Kingdom Chronicler, Seneschal, etc., but when I was Golden
> Dolphin Herald I put in 15 - 20 hours a week at the job --
> at HOME, where no one but my lord was around to see how
> much work I put in. I'm fairly certain that other
> officers put in similar amounts of time. Are we then
> slackers because we attend an event and don't spend the
> whole time also helping in the kitchen?
>
> It takes many hours of work to make our game work -- much
> of it 'invisible' to the casual spectator. Please don't
> be so hasty to tar all of us with the same dirty stick,
> good gentle.
>
> Alanna Volchevo Lesa, OGD
> Blue Crab Herald
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--
~Lady Glynis Gwynedd
Webmistress, Baronial Harper, Barony of Highland Foorde
Cornet herald at-large
"Have you hugged a harp today?"