[MR] Unevent?

Tue Nov 21 17:28:20 PST 2006

Not that my opinion matters a great deal, but there are two main issues I 
have with Unevent, (that have already been mentioned I believe) that I think 
Vels' suggestion would solve enough to have merit to b.e worthy of 
consideration.

1)  Money on an already stretching budget.  Currently, Unevent is right 
around three weeks to Christmas.  I'm on a tight budget normally, and 
travelling more than 3 hours in any direction puts a serious pain on the 
money allocated to travel home for the holidays.   As it is, I'm going to 
try arrange to car pool with people from my barony, or I won't be able to 
make it, simply because I can not afford the trip solo and still see my 
family for Christmas.   Luckily, I live in a wonderfully large Barony, so 
that isn't a large concern (yet)..   But this is the time of year when 
everyone has extra expenses, so that putting a "mandatory attendance" in 
terms of someone wanting to fulfill their obligations of their office, at 
this time, is an unecessary hardship and stressor.   (I am not saying 
Unevent is mandatory by the rule book.  I'm referring more to personal 
obligation to the Dream that tends to make baby Pelicans.)

Two unevents would not alleviate this problem.

Is there a reason (Fiscal year ending, tax related reasons, legal reasons)  
that unevent is held in the last month of the year?   If so, moving it to 
take place of Winter University is not viable, however I don't know if this 
has been discussed previously.

Please note, I do not intend this to be a complaint of how far it is, or 
criticize the hosts.  Frankly, in my poor opinion, not having to travel for 
Unevent is the group's meager reward for finding a site, putting together a 
bid, putting forth all the effort of hosting the event, making arrangements. 
  It is wonderful of anyone to do it considering the potential for financial 
burden upon the group, and their selflessness shouldn't be seen as anything 
but a gift to the kingdom.

2)  Time.  Three weeks before Christmas is usually the time to do 
preparation like sending cards, making gifts, wrapping presents.  I, 
speaking as an officer, would be much more prepared to speak, to plan, to 
make comments, to run a meeting, in a time that isn't fraught with frantic 
holiday stress.  I don't even have children of my own to be frantic for, so 
I don't know how parents manage it.

I'm stating the obvious, but when I read Vels suggestion, (despite having a 
soft spot in my heart for Winter University as my first event ever), it 
makes not only a great deal of sense, but it would ease immensely issues 
that I am sure I am not alone in having.

Basically in an overly wordy way, could this please be considered as a 
course of action, or discussion offered as to why this isn't viable?

Sincerely,
Lady Livia Zanna
Dean of the Pages Academy
and Scrivener Royal

>From: "Vels inn Viggladi" <velsthe1 at hotmail.com>
>To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
>Subject: Re: [MR] Unevent?
>Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:39:45 -0500
>
>
>I'm probably tipping over someone's sacred cow with this, but all things 
>considered, might it be beneficial in the overall to move Unevent to 
>February, and only have two Kingdom Universities rather than three?
>
>My reasoning is thus - travel, traffic and all is becoming more and more 
>problematic. Over the last couple-three years this has been a repeating 
>thread every year. The time of year, the travel times, and fuel prices all 
>combined, December may be more difficult than it needs to be for a common 
>responsibility as it is.
>In February, those who have limited vacation time will have just received 
>their new allocation of days off for the year, so are more likely to have 
>the time to take a day if it is a long distance to Unevent. "Saving" a 
>vacation day may work for some, but there are enough times that it seems 
>the universe conspires against you. This also avoids fall sporting events, 
>holiday travel and traffic,  seasonal constraints, and usually fuel prices 
>in February tend to be a few cents lower than during the Thanksgiving to 
>New-Years travel window.
>Someone will be inconvenienced, but, this approach appears to be less 
>inconveniencing than the current schedule.
>
>As to choosing to remove the Winter University to make space for this- 
>Another thread in the last year or so had to do with dwindling 
>participation at University, both on instructors and students, while there 
>was also a University session cancelled because there were no bids to hold 
>the event. I am certain there are those who couldn't bear the idea of one 
>less Kingdom University. But if we are at the same time having issues 
>getting three University sessions a year, and having issues with good 
>attendance and instructors, then it may be a good idea to cut it back to 
>two per year and free up the weekend for another use. Moving down the line, 
>this also relieves some of the density of events in the late fall, which 
>was another recently discussed issue on this list.
>
>I don't think combining the two would be a wise idea, as then it would lead 
>to space restrictions and conflicts, as well as (expectedly) some 
>displeasure of officers who can't make it to a class they have signed up 
>for, but are later found to be in conflict with a meeting.
>
>For those who may complain that University is the only time for 
>teaching/learning/getting credit; University shouldn't be the only time to 
>learn or teach, it is convenient, but not the end-all.
>
>
>
>Vels
>
>
>> > Jan - 12th Night
>> > Feb - University
>> > Mar - Kingdom A&S
>> > Apr - Coronation
>> > May - Crown
>> > Jun - University
>> > Jul - N/A
>> > Aug - N/A
>> > Sep - Coronation
>> > Oct - University/Crusades
>> > Nov - Crown
>> > Dec - Unevent
>> >
>> > The only months without a Kingdom Event already are July/August.  One 
>>of
>> > those is prep for Pennsic and the other one half the kingdom is at
>> > Pennsic...
>> >
>> > Orla
>
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