[MR] Site damage

[beth roberts]

   This is an open letter to all of Atlantia. Recently
I called the local Boy Scout Council in my Barony and
they did not want to rent sites to us anymore.  The
Ranger agreed to meet with me and told me that the
last 2 times we (the SCA) used boy scout camps in
North Carolina, we ”trashed” them. Even more
unsettling was that we are the  ONLY group they said
they have trouble with.  When I asked what he meant by
”trashed” he said the sites were left dirty, that the
kitchens were dirty, that there were beer and wine
bottles and cans everywhere, that locked buildings
were broken into and that we drove into areas that
were gated or chained off. That pots and other kitchen
utensils were stolen and the campgrounds and bathrooms
were also dirty.  I was dismayed. This is not the SCA
I have known for 10+ years. We used to have a sterling
reputation, but the last time I autocrated an event at
King’s Mountain in South Carolina, someone left
candles burning in a cabin and not only nearly caught
it on fire, (the wall and window were singed), but
tons of wax had to be scraped off the window sill,
walls and floor from candles left burning all weekend.
Also a toilet seat and tank cover were broken and a
fire pit was left unattended. I was working troll at a
Boy Scout camp once and was cursed by a man who wanted
to bring beer on site, even though it was advertised
in the Acorn as a bone dry site, all Boy Scout camps
are.
 We cannot afford to loose any more sites. For one,
there are not that many available to us, and if we
have to use more commercial sites, we will have to pay
$20-$30 per person to come to an event. New sites are
also requiring in the future to have an exact list of
who is attending, so there would only be advance
registration with no refunds. All merchants would have
to have expensive liability insurance.  North Carolina
State Parks will not allow selling of anything in the
parks, so no feast and no merchants and they lock
their gates at night, so you cannot arrive late or
leave once the gates close, sometimes as early as 6pm.
No later than 9pm, and they also ban alcohol and
smoking.
 The time has come that we hold people accountable for
their actions.  If you willfully damage anything at a
site, bring alcohol onto a dry site, or violate any
rule that could result in loss of a site, you should
be banished.  We need to start policing our own
members. Gently, but firmly reminding them that bad
behavior is not tolerated and all will be held
accountable. It spoils it for everyone when a few
people cannot obey simple rules. Many sites ban
alcohol, smoking and pets, for their own liability,
and if you cannot go without alcohol for a day or so,
then stay home or day trip. Several people have
complained about this problem, so now we have it out
in the open. We pride ourselves on chivalrous and
polite behavior, to leave a site better than we found
it, and we have to get back on track. 



       
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