[MR] Please Boycott Unevent (Long reply)

[Signora Sveva Lucciola]

Yes, I do seem to remember you raising this issue last year, but, as
you have raised the following points again, here are my some what
differing views.

> Item one: In the last year, the Kingdom has made absolutely no effort
> to make Unevent more accessible to all Atlantians, especially those
> in
> the northern part of Atlantia.

A) This location actually is pretty centrally located for the entire
Kingdom 
and 
B) Kingdom events are where groups have offered to host them. On some
occasions multiple bids come in and the powers that be are able to
choose between better sites or better locations, etc. but more often
than not there is only one bid...and sometimes not even that. Then the
Kingdom has to go around begging people to host their event.

> Item Two:  The calendar date for Unevent is absolutely atrocious.

Granted my husband and one of my best friends always seem to have their
birthday on this weekend, but, from a "for the good of the many" view
point, this weekend is pretty good. The warmer months are always taken
up with events that need outdoor activities (even Universities have
some outdoor classes!). And January already has 12th Night, so I don't
see adding a second Kingdom event in there.   

> At last year's unevent, that I attended, I learned nothing new that I
> had not already read on the Merry Rose or had already been told by my
> seneschal.  

Sounds like you're more dissatisfied with the actual concept of
Unevent, more than the time or place! 

The subject of unevent itself was absolutely passed over
> with no discussion at all, even though many Atlantians had expressed
> their displeasure of the place and time of unevent. 

Unevent is not like your local meeting. Time is very short to cover
what those holding meetings feel they need to touch on. I don't know
exactly who and where you expected there to be a discussion of Unevent
itself, but for it to have been on the "agenda" for that event it would
have had to have been brought up and considered of utmost importance
before hand. 

Moving the time would be a change to the Kingdom calendar and therefore
Kingdom law. To do that I would suggest you focus your attention on
Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, and the Kingdom Seneschal. But
understand that a lot of previous thought and planning has already gone
into forging a schedule of events that is most acceptable to the
majority and they may not feel your arguments are valid. 

You mentioned that "many" Atlantians expressed their displeasure. When?
Where? How do you define many? Where these people who were required to
attend Unevent? Did they express their displeasure in any official way?
(And no, this list is not an official way)

Apparently these
> discussions at unevent are not for the good of all, only for the
> good,
> and aggrandisement of some special few.

The "discussions" at unevent are for the good of all..but not
necessarily for the control of all. For the officer holders to meet
face to face, and the Kingdom officer be able to quickly pass
information on to their local officers, and possibly help solve some
problems. Several Kingdom officers have scheduled "office hours" for
people to work on problems directly one on one. It is also for the
Orders to have an opportunity to have a closed meeting without having
to juggle it around fighting or A&S judging or resort to only
discussing things on-line (although they still have to juggle with
their other orders and officer meetings). And for the Royalty to be
able to touch base with all these groups and relay any special
instructions they have, or even just let them know the work they are
doing is valued and important.  

> 
> With gasoline at an all time high, how can this Kingdom not do what
> is
> right? It is already a stretch on my budget normally, but in
> December, with the holidays, it is simply not do-able this year.

If it is so hard for you then you just shouldn't do it. It is not
REQUIRED for most citizens. Local officers who should be there can
always send a proxy in their place or contact their Kingdom officer to
let them know that they are unable to attend. (But you should NOT treat
your officer to a tirade about why you think it is at a bad time or
place...he or she has had no control over that!)

(Personally I feel the arguments of gas prices and holidays to be a bit
lame. The is one of the best events to car pool to, as you don't need
to bring anything but your little old self, and the holidays come every
year, so you should be budgeting for them already. And this doesn't
even fall on a holiday like some other Kingdom events. But each of us
has the right to choose what is make or break for them on each event.
For myself, the Spring is particularly hard as I'm trying to get my
garden in and there are many other fun things going on outside the
SCA.)   

> Unevent should be permanently somewhere in the middle of Atlantia and
> at another time. With attendance low at Universitys', why not replace
> Summer University with unevent? These are doable things that would
> benefit everyone in Atlantia.

I'm glad you actually offered a suggestion rather than just
complaining. However, your suggestion seems to be for other people to
do all the work to solve something they do not see as a problem. I
don't think the Summer University attendance is down all that much (as
well as it being one of the best Universities for outside classes), so
I personally would be much offended by replacing it with Unevent. So
no, I strongly disagree with you that it would benefit EVERYONE in
Atlantia.

> So please, consider boycotting unevent. 

And consider why you feel strongly enough to want to bring down and
event that doesn't hurt you. If you can't go, or really don't want to
go...then PLEASE don't! But let those of us who would like to do so.

Don't just discuss this ad
> nauseum, vote with your feet, and don't go.

Of course, if you're an officer who is expected to be there, you should
let your Kingdom officer know that you aren't coming and why...and if
you are supposed to be representing a local group, perhaps you should
let that group know that you won't be there to represent them. Perhaps
someone else will be willing to fill that duty.

These opinions are solely my own, and you don't have to agree with
them. Frankly, I don't expect you will. Personally, I hope to be at
Unevent for my order meetings, but with a toddler in my life, nothing
is definite! I don't expect anyone to lose out by my absence but
myself.   

Sincerely, 
Signora Sveva Lucciola






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