[MR] Waterbearing proposal comments

[TheWolfhou at aol.com]

Greetings Friends,
 
I know we are tired of hearing of this issue. But having carefully  read  the 
proposed amendment, and listening to some of the comments on the  Merry Rose, 
I do not think it will have much bearing on what we do, at least  in northern 
Atlantia. I don't think we have much "regulated", "official",  "warranted" or 
"controlled" water bearing activity, at least in my neck of the  woods.
 
Re-read the proposal: 
"Proposed language to be added to Corpora:
The activity of providing  beverages to combatants and spectators at SCA
Combat activities is not  regulated, warranted, organized, controlled, or
sanctioned by the SCA, Inc.  or any affiliate or subsidiary entity. All
warrants, authorizations, or other  formal recognition of this activity
are by publication of this change  revoked. This document does not either
address or restrict such volunteer  activity or the methods by which it
occurs."
 
Where I usually play in northern VA, waterbearing is a service. There are  no 
guilds or specific water bearing groups that I would consider "official". So, 
 I don't believe the proposed addition would even be relevent in our area.  
Our canton has squeeze bottles, bottle brush for cleaning, and  proceedures to 
clean them with a bit of bleach added as a  disinfectant after events. The 
supplies are available for whomever wishes  to organize water, gateraide, 
pickles, oranges and pretzels to rehydrate  fighters, archers, throwers, and 
spectators. The person who volunteers to  be in charge of the organization of the 
service for that Event is  called the "Waterbearer" so as to have some form of 
designation with an idea of  what they are doing and some guidelines of needs. 
Shade and sunblocks are also  planned for if needed. Gaterade, foods, and water 
are Event costs to attempt to  prevent dehydration and heat related accidents 
for the attendees. Many attendees  to Events do not come prepared, and 
fighters are not known for remembering  to drink during thier playtime. Most of the 
fighters remember to squrit water  from the bottles rather than sucking the 
water. The waterbearing service  provided is the Autocrat's attempt to prevent 
such preventable accidents.  Nobody is forced to partake. It is an offer if so 
needed and desired. And in  good faith, we try to keep them safe, for we too 
partake. Many times I have  offered water to be told by a fighter that he has 
had a cold and has been  drinking from the water bottle he brought. In gerneral, 
I find induviduals  usually are considerate of others in the matters of not 
spreading germs... and  there has been much education to get it that way. And I 
am running into more  fighters and spectators who are wearing camel packs for 
thier personal water. 
 
Water born illnesses as a whole are a slight risk when compared to  other 
risks, and we are making a mountain out of the mole hill. When you  question the 
possibility of water born illness, do you consider the greater  risks of food 
born illnesses from feasts, dayboards, hospitality setups and even  people 
bringing their own food? That is surely a whole new can of worms not  opened yet. 
Liabilities from injury due to heavy combat, rapier, archery,  thrown 
weapons, childrens activities, dancing, crafting of arts, site and  weather are also 
more likely. So, do we not have any Events for fear of suits? I  think that 
would kill the SCA. Ask yourself, "what is the purpose of the waivers  signed 
either at an event or for the blue card?" Our activities are planned  in good 
faith with the attempts to try to keep participants safe, but the  induvidual 
also has responsibility for thier own safe conduct also. If an  induvidual feels 
an activity (food or drink included) is unsafe, he or she  should refrain 
from doing it. Nobody if forcing a person to fight, craft, eat,  drink, or even 
come to an event or group meeting. There is the measure of  personal attendee 
responsibility and of good faith that those planning and  running an SCA event 
are trying to make it safe.
 
My big concern with the proposed statement is: will it discouage the  
education to learn how to be safety conscious when planning Events? Education is  
good in promoting good habits. By making the statement that waterbearing  is 
unofficial, are we discouraging the education of serving safe  water? Classes on 
serving water safely needs to be addressed (such as cleaning  bottles with some 
manner of sterilization, not using milk jugs that may have  milk residues, 
remembering to provide disposable cups beside the orange  coolers for those who 
have illnesses or have had recent illnesses or have  compromised immune 
systems and who have forgotten their own cups...). Are we  educating how to prevent 
the likelyhood of water born illnesses?  In Autocrating classes there is often 
mention of remembering to provide  rehydration for attendees to prevent the 
need of chirurgeon service. (Remember,  Chirurgeons get excited when they have 
cases, but they would really prefer to be  bored and not be needed.) Are we, 
by this proposed statement,  discouraging any mention of waterbearing service 
to new autocrates and  thus water availability at an Event is forgotten by lack 
of education and some  unprepared attendee has a major dehydration accident? 
 
These are my thoughts on this propsed statement, 
I am yours in service,
Lady Blitha of Wolfhou
Canton of Sudentorre, in the Barony of  Stierbach







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