[MR] comps

[Roy B. Scherer]

At 02:18 PM 6/25/2010, Lady Sian wrote:
>what about the individuals who came the evening before, lugging all 
>the decor and kitchen supplies from storage, set up the tents on 
>list field and tables in the halls, decorated the halls, then on 
>event day worked troll, or did water bearing all day, then returned 
>the next morning or stayed late into the night to take down all the 
>decorations, pack up the kitchen gear, clean the restrooms, mop the 
>floors and haul everything back to storage?

Good gentles -
         This is an interesting discussion, and has made me think 
more about the issue.
         My lady and I attend relatively few events, and I am a 
non-combatant.  These facts may make my comments unworthy of your 
consideration; in which case please allow me to direct your attention 
to the "Delete" icon.
         A while back, my lady and I attended an event in North 
Carolina -- a Coronation, as I recall.  We each paid the event fee, 
and I believe that there was also a 
camp-in-the-cabin-with-the-mattresses fee as well; I think that we 
did not pay for the Feast.
         Another family member was the cook-in-chief, and we all 
spent nearly all of our time during the event in the kitchen, either 
unloadfing supplies, prepping, or cooking, or washing (my specialty), 
or serving, or removing, or cleaning up, or reloading supplies and 
equipment.  We prepared several meals, culminating in the Feast.
         For the Feast, our Cook was recognized by the Royals for her 
service, as she well deserved.  We, the "little guys" in the kitchen, 
while not recognised individually, were tremendously gratified that 
our combined efforts had produced an outstanding feast.
         During Pennsic, I always volunteer at least 12 hours a week, 
often much more, on public-service jobs.  That's how I was trained by 
the older more experienced SCAdians in Marinus: If you want to play, 
you need to work.
         Having said all of that, I don't have any sort of definitive 
and workable answer to the problem of how to control costs and what 
sort of recompense we should give to those who volunteer their time 
and effort.  The best answer that occurs to me without a good way to 
implement it, has no doubt occurred to most of you: Instill into EACH 
member the concept that this is a shared fantasy, and requires the 
concerted efforts of each and every member in order to work.
         Thus we serve the Dream.
-- YIS,
-- Britton

end

                 - - Roy B. Scherer
[529 High Street, Petersburg, VA 23803-3859;
   Roy:(804)382-5411; Sally (804) 767-0420]
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