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<TITLE>RE: [Moo] Up the Imperium - Sideways</TITLE>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Marcolo, that is a good point. Some venting is what we let friends do and listening to opinions</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">even if</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">strongly</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">stated,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">helps is to focus</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">on</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> our response</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> and understanding</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">That said and with the experience of having set on many non-profit and 50</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">1c3</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> boards, the job is both easy and difficult at the same time.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Status quo and smooth waters are easy and stress/issues can be difficult.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Orders given</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">to change the direction of a battleship take a significant time to see the results. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">A couple of thoughts.</FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<UL>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> (SCA Inc.)</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> are incorporated as a protection to the membership. The corporation is a legal entity and thus can be</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ar</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> the brunt of the legal</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">attacks</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. The alternative is the each of us (or the richest of us</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> - not me...</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">) could/would be sued instead.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We are an IRS priviledged organization and that can be very difficult to orchestrate.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The more independent entities (seperately filed and managed corporations) the larger the overall administrative burden and most likely the larger the expense to the memebership as a whole. ( It may not be 2*(the admin burden) but it is certainly more that 1 and likely 1.5-1.75 * the number of smaller SCA incs but I don’t have the operating numbers to support that extrapolation. But to continue the thought, if each kingdom were seperately run and we can beat the expected burden costs per kingdom down to 1.25 ( or 25% of the overall burden as the admin burden for each kingdom), then the overall expense might well is 1 for SCA Inc and (.25*19) or almost 5 more admin expenses for a total of 6 times our personal membership cost so just using the extra family mambership cost of $10/year, the cost would be $60 per year for each membership. Whatever the actual numbers the approach strongly suggests a radically increased cost base.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We could argue away the central SCA Inc and cut that cost to $50/year, but what would it be like to show up at Pennsic with gear that didn't meet a common standard? How would we maintain commonality and consistency in a distributed organization? We know how the winds of Curia blow in our own kingdom...</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">As a group, the SCA is AMAZINGLY risky from the liability standpoint with the activities we like to pursue, be it fighting, or dress/exploration of topics out of the mainstream context. There are huge sexual overtones and inuendos frequently. And often that is part of what we do as adults that gets complicated when minors are around/engaged.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We must remember that a jury of our peers will not mean a jury of SCA peers in a mudane court of law.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Our board members are people too and as such are inclined to be like the rest of us, or at least me in the fact that they will make mistakes. That said, we should, I humby submit, be hesitant to shoot them as messengers of evil and perhaps be better suited to engage them in discussion of our priorities. Just like we get to elect our congressional representatives and then they may run off and do things we disagree with, we can engage them in dialog about where we think things should go. That said, based on our core vision, shouldn't that be done with courtesy and the grace of the courtly manner we seek to emulate?</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">There are serious and complicated issues that the board has to face with insurance and other issues. Clearly this situation has pointed out one lesson that needs to be done better or protected diffierently.</FONT> </SPAN></LI>
<LI><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Every time there is an insurance claim, it will tend to point out where there are issues - just like when you get hit through a spot that isn't well amored in the heavy list. But I submit that lesson we learn at the hands of the opponent on the field (that my armor does not adequately cover my upper thigh where Ranulph just hit me repeatedly...) is not the fault of the opponent but an opportunity to change and improve for ourselves.</FONT></SPAN></LI>
<BR>
</UL>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">With that context, in my opinion we should make our voices heard by the board. Particular points of concern would include how to protect against further sexually related suits, how to we limit liabilities across kingdoms, are there organizational changes to be made, and how can we best continue to live the vision that we want - with specfics?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unfortunately some of the answers to the questions may be unpleasent to hear. For example, the Boy Scout solution to sexual misconduct is that two adults must be present anytime there is a minor/adult interaction. The impact of that decision was mandated and it significantly changed the Boy Scout organization - including annual discussions of sexually appropriate and inappropriate behaviors and a review process that holds the accused guilty until proven innocent removing them from causing further harm.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Our culture in the US has complicated the implications of minors being in adult situations. They are adult situations for a reason. When the activities are engaged in by adults then they are fairly straightforward. When minors become involved actively or even passively, much is complicated. How do we even know some are minors? Are we suggesting that anyone without gray hair should wear a badge designating age appropriateness? Clearly attire can not be considered the mark of age (unless it can be the unpleasent bulges that show on my aging frame). Even with that I was recently carded while buying alcohol, so what does that mean to us as SCAdians?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Rebellion can be argued as the right of every american - we have the second amendment for that purpose according to some lines of thought. Rebellion though, is an unpleasant situation, particularly when there may still be points of discussion and opportunity for changing things as they are. The challenge then is to continue to effectively communicate the vision that we want to see and find ways to make it viable.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Doesn't courtesy demand that we consider others, their thoughts and seek to find an amicable solution? Efficiency suggests that we would execute prisoners, but courtesy suggest we treat them as honored guests...</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">my two shillings</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Wiglaf</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">-----Original Message-----</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">From: moo-bounces@lists.stierbach.org [</FONT></SPAN><A HREF="mailto:moo-bounces@lists.stierbach.org"><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">mailto:moo-bounces@lists.stierbach.org</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">] On Behalf Of Marcolo DelMare</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 9:49 AM</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">To: General Mailing List for the Barony of Stierbach</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject: Re: [Moo] Up the Imperium - Sideways</FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I think a "little" bit of venting amoung friends is healthy. Granting that opportunity to your friends is one of the duties of friendship. I don't have a clear opinion about this topic yet, as I don't feel I know enough about it. These discussions have at least given me some information to chew on.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Marcolo</FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">On 12/5/10, Jonathan Blaine <hourumiyamoto@gmail.com> wrote:</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> Already did that myself, but I think he's asking us to boycott? Rebel? </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> I don't know, kind of lost as to where the point is on all this..</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> On Dec 5, 2010 10:10 PM, "Laurie Clarkston" <garadh@verizon.net> wrote:</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Whether we agree or not with the decision of the board, price </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> increases</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> are</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> going to happen whether we like it or not for whatever reason.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Venting to your Barony and/or canton might have a calming, cleansing</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> effect for</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> you (kinda like gotta get this off my chest), but I think your inputs</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> might be</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> better directed towards the very people who are making the decisions. </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> The</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Board has always been open to inputs from people in the SCA on the</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> direction the</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Society is taking. Hearing from people who play in the SCA, good or </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> bad,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> can</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> only help them in the decisions they take in running the SCA.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Please share your opinions with them; this way your voice will be </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> heard</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> and it</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> just might be the voice that inspires them on the decision path they</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> choose.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Cairistiona</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> ________________________________</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> From: Maven <sk8maven@yahoo.com></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> To: moo@lists.stierbach.org</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Sent: Sun, December 5, 2010 8:03:12 PM</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Subject: [Moo] Up the Imperium - Sideways</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>>> It's eight bucks. Big whoop.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> It's eight bucks *per person*, this time (family memberships excepted </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> -</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> this</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> time - but the "family" cap raised five dollars). With NO guarantee </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> that</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> they</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> won't have to raise it again next month, or next year - indeed, with </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> an</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> implied</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> threat that they *will* have to "because of ongoing lawsuit expenses".</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> I've been in the SCA a *long* time, and every single time the BoD has</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> raised the</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> membership rates, it's been to cover some screwup by the BoD. Every </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> single</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> time,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> no exceptions.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> In the 1980's it was an insanely expensive and nearly useless </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> computer</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> hardware</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> and software system they were suckered into buying (some friends who</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> *were*</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> computer experts said they could have done a much better job for far </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> less money).</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> In the 1990's it was that insane scheme to "streamline and modernize" </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> the</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> SCA,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Inc., to make it more "business-like" - the one that involved hiring </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> a</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> total</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> mundane to tell them how to organize the game, and nearly tore the </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> SCA</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> apart.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> That was the *first* time they tried Non-Membership Fees (after </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> seriously considering Pay to Play!), and it went over so badly they </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> backed off and</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> waited</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> for years before applying them again.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Now it's that insanely expensive child molestation civil lawsuit that </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> is</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> going</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> to devour the SCA, Inc. whole, and I don't see any way that it will </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> not do</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> so.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Even if the SCA, Inc. "wins", the court costs will be astronomical </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> and our</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> reputation is *already* irreparably tarnished. The lawsuit exists </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> only</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> because</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> the SCA, Inc. is an excessively centralized bureaucracy with one</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> centralized</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> source of money - and the lawyers think they can grab it all.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> We were warned, again and again, that the SCA, Inc. was far too </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> topheavy</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> and far</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> too centralized, and needed to decentralize. But it did not suit the </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Board</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> of</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> Directors to make any serious moves in that direction until conflicts </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> with</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> state</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> and national laws forced them to do so (Australia, Canada, now Illinois).</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> Now</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> it's probably too late.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> What we all need to remember, even those who diss the increased </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> membership</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> fees</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> as "big whoop", is that the SCA, Inc. is not the SCA. It's just a</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> bureaucratic</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> organization we agreed to add on to facilitate playing our game. But </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> they</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> think</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> *they* are the game and *we* aren't important.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>></FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't like that attitude </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> and I</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> don't</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">>> think it is or can be sustainable.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">></FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">--</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> - Jerry Garcia</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">_______________________________________________</FONT></SPAN>
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