Duncan Mills, July 17-18, 2010.

Drygoods · #1 07-02-2010, 07:49

The coldest winter I ever spent was the summer of 2010! Yes, I stole that quote from Mr. Twain, but I wonder if the rest of you are having a rather chilly summer like we here in Humboldt County? Generally, I always enjoy attending the Duncan Mills event simply because the weather is just like home, but this time I hope it's a bit warmer there. Anyone here planning on attending DM this year?

Note, this year they are charging reenactors with current membership cards a $10 entrance fee, those without cards, pay $20. More information can be found at http://www.civilwardays.net/

johnnyreb48 · #2 07-02-2010, 05:39

Howdy!!!
The 7th Va. will be there as we always are.
Looking forward to a great weekend.
Nights being cool are good for sleeping and the days being in the 80's are always good for fight'n!
See you there Drygoods!
Private T.R. Bolton
7th Va. Co. C

sharpshooter · #3 07-04-2010, 10:28

The NCWA Berdans will be there in force

Ian McWherter · #4 07-07-2010, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drygoods

Note, this year they are charging reenactors with current membership cards a $10 entrance fee, those without cards, pay $20. More information can be found at http://www.civilwardays.net/

So let me get this straight, they are charging Adult members of the visiting public $10 per individual. They are charging reenactors, who make their event possible in the first place, the same price if they are a member of a recognized club? If you're not a member of a recognized club you pay double? Way to encourage visiting reenactors from out of the area to attend and make the event grow at a time when numbers are dwindling everywhere in this state.

Drygoods · #5 07-07-2010, 09:21

Well, I can see the point of charging $20 to folks who don't have any membership card at all, this cuts down on the yahoo types who gate crash and want to play Reb and cause trouble. The purpose of the membership card is to prove that they are in a legimate club, and have insurance, as well as have done a safety test. Paying $10 isn't so bad, you'll pay plenty more to attend an event out of state.
As for the dwindling numbers, I'd agree with you, Ian, on that one, but then I think everything is dwindling today because of the economy.

Ian McWherter · #6 07-07-2010, 10:30

Clubs are unique to California and it's a model that has long run it's course. Club politics only lead to division, how many clubs have we had in this state over the years, NCWA, ACWA, RACW, ACWS, FTHA, WBSHA, am I forgetting any? I don't feel having a club membership card cuts down on anything other than participation. I remember years ago getting treated like trash by the NCWA because I was not a member (I lived in SoCal at the time and have always been an independent), at that time they were a bigger club so they could afford to be snobby, if you weren't an NCWA member you didn't count for anything. Gee, I wonder why they've shrunk?

Back east you don't have any clubs, just hundreds of independent units. Someone organizes an event and puts out the call for units to attend. It's therefore in the event organizers best interest to put on a great event that everyone will have fun at, if he can't his event fails, simple. You can't say it's not a successful model, after all the number of reenactors at their events number in the thousands. Even small events have a few hundred, that would be a very large event these days in CA.

Sure, the economy doesn't help, but neither doesn't club BS. It was a problem even before the economy tanked. Want numbers to improve? Then these clubs need to reach out to independent non-club members to participate in their events so they can grow. I guess it's a sign of the times that the only way these clubs can turn a profit and cover costs is to charge their own members for participating in the events they put on, on top of the yearly membership dues you already pay! I remember when these events used to be free, or registration was $1. You didn't have useless safety tests (which prevent nothing), you didn't have the endless paperwork and fees, you could simply show up and have a good time.

It never ceases to amaze me that a hobby dominated by conservative thinking people who believe that less government, less regulation is a good thing should increasingly find ways to create more government bureaucracy, red tape, more rules/regulations, litigation, etc., etc. in their hobby clubs. If this is something you want to rid your daily lives of why in the heck are you building it into your hobby when it's the one place you can have control over it!

Well, I've said my piece. I'll bring my $20 so I can play and I'll watch as some moron who scored an A+ on their safety test injures himself/herself or someone else. My hearing still hasn't recovered from Gibson Ranch after the gentleman (I'll refrain from using a more colorful description) in charge of the Confederate infantry (in his modern sunglasses) positioned us just below the Confederate artillery on the ridge and had us stand there while the artillery fired away just above our heads. Did he take his safety test?

Drygoods · #7 07-07-2010, 11:15

Well Ian, you make some good points so I suppose that paying the $20 to cover the cost of insurance for the weekend isn't such a bad thing. I was sorry to hear you mention your loss of hearing. I wonder which group you were camped under at Gibson? I'd sure have raised hell about it myself.

As for clubs in general, things change, happily that includes membership too. When I first joined the NCWA in 1992, I was treated badly and quit. It was several years before I went back, but now I love the folks that I play with there. Four other clubs that I used to participate with, I quit them because friends left, numbers dwindled, and policies changed. This happens with just about everything, and isn't unusual in a hobby like this. My point is that you cannot generalize, you need to really get to know folks personally before you decide if a group is good or not, which takes much longer than a weekend or two.

I hope you and Ms. M are enjoying a fine Summer. It was sure great to see you again at Tent Town.

sharpshooter · #8 07-10-2010, 11:23

Ian, I understand your points but I have gone to NON club events and have been treated badly by the hosts, thus this is not just a club problem. I am sorry that happened to you but the folks who run things do change and right now I feel pretty good about how we treat people. Come by the Berdans and we will show you how we welcome visitors. We love doing senerios and maybe we can do something.

Drygoods · #9 07-13-2010, 07:08

Greetings and Good Day Everyone,

I just got the word last night that a period swimming party is scheduled for the event. Consequently, if you're interested in joining the other CW folks, be prepared to attend in period bathing attire only, no birthday suits!

The swimming party will be Saturday, I have no idea if the women will receive a military escort to the river, but that has been done in the past.