Dec. 12th Ranting and Raving

[mpullen]

Okay, getting the ranting off my chest first, so that I can mellow out.

We do not have a cleanup crew for the gatherings. Things get cleaned up by folks who have taken pride in our faire and step forward to pick up all the bottles and cans that folks who obviously don't care drop where ever they drop their empties.

There isn't a trash gathering crew. This is a general note, but specifically for whoever was camped in the "Forest Gypsy" area by the pond. You piled up your trash by the road, not even in a trash bag. Did you expect the trash fairy to pick up your trash? The rest of us know that if we haul it in, we haul it out.

When the management states that there will be no driving on the fairegrounds, why is this generally ignored? RenGypsy stated that folks could drive and park along the white gravel road that goes around the perimeter of the faire (but not blocking the booth builders). There were multiple numbers of folks who parked all over the place. I had no problem with handicapped folks coming in and needing a close-in parking spot. I can deal with that. My area is responsibility is the campgrounds, so what goes on in the faire area should not be my concern, but a few incidents really chaffed my posterior.

Broken glass in the stone circle. Whoever felt it was a manly thing to break their beer bottles within this sacred circle have been identified to management. Don't worry, people who are sensitive to "vibes" in this area stepped forward to clean up your mess. They also remember the old ways and may greet you with a salted flogger in the future.

Parking along the perimeter road. This means getting one side of your vehicle "OFF" the road. There was at least one individual who felt that parking right on the road was fine. That meant that passing vehicles had to get close and personal to the trees and mud along the road.

Campgrounds entrance. If the ropes are up at the entrance gates where the billboards are located, don't drop the ropes and drive in. RenGypsy stated that there is no driving on the Playtron campgrounds road until the new road surface is ready (compacted). The contractor had to quit working Saturday because the vehicles were parked along the campgrounds road and they could not move their heavy equipment without damaging vehicles. The contractor also had problem moving their equipment out because of the parked vehicles (that were supposed to be parked outside the Faire area). Remember that they charge by the hour per their contract. If they waste 2 hours waiting for vehicles to get out of their way, that's 2 hours that aren't spent getting constructive work done.
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Okay, a few deep breaths. Ommmmm. Ommmm.Ommmm.

Even though this was a cold and wet weekend, we were honored with the attendance of many folks, some of them familiar and some of them new. The old friends had to realize that my TRF long hair and beard were gone and now I sported a duster and a cowboy hat. A few were looking for me and didn't recognize my corporate shill image.

The dedication of Maid Marions Chapel was soul moving. Father Bill is truly a great person. The whole ceremony was fantastic. Hoping to see all the pictures and videos for it.

It looked like the turnout for the job faire was more than enough. I just hope I get a couple of folks to staff the campgrounds ticket booth. I need at least one of them to have a Texas CHL license and carrying. I will need to purchase a vehicle like a John Deere Gator so that I can quickly get all around the campground areas.

Reserved camping Playtron group leaders - Purchase one or more two way radios. I'll give you the common response channel in case you need assistance in your area.

Unfortunately my hip died on me a few times when folks were looking for information. I gave at least 10 Faire area tours and 3 or so campgrounds tours. My reward Saturday was when I chatted in the Playtron campgrounds with a group in the process of clearing their area and they gave me a thank you. That meant everything to me.

Okay, ready to crash for the night, dreaming of the great time seen this weekend.

[Gwen aka Punstergal]

I agree with everything you just said.. I was quite disappointed with the childish behavior of some of the visitors I saw out on site Saturday. I stopped more than once to VERY OBVIOUSLY, HOPING THEY'D GET THE HINT pick up cigarette butts off the ground after I saw people toss them. Nothing infuriates me more than a beautiful grassy woodland littered with smoky ugliness because some idiot is too lazy to pocket his butts until he gets to a trashbag (one gum wrapper too, I glared at that punk and he turned tail- maybe he saw a bit of his mother in me).

Outside of that, I had a great time introducing myself to all the faire folk I didn't know (or couldn't remember). I was Gwendolynn, of vintage letter jacket fame (hey, it was warm, who cares if it's 12 years old, right?). I was out with my sister Ojy (aka Josephine), and everyone I spoke with was just wonderful. I can't wait for the season so I can drag myself out to see the site in full glory, packed with people and color (and sunshine!!!). Thank you, and everyone else too, for working so hard to make this new gathering place such a magnificent and lively one!

((hugs))
--Gwendolynn

[Merlin]

Wow....doesn't sound like a fun place to be at all.

No thank you.

[Queen Bonnie]

 It is too bad to have people ruin what can be a great experience with lack of caringand consideration for others.
I wish I could have been there Saturday!
Littering etc really upsets me also. I wish there was a trash fairy. The whole state could use one!
Thanks for all your work Mike! Hi Gwen. see you soon!

[rengypsy]

a note from rengypsy

we will deal with it all.  the weather was poor. but so many of you stayed the course.

merlin, if you were you there, you'd not have responded so...guarenteed.  it was great.  mike is a volunteer who carries his management of the campgrounds for patrons very responsibly and as we are attemtping top build community, folk need to be reminded of shared responsibilities and the social contract we have as members of the community.

i wish we had not had glass bottles, but budweiser distributor was extremely kind in donating 20 cases of beer to our gathering, so we will deal with the aftermath of broken bottles.

i had rather glory in the positive of the event.  it was crazy.  from 8am until very late, i was busy with vendors and prospective vendors.  lots of building going on.

the two dedications of the chapel were fantastic.

too few kids...

thanks to everyone for being a part of the beautiful experience.

rengypsy

[LadyElizabeth]

Well I can't say I'm shocked about the litering and such.  Have ya'll ever seen the TRF campgrounds on a Sunday night or Monday morning after the camping is done.... disgusting indeed!!!  And people don't really change their habits overnight!  Not that everyone ever thought of or knew that there weren't trash people about.  I'm not excusing their behavior, just saying maybe everyone didn't know.  Thanks for posting that info because now they will have no excuse, or at least the folks on here won't.  Though I very seriously doubt any R/Fers were involved in that behavior.  We seem to be a more of a mature and respectful group.

Sorry I missed the fun.  Check out Kat's thread on TRF for pics of her wedding where I was!

[angusmacinnes]

Well, we all know that there is always going to be "the One" that doesnt take good care of anything. That unfortuneately is always the case.  That aside I want to thank the owners and all the staff of Sherwood Forest Faire for a great opportunity to see a faire in its infantsy and with the effort you are putting into this it should one day be one of the marquee faires in Texas.  With the contstuction of booths going on one can tell that some vendors expect to last a very long time.  Those beams being hoisted into place will last many more years that most of us ever will.  They are spending their money to make for a wonderful experience for everyone in the future.  Huzzah to SWFF Staff!

[mpullen]

Wow....doesn't sound like a fun place to be at all.

No thank you.

Merlin, why do you say that? Have you had a bad experience at Sherwood? If so, what was it, so we can try and resolve the matter?

The point of my posting was to point out some behavorial problems that detracted from the overall grand experience.

It is very rare that a new faire gets started, especially in this economy. The owners have their act together, with a sound business plan and alot of experience. It is even rarer that the general population is invited in before the faire opens, so that they can see what they can expect when the faire opens.

[Merlin]

Wow....doesn't sound like a fun place to be at all.

No thank you.

Merlin, why do you say that? Have you had a bad experience at Sherwood? If so, what was it, so we can try and resolve the matter?

The point of my posting was to point out some behavorial problems that detracted from the overall grand experience.

It is very rare that a new faire gets started, especially in this economy. The owners have their act together, with a sound business plan and alot of experience. It is even rarer that the general population is invited in before the faire opens, so that they can see what they can expect when the faire opens.

I was referring to your description of the weekend....not Sherwood in general.

"You piled up your trash by the road, not even in a trash bag."
"When the management states that there will be no driving on the fairegrounds, why is this generally ignored?"
"There were multiple numbers of folks who parked all over the place."

"Broken glass in the stone circle. ..... break their beer bottles within this sacred circle"
"There was at least one individual who felt that parking right on the road was fine. That meant that passing vehicles had to get close and personal to the trees and mud along the road."

[rengypsy]

wow.  i have so many thoughts to convey after the weekend, after reading the heartfelt posts, and random experiences i have had of late that relate to sherwood.

where to start?

i love the passion that each of you are bringing to our community evolving around our faire and these grounds.

there is beauty and inspiration in your words and deeds.  did you each hear lauren sing as part of the chapel dedication?  have you seen the pictures of saturday?  yes, on a cold and wet weekend several hundred people gathered in sherwood forest to be together, to share, to play, to eat and drink.

there are so many people who feel an ownership in what's happening.  mike pullen taking charge of the campgrounds.  alex spending endless hours passing out brochures.  steven kalke feeling the faire was so meaningful that he wanted his parents to attend saturday.  moondawg mastering our website.  and the list could go on for pages...

thank you from the very core of my heart and soul.  we are on this journey together. a tribe--not walking through a desert, but rather having all found our way to this sacred grove.

some have questioned whether we are misunderstanding the business of the faire--playing too much to the concept of community, to the playtrons...and not enough to the "mundanes".  but be assured of two very absolute factors: first, we do have the highest regard for the playtron community.  we want the playtrons to feel this is their home.  as a vendor at trf for 18 yrs, i know the power of the playtron community when the weather keeps the general population in the comforts of their homes.  playtrons and the rennie participants made my payroll many a day.  likewise, we love your spirit.  we admire your ability to play and escape into your dreams more often than most.  secondly, we are business people.  we understand the principles that will make the faire financially sound.  we will work diligently to fulfill our end of this bargain to crowd the lanes with fun-loving folk...and LOTS OF KIDS.

i appreciate mike's rantings and ravings over misconduct.  his endeavors, his labors, will make the camping experience better and will lessen our burdens to concentrate our own efforts on other issues.  read what he writes.  he desires sherwood to be something great.  he expects our collective behavior to ascend from the primordial muck.  he will hold us all to a very high standard.  who would fault an individual with those motives? not i.

i had so many great experiences this weekend.

here is one...

so, i was working pretty diligently from 8am-9pm meeting with potential vendors, having various business meetings with george and others.  but when i finally had time to make it to the seven sisters, the drumming was almost ended...but the singing would start soon.  and i was just walking the perimeter of the circle listening to conversations, thanking folk for attending, etc.

i overheard a guy talking . . . and went up and started talking to him. if i'd met him somewhere else, i would not have guessed him to be one who would frequent a drum circle.  maybe country.  maybe conservative. it was his first time to sherwood. he'd read the website.  he had wanted to come previously, but just hadn't made it until that night.  and so, i asked him what he thought of the experience.  he said he he'd refound his place.  he indicated he goes to trf but feels its spirit and soul is dying (and i am in NO WAY disparaging trf--i love it...it is so much a part of me, as well as a major inspiration for both george and myself). . .or least for him.  he said he feels the soul of sherwood.  and then he said, "i'd like to meet the guys who are putting this together.  i have some things to say to them." and i introduced myself as rengypsy...and this tough "redneck" kind of a guy asked if he could hug me...and i said sure...and he held me in a bear hug for what seemed a long time...and when he let go...he had tears all in his eyes and he couldn't talk anymore except to say "thanks."

i called george today to chat about the posts on yahoo...and renaissancefestival.com...and we both realize that we are nothing without yall.  the best we can do is facilitate and give all of you wonderful people a place and stage to shine your light and your talents to the rest of us.

more benches were delivered this weekend by a friend of the faire.  he wants to go unmentioned, but he is beautiful soul.  just wanted to offer from his talents a gift to what is being created here.

while there needs to be some caution and criticism from time to time; i want all of you to know your labors, your passions, your insights and your art is always welcome here in this forest of our dreams.

i thought about what several of you wrote -- either previously or today -- about the sacredness of the seven sisters.

this is a predominaltly christian country we live in.  in truth, few could carry on any in-depth discussion of the basic precepts of their faith, regardless of what religion they grew up in.  just products of our upbringing.

and yet, standing in central texas are two sacred sysmbols juxtaposed to each other as a testimony of our own spiritual and cultural evolution...each to be respected and honored.

but few would likely even know about the ancient stones and what they meant to the celts of old.  their symbolism.  their purpose in making sense of the universe.

so, i propose another volunteer opportunity to the pagans among this group.  i would suggest that there be volunteers would, during the faire, stand as guardians or caretakers of the sacred circle.  act as educators informing the attendees of the meaning of the celtic stones.  let them see in your actions and hear in your words that this is indeed a place of solace and respect. it would have to be done in a non-judgmental and respectful manner.  but i think it would be a grand gift some could give back to the stones...and to what we are hoping to develop within our forest.

likewise, if others would choose to stand as caretakers of maid marian's chapel and pray with others or comfort them in the words of christ, you too would be welcome.

creation is a beautiful thing...and we--you and i--are currently engaged in this very privileged act.

some of you will want to bring law and order to the experience.  some will bring us song and dance and drums. some will share with us of their poetry and stories.  some will paint for us masterpieces on canvas or formed in clay.  but i ask each of you to bring your best to this wonderful and magical experience of creating Sherwood Forest Faire!!!

rengypsy

sherwood is a faire without a king.  think on that.

[PyroMaster]

 There are going to be people in any gathering that do not recognize their own lack of grace. While it is right to be tolerant and nurturing, it is also right to gently point out to them that their actions are not in favor with the majority and suggestions on how they can be more in harmony. I say gently, because I have found that ranting is beneficial to the ranter in a cathartic sense, but usually less so to the targets of the rant. I suggest that formal rules of behavior concerning the care and feeding of the grounds be a part of the participants' contracts. Also, perhaps some signs concerning the issue in a lighthearted way could be posted at entrances?

Just some thoughts...

[PyroMaster]

Oh, one more thing I almost forgot. There was much confusion among attendees on where to park, so this could have contributed to the driving on the grounds problem. I know I pulled a lot of vehicles out that got stuck trying to find places to park. Perhaps some signs pointing to preferred parking areas could be placed for next time.

[rengypsy]

the parking confusion was all my doing.

apologies.

we did not have sufficient parking options other than on the edges of the grounds. 

just too damn wet.

and thanks, pyro, for your willingness to pull many of us out of the mud.

rengypsy

[PyroMaster]

Five lashes with a soggy noodle for you! 
Glad to be able to help.


And the beat goes on...

[JP yard troll]

just a noodle? I have a flogger that I'll be glad to let one of the ladies use on him then LOL, my mistake trying to keep up with too much going on