new security in camp grounds beginning this weekend

[rengypsy]

please note: sherwood management has decided to contract with the bastrop county sheriff's office to provide security in both patron and participant campgrounds in the evenings.  these are the same folk who provide security during faire hours.  clan leaders should let your clan members know about the change.  there will be a sheriff's car riding through the cmapgrounds continually.

[KiltedPrivateer]

On that note, it was told to me when I first signed up that each clan was to have a 2-way radio on the faire's channel in order to call security.

1) I don't think all clans are adhering to this rule - if it is actually a rule
2) We have had a radio since season one and it has come in handy, however this season there seems to have been a channel change and we weren't notified.

So, are we supposed to have radios to contact the faire, and if so, what channel are we supposed to be on now?  I noticed that the Sheriffs all had the same 2-way radios.  I assume they will have them when patrolling the grounds at night?

Thanks in advance.

[rengypsy]

i will get yall more information on the radio frequencies the sheriff's office will be using.

[mpullen]

Note that we change the frequency when we see non-emergency chatter on the radio.

If you are tuned and hear an emergency declared, please don't jump in with unrelated chatter.

[Johnny Stache]

Howdy I'm Johnny Stache and I, more or less, joined to comment on this new development at Sherwood.

Two questions, really to cut to the quick.

Will this be a permanent feature in the campgrounds now going forward Or just for the remainder of this season of 2013?

Was there an incident, or series of incidents, that brought this development on?


Personally I don't like the idea of a cop car constantly patrolling the grounds, not that I'm a wanted criminal or nothing. It just seems a bit over the top.



That is all.

[rengypsy]

george and i have believed in transparency...thus, i will explain the rationale in making this decision.

we are engaged in a social and spiritual experiment regarding community, faire, and what we believe can be an example for faire life today and into the future.

we first wanted to have our folk be self-governing, but because we have no permanent presence...but rather a more seasonal gathering of gypsies and rennies, a strong groundswell of self-governance was never going to emerge.  most come for the comradre and fun...to let loose a bit, within limits.  so, we chose folk within our community to act as safety overseers.  and they have put a lot of soul, sweat, blood and tears into acting as our guardians.  they have been there when folk got out of hand.  they have been there to escort the obnoxious drunks out of our community.  they have been there as a liaison between the community and local sheriff's department.

but as we have grown in size, and those who have crossed over the line of civility have increased, their capabilities to serve the community effectively has diminished.

we have seen the number of unpleasant incidences increase--not dramatically, but proportionately.   and it seemed an appropriate time to engage the local sheriff's department to simply add an officer and a vehicle to drive through the camp grounds--both patron and participant--to provide a presence of security.  they will not have as their ongoing role to stroll through the clans and campgrounds unless their assistance is sought.

they understand the nature of the faire experience.  they understand as long as our patrons don't drink and drive, it is a family friendly party environment we are trying to provide and foster.

we do not feel their presence will negate what partons and participants have come to know as a positive and welcoming camping and faire experience at sherwood.

will welcome any and all comments as our beautiful experiment continues.

you are all each of the development and creation of this faire.

rengypsy

[SirRichardBear]

Sounds like Sherwood is trying to be proactive and keep what happen at TRF from happening at Sherwood.  At least for me that is all to the good.

[Johnny Stache]

As always those whose realm Sherwood is are quick to reply. Indeed it sounds like it was needed and my initial questions are satisfied. However I can't help but wonder if similarly sized faires, and larger ones, have the same kind of set up with the local law enforcement, or if this is something unique to Sherwood (at least for it's size and time in existence).

[SQiRL]

I don't know what crazies inhabit the participants... o wait.. yes i do,   but i know for a fact that the patrons camping has been getting a tad difficult of late.

Being in a clan, we policed ourselves and helped as needed but i really don't wanna babysit a bunch of drunken assses (that don't belong to my clan). 

And then there was that dude who decided it to be a good idea to walk naked in the middle of the day around the entire campground.....  these are the things where external security will be good for as well.

Frankly from a liability standpoint, again I'm  glad there will be perma authorities on site now because id hate to have to become part of somebodies police report.

I just wanna come down and have fun and not worry about having to police the fools.

SQiRL

[KiltedPrivateer]

Note that we change the frequency when we see non-emergency chatter on the radio.

If you are tuned and hear an emergency declared, please don't jump in with unrelated chatter.

Mike, I can assure you that we don't use our radio unless absolutely necessary, however, the faire hand that was walking from the Trip Privvy, using his radio to call for a ladder because he was stuck on the roof of the Maid Marian chapel should receive a stern talking too.

Also, I still believe that a radio for every clan leader should be encouraged.  And, we need to know what channel to call security on.  It wouldn't hurt to give the camp a separate channel from the everyday faire business channel.  Most gmrs radios have a scan feature that would allow the security to monitor both the faire and the camp ground.  Something to consider.

As always those whose realm Sherwood is are quick to reply. Indeed it sounds like it was needed and my initial questions are satisfied. However I can't help but wonder if similarly sized faires, and larger ones, have the same kind of set up with the local law enforcement, or if this is something unique to Sherwood (at least for it's size and time in existence).

TRF has local PD on site throughout the entire weekend.  They patrol on ATVs throughout the camp ground.  This is not a new idea created by SWFF.  (o:

[Merlin the Elder]

It appears to me that once again, the management of SWFF is paying attention and keeping the best interests of the visitors in mind.  The solution will help to make those who may have been frightened away from the camping area by earlier incidents, reconsider and return.

...and about that transparency, like we used to say in the olde days, "like wow, man!" 

[rengypsy]

we appreciate yall's understanding.  things are not wild or crazy at sherwood.  as a matter of fact, the clans have acted as a superior and positive force in maintaining order in the patron campgrounds.  we feel clans are one of the primary reasons the sherwood camping experience is as positive and family friendly as it has been over these four years.  we expect and hope the clan exposure to continue to grow.  we want the concept of elders who monitor and oversee behavior within the grounds to continue. 

we like the idea of clan elders having two-way radios and mike will get you the frequency channel the patrolling officers will be using.

no, this is not a new or original idea. 

let me reiterate a point of clarification: we are not asking the officers to walk through the campsites.  we are asking them simply to be riding the roads of the campgrounds and faire grounds to act as a support for those who need their services and as a deterrent for those who do not respect the sanctity of our community.

blessings to you all.

rengypsy

[KiltedPrivateer]

A perfectly acceptable endeavor.  Especially it it will keep the beligerant off of the road.

[Johnny Stache]

I'm curious, with a new record sized pop. in the camp grounds this wknd was the frequency of "incidents " controlled? Did the new security get called in much? Again just curious.

[rengypsy]

worked like a charm.  no major incidents.  i heard no complaints about the sheriff deputies' presence, either. i thought with a 1000+ people camping, the weekend went exceedingly well.  kudos to all of you who helped make this weekend near perfect.

[Lady Mac]

Perhaps an idea for year 5? Those detained or held by private badges might be used as joust
targets during Sat. and Sundays' games?

[deafdrummer]

I was shocked to hear about the campground entrance running out of the wristbands!  And when I had a chance, I thanked the officers for the job they do for us.  They deserve it!

Awesome weekend, wow!

[mpullen]

I was shocked to hear about the campground entrance running out of the wristbands!  And when I had a chance, I thanked the officers for the job they do for us.  They deserve it!

Awesome weekend, wow!

We didn't run out of wristbands. We ran out of camping spots. We purchase about 2000 wristbands for each weekend. What we don't use during the Faire season get used for our Summer Camp and other between season events.

[deafdrummer]

Thanks for the correction to the stories.  We ran out of camp sites???  1,000 campers...  WOW!

[brier patch charlie]

We had a 1000 camper last weekend! Oh to cool! Who knows might need to make some more room.

[Bonny Pearl]

We had a 1000 camper last weekend! Oh to cool! Who knows might need to make some more room.

I would they will 'have' to make more room at the rate it's going.  Next year, as word spreads even more about access for trailers..... Has anyone ever really noticed the sea of trailers out at TRF camp growing more and more each year?

'If you build it, they will come' comes to mind. 

[Johnny Stache]

Am I the only one who finds trailers and or at least loud generators annoying and disturbing? Either way i prefer "primitive" camping so as long as there's plenty of room for both is all good in my book. 

[*Teach*]

I know, I'm weird on the generator thing. I find them relaxing. They drown out all the other noises and I sleep better.
I don't mind primitive camping. But I have been doing it a long... LONG time. It's about time I moved into the camper world myself.

*also, a camper means more space to haul rum*

[scarletnyx]

Am I the only one who finds trailers and or at least loud generators annoying and disturbing? Either way i prefer "primitive" camping so as long as there's plenty of room for both is all good in my book. 

Generators are "white noise" to me, and I understand that some situations ( families with small kids, people with cpac machines, ect ) need them, so they really don't bother me on that front.

Trailers however.... I find myself going back and forth on the issue. At TRF I expect campers ( and when I say campers, I mean the -huge- ones; pop ups and A-frames and small ones are just reinforced tents in my mind ) and they really don't bother me given the atmosphere of TRF. At Sherwood however... they "stand out" more. They do say on their website and when you buy a ticket that it's primitive camping, and to me that just automatically brings up a few limitations like space and if the roads could even get my huge castle on wheels back there. Tents are just... cozier! When the rain falls on your tarp and lulls you to sleep.... when the wind blows and your home comes "alive"... Taking a nap in your tent at hot midday... Ahhh, this must be the hippie/nomad in me, but I could live in a well built tent for months with no issue.

I understand it's a choice, and everyone has their reasons. My choice is a tent, well thought out with some comforts. As long as the tent doesn't leak or collapse in on us, I have no issue. Though it is a sort of shock to see Tent... tent... tent... Huge RV!

I know, I'm weird on the generator thing. I find them relaxing. They drown out all the other noises and I sleep better.
I don't mind primitive camping. But I have been doing it a long... LONG time. It's about time I moved into the camper world myself.

*also, a camper means more space to haul rum*

I'm so used to the drumbeats at night at fair ( TRF and SWFF ) I have to listen to something to fall asleep to now outside of faire. And such a young man of 16 such as yourself doesn't need a camper yet! You have many more years of springyness in your step!