looking back to 2003, I can certainly see notable events in the last six years
2003...
...father passed away in February...
...became the 14th Society Seneschal (or Steward) of the SCA in April
...Company I worked for got sold in August and I moved to Cincinnati for a short stint en route to Indianapolis
...The SCA was driven by paper and more paper, and it became one of my quests to get rid of some of it
2004...
...Had to fire an old friend from the Post of Prince of the Outlands
...Attended the first ever Crown Tournament of NS
...Attended the First Coronation of Northshield
...graduated two dependents and called a former one back to service
...Saw Jamie take his first steps, realized he had health issues...tip of the ice-berg
...Took full-time gig in Indianapolis with 40 hour work weeks and only 4 people to manage
...did some run-blocking to allow SCA technology staff get online membership out the door
2005...
...Dust-ups in my own kingdom
...In the only good thing to come out of taking a former apprentice back, we did a trio album that raised 5K for Katrina victims.
...Gleann Abhann becomes a kingdom in spite of the storms
...won a massive contract at work and went from 4 to 24 direct reports.
...Mom got sick and life became about all of that
...graduated another dependent and fired another with prejudice.
...in two years had to process to conclusion 5 times the R&D's of the past ten years combined. Whatever happened to play nice and share the toys?
...Built a new house and moved in.
...hit 36 events
2006...
...single again. work doubled in size--both sca and modern.
...mom passed in April, three weeks after her sister.
...last trip ever to the old farm
...serious health issues for the pirate
...Lots of bardics, played at several wars...music kept the SCA fun
...Sacked another royal--btw those things are always with the suck--
...salt day happened and the QOTD was not mine "Bitch took my corkscrew!"
...hit 47 events....Gulf Wars was particularly uplifting
...extended for second term under the grounds that if I had not ended up being arraigned live on CNN by the end of 2005, I was pretty much good to go.
reduced SCA admin budget by thirty K a year by eliminating paper to Board meetings. (That is a net change of 30K to the happy, the actual was 45K, but we spent 15K on hardware etc.)
2007...
...Work Tripled in size from 23 direct reports to 68 people on my teams, each new hire being specifically told that one of the rules was they could not ever date my spouse/sig other on the side. Never thought that needed to be a rule before, but there you have it.
...Kenna arranges a salt-day party for me in may. Who knew so many things had salt in them?
...hit 40 events. Last really big travel year.
...Another big year for bardics...music still keeping it fun
...At the end of the year it became apparent that society jobs go from unfun to untenable when the foo is in your own kingdom.
...With Earl Cathyn, built the first and bestest wood-floored tavern at Pennsic. Served over 250 seperate adults [each of whom, spun the wheel of misfortune]
2008...
...Work expanded to 146 people in my organization
...Some folks making the music not so fun... the slow fade begins.
...In April at the Dallas Board meeting I announced I would not seek, nor would I accept a nomination to continue for a third term and the search for applicants was afoot.
...In July, Kim Harvey selected as my successor. The long transition begins
...Attended 21 events
...Had to call up my own Crown and tell them that pursuant to their query, a membership lapse of 4 days as the Heirs did wipe out their Royal Status. Tourney would be re-fought.
...resumed status as the anti-christ for making the call. After 5 years, though, it is familiar ground and lands more-easily.
...Get hauled up before the President on a complaint of cheating the rules to help an incipient group I lived in. Bearkiller does an independent investigation and finds all rules followed--except a moron baronial seneschal who signs contracts and binding documents without reading them. Ruins my impression of the Barony and the Midrealm in perpetuity, as no one in the local or kingdom space stepped up to say..."Woah, this is crap."
...At Pennsic played chase the coward by watching a local-to me--baron flinch and run for cover when I came around (he's the git who filed complaints without ever telling me he had an issue...effing coward)
...Camped in the Ghetto at Pennsic because the prvious year took too much out of the fun bottle. Tavern remained in mothballs for the year
...Provided some fairly harsh constructive feedback to an entire Midrealm Peerage Order and dropped their list from my reading. It was not that the feedback was undeserved, but I expect it was as quickly forgotten as it was eloquent. All good things must end.
...Took the Boys to Disney World for the 4th of July week, perhaps the most fun thing that happened.
..My eldest (George L Reed III) becomes a teenager. Best part about no sca job will be all those extra weekends to be there for him.
2009...
...Submitted my 25th Quarterly Report to the Board of Directors. Cheered as the SCA tech people made waivers signable online during membership purchase. That is one of the final steps in my long goal of less paper in the SCA.
...Missed Estrella for only the second time in six years. Just too much to do before Jamie's surgery
...Work expanding again. Now responsible for 200+ folks. I think I work in Adult day care tho... so much talent and SO much romper room.
...Arabella is a pelican this week and Melisande next week. Those joyous events will largely conclude my formal business with that venerable order.
... A third of the way through my 26th and final report to the Board. Not sure if I should write a state of the SCA report [changes in 6 years] or write something short and efficient and go gently into that good night. I may go with the latter as after six years these good folks have to be about done with my act. Not sure tho.
Over the six years I expect I met personally as many as ten thousand people and easily 99.5% are really cool folks with good intentions and capacity for wonderful things. The .5%, though, have been a real bee-yatch.
Sir Hilary said to me years ago "Don't fail to make a decision because you worry about it not feeling like home after you are done. It won't *be* your home after you are done."
Mum always had a knack with the sooth.
That is all for now... Part two in a couple weeks