Lessons learned from LAFE?

[richsc]

I don't suppose there are any calm ways to discuss what happened this year at Lafe. However, locally one of our members was/stil is really keen on us building a Roman fort on acreage that not only did no one in the group own, but the person proposing it didn't even have clear rights..just vague familial use. I can't see putting any time into such a venture, no matter how enthusiastic you are. It seems like other groups have had this problem too, I am thinking of that tower that Robert mentioned, and the guys in New Orleans who lost their venue when the park wanted to concentrate on War of 1812. Legio XX lost Marietta Mansion when the site curator lost interest in reeneactors.

The lesson may be caution in committing time and $$ when you aren't sure of the property owner. But I was wondering who has really good ties with their local support gov'ts or communities? Any best practices you can impart?

[Robert Vermaat]

I am thinking of that tower that Robert mentioned

Indeed.. :-x ad: ad:

The lesson may be caution in committing time and $$ when you aren't sure of the property owner. But I was wondering who has really good ties with their local support gov'ts or communities? Any best practices you can impart?

Sometimes you have little choice in the matter. It's a good thing we had no money committed, just time and loss of revenue.

But even if you have good ties, there's always a chance of someone pulling the ropes changing their mind, and you're still left with a gaping hole.

I would advice tyaking up every opportunity that's available, but not putting all your eggs in just one basket.

[Matthius_Titus]

As far as i know there is still a event at Marietta Mansion on April 21-22nd Marching through time. I just got the invite from my legion and my Civil war pards.

[richsc]

Yes, MTT is far as I know too still on. It was our Roman Days that got dumped.

[Matthius_Titus]

Yes, MTT is far as I know too still on. It was our Roman Days that got dumped.

Rich how close are you to Marrietta? Are you going to MTT?

[richsc]

Yes, I'll be at MTT: we live about 25 miles away in Virginia.

[Matthius_Titus]

Yes, I'll be at MTT: we live about 25 miles away in Virginia.

Well bust my buttons! I'll be there as well. I'll see you there. We will have pull this time. My boys from the 7th Maryland will be there so if the WWII guys try to attack we have the ACW guys to back us up lol.

[Magnus]

Rich, we don't know exactly what happened with Lafe, so it's kind of difficult to even speculate at this point. Having said that, I seriously doubt that Lafe won't be on for 2013. I am sure the issues will be sorted out by then. Again, I can only speculate what happened, but a few ideas I am thinking of make sense given the circumstances.

Nothing lasts, and nothing stays the same. That's life. You just have to improvise. Or, know someone who does own property and go from there. We have two such areas up in Canada that we host events at. No-one to yank the carpet out from under us. But like all relationships, they need maintaining...even if it's a friendship.

It just takes some strategic thinking and planning to have something successful.

[texascavtrooper]

Matt is right. Nothing lasts forever but you can have a great site for a long time if done right. When you are working with governments or even land owners that have no interest in reenactors/reenactments you run the risk of loosing the site without any warning. I have found in my 25years of reenacting that the best places to have events, is on land own yourself or land owned by another reenactor. The site is less likely to be lost. Here in Texas we have been very lucky to have 60 acres of Reenactor owned property. We have been using the site for events for over 10 years and see no end in sight! There is a cost envolved. We help to pay for repairs and up keep on the property. We do work weekends a few times a year. There are about 3-4 differant units that use the land and we all work and finance the up keep. This keeps the cost down. This has worked for other groups here in Texas as well. I'm a member of an old west group and we have 30 acres and over 25 buildings in the little town. Nobody pays for everything. It's split up among all the members. Now the Property owner dose pay the most at the old west town due to him owning all the buildings after they are built. Anyway it can work if you do it right and maintain the relationship.