Dear Members of the American Civil War Society,

This message is rather long, but I feel the subject of ACWS participation in  other events is important and timely enough to be addressed right away. Recently we were made aware of rumors that were swirling around in the wake of the ACWS’ official "non-participation" decision concerning the upcoming  Prado Park event.

Ordinarily we would ignore such rumors of rumors but, as fate would have it,  the insinuation was that perhaps certain members of the ACWS had generated  these rumors.

Let me state explicitly that this is NOT TRUE. Where such rumors begin is always a mystery, but they seem always to be  negative. Before this continues and gets blown way out of proportion, I would like to dispel the gossip. First of all, according to recent emails from the Event Coordinator to an  ACWS member, the Prado Park event is STILL ON.  Further, the Event Coordinator has stated in that same email that the event is covered by insurance and that: "Upon reading the SCCWA's rules of  engagement and signing the waiver release form the individual participants are covered per the event coverage."

Next, the only fee being charged to reenactors is a nominal $1.00  registration fee.

Finally, all reenactors are welcome, including members of the ACWS. The Prado Park reenactment looks to offer a good time for all. So why then, is the ACWS, as an organization, not supporting this event? Originally, the ACWS was asked to participate in the Prado event on some  level. Because we were asked to insure the event, we believed that we would  be Co-Sponsoring it. Instead, the Event Coordinator asked that, in addition  to our insurance, we merely support it by "turning out the troops." In  return, only the Southern California Civil War Association and the American  Civil War Society would be named in advertisements.

After a discussion between the Event Coordinator and a representative from  the ACWS, we declined to extend our insurance without a deeper level of  participation on our part, or other some sort of oversight, as is our right if not our duty. After all, as things stood, if something went terribly  wrong, only the members of the ACWS (which is a legal entity) would suffer by losing their insurance.

As this discussion took place late in the planning stages, our reduced  participation put the organizer of the event in a bit of a jam, as he now had  to quickly obtain other insurance. This he did as noted above. It also put us in a pickle, as we now had no official ACWS event for our  traditional weekend. We still wanted to officially support the Prado event,  because we believe that successful events are important to the health of our  hobby. We offered to lend our official "Support" to the event provided they  and we could come to terms regarding what that support would entail. In order to avoid confusion of what we consider the terms "co-sponsor"  or "support" to mean, the ACWS has sanctioned a list of four levels of our participation in events put on by other persons or organizations. While our  ACWS individual injury insurance covers you going to, during and coming home  from ANY reenactment in the country, for your personal liability insurance to  be in effect at an event, the ACWS must Sponsor, Co-Sponsor or Support that  event. The list of ACWS Conditions for Event Participation is included at the end of this message. Please give it your scrutiny. Over the phone, our ACWS representative read the "Support" section to the  Prado Park Event Coordinator as well as faxing and emailing copies to him.

While the Event Coordinator verbally agreed to the terms of our Support, he  declined to sign an agreement guaranteeing those terms. As the promoter, this  is his right. Instead, he suggested that the ACWS "Recommend" the event per our "levels of participation" list.  In light of these developments the Board of Directors decided to forgo  the "Recommend" endorsement. Therefore, as it stands now, the Prado event is STILL ON although the ACWS is officially NOT supporting the event.

Now, of course, it is far too late to attempt to book an April event for the  ACWS members, so we’ll be dark that month. Concerning the Prado event, we understand that not only have all ACWS members been invited, but that some have been asked to assume positions of command in  order to draw in more ACWS units. We note that some ACWS units that have no intention of going are listed on the Prado Order-of-Battle. We are aware that some organizers will post Orders-of-Battle listing units as  being affiliated with the ACWS, even if those units are actually are more closely aligned with another organization. We understand that this is done to give the impression that the event in question has the support of the ACWS as a whole, especially when it does not. We also know that some members of the ACWS who have chosen NOT to attend certain other events are being hassled for  their decision not to attend. Why do these things happen? It is because we have the finest members in the  reenacting hobby and everyone else wants them.

As for individual ACWS members attending non-ACWS events, each one of you is  a free individual who can and should choose the events or level of  involvement that are most comfortable for you, without undue influence from anyone. It would be absurd for anyone to think otherwise. Other events/organizers should never depend on the ACWS as an organization to make their event a success. If it is an event worth attending, our members will be there.

So why are we so firm in our requirements for our "official blessing" on  other events? Because we do not like the way some organizations treat some of  our members who do attend other events. The ACWS has an enviable record of supporting or co-sponsoring worthy events.  Our longstanding support of the Ft. Tejon Invitational in August and the Huntington Beach reenactment in September are examples of our not scheduling  our own events in favor of these fund raising efforts. Indeed, some of our co- sponsorships have become continuing relationships. The upcoming 4th Annual Orange Empire Railroad Museum event with WBSHA and the recent 6th Annual Life  Fire Competition with IVLHA attest to this success.

Over the past few years the ACWS has experienced phenomenal growth until we  now stand as the largest Civil War reenacting organization in the West bar none. This growth has happened because our members have come to recognize that this organization respects the membership and provides additional perks  and benefits that set us apart as a reenacting organization. The ACWS Board has worked diligently to try to foster an atmosphere that is  inclusive and beneficial to all of the membership. We are proud of our  ability to consistently provide for a fair and balanced artillery powder  reimbursement, a cavalry bounty, the infantry powder issue (still the only  such program in the country), a scrip issue for drawings and event and personal injury insurance. These are but a few of the things we hope show that we value and respect all  of our members. We feel that all of the extra perks have attracted the best units, both North and South, and helped in the creation of the finest  Civilian Corps anywhere. As I said, these, and other things have made us what  we are today.

Because we are what we are, we receive lots of requests to support other  events. These requests usually fall into three categories. The first category is where a competing group or individual simply wants more rifles on his field. More often than not the organizer asks us to support  their event by publicizing it and making an effort to encourage our members  to help make their event a success. We have done so in the past and NEVER received anything in return. In fact, there are persons and groups out there  who refuse to attend our events, but want most of us at theirs. I say "most of us" because frequently, when the ACWS is asked to "officially"  participate as a group, it is only our infantry that is wanted. Often  artillery slots are filled before we even get an invitation. Many times no  provision is made to accommodate our Civilian Corps. On occasion a specific  unit is made to feel unwelcome. The second category is when other organizations want us to participate only  to be able to use our event insurance without compensation. That is like  someone asking you to put his car on your insurance policy and wanting you to pay for it to boot! Oh, and never mind about his driving record. The last category is the one filled with honest attempts (some great, some small) to put on an event strictly for the benefit of some non-profit entity.  Again, the Huntington Beach Historical Society, Ft. Tejon State Park and even  St. Catherine’s come to mind. These are the kind of requests we like, and  while we strive to accommodate them, we can’t do them all.

What does all this mean to you? Simply this - The individual members of the ACWS will continue to patronize any event they so choose. However, if the ACWS is asked to participate in an event AS A GROUP, we will do everything in our power to make sure that said event has the same level of amenities and  professionalism that our members have come to expect from their own organization. If they wish to use the name and goodwill of the ACWS, we expect that event  to be the caliber on an ACWS reenactment when it comes to supporting our membership. Otherwise we will respectfully decline to become involved as an  entity.

Again, please read the ACWS Conditions for Event Participation below. Besides the items pertaining to the insurance (particularly in the area of safety  rules) and leadership of ACWS troops by our own Brigade Commanders, they address issues of concern to many of our members at non-ACWS events. We feel these conditions are important to make sure our members are treated  with the respect and dignity that we extend at our own events. Too often some in our community of historians have been treated as "second class" citizens at other events and we want to ensure that event organizers are committed to providing ALL of us with fair treatment before we elect to support their event.

I appreciate your wading through this tome and I thank you for your  commitment to bringing our shared history to life. We hope to see all of you at Wooden Nickel in May.

Ken Guinn, President

American Civil War Society

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ACWS Conditions for Event Participation

Definitions:

Sponsored events – This event is completely sponsored by the ACWS. We provide  insurance, artillery reimbursements, infantry powder issues, approved  impressions, provide for command structure, make maximum effort to turn out membership, publicize event in our newsletter, and cover any additional expenses required. We contract and control any proceeds. All conditions above will be specified in written contract.

Co-sponsored events - This event is co-sponsored by the ACWS in association  with another recognized entity. We will provide ACWS member insurance and may  provide event insurance at additional cost. (If ACWS event insurance is used, ALL ACWS rules and regulations as published in ACWS gold book SHALL apply).  Event will provide artillery reimbursements, infantry powder reimbursements and additional expenses (subject to negotiations) at normal ACWS rates. ACWS  will provide approved impressions, provide and/or share command structure, make maximum effort to turn out membership, publicize event in our  newsletter, and cover any additional expenses negotiated and required. All  conditions above will be specified in written contract.

Supported events – ACWS provides auxiliary support for this event. We provide  liability insurance for our registered members only, we can not provide event  insurance. ACWS provides no artillery reimbursements, no infantry powder issue. ACWS recommends inclusion of our impressions (i.e. Grant/Lee) and  shares command positions. ACWS advertises event in the ACWS newsletter. We may receive proceeds from this event by agreement.

Conditions for support:

1) All members of ACWS will be accepted without exception.

2) Artillery gun slots will be guaranteed at least 2 ea. Confederate and 2 ea. Union for ACWS full sized guns (batteries to be determined by ACWS).

3) Artillery powder reimbursement will be paid to ACWS guns at the same rate  as those applied to any and all other full sized cannon participating in the  event.

4) ACWS units will be held within one cohesive military unit (brigade/battalion etc.) and be commanded by ACWS command structure.

5) ACWS command staff (U.S. and C.S.) will be included in scenario planning.

6) Participating ACWS members will adhere to ACWS safety rules and regulations. These rules and regulations will supercede any other event rules for our members.

7) ACWS will be allowed to establish and staff an informational/promotional booth at this event.

Recommended events – ACWS will list this event in our calendar. NO ACWS

INSURANCE WILL APPLY.