Ok, I've tossed around this idea a few times. Now I want to do it and need some help putting together the text for it.
What exactly am I talking about?
Im talking about creating a generic page or set of pages on MaineMilitia.com that would describe and inform visitors of basically what reenacting is and what is available in Maine. Closing with contact info and links for each unit that wishes to participate.
Since this site has visitors and representation from most of the groups in the state then I would like the basic info to be as neutral as possible. To give everyone a fair chance. The greater purpose is simply to provide info and contact.
Another project that kind of goes hand in hand is a page or set of pages for people who are looking for reenactors to talk to their group. Educational outreach and such things. Recently, and three or four times in the last few years, someone finds this website and contacts me about finding someone to help with a boy scout jamboree or ateacher looking for someone to talk to their class at school.
Both of these projects could be combined as one. But the end result is different so maybe they should be seperate or complimentary. I'm not sure.
So that is the idea. A paragraph or three about us. Some answers to frequently asked questions. I can build contact forms that would send email to a single or multiple represenatives of each group, depending on how the group would like it handled. Or just the units website if they want.
For now I'm looking for some help writting some beautiful poetry that people wont be able to resist. In the next several days I will write up a formal proposal for the powers that be for each group to consider. I don't expect any objection but I don't want to post or link to anyones website without them being aware of this new purpose.
Your thoughts?
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What is a reenactor?
Ok, I'm really looking for some help on writing a piece on recruiting. Since no one has responded yet to my post above then i want to pose a series of questions and get some responses.
First question, What is a reenactor? Or do you prefer the term living historian?
I consider myself a reenactor who wants to be a living historian. :)
But when asked what it is that we do, how do you answer? Why would someone want to be a reenactor? Or a living historian?
Come one Craig or Zac. You two are the poets of the board. How would you pull at the heart strings and get someone to want to join?
Please bear in mind that I would like to be politically neutral or at least balanced for both Union & Confederate.
Thanks for your help.
--
Michael Johnson
Allow stuff to jell
Mike,
I know that you want this to be an active forum but sometimes you just need to let us think about stuff. This might be a topic for the Kitchen Conference?
Pvt/Lt Craig Young
3rd Maine, Company A
He can't throw it that far...
Boston College 47 Miami 45 November 23, 1984
MWLWN LABE! Molon labe, “Come and get them!
I am so not jellin!
but Craig is jellin like a felon....it has its merits...
Im in, but Id volunteer for an alligator tagging party
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
Mike
Mike I have also thought that it would be a great idea to have a recruiting video. Interview die heart reenactors. I used to have a recruiting album filled with newspaper clips about the "Raiders" and lots and lots of written interviews letters and pics of fellow reenactors and reenactments. It also had a history about the area I was living in while the War of Nothern Agression was taken place. Well when the homestead went up in flames I never did replace it. I should do that this year. Just a thought. Take care Hawks and Eagles Fly Like Doves. CopperHeadAnnie
Mike...
Just make sure the new rank doesn't cause your head to go a-swellin'!
Now what else Rhymes? Um.... Snellin'...shellin'...dwellin'... Yellin'...Mellon...
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
Also needed time to think
Mike,
I needed time think this one over as well. I did not ignore the call.
I like the idea and it isn't too different from the concept of the Bowdoin booklet. This was pretty neutral and informational based about the original units and it's portrayal units.
I don't like the idea of linking to web sites though because there are "no truth in lending causes" with websites. We have already been down that rocky road. Perhaps member units of this site can have a page for their recruitment, and the community can police "untruths" in descriptions and have some control with what can be written and what can not.
At this point, there are some units I will not want to see us recommend. Not to be hostile but simply because they are not quality units. (To lay this to rest, I am NOT talking about the 15th Ala or any ex-members of such.) I also would rather see the unit's of active contributors recommended.
We are slowing evolving into a more friendly Maine Civil War reenacting community. You had asked what the difference was between a re-enactor and Living historian. Well both are basically the same. I get the new age term "Living historian" that this group doesn't necessarily do battles.
Hopefully my thoughts on this are basic enough to be helpful and gentle enought not to start a war.
Will
While I agree...
...with some of your comments Will... BUT if we try to make judgements on here as to which unit IS and ISN'T a quality unit then we couldn't HELP but cause hard feelings with the labeled group. If we do this, we should list all that request it and then let the person decided for themselves what constitutes "quality" in their eyes.
Just a thought...
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
I think you're both slightly correct
I agree with you Mr. Reeder as to what does & does not constitute a "quality" group may not be something all agree on. And I agree with you Captain Cotton as to the list being held to members of the board. So where does that leave us? Everyone can post their own unit hype to try & draw the public or we can draw some boundaries that all can live with & respect. Perhaps a simple description of the group i.e. Confederate vs. Federal. What branch of the military is represented. What impressions are given. What areas of the state is the group concentrated in. What contact information is needed. If we stick to the facts & try to keep the hyperbole to a minimum, there will be less room for arguments & hurt feelings. Or at least that's what my 2 cents will get you.
~Miss Patti
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~Dr. Seuss
Being fair and doing what's right may be difficult
I like your idea Miss Patti. A cover page that is general and covers the entire state. Then there could be sub-pages for each group. A represenative of each unit maintain their own units info.
I think, when I'm ready, I will be sending out invitations for inclusion. It could be that not every unit wishes to be listed. That would be a shame but it may be the case. And I was considering some sort of guidlines were there may be a requirement of activity. Should a unit be included if it exists in name alone? Or does no events in the state of Maine over the course of a year?
I want to be fair. But that may mean finding a fair balance between the large and the small. The active and inactive. Those who are inclusive and those who ostracize themselves.
Not an easy task.
But again, the end goal in my mind is that some people are finding MaineMilitia.com and at the moment there is very little info here that someone new to reenacting can use to get into the hobby. That I want to change. And some people are finding this website who are looking for our talents to speak to their group. And there is no info here on how to contact a group or what expectations they should have.
Hey Will, I have no idea who you are referring to. But I'm sure the wrong party will read between the lines wrong and get upset. :) You seem to have a way with attracting trouble. :)
smellin?
Maybe we focus too seriously on the minutie, post a biography of the unit and let em link the websites....its just that simple...good or bad old or new the websites or the e-mails and the links, its all retoric, we all need to relax....
and after all if Mike wants to put up links to the jacksonville Fla. hooters girls rebel nascar as ppart of the units page I guess it would be his perogative.... and I call dibs on the link to that site linking our site....bouhahahahahahahahaha!
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
You are right
Of course Seamus, you are right but I would like some input as I see a lot going on here and want all of you to be involved.
As such, if anyone can find the branch of the Jacksonville Fla. Hooters Girls Rebel Nascar Living History group operating in Maine then I will be sure to include them. :)
--
Michael Johnson
Mike, I will send you a
Mike, I will send you a brief piece as an introduction to the 15th Alabama including web site link and contact info. I will include a small history of the unit and describe who we are now and what we do. I think that is what you are asking for, right?
Do you still need somebody to write a general piece about the MMB and Maine reenactors? Still interested in poetry?
This should be fun for any one involved. Any idea for recruiting is a good idea.
Nothing like the hooters
Nothing like the hooters girl, trrojan horse bait and switch!
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
Will consider all suggestions
Thanks Zac,
I'd love to see all suggestions. I expect that there will be a molding and melding process of everyone's ideas. Feel free to write something up and post it or email it to me.
Pictures as well. If anyone has some especially nice group shots or portraits and would consider sharing them then feel free to email me those. I have some pictures of blue but not too much in butternut and grey.
--
Michael Johnson
okay
Mike, I was not talking about any group specifically not be refered by the MMB. I know that personally I will not be recommending one in particuliar. As a community however it would be shameful to send a new recruit to a sub-standard unit. Having such units listed may not be our recommendations but being listed infers our recommendation.
Life and situations in life are never fair. Doing the right thing is the best we can hope for. Too often trying to be fair impedes the doing of "what is the right thing" part. In order to ever do the right thing to begin with requires a value. You can not have a value without being Judgemental. Being judgemental is not wrong, it is just a tool to balance between being fair and doing the right thing.
Will
Not many pictures....
We dont have many pictures as sherman burned em all.
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
Seamus
Sherman Hooter girls NASCAR are you felling ok these days? But I will admit your posts do make me laugh. Hawks and Eagles Fly Like Doves. CopperHeadAnnie
What about this idea?
Have a page on the MMB that described what reenacting is all about. Then, have a universal email account for the MMB so if anyone is interested in reenacting they can email that account for information. Once that person emails this account an automatic reply goes out from each unit. The automatic email from each unit can contain a bio of the unit, contact info, and website information. This way a potential reenactor can choose what unit they want to contact. This eliminates any potential fights for new recruits.
Lt. Jason Porter
29th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
ferinus vis quod ignarus
Mike...
This being YOUR site.... whatever YOU think would be appropriate and helpful to reenacting in this state should be fine. I dunno... Just think what is right to do and I'm sure everything will be perfect!
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
Easy to do
Nice idea Jason. It's easy to do on my end. Worth considering.
Thanks Major, but I really do want everyone's input. In the end I will make the decision and I'm sure everyone will be happy. It's just nice having ideas from others.
--
Michael Johnson
What do I say?
I just had another thought in response to Eric's recent post. It's not so much what I decide to do as it is what I decide to say. The wording and presentation is more of a question in my mind. I'd love for a few creative minds to offer some ideas.
Should we try to create a neutral recruiting-poster type page?
Or a more modern "this-is-who-we-are" and what we do type of page?
--
Michael Johnson
recruiting
Well I would not be CopperHeadAnnie if I did not give my 2 cents and that is about what it is worth is 2 cents. Being a new comer to Maine it was very hard for me to figure what was up with the reenactors in the state. Coming from the South and being in the middle of the battles it was easy to figure who was into reenacting. In the last few months I have been asked many many times how some one can get into reeancting. I give them this web page and tell them the little I know about this area. I guess the question is are we doing this page to get folks to join one unit or another or are we doing this page as helpful information about units. Every unit I have come in contact in Maine seems to have a focus on recruiting but to tell you the truth if I had been a newbie to reenacting I would not have know where to start in Maine. I can tell you that once I found this web page I knew reenacting was alive and well North of the Mason Dixon. Ok now that I have read this post I have to admit it really is not worth the 2 cents. I guess what I am saying is we have to ask what we want from this recruiting page. New recruits for our units or to get info out to folks. Hawks and Eagles Fly like Doves
Here’s my view on
Here’s my view on this:
Keep the major part of the page to what reenacting is, include tips, stories & pictures of events, etc – stuff to give someone an idea of what it is all about. Include descriptions on campaign & mainstream style. What you can expect to spend on your basic “kit
Rebel hooters
Ok guys I have a daughter that is a center fold model. How about I ask her to dress in a union frock wave the Dirago banner and make a recruiting ad for us. Then to give equal air time I will have her wrap in a Bonnie Blue flag and hold a a fifth of Old Jack and give her best Rebel Yell. Seamus I just had to do that for you man. Mike I am sorry that you are not getting more help with this. I think give equal billing to any unit that wants to post a link on here. Who are we to judge what a good unit is for some one else. Hawks and Eagles Fly like Doves. CopperHeadAnnie
One of the reasons that we
One of the reasons that we as a reenacting comunity have a problem with recruiting is ADVERTISING. The MMB is a great foundation for advertising but we need to grow. In most cases people that are looking to get into the hobby have no idea how to get started. For example, I recently responded to a Wanted ad in Uncle Henrys the ad stated that they wanted to purchase Civil War reenacting costumes. For the heck of it I responded and the guy was hoping that a reenactor would see the ad and respond. The 29th now has him and his son as 2 potental members.
A generic page would be great for the MMB. If you Google Civil War reenacting in Maine, the MMB comes up first. People need to see what reenacting is about, how to get started and what units are in the state, but they need to be able to make their own decision on what unit to join (see me previous post).
One other thing we need to do is advertise events better. How many people have joined at events? Alot. But, how many times have you gone into a local establishment during or after an event and some one has commented " There's a reenactment this weekend? I did'nt know that. Where is it? "
That my opinion
Lt. Jason Porter
29th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
ferinus vis quod ignarus
Porters auto e-mail idae was great.
And Mikes page for units is a good idea, Generic messages about who each unit is and where they are primarily out of, web site and whatnot...onve a person contacts a unit they can make up their mind for themselves, I mean
I did, when it came time for me to really get into the hobby I inquired to several groups and the one that looked more appealing and was more communicative got me. I work in sales for the company I work for and Ive gotten us a few new customers in different areas of the state, people who never would have done business with us until they saw my friendly face. infromation and communication gets the squeaky worm early in the morning from the bushy bird!
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
I have begun
Ok, so here we go...
http://mainemilitia.com/reenact
I have wrtten the starter page. Please critique me. Language, spelling, phrase use, keywords, whatever. Please be constructive. I'm going to work on the FAQ soon and will be looking for some help with that. What questions will we want to answer on this page?
Offline, I'm going to work on a formal invitation to each group to be listed here. Probably a week or so before that goes out. It may sound silly, but I don't want to list anyone who doesn't want to be listed. And I have decided to include any group that chooses to be listed as long as they meet some criteria. The exact criteria still needs to be decided. But it will be along the lines of some sort of minimum amount of activity in the State of Maine.
I will be test driving the auto-response form and may enlist some of you by email to test drive it as well.
Thanks,
--
Michael Johnson
3rd Maine
Mike,
I have brought this request for information before the 3rd Maine's Eboard and I believe that Glen will reply to you.
As you know Mike, Todays meeting was mostly about nominations and your name came up a lot! :)
Pvt/Lt Craig Young
3rd Maine, Company A
He can't throw it that far...
Boston College 47 Miami 45 November 23, 1984
MWLWN LABE! Molon labe, “Come and get them!
Thanks Craig, I think?
:) Thanks for bringing it up with the Eboard. I have one or two more tests of the method to perform. I want to be sure to include the explanation of how the distribution of email from the use of the contact form will be handled. Once I'm sure that will work well and easily then I will be sending out the formal proposal.
Should I just send that to Glen for the Third? Or shall I send it to Glen and CC: it to the secretary for the record?
As to my name coming "up a lot!" Will you email me the dirt or shall I just wait for the next newsletter? :)
--
Michael Johnson
Email process is ready
Ok, I've got the back end ready. Here is how it's going to work.
My question tonight is, Does that make sense? I'm writting the email to each unit tonight andwant to know if it's clear enough how it will work.
Each group will be required to provide me with a welcome letter and contact info for the auto-responder and an email address or addresses to recieve any submissions.
Then we just need to agree to some etiquette in regards to how each group will contact the submitter and respect the other contacts the submitter may recieve from other groups.
What am I missing?
--
Michael Johnson
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