From someone who threw himself in the deep end not knowing whether he could swim;-

At the Annual General Meeting 2008, I put myself forward to fill a gap in the Executive Committee. As I'd only been a member for a few months, I had no idea what was involved; I just knew the position had to be filled.
 
Nearly fifty years old. I hadn't been in the education system for thirty odd years, vegetating in front of the television like a zomby. The poor old brain was creaking along in lethargy, and all I had to look forward to was dust and dirt at work, the occasional night at the pub and the television to stare at. My memory sucked and a lot of the time I had no idea of where I was going or where I had been, I was just running away from it all!

Suddenly, after volunteering, I had to get myself into gear. I knew that if I didn't get on top of my assigned task, the whole association would falter. I was needed! My brain is still a little slow, but over the year I have got to know a lot of you by face and name, your kindnesses, your personality, and sometimes your weaknesses. I have the privilege of being required at every event, which means I get to play at every event and get great value for money from my subscription.

I have a purpose now; as I'm needed, and I like doing all I can to help. I just wish I'd joined up and been in the Executive Committe twenty years ago; I'd have a three hundred and fifty event points bar to my name, a thorough knowledge of you all, a reason to go camping and playing rather than no reason at all, friends to talk to at night, and battle with by day!

It's nice to be needed. I have had much success and some failures. Yes, it can be frustrating at times, but extremely rewarding most of the time. Sometimes the demands can get on top of me; but I have always had someone beside me in the Committee that has been able to help, even if it was advice to tighten up the bottom lip. I threw myself in the deep end; yet there were those more experienced than I in the pool to help prop me up when it was needed. There's also others that have been Committee members in the past that are willing to share their experience, successes and failures.

If you really want to be a member of the Southern Skirmish Association and not just an occasional hanger on, the thing I would recommend,  is volunteer as a member of the Executive Committee. You will experience democratic process that works; even though we may not be very good at it, we get things done, we can see the process working. I have had my own ideas put into use, and other ideas squashed, but I know I have had my say and been able to help mold the Association into what I want and need. I know my role is probably one of the most time intensive, demanding positions in the Committee, but it has rarely taken up more than ten hours per week, which is only a few 'C.S.I's' and 'Friends' repeats. I have saved money by not being in the pub as much, and I have got to know you all a little bit better. I have also been told by many of you that I have been doing a good job, which is a great morale booster!

I'm satisfied that I am doing my part. I am fully immersed in the centre of it all. I'm not in any position to be picked off by the wolves and parasites, or be distracted by the need to mow the lawns. I know where I should be and where I'm going!

If you sit on the sideline, you have no influence; all the complaining in the world will do you no good at all! If you want to change something, or can see how it could be done better, stand up and be counted, feel useful and needed, be stimulated, get some results.

Come and join me, get the reward of knowing you have a say. Help me in my attempts to build a strong Association with positive growth. Set your own goal and have the power to get it; mine is to see a thousand members with five hundred on the battlefield. It may be pipe dreaming, or with your help, just around the corner.

'We learn by doing; there is no other way'  John Holt.

Regards from,

KIMBO
Membership Secretary