Folks,

I was reading a thread started by Bill Cross over on the CWRF that made me think. It was a thread talking about people who made a positive influence on the hobby in some way. I want to add a few names to that list here. This may be a bit self serving but I think that my fellow mods Ken Cornett, Bill Rodman, and Linda Trent all deserve kudos for what they started here (especially Ken) by trying to give all of us a place to meet and talk in cyber-space without the usual ugliness of us vs them screaming matches.

In the same spirit, I'd like to hear about people you know hwo have made a positive impact. As a reminder, we are not here to debate whether a person deserves the accolades, I just want to hear how they have positively infuenced YOU. If you disagree about a particular person please remember what your mother told you....."If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  

--Last edited by Ken Cornett on 2008-07-11 11:32:10 --

The Columbia Rifles members who put together not one but two books full of fine research. Namely, John Tobey.

I would have to add....James Owens, Kevin O'Beirne and Charles Heath along with others who met and helped start the Potomac Legion.

Bill Watson, Bill Rodman, Karin Timour, the Kigers, Mallen Cunningham, Eric Tipton, Bug, Scott Buffington -- dozens come to mind and I really rather my name had not appeared on that list or that it had been phrased some other way.  Some great points have been made about others that were gone from the hobby before some of us even started, and others who are coming in that we haven't met yet.  I once said that ubiquity on the internet is not a substitute for real leadership, and I'm afraid that any list posted on the net will trend that way, and also drift inevitably to reinforce our already excessive cliquishness.  

To see Schnapps mentioned briefly fed his already insufferable ego, and then led him immediately to regret that it would just pique those he'd already piqued in the past without really adding much to anything.  I mean, all the man ever really wanted was to play with black powder and dip pens and discombobulate conventional notions of heritage by spouting 19th century communist rhetoric.  Is that such a bad thing?

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In the same spirit, I'd like to hear about people you know hwo have made a positive impact.

Well, I don't have any one person, or even 10, my number is much larger than that.

To me, the people who've influenced the hobby the most are the ones who have attended the events.  No one can lead people who don't want to be lead.  So to me, my heros in the hobby are those who commit to attendance and actually attend.  Without them, there are no leaders, and no event.

Though I agree with a number of names that have already been posted on both forums.

Linda Trent

It says something about the state of of our Hobby, or at least a portion of the Hobby that visits the forums; that the thread had to be closed on the "Reenactor's Forum". The thread quickly degenerated into the usual back-biteing and name-calling.  

We've avoided these problems on the "Common Ground", but we also have far fewer posters and threads. Interesting how that goes!  

Bill, I feel our posts overall have more meaningful subjects at times.  Some are light hearted, and I think levity is needed, but the key here is RESPECT. And I thank the mods and membership for keeping it that way!

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Linda Trent wrote : To me, the people who've influenced the hobby the most are the ones who have attended the events.  No one can lead people who don't want to be lead.  So to me, my heros in the hobby are those who commit to attendance and actually attend.  Without them, there are no leaders, and no event. Linda Trent

Linda,

I couldn't agree more. I understand that real life sometimes throws a monkey wrench in our plans; but too many people just register for events, on the off chance they might attend.

Registration fees are a very small part of the cost of attendance. People invest what amounts to the cost a case of beer to insure they have a spot if they choose to attend.

I just had this situation. My home unit had people who were registered for both AHT and the GAC Event. A number of guys who attended AHT, didn't bother to show up for GAC. These people accounted for almost a quarter of our infantry strength. We had been allotted space based on our registered strength. We had land they stayed empty, while the unit next door was overflowing their space. When I was sure, I wouldn't need all our space, I gave it away; but it was too late. The Group next door had already sent some of their folks to the overflow area.

 

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Linda Trent wrote : To me, the people who've influenced the hobby the most are the ones who have attended the events.  No one can lead people who don't want to be lead.  So to me, my heros in the hobby are those who commit to attendance and actually attend.  Without them, there are no leaders, and no event.

You're Welcome  





P.s. No I am not really that arrogant.

Ken Cornett....hmmmmmm....sounds like he has you all fooled

Eric G.

You are such a slacker Groty.  

I would have to say that as a spectator at several events for a few years, the work of the “fence sitters” and folks like Ken who works in two units, is a biggie. When I first started attending events I saw some Gawd awful stuff in the way of inaccuracies. I feel that there has been a big swing the other direction. While you still see coolers and the like about they are far less than 5 years ago. Also the uniforms and equipment looks better.

I have always liked the Trents and Mrs. Lawson. They contribute greatly by just being civil and answering questions that newbies have. The same applies to nearly everyone on the forum here.

Dave,

John Tobey certainly deserves recognition.

 I should add Herr Curt-Heinrich Schmidt. His overall knowledge of everything is impressive, but his firearms knowledge is heads above most any if not all.

Also Charles Heath and his meticulous research.

I'm sure equiring minds want to know why I started this thread. It wasn't to stroke a few folks egos, but to try and put together at least a short list of people that have helped the hobby in some way and who for the most part don't mind helping others become better at the hobby. For many getting into the hobby, they are overwhelmed with what to do or how to do it so this list will hopefully point people towards those who can help them.