First up, thanks for the kind support by all of you to my Pennsic 49 Staff. I have been truly humbled by your kind comments and I know my staff have as well.
To explain a little further, I just want to put a couple of 'Myths" that are circulating to bed and for people to clearly understand a few things that have and are happening behind the scenes.
Please understand that SCA, Pennsic staff, and Coopers management are jointly working together to find a solution. A separate, non-SCA event Armistice was the best joint solution that solved the issues of liability, allowed the business to survive, and provided an event for folks.
1. We needed to make a decision earlier because as PA (Just talking about our PA based Support services) started to emerge from the pandemic and slowly ramp up their businesses to pre-pandemic levels over the next 6 months, vendors need some certainty about their future commitment for everything from Portaloos to Waste Disposal bookings. We could not commit to that as the Pennsic War considering the current rules the SCA has in place today for SCA events. That was one consideration in our decision.
2. Your comments on safety were read and listened to by the Pennsic Seneschals Group (PSG), My Pennsic Staff and especially myself as Mayor. I heard your concerns and in addition the opinions of certain qualified persons in the medical and legal profession. None of us have a crystal ball, so I had to go with the information I had now. All these decisions were made in concert with the SCA, the Pennsic Financial Committee, and the Coopers management working together to determine the best path forward for this summer.
3. For the Pennsic War to survive for another 20+ years, we need to support the main business that has supported us over these many years, Cooper's Lake Campground and many of the smaller businesses and merchants that rely on Pennsic for part of their yearly income. They have survived 18 months of no business income and forced closure. That is tough for any business, let alone one, like Coopers Lake, that solely depends on campers and events. To that end we have been in discussions with the Coopers Lake Management for weeks about their options to survive. Armistice is that option.
4. Armistice "IS NOT" taking over from the Pennsic War. The Coopers Lake Management don't want that at all. This is a one off event to help them through another tough year and is supported by Pennsic War and many Pennsic staff will be working to make Armistice event successful. It's an option that gives those that wish to camp and relax with friends in PA, under PA health Guidelines the option to do so in a relaxed medieval environment.
5. We are all adults. Many have asked how to support the Coopers, well I'd suggest that this is a way of doing that, even if you can't attend the event. I registered even though it is likely I won't be able to attend, given current international travel rules.
6. This "Is Not" an SCA event. It is a Coopers Lake event run under their rules and insurance.
I hope that clears up some of the questions. Simple language, we knew about this alternate event, were consulted and even offered our expertise to support it. I know, there will be those that want to see some hidden secret SMOF type agenda, but those that know me, know that isn't the case.
Thanks heaps for listening to me. Thanks for the support. I am soooooo looking forward to seeing people next year.
When taking office in the position of Mayor for Pennsic 49 I made a promise to everyone. That promise was that above all else, I would endeavor to run a fiscally responsible and safe Pennsic 49. It was my dear friend and mentor Viscount Sir Edward that said to me “The people that attend this event are Pennsic, take care of them.” I promised him I would. Then COVID 19 hit and the entire world was plunged into a crisis, the like of which we have not witnessed in our lifetimes.
Over the past few months, I have been in constant discussions with The Pennsic Seneschals Group (PSG), The President of the SCA Inc, Coopers Lake Management and my Pennsic Senior Executive Group. In addition, I have seen the comments from many of you and listened to the comments from my Deputy Mayors and their staff.
I have kept you all updated as much as possible so that you all understand my decision-making process and so that you understand the path I am walking when I make decisions. Although change is happening and things are getting better, I must deal with the now, rather than what I think it may be like in 3 months’ time and unfortunately our vendor's needs for commitment and certainty are requiring us to make commitments earlier than we originally intended.
As Mayor of Pennsic 49, I was entrusted with, the welfare and safety of the entire Pennsic Family. It is therefore with great sadness that I must inform you today that, I have decided to Postpone Pennsic 49 for another 12 months to 2022. The new dates for Pennsic 49 will be 29 July 2022 – 14 August 2022. This has been an exceedingly difficult decision to make but I trust you understand the reasoning behind it.
This postponement will be heartbreaking news to many of you and especially to the community surrounding Coopers Lake.
It has been arranged with Cooper’s Lake Management, that those who have preregistered for Pennsic 49 may have their registrations rolled over to 2022. If you desire a refund, please go to www.cooperslake.com and log into your pre-registration account.
Even if Pennsic 49 cannot run this July 2021, I remain optimistic that the situation will improve over the next months. I know that some of you have lost loved ones to this pandemic and my Pennsic Team and I send you our condolences and best wishes.
I am looking forward to the time when I can share some time with you all at Cooper’s Lake and Pennsic War.
Yours in Service,
Sir Gregory of Loch Swan
Mayor
Pennsic 49
16 April 2021.
It has come to our attention that some Land Agents and/or groups are concerned of the potential loss of a year of seniority for their group if they do not attend Pennsic War 49. We would not want a person or group to feel obligated to attend PW49 if due to COVID-19 health or travel restrictions, they are not able to attend. This is especially true as we cannot predict what restrictions may be in place when PW49 is in progress. As such, we will not be awarding a year of seniority for any of the groups who ultimately attend PW49. This assures that no group will receive any type of seniority advantage for having had the opportunity and desire to attend Pennsic where the COVID 19 restrictions would not prevent them from doing so.
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