Fellow NWC Members, The recent events are certainly as troubling to many of you as they are to me.
The NWC was founded to create a place for gaming, socializing and sharing an enthusiasm for the Napoleonic period. It‘s a place for friends to gather, engage in lively discussions, and play a variety of games from the period. The club is a place for opinions, but not politics. However, over time factions developed, and the club collectively lost sight of its goal, becoming exclusive rather than inclusive. Politics eventually dominated the forums with enough blame to go around. That must change. This is not about recriminations, it is about refocusing on what the club was created to be. It is a change that has to happen now.
All of the elected officials of the club have quit recently, three within several weeks of winning the elections. This left some responsibilities unfilled and we have had to pick up the pieces, find the keys to the Forums and the Department of Records, etc. The NWC has always been based on a lot of good people doing the work, mostly in the background. The majority of these people are still in the club and the NWC is still in good hands. All processes are continuing albeit maybe a little slower, as people are plugged in to do some of the administrative tasks and owners of the Department of Records and the Web Server grant new authorizations. Since the resignations began, a group of volunteers (all of whom were members prior to Todd resigning) from the Coalition and French Army have been discussing ways to fill the missing administrative positions and to keep the club running and moving forward. We have also been working with a wider group to ensure that the administrative functions, including the welcoming of two brand new Coalition members, are taking place. The current format contributed to the creation of the politicized environment, and what is needed is to redefine the structure. In the short term, actions are being taken and the rules will be evaluated to ensure they meet the needs of the club and reinforce its core mission. The replacement structure will include those that actually do the work to keep the club running. The structure will be replaced by administrators. It will include a Web, Forum, DoR administrator and the French CiC and an Allied CiC. These people must work together to provide a well running club for its members. The members will focus on gaming, role playing and having fun. Club management functions will be transparent to most. All club decisions will be discussed by this group and a consensus on what to do to be reached. We will insure that members are able to influence the final outcome of this process. A process is being set up a peer mediation system to process complaints (accusations of cheating, etc) among members or between members and management to ensure that member’s voices and needs are taken care of. Future Elections for the CiC’s will be reviewed. Day to Day CiC and game functions will continue. Points, medals, command structure to continue as is. Rules will be adjusted accordingly. The following people have agreed to serve under the new structure. Pierre Desruisseaux as Web Administrator, Ernie Sands as Forum administrator, Andrew Moss as Allied CiC and John Corbin as French CiC. Jim Pfluecke and Jeff Bardon are working on a mediation/conflict resolution system. A DoR administrator eventually will be included. Other admins will be added as the Club needs demand. Several members have stepped forward to get the tournament started. I hope that you will all stay with the club and focus on gaming and fun. Best regards, Pierre Desruisseaux, Ernie Sands, Andrew Moss, James Pfluecke, Jeff Bardon
_________________ General en Chef Pierre D. La Grande Armee 25ème Régiment de Dragons, Détachement de la 3ème Corps d'Armée, 3ème Corps d'Armée
|