Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Todd Schmidgall, please post your Campaign Speech for the election to the office of Club Public Relations Officer hereafter.

Salute!

Having received nominations that I run for Public Relations Officer on the Cabinet, I accept the responsibility of goodwill and trust placed upon me - and will gladly and eagerly do so.

I have been a member of the NWC and an officer in LGA since November 2011.

In these short years, I have immensely enjoyed my club membership and the interaction with fellow gamers from all around the world with whom it is a pleasure to not only play the games we love so much, but to discuss with them all aspects of the Napoleonic era.

I am a founding member of the MP team Tirailleurs et Dragons! which started out with two members and has grown to number 8 of us now (officers living across the US, in the Caribbean, Italy, and Germany).

My impetus for forming the T&D! was to increase the level of interaction and camaraderie among my fellow LGA officers.

The reason I enjoy MP gaming more than solo vs an opponent is because I like to discuss the battle as it is underway with others, sharing the experience and ideas - which can only go so far with your opponent.

MP gaming has brought me into contact with other members from across the club, and has been the cornerstone of establishing long lasting relationships with many of them.

I served for a short period as Chef d'Etat of IV Corps, before being placed in command of the Reserve Cavalerie Corps in August of 2013.

I have also served as a Training Instructor for the Ecole Militaire, working with new recruits to LGA, teaching or assessing their familiarity with the common gaming systems we use here in the club.

This is a role I very much enjoy as it increases my interaction with new members, and I have learned a great deal about how others find their way (as I once did) to our membership ranks.

It has been said that the majority (or at least very many) of military gaming enthusiasts play these games in solitaire fashion.

I know that when I was first exposed to the Talonsoft games I played not only solitaire, but being fortunate enough to have brothers and friends who also liked to play the games we used hot-seat as well.

I found my way to the NWC through the mention of it in one of my game manuals.

During my visits to other gaming club sites and viewing their discussion boards, I will often see comments by folks about how they play solitaire, and then someone else will chime in on the fact that they really do need to try and experience playing against another human - hot seat or PBEM.

This growing desire to experience just that is what I find most new recruits with whom I have interacted cite as their reason for joining the NWC.

What I believe sets the NWC apart from the other most common club sites on the internet, is most eloquently stated in our club Principles:

The Napoleonic Wargame Club was founded in 1998 by people dedicated to the study of Napoleonic history, and wargaming reflecting that period. A great deal of thought and effort were put into the structure of this club to ensure that it would become one of the premier online, organizations of its type. It is through the continued efforts of its dedicated administrators, and the active participation of its membership, that our club continues to thrive and grow.

Our goal is to provide our members with a place where they can experience the military and historical flavor of the Napoleonic Period. Our club provides more than just a points ladder system, but a better way to participate in Napoleonic roleplaying and scholarly discussions of Napoleonic history. Promotions are based on the number of games played, but assignments to the command positions of the club's armies are based on the qualities of individual leadership displayed by our most talented officers.

Above all, the goal of our club is to promote the friendly interaction of Napoleonic wargamers in order to enhance the enjoyment of their games, and to increase their knowledge of Napoleonic history.

The above mission statement is what I consider to be the heart and soul of the NWC, and is the inspiration I will bring to my job as Public Relations Officer if elected, and as I act as ambassador for our club to the other gaming community sites on the internet.

I hope you will give me your confidence and trust to represent the NWC in such a fashion as to continue the evolution of our club, and cement our status as the premier Napoleonic gaming club on the internet.

Regards,
Todd Schmidgall
Member NWC

I admire your passion Todd, you have my support.

_________________
Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards

I am convinced that you are the right person for the job.
Your professionalism and seriousness is commendable.
You count on my support.

Regards.

_________________

General de Brigada Jose Angel "Trane" Barredo.
Comandante de la Brigada Española.

Todd has such an incredible imagination and his ability to put it into to words is a gift. He can very eloquently express what we experience in the campaigns and battles that we play. He will get people to desire the feeling of commanding men in a desperate battle in Napoleonic times. I believe with these skills and his dedication he would have great success in expanding the clubs membership.

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them."

As a leader in the NWC the position of Public Relations Officer serves not only as an outward facing ambassador but also as a caretaker and leader within the club. Over the past few years there has been an influx of new voices that have taken up the mantle of leadership, tempered by the departure of experienced and long serving members that helped build the club from its humble beginnings.

What are the principles that would guide you in this position?

How would you go about bringing in new members as well as continuing to keep current officers engaged?

How would you balance the wide variety of interests, and cultural experiences within the club to ensure that the atmosphere is inclusive to a wide range of members, from causal gamers and students of history to avid roleplayers and ambitious leaders eager to make their mark?

If elected, what would be the first action that you would take and why?

_________________
Marechal Jeff Bardon
Duc de Castiglione et Prince de Wagram
Commandant de la Garde Imperiale

Todd,You have my support.

_________________
Feldmarschall Stefano Freiherr Ciampoli von Toskana
1. Kürassier-Brigade
Kavallerie-Division

Dear Todd, if you become the PR officer of the club here is the forum and link of NWC for Histwar Napoleon sir, thank you for the possible support.

Salute!

Hi Hakan, it will be my pleasure to work with you to increase the ties between the two organizations.

You are to be commended for your efforts at increasing HistWar Napoleon visibility here at the NWC with your graphic enhanced game reports.

Regards,

Hello Todd,

you have my vote and my support.

"Firstly the bickering and infighting needs to stop, that first and foremost and I think harsh penalties should be given to anyone who continues with this after being warned"

Todd,

The above statement was made by Mark Hornsby in his campaign speech. I have asked him for some clarification by posing some questions to him. I have pasted them below. Please take a moment and give us your thoughts and insights to these same questions if you don't mind.

I completely agree with you and since you have posted this statement as part of your campaign speech I request the following clarification:

1. Why do you suppose there has been so much infighting of late? Have you noticed any patterns?

2. If so how would you propose to respond to his bickering and infighting if you were elected to this position and thus become a member of the cabinet? You mentioned a warning and then a harsh penalty. How might that actually work out?

3. The club seems to be polarizing around certain factions, how do we end this? No one is ever entirely right or wrong so how do we find common ground and compromise?
These are not abstract as a potential club officer you very well could land square in the middle of these issues and I would like to hear your personal views.

As I told mark I believe whether each of you should win or lose you are bot helping to make this a stronger club. I thank you as well.

_________________
Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards

You have my support, Todd.
I know you as a reliable guy. Your inborn ability for public relations can help the club a lot.
Fabio