I'm guessing that you are worried the public perception might be that we have 'sold out' - we have given up on the inclusive and moved to the darker side of reenactment.
I agree with that danger - however it can be handled with clear and unambiguous public statements and the simple facts of the reality.
Yup, I am a little concerned about that, but i'm also slightly concerned that this may be seen as a soft route towards getting the ability to buy, manufacture and import RIF's - hence why I mentioned a qualifying period for new joiners.
With regards to grandfathering players into the scheme, do we still have the player lists from BoB, Arnhem, CR, D-Day & Wotan?
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Wotan - yes, I have paperwork for that.
As for the others, Guy said the lists have gone from the forum - Arnhem list Yith had (it had his 'how-shit-was-kit data 
'
Ah, here we go:
Bulge:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=18&start=0
Arnhem:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=276&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
missing - I'll see if I can recover
Churchills:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=291&start=0
missing - I'll see if I can recover
Wotan:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1356
All these booking lists will want checking for no-shows.
if you can recover I'll start a database 
For your information...
Hi Paul, hope you had a good day at the fair!
We had an excellent day today - a recce of the forest for our Ostfront based game along with a photoshoot for game publicity. Followed by a pub lunch to discuss more pressing affairs. We are all 100% behind the AFRA affiliation and want to press ahead with this exciting development.
We will invite applications from players who have a commitment to the cause. There will be two criteria - they must have played a CiA WW2 game and have adequate period kit. We don't want chaps joining as a quick/cheap/easy way to buy RIFs or gain other advantages. So, they must have played to the end of a game when they and we sign a form (to stop people who might just show their face and bugger off with no intention to play) and their period kit must be substantially above the level of our basic 'looks-like' kit list (which is designed to encourage new players to have a go). We will also have a fall-back final sanction of validation. At this stage we won't validate players at other site's games as we have no say over kit levels and are unable to verify attendance or identity.
We have agreed to handle payments so we will forward AFRA's portion and completed forms to you. We are thinking of £20 - the £5 we retain will cover admin (which would otherwise come our of game fees) and leave a small contribution to running costs.
Hope this meets with your approval.
We are now working through our constitution (as simple as we can get it!) which will be done and dusted by Friday. While we will have members (those that have attended games - nothing to do with forum members) they won't have any say constitutionally or in the running of CiA. Nice and simple - it's not democratic but it's the only way to get shit done!
cheers
David
Hmmmmm heart, own man and after my come to mind!
All you've written is cool. Fix your membership at whatever suits you - £20, £25... it's cool....
We'll receive your applications and cheques in bulk then and get them back to you as central point of Contact. You can then distribute them to your members.
I do hope this strengthens CiA..... I love innovation and you buggers are really going to change things around here.... Stig said you have something going down at Mansfield at the weekend but I have to go to Spanhoe so can't make it. I MUST come and touch base if it's only for a beer or two.
Thanks for taking this decision and we will do our best for all of the guys and girls..... I'd like to see a crossover two ways.....
Cheers
Paul
What's the story with PD's ban from the WW2 Reenacting Forum then?
As we know PD has a habit of rubbing folks up the wrong way from time to time. It's partly devilment, partly egotism but also a sense of frustration that reenactors are stuck in their ways.
He has been banned before but this time it was a culmination of his ceaseless promotion of AFRA and his involvement with 'rival' forums and a bit of admin baiting that did for him. By all accounts even the 'anti-PDs' were a bit appalled by his treatment and the lack of a public statement. He has been and still is a large figure in their world, seemingly full of politics (small P), power struggles and vested interests.
Nothing to worry us directly though - indeed, it may strengthen things, AFRA being the 'new' face of reenactment...
PD is firmly in the "innovate or die" camp. Which rubs a lot of the old guard up the wrong way. Especially those who are incredibly suspicious of AFRA anyway.
Reminds me of a certain forum and the ABA...
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Regarding the AFRA announcement.....
It's not like Rich to be a completely negative pedant about things........oh no, wait a minute.....
He does have half a point though. 
S
He has no points at all - he takes 'rules' out of context and ignores explainations.
But worse - he has no need to even get involved as he already has facilities elsewhere. It certainly reminded me why we never got anywhere when he was part of CiA.
A point about people reading those rules and misinterpreting them. He doesn't need to do it so publicly though.
Tit.
S
Its just Rich being Rich. Seems he's winding everyone up (Gadge has had a bit of a falling-out with him).
and..........
I believe calling him a "tit" is far less than he deserves
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
He has no points at all - he takes 'rules' out of context and ignores explainations.
But worse - he has no need to even get involved as he already has facilities elsewhere. It certainly reminded me why we never got anywhere when he was part of CiA.
Yep in Spades ...
.........although in my conversations with Jay we used the word CUNT more
Fup me. How many people are going to question the 'keen reenactor' bit and get the wrong end of the stick?
After all that further explanation on the thread Barrie and Anne still aren't sure whether they 'qualify'.
FFS.
S
Doesn't matter - much to their embarrassment I'm sure they are the benchmark now (although I would be happy with lesser kit level personally) and they certainly show commitment. We can't ask more.
Still, need to make sure selection is done off-forum from now on - else there will be no end of 'will I qualify?' questions that will be a pain in the but.
Pete Dunns already asked me for an AFRA form
I'm VERY keen to hear what PD's been saying to Gadge as he has posted.
I do think we need to nip the whole Gadge and Yith interference in the bud as soon as is physically possible.
PD was just clarifying AFRA's position to Gadge - I'll post up an edited version tonight.
OK. Rich's arrogance about asking whether he will get to see it is incredible.
Why do they think they have ownership on any of this!?
They haven't but PD is answering the questions they raised, that's all.
No that's cool. I'm not worried about PD as I know he's on 'our side' as it were, it just bugs me that they are doing nothing and expecting everything.
I'll go on lunch and chill out! 
S
