[SCA-AE] ANNOUNCE: Background checks for youth.

[Lee Ann]

I am a mother of two little girls, have previously worked in a kindergarten
before I became pregnant with my own, and I am currently a daycare
provider.  I am also currently an autocrat for a Youth Event this July.  

I completely agree with the need for child supervision by competent adults
who can be absolutely trusted -Parents.  

The SCA is a volunteer based hobby.  It’s been said a million times by
almost everyone- autocrats and youth coordinators do not get paid to watch
your children and are under no obligation to do so.  

I find it appalling that children are left alone long enough to be victims
to predators at all.  It's hard to be SCAdian with kids.  Everyone knows
that.  Autocrats know that.  Autocrats are generally chivalrous and try to
accommodate everyone and try not to punish parents by sending them home.  

However, the SCA is still a part of the dangerous REAL WORLD, and I know
that not a single parent wants their kids to go off with someone alone.  Our
hobby ABSOLUTELY MUST take a back seat to our children's welfare!!!  Does it
put a damper on your play time?  Of course!  If you can't watch your
children or bring someone trusted to do it for you, then they should stay
home with some other supervision. 

I'm not upset with the laws or procedures, but I AM heated that parents are
so apathetic that we have to have this in place at all.  If this legislation
passes, it will be more proof that people are lazy and expect the governing
body do their work for them while complaining that they do it badly.  The
entire "need" for this makes me so indignant and disgusted that I just can't
keep silent on the topic.  

You will find in the future that honest volunteers will not want anything to
do with children's activities, legislation will become more and more
strict.  Autocrats will not want the headache of having to deal with it and
so children’s activities will be less frequent at events.  And who can blame
them?  Parents will end up entertaining their own children at events -if
minors will be allowed to events at all.  The parents who will not watch
their children make it harder and harder for everyone else who does.

I will follow any procedure that is required for youth activities to
continue.  I will get the background check.  They'll find some bad credit
checks somewhere around when I went to college.  If I can still find enough
volunteers, I'll be at my Youth Event coordinating running games for the
kids.  :(  


-Lady Yang SuGyong
Mother to 2 –FIRST-
Squire to Syr Cedric of Thanet –SECOND-
In the Barony of Delftwood