[SCA-AE] money

[Monica Cellio]

This is not about the settlement, though it's prompted by it.

I couldn't help noticing the large amounts of kingdom and local money 
being talked about.  AEthelmearc has $38,000 on hand, and last night I 
read that the East Kingdom will be paying its $95,000 directly without 
collecting from local groups.  I've heard some local figures that 
surprised me too.

My question: why are we all sitting on so much money?  Why aren't we 
spending more of it in furtherance of the goals of our society?  I 
understand that we all need a rainy-day buffer -- the protection against 
two feet of snow wiping out 12th night or the like.  And I understand that 
a group might need to build up a reserve in order to bid on, or run, a 
big expensive event (known world whatever, or any event at an expensive 
site).  But might there be a better way to cover short-term risks?  Does 
every group need to cover worst-case times two, or could we manage this 
risk better by working together?

Why do we fund-raise to build up more, more, more, when it seems like we 
don't really need to?

She'erah