"All HMGS Members should check this out !!!!!!!!!!!!" Topic

Blah blah blah blah blah……It's a racial slur clear as the light of day.

Not at all clear to me. How is it?

I don't understand how the use of watermelon is a racial slur? Even if I said . What does that have to do with race? I like homebrew beer and have a smoke'n hot cousin, does that make me a hillbilly? Would I care if you said that it did? Absolutely not!

"Not at all clear to me. How is it?"

There's a former mayor who can explain it to you, maybe.

And the original thread was about what????

A racial slur implies inferiority. Explain to me in small words (because I am obviously not in the mental Big Leagues here) how watermelon = inferior. Better repeat it a few times so I can finally understand.

I have never been able to pick a fight by telling Stanley Walenska that he eats keilbasa and pierogies.

Tony Lombardo never got upset if I made a comment on the pasta sauce I could smell cooking.

If you tell me that genuine Irish stew is a tasteless mess, I will not get upset, because it is.

And the original thread was about what????

Nothing particularly important. It ran out of steam and got hijacked.
Such threads are good for comic relief, little else.

Will some one keep it up !!! I just ordered pizza! Is that ok to say?? Mike Adams

I ed some internet people off (like that's new) many years ago by suggesting I'd picnic with fried chicken and watermelon.

But guess what…I grew up eating that stuff…because it's GOOD. It's not racial, it's regional!

By the way, as Doctor Laura would say, this is not a hill I want to die on.
I am actually and truly puzzled. Prove me wrong.

I am as white as one can get (those Spanish and Moors from the Spanish Armada shipwrecked on the north coast of Ireland may have a lot to answer for, gene wise…), but I LOVE fried chicken.

Only because John asked:

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Watermelon in particular is considered a racial slur, since it is and has been associated with African slaves. It is not the food alone, but is association with African Americans in particular such as the statement above about the president that becomes the racist slur. The fact that you may enjoy watermelon or fried chicken is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with being "PC"-it has to do with decency. It's an historical context.

Fraud, incompetence, and dishonesty at HMGS isn't a controversial enough topic?

Fraud, incompetence, and dishonesty at HMGS isn't a controversial enough topic?

Sounds like you should run for an HMGS office.

"Watermelon in particular is considered a racial slur, since it is and has been associated with African slaves."

Not so much slaves, as it is part of the derogatory racial stereotype of African-Americans throughout the Jim Crow era: the ignorant, lazy, shuffling "coon" or "picaninny", consuming fried chicken and watermelon, just as portrayed in the cards above. Sheer bigoted ugliness.

Lordy, people even do academic tomes on this issue. I don't know how someone can be close to my age and not be aware of this stereotype. I was out before lunch picking up a few groceries; I almost started a conversation about this with am African-American family who were picking out a watermelon--then decided it might not go in the intended direction… They had some mangoes, too. I had cat food.

Allen

"It's still politics…"

Actually, apart from the reference to the current president, it's not. It's an historic political, social, and cultural issue.

Allen

So…. racist comments are okay now?! I never got the memo on that one.

Feel free to have fun with the Know-Nothings, Scalawags, and Bimetallists.

Allen

I think we need a new icon….for *train wreck*

And that was our commercial break for a discussion of watermelon. Apologies to anyone who was offended. So Pat are you saying that I was stumbling into the truth, but like I tried to explain, there is more to the numbers than meets the eye?
And of course he's right again. You guys have to stop spitting the seeds at me. I am a human too.

Nothing offensive in the Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay flick then, I guess. :)

Are you saying watermelon is big in Hawaii and Chicago? If not, what's the connection?

- Bob

I don't understand how the use of watermelon is a racial slur? Even if I said that there isn't a rib joint within 5 miles of the white house or he's not a good basketball player because his hands are to greasy from eating all the fried chicken. What does that have to do with race?

Holy ing .

Please tell me you are not going to try the wide-eyed innocent routine. If you grew up in this country and you're over the age of 12, you KNOW that those are coded words. Otherwise you are regrettable.

You see, this is how money gets overspent in HMGS. Any members here are not paying attention except for moi, Pat Condray and a couple of others.

It,s a smokescreen this "racial" thing. stick to the facts I would love to see receipts for all these expenditures and if justified this could all be laid to rest.

Not a smoke screen… a reaction to an earlier post. Nothing to do with anti-HMGS rants and other silly nonsense.

"You see, this is how money gets overspent in HMGS. Any members here are not paying attention except for moi, Pat Condray and a couple of others."

Exactly. Consider this thread a comedy of manners, worthy of Sheridan.

Allen

Maynard (von Loudon) – there are more than just a few paying attention I assure you. And each for their own reasons whether they are a 'member' or not. But there are also more than a few around the country who just love to see East stumble and crash along each year. Over the past few years especially East has only shined for a few days each year during its conventions and the rest of the days pure hell. There are so many unanswered questions – many that will forever remain unanswered. Suppose you were to get answers to some of the more complex questions. What would you do with them?
I fear there will ultimately be fewer answers than what anyone is expecting or demanding. The Board has taken its dumb-and-dumber stand behind a recently revealed HMGS Ethics Agreement. A customer of mine emailed me a copy of it to me and the existence of it goes far to explain why a lot of mystery is going on behind the veil of secrecy. In short it is a most fascinating document. I will be quick to add that it is a document I would not sign assuming I ran for, and won, a seat on the Board again. (It was sent to me as a PDF document and if I were able to copy and post it here I would.) Basically it is strong on defining and warning against conflict(s) of interest as a Board member performs their duties and assignments. It is weak on how transgressions are investigated and determined and the only penalty is being voted off by the rest of the 'BOD'. One phrase refers to "pending legal resolution" but no further mention or definition of what that means appears. I might add the document is only for BOD members to sign, but if they really wanted to be serious about it all they would require it be signed by anyone with supervisory or financial duties such as Convention Directors and any oversight personnel. In truth, this document is more of a confidential and non-disclosure document than anything else and that's what the BOD has used it for probably since its inception. I can clearly see by reading and trying to understand some of its more legalese language why it has morphed into a cone of silence tool.
To be sure it was written – or its boiler plate cousin was – by an attorney. My wife who is a non-practicing lawyer and still a member of the bar in another state looked it over and pronounced it had "far too much ambiguity" within a few minutes.
Some observations:
1. I have a problem with it in the first line. It refers only to "The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (HMGS)". Presumably this Code of Ethics should then be applicable to BoD officers in all the remaining HMGS chapters as well for it does not mention East, Inc. or any other chapter. The second phrase in the first sentence states "in accordance with applicable laws and statures of the State of Maryland. I am informed by the customer supplying me the document that it has been stated on the HMGS forum (one that I am not a member of) that no such law in Maryland states that such an Ethics Agreement has to be produced and signed by its officers.
2. The second line is an incomplete sentence that says nothing and goes nowhere.
3. There is no penalty stated on the document incase a BoD member refuses to sign.
I might add here also that a recently elected BoD member named Desy has not signed the document apparently and he is being denied a full seat on the BoD until he does. There is absolutely no precedent or by-law which even allows this matter to be determined in this fashion whereby an elected Board member is denied their full seat on the Board.
4. Recall I said the document is strong on conflict of interest and BOD members not being allowed to let anyone "influence them or unduly enjoy favor from them with regard to performance (of) their official duties." Based on things I've learned over the years from different and varied sources I can think of several past BOD members who violated that spirit with profusion. If only the Board pursued past transgressors of their conflicts then as much as they are willing to fall back now on the cone of silence offered by this ethics agreement HMGS would be far along in solving most of its more damaging problems.
5. Lastly I'd like to point out that the mere existence of this document – which first came into existence back in the year 2000 – has only become known by the general membership within the past week. Astounding! ENJOY !
Toby Barrett

Sorry, but I forgot to mention one of the more incredible utterances from the HMGS Forum according to my friend and customer who sent me the 'agreement'. He states that this Code of Ethics is supposedly in force for even those Board members who have not signed it since 2000 or those refusing to sign it now. The person who stated that – if true – has either been smoking loco weed in one of Leo Walshs' western games at the convention or they are the person who tried to pronounce in US Army circles when I was 'in' that a limited nuclear war could be fought in a managable way.

First, how much did HMGS spend on watermelon? Secondly, who did they allow to eat the watermelon? These issues should be thoroughly investigated and reported to all concerned. I suggest a Special Investigator be hired from the remaining funds.

I am waiting for some criminal mastermind to post this "Code of Ethics" somewhere where the hoi polloi can view it.

If it's a PDF, that would be easily do-able. It could even be done quite anonymously.

Allen

"But there are also more than a few around the country who just love to see East stumble and crash along each year."

The Brits have Christmas pantos, French and Saunders, Mitchell and Webb, and Monty Python.

We have the HMGS BoD.

Everyone needs a little something to brighten their day.

Allen

True, but that would mean joining the group, taking the Loyalty Oath, etc. I quit it many moons ago, because nothing I posted was ever printed. I am told it is much looser now. Right.
If I were to join up now for the sole purpose of doing naughty things, they would certainly know who to go after for posting it, wouldn't they?

I understood Master Caster was in possession of the PDF. Sounds like posting it to Scribd would work!

- Bob

"The Brits have Christmas pantos, French and Saunders, Mitchell and Webb, and Monty Python.

We have the HMGS BoD"

Yeah, no reason to gloat though.

Nice to hear from you Toby, right? You're going to be at Guns next week? I'll see you there. I'm sure they'll have watermelon in Williamsburg. BTW we pretty well know what happened. The challenge is to get the BOD off the ethics bs, get the letters of demand somehow settled, and take a pledge of fiscal responsibility going forward. That probably means I sorry to say to the vendors, that H-Con next year will be at VFCC. But I am looking forward to Fall In and Cold Wars in Lancaster, my favorite convention town.

Okay, Rusty you can run this lot in now. They're really out of hand.

As I understand it the Ethics document thing in question is posted in the files section of the Yahoo Hmgs Forum group. I think it would be more appropriate if some member would take the bull by the horns on that on and post it somehow. I don't know how to post PDF files anywhere on line as I have the document now and little time now to learn how. If anyone takes issue on any of my previous news reporting on this thing let them come on board here and say so.

Crow Bait 04 Aug 2010 11:11 a.m. PST
First, how much did HMGS spend on watermelon? Secondly, who did they allow to eat the watermelon? These issues should be thoroughly investigated and reported to all concerned. I suggest a Special Investigator be hired from the remaining funds.

*NJH: I will be happy to look into Watermelongate. All I want in return is limitless funds to sample watermelon on location at all the places it is grown. That way I can more easily decide if HMGS is getting quality melons. Of course I'll be spending a lot of time in Hermiston, OR – The Melon Capital of the World.

This has gone seriously off the rails. To get back to the most important issue raised in this thread:

"I like homebrew beer and have a smoke'n hot cousin…"

Have you got any pictures of your cousin?

No gloating, Oh . That suggests a malicious satisfaction at the misfortunes of others. There is no misfortune. No-one is hurt (except perhaps in reputation, and that is all self-induced). Even significant financial loss does little harm, at least in the eyes of most members. The conventions go on (bread and circuses) after all, and fewer and fewer members vote--so there must be no actual injury, else there would be popular concern, and a drive to change, surely.

The entertainment doesn't come as a result of slapstick, or the simulated beatings of a puppet show. It comes, as I suggested above, from the same sort of tortuous, but repetitive and familiar, plots and exaggerated characters as in a comedy of manners, or in commedia dell'arte. True, the batacchio, or slapstick, and the characters of a Punch and Judy show come from the same tradition. But the connoisseur is entertained, not by loud reports, but by the antics of the buffoni.

In HMGS productions, the devil is never driven off stage with blows, after all; but the cast usually contains multiple versions of the miles gloriosus, Scaramouche, and Arlecchino, all competing for the audience's attention in a wonderful cacophony.

Allen

Allen, how artsy-fartsy of you. Are you a connoisseur of the stage, yea, perhaps a Thespian?
We may have run the course of the overspending era because harsh reality may soon be upon us in the form of letters of demand. No matter what the settlement is, didn't there have to be a mutual cancellation clause or something, I think we will squeak by. But our commitment will have to be to, again that word, fiscal responsibility. That means NO WATERMELON UNLESS YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT WITHOUT WRECKING THE TREASURY. The last sentence should be down to sixth grade level. Hope all of you can read it.

Careful Allen, when you start quoting latin phrases one could possibly confuse you with being Condray --- and we wouldn't want that to happen.
Maynard – please explain these "letters of demand" you've mentioned a few times.

Sorry, Maynard, but I'm straight. I did, however, study theater history back in the carefree days of academe.

Toby, I'll tone down the Latin, and try to add a "badabing" or two to update the Italian.

Allen

I was looking at some of the more recent (2009) BOD meeting minutes on the website and I started thinking…

"Why would someone want to be reimbursed for this expense? Couldn't they just 'donate' it since they are supposed to be volunteers anyway?"

"Why would they authorize money to hire a professional to do their 'social media' (i.e. Facebook) updates? Isn't that something one BOD member (Heather currently?) could do without any cost?" I checked… There isn't a Facebook page…

If our group reimbursed for all of this silliness, then we'd have to charge $100/person to have our convention!

Austerity is the path to enlightenment…

Neal…I hope that is a joke about the Facebook thing. No board member is computer savvy enough to update the group once a month for free?

And you are right, I can't find any overall HMGS group. There is one for Northwest HMGS and one for South HMGS.

And newsletters? I never get any newsletters. I'm also a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism where I swordfight. We get a monthly newsletter, guaranteed, from our regional organization. They spend a total of $230,000 globally for this. So…$230,000 divided by 19 regions is ~$12,105 for each region to send out a monthly newsletter (~$1,008 a month).

Where's my darn HMGS Newsletter!?

I'm not joking…

PDF link

Page 2 – Near the bottom

Technically they didn't authorize money then, but they authorized review of RFPs for the work.

I need to keep reading to see how far it went…

I know Chris King started a NING Group. Maybe they decided to go with NING instead of Facebook?

hmgsonline.ning.com

I do admit NING was a better choice than FB because it has a marketplace.

That's pretty cool actually… Wonder why I/we(?) never heard of it?

It still bugs me that they were willing to spend money on this kind of thing when it is pretty obvious someone can do this in their spare time.