Southwest Region Status Report 0101 Part 1 Regional Coordinator - Keith Curtz, 9607-097
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents:
Part 1
Section 1a: Regional Overview
Section 1b: Departmental Reports
Section 2: Projects
Part 2
Section 3: Prestige Recommendations
Section 4: Regional Officer Contact Information Section 5: Comments and Concerns
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 1a: Regional Overview
Communication and reporting continue to be a problem in the region. Two chapters that I haven’t heard from in months have started reporting again.
There are still quite a few coordinators however that neither report nor answer any of my inquiries into the status of their chapters. I am still hoping to reach my goal of 85% reporting on an ongoing basis. This will be much easier to accomplish as soon as I set the example.
There has been grumbling of “where’s the RC?” and “What’s he been doing?” Kim tells me that it’s not enough to simply do the job. I need to send out updates to everyone so that people know what’s going on with the office. It’s somewhat ironic that part of my original goal as RC was to promote better communication within the region and one of the biggest complaints is that I don’t communicate enough. Definitely something that I shall be addressing and correcting.
For the first time in my tenure as RC I’m starting to receive more compliments than complaints. This is unprecedented and I feel that it’s only proper to give credit to the proper individuals. Shannon Quintero, Kimiko Drew, Aaron Morgan, Tim McKusick, you all have my deepest thanks and appreciation for the continued exemplary work that you are performing. We all understand that this is a voluntary club and none of us receive adequate compensation for the work we do. In the case of you four, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Not only do you turn out quality work but also you each have pushed, advised, forced, helped me to become better at my job.
Thank you!
Section 1b: Departmental Reports
Included this month are the following reports;
I. Arbitration
II. Web Communications
It was my intention to include the Prestige Reviewers reports as well.
However the nature of the information therein made it difficult to include.
Next month the Prestige Department will be included as well. For the record they are doing an awesome job in helping CCs with prestige guidelines as well as working on audits and MC approvals.
I. SW ARC ARBITRATION -- ARBITRATION REPORT (Edited for Length)
For January 2001
February 2, 2001
Shannon Quintero
OVERVIEW
This report consists of the following sections:
Summary
Recommendation
Observations
1. SUMMARY
I have dealt with and brought to a close, an issue concerning pattern behavior of sexual harassment by a member. It has been advised that reoccurrence of such behavior will likely result in expulsion.
Another member has been counseled to be responsible for the manner in which they react to the behavior of others. Often they are embroiled in situations in which their method of dealing with the actions of others exacerbates the situation and blows it out of proportion. Had they reacted in a reserved fashion and heeded the CoC and dispute resolution process the matter would have been easily identified and dealt with.
Another chapter has had difficulties with the performance of their CC and requested Regional intervention. They have been pointed to the proper procedures for dealing with such situations and are handling their affairs.
There was an incident of people coming to the Regional office to dispute storyteller rulings concerning the banning of a character from their games. The individuals have been directed to the proper procedures and people to go to resolve such disputes. Thus far the DC of the area has heard nothing from the complaining parties.
The petition to remove the RC.
The non-specific petition to remove the RC has not been heard of recently. It is my hope that the post formulated by the RC and edited by myself has educated the region as to the proper (and more effective) methods of having their issues heard and acted upon. It is my hope that this will assist in empowering the Region to have its concerns heard and responded to in an effective manner. I have some concern that some individuals may perceive the post as an attempt to stymie their voices. It should be reiterated that we still wish to hear the concerns of the domain and would like to encourage members to use the proper channels to have their concerns heard and be responded to.
3. & 4. RECOMMENDATION and OBSERVATIONS
Sexual harassment is a serious deal. I keep a firm boundary on this one.
Many problems I've seen involving CoC between members are often complicated by how one of the members chooses to react to a perceived inappropriate action of another. The key to a positive outcome here is for them to comport themselves appropriately and calmly follow the proper procedure for dealing with the matter. When their conduct is clean it will be much harder for their detractors to assail them and easier to zero in on the original instigators as well.
Members and officers seem too ready to escalate to the regional level. It needs to be made clear that most matters need to be resolved at a local level. While the Regional office should definitely be accessible for matters that warrant Regional attention, there is often a trend for folks to escalate rather than work for resolution. The Tome urges Coordinators to take disciplinary action against members that skip steps in the dispute resolution process. I feel that I will have to be stricter in this area.
We have had no responses for SWRE bids. If we don't hear from anyone by the 15th, I think it's pretty obvious there is not enough interest to have the event happen.
The Regional Sigil bid has also had a zero result thus far. I think maybe I'll put something together and submit it.
II. SW ARC WEB COMMUNICATIONS REPORT (Edited for Length)
Fiscal month of January 2001.
South West Regional Website.
11 days of Updates for the month
300 unique visitors to site in past 30 days. Avg: 10 per day.
A brief summary of minor changes made:
Chapter updates: 27 times
Domain updates: 3 times
Event updates: 9 times
Please visit web site for more detailed changes to the site.
a brief description of major changes made:
1-17-01:
* SWRE is on for 2001. Bid information placed online
* Rio Sangre game info placed online (and updated 1-19-2001)
* ICC 2001 updated open positions listings online with filled positions highlighted in red.
1-18-01:
* Sigil request info as given by Shannon Quintero placed on site.
As of today, 2-12-00, no submission received.
* The Events Submission Form is back up and working. Created in php code, with direct sending of info to my email.
1-30-01:
* Entered new chapter info for Monterey's City of Voices Lost.
2-1-01:
* Added in Crimson Sentinal (UT002) to site
* Spent a few hours yesterday and today trying to reorganize the pages and subdirectories for revised site.
2-06-01:
* Added in upcoming event; Camp Camarilla, sponsored by the Domain of Myst
Status of on-going projects:
Pending Projects (awaiting database creation from Dan Schmidt, VP-Tech):
E-mail lists, tamu and yahoogroups:
This project is to make available the regional mail lists for members to click and subscribe online.
Chapters and Domain database:
This project is to make updating the chapter and domain information easier than currently done, which is by hand. This database will be used in conjunction with the MyCamarilla project, currently being created by Membership Services. Our regional chapter and domain info will be live data as a test for the MyCamarilla database, with the knowledge in return of the database info so we don't have to redo them when the MyCamarilla system goes live. Robin Small is the MyCamarilla Developer for the Coordinator information, and is also one of my assistants in programming.
Ongoing project:
Update of current SWR Website, graphics and overall re-organization.
As was discussed at the RC Staff meeting, the site will have or promote the following:
* To educate, inform, and assist in communicating with the members of the South West Region.
* To help promote a regional identity.
* The format of the site is to remain a framed page in order to show the latest spotlight area.
* To promote Excellence, Member and Chapter of the Month spotlight area will be on the home page.
* Each focus on the region will be for three months, with Member/Chapter spotlight coming from that part of the region.
* Prestige and Staff positions FAQ.
* Promote events within the Region, as well as other regional events.
List of up-coming projects.
* Jyhad style character cards with graphics, pending approval for use of idea from Aaron Morgan and Chateau Gaumont chapter.
* Compilation of Prestige Q&A for use on web site.
* Compilation of Staff position descriptions
* Chapter/Domain reporting requirements.
* Finding fun stories and images for use in livening up site.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2: Projects
1. In my September 2000 report I stated that I had the SWRE prestige nominations and would be awarding them soon. As of this report I am still waiting on the Garou Prestige Nominations to get the awards finished up.
I’m still waiting to hear from Tim Crall as to the prestige recommendations that he would like to have his team receive.
2. As of this writing the Southwest will not be holding a regional event this year other than hosting ICC. A lack of replies coupled with no RST is making the event difficult to orchestrate. There are however numerous ‘local’ events that appeal to a wide range of members. A great deal of effort is going into these events for the enjoyment of all who attend.
Guests are always welcome. Please check the SW Web site Calendar for more information on the following events;
Rio Sangre, Saturday March 31, 2001 in Sacramento, California.
Camp Camarilla. July 31st through August 6th, 2001. Half Moon Bay State Beach, south of San Francisco, CA.
3. The RC Staff and I held our first meeting of 2001 on Jan 13th at Shannon Quintero’s home in Oakland. It was good to get everyone together like that to address issues. Much more can be accomplished in person than can be conducted through email. Despite drifting off topic a few times we managed to remain focused on our agenda and get most of it discussed.
I don’t want to jump the gun and announce fully what we will be trying to implement in the near future. Hopefully it is sufficient to say that we discussed a great many things that will hopefully bring about a sense of belonging and pride on the part of the chapters and members of the SW region.
One tool that is becoming more and more useful as time goes on is the Website. Kimiko Drew, ARC Web, continues her outstanding work in getting the Website to be filled with current and useful information. In the works now is an auto-subscription page for the members of the sw-region to use.
It will be a page with check boxes for all of the sw-lists. The member will load the page, check the boxes next to the lists he/she wishes to subscribe to and click the submit button and the page will automatically send subscription requests to the appropriate list owners.
We also talked more about the restructuring of the Web site with a focus on the SW-Region geographically and spotlights on individual areas. More on that as it develops.
4. Aaron Morgan and Tim McKusick continue in their diligence to not only approve MC requests as they come forward but also in helping coordinators with awarding prestige. They are doing this by watching the reports as they come in and writing to individual coordinators with questions and suggestions as to prestige awards. The goal, becoming proactive as well as reactive, has been met. The new goal will be continuing and improving upon the great work that they are producing now.
5. Drinking at Events Survey
In response to a thread on Rsplat concerning Drinking at Camarilla events, I decided to have the CCs poll their chapters to determine the thoughts of the membership. The results were mixed. Anywhere from, “If it’s at an event we shouldn’t do it”, to “What’s the big deal as long as it’s legal for all parties involved?” A majority of the members felt that it wasn’t even an issue that needed to be addressed. Whatever decision the Board makes regarding this policy, rest assured it will have a good number of supporters and a good number of detractors in the SW.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents:
Part 1
Section 1a: Regional Overview
Section 1b: Departmental Reports
Section 2: Projects
Part 2
Section 3: Prestige Recommendations
Section 4: Regional Officer Contact Information Section 5: Comments and Concerns
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 3: Prestige Recommendations
1. January 2001
2. December 2000
3. August 2000
4. SWRE 2000
5. Regional Assistants
5a. ARC Awards Nov00-Jan01
5b. ARST Awards
6. Other Service Awards
6a. Drinking Survey
6b. Other non classified
1. January 2001
Prestige recommendations for CC's and DC's listed here are the awards that come from this office. CC's of Domain's have been removed from this list as their awards come from their Domain Coordinator.
CA-012 - Moonlight Masquerade - Jennifer Young, No Report
CA-016 - House of the Silver Crescent - Michael Ly, No Report/Contact
CA-018 - Paradise Lost - HL Reddick Ismarc, No Report/Contact
CA-021 - Moustique Noir - Amy Stevens, 45g
CA-022 - Dark Tower - Sean Alexander, 40g
CA-023 - Sepulchre - Jayson Bouch, No Report/Contact
CA-024 - Maledorium - Michelle Kambo, 30g
CA-026 - Histum Yani - Jeff DeCamp, No Report
CA-027 - N&D - Robert Snow, 20g
CA-028 - La Maison du Sanguinare - Aaron Greusel, No Report/Contact
CA-029 - Reign of Ash – No Report/Contact CA-030 - Luna's Reprisal - Chris Bartos, No Report
CA-031 - Legends and Dreams - Tye Graham, 45g
CA-032 - Chateau Gaumont - Russ Ingram, 40g CA-0xx - Dark Side of Eden (BMK) - Barbara Mertz, No Report/Contact
HI-002 - Moonlit Isle Theatre - James Weaver, No Report/Contact
NV-004 - Ferae Noctis - , No Report/Contact
UT-002 - Crimson Sentinel - Andy Diggs, 40g
Domain Coordinators
AZD01 - Paradise of Thorns - Chris Durnell, 45g
CAD03 - Myst - Kimmi Albee, 45g
CAD04 - Black Magic Kingdom - Devon Helms, No Report CADXX - Domain of Los Angeles - Keith Macgregor, 45g
UTD02 - Domain of Mountain Shadows - Shelly Johnson, 45g
2. December 2000
Prestige recommendations for CC's and DC's listed here are the awards that come from this office. CC's of Domain's have been removed from this list as their awards come from their Domain Coordinator.
CA-012 - Moonlight Masquerade - Jennifer Young, 0g No Report
CA-016 - House of the Silver Crescent - Michael Ly, 0g No Report
CA-018 - Paradise Lost - HL Reddick Ismarc, 30g Late Report
CA-021 - Moustique Noir - Tim McKusick, 45g
CA-022 - Dark Tower - Steve Wernig, 0g No Report
CA-023 - Sepulchre - Jayson Bouch, 0g No Report
CA-024 - Maledorium - Michelle Kambo, 30g Late Report
CA-026 - Histum Yani - Jeff DeCamp, 40g
CA-027 – N&D – Robert Snow, 20g
CA-028 - La Maison du Sanguinare - Aaron Greusel, 0g No Report
CA-029 - Reign of Ash – Randall Samalot, 0g No Report CA-030 - Luna's Reprisal - Chris Bartos, 0g No Report
CA-031 - Legends and Dreams - Tye Graham, 35g
CA-032 - Chateau Gaumont - Russ Ingram, 35g CA-0xx - Dark Side of Eden (BMK) - Barbara Mertz, 0g No Report
HI-002 - Moonlit Isle Theatre - James Weaver, 0g No Report
NV-004 - Ferae Noctis – Ramon Menendez, 0g No Report
UT-002 - Crimson Sentinel - Andy Diggs, 40g Domain Coordinators
AZD01 - Paradise of Thorns - Chris Durnell, 0g No Report
CAD03 - Myst - Kimmi Albee, 35g
CAD04 - Black Magic Kingdom - Devon Helms, 0g No Report CADXX – “Domain of Los Angeles” – Keith Mcgregor, 0g No Report
UTD02 - Domain of Mountain Shadows - Shelly Johnson, 40g
3. August 2000
AZ003 - Song of Sonora - Mike Meyer, 40g by DC
AZ004 - Night Shift - Michael Mc Laughlin, 50g by DC
AZ005 - Tithe of Souls - Debra Fields, 40g by DC AZPND - ISI - Rachel Smythe, 40g
CA003 - Phoenix House, Jennifer Bollinger, 45g
CA012 - Moonlight Masquerade - Jennifer Young, 35g Late
CA013 - Pharo's Myst - Joe Loucks, 35g by DC
CA014 - Last Whiskey Bar - Katie Hunt, 30g Late
CA015 - Anathema - Ree Soesbee, 35g Late
CA017 - Bureau - Marshall Foster, 30g Late
CA019 - Obsidian Bay - Anthony Giacalone, 0g No Report
CA021 - Moustique Noir - Tim McKusick, 45g
CA022 - Dark Tower - Steve Wernig, 30g Late
CA024 - Maledorium - Michelle Kambo, 40g
CA025 - Monsters Under the Bed - Mike Maring, 35g by DC
CA026 - Histum Yani - Jeff DeCamp, 40g
CA030 - Luna's Reprisal - Michael Singer Acting CC, 30g Late
CA031 - Legends & Dreams - Tye Graham, 40g
CA033 - Dragon's Coils - Robin Johnson, 45g
HI002 - Moonlight Isle Theatre - James Weaver, 35g
NV004 - Ferae Noctis - Brenda Pettay, 40g
UT002 - Crimson Sentinel - Andy Diggs, 35g
UT004 - Rising Sun - Arthur Hansen, 40g by DC
UT008 - Velvet Glove - M.J. McCorristin, 40 by DC
AZD01 - Paradise of Thorns, Chris Durnell, 35g Late
CAD03 - Myst - Kimmi Allbee, 40g
UTD02 - Mountain Shadows - Shelly Johnson, 40g
4. SWRE 2000 Prestige
SWRE 2000 Coordination, Alex Griswold Lead CC
Administration (Max 50) 25r
Art & Public Relations (Max 40) 10r
Community Service (Max 50) 10r 10g
Convention Service (Max 50) 30r
Organizational (Max 50) 30r
Sabbat Prestige as Recommended by Russ Ingram, Lead ST (for the Record Russ didn’t recommend himself for prestige)
Russ Ingram Lead ST 50r (Convention max 50 per convention) Assistant ST's (Administration max 50 per month) Jonni Crowell-Griffith 15r Anthony O'con 15r Denise Green 15r Erin Poll 10r Keith McCann 20r John Oliver 20r
NPC: (Storytelling Support Max 15 per month) Dan Luboff 5r Harold Hulbert 5r Guy Seggev 5r Thomas Stratman 10r Brooke Hancock 5r David McCorkell 5r Daniel Bass 10r
Aaron Morgan(for the Pillars write-up) 5r Michael La Cert (DJ and support) 5r (Convention max 50) Lisa McGuire (DJ and support) 5r each (Convention max 50) Bruce Gomes(Tie-ins)10r
5. Regional Assistants (Administration Max 50/Month)
5a. Assistants to Regional Coordinator
Novembers Prestige was left out of my November Report. Included here will be November, December, and January Prestige awards for the Assistants. Note that I am not a fan of ‘max’ prestige awards. I feel that the awards listed below are due simply for the level and quality of work that the team is putting out as discussed above.
ARC Arbitration – Shannon Quintero
November 2000 30r
December 2000 30r
January 2001 30r
ARC Prestige Review – Aaron Morgan
November 2000 – 30r
December 2000 – 25r
January 2001 – 20r 5g
ARC Prestige Review – Tim McKusick
November 2000 – 30r
December 2000 – 25r
January 2001 – 30r
ARC Web Communications – Kimiko Drew
November 2000 – 30r
December 2000 – 30r
January 2001 – 30r
5b. Assistants to Regional Storyteller
No report has been copied to this office since July 2000. Repeated inquiries to the NST to get copies of the missing reports have met with silence. Refer to Section 5 paragraph 1.
6. Other Non-classified awards (Max 30 per month)
6a. “Drinking Survey”
To encourage CCs to poll their members in the survey discussed above in the Projects section I offered a prestige award. The following awards are made in the “Other” category for the Month of January 2001.
Joe Loucks, CC Pharos Myst, 10r
Michelle Kambo, CC Maledorium, 10r
Mike Meyer, CC Song of Sonora, 10r
Sean Alexander, CC Dark Tower, 10r
Robin Johnson, CC Dragon’s Coils, 10r
Michael McLaughlin, CC Night Shift, 10r
6b. Over and Above
During a recent arbitration Shannon Quintero was able to help two CC’s of the Domain of Myst work with their members to find an agreeable solution to an issue. After the meeting Shannon approached me with high praise of, and a suggestion that, Joe Loucks, CC Pharos Myst be awarded for exceptional skill and effort put forth at that meeting.
Joe Loucks, 15g
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 4: Regional Officer Contact Information
Regional Coordinator
Keith Curtz, 9607-097
*Information removed per owner's request*
*Information removed per owner's request*
H: *Information removed per owner's request*
W: *Information removed per owner's request*
*Information removed per owner's request*
Regional Storyteller
Please direct all inquiries relating to Regional level approvals or other similar items to Wade Jones, NST at awjones@bellsouth.net
Regional Assistants
ARC Arbitration
Shannon Quintero, 9501-063
cheeseslayer@yahoo.com
ARC Publications
Position Still Open
ARC Web Presence Team Lead
Kimiko Drew, 9809-050
macruimmon@earthlink.net
ARC Prestige and MC Review
Aaron Morgan, 9709-065
Tim McKusick, 9909-200
Sw-prestige@egroups.com
ARST Administration
Kyle Humfeld #9604-230
ilovetorun@hotmail.com
ARST Changeling
Dan Luboff #9904-187
dluboff@hotmail.com
ARST Influences
Kenny Smith #9701-060
kenny@anathema.net
ARST Sabbat
Ree Soesbee #9803-186
vain13@hotmail.com
ARST Shifters
Tim Crall #9706-010
tcrall@juno.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 5: Comments and Concerns
1. Prestige awards for Pete Houtekier’s ARSTs have been delayed since July 2000. This was the last time that I have seen an RST report. I have asked Wade to send me the prestige recommendations from Pete’s reports so that I could get the awards to the people that have put in the time and effort. I have gotten no reply. I would really like to get the prestige awards to the members who have put in the prerequisite time and toil. If anyone can get me this information it would be appreciated, not only by me, but the waiting members as well.
2. The Lack of an RST continues to be a major problem in the SW Region. I am informed by Wade that the selection of an RST is very close. The sooner this is done the better. The SW is not the largest region but we are also not the smallest by far. There are great many members here who are growing exceedingly impatient waiting for an RST to be selected. Even though Wade has informed most people that HE is the acting RST and that CSTs and DSTs can send their RST level requests to him, I believe many are reluctant to do so in fear of taking time away from Wade that could better be served by selecting an RST for the region instead of acting as one.
3. The NC has overturned the disciplinary action taken against Russ Ingram in July. This is a welcome turn of events. While there are many different viewpoints in regard to the actions that occurred, I am satisfied that this matter is finally concluded. Even though the NC and I have discussed the issue at length and have agreed that a terrible miscommunication transpired to drag this ordeal out, I still feel responsible. I feel that I handled this issue poorly. While the scope of the punishment was well within the boundaries of that allowed to me, the proper course of action would have been to encourage (force if necessary) the chapter coordinators of all parties involved, the Domain Coordinator of Myst, and the List Moderator of the ‘Myst’ list to take the appropriate action instead of taking that action myself. The actions taken by me, in the capacity of this office, served to sunder friendships, and for a time reduce the morale of the SW Region’s Northern California “Bay Area” specifically where the actions transpired.
As this is contrary to my responsibilities I am happy that the resulting actions occurring from the altercation have been reversed. This is not an end to the morale problems; however it is hopefully a start on the path of recovery.
4. Turn around time for ordeals, renewals, etc… Coordinators from different parts of the region are complaining about the turn around time and lack of response in regard to the above. I know that Member Services was doing a great job at getting renewals and ordeals processed quickly a short while ago. Has something changed that is causing another slow down? CCs have reported that email sent to the Camstuff address is also not being answered.
In my personal experience the Camstuff address has worked wonderfully.