Cleaning up the Communications

So I've talked before about the "layers" of folks in the Kingdom and how the newer, more enthusiastic members are out of the loop.

Why? Well, partly because they're not talking to the older members. And partly because the Kingdom is doing a piss-poor job of keeping people informed.

I have made much in the past about the current multi-year contract for Spring Crown/Kingdom A&S. And expressed my frustration that nobody in Pentamere has been bidding for Kingdom events.

This isn't entirely Pentamere's fault, though. Where would you go to look for guidelines on when Crown and Coronation are to be? Kingdom law, right? Yeah, well, Kingdom Law still says:

Crown Tournaments of the Middle Kingdom shall be rotated amongst the different regions
of the realm so that such events can be distributed fairly throughout the Middle Kingdom.
The following schedule shall start the rotation and set the pattern for the future:

Crown Tournaments

Primary Secondary
Spring 2008 South Oaken Pentamere
Fall 2008 Pentamere North Oaken
Spring 2009 North Oaken Midlands
Fall 2009 Midlands Constellation
Spring 2010 Constellation South Oaken

Bids will be sought from both primary and secondary regions in the rotation. Bids will be
accepted from any branch in the Kingdom. In the case of two equal event bids, preference
will fall to the bid originating from the region in the rotation cycle.

At the end of this schedule the same pattern of regional assignments is repeated. The
regions used shall be those as defined by the office of the Kingdom Seneschal. Within each
region, we look first to the Baronies and Province of the Middle Kingdom to host the
assigned events. A Special deputy of the Kingdom Seneschal’s office will assist the groups
in the planning of their events as needed. This deputy will also ensure that each group who
has a desire to host such an event in the region has an opportunity to apply to do so. The
Special Deputy will ensure groups preparing prospective event bids are aware of the
requirements and policies for hosting Kingdom events, and that the bid is compliant with
the same.
...

VI-102 The Prince and Princess of the Middle Kingdom, shall solicit and choose their Coronation
site. This will be done with the assistance of the Kingdom Seneschal’s Special Deputy and
the Kingdom Exchequer. The Heirs may assign the task of locating a suitable Coronation
site to the Kingdom Seneschal.

Well, geeee... That sort of explains something - dunnit? Why should we bid for something when it's not "our turn?" - and no Prince and Princess solicits a bid?

More minor problems of the same type?

Curia minutes - STILL hugely out of date. How can the people know what's going on if you don't TELL them. Yeah, yeah, the Pale. Which not everybody gets, because not everybody is a paid member. And whose format does not lend itself to disseminating information well.

And then there's this bit from the new groups policy:

XIV-700 No geographic area, other than a group officially recognized by the Kingdom Seneschal, may have officers, a champion, or defined borders. Groups listed on the Middle Kingdom Collegium Seneschallorum are officially recognized by the Kingdom Seneschal.

This stuff isn't really that minor. It needs fixin'. Post-haste. The channels of communication are more or less completely broken. And I get the impression that the response of those in higher office are taking the "I'm not hearing any complaints" tactic.

I don't really think I'm asking that much. Update the web page. Update the Kingdom Law file when it changes. Post the Curia minutes in a timely fashion. Update policy as needed and disseminate it.

*grump*

ETA - There is apparently a special deputy who's job it is to solicit, work with, and coordinate bids. You'd think (as getting bids is such an issue) that this person would be listed somewhere very obvious on the web page and otherwise maintain a high profile. Wouldn'tja?