X marks sign at gatherings

[auld argonian]

It's certainly up to the forum owner but this has been hashed about before...try searching and see how the previous discussions went.

Usually, one forum member or another is there manning his clan booth and graciously offers that as a gathering place for Xmarksers. Here in Chicago, for example, Glen C mans the Chisolm booth and we meet up there.

Best

AA

[skauwt]

It's certainly up to the forum owner but this has been hashed about before...try searching and see how the previous discussions went.

Usually, one forum member or another is there manning his clan booth and graciously offers that as a gathering place for Xmarksers. Here in Chicago, for example, Glen C mans the Chisolm booth and we meet up there.

Best

AA

thats the Chisholms for ya
great idea though

[Steve Ashton]

The topic of X Marks tents, booths, and visible representation at Highland Games, Gatherings and other events etc. has been a re-occurring suggestion almost since our beginnings.
Our original owner Hank, was dead set against it. And for a couple of good reasons.

Representation of X Marks the Scot.com among gatherings of Scottish Clans and Clan Societies would be improper. We are not a Scottish Clan. We are kind of like a Clan Society in that we are a group with something in common, but to represent us as a Clan would, rightfully, be seen as improper.

Now let me give you a couple of examples of what happened to a large, respected retailer who manned their booths totally with volunteers.

At one four day Science Fiction convention a booth was set up inside a large indoor convention center. One of the volunteers brought a large brass ships bell. Every time they sold something they would ring the bell. It was a brilliant sales idea, and it sure brought people around to find out what all the noise was. Well, about half way through the second day of the four day convention the organizers demanded that the booth be taken down. The noise inside the indoor arena was deafening and getting on every ones nerves. Great idea that went south.

At another event, this time an outdoor Highland Games in the heat of the summer, this same company was represented again. This time the volunteers took down the walls of their tent due to the heat. In the past they had always taken their prospective customers into a corner of the tent and told them "Drop your trousers while I wrap this around you."
But with the tent walls removed they had no corner to do this so they used the racks of their product as a 'corner'. What worked well in a store or enclosed space now was seen as offensive by some of the mothers with small children attending the event. The organizers eventually banned this company from ever attending one of their events again.

At another event the volunteers had hoisted a couple of brews and were feeling pretty good. It was the last day of the event and time for the "Parade of the Clans". The group decided that they should represent their 'Clan' and join in the parade. You can imagine how that went over with the staunch traditionalists.

All of these are examples of well meaning and enthusiastic supporters. They had what seemed like good ideas at the time. But the end result was not what they had hoped for.

I would never want X Marks to be seen as Clan 'posers'. I would not want this forum to get a representation that the rest of the membership would have to live down.

We have our Tartan. We have our Cap Badge. We have members who man booths already and who would be willing to allow their tent to serve as a central meeting point.
We can, and always have, found ways to find each other and gather in friendship.

So, until someone can come up with a viable way for this forum to be represented while insuring that the representation would be in keeping with the policies and traditions of this forum, I am afraid I am going to have to say no to X Marks tents, banners, or other means of 'promoting' the forum at events and gatherings.

It's a great suggestion and I wish I knew of a way to make it happen.
If anyone has any ideas I would be willing to listen.