Just joined in August. Heck, didn't know that the N-SSA existed until I went by Back Creek to pick up some powder on my post retirement 'walk about' in the first part of August. Now a blue card member of the 14th Mississippi
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From past experiences in life, having to have a multiplicity of rules shows that the problem isn't with the rules but the way applied to the ruled. Given that I've participated at Nationals and one other match, here is what I got. Got the 2 blue checked shirts, wool pants, suspenders, sack coat, kepi(got the slouch hat with the '14' numbers in the proverbial mail), and Zouave + PH musketoon + 1858 revolver. Point being is that a decent uniform isn't an insurmountable obstacle.
The issue is with the Skirmishers. Am an RN and have worked Baylor ER among other places. Can tell you that heat is a nasty thing to deal with for such a susceptible population as the typical N-SSA skirmisher. It is my opinion that the current flexibility built into the rules and concern from comradery among us is a
'good thing'; and no one is going to tolerate such strict rules that put fellow skirmishers at risk. I've hung up my stethoscope and have zero desire to run yet another code to keep someone alive. But we're a fairly conservative group and won't allow florescent Hawaiian print shirts on the line unless someone shows up with documentation that such was period correct. We're grown adults and know the difference between right and wrong. All want the N-SSA to grow and stay true to its roots.
My conclusion is to leave the rules alone and let leadership at matches make the on-the-spot call to keep skirmishers safe plus coloring inside the lines on proper attire.
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