The 2001 Official Gathering
of The Clan

Hear Yee! Hear Yee! Illustrious Dwellers of The Realm.

Harken unto a Communication issued for and on behalf of TRM's to their most Loyal Courtiers, K.I.S.A's, Counsellors and  Ladies in Waiting.

After careful and due consideration it is thusly proposed:

That on the 25th day (Blessèd Sunday) of the third month( March) of this year (2001),  a summons to a gathering is being issued to the ancient and noble city of Milan for a luncheon.

The presence of all is requested at this most overdue Event.

Prior to this long-awaited gathering  being publicly announced to the rest of our citizens on the newsgroup, it is earnestly hoped that the recipients of this Communication will be able to indicate their availability on the abovementioned date and further indicate whether they would be of a mind to grace us with their presence.  (At the time of issuance of this communiqué, it is already known that five Courtiers would be willing and able to attend.)

Our long and colourful history has shown that Realmers spend a great deal of their highly sought-after time engaging in such varied activities as weeding the garden, volunteering to gift-wrap parcels for those less fortunate than themselves, teaching the  neighbourhood bullies the correct form of how best to express their displeasure in the most up-to-date English slang, assisting the elderly in crossing the street ecetera, ecetera. Such activities - while wholly praiseworthy- have nonetheless played havoc with all attempts to adequately plan a get-together. It is
with this in mind therefore, that we trust this Communications will provide
sufficient time for Your goodselves to be able to plan your 'other'
activities around this date and thus be available to participate.

Before entering into the public realm with this announcement, one should also like to advise that the date is being proposed for the following reasons:

It should be that the worst of the cold weather be behind us at this time. It is the first day of daylight saving time - one believes It is doubtful anyone would take us seriously were it to be proposed for the following Sunday (April Fool's)
Easter is on the 15th.
Other Sundays in April could possibly be election days.
May is too far away.

The fair city of Milan is being proposed since for the last (alas, failed) attempt at organising a similar gathering, there was a preference expressed for this location since the majority of Court dwell 'up North'. Knowing that one cannot please all of the people all of the time, it is nonetheless hoped that the choice of location will please _most_ of the
people in question at least this time.

If the recipients of this Communication can be of one mind with the above proposal, we will have a base (including a minimum number of people to begin with, a location and a date) from which to launch a general call of attendance in the public forum.  Experience has shown that launching such a general appeal in public prior to having a date and venue in mind,  results in long drawn-out deliberations culminating in a 'non-event'.  We are not meaning this Communication to be in any way 'dictatorial', but rather a starting point on which to then build.

It should also be noted that should the above meet with the approval of the majority, it would then fall upon someone who actually dwells in Milan or its environs, to pinpoint a suitable venue and handle the booking of such.

To begin with, a reply to the undersigned stating availability and interest in the above proposal would be a good beginning.

In earnest hopes that the above will be well received and that we might soon have the opportunity of seeing each other again,

One remains, as always,
Bambi
dtb