17 November 2011 after action report..
My fellow reenactors,
You may have been to the Moorpark event for each of the past ten years, and these events may mostly blend together so that you cannot remember if something happened in 2006, 2007, or 2008. I have to say that all of you who were there this year will remember this event for a long time to come. It is already being referred to as "The Mud March."
We were hit on Friday night with much more rain than expected. Once it started it continued through almost the rest of the night. When we arose on Saturday morning, the Confederate command tents, the ciivlian encampment, the sutler area, and the battlefield (all of which had been disked in advance of the event) were pretty much a muddy bog. Jennifer Christy, the civilian coordinator, reported that she found a pool of water under her cot with a frog in it. Notwithstanding, those in the combatants' encampments in the walnut orchard and on the grassy lawn were very damp, but the ground absorbed the rain fairly well there.
Although the rain had passed, the skies were still very gray on Saturday morning, and the first impulse was to cancel the event that day. (Some reenactors and spectators were told this, at least for a brief period.) As it turned out, however, we moved forward and, although attendance by spectators suffered, an amazing number showed up on Saturday when the skies were leaden gray, and even more on Sunday when the sun shone all day.
Since the battlefield could not be used, with the fall off of attendance on the Union side, the center of the grassy lawn in the encampment was open. We decided to have our battles there. The intensity of the engagement in such close quarters was amazing. (I have always considered the small battlefield at Huntington Beach to be not a serious limitation, but a reason for its success. It makes the action seem more intense when so many combatants are so close together.) I have seen Facebook comments this week where some individuals have said that they would prefer to fight on the grassy lawn in the future rather than on the battlefield because the battles felt more real. Of course, that won't happen since doing so does not give the artillery and the mounted cavalry enough opportunity to fully take part and, in a normal year, the spectators would be too numerous to cram into the viewing area.
I believe that this last weekend was the classic example of "when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade." We made the best of a bad situation, and those who took part had a great time after getting past the rocky start. We had 430 or so reenactors, a number unseen at any event except Long Beach and Huntington Beach this past year. Not too shabby with such weather.
I did hear some grumbling about the fact that there was no raffle on Sunday. Let me be clear, I am the one who told the Rotary to forego it. At that time, early afternoon on Sunday, the Rotary was still very concerned about losing money on the event. Balancing that with the fact that 1) the Rotary waived reenactor registration fees this year, 2) the prospect of breaking even was still up in the air, 3) the raffle is a custom but it is not guaranteed, and 4) I was told that only 10 Federals would show up for the second battle which the Rotary needed desperately for the admission fees it would produce from late arriving spectators, I had no qualms about telling the Rotary to cancel the raffle. I felt that this was the least reenactors could do to help the Rotary out of the predicament it was in.
For the record, the "raffle" tickets, as some people call them, are given out in order to prove that a reenactor is registered. It happens to serve as a raffle ticket later. Given the precarious financial situation the Rotary was facing at the time the decision was made, I would make the same decision again. For those who still want to grumble, remember that all of you who left early on Sunday would have been ineligible anyway, since you have to be present to win.
(See the post-event message from Dale Parvin, the Rotary's event chair, below)
Thanks to each of you who braved the elements in order to contribute to the event this year. Thanks to General Harrington and his staff for their fine services this weekend. Thanks to Jennifer Christy for her help with the civilian camp (and for her frog relocation efforts).
And here's a special thank you to those 40 or so (not 10) Federals, a Band of Brothers, who actually stayed for the second battle on Sunday and fought triumphantly against overwhelming Confederate numbers, thereby allowing the Rotary to reap the additional admission fees of those spectators who arrived late and expecting a second battle on Sunday.
Finally, thanks in particular to our hosts, Rick and Linnea Brecunier of Tierra Rejada Ranch, and to Dale Parvin, Lyle Pennington, Rick Tate, and the entire Moorpark Rotary Club for their fine efforts and financial support of what has clearly become the best event on the reenactor calendar. The money that the Rotary spends on this event is multiples of what is spent on the other events in Southern California, and both the reenactors and the spectators greatly benefit from this.
On behalf of the Moorpark Rotary Club and your host unit, the men and women of the Richmond Howitzers, thanks to each of you who participated this year.
Here's to a better (and drier) 2012!
Ed Mann
Ed,
The Rotary Club of Moorpark is extremely proud of the efforts put forth by the reenactor community. In spite of the 3/4's inch of rain on Friday night, you and your soldiers put on some fantastic mini battles and saved the event from financial ruin.
Each of us faced a multitude of challenges, and yet we were able to overcome them as we moved forward through the weekend. We know it was the worst conditions ever at Moorpark, yet Ventura County residents showed up in large numbers on Sunday to support our charitable event.
I know we were questioned as to why we did not move the event to the following weekend. When the decision was made to go forward, we had
reviewed the long-range forecast which also indicated rain for the following Saturday and Sunday. Trying to implement the "rain date" plans would not have been successful. We spent over $12,000 in advertising for November 12th and 13th. As a non-profit we could not risk spending another $12,000 on re-advertising for another potential rain forecast.
The public loved the mini battles. We heard comments such as "it was up close and personal," and "I felt like I was in the thick of the battle." You and your fellow commanders adapted brilliantly to the conditions.
We can't thank you enough.
Dale Parvin
Rotary Club of Moorpark
Event Chair
PS - See you next year
10 November 2011
My fellow reenactors,
As we get closer to the event, we can place more reliance on the weather report. It appears now that any rain will arrive late Friday and end early on Saturday; even then, it will be light. That should allow those of you who want to arrive by Friday evening to get set up and spend the night with, at most, few problems. By Saturday morning, it appears that any rain will have moved on. Sunday will be sunny.
We have had light rain on Saturday evening twice in the past. Each time, we had little problem with the battlefield or the encampment area. I am very optimistic that the same will hold true this weekend. As I previously reported, the ground at Tierra Rejada Ranch is quite good at absorbing a considerable amount of rain.
Just to allay any concerns here, no one is crazy enough to ask anyone to take hits if it turns out that the battlefield is muddy. Neither the "fate of the Republic" nor "the Southern Cause" really hang in the balance this weekend.
See the message below from the Rotary’s event coordinator, Dale Parvin.
On to Moorpark!
Ed Mann
_________
The Moorpark Rotary Club is grateful that you are all coming this
weekend. We have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in marketing
this amazing event, and we will do our best to help you put on a great
reenactment. The 150th Anniversary is a one-time opportunity, so let's
charge forward together!
Dale Parvin
Event Chair
Rotary Club of Moorpark
8 November 2011
My fellow reenactors,
The Rotary has decided to go forward with the event this weekend. Yes, the weather report is not promising, and everyone is well aware of that, but the problem is that critical personnel on the Rotary's side will be missing the following weekend, so come what may, the event will take place as scheduled.
The good news is that rainfall in Moorpark always seems to be different than what LA gets. Last weekend, the rainfall was 3/4 inch in LA, but only a third of an inch in Moorpark. The ground at the site is very good at wicking up rain, so the Rotary is optimistic that the problems with the weather will be minimized. Currently, no rain is expected at all until very late Friday night, so this should aid setup. Even then, who really knows at this point with weather predictions just what will happen and when? I understand that Sunday is supposed to be clear.
So, now it's on to Moorpark. C'mon out and join us for the weekend.
Ed Mann
4 November 2011
My fellow reenactors,
I was surprised today to find out that much of my message to reenactors on October 18 disappeared from the Civil War Alliance web site due to some glitch. I encourage you to read the entire October 18 message at the bottom of this message. It includes the event schedule. [Note: the glitch has been corrected.]
I have been getting inquiries throughout the day about the rain that is predicted for next weekend. I suppose that because of the glitch with the October 18 message, the information about the rain date, November 19-20, was not disseminated.
Of course, the current weather forecast is a concern and the Rotary Club is keeping a close watch on it. Given the abominable accuracy of weather forecasts in Southern California except for forecasts of "warm and sunny" (even today, there have been significant changes in the predictions for next Friday, Saturday and Sunday), no one can be sure just how it will pan out.
Some good news is that the ranch owner, Rick Brecunier, reports that the ground at the ranch can absorb 3/4 inch of rain before it becomes a problem, so all of us "will be thinking good thoughts."
At this point, it is full steam ahead! Expect the Rotary Club to be watching closely, so be checking your emails on Tuesday night for more information.
I encourage you to consider foregoing your unit dinners on Saturday night and partaking of the Rotary's chicken dinner, a bargain at $6.00. Unit commanders, please report through the chain of command the number of people in your unit who want to partake in the dinner. Civilians, please advise Jennifer Christy, reenactinghistory@yahoo.com. Please report the information by Tuesday. You will need to buy your dinner ticket on Saturday morning.
A change from what I said in my October 18 message is that you can now arrive on site at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.
I am happy to report that Marty Kove, "The Karate Kid," "Rambo: First Blood Part II," and "Wyatt Earp," among many others, will be returning to participate in the event again.
Please keep the pets at home. If you must bring them, you can do so, but they cannot be brought into the encampment area at anytime whatsoever. Doing so will result in your being immediately asked to leave the event.
Again, I will be in touch with you on Tuesday evening.
Please pass on this message to everyone who might be interested.
Ed Mann
18 October 2011
My fellow reenactors,
Every year we seem to be able to ratchet up the event another notch, and I am happy to be able to report that everything is on track for a really great event this year.
As a reminder, as a thank you from the Rotary for past support, and in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, there will be no reenactor registration fees this year!
Some "old friends" will be returning to the event this year, Bruce Boxleitner, "General Longstreet," David Carpenter, "Colonel Devin" and "Chaplain Tucker Lacey," and Andy Prine, "General Garnett," from "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals," as well as Peter Sherayko, "Tombstone," and, of course, Phil Spangenberger, "Wild West Tech." (By the way, both "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals" have been re-issued in extended versions, the latter with an entire John Wilkes Booth sub-plot that was deleted from the theatrical version.) We may have another special guest, as well
The Rotary Club will again proudly offer the great chicken dinner on Saturday night, compliments of the fine folks at Chuy's Restaurant. The price is a very modest for some really great food. Why not relieve the burden on your unit cook that night and enjoy the great meal? Buy your ticket on Saturday morning.
As previously reported, the good news is that the pyro effects will be even more intense this year.
Many reenactors will be coming great distances to the event, as usual. For those folks and even the locals who do not want to concern themselves with setting up and packing up their camps, the Rotary has obtained very favorable rates at these excellent hotels:
Grand Vista Hotel
999 Enchanted Way
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-583-2000
$55 per night
Group Code: Moorpark Chamber of Commerce
Best Western Posada Royale
1775 Madera Rd
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-584-6300
$89 per night (includes full buffet breakfast with omelet bar each morning)
Group Code: Civil War Reenactment
Check these hotels out on the internet.
The event schedule is posted here.
As usual, minors need to download the release and waiver on this web site if they will be attending without parents being present. For all others, having the signed release to hand in will save a little time, but it is not required. As usual, there is no pre-registration for this event.
Remember, you can arrive after noon on Friday.
Remember that there will be a reenactor swap meet at 8:00 on Saturday around the dance floor and stage area.
You can expect to receive a final message as we get nearer to the event. Be sure to check this web site for late breaking news should weather developments become a concern as we get closer. Remember that the rain date is the following weekend, November 19-20.
Please pass on this information to anyone you believe might be interested.
On behalf of the Moorpark Rotary Club and your host unit, the Richmond Howitzers, please come out and join us at this really great event!
Ed Mann
23 August 2011
My fellow reenactors,
The Moorpark Rotary Club's 11th annual Moorpark Civil War reenactment, "The Blue & The Gray" is on the horizon. I hope that you're making plans to spend November 12 and 13 in Moorpark.
Everyone is hoping that the interest in the Civil War Sesquicentennial will make this our most successful event yet. From the beginning, the event was "Southern California's largest and grandest Civil War event." Through the years, with its steady growth, it has become "the largest annual battle reenactment west of the Mississippi." With your help, it will be even better!
Here is some news that will be greeted happily by most of you. The Rotary Club is waiving all reenactor registration fees as part of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Those of you coming a great distance may use that extra savings for gas expenses. If you carpool with others, that savings should help a little with the cost of participating.
Even more pyro is being planned for this year's event and, although more bleacher seats were added last year, even more bleacher seats are being added this year in order to accommodate the increasing number of spectators.
Another change for this year is that there will be no school program on Friday. Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and the local schools are not in session. The good news about Friday being Veterans Day is that more of you will be off work that day since it is a Federal holiday. The extra time for travel will help many of you, and it may give extra incentive to those of you outside Southern California who have been thinking of giving the Moorpark event a try.
In order to help publicize the event, the Rotary will again enter The Moorpark Country Days Parade on October 1. Your participation will be greatly appreciated.
There was a serious problem last year in getting reenactors out of the parking lot at the end of the event. I am happy to report that the Rotary thinks that it has the problem corrected this year with a new traffic pattern.
You may arrive anytime on Friday. The usual hay, water, and firewood will be provided. There will, again, be a free dance on Saturday night, and the Rotary will be offering once again the popular low cost reenactor dinner.
So now, on behalf of the Moorpark Rotary Club, and your unit host, the Richmond Howitzer Battalion, you are invited to join us for a grand event on November 12-13.
I hope to see you there!
Ed Mann
P.S. Please pass on this information to anyone who might be interested.
