How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

[csuniforms]

I bring this up-- because at our Milwaukee Civil War Round table meeting-- the Presentation "Bermuda Hundred"-- the average age of the folks there was 60 plus. Young people we just dont seem to attract-- What is the reason "you" don't belong to a local Round Table?

CSuniforms
Tom Arliskas

[Becky Morgan]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

Time and distance. I get the newsletter and take interest in what's going on, but "local" isn't all that local, so I'm lucky to get there once a year.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

Talk is boring to me. I am a visual learner... you can talk to me all day and I prefer to see it, feel it or try to experience it. Sounds uneducated and lazy, but it really isn't. It is just how I learn.

Must be the Nintendo Generation-thing...

A similar dynamic is happening in Freemason lodges- the average age is in their 60s too in most cases. I think that has to do with the above ideas.

Besides, Civil War roundtables have the ability to take-on a 'college class but with no credit towards a degree' idea that some young people either don't have time for or enjoy.

Kinda sad to say that, huh?:confused_

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I remember back when my home town started a ACW round table. It was just as I expected it, a small group of middle aged people and myself. At the time I was 19 years old and for the first meeting the topic was the Tennessee Campaign of 64. This just so happened to be one of my favorite and most studied battles. When I attempted to contribute to the conversation I was pretty much blown off. I didn’t let it get too me until I went back the next month and there was no change. I never went back after that. So I guess my first experience with the whole round table idea put a bad taste in my mouth.

[csuniforms]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I understand where all of you are coming from--

I do believe it is a generational thing--young vs. old. The Round Tables were formed in the 1940's and 50's as a way to learn about the Civil War. Much of the material dusted off and re--presented for the 100th. Back then if you wanted to learn about a subject you went to the library and got a book! Or you went to your local historical society to research-- by car or train, and with pencil and paper!

Today we have computers and the internet where you can bring up information by tapping the keys--- I say it is a shame that these Round Tables are dying-- What is better, meeting Civil War friends once a month over dinner, followed by a speaker-- or sitting in your bedroom or kitchen typing in "General Grant" or "US Domet flannel shirt"-- I guess thats just the way it is-- the computer has trumped social meetings and the sharing of information in person. I do like the AC, but sometimes I feel it would be nicer to go somewhere and have a burger-- or walk a battlefield with you. You know if you wanted to find out things in the 60's even the 80's, you sat down and wrote a letter-- YES! a letter-- and they would write back and send you copied notes--

Over the years at seminars and Round Table presentations I met in person people like Ed Bearrs, Les Jensen, Wiley Sword, National Park people-- we sat and talked, shook hands, and became acquaintances, not just names and symbols--- that is being replaced by a computer--- it seems sad to me.

Tom Arliskas [CIVL WAR OLD GUY]
CSuniforms

[Becky Morgan]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

Also, nothing beats actually being on a battlefield, and CWRTs tour often. If you can't reenact, you can at least day trip on a bus and walk the field.

The new tools are wonderful, don't get me wrong. I have access to far more letters, diaries and ephemera than we could have dreamed of in 1962, and they're all a click away. Soon, most of the relevant newspaper pages, at least from major events, will be online as well. A lot of NPS sites even have webcams so you can check in on an old field and see what, for instance, light rain does to visibility. It's all very practical...but it isn't being there.

Being rude to newcomers has killed a lot of traditional clubs and activities. The other problem is that many, if not most, of the under-30s I know have never connected deeply enough with anyone else to think of social groups as worthwhile.

[sodapop63]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I am the Vice President of the South Central Missouri Civil War Round Table. We meet the first Sunday of every month at the Pulaski county Visitor's Center in St. Robert, just outside Fort Leonard Wood, and we always have a presentation by a member or visiting historian. I have learned a great deal from these presentations, and don't find them to be boring in the least. The topics have ranged from Field Artillery in the Civil War to the Ft. Pillow "massacre" (given by a member from Tennessee, who had a slightly different "slant" on things). We've had hands-on demonstrations, firearms presentations, and many more. I agree that nothing beats pounding down the grass on a battlefield, but I thoroughly enjoy our meetings as well. Good stuff!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

Hallo!

For me...

Our Mental Pictures were too far apart to blend well. Meaning I had moved into the "detailed minutiae of everyday life for a common soldier" from a young lad's living history Mental Picture and they focused on the global if not universals of campaigns and generals- or arguing the fine points of the latest author's assertions about General So-and-So at Such-and Such place.

NOT that that was a negative or a criticism, just that my interests had moved on from that type setting.
Now, if we would have/could have had hand-on demonstrations, battlefield tours, guest lectures from the Big Name historians or writers, or even less "attitude" from older men who just did not "get" the wearing of anything other than may be a CW buckle with their modern clothes at a meeting... it might have been different.
"It" was more like Oprah Winfrey's Book of the Month Club.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt

[Spinster]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

The several times I went to a CWRT as an invited speaker, I was the only female present.

No, thank you.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I was member and organizer of a CWRT here for the last two years. We had a core group of six, of which I was the youngest. Casual interest people would drop in at some meetings, but everything fell apart last September when it came time to discuss the book we picked for the year. When no one showed up to the meeting, I got the message that our group did not have much longer to live.

[fortdonelsonrelics]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I'm happy to say that the CWRT that I have founded here in Dover, TN has taken off quite well. In less than a year we are now at 60 paid members and at our last meeting we had nearly 120 people present, the average meeting attendance is 25-40. We do have many women members and have a median age of about 40.

We have a great facility where me meet, which helps support attendance. I have also utilized my relationship with FODO NPS to help compliment what we are doing with the CWRT in regards to speakers, authors, etc. and we are currently planning a joint trip to Shiloh this May.

Often time CWRTs get bogged down in too many campaign / battle lectures. We have mixed up our lectures and so far we have had a couple battle presentations, a couple women's lectures, this months will be on civil war era medicine, etc trying to appeal to everyone's interests. Many have found it a great option to the SCV and or the UDC which many find hard to get into, too politically charged, or just a group in name only, plus it's nice to hear a lecture or two where Forrest isn't the main subject.

All in all attendance is great as our sister roundtable in Clarksville and our close cousins in Nashville.

John Walsh
Fort Donelson CWRT

[Cumpston1862]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

I have been invited to the local CWRT but there are so many things competing for my time its hard to get to it. I would hate to see them go by the way side though.

[csuniforms]

Re: How many in the reenactment community belong to a civil war roundtable?

Hello-- Well--- from your statements its all over the board from "went, ---not for me" to "started a Round Table and we are very successful"-- Living near a Battlefield is definitely a plus-- I am sure that some meetings of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table are standing room only--

I was writing more specifically on my own Milwaukee Round Table-- I believe founded in 1949-- We have now around 175 members and on a given night-- about 80 to 100 show up-- We are also the Official Home of the "IRON BRIGADE ASSOCIATION" having in our ranks at one time two sons of Iron Brigade Veterans- who have since passed-- but I met them! We still get new members all the time but not like in the past--

And the majority of our members are in their 50's to 70's.... these guys just like to get out and talk Civil War---

Me Too! I would love to come and speak to some of your Round Tables if you would let me-- Just finished a presentation on US Grant at Belmont-- pulling from my stash-- never before seen or in print letters detailing Grants actions at this little "Skirmish" as he calls it--

Anyway-- I can see the idea of Round Tables is still viable and around--- its location, members, and topics that makes all the difference... God Bless You All--

Tom Arliskas
OLD CIVIL WAR GUY
CSuniforms