Disorderlies State of the Union 2007, part 1

Mr. Speaker of the Void, Vice Tyrant, plebeian members of the group, distinguished citizens and even you too John, every year, by custom, we meet here to consider the state of the Disorderlies. This year, we gather in this virtual chamber both to look back at the year that was - and to look forward to the year ahead.

The state of the Disorderlies is, as ever, chaotic, but this year past I think we have been more fractured than ever. The gaming habits of the Disorderlies is breaking out more and more into individual games with less and less crossover. We have a 40k group, a Warhammer group, a Warmachine-Hordes group, a Confrontation group, and a Clicky group - with receding crossover from group to group. I do not know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is a thing that impacts the scheduling of events heavily, and certainly my wallet even more heavily.

2006 was certainly a year of change. First and foremost was the destruction of the Gaming Mecca that Was and the transformation into the Gaming Mecca that Is. While I had long-pondered a remodeling of Gaming Mecca, the flood of June 2006 forced my hand. Weeks and months of demolition and construction have resulted in the improved Gaming Mecca - still not 100% where I want to be, but clearly an improvement with the new floor, much improved lighting and a lot more organized overall. There is still room to improve, of course, and I would love help in the Gaming Terrain organization and improvement. More on that in another message.

Let's review my stated goals of 2006 and how we failed at them (spectacularly, in a word):

"1. Increased participation in local tournies. The name Disorderlies should be feared and reviled far and wide. Those jokers at Games Comics and Stuff in Glen Burnie shall feel our wrath. The Arena in Eldersburg? A roadbump for us. And so forth."

Wow. This hurts to read. I think I personally did...two tournies all year? Hardly the stuff of legends. And I don't think the name Disorderlies has gotten any play at all. So, good job!

"2. Fresh blood! An influx of good gamers will help us all improve."

We tried the new people route and got one person who thought that bathing was once-a-year-tops. This pretty much ruined it for all other possible entrants.

"3. Painting! I'm the worst offender for this - but the Disorderles WILL be having regular painting/assembling gatherings, where instead of playing and goofing off, we'll be painting/assembling and goofing off."

ALSO abject failure! Three for Three!

In honor of this, I'm not making ANY goals for 2007, beyond the further embarrassment of my goals for 2006. We can DO IT!