by Bay Bridge Sue » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:00 am
Ummm... Clarification time. (and stepping out of character to do so - sorry)
The camp is autonomous. It has its own infrastructure. The "original owner" was a group of 4 who thought it up in 2004, and brought (IIRC) 13 burners together to form the camp back in 2005 - those 13 (or so) are the "original owners".
The person running the camp before me (eg Killbuck) walked away from it after 2011, partially from burnout and more importantly, to start his own thing. When he did, he turned it over to yours truly. He may regret that choice, but it was his to make. Some may not have liked my running the camp, and that's OK. As of a few days ago, we've had someone step up to volunteer to bring Apokliptika to the playa in 2013, not as some changed theme whatever, but continuing what we've been doing since 2005. Because of this, I (and I hope some of the other campers) am (are?) giving him 110% support of his mission NOT to let OUR camp die, or be suborned into some other thing not even close to our theme, and while I am not taking a leadership role in 2013 (or likely any other role - personal issues unrelated to the camp) his vision remains true to the one we had back in 2005. He sees what we can become - and more. MUCH more.
Some people were not happy with our camp last year, and decided, instead of forming their own camp, to arbitrarily change our theme, creating a LOT of drama (which people saw unfold here, sadly). This was new to us - We've had many of our former members leave for other camps over the years (or start their own), and do amazing, non-Apokliptika things. Everything from helping launch Playawaste Raiders to, hell, Georgie Boy. While some tried to steer the theme to something... else... no one tried (until this year) a Coup d'etat.
The bottom line is this. Apokliptika has been, and will continue to be, a kick ass and successful camp, as long as we stay TRUE to what we bring to the playa. Changing that will only dilute and weaken the camp (as it almost did a few years ago). Those who want to do another theme - need to do what everyone else does, do the right thing, and start themselves a new camp.
This is the line in the sand: The drama ends... here and now. You don't like the theme, you want to cut and run - - then do something else, and walk away. Period. And take this dramatic crap with you - we neither want it nor do we need it.
Thanks...
Susanne, AKA bb Sue, Secretary General (2012), Apokliptika.