MARKETING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Winter Training Weekend, 25-26th January 2003, Weston Park

I am pleased to announce that we have been asked to put on a Winter Training Weekend at Weston Park on January 25th and 26th by a film production company. Eagle Rock productions are making a 4 part DVD boxed history of the American Civil War and wish to have ACWS provide a series of scenes to be included in their production. Consequently they are sponsoring a training weekend at Weston Park for ACWS.

Everyone is invited and we are keen to have civilian impressions as well as military re-enactments. The producers are keen to see camp life, campaign life and period cameos as well as filming battle sequences.

There will be no registration fee, or indeed no costs to ACWS for this weekend and there will be a (heated) beer tent and full catering facilities on site at subsidised prices.

The producers will select those they wish to include in the film and will be looking for authenticity in dress, deportment and character.

We will have the full use of Weston Park and powder will be provided.

Camping from Friday until Monday, Family camp facilities including access to the toilet blocks and washrooms.

Further details will be posted on the Web Site

Can You Help ACWS?

This year we have fewer events, which are paid for, partly because of a new policy by English Heritage and partly because of increasing competition from other re-enactment societies. We could scale back our activities, or we could expect you the re-enactor to pay for more of the costs directly!

The Board have decided to maintain the number of events we run and also to ensure that registration fees do not rise, so we have to find new ways of generating revenue for the benefit of the Society.

This year we will run a number of events where ACWS will be the promoter of the event as well as the star attraction; these include Hoghton Tower and Weston Park.

We have prepared detailed plans for these events and we are confident that they can be self sustaining; however we do need more help. There are a number of non-re-enacting activities, which we need to manage both before the events and during them. These activities are of an administrative and co-ordination nature and involve a wide variety of skills.

I would love to hear from any member, or anyone related to or associated with the society who is willing to take on some of these tasks and help me to ensure our events are successful. Even if you only have a few hours a week to spare, or are willing to assist at the events your help will be of great benefit.

Also we are keen to further promote our living history through better publicity and event management, civilian impressions are also of great interest for those who do not have an active military role. Thank you to all those who have contacted me, but I still need more.

If you can assist in any way, however small please get in touch now to help us put a team together to keep up our great impressions and spectacles, as well as providing a wonderful experience for all of us.

Roger Willison-Gray Marketing Director