| FCL General Orders and Policy |
| General Order # 1 (issue date 04/25/01) Recruting for FCL |
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| Gentlemen, > I am writing this dispatch to help clarify and revise the recent > Recruitment Policy which was issued this week. It has been brought to my > attention that the dispatch did not convey what was in fact meant to be > conveyed. Therefore, allow me to try and clarify this policy. > First, the reason it was decided to issue a "policy statement" on > recruiting was due to an incident that happened within the ranks of FCL. > After extensive inquiry, it was learned that a member of one FCL company > was attempting to recruit members of other FCL companies to join his > organization. The inquiry revealed that these attempts to recruit other > company's troops occurred on at least three occasions, and possibly more. > These attempts to recruit involved more than one company within the FCL > organization, and the individual doing the recruiting was doing so by > making derogatory comments of the companies from which he was attempting to > recruit. Needless to say, this caused a stir among the companies which were > contacted by this person. Therefore, we felt it necessary to find a way in which to > deal with this issue. > Second, there are acceptable ways to recruit and those that are > unacceptable. This includes those companies and units both within and > without FCL. We in FCL have always tried to "recruit" members, > individuals and companies, into our ranks. We have done this though media > advertisements, web pages, and banners on the field. These methods are > effective in attracting those curious people who have not yet started our > hobby and are looking to begin their adventure into reenacting. When it > has involved individuals and companies who already belong to another > organization, we at FCL have always let these groups know about FCL, our > philosophy, objectives and how we try to do things differently from other > organizations. When these groups are at events where their company or > battalion is not participating, FCL has always invited others to fall in > with our ranks so that they can have a home for that event and extended that > invitation to other events where their umbrella organization may again not > be in attendance. If these groups then question us further about FCL and > express an interest in joining our organization, it is certainly > permissible to talk with them and assist them in finding the right place within FCL to> > join up. These are acceptable ways of recruiting. > As we do not appreciate other organizations approaching our members > and attempting to "Pirate" them away, we should not do so either. What I > mean by "Pirating" is when a member is approached unsolicited and told > that FCL is not a good group and that our member should leave and join another > organization. For example: Captain Bligh from the 69th Hawaii > approaches Private Parts who is a member of FCL and tells Private Parts that Pvt. > Parts' present company is a bunch of yahoos and cowboys, and, therefore, Parts > should join the 69th Hawaii. Parts then leaves FCL and now wears a lei > with the 69th. This is not acceptable recruiting. We do not want others doing > this to us, and we do not do this to others, within or without of FCL. > I realize that this can be a fine line of distinction between the > two. One is what I consider to be an invitation to a unit or individual who is > "homeless" for an event whereby we offer them a "home" and let them know > what FCL is all about. We have not bashed another organization, nor have we > said leave and come with us. FCL has always relied on our reputation and > performance on and off the field. If the individual or group likes what > they see and hear about FCL, and they then decide to make a move, that has been > their decision. If not, we will still offer them a home at events where > they are misplaced. The other is recruitment by bashing other units to > persuade others to join. > Third, we have labeled recruitment by "Piracy" to be a dischargeable > offense. The reason is that within FCL we need to maintain a strong > structural integrity whereby we can trust and rely upon our fellow > officers and troops to respect each other and to act towards each other with honor. > Certainly, if a recruitment issue were brought up, it would be necessary > to look into the circumstances thereof. A new private in our ranks who is > full of piss and vinegar may with the greatest of excitement and intentions > tell other members that his company is better than another and that the other > members should join his company. This new private may not know better and > simply needs to be instructed on how we recruit in FCL. However, a > seasoned veteran who "sneaks" around bashing other companies in FCL in an attempt > to recruit members to his own company cannot be tolerated. Each issue will > need to be dealt with accordingly. > Lastly, it is hoped that this "policy" will provide the guidelines > for dealing with each other within FCL as well as those outside our > organization. If one of our officers is approached by another FCL company's members, it > is hoped that lines of communication can be opened and the two company > commanders can discuss the fact that one's members may desire to join the > others. This will hopefully keep things above board and on the table, and > be dealt with by respect and honor. > I hope that this helps each of you to understand what and why it is > that we are trying to communicate. If I have done so poorly, I apologize > in advance. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please > let me know. As my e-mail address book is not complete, please forward this > on> to each of our company and battalion officers so that they may further > disseminate this dispatch to their troops. > Thanking you as always for the honor to command this fine > organization, I remain... > > Your most obedient servant, > General Phillip R. Batten, Commanding > First Confederate Legion |
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