Nautical: Experience At Sea Program

Subject: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 12:53 AM

We recently recieved a "heads-up" from a fellow Reenactor of an interesting educational program here in Maine involving a sailing schooner and an opportunity for a "hands on" nautical learning experience for some young lads.

http://www.experienceatsea.org/

I have been in touch with the People in charge offering whatever assistance I might in the area of traditional nautical music to facilitate this worthy program, and intimated that we are priviledged to know many others in the area probably better qualified than I who just might be also willing to lend a helping hand.. or voice, or banjo, or concertina, or whatever.

Diane Taylor-Moore wrote back and is going to put us in touch with Jim Corr. He is the Education Director for the voyage and will on board for the full duration. He is also apparantly a Musician, banjo and fiddle player who will pretty much be in charge of music for the trip, but seems open to some interaction with "local talent" in the area of Chanteys, forebitters, etc. and possibly a "Chantey Sing" with the Students and Crew somewhere along the way after they embark in October.

I encourage anyone who would like to get "on board" of this idea to contact the program directly or so indicate here so we can approximate some semblance of organization and Mr. Corr might have some idea of musical resources available to the program - and perhaps similar, future educational endeavors.
"Educational Outreach" is a big part of what the 3rd Maine Civil-War Reenactment Unit does, especially during the off-season school year, and I wonder if those of us in the Sea-Music community might (if not already doing so) consider similar educational interaction. We know that most Teachers really appreciate this kind of community input, and the "kids" usually get a big kick out of it as well.

What say ye, Mates?

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 05:21 AM

Somethings more than a little "fishy" about this "Hysterical re-enactment."

The captain, and crew are all illiterate, their is naught in either of the logs.

The Civil War Society is using a ship built two generations after the war.

Of course, song dates won't matter either, they're just kids, so accuracy is not important, they won't know the difference anyway.

There is something sick about history, that becomes entertainment, that becomes making a buck to keep the ship afloat.

Sincerely, Gargoyle

(Education MUST equate to facts not feelings, OR we have Oliver Stone over and over again.)

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 05:31 AM

I've followed your advice. The education/teacher programs at two universities, have been contacted about this travesty.

The one at Orono, (great for Natural Resources, Music and Recreation) and of course the one most likely to "feed into" this, the University of Maine at Machias.

With luck, the faculty might be able to help Jim Corr steer a clear course.

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 07:45 AM

Good for you, garg. Wasn't that your alma mater?

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 10:03 AM

I was a little suspicious when I accessed the website you suggested, Uncle Jacque, but I got a prompt reply from a friendly feller with the handle Shanghai Brown; he'd really like folks like us to sign up and ship out, no experience needed. He says, the bosun, one Paddy West, will soon show us all the ropes, lines, standing rigging, anchor chains, not to mention the "lee rail" whatever that means.;-)

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: kendall
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 02:24 PM

Charlie, I'm sure you know that the lee rail is where those with weak stomachs stand and call for Seaman O!ROURKE!!

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 04:25 PM

Welcome home, Kendall! Here's the green bucket...;-)

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Gareth
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 07:19 PM

Nothing wrong with sea training - sailing from Upnor in Kent on the Mudway - I frequently see the "Arethusa" sailing center at work. It's worthwhile.

Actually I have a theory (which might anoy some) If Hm Goverments was to dig HMS Victory out of drydock at Portsmouth and reequip same a sail traning vessel, and use it a a substitute for young offender detention it would be a significant contribution to British Society.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 11:48 PM

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 12:15 AM

Just to clear up an apparant misunderstanding here:

The "Experience At Sea" Program and the 3rd Maine have absolutely nothing to do with one another, other than it seemed that the practice of "Educational Outreach" employed by some Reenactors might serve as a model for a similar practice among Musicians. It is my understanding that the operations of the Schooner Lettie G. Howard have absoloutely nothing to do with "Living History", "Reenactment", or any pretenses of historical "Authenticity".

I have no idea what gives "Guest" "Gargoyle" the incentive or pretense to insult the Staff of this program by calling them "illiterate" etc. or threatening to make trouble for them with the University system. As to "Log books", since they have yet to set sail, I don't see where that is an issue... and besides, "Guest"; by what authority are you examining the logbooks of seagoing vessles in this state, pray tell? I'm wondering if we might have this venture entirely confused with that of the "Constellation", reputedly a restored Union Navy warship down in Baltimore. Again, no connection.

Now I only know the folks from EAS by way of E-mail and they seem like fine and decent folk to me; but if anyone has any more gripes with them, please have the decency of providing credible, documentable evidence to support said gripes.. and the "sand" to identify yourself, as most contributors do.

'Preciate it.

Subject: RE: Nautical: Experience At Sea Program
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 03:15 PM

To whom it may concern at the EAS Program,

Jaque has notified me in a personal message that you have been put off by the negative and insulting comments above by Guest Gargoyle. Please note that the Mudcat, like most internet sites, is open to whoever chooses to add their contributions. The vast majority of contributions here are beneficial or benign. There is an insignificant minority who seem to take pleasure at sullying the words and ideas found within. All we can do is recognize the source and ignore them.

Please do not assume that Gargoyle represents anyone but himself. There are many more members here who would dearly love to see him just go away and annoy someone else but that is not likely to happen. I prefer to think of him as I do a bad driver. I recognize his presence and then try to avoid him.

Thank you,

Brett