The quiet woman ventures a question.

[Deleted]

Hello,
I am HoiLei.  I decided to register because I wish to become active with an in-person group but can't figure out how to contact them.  I thought maybe someone here could help. 

A little about myself: I have a passion for history and clothes, and lately have been making myself all sorts of interesting bits and bobs.  I am working on a Regency outfit, all hand-sewn, from the skin out.  But what half-fun it is to get all gussied up in one's own room, with no one to show the clothes to!  Complete delight to get gussied up for an event or gathering!  So that's why I want to get involved with a live group that meets somewhere. 

I also have a slow computer with limited internet access, which is just as well, as I'm trying to live in the tangible world as much as possible these days.  But it also means that when I go online, I have to optimize my use of the resource... which leads me to my question. 

I live in Oregon, and naturally thought to get in touch with the Oregon Regency Society to meet up and dress up.  Unfortunately, I've had no luck in the past year of intermittent trying.  The ORS has no "contact us" page, no email address in their website footer, nothing.  Last year I got on their email newsletter, and received a standard welcome-message, but since then, nothing.  I don't know if I got bumped off, or if they don't have a newsletter anymore. 

So then I thought I could just show up at one of their events, but it seems like they have few events (only 4 this year!), and the ones they have seem expensive.  It's hard to know for sure, though, because their web-site is so image-heavy that it takes five minutes to load on my computer, and the events page encodes all the critical event information in pictures!  Under the pictures, it'll sometimes say "Registration information to come soon", but then it never arrives.  For instance, there is a Coos Bay event coming up in two weeks, but there's still no registration info or prices on their website.  Do they expect people to plan a long weekend with so little notice as to what it entails?  The Retreat says it's "sold out" right above a note saying tickets "details, registration, and payment options TBA".  Worse yet, in several places on their site it says "Contact Us if you have any questions", with still no contact information. 

They do have several links and references to using Facebook to connect with them, but Facebook is not a public forum, and some people choose not to use social
media.  If it's a Facebook group, why bother having a website for people to look at who aren't able to join?  If it's not a Facebook group, why do everything through Facebook? 

Meanwhile, their section of this forum has no posts more recent than 2011. 

I want to attend the July 26th picnic, but don't know whether it would be okay to just show up, or how much it'll cost, or anything.  More importantly, I'd like to get in touch with people in Portland who like the Regency, like to play dress up, and meet more than four times a year, but I don't know how.  The Oregon Regency Society seems to be a closed door to me.  Is there anyone else? 

I appreciate any help people here can offer, and I hope I don't seem like a giant complainer, but a year is a long time to try and fail to get in touch with an organization.  I really want to meet people in the real world to do Regency stuff with. 
Thanks,
HoiLei

[amyw]

The ORS has an active Facebook page. www.facebook.com/groups/orregency/
If that doesn't work, then search for Oregon Regency Society in Facebook's search box.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the reply, amyw! It's a disappointment, but not a surprise. As I implied in my first message, I don't use social media. I suspected the ORS might do things through Facebook, but it's too bad they don't also use their own website to post registration information or contact info for their organizers.

I choose not to use social media. Lots of people are on Facebook, but I also know lots of people are not. If the ORS is a Facebook-only group, and their website and blog merely funnel people through to Facebook, does that mean strangers are not welcome at their events? Or could I show up and have fun and hope to make real life contacts? I don't want to show up and be told that only members are allowed and my name's not on the list from their FB event page.

[Mrs. Knightley]

The Oregon Regency Society seems to be a pretty active society, with several fun, get-out events, including being on a tall ship (WOW!). I wish I lived closer to be able to attend them. I assume you found out about the picnic through blogspot.com. One of the top tabs says "Join". On that page ( orsmain.blogspot.com/p/join.html ), there is an e-mail address ( [e-mail] ) to which you can send any inquiry you have. Maybe there was a glitch that knocked you off the mailing list. Try the e-mail address to see if you get an answer to your question about this. However, please note that one of the leaders of this group was in a car accident this past weekend, and she may be the one who handles inquiries.

You say that you want to meet people and do things Regency-related more than four times per year. If you look in the "About Us" section, you will The Oregon Regency Society is a volunteer organization, with over 300 members. In this section, it is stated "We accept event ideas and efforts from anyone wanting to take part, and are always looking for motivated people with a variety of skills to add to our organization force. Want to become involved? Contact us and let us know." If you would like to have more events, perhaps you can suggest them and organize them yourself. My JASNA friends and I here on the East Coast sometimes create our own outings.

Best wishes on being able to join and attend Regency events!