From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:28:12 -0400
Subject: [Puptcrit] encouragement - suggestion?


This is coming after being at the Maryland Festival.........

It has always somewhat eluded me why everybody who is a member of puptcrit 
(and this is a pretty big list) is not also a member of both P of A and 
UNIMA. and visa versa.

If you really want to make a career or improve in the work that you do - P 
of A is a great step. (I first joined in 1976 before I had even done a show)

It was great to see a lot of people. Also to see some of those people (who 
do post here) perform. P of A is a flesh and blood community not virtual 
like puptcrit.

A festival is like a family gathering. Now I don't know anything about the 
politics, or how something is run -  am truly just a beneficiary and an 
appreciator...(one has to know their strengths and weaknesses)..

but am so grateful that there are people who do have those strengths and 
commitment and are capable to run the organization and that it does exist 
for me to take advantage of,

am grateful to the people who do volunteer and are capable in those 
capacities.

There is encouragement, validation and the simple love and commitment to 
this most excellent Theatre Art form. It is a family that one can go to with 
questions. People share their solutions...people share their experiences 
people share their talent. Wow! One is not alone (in their own little 
world).  "You've got people."

I learn a lot going to festivals..... also learn a lot from this list, 
would be poorer without either.

Am not a joiner kind, or a participant type, kind of shy (outside of my 
shows) (one dear friend (at least I think he is a dear friend :) this past 
weekend suggested insecure??? deep sigh - perhaps)

but the experience of being a member of P of A is unparalleled and 
advantageous - so to  those of you who are kind of new to this field you 
should know that P of A is a really good thing to be a member of. To those 
of you who are old hands at it (is that a kind of pun?) who might have been 
members and stopped, please rejoin for everyone's benefit.

The festivals are a really good thing to go to. They can be empowering, 
inspiring, refreshing and just down right helpful.

The president (who is on this list) said that there was going to be a 
membership drive with some added inducements (hope I got that right) so for 
those of you who are not members, now might be a really good time to find 
out more.

P of A is full of incredibly talented and capable individuals (professionals 
and other)  they are accessible. Some of the "biggest names" in the puppetry 
world are (or were) members.

This a family that all people who are involved with puppetry should be a 
part of.



Mark S.



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