Christiaen, don't worry about making yourself unpopular. These are good questions. Let me see if I can answer them.
You asked "First: how do the greyhound adoption groups, the AKC and the NGA have any jurisdiction of what we do with our private pets in a private club?" They don't, however, some adoption groups require those who adopt to sign a waiver stating they will NEVER course their hounds. If they do, the hounds can be removed from their care. In addition, the NGA is very concerned that no one else course the dogs for gambling purposes. We don't, but we do course the dogs. Someone may "perceive" that someone is gambling. I have been asked by gentles if wagering occurs. Which it does not. This is also why Coursing at Gulf Wars is NOT a War Point. There are no winners or losers during coursing. Plus the AKC has their own coursing groups. To get, what I believe is called, field points, coursing occurs. There might be the perception that this is what is occuring with our animals. We are simply covering our tails. The Society-level hound position is to work as a liason between them. Believe me, she has already worked as a liason between some of these groups and that is why the local Kingdom Houndspeople have not had to deal with them up to this point. You asked "Second: if a Kingdom choses to have a position titled Houndmaster or Mistress, how would that affect whether I (or anyone) could speak with the above groups? If there were a serious problem, wouldn't that be a legal/ seneschal/BoD sort of area anyway?" This is now why we must have WRITTEN authority from the Crown. It gives us standing to deal with any problems. Most Seneschal's have no idea about the hounds. It would have to go to the BOD, from what I understand - if there is a legal issue. Having the society position, allows some of the footwork to be done before the BOD gets involved and hopefully smoothed out. You asked "Finally, what interest would a state gambling commission have in us and our coursing activities if no money is being bet? I'm pretty sure in California it is illegal to bet money on anything, period. If that were happening in our group, again, wouldn't this be a legal/seneschal/BoD issue?" Believe me, state gambling commission's sniff out any area they think gambling might be occuring, even when it is not. However, I am aware of at least one time that some spectators, who were not associated with us at all, were making some side bets. They were quietly spoken to. Once again the Society position is as a liason. And once again, I know she has had to deal with this issue. You asked, "And -- just because I am curious, I'll play devil's advocate: our kingdom allows a type of "betting" -- I think they use little trinkets and beads (not money) and bet on period card games. This breaks no CA laws. If that group were to do a similar activity at a coursing event: ie: bet little trinkets on the best crash or most valiant courser, etc., what sort of laws/issues would be faced?" I do know that we have given out FAKE fur skins and or plaques to the best courser in the past. This was a purely unofficial opinion. No times were taken. As long as it is not money, I don't think there is a problem. BTW, Mistress Elizabeth was not the first Society Houndsmistress. Master Gordon was before her. YIS, THL Rebecca with the Greyhound If you want to hear the patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my dogs ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/pkgkPB/SOnJAA/Zx0JAA/PJ_qlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SCA_Coursing/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
