The 1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry: Upcoming Events & Galleries from Past Events

These are important questions. The members of the 1st Virginia are very active in professions, schools, businesses, churches, communities, volunteer work, being parents, etc. Time is valuable! To set aside a day or an entire weekend is a real sacrifice that must be justified. When we do choose to participate we do so as a group and thus many schedules need to be arranged. The captain has a strong commitment not to lead the unit into a situation that does not justify the expenditure of time and money to prepare and attend. Thus here are some particulars which we look at carefully when planning and choosing what events to participate in.

1. What is the mission/purpose/vision of the event?

The 1st Virginia is family oriented and education oriented and we choose events that are the same.

2. Does the event have high standards?

An event organizer must set historical standards, safety standards, behaviour standards, etc. There must be a firmly drawn line regarding those with unsafe and/or malicious practices, those who refuse to abide by event standards and those who won't go along with assigned commanders or planned scenarios.

3. Is the event well organized by someone who has real experience and a track record with public event organization/promotion?

Too often people with little or no experience get an idea and decide to "wing it" not really having the knowledge, skills or dollars necessary and not comprehending the amount of work, expense and level of organization that will be required to produce a quality event.

4. Are finances available to properly organize and publicize the event?

A good public event requires an outlay not only of time but of money.

5. Is the event likely to attract a number of reenactors that will be able to fulfill the event mission?

At this time Arizona is not really so much in need of more Civil War events. What Arizona is in need of is more new and positive reenactors. The number of healthy, positive reenactors needs to significantly increase in order to justify more events. The 1st Virginia is a living example that a large and healthy unit can be built by recruiting new reenactors from the public rather than merely shuffling the small pool of past reenactors from unit to unit.

6. Will the public be meaningfully involved?

The 1st Virginia has a high emphasis on education. Events which are meant to be public - but which no one has bothered to advertise/publicize - aren't our cup of tea. Neither are "tacticals" which are not intended to involve the public at all. We do hold occasional private social /educational /instructional gatherings for 1st Virginia members. But other than that, everything we do is public oriented. Again, it is a question of the best investment of our time.

7. Timing

Does the timing of the event work well with our existing reenacting calendar or does it crowd in on something we are already committed to? Does the timing fit the individual schedules of our people? We do plan far in advance!

8. Interest & Value

Does the event hold significant interest for us as a group and real value as an experience? Again, we have unit pride, esprit de corps. If we involve ourselves, we involve ourselves as a group and expect that our time will prove to be a good investment for all.

9. Climate

The realities of likely temperatures and weather must be considered. Significant portions of the year are simply too hot in Arizona. In some areas one must also consider whether drought / fire danger could cause safety issues or event cancellations.