(( Posted with permission of author ))

Taken from a SC regional newsletter from 1997:


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                    Community Service
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                     by Bert Sanders

	Over the last few weeks a interesting question
has been going through my head, brought on by recent
events going on around me and events in other cities.
It not a difficult question when you first look at it
but its one that has caused many problems for many
people that I know. The simple question of 'Why did I
join the Camarilla?'.
	Now when you first are asked that many respond
in terms of the live action game or the service projects
that the Camarilla does. But look at it closely and bear
with me as I recount what has been going on in my
twisted mind these last few weeks.
	The Camarilla was when I was first introduced to
it by my friend Ryle a group of people in San Antonio
that ran a Live action Vampire game. She finally got me
and some friends to go with her to one of these games
and I found out that it was a cool thing to be a part of.
But at that point it was just a gaming club nothing more.
I went back there several times and started to get into
the swing of things and had a good time. During this time
I heard a bit about some of the other things that the
Camarilla was doing but being someone from Dallas who was
a member in San Antonio it was a tad hard to get involved.
So myself and Ryle got several friends together here in
Dallas and started a chapter, then another then a domain.
But through this the focus was still one of the game.  As
I got more involved I found out many of the chance to do
stuff with the Camarilla that was not game related and my
focus started to go from more of a game to a social
organization, which is what the Camarilla is also. But
many people here did not get as involved and only had the
game to see as the Camarilla. I admit I could have gotten
more people involved but like me when I first started all
it was to them was a game. Well over the last few weeks I
have to say that my eyes have been opened more to what
the Camarilla really is for. It is a place for friends to
meet and gather.
	Once it came to me that the Camarilla was not just
a game and not just a service organization but a group of
friends who just get together to have fun I could not
believe that it took me this long to figure it out. The
game, the projects, the mail and the parties all have one
thing in common, the people. The Camarilla is not about a
game or a project.  Not about prestige and experience but
is about people and friends. It dawned on me this last week
when I was stressing over problems around me many of which
were about projects and the game, that I had made something
more lasting than any project or game in the Camarilla. I
had made many friends. 
	It dawned on me when I received mail from people
who saw what I was going through giving me strength and
comfort that I had friends out there in this club. When I
had people who called me up offering their help and support
and even in one case sending me a hug via e-mail cause they
thought I could use one. These are the things that will last
long after the game ends and long after the project is
finished. It is because of them that my answer to that
question now is not for the game or the projects but for the
people.  All the friends that I have met and those that I
have yet to meet is why I am part of the Camarilla. Now I
put it to the rest of you, why did you join the Camarilla,
maybe the answer you come to now will surprise you.