Tom Brown
06-15-2006, 12:40 PM
We have a few Huterite colonies in this province. They keep to themselves. They have their own schools, train their own people on many of the trades, and don't have a lot of contact the external world. It does happen, though. I've seen them at farmer's markets selling produce and baking. I've also had business contact with them on a couple of occasions.
For no reason anyone can pin down, it would seem that they are not generally liked. Maybe their lifestyle is too different for many people to accept.
One summer when I was in University, I worked on a loading dock at a grocery wholesaler. They bought a lot of food from that wholesaler. They always cut the sharpest deal they could. They would often ban together with other colonies to place a bigger order and try to get a larger discount. They audited everything too. God forbid they were short shipped on something. You'd have a couple of dozen stern looking Huterites looking at you until the order was fulfilled.
Also back then, I worked the trades and was apprenticing for an outfit that had a job at a colony. The boss took the job but was dubious about it. He demanded COD, etc. They agreed.
The whole experience was quite interesting. While they are extremely protective of their own and will stick up for each other, they will also hold each other's feet to the fire, should someone stray from the path. We spoke with some other local contractors in the area and my boss was surprised to find out they liked working for the Huterites. They said nobody has ever had an unpaid bill from a colony member. If you have some trouble with a member, one phone call will get them in all kinds of trouble. These guys could hardly remember even minor incidents and all incidents were resolved promptly.
It seemed really weird at the time but I've come to have a lot of respect for them as a community. They are quick to the defense of members of the community. They make sure everyone is taken care of. ... and they hold everyone to a high standard of conduct. If you are in the colony, you had better do it right.
It strikes me that ***boat is not a lot different from that. In many ways, we stick up for our buddies, we help each other out, and maybe it's not a bad thing when we encourage a member to step up to the plate and take care of their business.
Oh yeah... every day at supper, a place was set for us in the mess hall. We skipped the first day because we were felt weird about it. The second day, and every day we were there after that, we had supper with them. It was some of the best food I've ever tasted. Holy cow, no wonder they're all fat asses.
For no reason anyone can pin down, it would seem that they are not generally liked. Maybe their lifestyle is too different for many people to accept.
One summer when I was in University, I worked on a loading dock at a grocery wholesaler. They bought a lot of food from that wholesaler. They always cut the sharpest deal they could. They would often ban together with other colonies to place a bigger order and try to get a larger discount. They audited everything too. God forbid they were short shipped on something. You'd have a couple of dozen stern looking Huterites looking at you until the order was fulfilled.
Also back then, I worked the trades and was apprenticing for an outfit that had a job at a colony. The boss took the job but was dubious about it. He demanded COD, etc. They agreed.
The whole experience was quite interesting. While they are extremely protective of their own and will stick up for each other, they will also hold each other's feet to the fire, should someone stray from the path. We spoke with some other local contractors in the area and my boss was surprised to find out they liked working for the Huterites. They said nobody has ever had an unpaid bill from a colony member. If you have some trouble with a member, one phone call will get them in all kinds of trouble. These guys could hardly remember even minor incidents and all incidents were resolved promptly.
It seemed really weird at the time but I've come to have a lot of respect for them as a community. They are quick to the defense of members of the community. They make sure everyone is taken care of. ... and they hold everyone to a high standard of conduct. If you are in the colony, you had better do it right.
It strikes me that ***boat is not a lot different from that. In many ways, we stick up for our buddies, we help each other out, and maybe it's not a bad thing when we encourage a member to step up to the plate and take care of their business.
Oh yeah... every day at supper, a place was set for us in the mess hall. We skipped the first day because we were felt weird about it. The second day, and every day we were there after that, we had supper with them. It was some of the best food I've ever tasted. Holy cow, no wonder they're all fat asses.