Special Interest Committee

The founding of the Special Interest Committee is a hot topic among its members. Some claim formed as an offshoot of the Mad Science Committee while others say it started as a collection of miscellaneous people who gathered to talk about their special interests. Even those whose special interest is the history of Gyllis are uncertain about where exactly this committee started. Why it started, however, has always been clear. Within Gyllis there are people who hold a wealth of knowledge about their special interests, and this committee gives them an opportunity to talk about and share their special interests with others.

The role of the special interest committee is a clear one: to act as an outlet for people to express and share their special interests. More specifically, it is a collection of subcommittees, each of which is focused on a special interest within a specific area. Due to the natural expertise that arises from these special interests, members of the Special Interest Committee fulfill important roles within the community. They often act as Educators within the Shoale, though many don’t go beyond a specific subject, others act as local sources of knowledge for when people need specific information. They also act as librarians with the Otolith keeping track of the books on their particular interests and answering any questions people have. Many people on the Special Interest Committee act as specialists and experts in the Mad Science Committee.

Unlike many committees, the Special Interest Committee does not have a particular meeting place. Instead, a member will volunteer their home as a meeting place for one of the subcommittees, where discussions on the topic will range long into the night. They are known for providing refreshments and inviting anyone who is interested into their meetings. Occasionally, they work with other committees to hold a Special Interest Convention where they all exchange and share their special interests with each other and the whole of Gyllis.