[Archers] Trying to make some sense...

[John Atkins]

My personal perspective on rules is that they exist only to back us up
when/if we run into an individual who needs a gastrointestinal window
(I'll let you all figure out who really needs one of those but it is
dependent upon a physical position I have yet to actually witness but
have run into many who seem to be able to assume this position!).
Therefore my position is that common sense and a concern for safety
often solves whatever problem may exist.  I also believe strongly that
many new archers should be FIRST and FOREMOST encouraged to join us on
the range.  i.e. An archer who has a very long draw length such that
they can not find wooden shafted arrows.  I'll give them a dispensation
to use aluminum or carbon shafted arrows but not if they are shooting
for Royal Archer or the like.  But my feeling is get them on the range,
then move them into our standards while always being safe.

That said, our rules are currently is a miserable state of confliction.
There has been much said and accepted as the norm that is NOT actually
written down or incorporated into either our rules or the SCA wide
rules.  I have participated in shoots at other events, i.e. highland
games and Ren Faires, and believe me when I say the SCA is MUCH safer
than these other venues by far!  I also firmly believe that a change in
the rules or, as in this case, correction of the rules should be done in
a public forum.  What I mean here is we should not have edicts from "on
high" but solutions should be proposed, discussed within/by the marshal
community, then a consensus achieved and the final decision made.  That
final decision should rightfully come from the DEM and EM as they are
ultimately responsible.  However I adamantly disagree with decisions
made in the absence of this discussion.  Situations happen but there are
ALWAYS multiple reasons for them happening.  Therefore there are
multiple solutions to the "situations".  Selecting the best one that
works for all is the real challenge but the right choice.

As for changes between kingdoms that is not just the responsibility of
the DEM but each individual archer.  I recall one day on the range at
Gulf Wars we were about to start a speed round.  Enoguy had nocked two
arrows, acceptable in Atlantia, to start.  The marshal running the line,
from GlenAhbend, would not allow him to shoot two arrows at once.  That
was a difference between Atlantia and GlenAhbend.  Out West there has
been "noise" about archer authorizations.  Personally I would really
hate to see this.  I believe if a marshal is actually controlling the
line, as they should, then a simple run through of the commands and an
equipment inspection should suffice.  I always watch new archers very
closely, particularly ones shooting crossbows.  It's not that I hate
those instruments of the devil, :-), it's that often new archers will
have a cocked crossbow, bolt on the table then turn to respond to a
person standing behind them.  Thus that loaded crossbow is now pointing
at the archer next to them on the line.  Stuff like that happens, but I
maintain that if the marshal is actually watching the line and acting as
the safety officer they should be this doesn't happen.  Same thing with
archers shooting very crosswise to the range, i.e. shooting at a target
on the right edge of the range from the extreme left end of the shooting
line.  Where is that arrow going to go if they miss?  Even our new range
definition would not create a safe zone to deal with this insanity.
Last year at the Masters shoot at Pennsic many of us Atlantians
witnessed an act that we considered extremely unsafe and careless.  When
I brought it to the attention of the Eastern Archer General, their DEM,
he knew of it and simply dismissed it.  In Atlantian the individual
would have been removed from the range.  But Pennsic is not an Atlantian
war, we are guests and must play by their rules regardless of how we
feel about them.  If we deem them too unsafe we go back to the food
court and get a double dip of that marvelous Hershey's ice cream!

And thus, because I type really fast, I have once again filled your
inbox with my drivel.  But let me finish with my thoughts on our rules
and their current state.  I believe they should be gone over and
solidified.  Those Atlantian rules that vary from the SCA wide rules
should be noted as such, i.e. 3.2.1 SCA rules modified to blah, blah,
blah.  That way we don't have to totally re-write the archery rules and
if changes are made either in Atlantian or SCA it minimizes the effort
required to post the change.  After these changes have been made by the
TA DEM (it would be their ultimate responsibility), they get posted to
the marshal's list for review and comment.  Discussions ensue and the
final version of the rules posted.  At that point the TA MIC class
outline can be updated as needed.  This is the exact same process that
this marshal community went through with the new range rule.  I think a
process like this will minimize the back and forth discussions about the
rules while providing input from all parts of Atlantia.

cog

-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Nardone [mailto:jaynardone at comcast.net] 
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 10:42 AM
To: 'John Atkins'; 'Janyn Fletcher'; Archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: RE: [Archers] Trying to make some sense...


COG, thanks for the update I was hoping you would comment. I just want
to say again it is by no way I finger pointing at all, I was just trying
to understand. I was given an opportunity by Lorelei as her deputy and
as many know me I love to help. I yield to all of the wisdom that has
come before us to understand how things are. Not saying they are right
or wrong but going forward I would like to see some changes so we all
are on the same page. I am relatively new to the SCA as compared to most
of you but I have been very active and really had a chance to see how
other kingdoms operate in my travels. I can honestly say I am grateful
for the way Atlantia is and I love being part of it. Thanks again for
the comments!

Janyn