[Archers] the St. Sebastian Prize at Pennsic XL

[cogworks at triad.rr.com]

Strictly for purpose of clarification:  
I suggested a two day shoot so that every person interested could have the opportunity to shoot, day one being qualification, day two being the actual shoot.  It is my experience that the "greatest archer" in one kingdom can't hold the quiver of another kingdom's champion runner up.  But perceptions exist and should be dealt with.

Now as for running it and giving up my Pennsic, perhaps because I have been to enough Pennsics to have actually made a wind chime out of the medalions I would not consider working two days as giving up my Pennsic.  I have done such for numerous occasions before, i.e. my lady runs the night throw at Pennsic.  HOWEVER, as one who has been instrumental in every SAAD except the last one, Lorelei forbid me to do anything much to my consternation so next time I return the "favor", running archery shoots and not shooting them does not ruin my vacation.  (I have actually shot only ONE SAAD.)  Like many on this list, seeing others derive joy from my time well spent is pay back enough and makes any and all sacrifice worth it.

I have voiced my opinion that I think the populace shoots are exceptionaly boring and totally lack creativity.  Gulf Wars uses the same boring populace shoots but seems to have interesting novelty shoots every day.  So I'm all in favor of "something different" and support any and all efforts.  While it may not have come to fruition before, if it does next year I applaud the efforts.

I do question how it is possible to have a "popluace shoot" restricted to only the "better archers".  Do we judge by completness of kit?  i.e. the kid who wears a cheap cotton tunic over jeans and tennis shoes, is he allowed to shoot?  Or do we look at RR scores?  And where is the line drawn there as each kingdom seems to have different cut off lines for each grouping.  Perhaps we simply say "you can't shoot unless your RR score is 85 or higher".  OK, but what if the archer is an amazing archer but doesn't shoot RR's because they've been in for a long time and think RRs are boring?  Or how do we check their RR scores?

Like Siegfried I only offer personal experience to assist and in a helpful manneer and intent.  It is NOT my intention to desuade nor derail any attempt to make Pennsic Archery more interesting.  Lord knows we need some infusion of creativity!  But, like Siegfried, it has been my job to act as buffer between those who like to complain and tear down and those who choose to build and applaud efforts.  Personally I feel if we do not point out pit falls we have experienced before they will only be fallen into once again and the best efforts........well you know how that ends.

So, having been there, done that, fought those battles, and have the scars, I shall sit on the side lines and applaud any and all efforts.  Should you have effectily enticed Lorelei to enter into this fray then, as usual, I shall support that lady in any and all ways I can.  She deserves it and it is the least I can do for her.

cog bowing out.....................................

---- Holly Gibbons <holly0920 at yahoo.com> wrote: 
> To the Scattered Archers of Atlantia:
 
Thanks for weighing in on the Pennsic question, COG. Experience is always the 
best teacher. Even though I am rather a new kid on the block, I refuse to be 
disuaded from this effort just because it hasn't worked out in the past. We can 
always keep trying and perhaps by sheer force of persistence, we will get 
somewhere this year. You never know when your luck will turn.
 
However, COG, I am puzzled by your promotion of a two-day 
populace-championship shoot. Are you in fact volunteering to run this thing and 
give up your Pennsic? Because if you are not, then I believe we'd better stick 
to what we were working on, which is a short, expert-level, single day shoot 
that will not (hopefully) overtax any one individual. I'd like to focus on the 
possible.
 
Siegfried, thanks for your hilarious and so spot-on suggestion about naming the 
shoot! I love it! Henceforth to be known as the St. Sebastian Prize . . . . this 
surely clears the air and takes the problematic and contentious words like 
"championship" and "Pennsic" and "known world" completely out of the ring. And 
think of the possible prizes! A handmade museum-piece reliquary containing linen 
threads from the very holy bowstring of our dearest Patron Saint of Archery, 
Saint Sebastian!
 
We've gotten pretty close on this discussion board to a consensus on many of the 
elements we forsee in this shoot. It will be at Pennsic;  it will be completely 
outside the Pennsic war;  it will go up and get shot and come down before 
cocktail hour;  it will be a concerted and joint effort by Atlantia's archers 
and their best eight targets;  it will be an individual championship; 
and finally, it will be as inclusive as possible given the very real constraints 
of time and logistics.
 
At this point, I am going to go out on a limb and propose that we form a 
committee to take this beyond the drawing board. I volunteer myself only because 
I am really tenacious and passionate and as far as I know, am the only person to 
freely (stupidly?) offer to take this on, and I volunteer Lorelei and 
Janyn (hope that's ok, guys!) because they have wisdom and power and are very 
politic and nice to work with. A number of individuals have volunteered to help 
with the shoot and prizes and targets and several have sent in numerous great 
ideas (yay!) Anyone else up for the politicking? Our first order of business is 
to draw up a document that outlines our task ahead and all the variables and 
possibilities, so we know we are on the same page, and our second order of 
business is to find out to whom we should be looking for help in the Mid Realm 
and East powers-that-be. 
 
When you really think about this, every archer out there should be happy about 
this initiative: it can only be positive for archery, for archery at pennsic, 
and for archery in all our kingdoms. We must stop thinking of this as an 
adversarial quest and try to share our joyful vision instead.
 
Nuala of Needwood Forest