[Archers] Recommendation

[Jay Nardone]

COG, you raised this in a previous post and I didn't get a chance to respond
but I agree with you completely! Since we are archers and you would think
that our awards should be tied to some sort of skill along with other
aspects, this only makes sense. If a candidate is providing service, I would
think it would fall under an Opal vise our other archery awards which are
more mainstream for archery skill and effort. I seem to remember Lord Mors
getting his Opal last year for Archery events and his service in planning
and executing them. That makes perfect sense to me. Another area I think we
are greatly lacking in is supporting our own who teach our marshal skills.
Do you realize the last archer recognized with the Sea Stag was Gregg back
in 2000! This is sad really because I know there are many who are teaching
at every university, at events, at Pennsic, etc but obviously are not being
supported by our own for awards that are "out of the box" for us. This ties
back to our discussions about peerage or support with the Laurel, but if we
archers don't change our mindset about supporting our own, then we have no
others to blame.

Janyn


-----Original Message-----
From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of John Atkins
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 10:14 AM
To: 'Garth Groff'; archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org; padrgroups at charter.net
Subject: Re: [Archers] Recommendation

I like these recommendations although I don't see them as hard and fast
criteria one must meet to receive "the" award as much as guidelines for
determining appropriateness of the award.  One question though, are these
criteria for a Yewbow or a Missilier?  Being in agreement with Her Majesty's
comments, I feel strongly about awards being given in "proper order" and for
conduct appropriate.  Thus a Missilier would be for individuals showing
promise of the conducts noted below with areas needed to improve but perhaps
does not have the skill of a Yewbow quite yet.  As the Yewbow is currently
the highest archery award in Atlantia for an archer those who are inducted
into the order should be held to higher standards, one of which is skill
with bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt.  Whereas the Missilier is the
"training grounds" for those showing great promise, have accomplished bits
and pieces of the "yewbow requirements".  

Let me state this a different way.  I believe when a person begins to
display service and expertise in the area of archery the first award they
should receive is their baronial award for archery.  As they continue down
the path, the next award in the sequence should be the Missilier.
Continuing even further they ultimately advance to the level of the Order of
the Yewbow.  The progression is much like an unbelt becoming a man-at-arms,
then a squire, then a knight.  Each step has "requirements" that the
individual is expected to meet and maintain to advance to the next step
(although it is NOT a check list for a "merit badge" - that is, there is not
nor should be any guarantee that the award will be given once "all these
things are done").  Until such time that Atlantia has a peerage for archers
our path is baronial recognition/award, Missilier, then Yewbow.  Thus, as
with the heavy's path, each step is a "training ground" for the next step.

The "other" question on hand is what of an individual who provides great
service to the archery community but is simply not a very good shot?  What
of someone who provides service but does not shoot?  And, yes, we have them
as well.  Should they be ignored or awarded a service specific award, i.e.
Opal?  What then would be the "criteria" for that awarding?

Of course all this is my opinion and as I threw it out, so may you!

C0g

-----Original Message-----
From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Garth Groff
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 8:31 AM
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org; padrgroups at charter.net
Subject: Re: [Archers] Recommendation

Noble Friends of the Bow,

Her Majesty's post, and other messages on this subject, set me to thinking
about awards this weekend. I see that we have no real fixed benchmarks for
recommending someone for the King's Missiliers or the Yew Bow. That is
probably as it should be. Each candidate is different, and expresses their
excellence in different ways.

So here is what I would consider, in no particular order, and keeping in
mind that some points will be stronger than others in each candidate:


Participation and commitment: Is the candidate a regular participant in the
archery community through their local group's practices, and at tournaments
in at least their regional area? Do they make any of their own equipment?

Service: Does the candidate contribute to archery by marshaling at
practices, assisting at tournaments, staging a tournament as MIC,
contributing targets, teaching archery in the field, teaching classes on
archery subjects at University, or serving as a higher officer in the
archery program? There is nothing in Her Majesty's comments requiring an
office for an award, and there are lots of other ways a non-officer can be
of service. Staging a tournament can be especially difficult for someone
from a small group, so I wouldn't always expect this, but it certainly is a
plus.

Worthy conduct: Does the candidate show respect to others he/she interacts
with in and out of the archery community? Do they contribute their knowledge
and expertise to the archery community, and to assist others such as
newcomers? Are they honest? Are they respectful of the rules? Are they
complainers?

Scores: Although Her Majesty pointed out that the awards were not intended
to be a test of skills, in a martial sport this is still hard for us to
completely ignore. If the candidate has mastered their chosen weapon or
weapons, and achieved a score worthy of note, that could be a plus. What is
worthy of note? Well that's debatable, but certainly above our two lowest
ranks by my definition.

Comments?


Yours Aye,


Mungo
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