[Archers] Ymir question

[Craig]

Lord Janyn,
First of all, I want to say that I saw and followed the discussion on 
the Facebook group, and I thought you handled yourself well, and while 
you may have been angered, you didn't let it show, and you are to be 
commended.

Personally, I was insulted by the situation myself.  I've been an 
archery marshal now for almost 4 years.  In fact, I took my first class 
at Ymir.  To have someone say that there are only a handful that he 
trusts to run a range at an event that he is MiC for is an affront to 
myself and many other archery marshals who are trained to run the range 
safely.  I have run many events, though not super huge kingdom level 
ones, but I feel confident in myself to believe that I could safely run 
a good shoot at Ymir.  Even if there are a large number of archers, 
there are usually other marshals or experienced archers who can be 
enlisted to assist with no worries about compromising safety.  As you 
yourself mentioned, the archery marshals in the Kingdom are well 
qualified and trusted, else you would not allow them to be marshals.

Yes, as MiC, it is his call to not have archery.  i think it is a 
misguided decision, but it is his decision.  However, I have heard of 
several people who will not be attending Ymir now because of the 
decision to not have archery.  It's one thing to not have archery 
because there simply isn't a marshal availible.  Down here in SC, we are 
very short on archery marshals, and it's been tough sometimes getting 
one.  But it's another thing to cancel archery because none of the few 
archers you know aren't availible, even though there are other, fully 
qualified and competent marshals that could do it.

You have not let us down.  You offered to help, and you attempted to 
educate.  Ultimately, however, it is the decision of the MiC and the 
autocrat whether or not to have a particular martial activity.

I don't know if it would be worthwhile, or if it would be a bad idea, to 
let the autocrat know if you are choosing to not attend Ymir because of 
the decision to not have archery.  I leave that to each individual.

Archery already tends to get relegated to the "back 40" - out of sight, 
out of mind - and we constantly fight an uphill battle to keep our 
martial activity availible.  We need to educate autocrats and MiCs on 
how archery works, and the safety standards that we hold ourselves to.

And on the Shameless Plug(tm) side, if you are upset because you are 
unable to shoot archery at Ymir, rest assured that the following 
weekend, at Nottinghill Coill Baronial Birthday and Investiture, there 
WILL be archery, and you won't have to hike down the road to shoot it. 
I hear that the autocrat is a really cool guy who enjoys archery.

- Lord Cian mac Cellacháin hUí Dublaich
   Target Archery Regional Marshal, SC/GA

(mka Craig)

On 1/25/2013 6:00 PM, Janyn Fletcher wrote:
> I knew this would eventually come up and I am actually shocked it took
> this long :P
>
> Some of you might not know that archery at Ymir this year was canceled
> by the MIC. When I was first made aware of this about a week and a half
> ago, I posted inquiring why this was the case. I was also given some
> direct information from some of the marshal’s that have run archery in
> years past. I will keep this generic for discussion sake. I was first
> told that the MIC canceled archery “due to lack of interest.” His
> words….This is what really got the hair on the back of my neck to stand
> up, and I also posted about this because I didn’t believe this for a
> second! As I dug into the situation I found out that the MIC who started
> the conversation with “I have been MIC for the last 15 years…” admitted
> that he only trusted a handful of marshals to run archery and those few
> were unavailable.
>
> I respectfully posted back that I was the DEM for TA in Atlantia and all
> of my marshals are “trusted” by me or they would not be marshals. The
> response was something nonsensical like “these are live fire ranges.”
> Which had me scratching my head because all of our ranges are live fire
> ranges. I posted back to that effect and there was no movement. I
> believe at that point Saphir graciously offered to round up some
> marshal’s so the activity could continue. A few days passed and the MIC
> posted that after failing to contact anyone he trusted, he decided to
> cancel the activity. I once again posted and frankly I was not happy. I
> posted that this should never happen in Atlantia and I was going to take
> it to the Kingdom. A challenge was posted back to me to do what I
> needed  to do.
>
> I sent a message to Sir Otto our Earl Marshal and sent the message trail
> to him as well. He responded these words:
>
> It is sad that Master Gaston cannot find an acceptable MiC for Target
> Archery.
>
> Regardless of the outcome, Master Gaston has the responsibility to find
> MICs that are mutually acceptable to him, the group's seneschal and the
> event's autocrat.
>
> There is nothing that my office can do force an event to hold archery
> (or any specific martial activity for that matter.) Your point of appeal
> for this year’s Ymir would be to go to either the autocrat, Lady
> Dyrfinna Frevithadottir or to the group’s seneschal, Lord Adelric Falke
> and make your case to them. I have included them in this reply.
>
> To help for future years, maybe you can work with Master Gaston to
> instill a greater degree of confidence in the other capable target
> archery marshals that we have avalible.
>
> YiS,
>
> Otto
>
> I am just dumbfounded and frankly at a loss for words that a (any) MIC
> can overrule the DEM of the Kingdom and even more so that it was turned
> around on me to make this person “more comfortable.” I never heard a
> word from the Autocrat which really owns the event and this MIC works for.
>
> I wanted to write the King and Queen but after discussion with my deputy
> and past DEM’s it was decided it was probably not wise.
>
> I am still upset over this situation as it is a real slap in my face and
> the archery communities face collectively. I never made this personal
> and simply felt it was my job to not take this quietly. Somehow I think
> I have gotten myself in a pinch once again simply because I am
> passionate and active in our community. I’m really wondering what the
> effectively of my office is if we can be over ruled by pretty much everyone?
>
> I believe there is strength in numbers and if this offends you, I would
> encourage you all to make it known. Safety is ALWAYS our number one
> concern and the decision of who provides that safety and how should come
> from the activity Marshallate, which I was never given the chance to do.
>
> I will promise you all that I will try to not let this type of thing
> happen again but without support I don’t see how I can be effective to
> do so? I’m sorry I have let you all down!
>
> In Service,
>
> Janyn
>
> *From:*archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
> [mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] *On Behalf Of
> *Charles Sprouse
> *Sent:* Friday, January 25, 2013 5:42 PM
> *To:* Archery List
> *Subject:* [Archers] Ymir question
>
> So, random question....
>
> Am I the only one who was totally toked to finally get to go to Ymir
> this year and now am not going at all because they couldn't find "an
> archery marshal the MIC could trust with such an inherently dangerous
> activity"??
>
> KvK
>
>
>
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