[Archers] Ymir question

Fri Jan 25 19:29:47 PST 2013

The following is reposted from Facebook for those that do not have it.  I am sorry if I am kicking a hornet's nest on behalf of our community and stirring up things, but I could not hold my tongue. (those that know me well know it has never been my strong suit)

'I think my favorite part of all this is the combination of these two quotes from the previous posts:

"Hi, my name is Gaston and I am your Marshal in Charge at Ymir this year, As I have been for the majority of the last 15 years." and "This has everything to do with my lack of familiarity with the archery community and its associated marshals and more importantly their work."

If you have been not just in the SCA for that long, but MICing events as large as Ymir for that long, and you have not even gotten familiar enough with 'our community, our marshals, or their work' to appropriately handle the delegation of responsibilities, which is a fundamental part of BEING an MIC, then you obviously just don't give enough of a shit.  And this would be just another in a long line of shining examples of just how much an unfortunately large proportion of the heavy community cares so little about the archery community that they don't even care whether or not we get to play at all.

I am not asking you to enjoy the same things as me, to take part in them in ANY sort of active role, or even to acknowledge my presence when I pass by you, but I do expect to be respected enough to be given the right and opportunity to play this GAME in the manner I choose to do, just as you are respected enough to be allowed to play in the manner you choose to do. When this opportunity is denied because of site limitations, constraints of time/money/etc., it is unfortunate but understandable, but this is a whole different ballpark.

Karl von Konigsberg
Atlantian Royal Archer'

________________________________
 From: Janyn Fletcher <janynfletcher at comcast.net>
To: deallac at juno.com 
Cc: sprousecp at yahoo.com; archers at atlantia.sca.org 
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 10:13 PM
Subject: RE: [Archers] Ymir question

Thank you your Excellency. I do not know all of the names but I know Lorelei had talked with the MIC. The story kept changing as well and I know Lorelei had spent quite a bit of time talking with the MIC because it just didn’t make sense.  I offered my services and was turned down as well which I take a slap in the face. I couldn’t go anyway but I wanted to test the waters.  I understand my office but again I fail to see how a MIC can refuse a DEM of that activity, it just makes no sense and no use of any process in place for that activity. I guess the bigger concern I had as well is that the Autocrat caved to the MIC as well, but I’m sure they didn’t want to cross any lines as well. I have to agree that I won’t be headed to that event anytime soon. Most of the discussion was on Facebook under the Ymir posting.

In Service,

Janyn

From:deallac at juno.com [mailto:deallac at juno.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 8:16 PM
To: janynfletcher at comcast.net
Cc: sprousecp at yahoo.com; archers at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [Archers] Ymir question

Janyn,

This is the first that I have heard of this problem, but it appears that you handled 
it beautifully, if not as successfully as would have been hoped for.

I am not asking that you reveal anything, but were you told which marshals the 
MiC trusts?  If so, have you contacted them to find out if they know why the MiC
is being so picky?  We have many very senior and very experienced marshals
who may have been willing to step up if asked (as was noted by your note of
Saphir's offer).

I agree that this situation is ridiculous, but as Otto pointed out, there is nothing
that either your office or his can do to force an autocrat or MiC to include any 
specific activity :(

As to your Office, as a past DEM for Archery and current DEM for TW, your 
real job is to encourage the activity and maintain a safe activity (via training
of marshals, archers, etc....).  You can offer services, but it they are refused,
there is really nothing that can be done.

I was unlikely to be going to Ymir this year even before hearing this, but
after this, I wouldn't go, or if someone convinced me for some other reason,
I would not do anything to assist the MiC (I am also warranted as a marshal
for CA, Heavy, and Rapier)

Just curious, where did this discussion occur?  There was reference to
some group.

YIS

Dealla

---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Janyn Fletcher" <janynfletcher at comcast.net>
To: "'Charles Sprouse'" <sprousecp at yahoo.com>, "'Archery List'" <archers at atlantia.sca.org>
Subject: Re: [Archers] Ymir question
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:00:08 -0500
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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