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<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Fen,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I
completely agree with your points below. I underscore your comment that
many autocrats do not fully understand the archer's need for a large area for
SAFETY sake. Unfortunately archery is too often stuck in the "back 40" out
of sight and out of mind. But your point of working with the autocrat is a
good idea for working out a solution suitable to all. And I would
recommend that contact begin long before the actual event, in the planning
stages. In the case of a hostile autocrat you could perhaps just have them
go down range and hold a paper plate in front of their chest! :-)
(Archer humor there.) I should think that as Atlantia is known for its
archers that raising the issue of a hostile autocrat to higher levels would get
some satisfaction. But I also go back to "you can't fix stupid." At
one event at the Elkin Castle site we were doing a clout shot the full length of
the range when I heard someone chopping wood in the woods behind the target we
were shooting at. I called a hold and sent a fellow marshal down to tell
the person they were on a live archery range. About 30 minutes later the
marshal returned. When asked why it took so long they responded that the
wood chopper said they would only be a few minutes! Some times just
continuing to shoot would really clean up the gene pool. The paperwork is
really a hassle though! Did I mention you can't fix
stupid?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>But
this leads into another but closely related subject I would like to bring up
here for discussion. At Pennsic a few years back the East king came to the
range to meet the archers before the masters shoot. He confessed that, as
a heavy fighter, he always thought archery was really easy. He decided to
give it a try for himself. Because of this he had a whole new appreciation
of what archers can do and the skill required. Perhaps this display of
skill is something we should all think about trying to incorporate into the
shoots we plan. Think of ways to involve more of the non-shooting populace
in a skillful way. At Gulf Wars this is the idea behind the Grand
Exhibition Tournament held in front of the fort on the battle field. It
pits the best archers of each attending kingdom against each other in a high
skill tournament format in front of the populace. Simply stated, it
brings archery out from the "back 40" for the populace to see. If we can
do things to help destroy the myth that archery is easy and anyone can do it, we
may gain a bit more respect from otherwise hostile
autocrats.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Just
some thoughts,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>cog</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=593564416-19072010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><BR><B>From:</B> fenrisulven@comcast.net
[mailto:fenrisulven@comcast.net] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, July 19, 2010 12:34
PM<BR><B>To:</B> John Atkins<BR><B>Cc:</B>
archers@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Archers] Trying to
make some sense...<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<P> </P>
<P>Not exactly. On the day prior during setup, the area in question was
indeed a concern. I watched and listened as several Marshalls exercised
the diligence you would expect of them, and attempted to fix what was seen as
a potential hazard. After much discussion, assurances came
from the autocrat that the area would be blocked
off and the building door locked so it couldn't be used as an
exit. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>On the morning of the shoot, that gradually didn't happen.
Parking creeped into the range fan, holds were called, and owners were
told to move their vehicles. Some refused. Later in the day,
pedestrian traffic began to skirt the right side of the range fan and the
safety zone began to gradually decay even further. Now, I
understand that regardless of the cause, we should have simply closed the
range down at the first encroachment and fetched the autocrat. But it
should be remembered that this range had been moved once
from its originally intended (and safer) location, and this was already
an effort to adapt on the fly. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>None of that excuses what happened. I only bring it up because from
my own perspective, this topic should not only be about a
need for new rules or more vigorous marshal training, but also about
handling breakdowns in communication between those in charge of an event.
And until that is addressed, I fear the instance will repeat itself
- because autocrats tend to not fully appreciate how much
our need for space revolves around safety. Several months after all
this, another archery course had to be adapted on the fly because troll was
placed inside the range fan. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>When it comes to safety, we can't continually adapt on the fly and expect
Murphy to show us mercy. People are hurried and trying to make it
work. Something will slip through. So I think:</P>
<P> </P>
<P>1) MICs need to educate their autocrat about our safety
requirements. Strongly if necessary, to prevent our range fans
from being crowded out and carved up</P>
<P> </P>
<P>2) Marshall training should include advice on how to work around an
autocrat that is hostile and unapproachable. (do we go to the
Seneschal?)</P>
<P> </P>
<P>3) Autocrats should not have the authority to change the archery space
after the MIC has set his safety zones</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Cheers</P>
<P>Fen</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: "John Atkins"
<cogworks@triad.rr.com><BR>To: "Siegfried"
<siegfried@crossbows.biz>, "Jay Nardone"
<jaynardone@comcast.net><BR>Cc:
archers@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org<BR>Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 11:35:12
PM<BR>Subject: Re: [Archers] Trying to make some sense...<BR><BR>In my opinion
the rule was a "knee jerk" reaction to a potentially very dangerous situation
that should never<BR>have happened had the marshals in charge been diligent
which, to me, indicated that the issue was not a </P>
<P>new rule but the training of our marshals<EM>.
</EM></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>