<p>Well said. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You siad what I was not able to find the words for.<br>
Lady Anne Rose Smythe</p>
<p>On Sep 16, 2010 2:55 PM, "John Atkins" <<a href="mailto:cogworks@triad.rr.com">cogworks@triad.rr.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution">> Let me share a personal experience concerning this train of thought. In<br>
> Trimaris is an individual named Roulant. If you have been to Pennsic or<br>> Gulf Wars you know his work. He is the guy who carves those horns that<br>> are absolute works of art. Roulant has been crafting this quality art<br>
> in horn and leather (if you have never seen his leather work you have<br>> missed some true master pieces) for many, many years. In Trimaris,<br>> years back, I saw him sitting in court wearing a belt of unfinished,<br>
> untooled leather, simply a strip of leather two inches wide. I chided<br>> him about it with something like "The best leather worker in the SCA<br>> wears a belt of raw leather?" He responded that is was his personal<br>
> "statement" to the Trimarian laurels. In short, he was stuffing it up<br>> their nose that his work was of master quality but they could not find<br>> it in their hearts to include him in their exalted order. As you can<br>
> imaging, the laurels were resoundly offended and it was many years<br>> before Roulant became a laurel. In fact he became a laurel because when<br>> Mittion once again assumed the Trimarian throne he recognized Roulant's<br>
> skill and artistry and made him a laurel, thereby side stepping the<br>> laurel community.<br>> <br>> I relate this story only in that I feel if the archers have their "black<br>> sheep" order/award for work done but gone unrecognized we are flaunting<br>
> our displeasure of the lack of adequate recognition in the face of those<br>> who could/would recognize us. Thus I would be more in favor of an<br>> approach that made it known to the "powers that be" the amount of work<br>
> that goes into being TA MIC or a skilled archer. I feel too many,<br>> including some archers, simply think that at an event the archery range<br>> simply "appears". Add water, poof, archery range! They do not see all<br>
> the work done off site, pre event making the targets. Then the setting<br>> of the range, the marshalling all day long, the taking down of range and<br>> the carting home and recycling targets as best possible or carting to<br>
> trash dump. As in times past, no one gets good at archery without lots<br>> of practice. How many are aware of the hours spent on the practice<br>> range working on perfecting technique, making arrows, tuning equipment,<br>
> making bow strings, and practice, practice, practice. I still hear the<br>> king of the East at Pennsic many years back, "I did not have a high<br>> respect for archers but I decided, as king, I should learn archery. I<br>
> now have a deep respect for what you archers are able to do." A queen<br>> remarked to me on numerous occasions she was amazed that I was able to<br>> hit a 4 inch wide wand at 30 yards consistently. Again, had I just<br>
> picked up a bow the week before she would not have said that!<br>> <br>> I believe we need to spread the aspect of how much goes into being a<br>> good archer or good TA MIC for an event that happens behind the scenes<br>
> and NOT at the event. If fighters get awards and recognition for<br>> winning lysts, a product of many hours at the pell and/or practice<br>> developing skill, then archers should also be known for their same<br>
> dedication. This can only happen through education and that, as I see<br>> it, is our job.<br>> <br>> cog<br>> <br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:archers-bounces@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org">archers-bounces@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org</a><br>
> [mailto:<a href="mailto:archers-bounces@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org">archers-bounces@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org</a>] On Behalf Of<br>> <a href="mailto:fenrisulven@comcast.net">fenrisulven@comcast.net</a><br>> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 2:54 AM<br>
> To: <a href="mailto:loreleielkins@aol.com">loreleielkins@aol.com</a><br>> Cc: <a href="mailto:archers@atlantia.sca.org">archers@atlantia.sca.org</a><br>> Subject: Re: [Archers] I'd like to point out.....<br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> Lorelei: Many of us have discussed on and off about the lack of<br>> recognition -<br>> <br>> <br>> Maybe we can have some fun with it, to take the edge off?<br>> <br>> Several of us have been competing to see who can accomplish the most<br>
> WITHOUT being recognized. Points are awarded for service,<br>> events/brackets won, final eight at KA, champions team at Pennsic,<br>> highest current average score per month, etc. A kingdom level award<br>> knocks you out of the running. We could always extend it to include more<br>
> archers.<br>> <br>> Or perhaps award a quiver favour symbolizing a black sheep (The<br>> Blackened Fleece?). When the bearer is finally recognized by the Crown,<br>> they must pass it along to whoever they feel is most deserving. From a<br>
> practical pov, it could be used to spotlight those that have fallen<br>> through the cracks, so the rest of us would know who to spam the Crown<br>> about.<br>> <br>> Someone wiser than me once said: "If you're not having fun, you're doing<br>
> something wrong" <br>> <br>> Cheers<br>> Fen<br>> <br>> <br>> <br></p>