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-----Original Message----- <br>
From: Garth G. Groff <ggg9y@virginia.edu><br>
Sent: 1/31/2011 5:49:13 PM <br>
To: Archers@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org <Archers@seahorse.atlantia.sca.org><br>
Subject: [Archers] Loaner gear <br>
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<div class="PlainText">Noble Friends of the Bow,<br>
<br>
Recently I overheard an archer tell a first-time guest who was agonizing <br>
over losing an arrow not to worry because our loaner gear was all junk, <br>
and nobody cares about it anyway. I was shocked, and started to respond, <br>
but fortunately backed off so as not to cause a scene in front of the <br>
guest. The archer was wrong, and it was personally insulting to me, and <br>
would be insulting to the guest if she got the idea we only offered <br>
trash to newcomers.<br>
<br>
The bows my group issues to guests may be old, but they are maintained <br>
in the best condition possible. All those bows had all just been <br>
inspected in a general maintenance session the weekend before (and were <br>
inspected again when issued that day), strings were checked and waxed, <br>
and brace heights adjusted. I also regularly clean our bows to remove <br>
gunk from the grips and limbs. Our arrows are as good as I shoot, since <br>
I made most of them myself, and they are repaired or replaced whenever <br>
they become worn or damaged.<br>
<br>
I'm sure that many of you who also maintain your group's loaner gear to <br>
high standards. I hope so. But I have seen the loaner garb some groups <br>
offer, and indeed drew a few pieces from that source when I first <br>
started playing. It was pretty awful, mostly stuff that was ripped up <br>
and should have been used for rags. I've also seen some loaner gear that <br>
is offered to heavy fighters which was an embarrassment, and stuffed <br>
into a barrel where it was getting further damage.<br>
<br>
My point in bringing this up is not to toot my own horn, but rather to <br>
get all of us thinking about our attitudes toward our equipment, <br>
especially the stuff we offer to guests, and thus to inspire us all to <br>
keep our loaner equipment and garb in the best possible condition. There <br>
is a lot of hand wringing and pontificating these days about how we are <br>
going to attract new members to keep our society going. You can't do <br>
that if you insult newcomers.<br>
<br>
I invite comment and discussion.<br>
<br>
Kind regards,<br>
<br>
<br>
Lord Mungo Napier, Archer of Mallard Lodge<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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