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Noble friends of the bow,<br>
<br>
I've had things to say on this topic before, but maybe the time has
come to bring this issue up for general discussion where everyone
can see it, particularly my fellow local group MICs. I am not here
to embarrass anyone, but we have a problem that needs fixing.<br>
<br>
I have long held that a local group's loaner gear is the most
valuable tool we have for recruiting, not just new archers, but new
members in general. Archery is often among the first activities
guests try when contemplating joining the SCA. If guests have a good
time, feel they have been well treated, and feel a sense of
satisfaction from hitting the target a few times, there is a good
chance some will come back. Perhaps they will feel archery isn't for
them, but they might come back to your group for other activities,
and new friends in a group are always golden. On the other hand, if
our guests have an unsatisfactory experience on our ranges, they
probably won't be back at all, even to another SCA group in the
future. The quality of a group's loaner kit will play a very great
role in their enjoyment or dissatisfaction.<br>
<br>
I am sad to say that much of the loaner gear I have seen in the kits
of other groups or brought out at tournaments is either garbage, or
is treated like garbage. All too often there is little or no thought
to the loaner equipment's maintenance, or the damaging effect
raunchy gear has on the reputation of our archery program and the
SCA in general. <br>
<br>
There are three ways we can "strike out" with guests: if our
equipment looks outmoded, if our equipment is dirty and badly
maintained, and if our equipment doesn't function properly. <br>
<br>
If your loaner gear is like the Shire of Isenfir's, the kit is
probably made up of old fiberglass youth bows, probably Bears and
Stemmlers over 40 years old. Our guests may not know much about
archery, but it doesn't take much intelligence to see that this
equipment looks like something their grandparents used at Camp
Grenada in the 1950s. Guests can easily compare the gear they are
offered with the really sexy longbows or recurves regulars are
shooting, and know they have been given aged cast-offs. It doesn't
matter how well you maintain your kit, that ancient style will be
obvious. In addition to Isenfir's kit, I have built a loaner kit of
my own (which I can use for non-SCA events without asking
permission). It is mostly stocked with current production Bears in
nearly-new condition. They still don't measure up visually to the
more expensive wooden bows personally owned by our regular archers.
Guests will probably not yet realize that the SCA is a volunteer
organization run on a shoestring (nor is this something to discuss
with newbies, unless they specifically ask). So even with well
maintained or new loaner equipment, we start out with one strike
against us.<br>
<br>
It gets worse if your loaner equipment is not properly maintained.
Some of the loaner kit I was given when I took over our program
looked like it had been stored in a pig sty. The equipment was
generally filthy, and the grips were especially nasty with skin oils
picking up grime until they were black. Arrows were never cleaned,
and had rust and caked mud on their points, and more mud in the
nocks. You can bet I cleaned all this equipment, made any needed
repairs, and retired a lot of stuff that was too far gone. While we
might be stuck with old bows as loaner gear, to offer something to
our guest that is dirty is just plain insulting. Strike two! An
insulted guest is not coming back. Period.<br>
<br>
Finally there is the question of equipment that doesn't work right.
How can you expect a beginner to find any satisfaction using
equipment that is out of adjustment? How can they learn to shoot
accurately when the string is so stretched that the bow can't cast
an arrow all the way to the target. That says nothing about the bows
without strings I saw brought to one tournament. What about nock
points that are set too high or too low, causing the arrows to
porpoise, or strings that don't even have nock points? How can you
expect arrows to fly if they are crooked, or they are missing a
fletch (or two, as I have sometimes seen)? Equipment like this is
setting the guest up for failure, and they won't come back. Strike
three. Your out! Pack it up kids.<br>
<br>
I've talked about bows and arrows here, but also consider the
condition of our arm guards and gloves. Leathers that are dry and
cracked are unacceptable. Ditto arm guards with broken laces, or
elastic bands that have lost their stretch. Are there enough
leathers in various sizes, and quivers, to outfit a reasonable
number of guests?<br>
<br>
So what are the solutions? Every piece of loaner gear needs to be
treated with the same care we give our personal equipment.
Fiberglass bows should be cleaned with water and household
detergent. If that doesn't work, rubbing alcohol is the next level.
Finally, use acetone, lacquer thinner, or nail polish remover
(without aloe or other additives) for the worst crud. Do this
outside and wear vinyl gloves. Be aware the acetone will remove any
lettering on the bow, so make notes on the poundage, and reapply
this with a Sharpie extra fine <u>paint</u> marker. Bows that are
really badly scratched up can be sanded with 220 and 320 sanding
blocks, with a final wet sanding using the 320 block again. The
finish will be matte, but vastly improved. Strings should be
inspected and waxed before being put back on. The strings should be
set at the proper brace height (usually about 6" for youth bows, and
7 1/2" for most adult bows). Nock points on strings should be
checked and adjusted if needed.<br>
<br>
Arrows should be checked after each use, and wiped down with a damp
cloth if dirty. Apply a bit of WD40 or furniture oil on a rag to
points to prevent rust. Crud left on shafts from insulation foam
targets should be sanded or scraped off, and glue from duct tape
wrapped targets removed with acetone. This will require resealing
the shafts with polyurethane. Any damage to the fletching should be
repaired. No damaged arrows should ever be allowed back into the kit
until repaired.<br>
<br>
Leathers deserved to be treated with Armor-All or similar leather
dressing at least once a year. Any damaged laces should be replaced.<br>
<br>
Though funds may be limited, it is worth exploring replacing the
oldest gear with new equipment, even when the old stuff still has
some life left in it. You might be able to spread a general
replacement of old equipment out over a year or two if your populace
is willing to foot the bill. Youth bows like the Bear First Shot
cost only about $20, and Bear Crusaders are $29. Heavier bows from
Bear, Barret, PSE or Indian are reasonably priced. Due you shopping
wisely. I recently spotted a PSE bow for sale on a major "discount"
web site for $55, with a supposed $9 savings. Checking the PSE web
page, I discovered the list price of the bow was only $39.<br>
<br>
And what to do with the old stuff? If it is in good condition,
perhaps some other Atlantian group is in need of equipment. If you
transfer gear to another group, make sure to turn all correspondence
over to your exchequer. Or hold a yard sale and sell the unwanted
stuff ($5 each is the usual going price around here for fiberglass
youth bows). Make sure the money is promptly turned over to the
exchequer. Your group could simply have your exchequer write the
stuff off and donate it to a charity thrift store. If it is
unserviceable, then destroy the gear and record its retirement in
case of an audit.<br>
<br>
This might seem like a lot of work, but we owe it to our guests.
This also makes an excellent training project for MITs, and can be
done during the winter down-time when shooting is suspended.<br>
<br>
O.K. so I've had my say. I didn't mean to offend anyone, and hope
nobody feels that way. That said, for the sake of our entire
program, it is time we put our loaner gear in order. <br>
<br>
Yours Aye,<br>
<br>
<br>
Lord Mungo Napier, TA MIC, Shire of Isenfir<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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