[MR] Do Heralds dream of (em)blazoned sheep?

[Mike Ruttle]

Lady Alanna,

I would like to start off by apologizing for offending both you and the rest
of the Heralds with my humor. I in truth have nothing but respect and
admiration for the work that you do in providing the society with a quality
service. My examples in my early posts were designed to demonstrate what
many consider to be absurdity by being absurd. However, I have given offence
and for that I apologies.

What I'm most sorry for is that my comment on the Heralds not passing my
stuff from now on was not perceived in the light I intended. I have no doubt
that the Heralds would give my submissions a fair and even review. Had I
taken the time and thought to have encased it in <grin> or <smile> or
anything of the sort, the humors or "aside" tone in which I meant, it may
have carried better.

Lady Alanna, I will take up your challenge and will volunteer my time and
service to my new Baronial Herald, if he or she will have me. I also hope
that I can convince you to please NOT put down your books and service but
rather help me and other "nay sayers" to better understand the process and
the need for strict adherence. I have no doubt that there is a lot you can
teach me. And if I listen, learn, and put some sweat equity into working the
process, maybe my opinions will gain a little credibility within the
Herald's commuting. Then again, maybe I'll end up agreeing with you
completely. So I'm asking for your help and forgiveness.

That being said, I do believe it is not heresy to call a regulatory process
onerous (even though I understand you may disagree with me here) nor have I
ever found a tradition or methodology that could not stand to have a little
outside scrutiny and pointed questions. The more rules and regulations that
are imposed on a process, the less likely people will be to avail themselves
of its benefits. Anytime an organization adds a new rule or limitation for
this reason or that, it is incumbent upon them to attempt to find a way to
lessen the impact. If you tighten a rule here, relax a rule there. For
instance, any good company seeking to tighten up its sick leave policy (from
unlimited to say 10 days) will at the same time either increase vacation
time, increase paid holidays, or allow for flextime. It's just good PR and
good practice.

I want to take a brief moment to speak on my earlier post's correlation
between this topic and religion. History is full with examples of people who
are a part of a structured organization and rebel against it because they
found it to be burdensome or "out of touch" with their beliefs. Witness the
Church of England, the Protestant reformation, or the distinctions apparent
in  today's Jewish communities (orthodox, conservative, reformed) where
church doctrine and traditions cause divergences in individuals practice of
faith. Or if you prefer a political example, how about the American
Revolution. Now no one wants to see some SCAdian with a hammer in one hand
and a piece of paper with 68 scribbles on it walking up and nailing it to
the Herald's Point and by no means am I advocating it. What I'm saying is
that I don't believe it's my voice, or others like mine, that are preventing
people from trying. I believe there is a general perception of "If I don't
ask, they can't say no." I also believe that the Heralds goals are always
that of "lets make this work." But that's just not always possible. Even my
current local Baronial Herald, who is a certifiable genius with the ability
to write darn near bulletproof supporting arguments, can't always get
something past the visual test. All of us can appreciate that and walk away
from the experience with a positive feeling.

I've heard about the LOI meetings and the love and the commitment so many of
the Heralds put into their jobs and I'm awed. When I challenge a process, I
do NOT challenge those that also have to live and work within it. If
anything, I'm advocating for the alleviation of their pain. Now, the color
printing thing is annoying but it does make some sense as I'm sure most of
the requirements do. They just often seem like edicts delivered down from
the Pope with little to no worry and it's the local Heralds that have to
take it on the chin (more often than not).

Anyway, I thank you all for your indulgences and for allowing me to state
what I feel and I hope this time my words have not offended any of you.

Colin G

[Author's Note: all above uses of the term "Herald" above are specifically
in reference to the registration side of the organization and is not in
anyway associated with the work the field and court Heralds perform.
However, you Lords and Ladies are great too.<smile>]


[Author's Note: I wanted to send this message out first thing this morning
after learning that it was received in a way I had not intended.
Unfortunately I cannot post from my work account and I just got home a short
while ago. It took sometime to get through everyone's emails to ensure I had
everything covered but I'm happy I was able to respond before the end of the
day]


[Author's Note: I don't know why but I found the post title particularly
fitting. It is in reference to somewhat popular 80's occult movie more
commonly known as "Blade Runner." It is an excellent rental though I
recommend the director's cut on DVD.]


[Author's Note: I lied about my son drawing Byzantine iconography on the
kitchen wall. With the most liberal of interpretations you MIGHT have
considered it more akin to a Picassos]


[Author's Note: Why are you still reading these? They are like bad
footnotes. It's late. Get some sleep.<smile>]


[Author's Note: <sigh> ]