[MR] Pipe Dream: U.S.C.A.

[rmhowe]

Charles, et al, 

Thanks for the complement. Some of our SCA people are -already- 
getting published by other SCA kindoms and groups overseas as it is.
Even Regia Anglorum, one of the most authentic, is absorbing some 
of our articles. 

What many of the groups who focus on specific time periods are 
learning is that because of our size our research is just as good 
as theirs. We don't have the concentration in individual groups 
for specific time periods. We frequently have households or subgroups,
or like Mistress Anarra or Master Finnr, or other Atlantian Laurels,
belong to multiple medieval groups. 

We have such a large group in the SCA that our sheer number of
elists alone frankly outnumbers all but the largest other groups'
members. I would estimate that except for the English Civil War 
group, which may be several thousand members minimum, that there 
are at least two hundred re-enactment societies involved in the 
Middle ages, Renaissance and Ancient periods, perhaps three hundred, 
even some in the former iron curtain countries. The largest of
these have less than a thousand members AFAIK and many of them,
especially in England and Europe have as little as a couple dozen.
Probably a hundred would be a good average estimate for some of 
them. And frequently they are scattered over wide geographical
areas within their countries. Many of their individuals participate
with our SCA folks on discussion lists with mutual respect - apart
from Brian Hande and -a few- of the Australian Routiers, who have
dubious reputations in their own country according to my 
correspondents.

I wonder why it is that Atlantia does not have an Arts and Sciences
-Articles- webpage like Meridies does? Surely many of us could 
contribute articles and class notes from previous university sessions.

I got a nice compliment this week from the Frojel Gotlandica 
Viking Society leader in Australia that was outstanding also. 
Something about me throwing whole diamond necklaces instead of 
just occaisional pearls. Specifically Sandy was asking about an 
on the net bibliography on medieval subjects from my library.
Unfortunately I don't do webpages. If I did, and had time, it 
would likely be huge. I'm not young anymore, and I graduated 
college before PC's were released and they started substituting 
computer mice for pacifiers. I never touched one until after I 
disabled. Working in shops we did not use them, at home there is 
no one to teach many techniques like in an office environment so...

Since I'm handicapped and can never guarantee my attendance/ability
to function I don't teach at events, but rather do so through articles
and replies to posts over the nets. Geographically they reach from
New Zealand and Australia to Northern Europe the long way. Atlantia
actually sees about a 1/4-1/3 of them. Depends on the subject. I make
a habit of contributing to groups and institutions in other countries
that have similar interests. In the end it benefits everyone. It also
ups the reputation of the SCA with other groups. 

I wonder how many people are aware of the wonderful Atenveldt Arts 
and Sciences monthly digest? I think I posted about it here before.
There are some extremely good articles on it and it far exceeds
the average TI in depth (just without pictures since it comes
email). I'm behind at least one follow up article for them myself.
Contact edenblacksmith at yahoo.com to subscribe.

If I wasn't so busy trying to recover from the backlog of 3100
posts/digests on my machine I'd get more done. On the other
hand I can't help but reply to some of them. I'm so far behind
currently I read by subject and frequently am weeks behind on
some of the correspondence. I haven't caught up on Medieval
Leather, Norsefolk, Regia-NA, or MetalCasting, among others for 
some time. Right now I keep about 250 large documents on various
subjects - many gleaned from the nets. This is what I do while
I patiently wait for the muscles to deharden so I can go out
and restart the rebound cycle. 

Magnus, spotty at best.

"Towey, Brian" wrote:
> 
>> ...the level of research and
>> craftsmanship currently being done in the SCA is far and away
>> deeper, broader, and more intense than it probably was 20, 30 
>> (or even 10?) years ago. Nowadays, people are translating and
>> redacting obscure Spanish cookbooks, rediscovering and relearning
>> long-forgotten textile crafts such as nalbinding...and publishing 
>> and teaching these techniques to many others...
> 
> May I respectfully suggest that the proper reward for such 
> activities might not be a medallion, but rather a Ph.D.?
> 
> I have often wondered how hard it would be to incorporate an 
> academic institution, the University of the SCA, and get it
> accredited.  With our many laurels as faculty, with our many
> academic members as department heads, and with Magnus as head
> librarian, it would instantly be a serious player in the Medieval
> and Renaissance Studies field.  Already, the combined output of
> the SCA exceeds that of any university department I know, both 
> for quantity and for quality.
> 
> And, if there were such a university, I suppose local War 
> Colleges or workshops could be accredited as well, with CE 
> credits for each serious class.
> 
> Organizationally, SCA, Inc. would not need to own or run it. 
> It could simply be a sister corporation that has a 99% overlap
> in membership.  A side benefit would be the dissemination of
> knowledge and the standardization of achievement across the
> Knowne Worlde.
> 
> The Internet has made "virtual campuses" practical.  Why not
> confer a Master's for a masterwork, and not try to invent a new
> hierarchy of Manatees and such?
> 
> Always a dreamer,
> -Charles Fleming