[MR] New orders

[Malone, N.]

To one and all; Good day;
	I have been informed privately that the current kingdom orders were
originally principality orders that were meant specifically for
teaching, so be it. I have no complaint with any of that. Unfortunately
that means that there are no stepping stone / Journeyman awards below
peerage in this kingdom. I believe that these awards are perceived as
such and being similar to other kingdom's award structure. This would
seem to illustrate some of the current frustrations among the populace.
This would lend more credence to the idea of new awards.
	Also, I realize that there are MANY peers who are constantly teaching
and searching for new members to elevate, this is not perceived as the
common attitude. Maybe a teaching/PR campaign to teach people the
criteria could replace the "knowing the right people" perception.
	I for one would NEVER ask anyone to "lower the bar" for any award,
order or position. I stand by any group setting their standards as high
as they like and moving them higher with time. I have seen this happen
with time in the SCA, sports, education and technology. Anyone who puts
in the time and training to achieve any level has the right to make of
it what they please. If a person does the work and is lucky enough to
win crown, they have the right to make whatever demands they deem
appropriate. If the King says you must wear purple and stand on your
head to attend court then that is their right. If the order of the Pearl
were to require that member's have a pinkie finger at least 3 inches
long, so be it! BUT if court purports to be public and the pearl
purports to be open to the members at large. Then all of the rules
regulations and criteria should be commonly known. This would go a long
way to relieving some frustrations and banishing the idea that you
"gotta suck up to the right people". I am NOT saying that this is the
admitted or actual criteria or that all orders or its members practice
this. I am saying that a significant portion of the populace has
expressed this opinion and believe it and have seen intermittent
reinforcement of the idea. 
	Given this; Maybe there should be new orders? Maybe the current orders
could make a better attempt at educating people as to their criteria?
Neither of these is my duty or decision to make, I wield only
information gleaned from conversation, experience, education and
observation. I have only opinion to offer. I am not crusading to change
anything. There does appear to be some strong negative issues on either
side and about the awards old and new. Negative energy is bad. I also
often hear conversations that those less bold than myself would never
say out loud in the presence of power or the members of a particular
order. Peer-Fear is real, the opinions you receive may be edited or
modified to fit perceptions of the audience. 
	I never mean to offend unintentionally. I am very good at giving
offense and when I mean to it is obvious. My previous missive was
intended to offer more opinion and observation to the discussion. I do
stand by my comments as to the personality and flavor of Atlantia and
her award orders. Like family, while I do not like everything about
everyone they are indeed dear to me, and I do indeed care about the
health and vitality of our Society. Again they are ONLY my opinion seen
from MY point of view. My opinions hold no weight over anyone or any
order. They are also unlikely to be modified by 1-2 people in each group
getting upset and saying "Well I don't do that" or "its not meant to be
that way". I agree that many order members act differently than other
order members, and many Atlantians act differently than other kingdom
members. But if they would change the appearance of the body at large
they must do enough to change the appearance of the whole. Sadly this is
beyond the capability of all but a few exceptional leaders.
	I expect or request no specific changes. The Kingdom and it's orders
are as they want to be at present. If They desire to change, consciously
or otherwise, it will happen. But do not get offended at people that
point out that your basset hound aint a cat no matter what you call it.
Don't get angry, just assume that I don't recognize cats very well. I
have no agenda or hidden goals. Comment was requested and I made such.
More information will modify my opinions but the real test is in what is
done not in what is said. Show me the reality of the orders as open,
definable, criteria based, non-political groups and I will believe it.
But do not tell me this is the reality when so many observations by so
many people would differ greatly. Maybe a lot of people just need to be
better informed about the nature of the orders and/or their
implementations. On the other hand, ALL social, political, governmental
and religious groups suffer through these issues all the time. It well
could be that it is human nature. Realizing that there may be problems
and working toward stated ideals can make a difference but it takes more
than angry retorts and rhetoric.

AshaHito