[MR] Coronation Curia - New Orders?

[Michael Ruttle]

> Oh come on.  We don't even have addresses on those
> inactive.  I think this is a minor concern.  They
> would find out about changes if they played again.  I
> see no one making efforts to hunt them down to say
> "congratulations you have increased your rank..." etc
> etc. - Rebecca

Ouch, that seems like it would be an even stickier situation. Seems like
you'd have to form a committee to come up with "standards" that determine
what constitutes "inactivity." Is it 1 year, 5 or 10? Is it not having
submit a response to a polling in X number of mailings? Will there be a
process by which people could petition to overturn the "ruling" by this
committee or the Principal? If by "grandfathering in" you do not mean
adjusting member's Precedence (i.e. upgrading to GoA), I would say this is a
none issue. But if it does...no, I'd think it would be better just to great
the new Order (with a new name) and allow Their Majesties to determine (in
consultation) who the founding members would be (likely the most active and
deserving of the current AoA level equivalent). But of course, this is
solely my opinion.
 
> I'm not sure about the bar-moving comment but watching
> folks and who is recognized after how many hours and
> years of volunteering I'd say no. It doesn't move. - Rebecca

Hmm, not picking any particular Order (or Peerage for that matter) I'd have
to say that generally the bar moves in one direction. Up! As both you and
Phillip have stated and others have concurred, there is an impression that
it is harder to obtain recognization at every level than it might have been
say 10 years ago. This "rising bar" in part comes from an individual's
perception on how hard it was for THEM to obtain the honor. Fixing in their
mind what they think they had to do, they tend (and this is a generality) to
vote/poll holding others to a standard they feel they were held to. And
let's face it, we all generally think pretty highly of ourselves when it
comes to our output. The result being a progressively increasing "bar." Half
unintended, half intended. It's common in every organization. As long as we
are mindful it can be managed. Anyway, that is what I meant by "moving bar."

> > "...The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. 
> > What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is 
> > dearness only that gives everything its value..."
> >             - Thomas Paine, Common Sense
> 
> That's a nice theory but there's a point when the
> conflict or the goal is too hard and you lose folks
> because of burnout.  I'm not saying these folks
> volunteer just for recognition but when SCA has said
> these are goals and then makes these goals nearly
> impossible to achieve, you're not making a glorious
> triumph.  You're making a group of burned out
> volunteers who feel unappreciated for all their
> efforts. - Rebecca 

I guess I'd refer you back to my final quote from an excellent movie: "the
hard...is what makes it great." The continued challenging of yourself to
obtain goals you've set for yourself is what lets you know you are still
alive. There are some goals in the Society and in life I'm sure I'll never
reach, but I and you and others must keep trying. Obtaining peace in our
time is hard but we should never let others break our resolve or striving.

Colin G