[MR] Order criteria

[Terry L. Neill]

Greetings!

>But it sounds like one either needs a history degree or a lot of
>free time and/or money to reach the level where they could be
>considered for a Laurel.

I think I can safely say that the Laurels, as an Order, do *not* demand 
university-level research.  Lord knows the things Ana Ilevna and I did that 
brought us to the attention of the Laurels were not university-level 
research.  But we were the stand-out Viking Ladies.

Peers are the ones who stand out from the crowd.  In looking over everyone 
in the Kingdom, who stands out as the most chivalrous, honorable, best 
fighter?  Who do people consistently go to if they have questions about X 
art or science?  Who is the most consistent, hardest, reliable worker? (And 
if you all see someone like that, who isn't currently in a Peerage Order, 
then please *write a letter* to the Crown and Principal of the Order!)

And please always remember that the contributions of members of an Order are 
limited to recommendations, adding comments and candidates to the Watch 
List, and responses to Pollings.  Only the Crown can actually induct a 
person into an Order.



>If I wanted to
>truly recreate the garb for my persona, I would have to
>shell out a lot of money on brocaded silks - the ubiquitous cotton
>broadcloth, or even a plain linen or wool would be substandard for
>doing my A&S display "right".


The 'rank' of your persona is not taken into consideration.  If you want to 
do brocaded silk, fine.  But if you want to do middle class garb of linen 
and wool, that's fine too.  And might even get you more attention, at least 
from me, because there are relatively few people doing research into the 
middle class.

Then there are reasonable substitutes.  The kind of silk needed to create a 
high-status Viking Woman's costume from Norway in the 850s isn't available 
now.  So I either stick to linen and wool, or use silk as close as I can 
get.  And explain why in my documentation.  If I used cotton in my clothing 
for cost considerations, I'd look for cotton that looked the most like 
linen, then explain the substitution in my documentation. (HA!  But the 
*real* reason I choose to use linen is that I can get it on line or at 
Jo-Mars in Philly for $3 - $6 a yard.  And I like it better than cotton, 
anyway!)


>And completely handstitch it, too??
>Even if I know what the right patterns and accessories are for my
>garb, it takes more time and money than I have to do everything
>"right"; so how much effort is enough, or should I just save myself
>the trouble?

Nope!  And easy to disprove.  Look around at the people who have been 
elevated to the Order of the Laurel in recognition of their costuming 
skills.  How many of them are handstitching their garb?

Handstitching might get you looked at.  But lack of it isn't going to 
prevent an otherwise qualified candidate from being placed on the watch list 
or polled.  Conversely, handstitching alone isn't going to get someone on 
the watch list unsupported by other considerations.


>(I realize that sounds quite bitter; the truth of the matter is,
>I love the research I do, and I would keep studying Moorish
>costume even if I weren't in the SCA.  Whether what I learn
>from my research gets made into garb...well, that's a different
>question!  ;)

Loving what you do is the most important aspect of our game.  I know there 
are frustrations kingdom-wide on the awards structure.  Which is the root of 
TRM's proposal for Grant-level awards.

For those of you who are currently frustrated, look at WHY you're doing what 
you're doing.  You should be doing what you LOVE to do!!

Lack of recognition, especially when those around you who seem to be doing 
the same work are being recognized, can be very discouraging.  I know I've 
felt that way at times myself.

BUT!!

There is no way that my Laurel medallion, as much as I love the precious 
piece of art Mistress Shrew created for me, is in and of itself a 
'repayment' of the time and effort I spend on my Viking persona.

The research, the learning to sew leather, and carve wood, and tablet weave; 
the Living History demos, learning to sail a longship, coaxing people to the 
"dark side of the middle ages", searching for just the right accessory or 
piece of kit, was done for the love of doing it.  No award on this earth 
would be repayment enough if I didn't also LOVE the doing for it's own sake.

Being inducted to the Order of the Laurel was a pleasently surprising 
side-effect.

Regards!

- Mesterinde Anarra Karlsdottir

Dona Nobis Pacem

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