[MR] behavior towards gift givers

[Nicole Spaun]

Greetings,

>We in SCA created the scroll concept because we wanted
>additional gifts added to a momentous occasion.  There
>is no law that requires a scroll and there is no
>mandate that gives award recipients a right to a
>scroll.  There is a tradition of gifts we created for
>ourselves.
>

I think you've hit upon the major problem right there.  The conception of 
most people who haven't been around that long think that a scroll IS a 
mandatory thing.  The most basic understanding is, "When you've done enough 
to help out, you get an award and a scroll".  So people tie the scroll into 
their reward for doing good work- and thus feel they have a right to 
complain when the scroll appears less flashy than someone elses or doesn't 
meet their expectations as a reward that they've earned.  It's totally wrong 
(of course!!!), but that's the perception.  They see it as being handed a 
broken trophy at a bowling tournament- they feel they worked so hard to get 
that, so why tolerate one that isn't as great as their achievement?  Again, 
wrong, but probably how it's perceived.

I come from an area in the East Kingdom where we had lots of colleges 
(Boston) so they generally held off on giving AoAs until you were about to 
graduate and leave the area.  By then, those 4 years in hopefully taught you 
that the scrolls were voluntary, an honor for you, and a real toil for the 
people doing them.  We appreciated every letter on them.  A friend of mine 
did my AoA scroll and apologized for it being 'plainer' than many others- to 
me, it's the most decorative thing on my wall and I informed her of such!  
Here I've noticed awards going out much, much faster so maybe people just 
don't know any better by the time they receive their awards?  Or maybe 
people just don't understand what it is that the scribes and heralds are 
doing so they overlook the work involved and the simple honor it is to have 
someone make a scroll _just for you_?

Either way, maybe it's time for some kind of 'scribal ad campaign' where 
people hammer home the message that these are volunteers doing voluntary 
work that you don't have a right to, you have a priviledge to and better 
appreciate it as a priviledge.  State it out loud on websites, in 
newsletters, and such.  That will clear up the 75% who are just uninformed.  
As for the other 25% who know better and choose to fuss anyway... just hope 
to meet them on the battlefield ;)

Just my thoughts,
Lady Bianca di Bari