[MR] Award Recommendations, Suggest Them

Mon Aug 23 07:26:12 PDT 2010

Sounds like it might be time to republish an article I wrote a while back
about making award recommendations.  I'll try to update it a little as well.

A big thing to keep in mind is #10.  Just because you recommend someone for
something doesn't mean it'll happen, or at least not right away.  Especially
with the polling orders, there is a process involved that can be lightning
fast or glacially slow.

Also keep in mind how often this person is at the same event as TRM.  It's
awfully hard for the Crowns to award a gentle if that person doesn't attend
royal progress events.

Aedan

-----
Seeking Recommendations - Awards Offered

I know that if you look around you can find other articles on this subject,
but I'm hoping one more will not hurt.  What I'm talking about is that
wonderful feeling of pointing out the great work of someone you know and
seeing them rewarded for it.

If they are doing such a great job then why would they need a
recommendation?

Believe it or not, neither the King nor the Queen (nor your local Baron/ess,
for that matter) are exactly all knowing and they rely on each and every one
of us to help them out by directing their attention at their noteworthy
subjects.  Let's start with some details on the process.

The first thing to remember is that anyone can recommend a gentle for any
award.  You don't have to have received that award yourself, there is no
minimum requirement of rank or precedence.  Merely making the effort of
putting pen to paper (or reaching for that keyboard) is enough to put you in
a special and all too rare category.  Send  any recommendations for Baronial
awards to that person's Baron/ess.  Kingdom level award recommendations get
sent to Thier Majesties, of course.  Of course, you can now use the
wonderful online sytem to submit your recommendations.  This lets you go
back and update them at a later date as well.  You can find this at
http://award.atlantia.sca.org/

Let's get into some more specifics.

1.      These points apply to both Baronial and Kingdom level awards.  If
you're shy about sending something to the King and Queen, your seneschal or
Baron/ess are usually more than happy to act as a go-between for you.

2.      Put it in writing.  Their Majesties have a million details to
remember, please don't give them one more.  For those of you in the
electronic world, email is often perfectly acceptable and now there is also
an online recommendation submittal site available.

3.      Make it clear who the person is being recommended.  Try to at least
include mundane and SCA names as well as their home group.

4.      If recommending for a polling order, be sure to send a copy to the
principle of that order (the online system does this for you). Their
information can be found in the Acorn or online at
http://acorn.atlantia.sca.org/orders.php.

5.      Be as specific as you can.  Saying "Joe's autocratted 3 events in
the past 2 years" or "Jill is always in the kitchen helping with cleanup
after local events" is great.  "Bill works       really hard and is a great
fighter" is not so helpful.

6.      You don't have to recommend someone for a specific award.  Pointing
out their fighting skill, artistic accomplishments and teachings, great
amount of service or extreme courtesy       can suffice.

7.      The King's Award of Excellence and the Undine are personal awards
from the King and Queen respectively.  It would be presumptuous to recommend
specifically for these awards although a general pointing out of someone's
work just might earn them one of these accolades.

8.      Be willing to sign your name to it and include contact information
for yourself.  Just like complaints, praise tends to be ignored if it is
anonymous.

9.      It does not hurt to be sure but don't worry too much about knowing
if they already have that award.  The Crown will do their best to confirm
this information.  The worst case would be for a gentle to receive the award
a second time, not too disastrous.

10. Be courteous in your writing.  Remember that you are trying to point out
someone's achievements and not filling out a mail order for a birthday
present.  Making the recommendation doesn't ensure that the award will be
given but it does go a long ways in that direction.

11. This is a medieval reenactment society but make your recommendations in
reasonably modern English and a readable handwriting or font.  If it can't
be understood, it can't be acted upon.

12. Anyone can make award recommendations.  This bears repeating.

Writing that first recommendation can be the hard part.  After that, it's
much easier and just think of how you'll feel being in court when that award
is given, knowing that you were part of the process.

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Jack Black
of Flint
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 9:28 AM
To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] Award Recommendations, Suggest Them

My experience is that more than one person needs to recommend.... I know I
put 
someone in for their AoA, and it was nearly a year after that before it was 
finally awarded....

I don't believe the slate is wiped, but unless enough recs are sent in for
an 
individual, it will likely be passed over for the next reign to deal
with....

 Until the next,
Yours in service,

Lord Jack Black of Flint
((AKA: BlackJack))
Captain and Master of "The Raptor" 
Chirurgeon, Canton of St. Georges
Chatelaine, Barony of Nottinghill Coill 
Brute for Hire

________________________________
From: Michelle <mobishob at yahoo.com>
To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Mon, August 23, 2010 9:22:35 AM
Subject: [MR] Award Recommendations, Suggest Them

"I want you all to stop for one moment and THINK. Think about all the people
you 

know and all the work and art and skill you've seen."

I've submitted 4 award recs in the last 6 months.

Nothing has come of them.

Is there a way to track them without being a bother?  I'd like to be able to

follow up, ask 1) when is the award slated for presentation, or 2) why
hasn't it 

been presented.

I've also been advised that each new reign cleans the slate, so any award
recs 
you submitted need to be re-submitted every 6 months?  Is this true?  

Cheers
Fen

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