[MR] Peerage Questions (was: Marshal Questions)

[ldmolly at md.metrocast.net]

Good Afternoon Lady Rebecca,

There are any number of reasons why someone might choose to take a student (or choose not to). For almost two years after my elevation, I chose to not enter into a formal contract with an apprentice due to the demands of serving as Baroness of Dun Carraig. Having students does not make you a better Peer, nor does not having them mean that you are not active and knowledgeable about the skills of others within your area of interest. 

Many times a person will leave one geographic area to live in another. Barring input from those who know  a candidate during the time they lived in their old kingdom means that someone who relocates for work, school or military reassignment must effectively "start over" each time they are uprooted. I happened to me (and I shudder to think how long it might have taken to get to know people had I not had friends from Caid talk to their friends in Atlantia). Enough people “slip through the cracks”…do we really want to put measures in place to make sure more do? (smile)

Also, keep in mind that input is NOT limited to Peers only. ANYONE can write to a Peerage council...and (if they'll pardon me for speaking out of turn)...I know the Atlantian Laurels read EVERY recommendation letter that is received. Personally, I relish input from other people, regardless of rank or location. Now, that being said, I'm much more likely to trust a recommendation that includes specific areas that the person excels at (research, documentation, teaching, execution of skills) than "he or she makes cool stuff, dude!" 

I hope you will forgive my public reply to this missive...my intention is that you (and any others who are curious about how counsel to their Majesties is rendered) will feel empowered to seek out a Peer you trust and ask questions. All we as Peers can do is advise their Majesties on a candidate...the decision to elevate someone (or not) ultimately rests with our King & Queen. 

I am happy to discuss this further if you (or any other folks who might have questions) wish to speak further off-line.

Molly
(Mary Isabel of Heatherstone, OL)


On Wed 07/21/10 6:18 AM , Becky McEllistrem bmcellis at yahoo.com sent:
Here's an interesting follow up question that came up during a group conversation online last night. 


Should knights (and perhaps all peers) be required to have associates in order for their opinion to be considered valid on a polling?


IE you have no associates? Then you may discuss candidates for an order but your polling is invalid or carries half the weight of the pollings from those that do have associates.

Don't know of kingdom or society law would have to change for that to happen which is the direction most of the discussion took most of the time.

A side tangent to that was - do you live in kingdom? No then your polling is half the weight of those that do live in kingdom.

Doubt any serious change in this direction would ever happen but it was an interesting subject I'd never thought about before.

Rebecca
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