[MR] Promissories

[Alexandria Stratton]

Once upon a time in a kingdom not so far away, for years it was a rarity to see 
a real scroll. You had to be really special and getting a huge award if you were 
to get a real scroll. Everything else was photocopied black & white, and then 
hand-painted (markers, watercolor, etc). 
For a promissory, I don't see a big issue with photocopied & hand-colored 
scrolls. They're quick & easy, you could have a few varying designs handy, and 
coloring in is not rocket science. Something nicer than Dover patterns would be 
better appreciated though, I think. I wonder if we have some illuminators out 
there that would be willing to create templates?
 -- Isabelle LaFar
http://www.HouseBarra.com
Experience is what you get, when things go awry.





________________________________
From: Lora Franks <zombiellama at att.net>
To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Tue, October 19, 2010 1:06:47 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] Was: Newcomers Thread, Now: Promissories

Greetings all!
There is actually a need still for promissories.  While it is awesome to have 
completed scrolls, it is sometimes not the best option.  We are moving away from 
giving scrolls at war.  People are not prepared to transport them safely home.  
Considering the many hours of work that goes into even the simplest of scrolls, 
we do not want them destroyed.  Also, there are occasions when there is a last 
minute recommendation to Their Majesties (or a planned award that the person 
unexpectedly showed for this event) and a promissory is all the scribes have 
time to create.  There are also times when we know that the person receiving the 
scroll would prefer a specific scribe do the scroll or they want to wait until 
their arms have passed (no longer a requirement but frequently a choice).  And, 
it is a good draw for new scribes at events because it is not as intimidating.
However, we moved away from promissories for two main reasons.  One was that 
people were starting to put as much time and effort into a promissory as they 
could have put into a finished scrolls.  If you are going to take the time to do 
calligraphy and hand paint the promissory...make a scroll.  Another factor was 
that with so much effort going into promissories, the backlog was getting huge.
If someone wants to pick up and make some promissories, I'm sure that we will 
have the opportunity to use them.  There are even still templates on the Clerk 
Signet web site.  I would like to add a couple of requests if you chose to make 
promissories for the Kingdom though.
Please use a nice marker or paint and avoid colored pencils or crayon.  Do not 
spend as much time on them as a finished scroll, however, keep in mind that many 
people frame their promissory and their finished scroll.  Please add a note on 
the back in pencil which reads "Please contact the Clerk Signet at Signet AT 
Atlantia Dot SCA DoT Org to replace this promissory with a scroll."  (you can 
use the @ symbols on the scroll)
If you are considering presenting some to Their Majesties, please show them the 
promissories but present them with a notice that you/your group has given X 
number of promissory blanks to the Clerk Signet and then mail or give the 
promissories to me for organizing and distributing to lead scribes and Their 
Majesties.
Now, before you go wild making tons of promissories...my goal is to only ever 
need 1 or 2 promissories at any given event and have the rest as finished 
scrolls.  Take a look at the Royal Progress events and realize that we will not 
need a large number of promissories.  We _will_ need a large number of scrolls.  
If your group makes 40 promissories for King Bryan and Queen Brianna, we may 
reach the end of the reign without using them and those extras would go to 
waste.
On that note, while everyone is talking about ways to connect with people at 
events and promissories were/are an option, I would also like to suggest that 
hand made Thank You cards are an excellent item for gift baskets at all levels 
(for class instructors, Baronial gift baskets, autocrat supplies, etc.)  You 
could do a small design which is easily finished at the event and have something 
that is a contribution to the Barony or Kingdom.  If you make them with 
scroll-like designs you will also help get the new scribe's feet wet that way.  
It is also a fantastic place to practice calligraphy so that you can make some 
scroll blanks later....just an idea.

Baroness Tegan de Moreton
Undine Pursuivant
Clerk of the Signet




On 10/18/2010 12:03 PM, ldmolly at md.metrocast.net wrote:
> Hi Hrothny! And greetings to the others still gathered in the Tavern as well!
> 
> We used to have those in Caid as well...I _loved_ them! We did a lot of 
>Newcomer scrolls that way. It was a great way to bring folks together, provide 
>service to the group as a whole...and for many future scribes, it was a great, 
>non-threatening way to "get their feet wet" at trying scribal arts. We went 
>through a lot of crayola markers, but as you said, a great many friends were 
>made and for many people, those first scrolls were dearly treasured.Molly
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun 10/17/10 2:57 PM , "Terri Morgan" online2much at cox.net sent:
> I wish we had something like the old promissory 'scrolls' to have at events.
> <SNIP>
> 
> Hrothny