[MR] opinion on peerage...

[ldmolly at md.metrocast.net]

If the good gentles of the tavern will tolerate just one more voice added to this discussion, I'd like to offer my thoughts on this matter. 

Peers are recognized at the will of the crown. Period. In my experience (limited though it is), Crowns regularly seek the guidance and council of their Peers when considering a new member for inclusion in their order. They do not seek (or need) permission to make a Peer, yet I have never met a set of monarchs who would entirely discount the council of their Peers. On the contrary, most seem to truly consider the feedback and counsel offered. 

But the journey to a Peerage starts far before the discussion in Council. It starts in the small shires and local meetings. It then grows to include a wider audience who sees the value of a "should be" Pelican, the skill of a "should be" Laurel or the prowess of a "should be" Knight. If someone is not being recognized, there are a number of reasons why. Often, it can boil down to just not knowing the candidate. So...if there's someone you want discussed...write about them (a lot!) and send your letter to the Peerage or Order principles listed here: http://acorn.atlantia.sca.org/orders.php. 

Even if that person is still developing, Peers like to be able to follow the progress of those who will someday join us, to support those who share our passions and to even learn from others as new ideas/techniques are developed. And don't stop with only writing to the Peerage & Order principles...look around you and see who is working, training or otherwise making Atlantia a better place. Few monarchs have ever complained of getting TOO MANY award recommendations, smile.

Finally, as a point of interest (and to give some perspective), Peers are not just "Peers of Atlantia"...they are recognized for their rank Society-wide. So a great deal of thought and consideration is given (at least on my end) before making a recommendation to their Majesties for considering someone for elevation to my Order. I assume (not knowing the minds of each King and Queen) that the same consideration is made before offering an accolade to a candidate. Ultimately, I want a Peer of Atlantia to be _my_  peer, someone I can be proud to stand beside and to call Atlantian. 

Is the bar high? Yep...you betcha. Is the system perfect? Not by a long shot. But I know for a fact that the goal of Peerage is reachable because I am now standing on the other side of that goal. I find I have been forced to re-examine many of my assumptions about the Peerages (and about Peers themselves). Nothing like wearing the shoe on the other foot and all that, smile.

Thank you for allowing me to chime into this discussion. 

Molly
(Mary Isabel of Heatherstone, OL)