[Ponte Alto] WMA and the SCA

[Charlotte Johnson]

> I also would like to make a suggestion, since this falls under the perview of
> the Kingdom Earl Marshal, contact him, explain what it is you are doing,
> provide your credentials and he may then waive the requirements of waivers
> and a marshal.  In short it is something that falls under his perview by
> corpora, and only the KEM can make the call as to what is or is not required
> on a case by case basis.

Thanks for posting the current rules. It seems to me like they're somewhat
vague, which is why Corpora is considering clarifying it, and moving this study
to fall under A&S, as Kim cross posted for me (thanks Kim! You got to it before
me this morning!).

> Failing that if there is another reason why the people demonstrating the
> techniques do not wish to sign a waiver and get a marshal, why not simply
> perform the sword demo as the living history group that was mentioned
> earlier? I've been to faires, and open houses, schools and other places where
> a host of groups all contributed to a overall gathering, maybe that is the
> best way, since while period techniques with wasters and the like are
> studdied in the SCA, by demonstrating it as members of the SCA it may give a
> false impression of what combat is like within the SCA.

I know I suggested such a course yesterday, and while I think it may be a
solution in this case, I certainly do not think that it is in the best interest
of the SCA. 

First of all, this is an educational demo, for school children. Recruitment is
NOT the goal, as is outlined in the guildlines for demonstrations, posted by
Mary at the beginning of this discussion, at:
http://chatelaine.atlantia.sca.org/handbook/3.htm

Some quotes directly from the handbook:
"Educational Demos - are demos in which the goal is to educate people about the
Middle Ages."
"Your possibilities for recruitment are slim at best and in any case, not your
objective."
"The key to an educational demo is authenticity."

It does not matter if somebody gets the idea that we use this method to choose
our kings. Frankly, choosing our SCA kings shouldn't be a part of this
discussion to school children, as we are not demoing the SCA, we are demoing
the Middle Ages. All they have to know is that people in the 14th and 15th
century practiced this art and we have achieved the goal of this demo.

Secondly, how is the SCA going to look, if we cannot demonstrate a DOCUMENTED,
PERIOD line of study, and we have to pass it off to a living history group to
do? We look bad to the school when we say "We're sorry, this is too period, and
we don't have all of the proper forms and waivers relating to our method of
combat, even though this study has little to do with our SCA sport combat".

We ALSO look bad to the local living history groups, who already often think
that the SCA has no business educating children in a classroom. All we're going
to do by this is prove them right. 

There is a history here that some may not be aware of. There is a history of
talented people wanting to teach something, like Western Martial Arts, in an
A&S context, not finding much welcome within the SCA. What happens to these
people? They leave the SCA, create their own groups, and go merrily on their
way. Bureaucratic issues such as this, trying to lump a period study of Fiore
or Tallhoffer in slow forms in with full-speed rattan combat, frustrate these
people. Instead of trying to change long standing tradition, they find it
easier and more satisfying to leave, because what they're doing is just TOO
MEDIEVAL. 

It may sound like sour grapes. It may sound like a case of "fine, I'm taking my
toys and playing elsewhere". But they've already *tried*. Look at what Scott is
trying to do - he's trying to enhance the study and reputation of the SCA,
giving of his own time, something that he doesn't have to do. And when
roadblocks are thrown up at every turn, when there needs to be a form or a
waiver signed for everything, because somehow it *sounds* like it might need
it, I can't blame somebody for taking their toys away. And frankly, I (and
others) think they're some of the coolest toys around.

Who is the poorer for it? The SCA.

Regards,
Mathilde