[TY] TYF - Issues, Part 1 (fwd)

[Matthew R. Popalisky]

Is it just me, or is the Merides heavy list sound like an accident waiting
to happen?

Kateryn

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 16:33:03 -0600 (CST)
From: "David L. Backlin" <dbackli at comp.uark.edu>
To: mrp at engr.uark.edu
Subject: [TY] TYF - Issues, Part 1 (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 96 20:40:00 GMT 
From: w.colbert2 at genie.com
Reply-To: meridies at web.ce.utk.edu
To: meridies at web.ce.utk.edu
Subject: [TY] TYF - Issues, Part 1

SUPPORT FOR FENCING

Having dealt with the issue of safety, I will now examine the
other issues raised by Your Majesties.  In Your message to the
Tavern Yard, You write:

   "Support for fencing in the Kingdom of Meridies has been
   lackluster.  Currently there are no more than fifty
   authorized fencers in the entire Kingdom.  Many of those
   authorized do not own their own equipment.  This, versus a
   population in excess of two thousand official members is not
   a healthy enough roster to support this activity."

and further:

   "Numerous fencing events and demos have been canceled due to
   a lack of interest and attendance."

I will address each of these assertions, in order.

NUMBER OF AUTHORIZATIONS

Count Sir Richard du Chinon, Your fencing authorization marshal,
informs me that as of November 7th, there were in fact 41
authorized fencers in Meridies.  In addition, there were five
others who authorized the weekend before, but whose paperwork had
not been processed in the intervening four days.  Of course, all
these authorizations have occurred during this calendar year.

The authorization process for period fencing in Meridies differs
significantly from that of rattan combat.  In the latter, once a
fighter is authorized, he or she may pick up any weapon form and
use it in tournaments or on the battlefield.  Other kingdoms
require separate authorizations for different weapon forms, but
the practice in Meridies is as I have stated.

However, separate authorization for different weapon forms is
practiced in Your kingdom for period fencing.  The marshals
responsible for conducting the experiment consider this to be an
important safety issue.  During the ten months that fencing has
been allowed, there have been 125 such authorizations.

By comparison, I am informed by Baron Sir Lee Freebrand, Your
authorization marshal, that there are 452 fighters with current
authorizations in Your kingdom, with an additional eight with
authorizations for combat archery only.  During the same ten
months that fencing has been allowed, there have been 79
authorizations in Your Kingdom

In order to have authorizations, you must have marshals.  In Your
kingdom, the practice is that any authorized fighter can be
warranted as a marshal, with no further training.  This is not
the case with period fencing.  An authorized fencer can become a
"marshal of fence, in training" (MOFIT).  In order to become a
warranted fencing marshal, the MOFIT must assist a warranted
marshal at four fencing events, or take a formal fencing
marshals' class and assist at three fencing events.  Thus far all
MOFITs who received full warrants have taken the class.

This was imposed in concern for safety.  Please note this
standard exceeds that of rattan combat in Your kingdom.  The
practical result is that the cadre of fencing marshals has grown
slowly, Consequently the opportunity for authorizations has been
somewhat limited, but steadily increases as the MOFIT population
becomes warranted.

If numbers of authorization was the sole concern, the fencing
marshals could have simply allowed more relaxed warranting and
authorization standards.  That they did not is a credit to their
professionalism, and the concern for the safety of Your subjects
that they share with You.

As of November 7th, there were 15 warranted marshals of fence and
10 marshals of fence in training.  This excludes Sir Robert
Greenheart whose duties are solely administrative.  This means
that 25 of 41 authorized fencers have entered the marshallate.
First, a cadre must be built; this is called training the
trainers.

There are 61 local branches in Your kingdom.  Most of these
branches have (rattan) marshals.  In the ten month experimental
period, this marshallate managed to authorize 79 fighters.  The
much smaller number of fencing marshals authorized 41.  Given
that there were but a handful of fencing marshals to begin with,
and the significantly more rigorous requirements for warranting a
fencing marshal, 41 authorizations in ten months is a major
accomplishment.  It is manifestly not evidence of lackluster
support.

EQUIPMENT OWNERSHIP

In period fencing, as in rattan combat, there is a significant
up-front cost in equipment when one is learning the sport.  As
period fencing was undergoing an initial experiment, a large body
of loaner equipment, and another of spare equipment available for
cheap sale to novice fencers could not exist, as it does with
rattan combat.  In addition, as this was an experiment, many
persons interested in fencing were reluctant to make a
substantial financial investment in an activity that could be
canceled at any time.

I am informed by Sir Robert Greenheart, Your fencing marshal,
that after discussing these issues with his deputies, he decided
that it would be reasonable to allow novice fencers to use
borrowed equipment up to their authorizations, but not beyond.
Sir Robert further informed me that he discussed this with Sir
Robert Glendon of Auk, Your Earl Marshal and his superior, who
permitted this policy.  I have no direct knowledge as to whether
the Earl Marshal discussed this with Your illustrious
predecessors.

Your Majesties, if a policy is promulgated by the officer in
charge of an activity, and permitted by his superior, as is the
case here, it is both unjust and unreasonable at this late hour
to complain that such a policy was allowed to exist.

If there was a communication problem between the Crown and the
Earl Marshal, or within the marshallate, then responsibility for
the problem lies with the superior officer at the point the
problem occurred.