ANST - Stargate, Households, and the SCA

[Erik Langhans]

The topic of Principality is an emotionally charged issue.  Given.

The Inclusion or Exclusion of Stargate into a Southern Principality is up to
the populace in those areas.

Focusing on a Household and saying that Household is a source of
problems is a bit outrageous.  We all have choice.  A group of individuals
chose to come together in Stargate _a long time ago_.  The make-up of
this group, just like may others, has changed over the years.  The focus
of this particular Household is the study of the SCA's combat arts from a
martial perspective as well as the study of the SCA's non-combat arts. 
These studies are intensive and comprehensive.  Dedication and
discipline is required.  There is a night devoted to rapier practice, a night
devoted to chivalric practice, and one to two evenings devoted to A&S
(currently period music).  This pace and intensity is not for everyone. 
But all who come together for these practices are there by choice.  The
only thing which is asked is discipline and focus.  Those who come
regularly are draw from diverse SCA backgrounds and group affiliations.

Also these practices are open.  In fact, if there is an interest by an
out-of-town SCA visitor, a special practice is often called.  Recently this
was done for visitors from Shadowlands, Tempio, Steppes, and
Oklahoma.

What does intense focus, time, dedication, hard-work, and discipline
have to offer?  At work this usually translates into a promotion.  At
school usually to good grades and perhaps even a scholarship.  In the
SCA for some the results have been Queens Champion and for others
the Crown of Ansteorra.  The training offered has resulted in many fine
artisans, Knights, Crowns, Dons, and Champions.  These individuals are
very different and are driven by different motivators.  They all are
every-day people.  The only difference is choice.  A free choice.  They
chose a path of hard-work, dedication and discipline.  And yes for some
this translated to the achievement of their dreams within the SCA.  

When I was selecting an MBA program I chose a University with a strict
graduate business program with a proven track record.  It was hard,
grueling, and demanding, but worth it.  Does this mean just because my
MBA was from an institution which produced top business leaders it
was a bad?

Just because a particular group, household, school, or institution has a
system which produces a quantifiable result is it wrong or bad?

Why single out a group for its way of doing things. Is hard-work and
dedication bad?  Is having a good training bad?  Is it wrong to strive?  Is it
wrong to dream?  Is it wrong to reach for the clouds?

For me, the SCA is about Dreams. It is about doing things, learning things,
and finally as a thank you to the SCA for these Dreams giving back by
way of service.

Don Modius von Mergentheim
Student and Friend of Sigmund the Wingfoot
Stargate
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