ANST - Event Steward vs Autocrat

[Mark.S Harris]

Pat Mullins wrote:
> 
> >>Unless they want to go tell the King "I insist you
> >>end this Belted/Laurel/etc. Circle right now and come to feast"...
> 
> This would be the action of an AUTOCRAT
> 
> >No, you simply say "Your Majesty, the feast is ready to be served. Would
> >you prefer to adjourn/recess this meeting and come eat, or do you wish to
> >continue the meeting while I serve your people?"
> 
> THis would be the action of an EVENT STEWARD
> 
> >Starving the populace just so a small group can continue arguing is not an
> >option.
> 
> Nobody will starve in an hour (or more) but the cold foods may be warm and the hot foods may be cool. It happens, fairly regularly. Maybe it shouldn't, but it does.

No matter whether it happens fairly regularly or infrequently, it shouldn't. 
Sometimes it is unavoidable. But to delay things for a hundred people because 
of the desires of a few or one (even if he is the king) is extremely rude and 
insensitive. While it is certainly period, I don't believe it has a place in 
a Society based on courtesy and honor. Is it respectful to the kitchen crew 
and cooks who have been slaving in the hot kitchen for hours to have the first 
course come out less than perfect because it has been sitting too long? Is
it respectful of the folks that have paid for a good feast to get less than
they paid for because of the desire of a few to not ajourn and take up their
discussion at a later time?

This problem is not unique to this kingdom, unfortunately. There have been
discussions on the SCA-Cooks list about how to plan the first course of a
feast so it can be delayed if circles run to long or the royalty are busy.

Lord Stefan li Rous
stefan at texas.net
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