ANST - Royal Huntsman

[Lisa A. May]

>Time for me to stir some more. If their Majesties realy
>wish to encurage archery in our fair Kingdom they need
>to make their presence seen on the archery range and it
>would be real nice if they were to shoot as well.

	Of course it would be nice.  For the first time ever we have an active
rapier fighter, a Dona no less, sitting the throne in Ansteorra, and it is
very nice indeed.  However, this is the first time in over twenty years that
such has been the case, and rapier has had a far larger and more active
community than archery for that entire time period.  Change takes time, and
the fact that Their Majesties have seen fit to recognize a segment of our
community that is becoming more visibly active, despite the fact that
neither actively participates in the art, is a very good start.  While it
would be nice for Their Majesties to make their presence seen on the archery
range, they *do* have many demands on their time, and it's hard to fit
everything in. While it's easier said than done, you must have patience!
And, even more than that, archers must continue to be visibly active and
supportive of our Kingdom -- thus is recognition gained over the long run.
Eventually, as more and more people participate in archery, it is very
likely that someone will sit the Sable Throne who is an active archer or, at
least, has a great interest in it.

>As for having the Royal Huntsman chosen by IKAC it is as
>good as any however one bad day and a good archer is out
>of the competition. I feel that a better method would be to
>use a three score average from the previous year,
>yea I know we don't have any one with a three score average
>so we will have to make do with what we have.

	Yes, well, one good day on the field and a King is made.  One bad day and a
rapier fighter will not be Queen's champion or a chivalric fighter King's
champion or Warlord.  Royal Huntsman is analogous to the offices of King's
and Queen's champions, and a similar method of choosing the Royal Huntsman
is logical.  What it seems you're really asking for is recognition of
consistent excellence on the range. We can point to the examples of other
Kingdoms for such a recognition system, but until Ansteorran archers are a
more visible and larger group, it is unlikely that such a system will be
viable here.   I'd certainly like to see it happen -- I earned the
recognition of "Marksman" in the East Kingdom before moving to Ansteorra
(where a rotator cuff problem ended my target archery career).  Again,
patience and persistence will eventually win out, but archers must find a
way to bring themselves and archery to the foreground.  Make archery
important to Ansteorra -- combat archers have already gained great respect
on the melee field -- and keep building the community.

	Please don't take any of the above as discouragement or patronization.  I
know how frustrating it can be to work very hard for what may seem like only
grudging recognition.  However, I learned a long time ago to look at things
realistically, and perception is nine-tenths of reality.  The more important
archery is perceived to be to our Kingdom, the more participation and
recognition archery will receive.  Just keep plugging away, capitalize on
the burst of interest in combat archery (I understand several people ordered
combat-legal cross-bows at Gulf War), help Ansteorra to victory at a few
more wars, and then see what happens!  In the meantime, Their Majesties'
creation of a royal archery champion is a good first step.

>Plachoya Sobaka some times I just have to stir things up.

Margaret ny Connor

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