[Ansteorra] Gifts vs Awards...

[L T]

--- Bob Dewart <gilli at seacove.net> wrote:
> For many years I avoided awards like the plague.  Then a young lady name
> Alex who just happened to be Baroness Ravensfort explained to me that the
> awards were like gifts and presents from your friends that the Crown gets
> the pleasure of presenting to you.  Now there was an explanation I thought
> was pretty cool.

It does sound cool...but think of this...

1. there are an unlimited number of gifts that can be given
2. there are a finite amount of awards that can be given

Gifts are something that are freely given with no criteria for the
giver except they chose to give them and no socially acceptable way
to expect them...and can be given by anyone...their value is dependant
upon the meaning of the gift determined by the giver and the recipient...

Awards in our society...have criteria along with rights and responsibilites
for the recipient...there also is a general level of expectation
amongst the populace of what they expect from that award holder...

Remember also that there is a vast difference
between those that are polling orders and those that are not...

Any awards (excepting baronial awards) that do not include
 the right of consultation are pretty much decided upon
by direct determination of the Crown by themselves or derived from
of advice given to them by their populace (award recommendations)
that the person in question fits the Crown's criteria for the award...

Polling orders (excepting baronial ones) are a whole different animal...
and are no longer considered just an award...they also are
considered a job...especially the Peerages...

though the decision rests solely on the Crown...
they are required to ask the polling orders their opinion...
the order will examine the person to see if they fit the criteria
in their abilities in the field of the Order, teaching/training of others,
bearing and if they will do the job currently expected of a member
of the order...and if they will be able to work with the other
members of the order...and then with the Peers...there are the
ellusive PLQ's (Peer Like Qualities)


> So now, for me every court I get to attend is like Christmas morning when I
> was a kid.  I'm happy and applaud every gift that is given.  In most cases,
> I haven't a clue who some of these good folks are, and it doesn't matter one
> bit.

I've been known to cry with tears of joy!

> A gift is a rare and precious thing that should be celebrated by all
> who have the privilege of seeing it.

but in your terminiology...a gift given to a person who has not done the
work, or has done it only to get the gift, or has been ugly and doen't
"share the toys" --- rewards those things that we don't wish to promote...

and hurts those that do things for the "right reasons" and degrades our
ideals and our society...

it also reverberates the outside world where seemingly
only the sneakiest, most dishonourable, and selfish people
seem to get the "toys"...and having integrity and honour
and hard work have only self satisfaction as their reward.

Eventually there will come a point in each person's SCA career
that they will get there terminal award...and for whatever
reason they will not be able to get beyond it...either because
of their level of activity...their inability to travel, or teach
or take responsibility...etc.

This point can come at an AOA level or Grant or Peerage...
you never know when the award you get will be the last one
you will be presented...so you need to treat every
award as if it is your last...

a question for everyone....

If you knew you would never got another award...
why would you stay in the SCA?

Lorraine Deerslayer






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