[Ansteorra] Carrollton Parks - Combat Archery and Siege Weapon Training

[Mike]

Heilsa,

This invitation or announcement of Combat Archery (CA) and possible 
Siege Engine (SE) Training at Mary Heads Carter park had been sent out 
to various email lists, how many and which ones, I do not know for sure. 
To be sure of actually reaching as many as possible, have taken this 
avenue of communication on the Kingdom email list.

If you have not be informed of this activity or do not have an interest, 
then my apologies for adding to your email. Please Delete!

The park location for the fighter practice was official moved at the 
beginning of July, July 5th I believe. The new park location is Oak 
Creek park in Carrollton, couple miles or so north of Mary Heads Carter 
park. Whereas the original email to the best of my knowledge, specified 
Mary Heads Carter park. I have not heard of any notification of change 
in the locations to the new park.

I have visited Oak Creek park on two separate occasions (June 28 and 
July 2) to explore the possibilities of actual using that park for all 
activities that are currently enjoyed at Mary Heads Carter by the SCA 
past Group and now the SCA current Group. It does offer an number of 
additional amenities (read as more trees) over Mary Heads Carter park. 
Oak Creek park is only 3 years old.

I would have like to have included combat archery there as well. I am 
have been sole combat archer and missile marshal, 99% of the time at 
Mary Heads Carter park since November 2001. Whereas Ironwyrm and the 
local area archers has only been out there 3 times in over 8 1/2 years. 
The last time was February 25, 2007.

I used to publish a weekly newsletter on what actually occurred during 
the regular fighter practice. The contents contain the following:

1. Each good gentle name - I stride for SCA names over modern. All good 
gentles, regardless whether they came out to fight or attended to watch, 
where given word fame for coming out and attending. If modern name, then 
only used 1st name and only with permission.
2. Each fighter list by by name, whether SCA or modern.
3. If any good gentle had received recognition, such the Crown, the 
Heirs, Knights, Centurions, etc..., was so noted.
4. What type of weapon and/or shield each fighter was using at the time.
5. If tournament format, then record which pair had elected face-off. 
Did not record who won.
6. If Melee format, then stride to record each side by name, weapon, 
and/or shield. Did not record who won.
7. Which combat archer(s) came out and what type of bow or crossbow and 
how many arrows or bolts each had.
8. A bit about the weather conditions.
9. Attempted to group everyone by known Household.
10. A total of those attending, which was broken down by fighters, 
non-fighters and number of children.

So, I do know who has been out there at Mary Heads Carter park over the 
years, there is something like 185 or so separate newsletters.

Since all correspondence has been through me to the City of Carrollton 
for combat archery and not the SCA current group, which was recognized 
by the City of Carrollton - November 2001 and only for Mary Heads Carter 
park,

This recognition Does NOT include siege weapons within Mary Heads Carter 
park nor any other park in Carrollton. The recognition was only for 
combat archery with under-power hand bows. Since 30 lb., longbow and/or 
recurves was the dominate bow back then, before individuals switched to 
crossbows due to the requirement of APD's.

Since no one has bothered to contact me from the SCA current Group on 
plans for the future of combat archery in this move to Oak Creek park.

I contacted the City of Carrollton on July 7, 2010, to explore the 
requirements to transfer the permission for combat archery from Mary 
Heads Carter park to Oak Creek park. In knowing what the criteria was 
for getting permission originally (November 2001) to conduct combat 
archery from the City for Mary Heads Carter park.

I felt that I was best individual to explore with the City this 
transfer. Afterall, I do have all the correspondence that went on with 
the City of Carrollton for the original permission to include combat 
archery in Mary Heads Carter park as part of the regular fighter 
practice. In fact, the majority of this correspondence, no one else has, 
much less read. This includes the Barony and the local Target 
Archery/Siege Weapons community, which was their decision at the time.

The following 4 issues were raised by the City of Carrollton on of July 
7, 2010:

#1 - Park regulations of the City of Carrollton have changed since 2001.

#2 - The SCA current Group is not a recognized group at Oak Creek park.  
This is extremely important.

#3 - The recognition for Oak Creek park would be for all types of group 
activities from heavy fighting to light to A&S projects, any type of 
group activity that could meet out there regularly. If the SCA current 
Group gets recognize for one activity, then it should applied all across 
the board with exceptions for Combat Archery and Siege Weapons.

This means that Combat Archery would be consider as separate from Siege 
Weapons. In other words, two separate recognition processes must be 
undertaken prior to actually doing either activity.

Siege weapons would be a separate set of recognition(s). I had been 
attempting over the years to get just this type of authorization from 
the City, which included working up a set of possible scenarios that 
would meet the City's requirements - the major stumbling block has 
always been the local Target Archery/Siege Weapons community.

#4 -To accomplish this recognition for Oak Creek park, SCA current group 
must speak with the City of Carrollton on these issues, in other words, 
starting over at square one.

Transferring from Mary Heads Carter park of Combat Archery to Oak Creek 
park is NOT an option per the City, without meeting the above criteria. 
Since, the recognition to perform Combat Archery was done specifically 
for Mary Heads Carter park and for no other parks within the City Limits.

I contacted the Baron, Senechal, and the Knight Marshal of Steppes with 
the above issues on July 7, 2010 by email, after discussing the issue(s) 
with the City of Carrollton. This email when printed out was more than 4 
pages in length. These warrant officers had not deemed it necessary to 
reply back me. So, I am assuming that they reached the decision that 
they need not inform the City of Carrollton on this move from Mary Heads 
Carter park to Oak Creek park, especially for combat archery, much less 
for siege weapons training.

I have made a decision that until I know for sure how the City of 
Carrollton and the Home Owners Association (HOA), and possible others 
will react that used Oak Creek park. I will not be attending Oak Creek 
park with any of my combat archery equipment just to avoid 
misconceptions from non-members that use Oak Creek park.


Michael Kettering




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