[Bryn-gwlad] Archery at BG Baronial

[michael young]

I tend to be more of a lurker on the list, but I feel I have to speak up.

I've been an active heavy fighter since before we had authorizations (22 
years in September) and I've been authorized (with occasional short lapses) 
since we started having to be authorized.  I've also been an authorized 
combat archer for about 6 years and a target archer for the same.

I'm also an authorized combat archery marshal and I am willing to be the 
combat archery marshal for the Fall Event.  Since I am also in charge of the 
youth boffer list at Baronial, I will need assistance in both areas at the 
event.

I have spent the majority of my SCA career in a small shire which from time 
to time had membership dips low enough to just hang on to shire status and 
upswings to 30+ members.

When I decided to do combat archery, no one in my group was shooting combat. 
  I took it upon myself to travel to events, find archers and archery 
marshals, learn the rules, make my own equipment, get back to events with 
archery marshals in attendance and get myself authorized.  I did the above 
over approximately a 1 year period.  Do I think the authorization process is 
too involved?  Yes.  (My personal opinion, and a topic for another day)  
However, I worked within the system and achieved my goal.  I did not wait 
for some one to come to my shire and teach me.  I had to go to events and 
seek them out.  I do NOT feel that this is unreasonable.

Also, being from a small group, actually getting to play at an event we 
hosted was a RARE luxury.  With only 10-12 members, if anybody didn't work, 
the event did not come off.  I have no complaints.  A part of the Dream, is 
giiving of yourself to make the game come alive for others.  This is one of 
the things that makes the SCA truly special.  I think it is wonderful to be 
in a group large enough where many of our populace can participate in the 
activities at our events.  I believe it is much more important when hosting 
an event to be sure our guests are entertained and are properly taken care 
of.

I have only been moderately active since coming to Bryn Gwylad--a bad case 
of mundane life and mild burn out.  Both are now getting better.  I do 
attend fighter practices regularly and I am on the list.  I don't attend the 
populace meetings (Bad, bad Uther) and I don't think of myself as 
particularly "well connected" in the Barony.  Frankly, I'm surprised that so 
many people are so surprised at the format for the event.  Lately, I've 
pretty much just been a knuckle draggin' stick jock, but I knew what was 
planned for the event and I remember plenty of opportunities for input from 
the populace.

Avery has been very energetic and excited about the event.  He has some new 
and unique ideas that sound like a heck of a lot of fun to me.  There has 
been no effort, conscious, or otherwise to exclude anyone from the event.  
Like I said before, our 1st priority should be to make it fun for our 
guests.

Kingdom level events are our opportunity to entertain our friends from other 
groups and to give back a little of what we get from the SCA.

If you can't get combat archery authorized before the event, come out to the 
archery field anyway.  We will need the help to make the event run smoothly. 
  Take it as an opportunity.  Talk to archers who are combat authorized.  
Check out their equipment.  Find out who the authorizing marshals are and 
introduce yourself.  Find out what events they are going to in the near 
future.  In a word--network.

You will probably have to travel outside the barony to get combat archery 
authorized.  There's a lot to be learned here and a lot of available 
resources, but as has been said, there are just not a lot opportunities 
in-Barony to practice combat archery in a melee.

I will be glad to talk to anyone about combat archery and share what I know. 
  I was going out to practice on Sundays semi-regularly, but for the last 
year I have had to work most Sundays.  I'm at PiP most Tuesdays.  You may 
have to catch me between fights, but I'd be glad to talk to you as soon as I 
catch my breath <G>.  Look for the big guy in chainmail carrying the black 
and white man hole cover.

My two cents,

Uther




>
>The more I read this post it sounds like you do not care if we are there at 
>all. So much for making people in the Barony feel welcome.
>
>Sean Hertzberg <colsith at gmail.com> wrote:  Greetings,
>
>I will answer in more detail in the morning, as I am currently at work.  
>But a few quick comments.
>
>I am not sure where anyone got the idea it was Crossbow only.  Combat 
>Archery is with any legal bow.
>
>The choice for shooting live targets was mine...it was part of the whole 
>"Hunt" theme that was agreed on for the event.  I discussed this in detail 
>with the Baron and several others and it was agreed that this sounded like 
>fun, so we went ahead with it.  I was unaware of the apparent dificulties 
>this was going to cause.  I will be talking with His Excellency as well as 
>Master Pug as how to proceed.
>
>I understand that we have a strong target archery group in the Barony, but 
>also realize that the Baronial Event has been many times decribed as Bryn 
>Gwlad hosting the rest of the Kingdom.  And there are many Combat Archers 
>in the rest of the Kingdom.  If it ends up that the available folks to 
>shoot are that low, then we can always discuss other ways to handle the 
>tourney.  As stated, I will be discussing this with folks soon.
>
>Avery
>Steward, BG Baronial 2006
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