[ANSTHRLD] Assistance at a local level ( was: Eldwin's Submission 1)

Alasdair MacEogan alasdair at bmhanson.net
Wed Jul 28 08:53:39 PDT 2010


Eldwin Nightowl <eldwin at loveshade.org> wrote:
>  Greetings Heralds,
>   
>  I currently live outside of any barony/shire/canton etc., but Lady Gwen verch Cynwrig de Ynys Mon, 
>  Oakenwald Pursuivant in Steppes, suggested I make these postings here.  I have a few people who 
>  want to submit, but here's the first.

Sorry, I noted this when the post first went through but I have not had a chance to address it till now.  I will say (and this is nothing against Eldwin) that this concerns me.  This is not something I have seen or heard only from those that live in crown lands, but also from the smaller groups that do not have a local heraldic officer.  This should not  be an issue.  I know we have regionals who are there to help if there is not a local officer.  Barring that there is contact information for Star and all the other heralds on the roster listed on the CoH website and most are also in the Black Star.

So I am asking (and I may pick on Eldwin as he is a recent, public example) where have we as a College failed?  And make no mistake I view it as a failure when there are submitters out there who want  and need help but are not getting it.  I am not putting myself above this either as I know of at least one instance where I have been very lax in dealing with a submitter's needs.

Is this an education issue in that submitters just don't know who they can go to if there is not a local officer?  Are the non-local heraldic officers seen as unapproachable?  Is this an issue where officers are being contacted and either not responding or just saying "Sorry, I can't help" without trying to get them with someone who can?  I will admit that I personally am by no means an expert, but I will say if I can't or don't have time to help a person at a given time I TRY and get them in touch with someone who CAN directly assist them.  Realizing that assist is just that and does not mean do all the work for them.

Where is the failure and what can be done to remedy the situation.

Alasdair, Bordure



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