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

[Ronald Blackman]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: heralds-bounces+eirik=hot.rr.com at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:heralds-
> bounces+eirik=hot.rr.com at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Alasdair
MacEogan
> Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:54 AM
> To: Heralds List, Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.
> Subject: [ANSTHRLD] Assistance at a local level ( was: Eldwin's Submission
1)
> 
> 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.

I know that as regional officers we are responsible for Crown lands and
groups that have opted for the no herald option. However, if the submitter
doesn't contact us, then we can't help them. Also, and Asterisk or Star can
correct me, but anyone can contact the nearest group to get heraldic help.
Maybe that isn't publicized enough. It is preferred that you submit through
the group you play with or the regional if you don't have a group nearby.

> So I am asking (and I may pick on Eldwin as he is a recent, public
example)
> where have we as a College failed?  

I don't know that the College has totally failed, the Oakenwald Pursivant
pointed Eldwin to this list to get help and he is getting it.
I'll talk about the education below.
 
> 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.

I think the failure is that it isn't publicized anywhere outside of maybe
the warranting class on the procedure for submitters to follow. Maybe we
need a document on the website under submissions with a link on the home
page that says something like: "If you are looking for information on what
the procedure is to submit a name and device click here." or something
similar that would point non-heralds to the document. Also, part of the
warranting class on submissions should include information about how to put
people that aren't in a group in contact with the correct person to help
them. Even if it means saying, I don't know right now, but I will find out
and put you in contact with the right person.

Eirik Halfdanarson
Orbis Herald