[Loch-soilleir] it's a good day to fight

[Dave Wise]

Hi Bors,
No apology necessary, you are my founding baron after all :-) .  Looking 
at the Loch practices specifically, I couldn't tell you what I was doing 
on those dates, but one reason we went to the tuesday practices was the 
difficulty of having functions on sundays.  Especially given how busy 
the event calendar has become, as well as the fact that more of us have 
lawns to mow, kid's finishing school projects, etc.. Not an excuse, just 
pointing out the logistics.  Take for example this spring.  We just got 
done with 6 coastal events in a row, only to have another 3 weeks 
later.  So to throw in a barbecue into that schedule is tough.  
Regarding turnout at events, the kingdom has seen participation at 
tournaments dwindle over the last several years as fewer people are 
willing to travel.  The Loch specifically has always had a problem 
attracting people from outside the coastal region, so this is not a new 
problem.  We have talked about the situation for years and have tried 
several ways to bolster attendance, the problem is that with so many 
events, people aren't going to drive past an event to go to an event.  
Especially when Loch Guardian was two weeks before Steppes.  We were at 
the end of the tourney season and people would skip our event to save 
Steppes as the 'last hurrah' for the season.  Moving earlier in the 
month should help avoid that, but not when there are three coastal 
events in the weeks before and two more following.
Regarding recruiting in general, one problem is that many of the folks 
who could do a good job recruiting are usually the same ones who have 
acquired other duties.  Take Loch this year, I didn't end up getting 
into armor, since I ended up running the equestrian (which included 
hauling out and setting up the gear I built for the course).  So, should 
I have declined to run the equestrian to make sure I was available to 
the fighters?  Likewise, there are a number of other veteran members in 
the barony who could do a good job with extending hospitality at events 
to help integrate folks, but they are the same ones who have already 
been roped into listmistressing, waterbearing, serving feast, etc.. 
Regarding the fighting, while I agree 100% with the need for consistent 
'presence' to be able to help people train and to provide them with a 
quality opponent, I lost track a long ago of the number of practices 
that I would show up to and have nobody to fight (or just stare at 
Wolfgang or Ulstead, since we were the only ones there and had fought 
about a billion times already)(which also speaks to the years I've been 
at this, since it's been ages since Wolfgang was fighting chivalric on a 
regular basis, although he still makes it out for some melee).  Combine 
that with the variety of entertainment options that are open to folks 
[insert World of Warcraft here] and it is tough to get folks to commit 
to a regular fight practice schedule.  The nature of our practice has 
always been cyclical, varying with the tourney season and the weather, 
and from year to year.  When it comes to getting a good healthy 
practice, from my observation, success begets success, so we need to get 
a group of fighters who are all committed to improving that can work off 
of each other.  Then, once we have a core to work with, it becomes 
easier for folks to commit to regular training, since they know they 
will have opponents to justify the time they are spending.  With the 
training more success occurs and the cycle spirals up.  A limiting 
factor on that is the fact is that for many fighters, they are only so 
interested in developing their martial prowess.  Every fighter would 
like to be better, but that doesn't translate into a willingness to put 
in the time in grade to actually training (which has to include 
traveling to fight at other events to really vet your style).  While 
there are some phenoms out there, for the most part to become a higher 
caliber fighter requires a lot of hard work.  So, even when training is 
offered, for many fighters the fighting isn't important enough to them 
to commit to a regular training schedule.  That is one reason I have 
regularly hosted get togethers for our local fighters (since burgers and 
margarita's will usually get them to come out ;) )  By getting folks 
into a melee unit, or even just deepening their social bond with the 
other local fighters, it gives them more a of sense of esprit d'corp 
that will help them to prioritize their fighting and help them resist 
the inertia of sitting on a couch or at a keyboard.  Ultimately what 
makes someone come out is when they see value in what we do.  Despite 
having fought and being involved with the SCA for over 27 years now, I 
still get excited every time I take the field, which is why I have 
continued to make it out practice as my schedule allows, sew outfits for 
people, build armor for them, teach them to ride and joust and throw 
them in the truck to haul them out to events.  Yet with that, if, or 
when, we have more local get togethers, I'll try to make sure to make it 
out.

With regards,
Alexis

>
>Alexis- you might re-read my post as my reference was not what the knights  
>of the Loch do for the Kingdom which you definetly qualify for above and 
>beyond,  but what is being done at the Loch fighter practices.  When the Loch was  
>having practice and BBQ about a year ago, I carried the wife, child and armor 
>to  4 different get togethers, that were well publizied, and no one showed up 
>to  play with.  Needless to say, I have quit trying to beat that horse ( sorry- 
> bad analogy ).  
>  When was the last time you and your students or squires were at a  Loch 
>fighter practice- not a Loch-Stargate practice but a Loch practice.   My 
>contention is that the Loch fighter practices  have died because  everybody is doing 
>their own thing and not supporting the Loch  practice. 
>  Nothing is going to change the situation- and I see the numbers  of 
>fighters slowly doing a downward spiral.  How many were at the Loch  championship- 6. 
> Ten years ago that number would have been doubled or  tripled.  
>  I am tired- just don't want to do it any more but the boy is very  
>interested and intent on fighting so I am staying on until I can get him  started.
>  If I have offended please accept my apology.  What you do  for the Society 
>and the Kingdom is monumental and we are lucky to have  you. You have been and 
>always will be a friend of mine- nothing will change  that now and over the 
>years.
> I still remember you bringing Anne her Sable Crane fron a Stargate  event 
>and how far out of your way you went to make sure she got it.  Things  like that 
>are appreciated and speak volumes of your character.  Still  wondering where 
>mine is!
> Again- I aplogize for your name on the list but I hope you can see  where I 
>was coming from.
>Bors
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