[Namron] Fw: [MR] Fwd: [serapier] Marshallate restructuring proposal for the BoD- long

[meraud]

Here's something I thought fighters may be interested in. It was on the
Atlantian mailing-list.

Meraud

----- Original Message -----
From: "Aedan Aylwyn" <aedan at mindspring.com>
To: "Atlantian List" <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>; "Atlantian Rapier"
<atlantianrapiernet at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 7:02 AM
Subject: [MR] Fwd: [serapier] Marshallate restructuring proposal for the
BoD- long


> Forwarded from another (actually, more than one *G*) list...
>
> Aedan
>
> >Greetings to all who read this, and apologies if you get copies from
multiple
> >forums.
> >This proposal was written by my husband, Master William de Montegilt and
sent
> >to the Board of Directors of the SCA last week. As he does not read many
e-
> >lists he asked that I post it that those who are interested might provide
> >input to the Board of Directors.
> >
> >If you have questions, please feel free to email me and I will pass the
> >questions on to William and then post answers. Since I may not be
subscribed
> >to every list where this gets posted, you may email me directly at:
> >wendyc <at> vivid.net.
> >
> >This may be cross posted if there is interest but please post the text in
its
> >entirety.
> >In Service to the Society,
> >
> >Mistress Irene von Schmetterling
> >
> >--
> >Marshallate Reformation Proposal
> >
> >Introduction
> >
> >My name is Bill Colbert.  In the SCA, I am William de Montegilt.  My
first
> >SCA
> >activity  was a small tourney in Towson, Maryland, in March of 1975.  I
was a
> >spectator.  My second SCA activity was a fighter practice.  I have been a
> >rattan combat fighter for more than 28 years, and a warranted marshal in
two
> >kingdoms.  I am not a knight, nor have I ever picked up a rapier.  I do
not
> >participate in period combat studies.  I do enjoy fighting, very much.
This
> >information is included so that any biases are evident.
> >
> >Safety in all forms of SCA combat is a particular interest of mine.  It
may
> >have something to do with my first two fighting seasons both ending early
> >with
> >a broken arm.   I don't like to be hurt, and I don't like to see my
friends
> >hurt.  Also, I believe that a really serious fighting-related injury, or
a
> >death on the field (any field) might very well spell the end of combat in
the
> >SCA.  The financial circumstances of the Society are such that a large
> >judgment exceeding our liability insurance would cripple the
organization.
> >
> >The present structure of the Marshallate within the Society is, I
believe,
> >conducive to such a disastrous event.  The reason for this is that
decision
> >authority for safety, standards, and practices, within the kingdoms and
at
> >the
> >Society level, are made almost entirely by people very experienced in
rattan
> >combat.  That is just fine for rattan combat, but it is not fine for
rapier
> >combat, nor equestrian activities, nor siege weapons, nor period combat
> >studies.  The Board of Directors agrees, at least in the case of
equestrian
> >activities.  As of the April 2003 board meeting, the equestrians were
made
> >independent of the Marshallate.
> >
> >Now, I recognize that there are exceptions to the above assertion.  But
for
> >the most part, the situation is as stated.  All, or nearly all, of the
> >kingdom
> >earls marshal and the Society Marshal, presently, and historically, have
been
> >experienced rattan fighters.  Precious few of them have had any other
sort of
> >fighting experience.  Look within your own kingdoms, and see if this is
not
> >the case.
> >
> >The main thrust of this proposal is to decentralize decision authority
for
> >safety, practical techniques, and equipment standards, for each
> >combat-related
> >activity to the deputy for that activity.  The Society Marshal and the
> >kingdom
> >earls marshal would have different responsibilities than at present.
They
> >would continue to be responsible for coordinating reporting to their
> >respective crowns and corporate superiors.  They would have the added
> >responsibility of  encouraging all forms of fighting, and
fighting-related
> >activities in their kingdoms, or in the case of the Society Marshal, in
the
> >Society as a whole.
> >
> >What comes next is a synopsis of the evolution of  Society combat.  This
is
> >intended to illustrate how we got to the current situation.  The elements
of
> >the Proposal will follow that.
> >
> >History
> >
> >On May 1, 1966, the Last Tourney was held.  It was a backyard party.  A
total
> >of ten fighters competed that day.  I have spoken to three of The Ten
(Flieg
> >Hollander, Henrik Olsgaard, and Dave Thewlis), and they confirm that the
> >weapons used in what became the first tourney of the SCA were modern
fencing
> >equipment, broomsticks, and trash can lids.  Within two years, rattan
combat
> >had become the standard (only) form of combat used in the Society.  I
mention
> >this to illustrate that the evolution of combat within the SCA has
occurred,
> >literally, from the beginning.
> >
> >In A.S. 6, the Society Marshal published a statement to the effect that
all
> >fighters should expect to give and receive full force blows at all times,
in
> >order to simulate the reality of medieval combat.  This idiocy engendered
a
> >variety of amusing ballads, and intervention by the Board of Directors,
who
> >appointed a new Society Marshal.  I mention this to show that, even very
> >early, the Board was willing to intervene in combat-related situations
they
> >found patently unsafe.
> >
> >When I began fighting in A.S. 9, there were only four kingdoms.  Combat
> >archery did not exist.  Light weapons were not used.  Face thrusts were
not
> >used.  In the East Kingdom, ladies were allowed to train as fighters, but
> >could not participate in any tournament competition, much less a Crown
> >Tourney.   There were a few siege weapons, but they were for
demonstration
> >purposes only, and were not used in combat.
> >
> >There was no organized study of historical fighting techniques from any
> >era of
> >the period, and the development of rattan combat fighting was
evolutionary
> >rather than historical.  By that I mean that many techniques were tried,
and
> >the ones that tended to work were kept.
> >
> >Today, all these things are part of  Society combat activities.  We have
Lady
> >knights, and even one Lady who was queen, in her own right.  Many battles
are
> >enhanced by the presence of combat archers, and at Gulf Wars, the sky
darkens
> >during the castle battle with the missiles of the siege engines.  Rapier
> >combat was introduced in 1979, and has thousands of adherents
> >today.  Finally,
> >the translation and study of actual period combat manuals is perhaps the
> >fastest growing combat-related activity.  It certainly is the most
dynamic.
> >
> >Fighting and the Society
> >
> >The first event was a tourney.  As we all know, the Society attempts to
> >recreate "the Middle Ages, as they should have been".  I have heard this
> >referred to as the "Romantic Arthurian" model.
> >
> > From the beginning, the tourney has been the centerpoint of most Society
> >events.  Throughout its early history, this meant, exclusively, rattan
> >combat.  Rattan combat tournaments are held even today at the vast
> >majority of
> >Society events.  It tends to capture the imagination of the viewing
public
> >more than any of our other activities.
> >
> >The assignment of responsibility for all combat-related activities to a
> >Marshallate organization composed of rattan fighters made perfect
sense..as
> >long as there were only rattan fighters.
> >
> >There is now a much wider menu of combat-related activities than was
imagined
> >when the present structure was set up.  The Marshallate has evolved
somewhat
> >in response.  As presently (September 2003) constituted, each of the
combat-
> >related activities has a deputy to oversee it.  This deputy has the
> >obligation
> >to make policy recommendations to the kingdom earl marshal or the Society
> >Marshal, as appropriate.  However decision authority remains with the
kingdom
> >earl marshal or the Society Marshal, regardless of  the level of his or
her
> >qualifications, actual experience, and interest in the particular
activity.
> >
> >The Problems
> >
> >Safety - It simply does not make sense for someone with no direct
> >knowledge or
> >expertise in an activity to be regulating it.  In this case we are
talking
> >about regulating it at the level of actual fighting techniques, equipment
> >standards, and safety practices.  You wouldn't want a fire safety
specialist
> >making decisions about airplane safety.  Yet that is exactly the
situation
> >that non-rattan fighters are faced with.  It represents an obvious danger
to
> >the participants.
> >Liability - We do not have a Society with a large financial endowment.
It is
> >well known that the Society operates on very narrow fiscal margins, with
no
> >major reserve funding.  The loss of an injury-related lawsuit
> >significantly in
> >excess of our liability insurance would cripple or liquidate the Society.
If
> >I were the attorney arguing such a case from the other side, I would be
> >overjoyed to find that at three separate levels (Society Marshal, Crown,
and
> >kingdom earl marshal), oversight responsibility was being performed by
> >persons
> >with no direct knowledge of the activity.
> >Membership dissatisfaction - It should come as no surprise to anyone that
> >members participating in combat forms other than rattan combat have been
> >subjected to arbitrary rule changes, arbitrary equipment changes,
arbitrary
> >technique rulings, and arbitrary activity elimination.  These have
> >occurred at
> >the Society Marshal level and the kingdom level, often changing from
reign to
> >reign, and demonstrably by people acting on erroneous or inadequate
> >information.  They have been done by officers without direct expertise in
> >these other combat forms.  The members have also had to endure, on many
> >occasions, these types of actions by officers with active dislike or
overt
> >hostility to their activities, even, in some cases, to pursuing an agenda
to
> >eliminate them.
> >
> >Concerning the last point, I wish to make it clear that I am not talking
> >exclusively about rapier combat.  Similar problems, although fewer in
number,
> >have occurred with combat archery (on again, off again, hit 'em, don't
> >hit 'em), siege weapons (ever had anyone firing onions at you during a
> >battle?  It's happened.), and equestrian activities.  It is occurring
right
> >now with period combat studies.  Notice I said "studies", not fighting.
In
> >the past few weeks we had the absurd situation of a kingdom earl marshal
> >initially forbidding the showing, at an event, of a videotape
illustrating
> >historical combat techniques taken from period fighting manuals.  The
> >justification presented was that this might confuse fighters as to what
was
> >legal on the field.  This decision was even upheld by the Society
Marshal.  I
> >believe, however, that the earl marshal in question has rethought his
> >position.  Still, the incident illustrates that the Marshallate as
presently
> >organized is not equipped to deal fairly and appropriately with
alternative
> >combat-related activities.
> >
> >There are, literally, thousands of members who use siege engines, fight
with
> >rapiers, and study historical combat techniques.  They also hold events,
cook
> >feasts, serve their Crowns, and in short, behave like all others members.
> >They deserve better treatment and more respect than they have gotten up
to
> >this point.  They deserve to be as safe in their activities as we can
make
> >them, just like we rattan fighters.
> >
> >The elements of the Proposal that follows will address each of these
issues.
> >
> >Reorganization of the Marshallate
> >
> >Society Level:
> >Discussion and justification for this have been argued above.  In
summary,
> >the
> >present organizational structure places people with little or no
expertise,
> >and occasionally outright hostility, in decision authority over
> >combat-related
> >activities other than rattan combat.  This compromises the safety of the
> >participants, our membership.  It also significantly increases the legal
> >liability of the Society in case of an injury lawsuit.  It also exposes
> >participants to the whimsy of officers not particularly interested in
their
> >activities.
> >
> >Arguments in favor of such a reorganization include:
> >All three of the major problems discussed above are solved or at least
> >heavily
> >mitigated.
> >People not interested in a particular activity are no longer required to
> >be in
> >the loop.  They can confine their attentions to activities that do
interest
> >them.
> >If done correctly, cross-activity technique sharing is enhanced.  I refer
> >here
> >particularly to the efforts of those studying historical combat
techniques on
> >both rattan combat and rapier combat.
> >The positions of Society Marshal and king earl marshal will have a larger
> >pool
> >of candidates as they will no longer be tied to just rattan combat
expertise.
> >
> >Arguments against might include:
> >It isn't traditional.  It dilutes the influence of rattan combat as the
> >primary form of fighting within the Society.
> >The present Society Marshal and kingdom earls marshal won't like it.  It
> >removes much of their authority.
> >
> >As a strong believer in both tradition and rattan combat, I will address
the
> >first argument below, later in the Proposal.  As to the second argument,
> >well,
> >yes.  That's the idea.
> >
> >Proposed:  The office of Marshal of the Society, as described in Corpora,
VI
> >D., will become a reporting office for activities related to combat and
> >archery.  Information coordination activities, working with the
Chirurgeon
> >General to promote safety, and working with the Minister of Arts and
Sciences
> >will continue as present.  Supervision of combat and related activities,
> >supervision of subordinate marshals, and making policy decisions,
> >interpretations and clarifications regarding the Rules of the Lists as
they
> >apply to a particular type of combat are now assigned to the deputy
society
> >marshals for each activity.  In particular, deputies will be appointed
for
> >rattan combat, rapier combat, siege weapons, historical combat studies,
youth
> >combat, and archery/thrown weapons.  Other deputies may be appointed as
> >needed, however these deputies will have decision authority over their
> >particular activities.  Warrants for the Marshal of the Society and the
> >Deputies defined below are signed by the Board of Directors.
> >
> >Note:  New text is underscored.
> >
> >Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as follows:  the text of VI
> >(Society Officers) D (Marshal of the Society) is deleted in its entirety
and
> >replaced with:
> >   "The Marshal of the Society is responsible for reporting on activities
> >related to combat and archery to the Board of Directors.  This includes
> >coordinating the reporting from the Deputy Society Marshals for each
> >activity,
> >and from the Earls Marshal of the kingdoms.  The Marshal of the Society
will
> >also work with the Chirurgeon General to promote safety in the Society's
> >martial arts, and with the Minister of Arts and Sciences to encourage
> >research
> >in armor and weapons.  Further, the Marshal of the Society will have the
> >responsibility to encourage and promote participation in combat and
archery
> >activities by the membership.  The Marshal of the Society may appoint
such
> >Assistant Marshals as are necessary to fulfill these responsibilities.
> >     Deputy Society Marshals are created for the following
> > activities:  Armored
> >Combat, Rapier Combat, Siege Engines, Archery, Youth Combat, and Period
> >Combat
> >Studies. The Deputy Society Marshals are responsible for activities in
their
> >respective areas.  This includes directing the appropriate Deputy Earls
> >Marshal of the kingdoms in matters concerning the supervision of combat
and
> >related activities at Society events and the manner and conduct of duties
of
> >all marshals of their activities throughout the Society.
> >    The Board specifically authorizes these Deputy Society Marshals to
make
> >policy decisions, interpretations, and clarification regarding the Rules
of
> >the Lists, for their respective activities only, and with the proviso
that
> >such rulings must be reported to the Board at the following meeting.
These
> >rulings will stand until and unless overruled by the Board."
> >
> >Before I discuss the effect on the kingdoms, I want to explain some of
the
> >reasoning here.
> >
> >First, additional deputy Society marshals can easily be created should
> >circumstances dictate.  Second, I have included a deputy, rather than an
> >assistant for siege engines.  The reason for this is that some of these
use
> >sufficient force to be quite dangerous in uneducated hands.  They need to
be
> >regulated by someone who really understands them.
> >
> >Third, I feel that having the Archery deputy have responsibility for
target
> >activities and combat archery is a Good Thing.  The reason is the
necessity
> >of  having some sort of Society-wide standards, particularly when it
comes to
> >arrow construction, so that we can all play safely together.
> >
> >Fourth, most kingdoms now have some form of youth combat, and others are
> >considering it.  This activity is still in its early stages, and there is
a
> >real opportunity here for the kingdoms to share best practices, if there
is
> >someone to do the coordination.  A Society-wide set of minimum standards
is
> >probably an important outcome.  I believe this level of official
attention is
> >appropriate, as I don't think we have any assets more precious than our
> >children.
> >
> >Finally, although there has always been some level of interest, it is
only
> >recently that there has been dramatic growth in the interest level in the
> >translation and study of historical combat techniques.  The important
word
> >here is "study".  This is not a competitive activity.  There are no
> >tournaments.  There are practices and demonstrations.  As some of these
use
> >weapons or other physical activity, there is risk to the participants.
It
> >isn't purely theoretical.  Consequently, it is necessary to have
regulations
> >and equipment standards overseen by someone with expertise in the
activity.
> >Placing the sidesword experiment here instead of under the Deputy Society
> >Marshal for Rapier Combat might be worth considering.
> >
> >I was recently asked why the study of historical combat techniques should
> >be a
> >Society activity.  The justification is simple, and comes from the
> >Articles of
> >Incorporation, section II, which says: ".The purposes for which this
> >corporation is formed include: (a) Research and education in the field of
pre-
> >17th Century Western Culture. (b) Generally, to engage in research;
publish
> >material of relevance and interest to the field of pre-17th Century
Western
> >Culture; to present activities and events which re-create the environment
of
> >said era, such as, but not limited to, tournaments, jousts, fairs,
dances,
> >classes, et cetera."
> >
> >Now that is exactly what the period combat studies folks are doing, and
> >certainly more so than those of us who fight with rattan and rapier.
Some of
> >these techniques can probably be transferred to the armored and rapier
combat
> >fields, as they were used in period.
> >
> >Kingdom Level:
> >Proposed:  The earls marshal of the kingdoms become reporting officers
with
> >the responsibility to coordinate information flow from the deputy earls
> >marshal in their kingdoms and to report to the Society Marshal.  They
also
> >have the duties to promote safety by working with their kingdom
Chirurgeon
> >and
> >to promote general equipment standards improvement by working with their
> >kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences.
> >
> >For a kingdom to participate in a particular activity, it must appoint
the
> >appropriate deputy earl marshal for that activity.  Warrants for a
kingdom
> >earl marshal are signed by the Crown and the Society Marshal.  Warrants
for a
> >deputy earl marshal are signed by the Crown and the appropriate Deputy
> >Society
> >Marshal.  The reasoning here is to make certain that persons with
appropriate
> >interest and expertise are overseeing each activity.
> >
> >Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as follows:  the text of VII
> >(Kingdom, Principality, and Local Officers) D (The Earl Marshal) is
> >deleted in
> >its entirety and replaced with:
> >   "The Earl Marshal is responsible for reporting on activities related
to
> >combat and archery to the Crown and the Marshal of the Society.  This
> >includes
> >coordinating the reporting from the Deputy Earls Marshal for each
activity
> >within the kingdom.  The Earl Marshal will also work with the Chirurgeon
to
> >promote safety in the kingdom's martial arts, and with the Minister of
Arts
> >and Sciences to encourage research in armor and weapons.  Further, the
Earl
> >Marshal will have the responsibility to encourage and promote
> >participation in
> >combat and archery activities by the membership.
> >     Deputy Earls Marshal may be appointed for any of the following
> >activities:  Armored Combat, Rapier Combat, Siege Engines, Archery, Youth
> >Combat, and Period Combat Studies.  However, none of these activities may
be
> >performed in the kingdom without an appropriate Deputy Earl Marshal being
> >appointed.  The Deputy Earls Marshal are responsible for all
combat-related
> >activities in their respective areas.  This includes overseeing the
conduct
> >and safety of all martial arts in their respective areas, including but
not
> >limited to tournament lists, wars, practices, and combat demonstrations.
The
> >Deputy Earls Marshal are also responsible for appointing and warranting
> >subordinate marshals for their respective areas."
> >
> >Corpora VII I. (Duties of Other Officers) is changed to read: "Specific
> >duties
> >of Kingdom Lesser Officers, deputies, Principality Officers, and Local
> >Officers are defined by Royalty and the appropriate superior officer
unless
> >otherwise defined in Corpora.
> >
> >Corpora VII J. (Appointment to office) 1, add after the first
> >sentence: "Kingdom Deputy Earls Marshal are appointed by the Crown after
due
> >consultation with the outgoing officer, the Earl Marshal, and any other
> >appropriate Great Officer."
> >
> >Corpora VII K (Warranting / Rosters) 1, first sentence is changed
> >from "Kingdom Great Officer's appointments are confirmed by a signature
from
> >the Corporate Level and the Crown, on the standard warrant form."
> >to  "Appointments of Kingdom Great Officers and Deputy Earls Marshal are
> >confirmed by a signature from the appropriate Deputy Society Marshal, and
the
> >Crown, on the standard warrant form."
> >
> >Again, the purpose here is simply to ensure that people with appropriate
> >interest and expertise are in charge of each activity.
> >
> >The Crown:
> >I expect this will actually be the most controversial part of this
Proposal.
> >First let me say that I have been a member for more than 28 years and a
peer
> >for nearly 25.  I have always endeavored to support my Crown and my
Kingdom,
> >no matter where I have lived.
> >
> >When there was only rattan combat, it made sense to have the Sovereign
> >oversee
> >the fighting.  One could safely assume that he (it was always a he then)
was
> >pretty good at it.  Unfortunately, few Sovereigns, are expert in other
forms
> >of combat activity, and probably none are in all of them.  It makes
sense,
> >therefore, to reduce the responsibility of the Crown for these areas.
The
> >justification is exactly the same as for the Marshallate.
> >
> >On the other hand, I'm a firm believer in traditions, and am not trying
here
> >to change the way we select our Crowns.
> >
> >Therefore, what I am proposing is a compromise between the traditional
> >privileges of the Crown and the safety and enjoyment of the membership.
> >
> >Specifically, Proposed:
> >The Sovereign retains final oversight responsibility for rattan combat
within
> >the kingdom.  Oversight responsibilities for other activities devolve to
the
> >appropriate deputy earl marshal.
> >Access to the fighting field, any fighting field, is granted at the
pleasure
> >of the Sovereign.  The Sovereign retains the right to remove any fighter,
at
> >any time, from any field.
> >Rattan combat remains the only formal tournament lists for royal ranks
and
> >titles, unless a specific exemption is granted by the Board.
> >
> >Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as follows: IV (Royalty) A.
> >(Selection) 1. "Royal Lists must be conducted at a tournament announced
in
> >the
> >kingdom newsletter as being for that purpose.  Crowns or Coronets who
wish to
> >conduct a royal list in a manner other than individual armored combat
must
> >obtain the prior approval of the Board of Directors."
> >
> >Corpora IV C (Duties)  9 is changed to read: "The Sovereign supervises
> >armored
> >combat on the field of honor.
> >
> >Corpora IV C 10 is renumbered as IV C 11.
> >
> >Corpora IV C (new) 10 is added, as follows:  "The privilege of access to
the
> >combat fields, regardless of the type of combat activity being performed,
is
> >granted at the pleasure of the Sovereign. The Sovereign may remove any
> >fighter, at any time, from any tourney or melee combat field, for any
period
> >of time, up to the duration of the Reign.  Such action shall not be
construed
> >to indicate a safety violation has occurred; no Marshallate action may be
> >taken as the result of this exercise of Royal prerogative.  Safety
violations
> >shall be addressed through reports to, and appropriate actions by, the
> >Marshallate."
> >
> >Other Changes
> >These are required, mostly for consistency, to complete the proposed
> >implementation.
> >Proposed:
> >
> >Corpora IX (Society Combat) A. (Society Combat-Related Activities) 1,
first
> >sentence is replaced with: "Society combat-related activities are defined
as
> >armored combat, rapier combat, combat archery, marshalling, scouting,
banner
> >bearing in combat, youth combat, and period combat studies."
> >
> >Corpora IX A. 2, first paragraph is replaced with: "A participant in any
of
> >the Society combat-related activities as defined above must be authorized
> >by a
> >marshal warranted and designated by the Deputy Earl Marshal of a kingdom
for
> >that activity, or his representative, as able to authorize individuals in
the
> >appropriate activity."
> >
> >Corpora IX A. 6, is deleted in its entirety and replaced with: "Prior to
the
> >authorization of a minor in any Society combat-related activity, the
> >parent or
> >guardian of the minor must witness the activity, discuss it with a
witnessing
> >marshal, and execute a Waiver, indemnity, or other required document for
the
> >minor.  The witnessing marshal must be explicitly authorized to perform
this
> >function by the Deputy Earl Marshal for Youth Combat of that kingdom.
The
> >marshal who authorizes a minor person for any form of Society
combat-related
> >activity must the Kingdom or Principality Deputy Earl Marshal for Youth
> >Combat, or the Kingdom or Principality Deputy Earl Marshal for that
> >activity.
> >This need not be the same person as the witnessing marshal."
> >
> >Corpora IX B (The Rules of the Lists) 2, is deleted in its entirety and
> >replaced with:
> >  "No person shall participate in Combat-Related activities (including
> > armored
> >combat, rapier combat, combat archery, marshalling, scouting, banner
bearing
> >in combat, youth combat, and period combat studies) outside of formal
> >training
> >sessions unless and until he or she shall have been properly authorized
under
> >Society and kingdom procedures."
> >
> >Corpora IX C (Rapier Fighting in the Society) is now superfluous and
> >therefore
> >deleted.
> >
> >Other Documents
> >
> >As near as I can determine, no changes to the Articles of Incorporation,
By-
> >Laws, or Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc. are required to implement
this
> >proposal.
> >
> >Other Considerations
> >
> >Should the Board of Directors act favorably on this Proposal, presumably
> >after
> >consultation with the membership, a reasonable amount of time should be
given
> >for implementation so that the kingdoms have a chance to adjust their
> >organizations.  Six months seems about right, a year is probably too
long.
> >
> >In Conclusion
> >
> >My motivation for this Proposal is simple.  I am worried about the
Society.
> >We do not seem to be growing.  We do seem to be aging, and a significant
> >number of the kids drop out on reaching adulthood.  The membership is
well
> >aware that the organization has financial difficulties.
> >
> >We also have too much friction.  When I joined, I was given to believe
that
> >the Society was inclusive.  There were many, many different activities,
and
> >people were encouraged and rewarded for excelling in any field of
> >interest.  I
> >continue to believe that should be one our ideals; it may be our very
> >greatest
> >strength.
> >
> >Alas, for reasons that completely elude me, I have witnessed, time and
again,
> >one group trying to restrict the activities of another group.  And they
> >weren't even interested in participating themselves, they just didn't
want
> >anyone else to do it.
> >
> >But I also believe that we are a Society that puts a high premium on
courtesy
> >and on honor.  The reason that people stay in the Society for decades is
that
> >generally the organization brings out the very best in its members.
> >
> >This proposal is designed to make fighting in the Society safer and more
fun
> >for everybody.  The conclusion is simple.  If more people are having more
> >fun,
> >then the Society is stronger, interest is up, and everybody gains.
> >
> >Certainly the Field of Honor is big enough for all of us.
> >
> >And please believe that I remain in Service to the Society, this XXV
> >Septembris, A.S. XXXVII.
> >
> >Bill Colbert  (William de Montegilt)
>
> ----------
> Baron Aedan Aylwyn, Provost                     Caer Mear, Atlantia
> Email: aedan (at) mindspring.com                Royal Bad Influence -
Retired
> Academie d'Espee: http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan
>   * * Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses * *
>
>
>
> ========================================================================
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