NK - Qualifications for some awards

Jennifer Carlson JCarlson at firstchurchtulsa.org
Wed Aug 11 07:02:41 PDT 1999


While there are no hard-and-fast rules of what qualifies an individual for 
most awards, some awards have guidelines.  I can provide no documentation 
on these - they are the result of years of experience and consultation with 
nobles, peers, and heralds.  If Seigneur Etienne would check the Herald's 
Handbook, there may be more information in the chapter on awards charters.

Sable Thistle (AoA level Arts & Sciences award) - usually given for 
development of skills and visible improvement in them over the course of at 
least a year.  This does not equal "make one chain mail shirt, get a 
Thistle in armoring".  Rather, it implies that you have worked on more than 
one item in the particular medium, whether it be poetry, brewing, or what 
have you; that you have therefore been making a study of it; and that you 
have been exhibiting it around enough that others can see it, and recognize 
your ability.

Iris of Merit (Grant level Arts & Sciences award) - this is given with the 
vague explanation of being for "exceptional ability in the arts and 
sciences".  This is what is usually considered:  That the person has 
several arts/sciences interests - in other words, they have begun to 
diversify their studies.  That the person has achieved a certain level of 
mastery over their endeavors - i.e., the embroidery is of intermediate or 
higher quality, the weaving no longer looks like beginning efforts, the 
armor is better finished, they are beginning to use period or more period 
techniques and materials, the difficulty of projects is increasing, etc. 
 And that the person has begun to teach.  Now, while many people are 
perfectly qualified to teach before they get any awards at all, it is 
expected of grant level award holders that they will share what they have 
learned with others, both for the service to the society as a whole through 
teaching, and to further their craft by encouraging others to take it up.

The King's Gauntlet and Queen's Grace (or Queen's Glove) are personal yet 
armigerous thank-yous from the King or Queen (not "the Crown" as a unit) to 
someone who has performed personal service to the King or Queen during a 
particular reign.  Attendants, ladies-in-waiting, the royal seamstress, and 
members of the royal household are usually the kinds of folks who receive 
these awards.

Court Barony (Grant level) is not for anything really specific.  Some court 
baronetcies are given to people for service, say to a former kingdom level 
officer.  Or to someone who has constantly stayed in service by holding 
several offices.  This was particularly true before the Star of Merit 
(Grant level award for service to the kingdom) was instituted.  Even today, 
however, the Crown may feel that something with just a bit more "oomph" is 
warranted: A Court Barony comes in precedence before a Star of Merit, even 
though both are grant level awards.  A Court Barony can also be given for a 
kind of service that may not exactly be to the kingdom as a whole, but that 
any other award just cannot adequately cover.  The Coopers, who own the 
site where Pennsic takes place, were given Court Baronies some years back. 
 A court barony can also be a thank-you from the Crown just because they 
think you're a really nifty person. Or because you deserve "something" but 
you already have all the awards that otherwise would be appropriate, and 
the Crown really wants to recognize you anew.  Court Baronies are in, 
Ansteorra, traditionally given to landed Barons and Baronesses when they 
step down.

I do not have much experience on what is expected vis a vis the other 
awards, save for the Laurel, of course, but that particular discussion 
could go on for pages and pages.

There is no checklist for qualifiying for a particular award - these are 
not merit badges.  The biggest qualifier is that people who know you think 
you deserve it.  It is possible for a person to get an award before they 
are really ready for it.  It is also possible for an award to come to late 
to be appreciated.  That's why all of us have learned to keep our eyes open 
and make recommendations when we think someone is ready.  Oh, and yes, 
awards can be given for political reasons, but that happens more rarely 
than gossip would have you believe.

Talana
How about a discussion of the awards no one ever heard of?  There's one 
Madonna of Ansteorra in Northkeep - anyone know who it is?  Or what the 
Madonnas were?





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