[Ravensfort] baronial candidates

[AMH/DBLJ]

Nathan Bohls wrote:
It's in the corpora that the crown cannot appoint a B&B that is significantly opposed by the populace.

Dear Bohls,

Roughly stated but yes, it is in Corpora and if we lived in a fairy tale world that would mean
something.  Tell me how can Corpora be followed if we are not allowed to know the results of the polling
??  We are told to "trust" but I didn't see that word used in Corpora.

When I used the word "fix" it was in response to an email that I originally thought was posted on this
raven's post but was not.  However, if someone asked me how I would go about fixing something like this
I'd tell them to;
1. Not let anyone know who the nominees are until immediately before before the poll is taken.
2. Forbid the candidates from "campaigning" under threat of disqualification.
3. Instead of asking for a first choice when polling, ask for a first, second and third to further
confuse things.
4. Hide the results of the poll.
5. Ask everyone to trust you while pulling strings.

In the end it doesn't really matter.  We are a royalist kingdom.  Whatever the Crown wants to do, they
will do and we will let them.  It would not be the first time that a popular choice is passed over and
I've seen brass hats selected from outside territorial boundaries.  The Crown will do what they want and
we will let them.

Many in the SCA like to say, "Not as it was, but as it should have been" because most embrace the high
ideals of chivalry.  The one exception to this is our political system which was proven flawed and
replaced in the real world.

Pax,
Marius



Nathan Bohls wrote:

> Greetings to the List!
>         I apologize for not posting sooner but I have been in Dallas for the last
> week visiting my family.
> First I would like to address three posts that I have some specific problems
> with.
> 1. Marius even if a "fix" has been attempted it doesn't matter now. If we
> all pull together and present a united front to Their Highnesses they will
> have no choice but to accept the barony's choice. It's in the corpora that
> the crown cannot appoint a B&B that is significantly opposed by the
> populace. What we need to do is to talk amongst ourselves and figure out
> what we want and who is best qualified to give it to us. That is the main
> problem we face as I perceive things: we don't know what we want. The only
> way to fix this is to debate ( and in this barony that means we'll shout at
> each other, almost everyone has a short temper) and come to some sort of
> consensus. And with all due respect to Mistress Clarissa I think that the
> list is the best place to do this. It is very hard to get a hold of people
> in this barony by phone and it is even more difficult to catch people at
> home. The reason for this is that we're split schedule wise into those of us
> who work nights, those who work days, those who are constantly on call, and
> those who are never at home when someone comes by (ahem.) The list is the
> one place where we can all be reached and where we all have access to what's
> been said. I'm a really good example of this- been gone a week!
> 2. Ragan did not "stir the pot" and cause trouble. He is not "twisting
> things to his own use". One thing I have never heard Ragan do is lie. I
> might wish he would for politeness' sake but...People are  not "pointing
> fingers and hurting each other", they are saying what they think and
> reacting as they choose to react. Since when did this become a crime? Folks
> if there is one thing I have painfully learned over the last year it is that
> you own your emotions and  reactions. If your panties get wadded over
> something that is said/written on the list then that is YOUR reaction, own
> it. Nobody MADE you angry, you decided to get angry. How you deal with that
> anger is a personal choice that only you control. Ragan has stated his
> opinions in his own inimitable fashion and has posed questions to the barony
> at large. How is this causing trouble? Did he say something you didn't like?
> Too bad. He made some very good, well thought out arguments and gave me
> personally some things to think about. He also called for a call to action
> of which there has been very little. I still don't agree with the way Sir
> Kief said it (see above) but, again, he had a point. We as a barony and
> individually do need to get off our dead asses and do something. We're
> really good at talking so why aren't we doing it now? Now is when it needs
> to happen. Not after the crown appoints the B&B.
> 3.Lorraine, I have not nor do I intend to "make a decision about who gets an
> award". The only time I can remember saying  that I thought I deserved an
> award specifically for something was when someone-can't remember who- gave
> me a compliment on my carving ( was showing off something I had just
> completed) and said right then that she/he was going to put me in for a
> thistle in carving. I asked that person not to and was asked why. So I
> pulled out Katrine's favor and showed it to whomever and said that my
> embroidery was the only thing I felt was good enough for an award. That's
> it. I think that the way you phrased your post made it seem as if I've been
> going around the barony asking people to put me in for awards. I have not
> been doing this, nor will I ever. I feel that you owe me an apology. As for
> Ragan not "getting" it I feel that you are mistaken. Part of  debate is to
> look for flaws in the other person's argument. When did disagreeing with
> people become wrong? He is making up his own mind. All he wants is for the
> others on the list to say what they think and to dialogue about the
> potential candidates. Granted he has waxed passionate but he isn't swearing
> or being insulting on a personal level to the people he is talking with. You
> need basic information just to form an opinion and so far I only know of two
> candidate couples for B&B. If people don't start talking about what they
> want and who they think would be a good choice we will get nowhere quickly
> on the 7th. If stating and discussing issues that we have with people before
> the meeting is campaigning then we're screwed. Every candidate couple is
> going to have strong and weak points. These need to be brought out into the
> open and discussed and we will not have time to do this at Populace.
> Therefore necessity dictates that we do so now.
>          Ragan thank you for the compliment. Means a lot coming from someone as
> talented as you. Annoying...hmmm, baby you ain't seen nothing yet.*evil
> grin* ;D
>         What I want for the barony: first and foremost I want us to have fun. This
> is supposed to be fun and I think that Day at the Garden was the first time
> in a long time that some of us have had fun at an event. Bravo to the
> autocrat and the helpers! Brava to the Baroness for her fearless dragon
> slaying! Bravo to everyone for the magnificent fun! Why don't we do this
> more often? I think that whoever is B&B they need to bring to the table a
> sense of the fun and wonderment that the SCA should always have. Our B & B
> must be able to encourage persona play in a fun way, hosting events in a fun
> way, and just having fun, darn it! Folks if you don't enjoy it then it isn't
> worth doing. Lorraine had some really good suggestions on this in her post
> to Cedric's questions.
>         Second: Focus on the Barony first. Our B&B must be able to get the  barony
> as a whole to participate in running itself. Has anyone noticed that nobody
> seems to care about anything lately? There are many reasons for this but I
> think that the main one is the apathy that just seems to pervade the barony
> lately. Our next B&B are going to have to be able to instill motivation and
> a sense of participation in the populace and this isn't going to be easy.
> For some reason new people aren't coming into the Barony and new people are
> not stepping up to take over the offices. Something has got to be done about
> this situation but it will take a B&B that embody enthusiasm for play AND
> work.
>         Third: I want us to try new things, make mistakes, fall on our asses, get
> up and try again. I keep hearing "well that's a tradition", "we've always
> done things that way", "it won't work", "you won't be able to get enough
> help"...well screw it. We're falling on our butts right now because people
> are severely burnt out and they can't get relief. Let's try letting people
> with new ideas try those ideas out. Let them be responsible for awhile. Who
> knows? It might work. disasters have happened before and this barony
> persevered. We can do it again but only if we try. So...I want someone as
> B&B who isn't afraid to try new things, make mistakes, and recover from
> those mistakes.
>          Fourth: I want people who are dedicated to persona playing and "the
> Dream". I want enchantment and wonder in my B&B. Corny, yes, but for me two
> vital elements of the SCA.
>         Fifth: I'd like to have a B&B who have ties to every group within the
> Barony and yet aren't specifically tied down to one "official" group. Let me
> clarify, I want a B& B who get along with and are liked by everyone. Yes,
> this is wishful thinking BUT it is what I want.
>          Sixth: I want a B&B who know how to delegate and don't over commit the
> barony or themselves. I'd so much rather that we concentrated on ourselves
> and our growth for a change.
>         What I want in a B&B: wit, humor, wisdom, strength, courage, dedication,
> level heads, warm hearts, charisma, nobility, grace, dignity, patience, an
> inability to swallow bullshit, perseverance.
> I've thought all last week about this and in my opinion there are at present
> only two people who adequately fulfill all of these requirements. I think
> that those two people are Cedric and Katrine. Ragan go back and look at what
> you said about Sigurd and Walla Walla. Much of it applies to Cedric and
> Katrine. Now, who else is being considered for B&B? I know that Jacinth and
> Brion are and if they would both examine what I want and send me e-mail
> discussing this I would really appreciate it. Paul and Barbara, are you
> going to be put forth as candidates? Some people have said that you are but
> so far this has been neither confirmed nor denied. If you are going to be
> nominated could you please e-mail me and address the above? I'd appreciate
> it.
>         I would also like to point out that although they do not live in the barony
> Mistress Fionna and Lord Ivan would make excellent candidates for B&B. In my
> humble opinion of course.
>                                 -In service to the Dream, Isabeau (but I'm changing it) de Merricouer.
>
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