[Sca-cooks] Laurel issues and contests was: 13th Century Icelandic Fish Skin Tanning Techniques

[Wanda Pease]

Okay,  I can't stand it any more! :-)

Contests.... Hmmmm....  After nearly 20 years of Laurel Circles, I can tell
you that those who go out and knock themselves out winning contests really
don't get that much more attention from the Circle than does the person who
shows up at a number of events over years and teaches, demonstrates, and
encourages others with their enthusiasm.  Yes, by and large, to get the
notice of the Circle in your first four or five years (yes, people Years!)
it helps if you can go to events in all corners of the Kingdom, or are in a
very central region with a lot of other Laurels around.  (Don't complain
that you live in the equivalent of Outer Slobovia, and don't have the
money/time/freedom to travel.  The Circle can't help that any more than you
can.)  Making friends with a local Laurel isn't the guaranteed way to glory,
but if you like the person and admire what they do why not.  Afraid someone
will think you are "sucking up"?  Why in the world would you care about the
opinions of such a mean-spirited person.  Friends are where you find them,
both high and low ranking.

Good candidates in out of the way areas, or in esoteric subjects (Music
Philosophy anyone?) do get recognized, it just takes longer.  Sort of like
Saffron yellow seeping through a dish (obligatory food content).  It isn't
impossible, it just takes a lot longer, and sometimes that is longer than
the person working has, and I mean no disrespect to them.

Why don't people get Laureled who work hard and consistently?  I don't know,
and if I did I couldn't tell them.  An amazing number of people who get very
close to being recommendable to the Crown (please note that the Laurelate
can only Recommend to the Crown, who has the final say) shoot themselves in
the foot at the last moment.  They work intensely but the course is long and
hard, and just at that last moment something happens.  This can be either a
"one Awe Sh*T can cancel a hundred Atta Boys", or simply mundane life
interferes and they drop out of sight for months or years.  When they come
back the Circle is practically new, and has no "corporate memory".

The idiot "mouthy Laurel" of this post is typical of a small and "mouthy"
minority.  Do they have veto power in a Circle?  Certainly not.  In fact
their opinions are likely to be treated with sighs and shrugs as the rest of
us go on to discuss the actual merits of the subject's work.  I wish we
could put such people on a "Laurel hit list" to be brought before the Grey
Council and lectured for the sin of pride.

In the meantime.  Do as Bronwynmgm and Elaine are doing; things you love,
and that give you pleasure.  Every time that someone admires your efforts or
thanks you for your help is the real reward.  Adding a medallion will not
make these times any sweeter.

Regina Romsey, MoL



Bronwynmgn at aol.com wrote:

> I wonder if it was the same "mouthy Laurel" (the Laurel in question
referred
> to herself that way, so I'm not insulting her) who once told me that
> handsewing a new gown in the hall at an event, and explaining to people
how I
> did it and how I found out how to do it did not count as encouraging the
Arts
> and Sciences.  Apparently the ONLY WAY(tm) to do that is to enter and to
run
> Arts and Sciences competitions.  Kingdom level ones.  The local ones I had
> been involved with counted for so little that I was told I had no right to
> venture an opinion as to whether they were either useful or enjoyable.

Ooh, OW! Been there, done that. Another of my sins- I don't enter
contests. I have been told that was the only way to get 'noticed' on a
Kingdom-wide basis.