[Sca-cooks] Requirements for a Laurel--long-winded response ;o)

[Sue Clemenger]

Oooh.  Interesting question, Papa.
(maire puts on her magic laurel and pelican medallions)
While I have yet to attend a peers' circle as a pelican, being just 
newly fledged, I've sat in a significant number of laurels' circles and 
joint circles over the years (11? 12? I've actually lost count) since I 
was asked by Their Aten Majesties to accept the accolade of laurel. 
I've only ever lived in the one shire/barony (Sentinels' Keep), although 
it's been two kingdom's worth, counting Atenveldt before the kingdom 
split and Artemisia afterwards, so I don't have much experience with IKA 
differences.  I've also had the honor of serving as Aten MoAS, and as 
Aten A&S Champion....
That said, I've been parts of circles that did things like create the 
first rapier laurel, and the 4th? laurel for equestrian arts, and have 
also whole-heartedly supported a number of folk who've never entered a 
competition in their entire SCA careers.  So I say, with some emphasis, 
"Bah, humbug!" to the whole idea of making competitions some sort of 
hoop prospective laurels have to jump through to get the green leaves 
(in whatever form they might happen to come in a particular kingdom).
Competitions are only one tool in an entire array of things that folks 
who are interested in various artistic and scientific endeavors can use. 
  (kind of a run-on sentence, but I hope it makes sense)  Some people 
like them, some don't.  They can be handy as a forum for getting 
feedback, or expanding your understanding of a topic, and yes, they can 
help to gain you renown (both positive and negative--laurels do 
g/o/s/s/i/p/ discuss things they see at competitions).  But they're not 
The One True Way, by any means, especially when dealing with the more 
unusual subjects, or the more ephemeral arts/sciences such as cooking or 
performing arts.
What do I look for, when exploring the potential of a candidate for the 
order? First of all, I look for PLQs (peer-like qualities).  Are they 
courteous, even under pressure? Do they show long-term evidence of other 
qualities such as (but not limited to) chivalry, faith, largesse, etc? 
Are they somebody I can respect, even if I might not agree with them? Do 
they treat others with respect? If those sorts of qualities aren't 
present, I don't care how good they might be with a stick, or a spoon, 
or an office--being a peer is a *lot* more than a given skill set....
When looking for laurel-specific qualities, I look for the same sorts of 
things so eloquently put by Regina and Huette and others--excellence in 
one or more art forms, ability AND willingness to share one's knowledge 
and journey into knowledge with others, a certain hunger to keeping 
learning and experimenting, a genuine joy and certain passion about the 
given topic(s), that sort of thing.  Doesn't matter if you're a research 
geek (we have a Research Laurel, Sir Ronan, in our kingdom), or are into 
broad areas of stuff (more of a M'lord/lady of all trades like me), or 
have focused more specifically in one area (like Syr Kian, one of our 
locals, who specializes in Things Norse, especially stone carvings). 
Doesn't matter if you do arts or sciences--although, I should add, we 
don't make anything of a difference between the two around here.  I tend 
to take the words literally--an art being something you do, and a 
science being something you know, but they both have equal validity to me.
I'd like to say that I've seen wonderful, awe-inspiring instances of all 
these qualities among many of the members of this list.  Dang, but all 
the research and effort and sharing and service and translating is just 
plain intimidating sometimes! I only know most of you through the magic 
of the internet, but I certainly do consider you all my equal, and many 
of you my superiors in your skill and knowledge, especially in food 
issues! (I am SO not a cooking or food research laurel!)  If your 
respective kingdoms haven't gotten around to recognizing that, it's 
their loss.  If you enjoy what you're doing, and you're having a great 
time learning and sharing, whether through cooking a feast or 
translating a text or serving as a resource for research, that's what's 
important, isn't it? The medallion is just gravy.....
--Maire, OL, OP, Artemisian needlework/costuming/textile stuff geek who 
sometimes masquerades as a feast cook.....

Michael Gunter wrote:

> I had an interesting conversation with the Crown and a Laurel the
> other night and we got to talking about what is required for
> consideration. I was told flat out that I would not ever be eligible
> because I don't enter competitions.
> 
> I have to admit that I was a bit shocked to hear that. But they
> insisted that the only way you can get recognized is if you either
> are apprenticed to a Laurel who pushes you constantly or you
> enter competitions so your work can be judged.
> 
> Um....cooking feasts for 400 and handing out documentation
> for each dish isn't? Teaching and cooking for 20 years isn't enough?
> Being a judge for kingdom A&S competitions and counselling competitors
> in presentation isn't enough?
> 
> This isn't a gripe about whether or not I should be a Laurel but I just
> want to know if other Laurels or candidates feel that if you don't
> enter competitions you can't ever become a Laurel. I personally
> have no desire to enter competitions although I think I'm a decent
> judge of what needs to be done.
> 
> So....what do you consider the requirements are for a Laurel?
> 
> Gunthar