[Steppes] A&S at Warlord

[Jay Rudin]

Lady 'Nuala asked:


> Does anyone know what the plan is for any A&S Competitions and/or classes
> at Warlord?
>
> Thank you.

The plan is this:

*Any* (safe, legal) activity that somebody wants to make happen will happen.
The event stewards did not "decide" what the Steppes would choose to do.  We
encourage everybody to add every (safe, legal) activity they want.  All it
takes is somebody choosing to commit to doing it.

The Steppes has five official competitions at Warlord: Warlord, Champion,
Eisteddfod, Archer, and Equestrian Champion.  Beyond that, anybody can
choose to add any activity they wish to set up and run.  Several people have
already chosen to add A&S or research activities.  The latest one is Don
Aeron's class in historical cut-and thrust rapier techniques -- so recently
offered that it's not even on the website yet..  Anyone else who wants to
have an activity or class can go to the activities page on the Steppes
Warlord website (http://www.bmhanson.net/warlord/activities.php), and fill
out the form to get it on the schedule.

The event stewards are merely stewards.  It's not our place to tell the
Steppes what they can or can't do at their event.  It's just our job to make
it possible for the Steppes -- all of us -- to put on the events we want to
see happen.  We've tried to make it as easy as possible for people to add
activities and guarantee court time and listings in the gate handout.

The SCA in general, and Steppes Warlord in particular, are volunteer-run.
So the crucial first step for any activity is for somebody to choose to make
running the activity their own priority.  This has been how exciting things
have gotten added to Warlord since the seventies, when Master Lloyd started
doing his quests.  Duchess Willow took it upon herself to make Eisteddfod
happen; I worked to create Steppes Champion; Mistress Kalida has run her
on-site embroidery competition for years.  Steppes Archer, Equestrian
Champion, and all other activities exist only because somebody committed to
doing the work to make them happen.  That's the Barony of the Steppes at its
best.

This year we have some wonderful activities already.  The Honorable Lady
Ciard believes in the library and is making it happen again.  Rebbe (Lady)
Hadassah is sponsoring several children's classes.  HL Druinne is setting up
a heraldic consultation table.  Through Lady Lyneya, the archers have
stepped up in their usual way to host a huge mix of fun competitions.  Lady
Gabrielle is sponsoring lawn bowling.  We've got people bringing in classes
from the Northern (HL Finnacan) and Coastal (Don Aeron) regions.  There are
a few other new ones that I can't remember right now.  (My memory is not a
problem here, because Mistress Serena has the forms -- these activities
*won't* slip through the cracks.)

And I assume that more Steppes folk will decide to teach, or host an
activity.  Mistress Serena will be accepting forms by email, and at Steppes
populace and business meetings.  (Please have them to us by then, so we have
time to put *your* favorite activity in the published schedule.)  We offer
special thanks to Lord Alisdair, who has automated the form and put it on
the website, to make it easier than ever for you to add an activity.

If anybody wants an activity to happen, make it happen.  We'll help as best
we can.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin
Steppes Warlord Event Steward