[Western] Marshallate Reformation Proposal (long read)

[R C]

> > Gentle cousins:
> > 
> > The following proposal was submitted to the Board
> of Directors for
> > consideration this week.  It will receive its'
> first review at the BoD
> > meeting in 2 weeks.
> > 
> > I believe the proposal to be well-reasoned, and to
> address several
> > issues
> > which face the Society as it looks to the growth
> of period combat
> > practices
> > and studies.

> > Marshallate Reformation Proposal
> > 
> > Introduction
> > 
> > My name is Bill Colbert.  In the SCA, I am William
> de Montegilt.  My
> > first
> > SCA  activity  was a small tourney in Towson,
> Maryland, in March of
> > 1975.  I
> > was a spectator.  My second SCA activity was a
> fighter practice.  I have
> > been a rattan combat fighter for more than 28
> years, and a warranted
> > marshal
> > in two kingdoms.  I am not a knight, nor have I
> ever picked up a rapier.
> > I
> > do not participate in period combat studies.  I do
> enjoy fighting, very
> > much.  This information is included so that any
> biases are evident.
> > 
> > Safety in all forms of SCA combat is a particular
> interest of mine.  It
> > may
> > have something to do with my first two fighting
> seasons both ending
> > early
> > with a broken arm.   I don?t like to be hurt, and
> I don?t like to see my
> > friends hurt.  Also, I believe that a really
> serious fighting-related
> > injury, or a death on the field (any field) might
> very well spell the
> > end of
> > combat in the SCA.  The financial circumstances of
> the Society are such
> > that
> > a large judgment exceeding our liability insurance
> would cripple the
> > organization.
> > 
> > The present structure of the Marshallate within
> the Society is, I
> > believe,
> > conducive to such a disastrous event.  The reason
> for this is that
> > decision
> > authority for safety, standards, and practices,
> within the kingdoms and
> > at
> > the Society level, are made almost entirely by
> people very experienced
> > in
> > rattan combat.  That is just fine for rattan
> combat, but it is not fine
> > for
> > rapier combat, nor equestrian activities, nor
> siege weapons, nor period
> > combat studies.  The Board of Directors agrees, at
> least in the case of
> > equestrian activities.  As of the April 2003 board
> meeting, the
> > equestrians
> > were made independent of the Marshallate.
> > 
> > Now, I recognize that there are exceptions to the
> above assertion.  But
> > for
> > the most part, the situation is as stated.  All,
> or nearly all, of the
> > kingdom earls marshal and the Society Marshal,
> presently, and
> > historically,
> > have been experienced rattan fighters.  Precious
> few of them have had
> > any
> > other sort of fighting experience.  Look within
> your own kingdoms, and
> > see
> > if this is not the case.
> > 
> > The main thrust of this proposal is to
> decentralize decision authority
> > for
> > safety, practical techniques, and equipment
> standards, for each
> > combat-related activity to the deputy for that
> activity.  The Society
> > Marshal and the kingdom earls marshal would have
> different
> > responsibilities
> > than at present.  They would continue to be
> responsible for coordinating
> > reporting to their respective crowns and corporate
> superiors.  They
> > would
> > have the added responsibility of  encouraging all
> forms of fighting, and
> > fighting-related activities in their kingdoms, or
> in the case of the
> > Society
> > Marshal, in the Society as a whole.
> > 
> > What comes next is a synopsis of the evolution of 
> Society combat.  This
> > is
> > intended to illustrate how we got to the current
> situation.  The
> > elements of
> > the Proposal will follow that.  History
> > 
> > On May 1, 1966, the Last Tourney was held.  It was
> a backyard party.  A
> > total of ten fighters competed that day.  I have
> spoken to three of The
> > Ten
> > (Flieg Hollander, Henrik Olsgaard, and Dave
> Thewlis), and they confirm
> > that
> > the weapons used in what became the first tourney
> of the SCA were modern
> > fencing equipment, broomsticks, and trash can
> lids.  Within two years,
> > rattan combat had become the standard (only) form
> of combat used in the
> > Society.  I mention this to illustrate that the
> evolution of combat
> > within
> > the SCA has occurred, literally, from the
> beginning.
> > 
> > In A.S. 6, the Society Marshal published a
> statement to the effect that
> > all
> > fighters should expect to give and receive full
> force blows at all
> > times, in
> > order to simulate the reality of medieval combat. 
> This idiocy
> > engendered a
> > variety of amusing ballads, and intervention by
> the Board of Directors,
> > who
> > appointed a new Society Marshal.  I mention this
> to show that, even very
> > early, the Board was willing to intervene in
> combat-related situations
> > they
> > found patently unsafe.
> > 
> > When I began fighting in A.S. 9, there were only
> four kingdoms.  Combat
> > archery did not exist.  Light weapons were not
> used.  Face thrusts were
> > not
> > used.  In the East Kingdom, ladies were allowed to
> train as fighters,
> > but
> > could not participate in any tournament
> competition, much less a Crown
> > Tourney.   There were a few siege weapons, but
> they were for
> > demonstration
> > purposes only, and were not used in combat.
> > 
> > There was no organized study of historical
> fighting techniques from any
> > era
> > of the period, and the development of rattan
> combat fighting was
> > evolutionary rather than historical.  By that I
> mean that many
> > techniques
> > were tried, and the ones that tended to work were
> kept.
> > 
> > Today, all these things are part of  Society
> combat activities.  We have
> > Lady knights, and even one Lady who was queen, in
> her own right.  Many
> > battles are enhanced by the presence of combat
> archers, and at Gulf
> > Wars,
> > the sky darkens during the castle battle with the
> missiles of the siege
> > engines.  Rapier combat was introduced in 1979,
> and has thousands of
> > adherents today.  Finally, the translation and
> study of actual period
> > combat
> > manuals is perhaps the fastest growing
> combat-related activity.  It
> > certainly is the most dynamic.
> > 
> > Fighting and the Society
> > 
> > The first event was a tourney.  As we all know,
> the Society attempts to
> > recreate "the Middle Ages, as they should have
> been".  I have heard this
> > referred to as the "Romantic Arthurian" model.
> > 
> > >From the beginning, the tourney has been the
> centerpoint of most
> > Society
> > events.  Throughout its early history, this meant,
> exclusively, rattan
> > combat.  Rattan combat tournaments are held even
> today at the vast
> > majority
> > of Society events.  It tends to capture the
> imagination of the viewing
> > public more than any of our other activities.
> > 
> > The assignment of responsibility for all
> combat-related activities to a
> > Marshallate organization composed of rattan
> fighters made perfect
> > sense?.as
> > long as there were only rattan fighters.
> > 
> > There is now a much wider menu of combat-related
> activities than was
> > imagined when the present structure was set up. 
> The Marshallate has
> > evolved
> > somewhat in response.  As presently (September
> 2003) constituted, each
> > of
> > the combat-related activities has a deputy to
> oversee it.  This deputy
> > has
> > the obligation to make policy recommendations to
> the kingdom earl
> > marshal or
> > the Society Marshal, as appropriate.  However
> decision authority remains
> > with the kingdom earl marshal or the Society
> Marshal, regardless of  the
> > level of his or her qualifications, actual
> experience, and interest in
> > the
> > particular activity.
> > 
> > The Problems
> > 
> > Safety - It simply does not make sense for someone
> with no direct
> > knowledge
> > or expertise in an activity to be regulating it. 
> In this case we are
> > talking about regulating it at the level of actual
> fighting techniques,
> > equipment standards, and safety practices.  You
> wouldn?t want a fire
> > safety
> > specialist making decisions about airplane safety.
>  Yet that is exactly
> > the
> > situation that non-rattan fighters are faced with.
>  It represents an
> > obvious
> > danger to the participants.
> > 
> > Liability - We do not have a Society with a large
> financial endowment.
> > It
> > is well known that the Society operates on very
> narrow fiscal margins,
> > with
> > no major reserve funding.  The loss of an
> injury-related lawsuit
> > significantly in excess of our liability insurance
> would cripple or
> > liquidate the Society.  If I were the attorney
> arguing such a case from
> > the
> > other side, I would be overjoyed to find that at
> three separate levels
> > (Society Marshal, Crown, and kingdom earl
> marshal), oversight
> > responsibility
> > was being performed by persons with no direct
> knowledge of the activity.
> > 
> > Membership dissatisfaction - It should come as no
> surprise to anyone
> > that
> > members participating in combat forms other than
> rattan combat have been
> > subjected to arbitrary rule changes, arbitrary
> equipment changes,
> > arbitrary
> > technique rulings, and arbitrary activity
> elimination.  These have
> > occurred
> > at the Society Marshal level and the kingdom
> level, often changing from
> > reign to reign, and demonstrably by people acting
> on erroneous or
> > inadequate
> > information.  They have been done by officers
> without direct expertise
> > in
> > these other combat forms.  The members have also
> had to endure, on many
> > occasions, these types of actions by officers with
> active dislike or
> > overt
> > hostility to their activities, even, in some
> cases, to pursuing an
> > agenda to
> > eliminate them.
> > 
> > Concerning the last point, I wish to make it clear
> that I am not talking
> > exclusively about rapier combat.  Similar
> problems, although fewer in
> > number, have occurred with combat archery (on
> again, off again, hit
> > them,
> > don't hit them), siege weapons (ever had anyone
> firing onions at you
> > during
> > a battle?  It's happened.), and equestrian
> activities.  It is occurring
> > right now with period combat studies.  Notice I
> said "studies", not
> > fighting.  In the past few weeks we had the absurd
> situation of a
> > kingdom
> > earl marshal initially forbidding the showing, at
> an event, of a
> > videotape
> > illustrating historical combat techniques taken
> from period fighting
> > manuals.  The justification presented was that
> this might confuse
> > fighters
> > as to what was legal on the field.  This decision
> was even upheld by the
> > Society Marshal.  I believe, however, that the
> earl marshal in question
> > has
> > rethought his position.  Still, the incident
> illustrates that the
> > Marshallate as presently organized is not equipped
> to deal fairly and
> > appropriately with alternative combat-related
> activities.
> > 
> > There are, literally, thousands of members who use
> siege engines, fight
> > with
> > rapiers, and study historical combat techniques. 
> They also hold events,
> > cook feasts, serve their Crowns, and in short,
> behave like all others
> > members.  They deserve better treatment and more
> respect than they have
> > gotten up to this point.  They deserve to be as
> safe in their activities
> > as
> > we can make them, just like we rattan fighters.
> > 
> > The elements of the Proposal that follows will
> address each of these
> > issues.
> > 
> > Reorganization of the Marshallate
> > 
> > Society Level: Discussion and justification for
> this have been argued
> > above.
> > In summary, the present organizational structure
> places people with
> > little
> > or no expertise, and occasionally outright
> hostility, in decision
> > authority
> > over combat-related activities other than rattan
> combat.  This
> > compromises
> > the safety of the participants, our membership. 
> It also significantly
> > increases the legal liability of the Society in
> case of an injury
> > lawsuit.
> > It also exposes participants to the whimsy of
> officers not particularly
> > interested in their activities.
> > 
> > Arguments in favor of such a reorganization
> include:
> > 
> > All three of the major problems discussed above
> are solved or at least
> > heavily mitigated.
> > 
> > People not interested in a particular activity are
> no longer required to
> > be
> > in the loop.  They can confine their attentions to
> activities that do
> > interest them.
> > 
> > If done correctly, cross-activity technique
> sharing is enhanced.  I
> > refer
> > here particularly to the efforts of those studying
> historical combat
> > techniques on both rattan combat and rapier
> combat.
> > 
> > The positions of Society Marshal and king earl
> marshal will have a
> > larger
> > pool of candidates as they will no longer be tied
> to just rattan combat
> > expertise.
> > 
> > Arguments against might include:
> > 
> > It isn't traditional.
> > 
> > It dilutes the influence of rattan combat as the
> primary form of
> > fighting
> > within the Society.
> > 
> > The present Society Marshal and kingdom earls
> marshal won't like it.  It
> > removes much of their authority.
> > 
> > As a strong believer in both tradition and rattan
> combat, I will address
> > the
> > first argument below, later in the Proposal.  As
> to the second argument,
> > well, yes.  That's the idea.
> > 
> > Proposed:  The office of Marshal of the Society,
> as described in
> > Corpora, VI
> > D., will become a reporting office for activities
> related to combat and
> > archery.  Information coordination activities,
> working with the
> > Chirurgeon
> > General to promote safety, and working with the
> Minister of Arts and
> > Sciences will continue as present.  Supervision of
> combat and related
> > activities, supervision of subordinate marshals,
> and making policy
> > decisions, interpretations and clarifications
> regarding the Rules of the
> > Lists as they apply to a particular type of combat
> are now assigned to
> > the
> > deputy society marshals for each activity.  In
> particular, deputies will
> > be
> > appointed for rattan combat, rapier combat, siege
> weapons, historical
> > combat
> > studies, youth combat, and archery/thrown weapons.
>  Other deputies may
> > be
> > appointed as needed, however these deputies will
> have decision authority
> > over their particular activities.  Warrants for
> the Marshal of the
> > Society
> > and the Deputies defined below are signed by the
> Board of Directors.
> > 
> > Note:  New text is underscored.
> > 
> > Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as
> follows:  the text of VI
> > (Society Officers) D (Marshal of the Society) is
> deleted in its entirety
> > and
> > replaced with:
> > 
> > "The Marshal of the Society is responsible for
> reporting on activities
> > related to combat and archery to the Board of
> Directors.  This includes
> > coordinating the reporting from the Deputy Society
> Marshals for each
> > activity, and from the Earls Marshal of the
> kingdoms.  The Marshal of
> > the
> > Society will also work with the Chirurgeon General
> to promote safety in
> > the
> > Society's martial arts, and with the Minister of
> Arts and Sciences to
> > encourage research in armor and weapons.  Further,
> the Marshal of the
> > Society will have the responsibility to encourage
> and promote
> > participation
> > in combat and archery activities by the
> membership.  The Marshal of the
> > Society may appoint such Assistant Marshals as are
> necessary to fulfill
> > these responsibilities.
> > 
> > Deputy Society Marshals are created for the
> following activities:
> > Armored
> > Combat, Rapier Combat, Siege Engines, Archery,
> Youth Combat, and Period
> > Combat Studies. The Deputy Society Marshals are
> responsible for
> > activities
> > in their respective areas.  This includes
> directing the appropriate
> > Deputy
> > Earls Marshal of the kingdoms in matters
> concerning the supervision of
> > combat and related activities at Society events
> and the manner and
> > conduct
> > of duties of all marshals of their activities
> throughout the Society.
> > The
> > Board specifically authorizes these Deputy Society
> Marshals to make
> > policy
> > decisions, interpretations, and clarification
> regarding the Rules of the
> > Lists, for their respective activities only, and
> with the proviso that
> > such
> > rulings must be reported to the Board at the
> following meeting.  These
> > rulings will stand until and unless overruled by
> the Board."
> > 
> > Before I discuss the effect on the kingdoms, I
> want to explain some of
> > the
> > reasoning here.
> > 
> > First, additional deputy Society marshals can
> easily be created should
> > circumstances dictate.  Second, I have included a
> deputy, rather than an
> > assistant for siege engines.  The reason for this
> is that some of these
> > use
> > sufficient force to be quite dangerous in
> uneducated hands.  They need
> > to be
> > regulated by someone who really understands them.
> > 
> > Third, I feel that having the Archery deputy have
> responsibility for
> > target
> > activities and combat archery is a Good Thing. 
> The reason is the
> > necessity
> > of  having some sort of Society-wide standards,
> particularly when it
> > comes
> > to arrow construction, so that we can all play
> safely together.
> > 
> > Fourth, most kingdoms now have some form of youth
> combat, and others are
> > considering it.  This activity is still in its
> early stages, and there
> > is a
> > real opportunity here for the kingdoms to share
> best practices, if there
> > is
> > someone to do the coordination.  A Society-wide
> set of minimum standards
> > is
> > probably an important outcome.  I believe this
> level of official
> > attention
> > is appropriate, as I don?t think we have any
> assets more precious than
> > our
> > children.
> > 
> > Finally, although there has always been some level
> of interest, it is
> > only
> > recently that there has been dramatic growth in
> the interest level in
> > the
> > translation and study of historical combat
> techniques.  The important
> > word
> > here is "study".  This is not a competitive
> activity.  There are no
> > tournaments.  There are practices and
> demonstrations.  As some of these
> > use
> > weapons or other physical activity, there is risk
> to the participants.
> > It
> > isn't purely theoretical.  Consequently, it is
> necessary to have
> > regulations
> > and equipment standards overseen by someone with
> expertise in the
> > activity.
> > Placing the sidesword experiment here instead of
> under the Deputy
> > Society
> > Marshal for Rapier Combat might be worth
> considering.
> > 
> > I was recently asked why the study of historical
> combat techniques
> > should be
> > a Society activity.  The justification is simple,
> and comes from the
> > Articles of Incorporation, section II, which says:
> "...The purposes for
> > which this corporation is formed include: (a)
> Research and education in
> > the
> > field of pre- 17th Century Western Culture. (b)
> Generally, to engage in
> > research; publish material of relevance and
> interest to the field of
> > pre-17th Century Western Culture; to present
> activities and events which
> > re-create the environment of said era, such as,
> but not limited to,
> > tournaments, jousts, fairs, dances, classes, et
> cetera"
> > 
> > Now that is exactly what the period combat studies
> folks are doing, and
> > certainly more so than those of us who fight with
> rattan and rapier.
> > Some
> > of these techniques can probably be transferred to
> the armored and
> > rapier
> > combat fields, as they were used in period.
> > 
> > Kingdom Level: Proposed:  The earls marshal of the
> kingdoms become
> > reporting
> > officers with the responsibility to coordinate
> information flow from the
> > deputy earls marshal in their kingdoms and to
> report to the Society
> > Marshal.
> > They also have the duties to promote safety by
> working with their
> > kingdom
> > Chirurgeon and to promote general equipment
> standards improvement by
> > working
> > with their kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences.
> > 
> > For a kingdom to participate in a particular
> activity, it must appoint
> > the
> > appropriate deputy earl marshal for that activity.
>  Warrants for a
> > kingdom
> > earl marshal are signed by the Crown and the
> Society Marshal.  Warrants
> > for
> > a deputy earl marshal are signed by the Crown and
> the appropriate Deputy
> > Society Marshal.  The reasoning here is to make
> certain that persons
> > with
> > appropriate interest and expertise are overseeing
> each activity.
> > 
> > Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as
> follows:  the text of VII
> > (Kingdom, Principality, and Local Officers) D (The
> Earl Marshal) is
> > deleted
> > in its entirety and replaced with: ?The Earl
> Marshal is responsible for
> > reporting on activities related to combat and
> archery to the Crown and
> > the
> > Marshal of the Society.  This includes
> coordinating the reporting from
> > the
> > Deputy Earls Marshal for each activity within the
> kingdom.  The Earl
> > Marshal
> > will also work with the Chirurgeon to promote
> safety in the kingdom?s
> > martial arts, and with the Minister of Arts and
> Sciences to encourage
> > research in armor and weapons.  Further, the Earl
> Marshal will have the
> > responsibility to encourage and promote
> participation in combat and
> > archery
> > activities by the membership.  Deputy Earls
> Marshal may be appointed for
> > any
> > of the following activities:  Armored Combat,
> Rapier Combat, Siege
> > Engines,
> > Archery, Youth Combat, and Period Combat Studies. 
> However, none of
> > these
> > activities may be performed in the kingdom without
> an appropriate Deputy
> > Earl Marshal being appointed.  The Deputy Earls
> Marshal are responsible
> > for
> > all combat-related activities in their respective
> areas.  This includes
> > overseeing the conduct and safety of all martial
> arts in their
> > respective
> > areas, including but not limited to tournament
> lists, wars, practices,
> > and
> > combat demonstrations.  The Deputy Earls Marshal
> are also responsible
> > for
> > appointing and warranting subordinate marshals for
> their respective
> > areas."
> > 
> > Corpora VII I. (Duties of Other Officers) is
> changed to read: ?Specific
> > duties of Kingdom Lesser Officers, deputies,
> Principality Officers, and
> > Local Officers are defined by Royalty and the
> appropriate superior
> > officer
> > unless otherwise defined in Corpora.
> > 
> > Corpora VII J. (Appointment to office) 1, add
> after the first sentence:
> > ?Kingdom Deputy Earls Marshal are appointed by the
> Crown after due
> > consultation with the outgoing officer, the Earl
> Marshal, and any other
> > appropriate Great Officer."
> > 
> > Corpora VII K (Warranting / Rosters) 1, first
> sentence is changed from
> > ?Kingdom Great Officer?s appointments are
> confirmed by a signature from
> > the
> > Corporate Level and the Crown, on the standard
> warrant form."  to
> > ?Appointments of Kingdom Great Officers and Deputy
> Earls Marshal are
> > confirmed by a signature from the appropriate
> Deputy Society Marshal,
> > and
> > the Crown, on the standard warrant form."
> > 
> > Again, the purpose here is simply to ensure that
> people with appropriate
> > interest and expertise are in charge of each
> activity.  The Crown: I
> > expect
> > this will actually be the most controversial part
> of this Proposal.
> > First
> > let me say that I have been a member for more than
> 28 years and a peer
> > for
> > nearly 25.  I have always endeavored to support my
> Crown and my Kingdom,
> > no
> > matter where I have lived.
> > 
> > When there was only rattan combat, it made sense
> to have the Sovereign
> > oversee the fighting.  One could safely assume
> that he (it was always a
> > he
> > then) was pretty good at it.  Unfortunately, few
> Sovereigns, are expert
> > in
> > other forms of combat activity, and probably none
> are in all of them.
> > It
> > makes sense, therefore, to reduce the
> responsibility of the Crown for
> > these
> > areas.  The justification is exactly the same as
> for the Marshallate.
> > 
> > On the other hand, I?m a firm believer in
> traditions, and am not trying
> > here
> > to change the way we select our Crowns.
> > 
> > Therefore, what I am proposing is a compromise
> between the traditional
> > privileges of the Crown and the safety and
> enjoyment of the membership.
> > 
> > Specifically, Proposed: The Sovereign retains
> final oversight
> > responsibility
> > for rattan combat within the kingdom.  Oversight
> responsibilities for
> > other
> > activities devolve to the appropriate deputy earl
> marshal. Access to the
> > fighting field, any fighting field, is granted at
> the pleasure of the
> > Sovereign.  The Sovereign retains the right to
> remove any fighter, at
> > any
> > time, from any field. Rattan combat remains the
> only formal tournament
> > lists
> > for royal ranks and titles, unless a specific
> exemption is granted by
> > the
> > Board.
> > 
> > Enabling legislation -  Corpora is changed as
> follows: IV (Royalty) A.
> > (Selection) 1. ?Royal Lists must be conducted at a
> tournament announced
> > in
> > the kingdom newsletter as being for that purpose. 
> Crowns or Coronets
> > who
> > wish to conduct a royal list in a manner other
> than individual armored
> > combat must obtain the prior approval of the Board
> of Directors."
> > 
> > Corpora IV C (Duties)  9 is changed to read: ?The
> Sovereign supervises
> > armored combat on the field of honor.
> > 
> > Corpora IV C 10 is renumbered as IV C 11.
> > 
> > Corpora IV C (new) 10 is added, as follows:  ?The
> privilege of access to
> > the
> > combat fields, regardless of the type of combat
> activity being
> > performed, is
> > granted at the pleasure of the Sovereign. The
> Sovereign may remove any
> > fighter, at any time, from any tourney or melee
> combat field, for any
> > period
> > of time, up to the duration of the Reign.  Such
> action shall not be
> > construed to indicate a safety violation has
> occurred; no Marshallate
> > action
> > may be taken as the result of this exercise of
> Royal prerogative.
> > Safety
> > violations shall be addressed through reports to,
> and appropriate
> > actions
> > by, the Marshallate."
> > 
> > Other Changes These are required, mostly for
> consistency, to complete
> > the
> > proposed implementation. Proposed:
> > 
> > Corpora IX (Society Combat) A. (Society
> Combat-Related Activities) 1,
> > first
> > sentence is replaced with: ?Society combat-related
> activities are
> > defined as
> > armored combat, rapier combat, combat archery,
> marshalling, scouting,
> > banner
> > bearing in combat, youth combat, and period combat
> studies."
> > 
> > Corpora IX A. 2, first paragraph is replaced with:
> ?A participant in any
> > of
> > the Society combat-related activities as defined
> above must be
> > authorized by
> > a marshal warranted and designated by the Deputy
> Earl Marshal of a
> > kingdom
> > for that activity, or his representative, as able
> to authorize
> > individuals
> > in the appropriate activity."
> > 
> > Corpora IX A. 6, is deleted in its entirety and
> replaced with: ?Prior to
> > the
> > authorization of a minor in any Society
> combat-related activity, the
> > parent
> > or guardian of the minor must witness the
> activity, discuss it with a
> > witnessing marshal, and execute a Waiver,
> indemnity, or other required
> > document for the minor.  The witnessing marshal
> must be explicitly
> > authorized to perform this function by the Deputy
> Earl Marshal for Youth
> > Combat of that kingdom.  The marshal who
> authorizes a minor person for
> > any
> > form of Society combat-related activity must the
> Kingdom or Principality
> > Deputy Earl Marshal for Youth Combat, or the
> Kingdom or Principality
> > Deputy
> > Earl Marshal for that activity.  This need not be
> the same person as the
> > witnessing marshal."
> > 
> > Corpora IX B (The Rules of the Lists) 2, is
> deleted in its entirety and
> > replaced with: ?No person shall participate in
> Combat-Related activities
> > (including armored combat, rapier combat, combat
> archery, marshalling,
> > scouting, banner bearing in combat, youth combat,
> and period combat
> > studies)
> > outside of formal training sessions unless and
> until he or she shall
> > have
> > been properly authorized under Society and kingdom
> procedures."
> > 
> > Corpora IX C (Rapier Fighting in the Society) is
> now superfluous and
> > therefore deleted.
> > 
> > Other Documents
> > 
> > As near as I can determine, no changes to the
> Articles of Incorporation,
> > By-
> > Laws, or Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc. are
> required to implement
> > this
> > proposal.
> > 
> > Other Considerations
> > 
> > Should the Board of Directors act favorably on
> this Proposal, presumably
> > after consultation with the membership, a
> reasonable amount of time
> > should
> > be given for implementation so that the kingdoms
> have a chance to adjust
> > their organizations.  Six months seems about
> right, a year is probably
> > too
> > long.
> > 
> > In Conclusion
> > 
> > My motivation for this Proposal is simple.  I am
> worried about the
> > Society.
> > We do not seem to be growing.  We do seem to be
> aging, and a significant
> > number of the kids drop out on reaching adulthood.
>  The membership is
> > well
> > aware that the organization has financial
> difficulties.
> > 
> > We also have too much friction.  When I joined, I
> was given to believe
> > that
> > the Society was inclusive.  There were many, many
> different activities,
> > and
> > people were encouraged and rewarded for excelling
> in any field of
> > interest.
> > I continue to believe that should be one our
> ideals; it may be our very
> > greatest strength.
> > 
> > Alas, for reasons that completely elude me, I have
> witnessed, time and
> > again, one group trying to restrict the activities
> of another group.
> > And
> > they weren?t even interested in participating
> themselves, they just
> > didn?t
> > want anyone else to do it.
> > 
> > But I also believe that we are a Society that puts
> a high premium on
> > courtesy and on honor.  The reason that people
> stay in the Society for
> > decades is that generally the org
> 
> 


=====
Because we love forever, we live forever. ab initio, ad infinitum

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