[EKStationers] EK Stationers Company -- opening discussion!

[Heather Gray]

This email is a compilation of various discussions between Master Iheronimus
Brückner, Maître Lyle fitz William, and Maîtresse Elwynne Rowenna of
Wentworth, currently having been composed by M. Elwynne, with review by M.
Lyle.

We started discussing the formation of a stationers company within the East
earlier this year, then people's lives got a bit too busy.  We'd like to get
the discussion moving again, so below is a draft of what the stationers
company could be.  Please review and see what you think of it, and please do
post any thoughts you have on it, be it affirmation or suggestions for
changes and/or additions.

In service,
Elwynne

*****
PURPOSE
We hope to accomplish the following through the formation of an East Kingdom
livery company for stationers:
- To promote book arts, including bookbinding, printing, papermaking,
scribal arts, by helping interested artisans with research, instruction,
discussion, feedback, and networking.
- To encourage the production of books and book materials, whether by an
individual or a group.  The company recognizes that some projects will be
for the kingdom at some level, some will be for an individual’s interest,
and some will be for profit (commerce, fundraisers, etc.).

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SKILL LEVELS
A difference is being made here in the following two sections between titles
used to indicate positions of responsibility and titles used to indicate
skill level.

The positions of Master of the Company and Wardens are primarily
administrative in nature, therefore while it would be best for a person who
is, for example, Warden for bookbinders, to have knowledge of bookbinding,
it is not necessary that this person have attained mastery in the skills of
bookbinding.  What is necessary is for this person, is to have enough
familiarity with bookbinding to be of service in discussions with teachers,
to be good at managing and paperwork, and to have good communication skills.

Teachers are primarily responsible for educating within their area of expert
ise, but do have some administrative duties (reporting activities to
Wardens, discussing whether someone is ready to advance to journeyman,
etc.), and also need to have good communication skills.  People who teach
may be journeyman or master level (see below).


POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE COMPANY
1. Master Warden
2. Wardens for each of the following five (5) areas:
- Bookbinding
- Printing
- Papermaking
- Scriveners (incl. quill cutting)
- Limners
3. Teachers


RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH OF THE OFFICES/POSITIONS
Master Warden –
- Oversee Wardens (discuss what’s happening in their area, advise and/or
support as needed)
- Oversee activities of the company as a whole
- Represent the company viz. the royalty
- Keep records of company activities

Wardens –
- Oversee activities of teachers and students within his/her area
- Each Warden should be able to work with the other Wardens when a
multi-area project comes up to find someone to oversee the project (i.e., a
master of the company)
- Act as a point of contact for persons interested in starting a commercial
and/or independent project, to help find persons interested in participating
in the project
- Report to Master Warden on activities in his/her area

Teachers –
- Teach and guide interested persons in their area of expertise, whether via
one-on-one, classes, workshops, or articles.
- Review skill levels of students, on own and/or with other teachers
- Report to activities to his/her Warden


TITLES OF LEVELS OF SKILL
- Master of the Company
- Journeyman
- Novice


SKILL LEVELS/EXPERIENCE
Novice –
- teachable, willing and able to learn

Journeyman –
- Some historical knowledge of area of interest in general, including period
applications
- Knows methods/techniques well enough to work on own
- Good knowledge of some specific area(s)
- May possibly teach

Master of the Company/Master XXX –  (XXX = name of area of expertise) -
- Expertise in an area, including techniques and historical aspects of that
area
- Teaches

NOTE: In order to not be confused with the SCA titles of Master/Mistress
that indicate being a peer in something, examples of how someone would use
the title Master in a company context are: Master Papermaker, Master
Bookbinder.   When announcing someone in court or if the person is signing a
missive, it might be used in this way, as an example: Lady Jane, Master
Lymner.


ADVANCEMENT IN THE COMPANY
The different areas of the company are considered to be separate and equal.
Company members may choose to pursue one or more areas of interest.
Consideration of their skills and whether they are ready to advance shall be
judged separately for each area.  Members are not required to learn how to
do each and every activity covered by the company, therefore it is possible
to attain mastery, for instance, in bookbinding, without attaining mastery
in calligraphy.

NOTE: Although a side effect of attaining mastery in one area often entails
at least a passing familiarity with how the different crafts interrelate,
this is not the same as actually having the skills needed to create
something in those other crafts.

QUESTION: Who is responsible for determining when a person is ready to
advance to journeyman or master?  How will this be done? How will it be
recognized (ceremony, badge, cord, etc.)?


ELECTIONS
Elections for Master Warden and Wardens to be held every ___ years.
Elections to be held once company is established and stabilized.

Discussion: Length of terms / No term limit / ?