[Artemisia] Kingdom A&S entrants

[Michele Wolf]

While you are not trying, per se, to be argumentative, you often do a good imitation.  For the level of entries and competition, effort and polishing, documentation and sheep number of items required for a Kingdom level competition of this sort, I am very happy with 6 entrants going for Champion... And not just compared to some lower number.  This is a competition that I would only think of entering once in several years and I turn out a decent body of work!  

I asked my lord's permission to allow me to pursue this two months ago, because I had one final project in mind and knew it would take every available moment in the intervening time to get that project done and documented (and the hard part of it has been done for a year!)  My other four entries were entirely done *and documented*.  That is not an effort that one could be expected to throw together.

I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed with the number of entrants outside of the competition.  There is no entry requirement other than that there be *some* documentation (a very good requirement!).  The feedback is generally very helpful (especially if taken with the pinch of salt!) and the process is very valuable for progressing in an art, preparing for a future championship, gaining renown, impressing your knight/pel/laurel/mate/crown/etc/etc, and generally getting an insight into this aspect of our re-creation society.  I think that it would be mete for a challenge to go out to all to enter their works in a venue such as this.. But to go for champion, I would recommend that you be ready to put forth some serious effort!

I know that one of the biggest hurdles for many folks is the requirement for documentation.  In Arn Hold, we have workshops before our competitions and people are informed that they should ask for any help that they need.. From looking for sources, examples of previous documentation and proofreading and pre-judging feedback.  This isn't cheating!  Cheating would be if I did you entry for you.  Your documentation is a (very important) sidenote.. Not the entry itself.  I would recommend that folks in all groups offer this help.  Documentation shouldn't keep a talented artisan from this venue!

Off my soapbox (for now.. Depends on what else comes up really)

Baroness Giliana

-----Original Message-----
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:33:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: morgan wolf <morganblaidddu at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] Kingdom A&S entrants
To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list
	<artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
Message-ID: <826550.16064.qm at web32807.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
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I will wholeheartedly agree,?My Prince,?that having 6 competitors for Champion is much better than those years when we've only had two or three, or worst of all one, but perhaps these competitions should *not* be Apples and Bungee Jumping.? We all know that fighting is "only" 10-30% of what we do, i.e. only 10-30% of us are authorized fighters, so what are the other 70% of us doing?? Also consider, please, that one of the "Knightly Virtues" is knowledge of the Arts and Sciences.? Would it not therefore by as appropriate for Knights to require their squires and men-at-arms to enter for A&S Champion as it is for them to require their men(or women)?to enter Queen's Champion, or the Uprising Unbelted Tourney?? Is it not logical to think that our many Laurels should consider this as important an undertaking as most Knights consider the King's Champion Tourney?? Or that they would require their apprentices to enter this Championship, just as many
 Knights require their squires to enter Queen's Champion?

Please understand, one and all, that I am *not* trying to be argumentative, nor do I wish to degrade the great efforts put forth by those 6 entrants.? In fact, each and every one of those entrants has my full admiration and deepest gratitude, thank you all for making it an actual competition this year.? I am simply asking the questions that I think need to be asked, this is not a personal attack on anyone.? And because I know it will be asked- yes, I did intend to enter for Champion this year, several medium issues, revolving around/attached to one major issue prevented me from doing so.? If anyone needs further clarification of that, they are welcome to contact me privately.

So, a challenge- I will be entering the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Champion Competition next year, and giving you all a full year to prepare, I call on all Proteges, Apprentices, and Squires to meet me on that field of Artistic Battle.? Be a credit to your Pelicans, Laurels, and Knights, and show that you have taken this "Peer-like Quality" to heart.? And if any of you Peers feel that my challenge to your Protege/Apprentice/Squire is inappropriate, you are welcome to either take me to task privately, or to answer my challenge in their stead.
? 
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Barwn?Morgan Blaidd Du 'r Chloffa