[Artemisia] Question for Kingdom Officers

Sun Jul 19 15:36:07 CDT 2009

Morgan,

I'll only have a few short responses to this, as a topic of this nature will rapidly become circular, and frankly, I have neither time, nor interest to type away a response to every question someone comes up with.

First:  A Knight will be dramatically more effective as a Earl Marshal than a non-belt.  This is true not only for Artemisia but the known worlds.  Bitter experience, and hurt people have borne this out.  Exactly the same for a Kingdom A&S Officer, things will go much better if they are a Laural.  I ain't saying it's right, but I'm saying that's the way it is.  Again, I have interest in debating this point's "fairness" or not.  It's the reality....deal with it.

Second:  Frankly, I'm not your errand boy.  If you want to see what the governing documents say, have at it.  I can tell you how things have worked over multiple kingdoms, over multiple years...and we're in the norm.

Third:  If someone has problems with a Kingdom or Local officer, the person with the problem should gather up their courage and go talk to the officer about those issues.  It's actually part of the grievance process.  Otherwise, I see absolutely no value in your suggestion of opening up or soliciting complaints against an officer in determining if their warrant should be extended or not.

There are only so many people qualified and willing to become an officer to make sure that the rest of the populous can have fun.  If we make things too hard, or ornerous our list of people wanting to take all that on will dwindle.  And frankly, it's not a real deep list right now.  Don't make Atlas shrug....just a suggestion.

YIS,  Alan

> Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:16:34 -0700
> From: morganblaidddu at yahoo.com
> To: artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org
> Subject: Re: [Artemisia] Question for Kingdom Officers
> 
> 
> Interesting responses, Your Grace, that lead me to other questions- First, are the requirements for the job being posted?  Second, if someone does submit for a certain Kingdom job, are they informed that they are not qualified, and why, or do we just resort to the begging/coercing etc., of a qualified candidate, and put off making the decision until someone who is qualified steps up?  For instance, in Your case, You said You wanted to give the Knights extra time to decide whether they were interested in Your job, does that mean that only a Knight would be qualified to hold the Kingdom Earl Marshal position?  If so, does it say that in the job description, or is that one of those "unwritten rules" that can cause such difficulties?  Also, You said You informed the Chivalry over a year ahead of time, are you going to inform the Populace at large as well (other than this discussion, of course)?  Are You required to do so by any of our
>  Governing Documents, and if so, which one(s)?  If You are notifying the Populace, either by requirement or personal choice, how much "lead time" are you giving, i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 1 year? 
> I realize, of course, that you can only answer for yourself, but I think this discussion will be helpful
> to both the general Populace in helping to decide if they should put in for a Kingdom level job, as well as helping the Kingdom Officers find some likely candidates for deputies/replacements.  While I do agree to a point with the statement "if you are interested in a Kingdom Office, ask that Officer", I must also say that I've heard several times in my SCA "career" the statement "If I had known they were at the end of their warrant, I would've put in for the job."  I do agree with You that if all of our Kingdom Officers announce that their Warrant is ending and that they intend to renew, and that comments/concerns can be sent to the Kingdom Seneschal/ Crown/ Society Officer, there will be several complaints sent in regarding every one of them.  Most of those complaints will be personal and petty in nature, absolutely, but there may also be legitimate, serious concerns regarding someone's performance as a Kingdom Officer, and while those issues may not
>  be enough to replace said Officer during his/her Warrant, they may very well be reason enough to not renew her/his Warrant for another term of Office.
> 
> Of course, I could be wrong, I'm just putting forth points for calm, well-reasoned discussion.
> 
> 
> Morgan
>  
>  
> Baron Morgan Blaidd Du,
> GHA(2), CQC, PCA, CCH;
> 
> Protege and Ghillie to Baron Master James Ulrich MacKellar, OL OP;
> and Baroness Mistress Rachel Ashton, OP
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Allen Hall <dukealan at q.com>
> > To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 11:37:46 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Artemisia] Question for Kingdom Officers
> > 
> > 
> > An interesting question...
> > 
> > Typically, it is extremely difficult to get someone to bid for a Kingdom 
> > Office.  Especially someone who is actually qualified.  When I put in for Earl 
> > Marshal, there was NO ONE else who stepped up.  One person had been begged, 
> > threatened, coerced, etc, just prior to me putting in.  He was DELIGHTED to be 
> > able to back out.
> > 
> > This situation is not unusual, and in fact, may be more typical than not.
> > 
> > If someone is truly interested in a Kingdom level job, they should check with 
> > the officer doing it, ask questions (not interrogate them), and volunteer to 
> > assist.  In many cases, that Kingdom Officer will be glad for the help...and the 
> > chance to train a replacement.
> > 
> > All too often, people step up into an office, because the Crown is their buddy, 
> > and they thought it was going to get them something (prestige, power, peerage), 
> > and they are really disappointed when they find out the Kingdom Office actually 
> > involves WORK.  
> > 
> > Nearly all Kingdom Officers have to report monthly.  They have to collect 
> > reports from all the local groups in the Kingdom (read that as contacting some 
> > local officers every month to even get a report).  Finally, the Kingdom Officer 
> > typically has to report to their Society counterpart every quarter.  Now add 
> > that the Society Counterpart will be passing down things coming from Corporate, 
> > or asking for ideas to feed to Corporate about possible changes, etc, etc, etc.
> > 
> > Kingdom Office warrants are typically 2 years.  It is not unusual for someone to 
> > extend a year, or even another 2 years, depending upon the situation.
> > 
> > In my case, I announced in Knight's Circle a little over a year ahead that I 
> > would be stepping down in Dec, 2009.  I wanted to give the Knights plenty of 
> > time to consider whether they were interested in the job.
> > 
> > The notion of putting out the notice of the warrant expiring to see if anyone 
> > has objections is not very realistic.  There will ALWAYS be objections from 
> > someone, sometimes realistic, and sometimes petty, or jealousy.  It will come 
> > down to who will really DO the job, and do it for the whole time they hold that 
> > job.
> > 
> > Some folks think that they are really good and are the right person for the 
> > job.  Unfortunately, most of the rest of us wouldn't agree...
> > 
> > Just my 2 cents worth, gathered from many, many years of being an officer or 
> > being directly involved with officers.
> > 
> > YIS,  Alan
> 
> 
> 
>       
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