cormac | Sponsoring list fields

Sponsoring list fields

At QC on Sunday, quite by accident, my lady and I assumed ownership and responsibility for one of the list fields. We supplied the fighters, consorts, marshals and list runners with shade and refreshment, and a good time was had by all.

I think this idea may really benefit the kingdom, and propose that baronies and major households consider "sponsoring" their own field for kingdom events, on a volunteer basis; providing a banner, herald, marshals and list runners (if they've got 'em) and hospitality. It would drastically ease the burden of Bellows and the KEM, make the day a lot easier on the fighters and consorts, and (especially for Crown Tourney) introduce some of the lesser-known aspirants to the Crown to their populace. It would also instill pride in the group, as instead of "on the Or field" or "on the field picnicky" the heralds would cry "on the Angels field" or "On the Hospitallers field."

Though the minimum number of fields wouldn't be impacted, assuming there were enough volunteers to fill the fields before this idea came about, the maximum number of fields could be increased as more groups wish to sponsor a field, making the tournaments run that much faster.

I put it out for discussion: what do you think? Would there be interest in voluntary sponsoring of fields for kingdom events?

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I think that this discussion might benefit from a consultation with the present Bellows Herald, and a certain Earl Marshall of Caid and the lovely Sir Kolfinna will tolerate the tongue in cheek.

Seriously, It gave me some vested interest in what was going on in the Eric and I am not a fighter person. I got to meet two of the most charming young ladies who were running cards to Lists, and I got to hear about the different fighters from their consorts which was an education.

I got to take care of you (like I'm going to stop doing that?) and I got to hear other people's ideas of what we can do with our new house.

It was a blast to serve my Kingdom in such a non-stressful way.

I plan on supporting a fighting eric again if the baronies don't steal them all.

I like it in the abstract, but I have to admit I worry that it will become another in group/out group thing...one of the things I've noticed about Caid is that it really seems to be more a series of interrelated subgroups (households, guilds, fighting bands, etc) rather than a single entity, and I'm leery of anything that can be used to further that even if it wasn't intended as such.

I'm not sure I understand why you think a series of interrelated subgroups is a bad thing.

Everyone in the SCA has a lot of ways they identify themselves. Sometimes it's simply as a Caidan, other times it's as a member of a local group, or as a member of an interest group like a herald or a scribe or weaver.

I think the only time this is bad is when a person identifies themselves solely in one group and tries to make that group superior in some way. Most people don't do that, at least that I see.

My concern I guess is that it could quickly become an opportunity for one-upsmanship, and not necessarily in a good way.

I think there are a lot of inclusive people in the Society and

cormac is definately one of them, but there are also people who tend whether consciously or subconsciously to form cliques and begin to exclude others (which is what I think you're suggesting with the identification with one group and the attempt to make that group superior) and my worry is if sections of formerly public ground at events become the province of said people that could be a problem.

It's probably my tendency to leap to the worst-case scenario and go from there.

Tourney Field Heraldry has been an area where otherwise unattached and 'non-belonging' folks have long been able to walk up, volunteer, and have something to do for the day. There are really very few opportunities like this at most events.

If fields become sponsored by entities, that is likely to change...not for the better, as it won't be 'walk up and be useful' any more, it will be 'you need to sign up with your household/barony/special interest group' - which is automatically less inclusive.

t_C

Exclusion and the appearance thereof are concerns of mine as well. There are quite a few disillusioned people in the SCA who would otherwise be useful and effective volunteers but feel that their contributions aren't appreciated.

However, I suspect this type of field sponsoring wouldn't happen more than five times a year; 2 Crowns, 2 Queen's Champions, and CP Prize (maybe) as kingdom tournaments, would be the only events I'd expect this to happen at, as they'd feature the efforts of individual groups within the kingdom on a very visual basis. Shire/Baronial events are by definition smaller, and run by the local group, so I wouldn't expect a household or geopolitical group to show up and run a field (or if they did, they'd be local households or cantons/colleges within the local group).

Another option, though one that does less to solve the volunteer issues we've been having in the kingdom, would be for groups to water and shade the fighters, consorts, marshals and heralds, but not claim the field itself or be the sole provider of volunteers for the field (in other words, common courtesy and hospitality).

I have no issue with someone leaping to the worst case scenario. It is amazing how much brainstorming happens from that position of flight...

Hmmm. Certainly I felt pride at being able to offer my fellow participants a place to sit out of the sun and to get water for their fighters.

and I can see where if this wasn't handled well it would cause no end of clique and in-crowd issues... I guess I like to keep it at the level of simple enough not to break down.

As an alternative idea (but I don't much like it for complication alone)

Would it work if the groups that wanted to support a field put into a lottery for the day? Maybe an event or two in advance which would give a chance to prepare and would keep the playing field of participation level and open to all who wished to participate? Noting that some people don't handle playing nicely with others if a problem occurred there would have to be a mechanism by which these people weren't allowed to play in that lottery until they had corrected the problems that got them bumped out of it...and that a table for water, etc be set up in a place that had no man's land status, so that if one didn't approve of the idea the fighter, consort, marshal, herald, and medical/ water-bearing groups would still have a place they felt they could go without being put upon?

Ya know, I spent five years (before either of you were on the scene here, that I know of) running something called Celestia's Tavern. Cormac would have been a very new fencer the last year.

A 20x20 pavilion, walls, tables, chairs, pillows, an Annex for the shaded storing of weapons bags, free icewater, free lemonade, and free fighter-friendly snacks. Hot drinks and soups in the colder weather months, as well. It started out aimed at the fencing community, and very quickly opened itself up to the field heralds (for whom a special table was placed in the front of the pavilion so they could dart over between rounds and get a drink and some shade, and have a place to leave their personal belongings) and a large number of friendly folks. At one point I thought I'd have to purchase another pavilion, as we began to attract heavy fighters who were 'fencer friendly' and families of fighters....

This didn't need signup sheets, baronial or household (I did this alone) influence or sponsorship. It did need me to haul all those furnishings and to make weekly visits to Smart and Final. It did put hundreds of thousands of miles on my car - those five years I attended events 40 weeks of the year. The back end of the car still sags from hauling all that weight for so many years. (I'm still driving it. Buy Toyota!).

But it didn't need any Baronial sponsorship nor a lottery nor anything else. If someone wanted to help they brought a bag of something to contribute, if not, no problem. Come in, sit down, enjoy the shade, check your weapons at the door, have a drink.

If you want to do it, do it. They will come. You don't need all this other fluff, nor baronial sponsorship and lotteries and other complications. You won't get any CREDIT for it without all that, but you don't NEED it. Just do it.

I could expound on how to solve volunteer problems in this kingdom (it isn't what you think) but I am meant to be on hiatus here until my BP gets back down to normal numbers, darnit. You'll have to wait on that.

t_C

What happened to Celestia's Tavern (besides the website)? It ended some years ago, when I was laid off from the career (and payscale, and company-paid medical) that made that level of travel and the weekly expenditures possible.

Dearest of Ladies, I do remember hearing of this.

Lord Marcus Naturalis is one of my dearest friends
and he described a great deal of such kinds of things
to me. I learned about the Gravity Well from this
gentle. I had the opportunity to serve Wulfhere before
he died in Naevehjem and that was my first exposure
to Caid as a Kingdom.

You have just described one of the many pillars of
service and ideal that Poore House is being run on.

Thank you for the gift of encouragement that you have
just given.

You will always be welcome in any place that hospitality
is within my gift.

I like this a lot better than trying to add a level of organization to the process. Admittedly the aspect of

cormac's original idea I liked the most is the idea that sponsorship of fields would allow more erics, thus making the tourney easier. A more decentralized system would preclude that to an extent.

What if instead of sponsoring a field, groups were to set up their own hospitality on this model, make it clear that it's open to anyone who wants to come in (not something that's always perfectly clear) and then people looking for volunteers could just visit each hospitality center rather than sort of canvassing the whole field? Or, conversely, the various centers could funnel people who seem interested towards the appropriate bodies without it being "you're with us, so you need to go do X"

I know that my 'household' (laughable at best these days -- call it the folks on the fringe I camp with. . . I only really have a household at Estrella) doesn't tend to do a whole lot, but that since I don't get a chance to come out and play very much my lady and I like to volunteer at any event we do make. Being able to do that without a commitment to a group is important to me, since I'm a bit leery of joining anything larger than the aforementioned household right now (long story harkening back to my first event and various other things. I'll talk about it if anyone is interested but I'm not sure it's germane). The sense that I have to do X, Y, and Z to volunteer is going to put me off. I like the ability to just walk up and say "hi, I'm here to help, what do you need?"

"What if instead of sponsoring a field, groups were to set up their own hospitality on this model, make it clear that it's open to anyone who wants to come in (not something that's always perfectly clear) and then people looking for volunteers could just visit each hospitality center rather than sort of canvassing the whole field?"

Because they won't get 'credit' for just doing it.
I did not even receive an AOA for five years of hospitality at my own expense.
Yet the Court and Guard always seemed to know where they could refill Their Majesties' goblets...

It is very important to me that there not be unnecessary layers of protocol and paperwork added to ANY of the SCA. It simply is not needed other than to make an individual or two feel 'important'.

I too like the ability to just walk up and say I'm here to help. We've lost that, to a great extent. I cannot tell you how many events this past year or two I have driven to, paid site fee, gone to see what I could do to help, been told no help is necessary, and then left before noon, in search of some modern-world interesting thing to do...because I wasn't needed, or needed to be in the 'in group' in order to help.

People who are IN the 'in group' never do grok this. There's two fine examples of that right here on this comment page.

t_C, calling it like it is, folks.

Interesting idea. Going to be at Gyldenholt? We can talk then...

[reposted for new icon :) ]

I plan on being there, barring major catastrophe.

I'm dragging him. He'll be there.

I think it's an interesting idea, as well. It certainly doesn't seem exclusionary to me, as sponsoring a field need not imply others cannot volunteer to assist the sponsoring group. It sounds fun! Thank you, both, for your continued generosity.

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Celestia's Tavern

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