FW: [SCA-AE] Crown Tourney Question/personal banner display?

[KaziBrionSCA]

 << I have to admit the one I'm not so fond of is the must have letters of
recommendation from 3 Peers if you aren't a peer. I can sort of understand
the reasons but it would eliminate me from fighting if I were able to at
this point. >>
 
I, also, can understand the desire to somehow "pre-qualify" the Candidates.
The letter process will not do it, though.  This is why:
 
- Peers are recognized, not "made".  There are many people who are peers,
but haven't been officially recognized as Peers  (sometimes for many years)

 
- Being an official Peer is not an automatic prequalifier for being a good
Candidate.   I know and like some Peers who I think would be awful
administrators, for instance. 
 
- There are people whom I don't see as Peers (whether they are recognized or
not), who I think would make at least decent rulers.  There is always growth
potential, and we all had to start somewhere.
 
- Making sure that brand new people without a clue don't enter and win is an
extremely valid point.  Requiring an award (AOA, Keystone) isn't fair
either, though.  We all know someone who doesn't have a basic AOA after
several years of active SCA involvement (The rule says one has to be a
kingdom resident for 1 year to address this issue)
 
- Therefore, the only way to prequalify a candidate is for the King and
Queen to discuss whom they will allow in their crown.  If the King and Queen
don't know a person, they can ask about them privately, then perhaps talk to
them and address a concern ("Gee, Joe, I heard a rumor you are declaring
bankruptcy...if this is so, winning the Crown would not be the best thing
for you or for the Kingdom.  I'd like you to withdraw you Letter of
Intent.")  This would take time...but what doesn't? I don't see a way around
it.
 
There is no easy, EFFECTIVE way of prequalifying Candidates.  Letters from
three Peers are unlikely to predict anything.  We have gotten offers from a
number of Peers who would write a letter, once it became known that Brion
and I won't be entering.  It was very kind of them.  However, we have other
plans at this time.  
 
Personally, I felt embarrassed to impose on good friends with paperwork
which would purport to give some kind of an external validation of my worth
as a person.  How would it look?  Also, you get to a point where selecting
WHICH peers you will ask on such a sensitive matter becomes an issue. Is
your list too heavily skewed to any particular order?  Gender?  Age group?
Household? Does everybody need to be in the Kingdom?  If I approach only
friends, is that a fair determination of my worth as a person?  Shouldn't I
approach my detractors as well? Is this or that Peer active enough for their
voice to have weight with the Crown?  If other Peer-friends find out that
they are not the ones who have been asked, will their feelings be hurt?
Will they say, "Why not me?  I would have gladly written you an exhaustive
letter..."
 
So I didn't feel comfortable with the process.  The new and improved name
and device are ready for submission, and I am glad for having had the
impetus to finally get ready to resubmit.  The requirement to have one's
personal worth and value externally verified by three Peers is the one that
keeps me in the spectator crowd this time around.   It was, however, a fair
and honest attempt at addressing a particular problem. 
 
<<I don't know any 3 Peers who know me well enough to write such a letter.>>
 
I see.  Maybe you know them casually, and maybe you know 3 Peers would be
*kind* enough to do so, but you don't feel THEY know YOU well enough.
That's fair. I doubt many of us are qualified to see within the depth of our
fellow man's soul.  Even after eye contact :-)

 << In Service,
Snaebjorn
who isn't likely to ever be a peer without winning crown. >> 
 
 Stick around long enough, pick up enough skills, and make enough impact
building the community around you , and you'll become a peer, and may even
be recognized as a Peer.   But, being recognized doesn't matter much in the
great scheme of things. Ask yourself:  Are you having fun?  Do you help
others have fun?  Are you learning something new?  That's what matters.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming...
 
Kazi