[Mid] AOAs - another manifesto for the fire.

>Good Gentles,
>I've been reading all the posts on this subject, and find myself confused,
>as always. Let me try to explain;
>1. An AoA gives me the right to display my device? But dont I already have
>that right as a member of the SCA with a registered device?
>2. An AoA is a way of saying "your one of us"? God, I hope not, that would
>mean that I'm not, and most of the people I know are not one of us.
>3. What is an AoA actually given for? I've seen them given to children for
>doing dishes at an event, while autocrats, feastocrats, chroniclers, cooks,
>and every other discription of service are totally ignored.
>If I understand correctly, an AoA is given by the kingdom as a sort of
>"ataboy". Its a way for the kingdom to say thanks, without really giving
>away anything. I mean to say that it does not give rank or position, and no
>one has to bow when you walk by.
>To sum it up, what is an AoA other than a way for the kingdom to say thank
>you to someone they happen to be paying attention to at the time. If it
>truely is more than that, I would really like to hear what that extra
>something is.
>BRAN~
>PS This doesnt mean I wouldnt give my right arm to have one. (:-)

1) As far as I know, you are correct in your assumption that you can display
your device the moment that it's registered. Is there a hall out there that
isn't quite mundane enough that a few more banners would make it look too
period? I think not. I have heard many "rules" regarding banner etiquette but
have yet to hear anything from a reliable source regarding banner shape or size.

2) This is one of those "your mileage may vary sorts of things. In some groups
it's very easy to get an AOA. In some groups it's damn near impossible.

3) In my humble opinion a person deserves an AOA when they have illustrated a
passion for our game. There are lots of SCA consumers out there that will play
of in their little realm doing whatever pleases them and putting virtually
nothing back into the society. When I look at someone and think, "Does this guy
deserve an AOA?" I look at what they are capable of, what they have attempted
and what they have accomplished. I also look at their attitude about doing it.
The guy who puts up the signs for event X gets some points in my book, but the
guy who cheerfully does it while it's drizzling outside because it needs doing
gets many more. I'm very big into that attitude thing.

As has been already said, it makes you a Lord/Lady. It also costs several hours
of calligraphy type work, so I wouldn't say that it's not giving anything away.

What an AOA ought to be is an award that is given to someone who has started to
seriously do something within the SCA rather than use it as a complicated
apparatus for killing the stray weekend with. All to often it falls short of
this, particularly since the Midrealm is so big.

My personal theory is that we ought to divide the kingdom into principalities so
that every square foot of the Midrealm is part of one of her principalities. It
would make distribution of lower level awards more efficient as you'd be much
more likely to see the prince of your principality some time relatively close to
when award recommendations went in as opposed to six months to a year later.
Also, courts would be shorter and it'd be much more likely that they guy handing
you an award actually knew you and your works and could say something thoughtful
about you and the award. Some people will point and scream heretic regarding
this theory, but such is life. :)

Avery
From: TJKOCO@monsanto.com
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Received on Fri May 2 23:31:43 1997