From: parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr)
Subject: Re: Heraldic questions...
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 21:15:57 GMT
Organization: The University of Calgary, Alberta

In article <atterlep.724372708@vela> atterlep@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Cardinal Ximenez) writes:
>parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr) writes:
>
>Kwellend-Njal Kolskeggsson writes:
>>It's why the COA *has* improved it's act somewhat
>>since I joined...Because a bunch of people bitched, and
>>did something about it.
>
>  Carolus, you're doing an awful lot of the first and very little of the
>second.  I'm sure it's very pleasant for you to sit and complain, but if you
>really mean it, why don't you do something productive?  People like Kwellend
>and Arval, who are among the many people actively trying to fix the problems
>with the CoA, have the same complaints you do.  So do aa number of the members
>of the BoD.  Unlike you, however, they're doing something besides bitching.
>  At the least, why don't you compose a letter and send it to Laurel and 
>Dave Thewlis (the BoD ombudsman for heraldry.)  That way you will have at least
>managed to send your thoughts to someone who will try and make a difference,
>even if you won't.

Well, now we get to the meat of the matter, don't we? I'm not a
herald, nor will I *ever* invest the time needed to seriously
participate inthe college. To you, this appears to mean I 
should shut up and eat my lima beans.

But I have the right to bitch, my friend, for I am a
*dissatisfied customer*. I am not dissatisfied with my
local heralds: They have bent over backwards for me
and others. I am not dissatisfied with *any* individual
herald. I think the system they operate under is a travesty
and that the amount of complaining we see and hear is
evidence that something must be done.
\
Those stats posted on numbers of submissions told a story,
I'd like to ivite Arval, Taghd, Tibor, and all of the other
heralds on this group to theorise just what they imply.

Complaining can be pleasant, but it isn't in this case...I have
recieved several long and tedious letters explaining why
I'm an asshole, from people who have had their toes stepped
on. I'm not doing this for fun, my friends, i'm doing this
because I like the pageantry inherent in armoury, and I don't
want to see it vanish away.

>>>> BTW: "per saltire or and azure, a cock erect gules beneath
>>>>      a chief enarched of the same" 
[Which I claim would pass...]

>>by itself, save that the COA requires a ridiculously
>>high level of "uniqueness"?

>>Betch the Canadian College would pass that device without a
>>quiver...

>  Yes, but they'd also pass a "DNA double-helix," an "automobile," and any
>number of any charges that weren't developed until after our period.  What
>you're doing is much like using polyester cloth in a costume and expecting
>people to tell you that it's period.

The point was not about the chief, enarched or otherwise, but
rather that, to a mundane college, the difference of field
or charge colour was enough, but to the SCA, such changes
(more than sufficient in my opionion) were not enough,
and I had to add a chief.

Finally, you asked me why I did not send a letter to the BoD
ombudsman...There are a number of reasons not to

1) the BoD (brace yourselves) is an impediment to the SCA
   and should be radically trimmed and concievably 
   eliminated entirely.

2) I would rather speak to the populace than a bureaucrat,
   which is what i do when I post here.

3) The ombudsman, if not already aware of these problems 
   from any number os sources (for example, Arval,
   Kwelland Njal, and any number of others who's opinions
   actually carry weight and prestige), certainly won't
   be swayed by *my* letter.

4) I intend to write such a letter, right after I fix
   my armour, finish pellwork, cook dinner, clean my house,
   do my christmas shopping, and have anervous breakdown.

Carolus Malvoix
Montengarde, An Tir
-- 
Within the span of the last few weeks I have heard elements of
separate threads which, in that they have been conjoined in time,
struck together to form a new chord within my hollow and echoing
gourd. --Unknown net.person
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca