From: JLC@vax2.utulsa.EDU
Subject: When Life Gives You Lemons
Organization: The Internet
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:41:57 GMT

In response to the recent posting of Lady Serena, I have been moved
to make my own comments about being stuck in a podunk shire.  I
joined the SCA 12 years ago in the Shire of Northkeep, Ansteorra
(Tulsa, Oklahoma).  It was a small and relatively new shire then,
whose major activities were fighter practice, needlework meetings,
and the occasional revel.  University studies led me to live in a
barony and another shire in the same kingdom, before returning to
Northkeep to settle, some seven years ago.

Northkeep is closer to Calontir and to the Middle than to its
closest Ansteorran neighbor.  We get the Crown up here only once
every few years.  With the exception of the Calontir/Ansteorra
Interkingdom Peace event (which we do a fine job of putting on), we
cannot land the major kingdom events such as Crown Tournament or
Coronation ("You're too far north," etc.)  Only 2 of our 5 peers
are active locally.  We are from the farthest reach of the often
overlooked region of the kingdom.  Yes folks, the Oklahoma is
active in the SCA.  We have three baronies and several shires, and
we are part of Ansteorra, although it is difficult to tell that by
the postings one sees on the Rialto.  No criticism, but Oklahoma is
one of those states that is generally forgotten by the rest of the
country.  

Now, rather than whine and moan about our "lamentable state," we
have pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps.  So what if the
various kings and queens cannot or will not travel to our events? 
We find no difficulty using alternative methods to get awards
distributed to our people:  we send the usual petitions, and ask
the Crown to appoint a northern baron or duke, or the Crown Prince,
or such like, to sit in their stead and distribute awards for them. 
This system has worked very well for some years now.  This also
gives us a VIP to sit at our head table at feast, and give the
event the touch of noble dignity we desire.

Not to have your accomplishments and expertise recognised is a
discouraging thing to most of us.  Our method to prevent this (and
I am sure that there are many other groups out there who have hit
on the same thing) is for everyone to keep an eye out for those who
are doing things worthy of merit, and recommend them for awards
when we think they are ready for it.  I make use of the telephone
and mail to let my friends and contacts in other parts of the realm
know about what great things the folks in my shire are doing, and
other Northkeep members do the same.

We keep ourselves busy.  Our members hold deputy kingdom regional
offices; we have a full slate of local officers; those of us who
can travel do so; and we do much to encourage folks from other
parts of the realm to visit us, with a pleasing amount of success. 
We also have very good relations with border groups in Calontir and
the Middle, and they are happy to attend our events.  Our people
are active in all manner of combat, arts, and science activities. 
If we need or want education or assistance from outside our shire,
we try to go and get it, or bring it to us.

We do not sit and rail at the heavens about the injustices of life. 
That is not any fun.  That does not make for a strong shire, podunk
or not.

Yours in service,

Lady Dunstana Talana the Violet
Proud member of the "podunk" shire of
Northkeep, Ansteorra
who is also known as
Jennifer Carlson, in
Tulsa, Oklahoma
jlc@vax2.utulsa.edu