From: patmcg@home.merit.edu (Pat McGregor)
Subject: Re: awards recognition
Organization: University of Michigan
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 14:18:00 GMT

Therasia mentions that thank-you notes are more valuable in
some instances than any award. I would second this energetically! I,
too, make sure to always have a box of thank you notes or nice note
cards available to write TYNs on for people who have helped
me or helped at events that I thought they deserved thanks
for.
 
I've tried to always, when I autocrat events, make sure that 
each of the servers, cooks, drop-in help, etc, gets some small
token of appreciation. Duchess Caellyn FitzHugh taught me that many
years ago, by example. I was touched by the personal thank-you note
she sent to me, as well as the small gift which came with it (something
appropriate for a newcomer to the SCA). When, at the next feast,
Mistress Jehanne did the same thing, I resolved to make it my
practice as well.  (If someone working for me at some event got missed,
my heartfelt apologies!)

Many years ago, I got the Dragon's Heart (MIddle Kingdom-level award
for service) at Corin and Myfanwy's evening court at their
second coronation. I had gotten my Middle Kingdom Grant of Arms
at Pennsic that year -- which was a nice thing, but every great office
of the Middle gets one if they've completed six months of service 
without, well, messing up too badly. It's in the Laws.
 
But that Dragon's Heart for service: In some ways it means more to me
than any other award I've gotten. It was a thank you from people
(Fern and Valerius outgoing, Corin and Fancy incoming) who I respect
and value as appreciation for the work I had done. 
 
I hold the baronial Brassard I got from Caer Anterth with the same respect
as that Dragon's Heart. I got it for helping out in the kitchen at 
a Crown Tourney in Caer Anterth (Milwaukee) when it looked like they 
needed a hand. In return, the Baron and Baroness sent me a thank you.
 
OK. These weren't thank-you notes, which were the point of Therasia's
posting. But I want to say that many times it's the gifts which 
do not yield Peerage, fame, fortune, or precedence which means most to
us. 
 
I believe it is His Grace Cariadoc who carries around tokens to give to
artisans he believes are worthy of recognition, encouragement, and the like.
At the Laurel Faire at TFYC, all the Laurels present did the same thing.
I thought this was an incredibly touching idea. Even if the token is only
a ribband in your household or personal colors, it has meaning because
it has feeling behind it.
 
It's these personal recognitions, with feeling and courtesy behind them,
that make up the SCA for me. It helps me want to keep going on when 
I'm tired of politics, discourtesy, rabble-rousing, inactivity, and so
on. I hope we can all remember to give something of ourselves to others
to keep this Society someplace in which we want to live.
 
I remain, in service to our Society,
 
   siobhan



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       Siobhan Medhbh O'Roarke                Pat McGregor
       Shire Cynnabar, Middle Kingdom         3638 Greenook Blvd
                                              Ann Arbor, MI 48103-9143
       patmcg@merit.edu     
       smor@um.cc.umich.edu                   (313) 426-3506
       UserW02V@umichum.bitnet