REPORT FROM THE GRAND COUNCIL: QUARTER 1, 2009

This Report is respectfully submitted by Baronessa Chiara Francesca Arianna d’Onofrio for Baroness Bianca the Inquisitive, Secretary of the Grand Council on March 21, 2009.

A. COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

1) The Council received one topic for discussion this quarter. The topic was: "Discuss the pros and cons of a new peerage and to advise the Board of our discussions and conclusions."

The proposal can be found at:
www.sca.org/4peerage/index.html
-Cover Letter
-Proposal for a New Peerage
-Proposal for expanding the activities covered by the Order of the Laurel
-Proposal for creating a Master of Combat Arts within the Order of the Laurel
-Number of Participants Authorized in Non-Rattan Combat
-Sample Poll
-Polling Summary and Data

Populace polling results can be found here:

www.sca.org/4peerage/PollingSummaryandData.pdf

Proposals sent to the BOD by the 5th peerage group:

Peerage Proposal 1 - An additional Peerage for SCA approved weapons style, excluding Armoured Rattan Tournament Combat

Peerage Proposal 2 - Changing the Order of the Laurel to include skills

Peerage Proposal 3 - Creation of a Master Of Combat Arts with the Order of the Laurel

Second Discussion:

An after vote discussion will be allowed.

B. COMMITTEE STATUS AND COMMENDATIONS

Discussion Census:
31 GC posters
80 Non-GC posters
1117 total posts

C. PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY

The Grand Council examined 2 specific topics, as mentioned in Section A. The specifics can be found in Section E (Discussions).

D. CONFIDENTIAL

Nothing to report

E. DISCUSSIONS

Pros and cons of a new peerage and the Grand Council's recommendations to the Board:

As the board requested, the GC discussed the topic of an additional peerage as a possible future evolution in our organization.  Overall, the GC felt there may be a time when creating another peerage would be apropos; however, now is not that time.  It was also felt that other avenues should be explored in the currently-existing peerages, specifically the Order of the Laurel.

There was a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction in the supporters of the idea stemming from the current and (apparently) localized applications of Peerage. Part of that dissatisfaction arose from a perceived dearth of institutional support for prowess in non-rattan combat vis-à-vis the way prowess is given primacy in Chivalry, and that A&S and Service Peerages do not have the same prowess context that is present in Chivalry.

There was considerable discussion of the nature and function of non-rattan combat in the SCA, and its relationship to recruitment and retention. The discussion cited the October 1998 Board minutes, which clearly point out that Chivalry cannot be elevated outside the definitions of the current legal Corpora.

The citation is as follows:

"When Corpora VII.A.4.a.(1).(a) speaks of tournament combat as the prerequisite for admission to the Order of Chivalry, the form of fighting  referred to is that variously referred to as armored, heavy, chivalric, or  rattan combat or, in the Rules of the Lists (Corpora Appendix B), traditional  Society combat, i.e., the form of totally developed in and for the  SCA."

Vote by the GC:

Using A YES-yes no-NO-abstain weighted-voting methodology, there were four questions that the council answered.  The votes were weighted +2 / +1 / 0 / -1 / -2 for giving weighted scores. Four questions were put before the council.

1) Should the Board of Directors Create a NEW Peerage for SCA approved marshaled activities that do not include Rattan Combat?

NO: 20
YES: 9
no: 2
yes: 0
Abstain: 3
Total Votes: 34
Value: -24

2) Should the Board of Directors change the Order of the Laurel to include Skills as well as Arts and Sciences?

NO: 10
YES: 3
no: 17
yes: 2
Abstain: 2
Total Votes: 34
Value: -29

3) Should the Board of Directors add a Master of Combat Arts within the Order of the Laurel?

NO: 18
YES: 3
no: 9
yes: 0
Abstain: 4
Total Votes: 34
Value: -39

4) The Board might wish to affirm as a statement of policy that arts and sciences pre-1600 were seen to have encompassed all contemporary human knowledge, and the Order of the Laurel may freely recognize any excellence within this sphere that does not clearly fall within the scope of the Chivalry or the Order of the Pelican.

NO: 2
YES: 14
no: 4
yes: 14
Abstain: 0
Total Votes: 34
Value: 34

Discussion of what the Kingdoms currently bestow:

Discussion of what the Kingdoms currently bestow based on membership postings and cross checking at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/jessa//

Points made:

Royal Peers is the 1^st Peerage, making the others Chivalric 2^nd, Laurel  3^rd, and Pelican the 4^th Peerage. If this were proposed again it should be referred to as a 5^th Peerage.  

The proposal was not about a Rapier Peerage. This proposal is for the “non-rattan" combat activities.

Introducing a new peerage would be a huge, dramatic, social change in our organization. It was agreed early on in the discussion that any social change that is instituted be done in a fashion which does not damage the culture; however, there is precedence for adding peerages by the BoD and there is nothing to stop them from doing it again.

Expanding the Master at Arms to include this new peerage was suggested but in the end was seen as a bad idea. Masters at Arms are not required to swear fealty to the Crown, other than that there is no difference between a Knight and a Master at Arms and that leaves no room for what was proposed.

It was also not recommended leaving the 5^th Peerage up to each of the Kingdoms to define like they do for Royal Peers. Royal Peers are not a polling order like the other three. This was not a popular idea.

There were concerns surrounding grandfathering current peers into this peerage. It was discussed that if it came to pass that they would be given a choice much like the Pelicans were given a choice to move to the new Peerage.  The peerage is to be allowed to develop organically.

It was brought up that the Order of the Laurel was originally intended to recognize excellence in all non-rattan endeavors and that over the years, the Laurels and the Society as a whole forgot this fact. (Please see Appendix B for the ceremony creating the Order of the Laurel.)

It should also be mentioned that the Chivalry’s status as a unique peerage was discussed.

It was brought up that the polling presented and taken by the 5^th Peerage proponents was both unscientific and insufficiently clear about what it meant. It was further proposed that a different more scientific poll be put together.

The definitions of the current Peerages were brought up over and over. Individuals presented their personal criteria for what qualifies and what does not qualify for a Peerage in one of the three current ones. Many opinions differed. But all agree that there is a difference between a Peerage and an Award.

Discussions with Royals by some of the posters showed that there is sympathy for a new Peerage but not at the expense of the SCA body at large.

Guilds of "Masters of Defense" were brought up as an alternative to a new Peerage. This exists in Kingdoms overseas.

It was humorously suggested that we cure the financial woes of the organization by selling not only Peerages but Naked Patents and a series of new titles. Prices were speculated on. J

It was suggested that all Peerages be Knighthoods but was labeled as non-historical. In the end, it was decided by this body that we recommend to the Board that they need to better educate our Peers and Crowns about the expansion of the Arts and Sciences to include all other non-rattan combat activities in the Order of the Laurel. It was suggested that the following outline by Goedjn be included in this report in answer as something the Board could use in discussions with the Laurels and Pelicans regarding the scope of their Orders.

1) There is no period activity, or reproduction of any period activity, which is outside the domain of the Order of the Laurel.

2) There is no Scadian activity, support for which or contribution to which, is outside the domain of the Order of the Pelican.

3) The domains of the various peerages are neither mutually exclusive, nor mutually inclusive.

F. PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DISCUSSION TOPICS, TO BE ADDRESSED AS TIME PERMITS

An after-vote discussion was allowed by the Chairman to further explore the definitions of Peerage and how they originated.

G. SUGGESTED FUTURE OR ON-GOING DISCUSSION TOPICS

There are no such topics at this time.

APPENDIX A:

LIST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISCUSSIONS

Vacant Positions

Appendix B:

The ceremony for the creation of the Order of the Laurel at the first 12th Night, AS II (http://history.westkingdom.org/AHP/CeremonyForTwelfthNight2.htm, accessed March 25, 2009.)

HERALD:

Though it be the prime business of our Society to present such Revels and Tourneys as are pleasing to the populace; and as the prime pleasure of that populace is to see the Great Sport of the Tourney; There are yet those without whom our Society would not be half so pleasant; yet who do not join in the lists and thereby come not to the Glory of Knighthood or the Throne.

It is the intention of His Majesty that these persons should not go unrecognized.

Therefore; By solemn decree of His Majesty, King William the Silent, is created The Order of the Laurel. And the mark of this Order shall be a medallion, hung by ribbon about the neck and bearing the Royal Arms: Or, a Wreath of Laurels Proper; this medallion to be embellished or enriched as the receiver sees fit; And the rank of this Order Shall be Master, which title shall bear also the name of that discipline in which the receiver does excel; And a member of this Order shall be addressed as Master, or as My Lord.

 Therefore does it please His Majesty to call before Him Ron Morgan, Director of the Consortium Antiquum, that he may receive just honour and commendation before all this assemblage; And that he may receive of His Majesty The Order of the Laurel, and the title Master at Music; Master Musician to the Crown and Throne of the Society for Creative Anachronism./(Ron Morgan comes forward. The King receives from the Seneschal the Medallion and places the ribbon around Ron’s head.)/

KING:

Wear this, Master Musician, that all may know in what esteem you are held by the Crown and by your peers.

/(Ron Morgan bows and returns to place.)/

HERALD:

It further does please His Majesty to call before him Beverly Hodghead, who has for these two years fabricated many most wondrous things for our Society, that he may receive just honour and commendation before all this assemblage; And that he may receive of His Majesty The Order of the Laurel, and the title Master Artificier; Master of Arms, Master Armourer to the Crown and Throne of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

/(Beverly Hodghead comes forward. The King receives from the Seneschal the Medallion and places the ribbon around Beverly’s neck.)/

KING:

Wear this, Master Artificier, that all may know in what esteem you are held by the Crown and by your peers.