At Their Court on Friday of Lilies War XXIX, Their Royal Majesties Anton and Isabeau created two new orders to recognize the prowess of Calontiri cut and thrust fighters.
The Stile Fyrd and Stile Hus join the Iren, Boga and Eo orders of their respective brethren.
No members were chosen for the Stile Hus at this time.
Three Premieres were chosen for the Stile Fyrd; Alan Smyith of Darkdale, Donald Andrew MacDonald and Ravasz Janos
These classes will be conducted near the Cut and Thrust area of the battlefield. Lord Gawin will need a marshal for the Italian Rapier Practice as this will be in full armor. Please see THL Mathurin Kerbusso, C&T Marshal in Charge for the War, to volunteer.
Italian Rapier Practice
This class is part of a week-long series of classes to provide a basis in the Italian rapier systems of Ridolfo Capo Ferro, Salvator Fabris, and Nicoletto Giganti. Each of these classes builds on the previous, so please attend as many as you can manage. Also, please bring your armor for Calontir Steel if you have it. Most of the class time will be dedicated to focused drills. The tentative scheduling is that Day 1 and 2 will focus on forming a good guard and the lunge. Days 3 and 4 will focus on basic defenses. Days 5 and 6 will focus on counters to those defenses, and days 7 and 8 will be used to put it all together.
Time: 3pm – 5pm Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Location: Near the Calontir Steel List
Instructor: Lord Gawin Kappler (MKA Joe Shaffer)
Fiore’s Dagger Plays
This class will work through the dagger plays of Fiore de Liberi. We will discuss basic defenses against dagger strikes and basic grappling in response to those strikes.
Time: 10am – 11am Wednesday
Location: Near the Calontir Steel List
Instructor: Lord Gawin Kappler (MKA Joe Shaffer)
How to prepare for a Duel in 30 days or less
This class will provide a very basic introduction to how to prepare for a fencing duel in 30 days or less. If you are looking to find a simple introduction to how to defend yourself with a sword, this class is for you.
Time: 10am – 11am Monday
Location: Near the Calontir Steel List
Instructor: Lord Gawin Kappler (MKA Joe Shaffer)
Using a Dagger in Italian Rapier
This class will emphasize the use of a dagger in Italian Rapier fencing. Please bring your sword and dagger if you have one.
Time: 10am – 11am Thursday
Location: Near the Calontir Steel List
Instructor: Lord Gawin Kappler (MKA Joe Shaffer)
I know it seems like a long way off, but Lilies is only a little over 9 weeks away!
We have tournaments scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10 am. We have our traditional open field time from 1pm to 3pm every day. And we need C&T marshals for each of these. The Ladies of the Rose Tournament is on Thursday, and will likely need the most marshals. I could also use a drop-dead deputy.
Please contact me at rex.deaver at gmail dot com if you would be willing to schedule any of these times.
THL Mathurin Kerbusso, C&T Marshal in Charge, Lilies War 2015
Due to the large amount of information surrounding the additional peerage for rapier and cut and thrust, the Board of Directors decided to participate in a conference call on February 2, 2015. The Board received a large amount of additional comments and suggestions in the two weeks following the January 17 quarterly meeting. This was considered in addition to the first Board call for commentary on this issue.
At the February 2, 2015 special conference call meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board discussed the history of the APEC proposal process, the commentary received from the membership, and the various options available to the Board. The Order of Defense proposal was the result of many years of effort, and while the commentary from the membership opened the Board’s eyes to other options and possibilities, the Board decided at this time to reconsider the proposal to change Corpora to create the Order of Defense. During the call a motion was made and seconded to approve the changes to Corpora, and such motion passed 6 votes for and 1 against.
Motion to approve the proposed changes to Corpora that will create the new peerage, Order of Defense, and direct Laurel Sovereign of Arms to submit such name and heraldry to the heraldic comment process, with the intention of opening the Order on May 1, 2015. Voted in favor of the motion: Arthur Donadio, Andrew Coleman, John Fulton, David Keen and Lisa May. Voted against the motion: Lisa Czudnochowsky. Chairman Scott Berk exercised his option to vote and did so in favor of the motion. Motion passed.
Motion in the matter of the Order of Defense to waive the requirements of Corpora Section IV.G that the Crown consult the members of a peerage order prior to inducting new members of that order, but only in the case of the first three (3) members of the Order of Defense. Once there are three members of the Order of Defense in a kingdom, the Crown must consult the Order per Corpora prior to adding members. Voted in favor of the motion: Arthur Donadio, Andrew Coleman, Lisa Czudnochowsky John Fulton, David Keen and Lisa May. Opposed: none. Chairman Scott Berk exercised his option to vote and did so in favor of the motion. Motion passed.
No candidate may be inducted into the Order of Defense before May 1, 2015. All candidates inducted into the Order of Defense on May 1, 2015, will carry equal precedence, regardless of the time of day each such candidate was inducted.
Five years ago, the enormous response in favor of a path to peerage was specifically focused on rapier and cut and thrust combat. When and if another martial activity engenders the response from the membership at large that rapier and cut and thrust did, when another martial activity has the depth, breadth and community as exists for rapier and cut and thrust, then the Board of Directors may investigate the possibility of facilitating a path to peerage for such martial activity.
Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036
You may also email comments@lists.sca.org.
This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.
From the SCA Announcements mailing list:
The position of Society Marshal will soon be open. Candidates must apply in writing to the Board of Directors. This is an unpaid position.
The position entails administrating the marshallate activities of the Society and coordinating the activities of the kingdom Earl Marshals. Reports are required to be filed quarterly to the Board summarizing the martial activities of the Society and of each kingdom. The Society Marshal is also responsible for holding meetings to communicate with the kingdom Earl Marshals.
The successful candidate must be well versed in administrative techniques, problem solving, and interpersonal communications. Knowledge of marshallate policy, rules, and procedures is essential. The ability to travel is necessary, as well as having a telephone and e-mail. Knowledge of the traditions and history of the Society is required.
Resumes (both professional and medieval, including offices held and awards received) must be sent to the attention of the Board at the SCA Corporate Office, P.O. Box 360789, Milpitas, CA 95036-0789. Resumes must also be emailed to resumes@sca.org, with a copy to marshal@sca.org. Resumes must be received by April 1, 2015.
Questions regarding this position may be directed to Shawn Lindsey (Ritter Asoph Hearts) Society Marshal. He may be reached by phone at 817-822-4303 (please no calls after 9 PM CST), or via email at marshal@sca.org.
Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036
You may also email comments@lists.sca.org.
This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.
From: Announcements [mailto:announcements-bounces@lists.sca.org] On Behalf Of via Announcements
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2015 9:14 PM
To: announcements@lists.sca.org
Subject: [Announcements] Proposed Corpora Change Results – 4th Peerage
At the January 17, 2015 Board of Directors meeting in Milpitas, CA, the Board voted against revising Corpora to establish a rapier peerage. The Board also voted to delete wording that labeled rapier as an ancillary activity of the SCA and replace it with wording that unambiguously established rattan as the only permitted weapons in a Royal List. The ramifications of the two votes has generated quite a bit of discussion on social media about a number of things, but the Board did not make any decisions concerning anything at all except turning down the rapier peerage proposal and adding a statement that Royal Lists may only be fought with rattan weapons. This letter is intended by the Board to respond to the most prevalent rumors circulating in response to the Board actions of Saturday.
The Board Votes.
The Board was split on the question of the rapier peerage. Three directors voted to approve the Corpora changes and the resulting establishment of a rapier peerage because they believe that while rapier should really be recognized by the Chivalry, trying to force inclusion in the Chivalry by Board fiat would not work, and they were willing to vote yes on the proposal as a good compromise. Two directors felt rapier should be recognized as part of a peerage that recognizes all non-rattan martial arts and not a separate peerage. Two directors believed rapier should be recognized in the Chivalry. So, with a 4-3 vote against the proposed Corpora changes, which would have established a separate rapier peerage, no change will take place at this time.
The only other action the Board took concerning rapier in the SCA was removing language dating from 1979 saying that rapier was an “ancillary” activity of the SCA and, to make it clear that we are not discarding the traditions of Crown Tourney, the Board then made it very clear that only rattan combat may be used in a Royal list. This change to Corpora received the unanimous approval of the Board.
Response to Social Media Discussions.
First, the Board received commentary from less than 2% of the membership over the entire 3 years and all requests for comments on the rapier peerage issue. Many people wrote in more than once, but repeating an opinion doesn’t count as a separate opinion. However, it was not the lack of commentary that influenced some Board members to vote against the proposal; it was the fact that the small amount of commentary the Board did receive trended against a separate rapier peerage. The majority of comments received in favor of recognizing rapier with a peerage said that rapier should either be included in the Order of the Chivalry or in a new peerage that included all non-rattan combat. The result of such a relatively small number of people commenting is that the opinions the Board did receive were given greater weight – if a larger number of those who supported the separate rapier peerage had commented, a different result might very well have resulted. There’s no way to know that for sure, but it underscores the importance of writing in to let the Board know your opinions about proposed changes to Corpora.
Second, the Board did not open the Order of the Chivalry to inclusion of rapier fighters. There is a 1999 policy interpretation from the Society Seneschal (upheld by the Board at that time) specifically stating that the Order of the Chivalry is intended for rattan combatants only. It would take a new policy interpretation (which would need to be upheld by the current Board) or other Board action to change that fact. The Board’s intention in removing the “ancillary activity” language had nothing to do with making rapier knights. The Board removed the “ancillary activity” language because it was simply no longer accurate or true. It may have been true long ago when it was added to Corpora, but times have definitely changed. Rapier has permeated the fabric of the Society, and the Board felt that the language needed to be removed. However, in order to clarify that we weren’t changing the rules regarding Crown Tourneys by the deletion of the “ancillary activity” language, the Board added language restricting Crown Tourneys to rattan weapons.
The Board discussed removal of the “ancillary activity” language months ago and sent it out for comment at the same time as the additional peerage language. We understand that some people are unhappy the various changes weren’t put out in separate announcements, but it never occurred to us to send out multiple announcements on the same general subject at the same time. The Board received commentary on that section, as well as the rapier peerage sections, and we can’t recall any comments that disagreed with the deletion.
People will always understand what they read through the filter of their own opinions and biases, and the fact that some have made certain interpretations and raised them on social media does not make those interpretations factual. Also, a strongly expressed opinion by one or two Board members does not constitute the opinion of the entire Board of Directors of the SCA, so any assumptions made based on one or two such opinions are also not based in fact. It takes a vote of 5 out of 7 directors to make changes to Corpora, individual director opinions notwithstanding. Any official opinion of the Board of Directors will always be labeled as such, will always come through the approved communication channels and will always be posted on the corporate web site.
We welcome your comments which can be sent to: SCA Inc. Box 360789 Milpitas, CA 95036.
You may also email comments at lists.sca.org.
Reposted from Facebook, posted by Monica Gaudio:
Let’s start with me saying that this is *my impression* of how things went down with the Masters of Defense at the BOD meeting today at the quarterly meeting and I’ll also start with a summary –
TL;DR – MoD failed 3 to 5; Corpora IX.C deleted and Rapier no longer ancillary activity, four dukes and a knight who attended said rapier should be in the Chivalry – and the BOD removed roadblocks for that to happen.
The much longer version –
Let me state, for the record, that a BOD meeting was not even remotely like what I thought it would be. It’s definitely not “Here Be Dragons”, it was a bunch of people holding a group meeting, much like a SCA shire or Barony business meeting. Everyone has ideas and opinions and they are trying to do what is best for our Society. Also, the idea that things are finalized before the meeting – nope! The MoD Vote went down to the wire, each vote matter and people were swayed at the time. (Here’s the list of the directors btw – http://www.sca.org/BOD/directors.html)
The discussion on the MOD started off with the numbers. Lisa C. reads off the recent polling. It is not good – only 345 people commented. Only 146 of those were “Yes – 4th peerage.” A large number of the no’s (I think a majority but that was not stated specifically) were “No, it should be in the chiv.”
I am using personal names for the Directors (as I can find those on the website easily) and using SCA names for the audience members. I am also writing this up, likely out of order.
Lisa M. (Margaret) discusses how two previous committees gave us guidance and that both of the committee said yes, there should be a 4th peerage. She discusses them a bit further and the work that they did.
Lisa C. (Marion) discusses how Ealdormere doesn’t have a separate AOA or Grant level award for prowess – and that there shouldn’t be a 4th peerage for just rapier. That she’d be more for an omnibus peerage.
Arthur D. (Cuan) is for the 4th peerage and discusses the good of the rapier community.
Two knights in the audience discuss how rapier should be in the chivalry. It is clear from the discussion that several of those in the audience feel that this should have been done many years ago. There was also some discussion on how it has not been done due to the insular nature of some members of the Chivalry. (Much stronger words were used, btw. Like “meathead.”)
Several in the audience discuss how it is time that rapier had a peerage and are not likely to be accepted by the Chivalry, so the 4th peerage is likely the way to go.
John F. (John the Bearkiller) talks very sweetly and very passionately about rapier and tells us a funny story about pink lace and about how rapier has changed over the decades, about how now the rapier community is now the ones doing SCA “stuff” – bringing people in, making sure they have a place to stay, putting them in clothing and armor, and being good SCAdians. He then talks about how the rapier community, collectively, has done more to promote the SCA than other martial activities have and he’s for the Rapier Peerage.
Andrew C. (Ailgheanan) spoke about how much this had been weighing on his mind and he went back and read every single comment. One came from a current King who felt rapier fighters should be in the chivalry, and not have a 4th peerage.
In the audience, we start asking questions like, “Well, can a King knight a rapier fighter? What does Corpora say?” We read aloud from Corpora (http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/govdocs.pdf – page 31) and we all listen to Andrew read about the Chivalry. We come to this line, “The candidate must be considered the equal of his or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of tournament combat. “Then it’s asked if Tournament combat is defined – and the answer is no.
David K and Scott B. also talk and are against the 4th peerage idea. (IIRC) My recollection of their words is incomplete. David K. did indicate that he is for rapier should be in the chivalry.
The vote then happens – Arthur, John, and Lisa M are Yes. Everyone else is No. And the 4th peerage is voted down. Other business occurs and we go to the lunch break.
At 2PM, we come back from lunch and the BOD has had an executive session. They come back in – and then, Lisa M. proposes a change to Corpora – the language use in the last section of APEC – removal of IX.C and the addition of “C. Royal Lists – Only Chivalric (rattan) combat shall be used for formal tournament lists for royal ranks.”
It passes completely unanimously.
My personal opinion from being there – I feel that the BOD was removing whatever blocks that they thought were necessary or that might be perceived to keep a King or Queen from making a knight who has prowess in rapier.
From the event stewards, via the CalonList:
Lords and Ladies of Calontir,
The deadline for comments for the following is January 15, 2015.
______________At the July 2013 Board Meeting, the Additional Peerage Exploratory Committee (“APEC”) proposed that the Board of Directors create a new Patent-bearing Peerage Order parallel to the Orders of the Chivalry, the Laurel and the Pelican. This Rapier Peerage would be for the related martial arts of rapier and all forms of cut & thrust in the SCA. In August of 2013, the APEC’s proposal for name, heraldry and badge was sent out to the membership for commentary, and a second committee was formed of representatives appointed by the Kingdoms of the Known World to review the proposal and represent their interests. After reviewing all commentary received from the membership and the committees, the Board believes there is enough interest to request further commentary on the changes that would be required to Corpora if the Board decides to create such an Order. This will be the final opportunity for the membership to make its opinions and wishes known on this subject as the Board will vote at the January 2015 Board meeting on whether or not to create this Order.
In the event a rapier/cut & thrust peerage is created, the following would be the proposed changes to Corpora (additions in red; deletions in blue and struck out.)
Glossary, page 9.
DELETE
[• Peerage: Collectively, the members of the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, and the Order of the Pelican, are referred to as the Peerage. A member of any of these Orders is a Peer.]
ADD
• Peerage: Collectively, the members of the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, and the Order of the Pelican, and the Order of Defense are referred to as the Peerage. A member of any of these Orders is a Peer.
VIII. PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES
A. Patents of Arms
2. Order of Precedence Within the Peerage
DELETE
[The Crown may establish the order of precedence within the peerage according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. However, the Chivalry, the Laurel, and the Pelican, and Defense are of equal precedence and must be considered as one group.]ADD
The Crown may establish the order of precedence within the peerage according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. However, the orders of the Chivalry, the Laurel, and the Pelican, and Defense are of equal precedence and must be considered as one group.4. Patent Orders:
ADD
d. The Order of Defense:
(i) Members of the Order of Defense may choose to swear fealty, but are not required to do so. The candidate must be considered the equal of his or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat. The candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for the instruction of members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.(2) The duties of the members of the order are as follows:
(a) To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the field of honor.
(b) To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
(c) If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(d) To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(e) To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or Lord.
(f) To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Order of Defense(The section on royal peerage becomes section e, etc.)
D. Titles
4. The titles listed here are considered standard, and may be used by those who have earned or been granted the appropriate rank or award within the Society. The College of Arms publishes a more extensive list of titles and alternative forms, which may also be used freely by qualified persons. In addition, the College of Arms has full approval authority over new alternative titles, which must be added to their list before being released for use in the Society.DELETE
[TITLE
Master/Mistress
Members of the Orders of the Laurel, the Pelican, and Mastery of Arms.]ADD
TITLE
Master/Mistress
Members of the Orders of the Laurel, the Pelican, Mastery of Arms, and Defense.IX. Society Combat
DELETE:
[C. Rapier Fighting in the Society
The Board acknowledges rapier combat as an ancillary activity of the Society when properly supervised by the Marshals and when approved by individual kingdoms. Rapier combat may take place within a kingdom only by rules established by the Marshallate of that kingdom and after the approval of those rules by the Marshal of the Society. The Marshal of the Society will maintain guidelines for rapier combat within the Society. Rapier combat, not having been part of formal tournament combat in the Middle Ages, shall not be a part of formal tournament lists for royal ranks and armigerous titles. ]ADD
C. Royal Lists
Only Chivalric (rattan) combat shall be used for formal tournament lists for royal ranks.[This last might need some explanation. The current Section IX.C is a holdover from a Governing and Policy decision from October 1979, when the Board decided that rapier combat would be allowed in the SCA as an ancillary activity. Rapier combat is no longer considered an ancillary activity and has not been for many years. Also, the duties of the Society Earl Marshal are properly defined in section VI.D. So this section is reduced to a single clear, unambiguous rule.]
Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036You may also email comments@lists.sca.org.
This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.
Urgent advice to all Victorian SCA participants and those planning to travel to the State of Victoria: Due to changes in the Victorian Control of Weapons Act 1990, effective immediately, a restriction has been placed on members of SCA Ltd in Victoria, who are new members since the 5th of June 2014.
These members must not handle or acquire metal weapons, including swords, dress swords, rapier, flails, maces or throwing blades. This does not include rattan weapons.
New members who reside in Victoria and intend to handle or acquire such weapons must complete a Statutory Declaration stating that they are not a prohibited person under the Victorian Control of Weapons Act 1990. This is a requirement of the Victorian State Government.
The restriction for new members will be lifted once they receive a confirmation of receipt of declaration or permit via email from the Registrar.
This will eventually affect all members of SCA Ltd, who live in or plan to travel to Victoria. These members will also need to send a Statutory Declaration to the Registrar, although members prior to the 5th of June 2014 are not currently restricted from acquiring, using or carrying metal weapons, including swords, rapiers, flails, maces or throwing blades in Victoria during the phase-in period. This includes those in Royal or Baronial Households who may be required to handle ceremonial weapons.
The Statutory Declaration and Application form for this exemption can be found at http://sca.org.au/board/documents/policy/weapons, and needs to have details completed and to be signed and witnessed, as per the attachment to the document. The application form and declaration (Pages 1 & 2) must be posted to the SCA Ltd Registrar.
Overseas members who intend to undertake travel in Victoria in the near future, please contact secretary@sca.org.au for further information relating to this issue.
Donna Page
Chair
SCA Ltd
Please ensure that this information is forwarded to all lists and communication channels within your group.
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