Order of the Valiance

Although this blog focuses primarily on my "craft" trades, I am also an archer by trade and, as such, the movement to create an Omnibus Peerage for archery, thrown weapons, equestrian and siege is near and dear to my heart (you may recall the bracer I crafted as a show of support for the movement). A proposal is before the BoD this month to create just such a Peerage, called the Order of the Valiance.

I beseech each of you reading this, if you support the creation of such a Peerage, to *please* write to the BoD this week and express your thoughts. As my own form of incentive, if you do write and comment below that you did, I will enter your name into a raffle to win a custom leather item (mug, bottell, or bracer) made by my hand.

Here is the letter I wrote to the BoD on the subject:

Greetings unto the Board of Directors of the Society for Creative Anachronism!

I am writing to you today to speak of the matter of the Valiance Peerage proposal and to express to you my unwavering support for the creation of such an Order.

Though I am not a fencer, I was overjoyed when earlier this year you created the Order of Defense, allowing a whole new segment of the populace access to this path of higher service to their Kingdoms and the Society as a whole.

Others have no doubt written to you that participants in the remaining martial activities--Archery, Thrown Weapons, Equestrian and Siege--are overdue this recognition and honor of their skills and devotion. While it remains true that to be recognized as a Peer *is* the highest honor an individual can attain, I would put forth that to be a Peer is not about personal recognition. Rather, to be a Peer is to serve the Kingdom and the Populace on a whole new level, and lack of access to that path for these martial activities only limits the greatness that we as a Society can truly achieve.

Peers advise the Royalty. They are held up in the eyes of the Populace as being something *more*, a standard to which others are encouraged to strive. They study and attain a level of mastery in their chosen path, and then they impart that knowledge onto others. And I will tell you that we already have members of this caliber in each of the Omnibus activities. These individuals clamor not for individual recognition, but rather to be allowed to serve alongside their peers as the esteemed and recognized authorities that they are.

Moreover, we as supporters of this proposal desire for the newest of newcomers on the archery field to know that their interests and talents matter equally to the Society as those of our heavy fighters, rapier fighters, and artisans. To continue to disallow the participants of these activities to serve in the capacity of a Peer is to announce to the whole of the Knowne Worlde that these activities are less valuable, less important, and held in lower esteem. Is this the message we want to send to those who would serve with all their heart--those who truly possess the vaulted "Peer-like Qualities" we seek?

Thank you for your time and your attention to my letter.

Yours in Service,
Lady Shannon inghaen Bhriain ui Dhuilleain
Companion of the Golden Arrow, Barony of Lochmere, Atlantia