Your annual reminder: Award Recommendations

 It’s that time of year again. Time to think about Award Recommendations.

Ealdormere has a tradition of custom scrolls. Making such intricate art takes time. Therefore, it is advisable that the Populace (that’s you) send in recommendations a few months before events in your area.

The Althing is hosting two events this fall, Crown Tournament in October, and Feast of the Hare in November. Your award recommendations will lead to there being business in those Courts.

So, how is it that people end up getting awards? The answer is two-fold. The person has to do stuff. And having done that stuff, someone has to report it to Their Majesties. It’s like tattling, but for good behaviour. The second part is the most important. If we don’t snitch on our friends, how will the Crown, who may live on the other side of the Kingdom, know that they are deserving of recognition?

So, who’s worthy of being snitched on? And what do we recommend them for?

Firstly, you, at whatever rank you are at now, whatever awards you currently have, you can recommend anyone for any award.

The first award that most people will get is an Award of Arms (AOA). Super keeners who jump right in and volunteer for Canton offices will often get their AOA within a year. Most people though, with steady participation will get their AOA around the 2 year mark. So if you know of someone who has been around for two years and does not yet have their AOA, you should recommend them.

Next a person will be recognized for their activities in one of the three pillars of the society: Marshal, A&S, and Service. Now that they are a Noble, what are they doing? Have they authorized in a combat style? Are they showing an interest in a particular art? Have they volunteered for jobs to help the group run? Those are the people who should be recommended for a Scarlet Banner, Orion, or Maiden’s Heart (respectively).

Higher level awards are usually awarded after consultation with the Orders, but you can and should still recommend people for these awards.

Descriptions of the awards can be found on the Awards page on the Ealdormere page. These descriptions will help you phrase your recommendations to Their Majesties more effectively.

Before you write your recommendations, you should check the Order of Precedence for your nominee, if they already have the award you are thinking of, perhaps there is another that would fit?

Maybe, instead of a Kingdom level award, you feel the Baron and Baroness should be made aware of an outstanding individual. Just as there are awards for Marshal, Arts, and Service at the Kingdom level, there are similar awards under the purview of the Baron and Baroness. The Baron and Baroness hold Court within our Barony far more often than Their Majesties, so recommending people of the Althing to Their Excellencies is a year-round job.

Awards aren’t just for adults, either. There are Youth specific awards, but there’s no rule that you have to be 18 to receive an AOA or any of the others.

Look around, think about your friends and family. It’s not nepotism or favouritism or bias to recommend your friends. Sometimes, you may be the only one who sees their contribution, and it is your Duty in the Society to snitch on them.