Thinking about Sergeantry….

I really enjoy hanging out with the members of the Borealis Culinary Guild. We work together, eat together, drink together, travel together…. and we talk a lot. When the conversation topic isn't food it's usually SCA life:  events, politics, future plans, etc.

It recently occurred to me that the reason my culinary friends are so well-informed and so passionate about the SCA is that they're all either members of the Order of the Pelican or members of the Sergeantry, or both. All except me (and some of the more recent additions to the group).

I've been playing this game for about 15 years and I believe I work as hard as the other members of the group. Now I have several options: I can keep on doing what I have been doing and just not care about the labels. I can complain that my service is not appreciated and cut back on my activities. I can work extra hard and hope that someone notices. 

The strange thing about the Order of the Pelican is that doing extra work in the hope of being noticed is a sure way of not being noticed. The theory is that service should be done freely, without showing off, without any hope of reward. How the Order chooses people who are worthy to join them is a mystery….I believe there's a lot of politics involved. The bottom line is that one should not aspire to become a Pelican.

But Sergeantry -- that's different. It's something one can work for. The requirements are clearly laid out. I may not be able to do any fighting but I can work toward being a Courtier. It would not be difficult for me to swear fealty to our lovely Baroness Divera. Some of the Sergeantry requirements (e.g. persona development, A&S projects) will be very easy for me. Others will require a bit of work. That's OK -- I enjoy a good challenge. 

I've made the first few steps toward becoming a Courtier. The testing won't be until next summer -- a long way off. Sure, I'll be much older than the other Sergeantry candidates, and that may be a disadvantage in some areas but it can be made to work in my favour in other areas. I'm willing to give it a try!