Date: Sat, 12 Mar 1994 00:25:58 -0500
From: cent@tower.lcs.mit.edu (Pandora Berman)
Message-Id: <199403120525.AAA07687@tower>
To: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
Subject: bodily adoption

Greetings to all to whom these words come from Eowyn.

With respect to the suggestions Elayne and Tibicen have made about adoption
of newcomers (sorry, I have flushed my copies of their missives, and nearly
all the related mail as well, so I can't reply directly to their words, and
you are all therefore subject to my imperfect memory):

I compliment Elayne's resolve in trying to figure out -some- way to deal if
the worst should happen.  I'm an optimist, and at this point I think (knock
on rattan) it sounds like the worst won't, in fact, happen.  However, I see
several problems (mostly already pointed out) with Elayne's suggestion.  I
agree with whoever it was said that there are many more local non-members,
borough and otherwise, than could possibly be supported in this fashion by
the most generous estimate (that I can arrive at) of members who would be
willing to indenture them.  We would run into the question of who gets to
get indentured, and who gets left out in the cold.  There is also the more
philosophical problem of indenturing/being indentured purely as a technical
membership solution, rather than out of any desire for a fealty or
apprenticeship relationship.  If the worst does, indeed, happen, I suppose
some people could make arrangements like this; obviously no one could
prevent them from doing so, and for some people it might work reasonably.
But I would much prefer to see Carolingia go wholly underground -- invoke
the Emergency Medical Fund (if possible -- it might not be possible) and
hold only unofficial events -- than to arrange to salvage only a fraction
of those interested in continuing this avocation and leaving the others
perforce twisting in the wind.

As to Tibicen's interest in arranging limited-term apprenticeships: I think
I agree with Tibor that what Tibicen described sounds like a standard
SCA-quasi-medieval apprenticeship, with the exception that it's for a much
shorter term than most apprenticeships run.  If I remember correctly, what
she proposed was a contribution of grunt work (not necessarily
craft-related) and assigning ownership of any finished works to the master
by the apprentice, in return for teaching, supply of craft materials, and a
certain degree of generalized support to the apprentice by the master --
that sounds like an apprenticeship to me.  For what it's worth, there have
been several attempts made in Carolingia over the years to hook up
newcomers who need guidance with established citizens -- I believe at least
some of these even tried to take special common interests (e.g. particular
crafts) in mind; to the best of my understanding, all of these attempts
have fizzled.  I think Tibicen claimed that what she was proposing was
something different, which may be so.  But I suspect her proposal would
work better by realization than by rhetoric.  In other words: Tibicen, if
you want to do this, just go ahead -- talk to newcomers until you figure
out what arts they want to try and to artisans until you find some willing
to take on such apprentices, and try to match them up.  For that matter,
you are an established citizen with certain areas of expertise; how better
to provide an example than by taking your own such apprentices?

Eowyn