Award Recommendation 101
Why?
Have you ever watched someone bust his or her tail working at some event, complete an endeavor or project that has benefited the Kingdom, the Barony or somehow enhanced your personal experience in the SCA? Do you think that person deserves some form of public recognition? Then why not do something about it? Especially if whatever was done was not in the limelight and needs to be pointed out to the powers that be.
Who can recommend someone?
YOU can! Anybody can recommend a person for an award. ANYONE can write the King & Queen to recommend ANYONE for ANY KINGDOM or SCA AWARD. If you write eloquently enough, and provide concrete examples of actions yours may be the only recommendation needed, and if not it will definitely add weight to any other recommendations for the individual in question. There is even
a handy on-line form for doing so. We also have Baronial awards, recommendations for which should be sent to the Baron & Baroness.
Don't they already have that Award?
Maybe. Maybe not. But it is easy to check (fast too). Merely enter the individuals SCA name (or part of it) in the
Ansteorra On-Line Order Of Precedence search page and see a list of all of the Awards that person has. For Baronial Awards check
our Award page.
What Awards are there?
There are Non-Armigerous Awards which are specific awards for doing something well. There is the Award of Arms which entitles one to called "Lord/Lady So and So." Next are Armigerious Awards which are at a more in-depth level and also give one the right to be called Lord/Lady if one does not already have an AoA. Higher than that are Grants of Arms which bring the right to be called Honorable Lady/Lord. Then there are the Patents of Arms, which are Knight, Pelican, Laurel. Names and descriptions of all of these can be found on the
Kingdom Honors page.
There are also our Baronial Awards that are only given out in our Barony and are for those who serve our Barony well. Descriptions and Honoree Rolls for our Baronial Awards can be found on our Baronial Awards page.
The Recommendation
There are several essential things that must be in a recommendation:
- The person's Real & SCA Names
- The person's SCA Group
- Several accomplishments (with details) relating to the award suggested;
- The next event or events the person will be attending (note that the Crown usually gives awards to people when visiting their local group).
Once you've put things together, it pays to confer with friends and associates to get them to submit recommendations of their own. Don't have them "cut & paste" your letter and attach their name to it. Paraphrasing is ok, but plagiarism will get you in trouble and could hurt your candidate's chances of suitable reward.
Your recommendation is a suggestion or a request to the Crown. Remember that in the way you approach the tone and candor of your recommendation.
