tokens-msg - 10/29/11
Ideas for feast and site tokens.
NOTE: See also these files: event-rev-msg, demos-msg, evnt-stewards-msg, privvies-msg, gate-guards-msg, event-ideas-msg, hotel-events-msg, feasts-free-msg.
************************************************************************
NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.
The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.
Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
************************************************************************
From: NIELSEN at falcon.mayo.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: All Caught Up Now...
Date: 24 Nov 1993 09:06:34 -0500
Greetings unto all on the Rialto from Lady Therica!
I have also collected a *large* number of scraps from years of sewing. Recently
I went through my 'collection' and eliminated all scraps that were truly
weird shaped or smaller than my hand. That left me with 2 BIG boxes of scraps.
What I did with some of them: Our Shire had an event about 2 months ago. It was
a tavern event, and at the door guests were given a certain amount of coinage
to spend as they will throughout the day at the tavern. To contain this coinage,
I crafted 200 pouches. Out of scraps. Lots of scraps.
The guests were allowed to keep their pouches, since they were the site token.
The pouches were fairly good-sized, definately big enough for coinage and a
checkbook and some other odds and ends. Being the way I am, I made sure the
pouches were finished inside, also. (I looked at it this way --- I figured
the pouches would be around for a while, and I wanted to make sure they would
hold up to use. And since I made them, I didn't want them to be shabby... I
ironed them, too...they looked terrible all wrinkled...)
This was a *big* hit with our guests! It was great fun to watch people dig
through the basket of pouches to find the one they liked, or what would match
their garb, or what would match some of their other garb. Only one person
complained (from our Shire, no less!), but then, he's not happy unless he's
cutting down everyone else's work.
Just another idea on what to do with scraps.
***
Therica
--'--,--< at
From: blaise at mack.einet.com (Karl Thiebolt)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Date: 1 Jul 1994 02:07:07 -0600
Organization: Engineering International Inc., Public Internet Access
Bruce Mills (millsbn at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca) wrote:
: I would like to pick the brains of you all out there. I am looking for
: information on what kind of materials are commonly used for site tokens at
: events, or specifically, some kind of material that doesn't take an
: engineering degree or a master's workshop to make into site tokens that
: will stand up to three day's worth of camping etc. (and that doesn't cost
: a fortune, either). Post if you think other people might be interested,
: or email me directly.
: Many thanks,
: Akimoya
Some simple things I've seen:
+ A felt crown pinned to a felt square in kingdom colors,
the whole thing meant to be pinned on clothing.
Any shape would do.
+ A string of colored stones, about a dozen, on a thread.
(Cheap pre-drilled semi-precious stones were used...
to this day I keep seeing them crop up as earrings,
ornaments, etc.
+ A small fabric square of distinctive material and a safety pin.
+ I don't know that it's necessary to make the people wear a
site token... really all you need to do is give them
something to prove they paid. This year at Grand
Outlandish they used little cards that said
something like "Outlandish Passport" with some
nice decorative printing. A printed form like that
is as hard to counterfeit as anything else, and is
pretty easy to implement.
Blaise de St Thibaut
From: sclark at epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Carroll-Clark)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Date: 1 Jul 1994 19:40:04 GMT
Organization: University of Toronto -- EPAS
Greetings...
No shit, there I was, Akimoya, at your event (Murder Melee),
casting my site tokens over the campfire, with the assistance of Clamp Boy
and Dip Girl and numerous Filing Elves....
What I'm talking about is pewter casting. I think I spent a total
of $17 and a couple of Strongbows to Lady Kestrell (when I ran out of
my own stock) for the pewter, and I did 130 tokens out of that. If I'd
gotten the pewter from Brenneth, it would have been even less. The mold
was a very simple coin shape with a desiggn on it and took me about half
an hour to carve out of soapstone. Total casting time was about
eight hours, and it would have taken less time if I'd known what I was
doing when I first started (it was my first project) and if we had
done the whole lot with a propane torch instead of a campfire for the heat
source. The equipment (propane torch, ladle, barbecue tongs) cost me a
total of $12. I carved the soapstone (free from my mother-in-law) with
dental tools (also free from my mother-in-law, but you can get them cheap
sometimes from surplus stores).
The resulting tokens are very durable and give attendees a permanent
reminder of the event. You can make them simple or elaborate (wait 'til
you see the ones Kes has done for Septentrian War practice!) depending on
your costs, time, and expertise. Pewter costs $10 a pound from Brenneth,
and I got about 100 tokens out of a pound. Certainly cheaper than many
materials which aren't near as nice.
Besides, it's fun.
Cheers--
Nicolaa/Susan
Canton of Eoforwic
sclark at epas.utoronto.ca
From: gshetler at envirolink.ORG (Greg Shetler)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Site Tokens
Date: 1 Jul 1994 11:25:50 -0400
Organization: the internet
Cc: sca at mc.lcs.mit.edu
In UseNet article <1994Jul1.033955.14798 at muss.cis.mcmaster.ca>, you write:
>I would like to pick the brains of you all out there. I am looking for
>information on what kind of materials are commonly used for site tokens at
>events, or specifically, some kind of material that doesn't take an
>engineering degree or a master's workshop to make into site tokens that
>will stand up to three day's worth of camping etc. (and that doesn't cost
>a fortune, either). Post if you think other people might be interested,
>or email me directly.
>Many thanks,
>Akimoya
>
The simplest and most durable site token I have ever found was a simple square
of leather (thin scrap), with a printed dragon on it. This was for Darkwell
war, in Caid. They had a rubber stamp made, cut the squares, and stamped them.
Attach a little string, and voila! I still have two of theings hanging from
my belt, the oldest is three years old, now!
Pardon if this looks bad, full of typos and all - I'm typing blind while
waiting for the bloody mainframe to catch up.... Ah! about time! welcome
back, panda!
---
---------------------------------------->>
Mordock von Rugen, Hlaford, Outlands Fray
MKA: Greg Shetler
>From the Barony of Al-Barran, Kingdom of the Outlands
Once from Dun-Or, in Caid
Originally from Western Seas, in Caid
From: habura at rebecca.its.rpi.edu (Andrea Marie Habura)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Date: 3 Jul 1994 01:50:01 GMT
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY
Something I've always thought would be neat for a "let's try to ignore
the plague" theme event: have a local artisan make up _pestblatter_,
which are srt of like playing cards but which are little charms against
the Plague. (The one I have a picture of shows a bishop blessing a
couple; the man holds a cross, the woman a chicken (don't look at me,
I can't explain it); a dog is at their feet. In the foreground is a small
boar, a shield (arms a chevron between in dexter chief an increscent and
in sinister chief and in base two decrescents), and a pair of corpses.
It's a not-too-elaborate woodcut. I know a few artisans who could
duplicate it. And boy, would it be a nifty keepsake!
Alison MacDermot
(Who is alive during the Plague years. Maybe I should make a _pestblatter_
anyway, just to be safe.)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: kjh at statsci.com (Kjrsten Henriksen)
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Organization: Statistical Sciences, Inc., Seattle, WA USA
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 1994 02:54:51 GMT
I still have, folded in eigths and tucked into my knife scabbard,
the pink carbonless-copy receipt that was my proof-of-payment for the first
pensic that they required such things...the next year they went to the
metal dog-tags (i still have that too)
one of the nicest looking tokens i'v seen was made of half inch wide
ribbon folded into a fan shape
another wasn't a site token, but a `vote' token that Caryl de
Tressecon devised for a masked ball...take about 8" or rattail (that's
a smooth round cord) put the ends together and tye a knot so you get a
loop. fits over your wrist, or you can hook it to your belt with a
larkshead. There was a pearl on it somewhere two, but i don't
remember how it was put on...
regards
malice
kjh at statsci.com
From: Lassman at BldgDafoe.Lan1.UManitoba.CA (Linda Lassman)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: RE: Site Tokens
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 1994 02:46:52 GMT
Organization: University of Manitoba
For a Welsh Wars camping event, we used site tokens to identify not only who
was on which side, but their rank. The Welsh were green and white; the more
white, the higher your rank (the Prince's was all white). The English were
red and yellow, same idea, with the King's token being yellow. They were
ribbon bows with 2 ribbons crossed, the ends brought to the centre, then the
loops twisted 1/4 turn so they looked neat, then stitched down; another,
longer piece of ribbon was folded in half and sewn on the back to make
tails--they looked kind of like the ribbons you get in mundane competitions,
only smaller. They were then sewn to a little brass safety pin (actually
the tail and the pin were sewn on at the same time).
We were able to get the ribbon on spools (4/$1), and by the time I'd done
the first 15, I could make 1 in 8 minutes.
The event was almost 3 years ago, and some people still wear them.
For a dark ages camping event the following spring, the autocrats made clay
crosses or hammers (depending on whether you were Christian or Norse-pagan),
which are also still worn.
Normally, however, we don't worry too much about site tokens, if anything,
handing out a big bead on a ribbon or just a ribbon.
- Gabriela dei Clementini
Barony of Castel Rouge, Midrealm
Winnipeg, Manitoba
From: kballar at unm.edu (Kathryn Ballard CIRT)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Site Tokens
Date: 5 Jul 1994 09:01:46 -0600
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
How about personalized site tokens? A few years ago when I autocratted our
local winter feast, a group of friends of mine spent weeks preparing site
tokens each displaying the arms or badge or the person to attend the feast.
We used the modern Shirnk-y-dink plastic material, colored on the arms of
the person, and shrinked them down to site token size. The feast was to be a
buffet.......so how do you identify all the goblets of two hundred people?
Yes, it was time consuming, but fun.......and a lesson in heraldry for those
involved. We still see some of the site tokens still on the goblets around
the Outlands.
Kathryn of Iveragh, al-Barran, Outlands
(Kathryn Ballard, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
From: meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org (meg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 94 01:53:51 EDT
Organization: Stonemarche Network Co-op
millsbn at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca (Bruce Mills) writes:
> I would like to pick the brains of you all out there. I am looking for
> information on what kind of materials are commonly used for site tokens at
> events, or specifically, some kind of material that doesn't take an
> engineering degree or a master's workshop to make into site tokens that
> will stand up to three day's worth of camping etc. (and that doesn't cost
> a fortune, either). Post if you think other people might be interested,
> or email me directly.
> Many thanks,
> Akimoya
>
I love site tokens! Here are a few ideas that have stood the test of time
and budget:
1.Make a small medallion out of super-sculpey (a lowfire plastic
clay)using a signet of the local group. (which could be made from the
same material, fired, sprayed with a gloss plastic sealer, and used to
make impressions)
2. Inkleloom miles of a repeated pattern, sew it across above and below
the pattern, cut apart, add safety pin.
3. Paint or block print or screen print wooden disks, drill hole, thread
on ribbon or cord.
4. Similarly decorate a cloth bag less than 1 inch big full of potpourri
or bouquet garni.
4. Purchase wholesale a distinctive large wooden bead, paint or otherwise
personalize.
5.(or is it 6?) Create a set of coin dies and stamp your own coins in
aluminum electrical outlet punchout disks.
7. Block print the two ends of a long piece of wide ribbon which could be
tied around the arm or tucked into the belt.
8. Create a mold in plaster of a dimensional object pertinent to the
theme of the event, in miniature, and cast it in lead or pewter. (Don't
allow babies to teethe on it, though) you could also cast it in clay and
fire it. Allow a hole for threading on a cord.
I have seen all of these done. I have a wonderful collection of tokens
from the past 18 years. Lucan and Jana's Coronation this year was the
most elegant! A purple velvet square, backed and sewn, with their
initials in "gold" metal and a tiny golden metal laurel wreath. And I
think pearls, maybe. Well, it was just great. Of course, living in
Providence Rhode Island, the jewelry findings capitol of the world helps.
If a King and Queen ever come from stonemarche, we will have little round
beach rocks with the Kingdom arms sandblasted into them.
Megan
==
In 1994: Linda Anfuso non moritur cujus fama vivat
In the Current Middle Ages: Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive
In the SCA, Inc: sustaining member # 33644
YYY YYY
meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org | YYYYY |
|____n____|
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: KGORMAN at ARTSPAS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca
Subject: Re: Site Tokens
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 11:33:57 GMT
In article <1994Jul1.033955.14798 at muss.cis.mcmaster.ca> millsbn at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca (Bruce Mills) writes:
>I would like to pick the brains of you all out there. I am looking for
>information on what kind of materials are commonly used for site tokens at
>events, or specifically, some kind of material that doesn't take an
>engineering degree or a master's workshop to make into site tokens that
>will stand up to three day's worth of camping etc. (and that doesn't cost
>a fortune, either). Post if you think other people might be interested,
>or email me directly.
We're planning on some sort of leather braided wristband. (note, I said
planning)
I think the bigger question might be do people in your area actually DISPLAY
their site tokens? (do you have site tokens?) does anybody actually LOOK for
the site tokens?
The only use I've experienced with site tokens is telling whether or not
your friends are staying for feast.
Eyrny
From: gisby at sys6626.bison.mb.ca (gisby)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: re:site tokens
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 94 02:45:14 CST
Organization: System 6626 BBS, Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
For a "Dark Ages" event, we made, decorated, and fired, around 100
various crosses and Thor's hammers. We brought out the clay, a whole
bunch of us worked on them, (took about 2 hours) and a couple of our Arts
students fired them at the University. We strung them later while waiting
in line to get into a drive-in movie.
They were period in look & feel, and many are still to be seen worn as
jewelry, enhancing future events.
Total cost? $0, and we made gaming pieces at the same time. People really
enjoyed choosing their tokens, and seemed very very pleased to get
something worthwhile/useful as their site token. (We have trouble getting
our folk to wear site tokens inappropriate for their garb. These
worked...)
Baron Thrym Oddomssonr (AKA Cein)
Barony of Castel Rouge
From: jfideli at newshost.li.net (Fideli)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: pennsic 26
Date: 11 Jan 1997 18:19:07 GMT
Organization: LI Net (Long Island Network)
Jaqueline Cohen (kitta at ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: Does anyone have any information or know when information will be posted for Pennsic 26?
Yes I would like info as well I have an idea that I have been trying to
get put into use for 5 years,
Additional holes in the site tags to act as proof of age. One
additional hole for under 21 and two additional for under 18. What do
you all think?--
Xaviar...
From: ALBAN at delphi.COM
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: pennsic holed tokens
Date: 19 Jan 1997 16:37:27 -0500
Josef of Graywood said
>Either i read the orginal post wrong or you did, but i thought it
>was
>1 hole for 21 or older
>2 holes for 18 to less than 21
>3 holes for under 18
Presumably you'd want to save the people at the troll booth as
much time as possible, (well, people waiting in line might get
tired of the extra wait, too) so: since _everone_ has to get a
token, you don't punch a hole for those 21 and over (the vast
majority of people), you punch one hole for....hmmmm....I
believe records are kept: which group has the larger attendance,
18 and under, or 18-21? Whichever group is larger gets one hole,
and the smaller group gets two holes.
The point is to classify everyone, while minimalising the total
number of holes punched.
By limiting it to zero, one and two, rather than one, two, and
three, you save several thousand punchings. (For the math
impaired, say there are 10,000 attendees, of which 500 are the
older non-drinkers and 1,000 under-18'ers. That's 1 hole for 8,500
legal drinkers, plus 2 holes for the older undrinking crowd of
500, plus three for the young crowd of 1000, equals 8,500 plus
1,000, plus 3,000, equals 12,500 holes.
Instead, my suggestion would have zero holes for the legal
drinkers, plus 1 hole for the 1,000 young 'uns, plus 2 holes for
500 of the older young un's, equals zero plus 1,000, plus 1,000,
equals 2,000 punchings, a savings over 10,500 actions.)
And if everything were *really* in place, you'd have two
different punch shapes, say, one would be a crescent moon and
the other would be, oh, a mullet. Those with some sort of
medical condition that the chirurgeons would need to know
about would have one type of punch, and those without would
have the other. . . . (Note that you wouldn't specify *what* the
medical condition is, only that there is one.)
Alban
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 14:00:48 +0000
From: Ghislaine Fontanneau/Elayne Hoover <elyh at wcc.net>
Organization: Starving College Students
To: ansteorra at eden.com
Subject: Re: Site tokens
I've always enjoyed site tokens. I once went to an event that didn't
have a site token--I pouted for days. At Octavian a few years ago, they
gave out necklaces of seven pieces of clay with the Roman animals
stamped into them. It was very heavy, but very cool. The following
Octavian's site token was a molded "gold" lion's head. Also really
nice--I conned some of my friends out of theres so I could have more. I
was very impressed by the site token for Mikael and Mikaela's second
coronation: a coin with his arms stamped into one side and hers on the
reverse. Knowne World Academy of the Rapier gave out large silver
filigree oak leaves (4 inches long!); that was very impressive, very
sparkly, and lots of fun to dangle from one's hat!
Anyone who knows me can testify that I am at least *part* kender. To
me, a site token is like an omen of how the event will turn out. I just
love site tokens!
Ghia
From: Will Ritchie <ritchie at freenet.tlh.fl.us>
To: ansteorra at eden.com
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 21:08:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Site tokens
ches wrote:
> I would like
> to know what site tokens were the best you have seen that endeared
> themselves to you so that you still carry them on your belt or on your
> person? Which were the prettiest?
Foreign tales again - Three favorites in Trimaris all came from this 30+
shire (Oldenfeld - the guys in green tabards w/gold "lion-kabobs" at GW).
The first was a copper penannular brooch, 1.5" dia., 10ga. copper wire
w/hammered and curled ends (Harvest Festival - Celtic theme). We made
about 150 of the things over three years ago, and people still wear them
today. Took a crew of five of us about 4-5 hours in your basic
anachronists' garage workshop to turn them out.
For my lady's first job as autocrat (a rogues'-and-thieves' event theme),
we were able to purchase several cases of 5" pakistan daggers in bulk for
under a dollar apc. Once again, people still wear them or keep them in
their feast chests. Lastly, we had a viking event where the tokens were
2" loops of viking-style beads - glass, stone, and copper-wire geegaws.
It took about 3-6 friends to make a complete necklace, or they could be
hung from a favor (still have mine there), belt pouch, or whatever.
The basic concept of something you can continue to use is great, but it's
hard to do, especially if originality is also a goal. Here too, the
standard token is a wood or leather something with a foot or two of ribbon
through it.
Morric
From: "P. Crandall Polk" <pcrandal at flash.net>
To: ansteorra at eden.com
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 18:41:48 -0800
Subject: Re: Site tokens
The wooden book with "bookmark" ribbon that Steppes did for King's
College.
Crandall
From: njones at ix.netcom.com
To: ansteorra at eden.com
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 22:49:35 -0600
Subject: Re: Site tokens
I love the metal coin site tokens! I keep them permantently
tied to my belt as "pilgrimage badges".
Gio,
who plays at being a pious man.
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 08:58:19 +1100
From: Lorix <lorix at trump.net.au>
Subject: Re: SC - Site Tokens (was Feast Fees in Ansteorra)
Siegfried Heydrich wrote:
> I had thought about using hats (cheap felt
> Robin Hood type hats) as feast tokens. (Lidsville!), and would like to hear
> some ideas from others on the subject.
>
> Sieggy
Well, for the Invest I am running in July, I am using tokens made out of
leather. I am using some 'seconds' hides (possibly sheep or goat size). They
cost me about $2-$5 a few years ago & were not suitable for armour . . .
Pieces are being cut 3cm x 30cm & are being 'invisibly plaited' (hey that's what
its called in the book ;-) You cut 2 strips into the leather (leaving about 1cm
not cut on ends), then you start to plait normally. As the bottom is not cut
thru, the plaiting requires that every so often you have to turn the bottom end
thru itself. Loosely plaited you end up with about 25 turns. The idea is that
they will be worn on the wrist (possibly attached by press stud) and died
various colours to signify what type of attendance the attendee has paid for.
They will be issued by the constable as people enter the hall throughout the day
& sign their waivers & are ticked off the attendance sheets. Viola, it is easy
to see, colour-coded & should not detract too much from garb worn. Nice momento
too.
I have been getting various people to make them on my A&S prep nights/days. The
making has been easy once people got the idea & it is something _anyone_ can
do. For a largish event, visible tokens of some sort are a good idea & this
suited our purpose.
Lorix
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 06:51:54 -0800
From: Anne-Marie Rousseau <acrouss at gte.net>
Subject: Re: SC - Site Tokens (was Feast Fees in Ansteorra)
hey all from Anne-Marie
Sieggy sez:
> I had thought about using hats (cheap felt
> Robin Hood type hats) as feast tokens. (Lidsville!), and would like to hear
> some ideas from others on the subject.
The following is my opinion. Only my opinion. I realize that folks do
things differently in different places, but this is my experience....
(hows that for a disclaimer! :))
I have a bit of experience autocrating events :). In my experience, site
tokens are a waste of money and time.
1. they only work if you require that EVERYONE display it prominently. This
means I am required to wear a robin hood hat with my Elizabethan, or worse
yet, pin a bit of ribbon with a modern safety pin to the front of my hard
research period dress. This also means you need a crowd of people who's
job it is to stop everyone and check that they have their site token, and
be willing to throw people out who dont have them visible or handy. What a
crummy job!
2. a well controlled front gate achieves the same goal...controlling
entrance, and making sure everyone has paid their site fee. Its a very easy
thing to sneak into most events, and if the bounders are determined,
there's nothing you can do to prevent it, short of issuing site tokens and
having some poor schmuck run around and check everyones "site lint" :).
3. as a society, we pride ourselvs on honor and honesty. I personally
prefer to rely on thej populace to do the right thing and pay their site
fee. Again, a well controlled gate, manned with efficient and organized
people means its easy to come, sign your waiver and pay your money and get
on with having fun. requiring me to display proof of payment is rather
insulting to me. I hate this....I have stories about going to the showers
and being stopped because my Estrella site token wasnt visible.
4. often site tokens cost money. multiply the cost per token and the number
of expected attendees, plus extras (you dont want to run out), and it
easily comes to a good percentage of your site budget. Even at a smaller
event, we're often talking 10-20%. This is the difference between breaking
even and losing money at many events. At a larger event, it can easily run
into $1000s of dollars, if the token costs, say, even less than a dollar.
Surely there's more fun things to spend the money on? how about a brunch
spread for the populace? decorations? hire a mundane early music consort to
play for the dancing so you dont hagve to use a boom box? hire a
dishwashing crew so the kitchen crew can walk away after the feast? you get
the idea.
5. Site tokens cost time and effort. As an autocrate, one has enough to do
what with all the other little tasks and such. Volunteer manhours are
better spent manning gate, running money to the bank, printing site
handouts, putting out directional signs, etc etc etc. I've heard horror
stories of the autocrate team being up until 3am the night before the event
putting beads on safety pins, or gluing sparkly bits on a rosette.
Autocrates who dont get sleep before the event are pretty much guarenteed
to burn out rather spectacularily later in the day....
Now, I know in some places, site tokens are used as souvenirs of the
event. I have had crowns insist on tokens that show their names and faces
and the date. My response to that is "great idea...can you have them to us
the week before?" if someone wants to volunteer the time and money to do
them, that's fine, but there's no room in my budgets (money or time) to do
that.
Now, please realize that this is my experience and my opinion. Im
notoriously cheap when it comes to throwing events :). so take it for what
its worth! (ie not much :)) But I've been doing this for a long time
(autocratting events, from tiny to huge) and I have yet to see the costs of
site tokens outweigh the benefits.
- --AM
I've also seen "site tokens" in the form of embroidered napkins for diners
who were eating the feast, to indicate who was onboard and who was off. I
also saw the person who volunteered to do this tear her hair out for weeks
before the event. I dont know as the benefit (they were very nice napkins,
and didnt require that I pin/wear/tie anything to myself :)) outweighed the
cost...a very crispy helpful person and a burned out bernina.
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 11:12:57 EST
From: RichSCA at aol.com
Subject: Re: SC - Site Tokens
>I have a bit of experience autocrating events :). In my experience, site
>tokens are a waste of money and time.
I understand your feelings and your message has many valid points. STILL I
like them. I used to collect them but the house burned down in 1988 and,
except for all my cookbooks (which I really use), I actively "collect"
nothing now.
I was a member of a group (which no one is to name) where the winner of the
Tournement List just showed up to fight - won the list and left. Didn't pay
a nickel or a dime for anything. After that we had a requirement that
fighters had to show their site token to the List Mistress to sign up for the
list. I don't think they still do that, but people got used to it.
Yes, we are an organization who wants to trusts it's membership to do right.
And for many, the cost and time spent policeing the few is just not worth it.
One thing I did as autocrat (and think was worth it) was make tokens for the
Autocrat Staff. Something they wore on their clothes that everyone could see
easily. We like to make programs for the event and in the program (and they
were also told at Troll) that if they needed anything or wanted to know where
anything was just ask a member of the Staff... and you will know them by
their i.e. Golden Keys with three ribbons in Canton colors, a pin of many
colored ribbons, A plastic garlic pinned to their clothes, etc.
Rayne
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 23:30:07 -0500
From: "Bethany Public Library" <betpulib at ptdprolog.net>
Subject: SC - FEast tokens
Actually, we find that just having the tokens present is sufficient
deterrent. There is an added bonus that if someone paid and can't stay, they
can give their token to someone who wanted to stay but didn't have time to
make reservations (or arrived to find we'd sold out). That make it the
attendee's problem to figure out last minute money changes, and not our
exchequer's problem an hour before feast.
Feast tokens are usually simple. Some are small cast tokens on a string
(making it a $20.00 proposition for small tokens if labor is donated). I
have seen wooden, leather, or beaded token-on-a-string. One event I went to
handed every on-board person a really nice Celtic knotwork laminated
bookmark with a tassel. That was very nice, inexpensive to make, and useful
afterwards. Some folks just hand out colored ribbons. One color for onboard,
one color for off.
My daughter received a nifty device to make plied-yarn friendship bracelets.
Since plying is a neat period craft, and this machine takes the work out of
it, I want to offer plied color tokens sometime in the near future.
Aoife
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 12:56:13 -0500
From: "Daniel Phelps" <phelpsd at gate.net>
Subject: Re: SC - Site Tokens
Regards tokens I had an idea regarding tokens for large multi-kingdom events
such as Pennsic, Gulf War etc. It came to me many years ago at Pennsic as I
was setting up a photo portrait of some folks after the main field battle.
I had a tripod as big as I am and almost as heavy with a large medium format
camera on it. I'm in garb and so are all the people I'm photographing,
hell they were in armor, and that bearded blue shirt of a Cooper rushs up
and demands to see our tokens RIGHT NOW.
After I calmed down later I thought if they are so afraid of people sneaking
in why not make it so people want, really want, to get their metal tokens.
What I suggested then and am suggesting now is to create a small number of
tokens for such events in silver without a number stamp. Once a day during
the event a drawing is held. The lucky winner of the day trades in his/her
token and gets a silver token in its place with his/her number stamped on
it. While this will not stop all gate crashers at such very large events it
just might help. Does anyone think this will help if well advertised?
Daniel Raoul
Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2000 19:20:27 -0500
From: Donna Ford <evfemia at mail.com>
To: stefan at texas.net
Subject: RE: A/S awards medallions / Evfemia
The medallions were very simply made other than the initial carving of
the block for printing.
A design was chosen for the motif of the Arts and Sciences in Meridies.
(A stone archway surrounding a lit candle.) Our Baroness, whose Laurel
was awarded for her block printing, carved the design in a block of
wood.
Next we cut out circles about 2-3 inches in diameter of white leather
and white paper. The design was block printed with blue paint on both
types of circles and red ribbons were later glued to the backs of the
medallions.
The leather medallions were awarded for Master Works and Superiors while
the paper medallions were given to the good and excellent categories.
Evfemia at mail.com
Barony of Iron Mtn. Meridies
Sender: "Edward M. Smith" <edsmith at shell.one.net>
From: edsmith at my-deja.com
Subject: Event/Fest token comments
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 23 Oct 2000 11:07:36 -0400
My first SCA event was the Crown Tournament hosted by the Barony of
the Fenix this weekend.
I really enjoyed the event overall, but I just wanted to comment on the tokens
specifically.
Wow... did I already say Wow!?
The event token was a brass/copperish coin stamped with a phoenix and gryphon,
one on each side of the coin. very nice actually.
The feast token, however was incredible. Someone(I wish I knew who exactly so I could thank them directly), made glazed ceramic mugs or goblets with a raised phoenix and gryphon on them. An absolutely incredible remembrance of the event.
I'm... well... not speechless... but close... (grin)
Edward
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 19:08:04 -0700
From: Solstice Studios <solstice at moscow.com>
Subject: SC - Feast
We are making custom site tokens for each event, and using them to act as feast tokens. We use a different color ceramic glaze on the feast
buyers compared to the non-feasters. they then leave their token on the table by their plate and the servers know instantly who to give food
too.
We are also looking at using a special bead on a token, or using a rubber stamp with tattoo ink on the back of the hand.
Currently we are using a stamp with tatoo ink to mark the back of hands of all legal aged drinkers. If we see anyone at an event drinking alcohol
and not having this tatoo, they are carded. If they are underage, they are booted for illegally drinking. IF they are legal aged, they are
stamped and told to get stamped before drinking next time.Since the tatoo is on the drinking hand (lefot or right) it is easy to check and we
don't have to keep carding all night long. We use an unusual stamp and ink to make it hard to fake, and most folks are honest anyhow, but we try
to keep it legal infringment free, knowuttamean?
- -Aleska
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 11:06:08 -0400
From: "micaylah" <dy018 at freenet.carleton.ca>
Subject: Re: SC - Feast
Aleska said....
> We are making custom site tokens for each event, and using them to act
> as feast tokens. We use a different color ceramic glaze on the feast
> buyers compared to the non-feasters. they then leave their token on
> the table by their plate and the servers know instantly who to give food
> too.
We use feast and site tokens respectively here too. We tend to make them
unique to the theme of the event or unique to the person making them.
They have been as simple as 2 different coloured roses to leather
pouches of differing colours or stone castings or even pewter. Making
them this unique lessens the odd Joe trying to eat when they havent
paid. I have not seen this however as a problem in this Kingdom that I
know of, and it certainly has never happened to me to the best of my
knowledge.
Changing the tokens for each event has a twofold benefit. Obviously the
first one pratically ensures no one is sitting feast that didnt pay (we
wear our tokens here) and the second gives our Artisans yet another
chance to show off a little. I indeed have some kickass tokens (and
leather pouches) to admire and wear. I LOVE useful site tokens.
Micaylah
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 12:04:33 -0400
From: "ruadh" <ruadh at home.com>
Subject: Re: SC - Feast
Ru adds: I added a small brown peal choker necklace to a pewter site token
as a gift to My Lady. The Event was before her time with me, just to be PC.
At that event the colour of a common piece of yarn to hang the delicate
device was the difference for on/off board. Easier to spot at a distance.
Wood workers 'Biscuits' make easy to decorate tokens, that I've seen painted
as fish.
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 19:08:04 -0700
From: Solstice Studios <solstice at moscow.com>
Subject: SC - Feast
We are making custom site tokens for each event, and using them to act as feast tokens. We use a different color ceramic glaze on the feast
buyers compared to the non-feasters. they then leave their token on the table by their plate and the servers know instantly who to give food
too.
We are also looking at using a special bead on a token, or using a rubber stamp with tattoo ink on the back of the hand.
Currently we are using a stamp with tatoo ink to mark the back of hands of all legal aged drinkers. If we see anyone at an event drinking alcohol
and not having this tatoo, they are carded. If they are underage, they are booted for illegally drinking. IF they are legal aged, they are
stamped and told to get stamped before drinking next time.Since the tatoo is on the drinking hand (lefot or right) it is easy to check and we
don't have to keep carding all night long. We use an unusual stamp and ink to make it hard to fake, and most folks are honest anyhow, but we try
to keep it legal infringment free, knowuttamean?
- -Aleska
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 11:06:08 -0400
From: "micaylah" <dy018 at freenet.carleton.ca>
Subject: Re: SC - Feast
Aleska said....
> We are making custom site tokens for each event, and using them to act
> as feast tokens. We use a different color ceramic glaze on the feast
> buyers compared to the non-feasters. they then leave their token on
> the table by their plate and the servers know instantly who to give food
> too.
We use feast and site tokens respectively here too. We tend to make them
unique to the theme of the event or unique to the person making them.
They have been as simple as 2 different coloured roses to leather
pouches of differing colours or stone castings or even pewter. Making
them this unique lessens the odd Joe trying to eat when they havent
paid. I have not seen this however as a problem in this Kingdom that I
know of, and it certainly has never happened to me to the best of my
knowledge.
Changing the tokens for each event has a twofold benefit. Obviously the
first one pratically ensures no one is sitting feast that didnt pay (we
wear our tokens here) and the second gives our Artisans yet another
chance to show off a little. I indeed have some kickass tokens (and
leather pouches) to admire and wear. I LOVE useful site tokens.
Micaylah
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 12:04:33 -0400
From: "ruadh" <ruadh at home.com>
Subject: Re: SC - Feast
Ru adds: I added a small brown peal choker necklace to a pewter site token
as a gift to My Lady. The Event was before her time with me, just to be PC.
At that event the colour of a common piece of yarn to hang the delicate
device was the difference for on/off board. Easier to spot at a distance.
Wood workers 'Biscuits' make easy to decorate tokens, that I've seen painted
as fish.
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 13:10:23 -0400
From: Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise <jenne at fiedlerfamily.net>
Subject: Re: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is online today... RE
event tokens
To: Arts and Sciences in the SCA <artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
<<< The tokens you get at events when you arrive and check in.... are they always medallions? Do they have to be? can they be coins or something or must they be designed so they are visible at all times during an event? >>>
Greetings. what the event tokens are depends on the local group's
sensibilities and what the autocrat can obtain. In most cases the tokens
are something that can be affixed to the clothing in some way, but
sometimes they are not. If the token is not going to be affixed to the
clothing, it should be something cool and period. ;) I have seen beads on
a pin or string, ribbons, crafty stuff (such as gameboards made out of
craft foam for a gaming event), and medallions all used.
--
-- Jadwiga Zajaczkowa, Knowledge Pika
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 13:10:38 -0400
From: "Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
Subject: Re: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is online today... RE
event tokens
To: "Arts and Sciences in the SCA"
<artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
<<< The tokens you get at events when you arrive and check in.... are they
always medallions? Do they have to be? can they be coins or something or must they be designed so they are visible at all times during an event?
thanks......
Johnny / Xene >>>
They don't _HAVE_ to be visible at all times, it's just generally more
convenient to check and see if they are. Most SCAdians are pretty honest,
and will go to troll and pay whether they get a medallion or not, but there
have been some instances where fighters (as an example) have showed up to
fight without signing in, and rules were changed so that fighters must show
their site tokens when signing into the Lists.
If your events have a site that holds 100 people conveniently, 100 sign in,
and it looks like there's about 100 people there, then chances are,
everything's fine. If, howqever, your site holds 100 people, 50 have trolled
in, and you're so crowded, that you can't turn around, you may have a
problem.
If you want to make a non- medallion style site token, discuss it with the
autocrat and the group's Seneschal(e), or, if you're a fairly new group (or
you're one or both of those people ;-), discuss it with the more
knowledgeable officers of an established group near you- they should know
what the situation is, and advise you accordingly.
Saint Phlip,
CoDoLDS
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 13:49:48 -0400
From: Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise <jenne at fiedlerfamily.net>
Subject: Re: *****SPAM***** RE: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is
online today... RE event tokens
To: purplkat at optonline.net, Arts and Sciences in the SCA
<artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
<<< one token was a book mark, another was a blue ribbon (as in "laddie, I don't know where you've been... "), coins, >>>
*giggle*
One of my favorite event tokens was at a Cooking Collegium-- there were 6 different trading cards, each with a different cooking-related engraving and a different period recipe. Very Cool!
--
-- Jadwiga Zajaczkowa, Knowledge Pika
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 11:36:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anna Troy <owly3 at yahoo.se>
Subject: Re: *****SPAM***** RE: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is
online today... RE event tokens
To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, Arts and Sciences in the SCA
<artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
At the last Event I've been to we received small
ring brooches someone had made out of wire, very nice.
Anna de Byxe
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 21:17:20 -0700
From: Shana Cooke <gitsh01 at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is online today... RE
event tokens
To: Arts and Sciences in the SCA <artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
Message-ID: <407A1850.6040802 at earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Phlip wrote:
<<< If you want to make a non- medallion style site token, discuss it with the
autocrat and the group's Seneschal(e), or, if you're a fairly new group (or
you're one or both of those people ;-), discuss it with the more
knowledgeable officers of an established group near you- they should know
what the situation is, and advise you accordingly. >>>
I actually prefer non-worn tokens. I portray a 12th century jew, so the
ever so popular pilgrim's badge token/pin/medallion isn't appropriate
for me to wear. I usually put it in my purse - which is stored in my
wicker basket - and can show it if needed, but I don't want to wear a
christian symbol.
We have a local pewterer who does a beautiful job though, making
14th/15th century pilgrim badges for events, I always admire the pins, I
just don't want to wear them. I spend months researching and sewing my
outfits, I don't want to have to wear a glaringly non-appropriate item
while I'm attempting to be 12th century jewish.
The best gate token I've ever received was a small circle of beeswax -
just the right size for waxing thread with! This was for a fibers &
sewing event in Wyewood, and I used that little beeswax token until
there was almost nothing left.
The most annoying token I've recieved was a safety pin with tiny beads
on it. The cheap brass safety pin broke in my purse, spilling the beads
everywhere...
The funniest token I've recieved was a shell lai, at a "vikings invade
Hawaii" themed Sven event. The person who collected the most lais from
other people by the end of the event got "most laid", and a prize. She
had about 60 of them. :)
That's not very useful though if you want to do crowd control as I gave
my lai away to an industrious competitor within minutes of passing
through gate... ;)
Shana
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 00:33:44 -0400
From: "Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
Subject: Re: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is online today... RE
eventtokens
To: "Arts and Sciences in the SCA"
<artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
<<< I actually prefer non-worn tokens. I portray a 12th century jew, so the
ever so popular pilgrim's badge token/pin/medallion isn't appropriate
for me to wear. I usually put it in my purse - which is stored in my
wicker basket - and can show it if needed, but I don't want to wear a
christian symbol. >>>
Not sure where you are, but I'm unfamiliar with Christian pilgrim's badges
being used as site tokens. Can see your point, though- I wouldn't
necessarily be thrilled by wearing pilgrim's badges, pentacles, or a Star of
David, since none of them are appropriate for my persona ;-) Rather liked
the one from EK Coronation this time. It's a little plastic dove on a
"brass" ring, on a length of yarn- obviously a site token, and not, as near
as I can figure, apropos of anything else.
One I particularly liked was a necklace of Viking-style beads, and another
was a little painted wooden doll. with no way to attach it to anything.
What I was addressing, though, was the basic question- are site tokens
required to be medallions. Since the question struck me as coming from
someone who is fairly new to SCA, I thought it best to give some explanation
as to why one might want to use tokens that were visible throughout the
event ;-)
Saint Phlip,
CoDoLDS
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:43:17 -0400
From: Corwyn and Carowyn <silveroak at juno.com>
Subject: Re: [SCA-AS] Quick question if anyone is online today... RE
event tokens
To: artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org
I actually prefer non-worn tokens. I portray a 12th century jew, so the
ever so popular pilgrim's badge token/pin/medallion isn't appropriate
for me to wear.
To answer the original question, they don't have to be medallions. As a
matter of fact, a lot of shires in our area are trying to get away from
what we used to do in the past (fimo clay round medallion thingies - I
was guilty of about 7 of those ideas, myself) in favor of something cool
and period-looking.
At our last event, the token was a period-style (Spanish) belt pouch!
I've seen about 10 of them still in use at subsequent events - how cool
is that?!?
At an event in Abhain Chiach Glais (sp? - we usually just call in ACG) in
AEthelmearc, they did garter belts which could be worn as bracelets.
They were cool.
We try to go for something that can be worn at the belt or around the
neck - that way, it's easy to see at a glance, but it doesn't interfere
with the clothing. Recently we've had: handmade millefiori beads (A Walk
in the Garden, an herb event, hence the flower bead), handmade Viking
beads (Lady Day), a handmade Egyptian paste beads that doubled as a
distaff bead (Rock Day 1), a leather medallion with a skull on it (Death
of an Apothecary), the Spanish pouch (Convivencia), a length of hemp
twine with a dyed bone bead on it (Glass Bead Workshop - the idea was
that you'd fill up the string with your own beads and wear them). I
can't remember the rest; I'm missing some.
Even a small strip of cloth or leather for the belt with some design on
it that would be appropriate to the event - that would fit in with a
persona that went on a trip, and when in Rome, do as the Romans do! ;-)
-Carowyn
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:37:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mary Haselbauer <mary_m_haselbauer at yahoo.com>
Subject: [SCA-AS] RE event tokens
To: artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org
We're really into pewter site tokens around here. I
like the pins especially. For a coronation there was
one with the incoming crown's initials. I guess it
looked like a pilgrimage badge but the content was
secular. At another event the pewter tokens were a
little tunic with a banner than read in latin "and all
I got was this lousy tunic."
My favorite token was a cookie. Difficult to display
later but it showed a lot of trust!
In other words NO. It doesn't have to be a medallion.
Slaine
From: "Dianne" <cat_herder at comcast.net>
Date: August 18, 2008 10:43:11 AM CDT
To: "1- castlemere" <castlemere at yahoogroups.com>, "trimaris-temp" <trimaris-temp at yahoogroups.com>, "TrimarisChroniclers" <TrimarisChroniclers at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [tri-temp] Name that token
Greetings Trimaris, I have always loved getting event and feast tokens, I think of them as little works of art from the group that hosted the event. I still have almost every one I ever received. For a time I was very good at labeling
each one but it got away from me. You know how it goes. :) anywho.. I have uploaded my some of event and feast tokens to Flickr in hope that someone can tell me which token was created for which event. If anyone else would like to upload some token photos go ahead. They can serve as inspiration for any future event staff needing ideas. If you have some tokens from out of kingdom, please label them as "out of kingdom.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/trismaris_tokens/
Thanks,
Tamara
From: medicfem at aol.com
Date: December 22, 2007 11:57:09 PM CST
To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
Subject: [Ansteorra] Decorating the Tree
Greetings Ansteorra,
Well after much searching at least the top layer of my garage, I was beginning to give up hope. I realize I was starting a little late on the "getting into the holiday spirit" thing. Well the over time available at work is plentiful and there is sure alot of bills stacking up, so I sign up when ever I can at the hospital. I was about to scream," Bah Hum Bug!" When I stop myself and said, No, this is not a reason to give up hope. I am blessed and have much to thankful for this year. My family and I are healthy, my pets are loyal and loving, I have a wonderful man, a "new to me" home, and lots of great friends both in and out of the SCA.
Yet, I was feeling a little tested by the fact I couldn't find my box of ornaments or my tree skirt. So I laughed a little and looked around the house. Humm, only a true SCAer would understand this... I have boxes of feast and site tokens from events gone by and tons of "less than a cuff" pieces of trim in the last 10 plus years of playing this game. So up they went on the this sad bare tree.
Please understand. I know many parents beam at looking at the family tree looking at popsicle ornaments from their kids school years. Gavin and I are beaming looking at all the tokens that hang from our tree with the same sort of pride. Yes, some of my "ornaments" too are popsicle sticks, some are cool pewter shells or black stars made of steel, lots of leather disks, a few spoons, fimo, painted pine cones, glass beads, some wooden sheep, cup covers, and coins, some random left over bits of trim, some misc. silk flowers and feathers, a few wooden bobbins, some bits of an sca dance belt that broke and was never remade, a few lone earings and ta-da! We have a tree! Some material that someday will be "an elizabethian" circle the base.
I stand back and I stare at the tree and have soo many memories attach to it. Years worth!
I stand back and feel a great sense of pride. Wow! There are some great artisians in our kingdom. Can we all try to make site tokens that would be great christmas tree ornaments?
SO thank you Ansteorra! My tree looks great! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Pass the eggnog!
HL Caley
From: Dorcas or Jean <dorcas_jean at YAHOO.COM>
Date: January 22, 2010 11:27:54 AM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Orders and newcomers
--- On Thu, 1/21/10, Ted Eisenstein <alban at SOCKET.NET> wrote:
... snip ...
I'm also curious: is there anyone else in Calontir who
carries medieval artifacts with them to events, regularly? ... snip ...
Coolest site token ever: Roman coins that were the Lilies War token a few years back. Mine is in the bottom of my belt pouch. I need to mount it in some spiffy way so I can show it off at events. (some way that it can be handled and oohed and ahhed over)
Dorcas
From: Hroller McKnutt <hroller at GMAIL.COM>
Date: January 22, 2010 1:46:55 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Orders and newcomers
On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 1:42 PM, Stefan li Rous
<StefanliRous at austin.rr.com> wrote:
<<< Were these actual Roman coins? Or reproductions? If the former, I'm
surprized there are enough available, cheaply enough to do this.
Even if reproductions, it is a neat idea for a site token. >>>
Real, caked in mud and corrosion still. VERY small coins, very cool site token.
Mike
From: Roslyn McLaren <roz.the.younger at gmail.com>
Date: September 1, 2011 11:32:57 AM CDT
To: the-triskele-tavern at googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {TheTriskeleTavern} RE: token
On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 11:29 AM, <gwenllyan at aol.com> wrote:
<<< Just a thought- there is at least one Kingdom (Calontir) wherein the recipient on any token is asked to make at least one, preferably 2, to give BACK to the Kingdom for future awards. Yes, this means they are not standard except for the design itself. It may be leather, or carved wood, or embroidered, or enameled, or whatever. And those who cannot make a replacement can bargain with someone who can do it for them. There is no cost to the Kingdom, and everybody gets a nice, handmade piece. This is just a comment, not a suggestion, but it might be worth considering.
Just OL Gwen, now returning to her cave to lurk >>>
The Order of the Velvet Owl of Meridies is similar, in that companions are asked to make a replacement in their "own art" if possible. One advantage there in Meridies is that this grant level arts and sciences Order meets at least twice a year to discuss candidates and other business (an idea that also has great merit, but one which deserves a conversation of its own), so gentle reminders are given.
--
~~ Roz
Mistress Roslyn McLaren
<the end>