households-msg

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households-msg - 1/30/15

Comments on households in the SCA.

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Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: mittle at watson.ibm.com (Arval d'Espas Nord)

Subject: Re: I'd like to start a household

Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1993 20:15:08 GMT

Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research

Greetings from Arval! Gwenna asked:

> I'd like information on starting a household in the SCA. Unfortunately I

> can't just seek out a local herald because I am in Germany for the year.

> So if anyone could mail me information and guidelines for starting a

> household, I would appreciate it.

There are no formal rules covering households. A household can be whatever

you want it to be. Some households obtain charters from their baron,

prince, or king; most do not. Some households have formal rules to be

followed by members and for adding new members; most do not. Some

households have internal ranks and offices; many do not.

My advice would be to start with a clear idea of what sort of medieval

association you want to re-create, and what you want to household to

accomplish in the SCA.

SCA households most commonly approximate the family and retainers of a

medieval nobleman. Other households attempt to re-create merchant

companies, guilds, mercenary companies, theatrical troupes, fraternal

orders, extended families or clans, and many other kinds of associations of

people that existed in the Middle Ages. If you choose a particular

historical model on which to base your household (e.g., the family and

retainers of a minor landholder in 13th century Shropshire), I believe you

will find building and living with your household to be a richer and more

enjoyable experience; it adds an extra dimension which you can explore as

you see fit.

It is equally useful to have a clear idea of what purpose the household

will serve in the SCA. Is it a group of people who want do stuff together

and share their talents and resources? Is it a group of people who want to

work together to re-create a particular culture?

Once you understand what you want to do and what you want to re-create,

then you will be better prepared to ask yourselves what you want to call

the household, how you want to structure it, etc. On one hand, you can

tailor your organization and structure to help you to achieve your

re-creative goals, and on the other hand, you can design it to support your

practical SCA goals.

In the final analysis, it is entirely up to you.

===========================================================================

Arval d'Espas Nord mittle at watson.ibm.com

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: I'd like to start a household

From: schuldy at zariski.harvard.edu (Mark Schuldenfrei)

Date: 23 Dec 93 16:04:20 EST

Organization: My own little corner.

Gwenna of An Tir wrote:

I'd like information on starting a household in the SCA.

[ Deleted ] So if anyone

could mail me information and guidelines for starting a household, I would

appreciate it.

I think you will run more into local custom than anything else. Certainly,

one part of what you could do would be to register a name and a badge with

the College of Arms. But that doesn't really give you a household, just a

name and symbol for one.

If you have a group of people who, together, want to constitute a household,

bingo, you are one.

In Carolingia, we have an interesting custom. Any household that wants to

can petition the Baron and Baroness for formal recognition. After 6 months

or so of activity, they are so recognized, and have a voting seat on

Baronial Great Council. You might expect that there would be a great number

of Baronial Households, in that case. I can only think of 5 (Chat Gris,

Domus Phoenicus, Windsmeet, Silverwing and Skold). I can think of two

former households that have since dropped out of Carolingia (House Round,

and House Goodwyn). We have plenty of households that are not represented on

Great Council, as well.

Tibor (Not a member of any household, but friend to many)

Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy at math.harvard.edu)

From: mabr at sweden.hp.com (Morgan "the Dreamer" Broman)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Households

Date: 22 Apr 1994 07:28:36 GMT

Organization: HP/SCA/SKA/FSTS/AMTS/SLRP/ETC Sweden

Thomas Christopher Riley (triley at oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu) wrote:

: For all those Lords and Ladies in the Realm, I would ask that if

: you are in a household and wouldn't mind telling me how your households

: function, their age, the membership requirements,etc I waould greatly be

: appreciative as I am forming a Household myself.

Whow, what an opening...hm let's see...were to start...how about

tha beginning you fool...oh..well...ok....;)

In the beginning...no, no...hm..Once upon a time...mmm...not quite..

...aaah...A long time ago (6 years) there as guy named Morgan who had been

in the Society for about 1 year. He was at an event called Knaeckebroed War

in southern Sweden. He had a small following of nice people...two to be

precise. Now Morgan had already received his first award, an AoA, and was

mighty proud...;). So this, Morgan, looked at his friends and said :

-Well my friends, as we seem to have so much fun together and that we

hang around together a lot, why don't we formalise this a little ?

His friends looked at him as if he was a little crazy, and asked :

- What do you mean ?

This should come as no surprise since they both knew about Morgans..ah....

.ideas of a "good time"..and were a bit worried that someone had hit him

over the head just a trifle too hard.

-Why don't we form a household, dedicated to FUN ! You know parties and

figting and all that...

They looked at Morgan again...then they nodded and said :

-Sounds like a lot of fun and since this is what we are doing anyway..sure...

And so it came about that Ravens Crag was born...!

Today Ravens Crag consists of 25 people, all fighters or at least

combat archers. The rules are simple :

- We are friends.

- You can leave any time you like, no hard feelings.

- We don't play politics as a group, NEVER !

- We do it because it is fun, if it's no fun we don't do it.

- We fight and we have parties, sometimes the other way around..;)

- There is one Boss..!

- If we don't agree, then we agree to disagree...simple..;)

Anyone in the Household can suggest a new member. Before they are

admitted the squires check them out and report to me. I make the final

decision. Only the Squires are required to swear fealty, the rest are

free to do so if they want too, a number of them have.

Once we think a candidate might be of interest I sit down in private

with him/her and let them know what I expect from them and how the group

functions.

I then ask them to think about it and come back at a later time. I do NOT

accept a straight "Yes" until they have taken their time and considered the

implications.

If they come back with a "Yes" we bring them to our next household

party and "initiate" them..;)

I expect a certain level of activity, especially in their local

groups, I expect honesty, courtesy and FUN..;) It seems to work out nicely.

Ciao

Morgan//

Who has a household almost big enough to be a Barony...;)...!!!!

HP : Morgan Broman mabr at sweden.hp.com

From: mwolfe at epas.utoronto.ca (Menya Wolfe)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Households

Date: 25 Apr 1994 04:02:34 GMT

Organization: EPAS Computing Facility, University of Toronto

Keywords: Households

In article <CoMyAH.KuL at oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu>,

Thomas Christopher Riley <triley at oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu> wrote:

> For all those Lords and Ladies in the Realm, I would ask that if

>you are in a household and wouldn't mind telling me how your households

>function, their age, the membership requirements,etc I waould greatly be

>appreciative as I am forming a Household myself.

I am a member of two households, one very old and one very new. Both

are simply formalizations of existing bonds of friendship and loyalty.

I am honoured to be a member of Teacht Cearta Mor, the household of

Aedan and Kaffa, former Baron and Baroness of Septentria. Teacht

Cearta Mor came into existence when Mom and Dad went to a number of

friends and asked, "If we started a household, would you want to be in

it?". The answer was the same from each person asked: "But I thought

I *was* in your household..." I think that is the best kind of household.

I joined the SCA in 1981, and at that time, households were a Big

Thing in my home canton. If you weren't in one, you were something of

a social outcast. I wasn't in one for my first few years, and in some

was that made my life difficult. I'd advise any group or area that

becomes obsessed with households as my canton was to look at how those

who for whatever reason are excluded are included in activities.

I was asked to join Teacht Cearta Mor, first as a cousin, and then as

a member. It was a great honour, since I had considered it the one

household I'd never join, since that was where all the "perfect

people" were. We function as a family, all basically equal except Mom

and Dad. As several of us gained peerages (and apprentices), we still

felt the ties to our household were strong enough that we had no

desire to create our own. A complex set of relationships developed,

all based on loyalty to Aedan and Kaffa before all else.

Then Mom and Dad started to drift away, and we all felt a loss of

identity. For me, loyalty to kin came before canton, barony or

kingdom, and I was confused and torn, liking many of my rulers in the

SCA hierarchy, but not feeling bonds strong enough to want to give the

same fierce loyalty. My apprentices came to me, asking for more of an

identity for themselves and our little group, and after a while I

realized that it was time that my loyalty was directed downward to

those I had undertaken to teach rather than up to absent role models.

We chose Dunstan as a name for the house, and as events pass, we

develop more of a group identity. We will never be a Teacht Cearta

Mor, and I am certainly not Kaffa, but I believe that in time we will

be able to say our name with pride.

I think anyone who feels a desire should be allowed or even encouraged

to for a household. You don't need to be a peer, or even a lord in my

opinion, although if you intend to train people in the traditions of the SCA

or any skill, artistic or martial, be sure you know enough to teach.

But beware of certain pitfalls in the household thing. Some

households slip into a pattern of almost drafting newcomers to the

Society who show signs of promise. Let them find their bearings

first. If you are new and are approached by a household, it is

perfectly acceptable to say that you'd like to think a while before

accepting membership, and ask around about what the individuals and

house are like.

Households in the SCA can be a really comforting thing if you're in a

good one. But if you're in a bad one, or not in one at all, they can

be one of the most unpleasant, cliquey aspects of the Current Middle

Ages. Let the buyer beware.

Rhiannon

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: MCNUTT at gateway.ce.utk.edu (Bill McNutt)

Subject: Re: Mundane Groupings in the SCA?

Organization: University of Tennessee Division of Continuing Education

Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 15:15:59 GMT

In article <1994May29.195916.1 at carleton.edu> johnsond at carleton.edu writes:

> I have been heard about some of the various households and "colleges"

>and other such forms of unofficial groupings within our Society, and they

>seem...well, quite intriguing. Though I am not looking to join such a group,

>I'd be most interested in finding out in which ways people tend to group

>themselves in this fashion. In particular, I was wondering if there are

>gatherings and groups of different cultural backgrounds (Middle Eastern,

>African-American, African, Asian-American, Scandanavian, etc.) or different

>religious beliefs (in particular Christianity, but any others as well...) from

>their lives _outside_ the Society as well as within.

> I hope that was somewhat clear...In any case, anyone care to comment?

Sure.

DISCLAIMER: I've got some miles behind me, but only as a guest. I'm only

intimately familiar with the intricacies of eastern Meridian mores. In other

parts of the Kingdom and Society, your miliage may vary.

Here in Meridies, there tend to be three kinds of households: a Peerage

Household, a theme household, and a social household.

Peerage households are the easiest to define. They are generally based around

and headed by a peer of the Society.

They are made up of the Squires/Apprentices/Protege's of the central Peer,

plus the friends and significant others of the Peer and associates. They tend

to be fairly small and somewhat close-knit, breaking up only when the Peer

becomes inactive or moves away.

Theme households tend to be based around a shared interest or activity, such

as the Arts, or Combat. Here is where you will find Mercenary Companies and

the like. These groups tend to be less tightly affiliated with one-another,

and members move from one group to another at different events.

Social households are the most common, and, by-and-large, the most fluid.

These households are made up of people who have mundane relationships, or who

like to hang out together. As a result, a mundane divorce, or a fight can

divide a household.

These classifications are my own, and, of course, artificial. My own house,

for example, is a social household, but our patricarch is one of the founding

members of our Barony, and is accorded by many the respect and deference of a

Peer. I'm the only authorized Fighter (and that's for combat archery), we

have no craftsmen, and argue all the time.

Oh well, my $.02.

From: Elaine Ragland <er37 at columbia.edu>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Household Help

Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 19:08:23 -0400

Organization: Columbia University

On 29 Jul 1996, Jason wrote:

> I have recently formed a household and have a question concerning one

> of the more mundane aspects of a household ... how can I go about setting

> up a bank account for household funds? I am asking this because I wish

> to make sure that the money is the GROUPS rather than whoever is holding

> the money.

> Some ideas I am currently playing with are:

> Incorperating the household

> Setting up the household as a standard business

> Setting it up as a not for profit organization or club

> Making it a co-op

> Erik Blackwood

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Jason Mohler j_mohler at wmc34b.wmc.edu

I have no idea which state you are in. In New York, there is something

called a "Doing Business As" licence. It's for the interim state between

hobby and small business incorporation. It allows a person, for a nominal

fee ($20), to register as "Household Food" or some such, for the purposes

of doing business under that name. You then get a slip of paper that you

can take to a bank. The bank will then open an account under the name

"Household Food." You can then show the bank statements for this account

at the household meetings.

Warning. This account is really in your name, only registered under the

legally alternate name of "Household Food". This means you pay taxes on

income from this account. If it's a small account ($100 for stamps and

xeroxing), it probably doesn't matter. At any rate, it's something to get

the bank account, while waiting for incorporation papers to go through the

court.

Elaine Ragland

aka Melanie de la Tour

From: mittle at panix.com (Arval d'Espas Nord)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Household Help

Date: 30 Jul 1996 14:38:04 -0400

Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC

> I have recently formed a household and have a question concerning one

> of the more mundane aspects of a household ... how can I go about setting

> up a bank account for household funds? I am asking this because I wish

> to make sure that the money is the GROUPS rather than whoever is holding

> the money.

Essentially all you have to do it get a organizational tax id. Anyone can

get a tax id; you don't have to be incorporated or legally sanctioned in

any other way. When CSOS started collecting money, Katerine Rowntre simply

got a tax id and opened a bank account.

Of course, you have to file tax reports; but that will be true no matter

how you hold the money.

You may want to find out the legal standing of unincorporated associations

in your state.

===========================================================================

Arval d'Espas Nord mittle at panix.com

From: sthomas728 at aol.com (SThomas728)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Re:Starting a household

Date: 5 Sep 1996 04:04:55 -0400

Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Starting a household is not a formal affair here in AnTir. I am not sure

where you are from and what applies to you, but I will put in my two

cents.

A household can be as organised or disorganised as you please. Simply put,

a household is most often a group of people who choose to camp together,

often to share expenses, cooking, chores, and because they share common

ideals and interests. Some households invite any and all to join and

unjoin as they choose. Some go through formal porcesses of choosing whom

they want to join, then they confer either with the entire household or

with simply the "heads" of the household, and some go even further with

ceremonies inducting the new member into the group.

A household is what you choose to make of it, and I personally think your

idea is great. It is something I have thought of doing many a time.

If you want any suggestions or have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.

I am not saying I am an authority on the subject, but seeing as we have

similar ideas about where you want to begin your household, perhaps I

could be of some help.

In service,

Genevieve DuMonde

From: drgnlair at nai.net (Bob Upson)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re:Starting a household

Date: 5 Sep 1996 05:40:56 GMT

Organization: The Dragons' Lair www/BBS

In article <50hqov$8nj at wormer.fn.net>, smills at wichita.fn.net (put your name here) says:

>Could someone please advise me how to go about forming a household.We would

>like to have it dedicated to the gentle arts and sciences, since the people

>interested are not fighters.

In the simplest form you can just declare yourself a household. There's no

SCA formality involved unless you decide to register the household name and/or

badge with the College of Heralds.

You may wish, however, to sit down with the people who wish to form this house

and hash out what you want to accomplish by creating it. A written household

charter is a nice idea and serves as a reminder in the future of why you started

the house.

Macsen

House Wyvern Hall

http://members.aol.com/wyvernhall/house.html

From: "Edwin L. Hewitt" <brogoose at pe.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re:Starting a household

Date: 6 Sep 1996 02:36:48 GMT

Organization: PE.net - Internet access from the Press-Enterprise Company

smills at wichita.fn.net (put your name here) wrote:

> Could someone please advise me how to go about forming a household...

> Lady Clare

Hi, Edwin here.

Forming a household can be easy. Say you are one, and you are.

Households are not officially recognised in the SCA (ask the Horde).

However, there are many pitfalls in households. Without going into

detail, households work best as groups of friends with shared interests

freely spending time together. They fall when one or more of the

members decide that their way is the only way, because they are the

Captain, or Chief, or Lord or whatever.

Households are a great tool to create a feeling of comradery and

belonging. It is also a great way to share a common interest. Just

don't get too caught up in the politics that sometimes come out of

nowhere to gag the creativity and freedom a house hold provides.

From: Robyn Hodgkin <robyn.hodgkin at dpie.gov.au>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re:Starting a household

Date: 10 Sep 1996 03:14:53 GMT

Organization: Australian Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries and Energy http://www.dpie.gov.au/

Holly_Sullivan at elric.maximumaccess.com (Holly Sullivan) wrote:

> I think I saw Smills at wichita.fn.net say to All on Wed 4 Sep 96 19:19:

> > Could someone please advise me how to go about forming a household.We

> > would

> > like to have it dedicated to the gentle arts and sciences, since the

> > people interested are not fighters.

> You have a group of interested folks?

> *POOF* You're a household.

I have a few small suggestions. I realise that I might be teaching

you to suck eggs, please forgive me if that is so.

1) Think VERY hard about the people you are forming the household

with. I know of at least 6 households which broke up for the express

reason that they had member/members that they did not want after all.

2) Get together with your proto-household. Figure out how new members

will be added to the household - consensus? Majority Vote? Who ever

wants in..

3) Figure out a name and badge. These are vital because they will

draw your group together into a cohesive group.

4) Figure out what your reason for existence is. Based on that, give

yourselves some goals. eg. have feasting pavillion by next.... If you

have goals and a purpose, you will stay together and achieve great

things.

Good luck!

Kiriel

From: mittle at panix.com (Arval d'Espas Nord)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Re:Starting a household

Date: 11 Sep 1996 15:17:14 -0400

Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC

Greetings from Arval!

Kiriel posted some fine advice on starting a household. I'd like to add a

couple thoughts.

> 3) Figure out a name and badge. These are vital because they will

> draw your group together into a cohesive group.

> 4) Figure out what your reason for existence is.

These two points should come in the opposite order. You can't possibly

choose a good household name until you know the purpose of the household.

More to the point, you need to know what the household is trying to

re-create.

The Society "household" covers an enormous grab-bag of medieval phenomena:

families, extended families, feudal alliances, clans; mercenary companies,

theatrical companies, merchantile companies, ship's companies; political

parties, guilds, lay orders, tournament societies; inns, manor-houses,

villages; and many, many more. For each of these classes of personal

associations, there are proper ways to construct a name.

You can't name something authentically until you know what you are naming.

Unfortunately, most Society households are named without any particular

thought to the medieval model which the household is emulating. As a

result, most Society household names are better suited to fantasy than

historical re-creation.

===========================================================================

Arval d'Espas Nord mittle at panix.com

From: cjanssen at newshost.li.net (Janssen)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Households

Date: 9 Jan 1997 18:22:02 GMT

Organization: LI Net (Long Island Network)

e.preston III & shelly k (wf3 at icok.net) wrote:

: Households in Ansteorra are usually folk who get along together and

: enjoy camping together and have some of the same SCA pursuits.

: How, if any, differ in other Kingdoms??

: I've been given the impression they do differ.

: Britta

Yes they do, I have found that some of them have strong family positions,

heirs etc. its all in how much respect the head of the house recieves as

to the level of power he has over the people in the house. I know of a

brewing household that has limited power in this way, but has mandatory

requirements for how much product must be produced for the households

pennsic encampment and for the house's contribution to the war chest.

See the point?

Lord Xaviar the Eccentric- Head of House Handelsherr

aka- Shaun the Clanless- Brother in Law (member) of House/Riders under the

Winged serpent.

aka Sean (the clanless) Campbell-Brother to the Laird of Clan Campbell.

From: "Jeanne C. Stapleton" <jstaplet at adm.law.du.edu>

Organization: Univ. of Denver, College of Law

To: "Timothy A. McDaniel" <tmcd at crl.com>, ansteorra at eden.com

Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 15:50:19 -700 MST

Subject: Re: Awards Policy

> Countess, I am told households used to be VERY VERY BIG THINGS

> indeed in Ansteorra. The was an award for households: Pillar of

> Ansteorra

This is really interesting, because in the post you are responding

to, I started to talk about my household but refrained because I'd

gone on at length already--but my household, which is based in

Oertha, has a Pillar of the West. It sounds like the Pillar of

Ansteorra may predate it, which is something I'd never heard, but

is cool to know. Our household received the fourth Pillar of the

West given in that kingdom.

Households are a *huge* deal in Oertha; somewhat less so in

the West, but they still exist. Actually, a big power in the West are

the fighting units, which aren't quite like households but accomplish

some of the same functions.

> From the little I've heard (e.g., the feuding between

> Clan Cadall and another clan whose name escapes me)x, it's a good

> thing that households are far, far less important. Currently, the

> only important household -- indeed, I don't know if it's a household

> per se or just an unofficial group -- is (IIRC) Duke Sigmund's

> Backyard Crew. xBut I'm quite willing to be corrected if I err in

> this.

Households are like just about anything, good in moderation. They

can be a wonderful support network, and they exist by choice rather

than chance (as is the case with zip code based geographical groups).

This is, of course, a two-edged sword, as too much of this unnatural

selection can lead to snobbery. Households are also a great tool for

accomplishing service projects and major event undertakings.

However, they turn ugly when they become a be-all and end-all unto

themselves.

Countess Berengaria de Montfort de Carcassonne, OP

Barony of Caerthe

Kingdom of the Outlands

From: "Richard L. Rohde" <talen at microtutors.com>

To: <ansteorra at eden.com>

Subject: Re: Awards Policy (Households in Ansteorra)

Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 14:28:03 -0600

Countess Berengaria de Montfort de Carcassonne, OP, wrote:

> OKAY! Another question: define "Great Household". I've heard this

> elusive term for years; an unscrupulous viscount in Oertha tried to

> tell us that this was a Board-recognized designation with so many

> peers and so many officers (this was years ago) and of course there's

> no such thing anywhere in the governing docs.

I'd like to give my opinion, and expound further on households. Here's my

pfennig to the discussion:

When I first joined the Society 14 years ago, I was told that a Great House

was any house that had members in more than one kingdom. Anyone could form

a household, but it was recommended that there be at least three members,

one of whom should have an AoA or better. This was to ensure that at the

household had at least a certain amount of experience in the Society. No

household had official status, and it was considered faux pas to use

household titles in court, or to conduct household business at a populace

meeting or court.

Somewhere this went by the wayside, what with ships' captains and their

"crews" spending inordinate amounts of court time "gifting" the crown

before all, hordesman coopting populace meetings to honor their "khan", and

other similar occurrences. Households used to be small groupings of like

minded individuals who needed each other. Occasionally they would grow, as

a light attracts a moth.

Newer members seem to think, however, that "powerful" households are

directly equated to "large" households. And thus we have young households

whose primary outward activity is to snag more members, regardless of

similarity or complementary interests and skills. Seldom do they have a

clue as to the history and social mores of this kingdom. Often they sow

discord.

Households have always been a political force. Their mere existence is a

political statement. When you declare an affiliation, you open one door

and close another. This can be good. Sometimes it is bad. I have seen

many promising new members sucked into these types of houses, only to

disappear when their "dream" turns sour. One in particular stated that she

told her husband after her first meeting "I'm home!". Then a household

with this predator problem snagged her up. She became disillusioned and

bitter as they used her as a pawn against others. She was told the only

way she could get anywhere was make costumes, for free, for others. Mostly

her house. She was a professional seamstress and refused. Eventually she

stopped coming to meetings or other public gatherings. Her husband, who

joined at her desire and showed promise as a fighter and motivator, told me

she thought it was no longer "fun". What! Have FUN with your HOBBY!!!? I

was not surprised. I continue to keep in touch with both in the hopes they

will try us again, as some have returned and stayed. We shall see.

This is but one example of many. Households can be a good thing, but we

must evaluate what purpose the house serves. As a grouping of friends

whose skills complement each other, they are a strong part of the fabric at

the grassroots level. As an entity to advance the agenda of a few against

the will of the many they often go too far.

Talen

---------

Centurion Talen Gustaf von Marienburg

Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war!

talen at microtutors.com

Subject: [Ansteorra-announce] Directory of Households (includes Warbands)

Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 11:30:22 -0700 (PDT)

From: Ede Caid <edeofcaid2 at yahoo.com>

To: ansteorra-announce at ansteorra.org

The new Directory of Households website is up and

running! This listing of houses and warbands puts

basic stats on houses at your fingertips, including

founding date, contact info, size, interests, whether

or not new members are being accepted, and more.

Add your house or warband - all you need is a valid

email address. Or, find a house in your kingdom with

interests similar to your own.

http://members.home.com/tlcauldron/houses

Ede of Caid

[This link is now invalid. If anyone knows the correct URL, please let me know. - Stefan 11/2/06]

From: tmcd at panix.com

Date: May 7, 2005 12:04:55 PM CDT

To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at ansteorra.org>

Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] House Of Whatever

Not to pick on Aethelyan ('cause that's stupid if not fatal), but it

just caught my attention.

On Sat, 7 May 2005, Elisabeth B. Zakes <ezakes at earthlink.net> wrote:

> House Bryn Dir

That's a common SCAish, but it was recently pointed out to me that

"House <proper name>" is not attested before the book _Dune_ by Frank

Herbert in the 1960s. Historians don't write about the contest

between House Lancaster and House York, or how House Anjou claimed the

throne of the Two Sicilies.

So I suggest that people should refer to SCA households like

historical houses. In this example, "House of Bryn Dir" or "the house

of Bryn Dir" in analogy with "the house of Capet". Or "Bryn Dirydd"

(or whatever the correct form is in Welsh for "people who are part of

Bryn Dir") for a form along the lines of "The Capetians were replaced

by the Valois".

Danel de Lyncoln

Tim McDaniel; Reply-To: tmcd at panix.com

From: Siren Song <sirensong13 at yahoo.com>

Date: November 4, 2006 8:46:42 PM CST

To: Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>

Subject: Re: Broken link

I have been surfing the web doing research to find out how other Households operate I stumbbled across Ede's Directory of Households. She has links to many households throughout the SCA. I found looking at others rules and regs made things a lot eaiser for our new household to construct what they wanted from forming a group. http://server.com/WebApps/db-view.cgi?id=102073

Siobhan

From: Vicky Eisenstadt <alysounJ at gmail.com>

Date: June 12, 2010 3:31:01 PM CDT

To: trimaris-temp at yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [tri-temp] I have a question, but is there an answer??

Most households and clans are quite scrupulous about not recruiting

newcomers....It's like deciding on who your relatives are 5 minutes after

entering a room of strangers. Hence, while I can tell you that MY clan,

FarFlung, is committed to the ideals of service and hospitality; I would in

no way wish that to be construed as though we would ever go trolling for

newcomers.

Alysoun

On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 3:14 PM, David Borkowski <dmborkowski at verizon.net>wrote:

<<< Thank you, that would explain why I can not find a list. What about an

un-official" list just to get myself (and other newbies, transplants, etc.)

more familiar with "Who's who" in Trimaris? Maybe some contacts, web pages,

forums, etc.? Any household members out there want to tell us "newbies"

about your house?? >>>

From: john heitman <gottskrieger at GMAIL.COM>

Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Active Households

Date: February 22, 2011 3:02:29 AM CST

To: Historical Recreation in the Kingdom of Calontir <CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu>

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 1:09 AM, Stefan li Rous

<StefanliRous at austin.rr.com> wrote:

<<< What do you mean by "the concept of Active Household"? I've heard of "households" before, but this is the first I've heard of "active household". >>>

Since I used the term, it seems only correct that I answer.

In my experience, there are many types of household. I've lived in the

East, in the Middle, in Glenn Abhann, and Calontir, so I've seen (and

been part of) many of them.

There is the last remaining Great House - The Dark Horde. There are

the political mini-fiefdoms which vie for political position based on

who they have in the house. There are groups that gather because they

have a commonality about them, such as they all attend the same

college. IOW, there are all the types listed by everyone else, and I

have run with them all, including the Horde. (I served as the Great

Khan's Kingdomer Liason for a year under Svea Wartooth. God Rest His

Soul.)

But there was a single distinguishing characteristic between them.

There were households that did things, and were recognized as a House

for the accomplishment, and there were the households that did

nothing of acclaim so the individual had to strike out on his own to

make a name.

The former were "ACTIVE" households, caring more for the glory of the

house name than the individual. Calontir took this to the highest

level in its image of itself as a kingdom. Non-active households were

more like groups of people that drove in together, and sat together at

feast, but not much else.

Think of it this way. When you go to Pennsic, and you see Ferd and

his Squires, do you think "there goes House de Falcon?" Or do you

think "We're screwed. Here comes Calontir!" You know Calontir by what

it has done, by its activity. Ferd's personal little band of

troublemakers (um ENTERTAINERS- yeah, I'll go with that), not so much.

Are the people in question active as a household? or are they members

of a household that has active individuals? Back then, we acted as a

household. Today, we act as individuals. Still Ostlers, different

dominant culture.

Franz

Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 01:11:37 -0500

From: "otsisto" <otsisto at socket.net>

To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Somewhat OT: Historical Household Names using

Food

<<< The name was rejected as the heralds couldn't find any documentable proof of

any households in period using food as a name. >>>

De: Could they have meant to say that they couldn't find any documentation

for the pineapple as a household name?

<<< I seem to remember reading about a household that was named after a

pomegranate... But I can't remember where I read about it. I think it was

Italian. I hate it when my mind just remembers odds and ends, and I can't

link them up for real usefulness. >>>

De: SCA wise, there are only 49 registered households. It would seem that

most households do not register their name and usually with the

unregistered, the head of the household registers the device under their

name and not the household if they register at all. As for an Italian

household in period. Households were named after the head of the household.

It would be a coincidence if the name translated into a food item and not

that the household would name themselves after a food item. There is a slim

chance that you saw/read - food/household but possible, I mean I have seen a

surname that translates into drinking glasses and the surname Cucinotta

which translates (AFAIU) into kitchen. Hope this makes sense.

Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:26:36 -0700

From: Ursula Georges <ursula at tutelaries.net>

To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Somewhat OT: Historical Household Names

using, Food

On 6/14/2012 11:27 PM, sca-cooks-request at lists.ansteorra.org wrote:

<<< De: SCA wise, there are only 49 registered households. It would seem that

most households do not register their name and usually with the

unregistered, the head of the household registers the device under their

name and not the household if they register at all. >>>

Actually, there are more than 1000 registered household names in the

SCA. You can see a list of the first 500 here:

http://oanda.sca.org/oanda_complex.cgi?w1=1&;m1=record+type&p1=HN

Increase the number in the "maximum number of items to display" box if

you want to see the full list.

Administratively, the College of Heralds requires that household names

and household devices be registered to one or two people (usually the

heads of household). That means you need a registered personal name in

order to register anything for your household, but you can register just

a household name, just a household badge, or both together; you don't

have to pass a household name in order to get a household badge.

Ursula Georges.

To: gleannabhann at yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: New household?

Posted by: "Susan" salambert at yahoo.com salambert

Date: Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:58 am ((PDT))

--- In gleannabhann at yahoogroups.com, "evet.freeds at ..." <evet.freeds at ...> wrote:

<<< Are there any regulations or procedures for starting new households? I know that households are not officially recognized SCA groups but is there a procedure for getting a new house "unofficially" recognized. >>>

Households form for different reasons: because a peer has belted someone and are being trained by the peer; individuals have the same personnas (Vikings in Scotland can have a much nicer camp when several people have the same vision).

Our household, Brightlands, is a group of friends who are more service oriented and work together to have a comfortable campsite at events (many hands make the work go easier and faster). We started in the 70's as a small household to help new SCA members learn about the SCA. We held sewing, cooking, armoring, fighting, etc. classes for new people.

The work your household does to advance the SCA and the ideals therein is what gets your household positively recognized If you have the loudest, drunkest parties at events, your household gets negatively recognized.

A household should have a long term goal that all members can, in their own way, make our organization better and more fun for new members. A household philosophy seems to work better than a set of rules and regulations.

Baroness Susan Landbeorht

To: gleannabhann at yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: New household?

Posted by: "Aron the Dane" savalanst at yahoo.com savalanst

Date: Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:53 pm ((PDT))

Baroness Susan Landbeorht wrote:

<<...If you have the loudest, drunkest parties at events, your household gets negatively recognized.>>

Only by those who don't like that sort of thing. ;)

<<A household should have a long term goal that all members can, in their own way, make our organization better and more fun for new members. A household philosophy seems to work better than a set of rules and regulations.>>

I think rules and regulations have their place, but a unifying philosophy is better.

From my own experience with a good number of households over the years, the least successful are those that are just a group of friends who decide to create a name and badge for their social group. The most successful are those which form for a special purpose, and that purpose can be almost anything. It can even drift and change over time, but as long as there is a purpose the group cares about, the household will do ok.

-Aron