Baronial Polling.

.....So, I'm on the phone with His Excellency Cedric the other night and he starts talking about preparations for a Baronial Polling to happen at the end of this year. I stop him and say, 'You mean, your confidence polling, right?' To which he replies, 'No, our polling for Baron and Baroness.' I'm REASONABLY SURE that he was pulling my leg, but for a few brief moments it threw me into a panic. As Seneschal, I certainly do not look forward to wrangling a polling.

.....But after that conversation and for a day or so after I started thinking about how much things have changed under Cedric and Brighid and how much they would change under the next couple, whomever they would be. That is neither good nor bad, it just IS. When Master Ralg and Tsuruko Sensei stepped up as Baron and Baroness, they had their own style and it fit our needs at the time. We were a broken Barony trying to repair itself and being given one last chance. I doubt that anyone else at the time could have pulled it together like they did.

.....Then when Cedric and Brighid stepped up, they took us into a new direction and it has worked wonderfully. Sometimes it is tiring being the Labrador Retriever Barony of the Kingdom. But it is a good feeling knowing how much we've contributed to the overall well-being of the Kingdom. We've done Kingdom events at a moments notice, contributed tons of largesse, physically supported Kings and Queens whenever needed, supplied the Kingdom with officers when the call went forth. We do it all and part of that is due to the energy that Cedric and Brighid put forth on everything they touch and every person with whom they connect.

.....So, when His Excellency brought up the subject of a change I started thinking about who would succeed them and how much things would change around here. Without a great deal of thought I could come up with a large number of couples who'd make outstanding candidates, who would bring their own unique style to the Barony and take it into a new direction. I personally think that is a sign of a healthy Barony, that ability to field a large number of viable Baronial couples.

.....TBT and I have discussed being considered as B&B. If Their Excellencies are serious in wanting to step down in the next year, we'd have to say no to even the possibility. But we talked about our abilities and what we'd bring to the Barony. We talked about what direction we'd take the Barony and what goals we'd like to achieve. It is rather exciting to think about those possibilities. If you have a strong group of seriously motivated and good-hearted people, there really is no limit to what you can accomplish.

.....But there is a real down side as well that has to be considered. It takes a LOT of REAL WORK to be Baron and Baroness. It really is a full time job in and of itself and you really almost give up your social life in the 'real' world if you actually want to do a good job as Baron and Baroness. I've worked pretty closely with Cedric and Brighid on a number of things and the amount of committment that is required is unbelievable. I don't think that most people take that into account when they think about the job. I think that most people see the good parts only.

.....And, to be honest, if a Baron and Baroness are doing a good job what the majority of people see only is the good parts. They don't see all the hard work, angsting, frustrations and fatigue that sometimes happens behind the scenes. Think of any play of which you've ever taken part. Think about the chaos that happens behind the scenes. It's the same thing in the SCA.

.....I first thought of being Baron a while back and ran with Catelin during the polling when Master Ralg and Tsuruko Sensei were selected. I had NO CLUE of what I was thinking of doing. I had a little better clue when I ran with Talia, and the thinking process on my part was considerably more intense before deciding to throw my hat into the ring. And now that I'm thinking about it for a third time I am actually thinking, 'Do I REALLY want to do this? I just don't know.'

.....HOPEFULLY, His Excellency was pulling my leg and plans on staying put for a number of years still. I'm not sure I want to handle the obligatory drama at this time. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.