The guild officers submit the following changes to the requirements for demonstrating skills for promotion for discussion and voting. Proposed changes are highlighted; text to be added is italicized, and text to be removed or replaced is struck-through. These proposed changes are submitted with the intention of making it easier for members to demonstrated and be recognized for their skills. As a note, those eligible to vote are guild members ranked Underforester and above, but everyone is encouraged to contribute to the discussion!
Proposed changes
to pages 2 – 4 of the guild bylaws
Underforester – Those considered for the Underforester rank have completed the probationary period and made the decision to continue developing their forester knowledge. They must have an attempt at period forester garb for their time period. The requirements for advancing to the rank of Underforester are:
- An attempt at period forester garb for their chosen persona/time period of interest.
- Proven service to the guild or wild spaces. Guild members seeking to fulfill this requirement are advised to communicate their plans with an officer to determine if the activity they have in mind is appropriate and what sort of documentation would be necessary. Examples of service include, but are not limited to:
- Reporting on a demonstration at an event or writing an article presenting original research (citing at least 3 appropriate sources) for the guild newsletter, Hurst and Horn, or website. Submissions to other publications, such as The Oak, may also be acceptable.
- Teaching a class on a topic related to guild activities/interests
- Organizing unofficial gatherings of forester-folk (garb hikes, fire-making/cooking days, etc.)
- Organizing/participating in a litter clean-up effort
- Participating in organized/approved efforts to remove invasive species from public lands or remove invasive and/or plant native species on lands commonly used by the Guild, such as Elchenburg Castle Farm (as service to the guild and the Kingdom as a whole).
- Demonstrated ability to build and light a fire for cooking or camping purposes using modern methods (matches or lighter)
These requirements and skills will be demonstrated to officers of the guild (a local Keeper, if available, or members of the High Court of the Forest of Atlantia) or members ranked Forester or above; use of the “Skills demonstration checklist” available on the guild website is recommended. It may be possible to demonstrate some skills to officers virtually, but this will be discussed and approved by Guild officers on a case-by-case basis.
If Once the necessary skills have been successfully demonstrated, the officer will notify the Warden. The Warden an officer will give the member the option at the next Guild meeting/ gathering to accept promotion to Underforester and notify the Chronicler of changes in rank. All members of the guild ranked Underforester or above are allowed to vote on guild business.
Forester – Foresters have demonstrated some camping-relevant period skills and possess garb appropriate to their persona in woodland colors. Foresters are expected to continue to improve their own outdoor skills as well as teach others, mentoring or coaching newer members and coaching others in the outdoor skills, proper no trace camping, and woodland safety. They are also expected to contribute content (articles, photos, artwork, etc.) to the Kingdom A&S newsletter, the guild blog, or guild newsletter once a year. Requirements for attaining Forester rank are:
- Possess a complete set of clothing in earthtones (shades of green, brown, or grey) appropriate to their persona and suitable for use in wild spaces; proper period footwear; and additional accoutrements for a forester or outdoorsperson of their time and place. Fabrics used in this set of clothing must be natural (cotton, leather, linen, wool, etc.). Winter garb in shades of greys, browns and whites is encouraged as well but not mandatory.
- Demonstrated the ability to start a fire without the use of modern means (flint and steel [excluding ferrocerium], friction, and solar fire making are all acceptable methods).
- Demonstrated ability to cook a meal for a group (minimum of 4 people) over a campfire
- Demonstrated knowledge of management of natural resources in their period and place of interest. This might be a familiarity with 13th-14th century forest law administration for a late medieval English persona, an understanding of the historic use of controlled burns for an Eastern Woodlands indigenous North American persona, or knowledge about Sassanid hunting parks for a late antiquity Persian persona. The goal of this requirement is for guild members to learn more about how a persona from their period and place of interest might fit into the overall focus of the guild.
Once the requirements are demonstrated to an officer of the guild or members ranked Forester or above, the member will be considered for promotion to Forester. Most officers of the guild are expected to be of Forester rank.
Master Forester – Master Foresters have proven their service to the guild and will have been an active member of the guild for 5 years. In addition to a history of service to the SCA and the guild, candidates for Master Forester are required to:
- Own and maintain a highly accurate set of period forester or outdoorsperson clothing and gear
- Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a wide array of outdoor skills such as, but not limited to: shelter building, fire starting, foraging, survival, wilderness navigation, campfire cooking, hunting, leatherwork, tracking and evasion, land and water travel, flora and fauna, map-less orienteering, cordage, knots, plant dying, container making or weaving (examples include a gourd or leather water carrier or a woven basket), bone or stone tool making, felting, tanning, bow and arrow making, etc. A Master Forester does not need to demonstrate mastery of every skill on this list, but they must display a wide range.
- Have an established history of teaching classes on outdoor or guild-related arts, sciences, or skills.
- Complete a masterwork; a detailed arts and sciences project on one or more aspects of the forester skills and roles. The masterwork is a long-term project, and when a member feels that their Masterwork is completed they may inform the guild officers and present it to them.
Fulfilment of these requirements must be approved by the High Warden and existing Master Foresters. Master Foresters are expected to continue their service to the SCA and the guild, setting the example for others in and out of the guild to follow. They are expected to mentor junior members and offer advice to officers when needed. They will continue to improve their skills and dedicate themselves to the education of others.