🚀 go-pugleaf

 I seek opinions and information from other Kingdoms and other gentles.

 Very often in this Society, a well-deserving gentle is given an award
 for their excellence in some area.
 
 All too often, they are not present at the Court where this is awarded.

 This happens, much to the consternation of those wishing to recognize
 this person, as well as the royalty awarding the award.

 Occasionally, such an award is collected by a friend of the well-deserving
 gentle, and given to them at some future time.  This may happen
 at home after the event, or through the mail, or at a business meeting
 of the group.               (Ack Poo :( )

 In my humble opinion, this devalues the award.  An award has more
 importance if given out by someone with proper "courtliness" (i.e.
 their Majesties, their Highnesses, or their Excellencies).

 Usually, in this area of the country (Southern Minnesota), this problem
 occurs with Kingdom Courts: their Majesties visit once about every six
 months (which seems reasonable), but this means that if a good gentle
 cannot get to that Kingdom Court (due to various mundane or other    
 conflicts), then their award is not handed out at a court at all.

 My suggestion to remedy this: have such awards be given over to the
 local Baron or Baroness, to be handed out by "proxy" (or another more
 period word) at the next Baronial Court.  This would mean that the
 award would still be handed out at a court, and would still have a 
 stronger meaning than an award sent through the mail or given out
 at a business meeting.

 On the negative side, this would increase the amount of awards 
 given out at Baronial courts
 (which isn't all bad, since our local Baronial courts are somewhat
 short, anyway), and increases the duties of the Barons and Baronesses
 (perhaps a Baronial Signet could store the awards).  There may be
 other problems of which I am not aware.

 However, on the positive side, this might increase the number of local
 people who recognize the reasons that this good gentle is receiving
 an award.
 
 Please mail (or post) your opinions on this to me (MOORE@stolaf.edu).
 I will be talking to our Baronial Curia sometime in the future about 
 this, and would like a more well-formed opinion on it before I go.

 Thank you for your opinions.

 In service to the servants of the Dream,
 Peregrine Illuminator