The Society is losing money year on year, and one way to improve the situation is to get more members.

What do YOU think would persuade someone to join up ?

Your answers would be most helpful

Administrator

Is there official information written up, that we can email to those we think might be interested?

John Edgerton, Newark, California

Below is what I had in my files that I sent out to archers in the SCA in Aug of 2005. It needs updateing on: Current USA price. Paying by PayPal. SAA journal CD. If I can get an official update on this, I will distribute it again to the archers in the SCA.

John Edgerton, Newark, California




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THE SOCIETY OF ARCHER ANTIQUARIES
Its Origin - Its
Objects - Membership

In 1954, the idea of a society of archers interested in the history of
archery was suggested by W.E. Tucker of Colchester, England in the
"British Archer" magazine. In 1956, the Society was founded; a draft
constitution was produced, and it was agreed to publish a journal
annually.

Membership now numbers in the hundreds with world wide contacts. The
Journal which started as a duplicated transcript, has become a well
printed issue containing articles on historical archery as it has been
practiced throughout the world. A permanent headquarters has been
established with the Royal Toxophilite Society at Archer's Lodge,
Burnham, Buckinghamshire, where a display room is maintained with
archery equipment from many parts of the world.

Having been previously granted the status of a learned society by
virtue of the quality of its researches and other work, the Society was
registered as a charity in 1968. This confers certain financial
advantages, as well as an obligation to assist and advise those who may
have need of the help the Society can offer.

The aim of the Society is to further the study of the bow and arrow
and its development in all parts of the world from prehistoric times to
the present, and also to study matters relating to the history of
archery in general. All paid members receive our Journal which is
published at the end of each membership year, and also occasional
newsletters and related notices. In England, visits are occasionally
arranged to places of interest, which have included the British Museum,
the Tower of London Armouries and the Manchester Museum, where members
have had the opportunity to examine many items that are not normally
displayed. Each year a shoot has been held on the grounds of the Royal
Toxophilite Society, usually in early August, where the main object is
to demonstrate and encourage the study of equipment and techniques from
other parts of the world.

Membership, which includes several leading museums and university
libraries, is open to all persons interested. Subscription rates are
determined as necessity requires at the Annual General Membership
Meeting normally held in March of each year. Due to the constant
fluctuation in monetary exchange rates, the U.S. subscription rate may
vary, but at present it is fixed at $35.00, payable to the U.S.
Representative whose address appears below. Additional enquiries may
be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Douglas Elmy, 61 Lambert Road,
Bridlington, Yorkshire, England.


The following site has a few of the many excellent articles found in
the Journal over the last few years.
http://www.student.utwente.nl/~sagi/artikel/


Articles from the Journal of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries


The Compound Bow
Twenty-five years after Allen's patent of December 1969. The history
of the development of the well known bow and a little more.
Observations on the returning arrow
This works, Marcelo tried it himself!

Steel bows from India
High tech from a long time ago.
Archery and Mathematical Modelling
Enough to keep you busy for a while! Covers the modelling of recurve
bows.

Oriental Hinged and Take-apart Bows
And you thought the recurve take-down bow was modern?
On the Mechanics of some Replica Bows
A further investigation on the modelling of bows.

The Medieval English Longbow
Characteristics and origin. An article about the early longbows and how
they came to England.
Ballistic Properties in Ancient Egyptian Arrows
A piece on arrow spine by a non-engineer

Turkish Flight Arrows
The arrows the Turks used to achieve incredible long distance shots
Whistling arrows
The history of the noise making arrow.

The Decline of the Longbow
The downfall of the English longbow.
Ancient Composite bows
An article about an Assyrian bow found in Egypt.

Some Speculations on the nature of Longbowstrings
What were old strings made of?
Further Speculations on the nature of Longbowstrings.
Some additional notes about longbowstrings

North American Sioux Indian Archery
About the bows of Native Americans.



The latest copy of the Journal will be coming out soon, so you need to
subscribe now to get a copy. Send your check for $35.00 to the US
representative listed below.


Norman A. Graham
American Representative
800 E. Sherwood Rd.
Williamston, MI 48895
(517) 655-4755
e-mail: grahamn@msu.edu

I wish I knew!

Here in Germany, not many so called "traditional" archers are really interested in the world history of archery. There is maybe a handful of collectors and experts, but most are just happy with their glass-backed recurves, take them on a 3D course on sundays, glue together their ready made arrow components, and that's about it.
Then of course there is the language barrier, which is a problem for many as well.
A reaction I hear quite often when trying to promote the Society is: "25 Euros is a lot of money for one journal and three newsletters per year."
And this leads to a question we should think about: what else are the benefits of membership? And how can we communicate them to potential new members?

Just a very quick response to John and Jan until I have had time to consider a more detailed reply

Potential members may be directed to the website which should give them a reasonable overview of activites, benefits and sample article titles.

One of the benefits to all members - and particularly those not in England, who cannot perhaps attend meetings - is the chance (via the Forum) to "chat" to and exchange information with other members across the globe, on a wide variety of archery related subjects, and also become involved in the Curator's latest inter-member on-line "symposium"

I will speak to Hugh and ask him to up-date the information John has.

Administrator

Interest in the past will always be a minority activity. I can identify with the feeling of the German archer who considers 25 Euros to be excessive for 'Just one Journal and three Newsletters a year". But, only if he or she has no interest in what has gone to make his or her shooting the pleasant experience it is today. 'Traditionell Bogenschiessen' does a remarkable job in educating German archers to the virtues and values of earlier times, and its readers are presumably interested in the past. Certainly Angelika is to be congratulated on what she does.

There is much latent interest in the U.S. I know as my books sell well there but when knowledge is equated only with money outlaid then Organisations such as ours have little chance of success. Knowledge is priceless but in a world as materialistic as ours those offering the arcane in exchange for money fight a losing battle.

I wish I knew the answer, but sadly, unless we generate more wealth then Armageddon approaches !.

If I can have an update on that information handout, I can put it on my mailing list of 1200 archers with an interest in medieval archery. Perhaps we can pick up a few more members for next year.

John

Has Hugh had the chance to update that information?

John

John. The text is still valid. However, with the variation in exchange rate I cannot quantify the $ amount. It is £25 GBP or the rate at the time, the additional amount for prospective U.S members is because of the increased postal costs to North America. Ideally, I would prefer potential members to join via me, using PayPal, and my e-mail address. I would then inform Norman. However, this is not mandatory and if members prefer to go directly to him, then fine. Concerning the CD's, these are available only to paid-up members. by donation of not less than £15 GBP A small addition for postage costs would be appreciated.