The "Chivalry Today Girls" model our logo T-shirts at the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix. The shirts are available to supporters who donate $25.

Chivalry Today needs your help. Our program – the website, our podcast, and the educational talks and presentations we offer to schools, libraries, camps, and other groups – is funded strictly by voluntary donations. And this year, the contributions provided by our fans and podcast listeners are falling way behind. In short, we need your help to pay our bills – the production, maintenance and upkeep of everything we have to offer.

For those who are generous enough to support us with their donations, we offer various appreciation packages to show our gratitude – and with each season of our podcast (which is now in its sixth year of production) we try to offer something new and interesting.

We know there are a lot of people in our audience, with a lot of different sorts of interest in the ideals of chivalry – from fantasy literature fans to students of historical sword combat. That’s exactly why we’re offering a new sort of “rewards program” that allows you to tailor the appreciation gifts you’ll receive when you make a financial contribution to our program to suit your particular interest in the history, literature and philosophy of the code of chivalry. We call it our Choose Your Rewards appreciation program.

Ready to make a donation? Well, we hope so! (You can do it by just clicking that big red Piggy Bank button on the right side of the screen.) And if you are, here’s what you have to choose from (all the items are shown in the picture below) at various contribution levels:

See something you like? With the Sixth Season's "Choose Your Rewards" contributor appreciation program, you can choose from among $150 worth of rewards items you receive when you make a donation to the program.

For A Donation Of $25:

You’ll receive a Chivalry Today logo T shirt (modeled above by the lovely Lady Judges from the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix World Joust), and a Chivalry Today logo insulated travel mug. (A value of $35 for just $25.)

For A Donation Of $50:

You’ll receive a Chivalry Today T shirt and travel mug (as above) plus you can take your pick of one of three titles in the Pop Culture And Philosophy series, published by Open Court Books:

• The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy,
• The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy, or
• Martial Arts and Philosophy (which includes the chapter Sir Aristotle and the Code of Chivalry by Chivalry Today’s podcast host Scott Farrell).

(A $57 value for a $50 donation.)

For A Donation Of $75:

You’ll receive all of the above – a T shirt, a travel mug, and choice of one of the Pop Culture And Philosophy titles – plus:

A copy of the CD Enchanted Realms, a collection of medieval/Celtic acoustic folk music by the duo Scot Ryder and Lady Ivy (an album that is not available in stores, or even through on-line music download services!), and;

Along with the CD, you have your choice of either:

A) For enthusiastic readers of fantasy, and the eternally young-at-heart, a pair of novels: Fire, Bed, and Bone (a story of adventure in the 14th century through the eyes of a knight’s hunting hound) by Henrietta Brandford, and Castle Diary (a journal of a year in the life of a knight’s squire in the 13th century) by Richard Platt;

-Or-

B) For fans of military history, arms and armor collectors, or practitioners of historical martial arts, a DVD: The Myth of the Sword, a look at the design, evolution, and use of the sword as a weapon in medieval and Renaissance history, narrated by acclaimed weapons expert Hank Reinhardt. (You can see an excerpt of the video below.) (A value of up to $89 for just a $75 donation.)

NEWLY ADDED: For A Donation Of $100:

You’ll still get all of the above (T shirt, mug, choice of Pop Culture And Philosophy title, music CD, Candlewick book package/Myth of the Sword DVD)  plus:

I) A $20 gift certificate good for any in-stock (not custom order) merchandise at Historic Enterprises, one of the leading suppliers of medieval and Renaissance re-enactors worldwide;

- Or -

II) A hardwood sword-hilted practice dagger from Purpleheart Armoury, etched with the Chivalry Today logo on the blade.

No matter what level of support you can give to Chivalry Today – $25, $50, $75 or $100 – we hope you’ll find that the “choose your rewards” donor appreciation program makes your financial contribution even more rewarding … and enjoyable!

How do you make your donation? Easy! Just use the red Piggy Bank button on the right-hand side of this page to make your contribution quickly and easily on-line. (And be sure to tell us which of the options you’d like in the notes section of the donation page.) We thank you for your support – and we hope you enjoy the offerings here on our webpage, and our sixth season of the Chivalry Today podcast, which couldn’t happen without you.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die
2. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve
3. Chivalry, Aristotle, CS Lewis & Martial Arts

Why?

We need your support to help continue our educational presentations for as many schools, libraries, churches, youth groups, camps, and other organizations as we can.

We need your support to keep our monthly Chivalry Today Podcast on line so you can hear the voices of today’s top scholars, researchers, authors, and interpreters in the fields of literature and medieval/chivalry studies.

We need your support to help us continue our Swords Of Chivalry historical sword-combat classes, and Warrior Camp After School Activity Program.

And we need your support to keep this website, our Facebook page, and other on-line resources available to teachers, history enthusiasts, and chivalry fans all around the world.

Is that enough? Are we working hard enough to earn your support with a financial donation of whatever level you can afford?

Well, we hope so. But in case you need just an added nudge – one last spark of added incentive – we’re offering you one more motivator: some Chivalry Today swag! A beautiful Chivalry Today T-shirt!

If you make a donation of just $25 to the Chivalry Today Program, we’ll reward you with a comfortable T-shirt with the Chivalry Today logo, along with an eye-catching image of two armored knights in honorable tournament battle. In the photo at the top of the page, you can see a picture of the shirt, modeled in courtly fashion by the Lady Judges at the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix jousting event — along with a trio of unruly marshals and judges attired in 15th century garb. (The six of them are attempting to show some sort of meaningful hand signal – possibly “Live long and prosper”?)

The "Chivalry Today Girls" model our logo T-shirts, which are available to supporters who donate $25.

PLUS: If you make a $25 donation before Dec. 31, 2011, we’ll toss in a travel mug with the Chivalry Today logo as well – a $10 value free just for taking advantage of this timely, end-of-year offer.

In 2011 Chivalry Today has worked with more teachers and more schools than ever before, teaching lessons in chivalry, honor, and the Knightly Virtues to more than 7,000 students in the Southern California area, and more than 6,000 listeners of our on-line podcast. We want to continue spreading the values of the code of chivalry – but to do that, we need your support.

Please, help Chivalry Today with a $25 donation right now – and as a way of showing our appreciation, we’ll let you wear chivalry on your sleeve (and your chest) with a Chivalry Today T-shirt.

Please specify your preferred T-shirt size – M, L, XL, or XXL – when making your donation.

Related posts:

1. Podcast 53: Courtly Love – How Chivalry And Romance Got Together
2. Choose Your Rewards: Season Six Contributor Appreciation Drive
3. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die

Thanks to everyone who donated during our 50 By 50 Drive. No more prizes are available - and we hope those who donated at one of the requested support levels are enjoying their gifts!

UPDATE: Our 50 By 50 support drive was concluded on May 5, 2011, and all of our donors who’ve earned the appreciation packages have been notified. Unfortunately, we only got 45 contributors, but we are going to produce a sixth season of the podcast anyway – and just how many episodes that season will include is up to you! We are continuing our effort to generate support for the Chivalry Today Program with our Summer Of Chivalry drive.

We welcome your support at any level – and the more you can give to Chivalry Today – a buck, 10 bucks,  100 bucks, or more – the more resources we’ll have to bring you a really great podcast season in 2012.

Help support the Chivalry Today podcast

Your contribution of any amount makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible, and helps make Chivalry Today presentations available to schools, libraries and youth groups as part of our ongoing educational outreach program.

If you enjoy our podcast offerings, please take a moment to help keep them coming.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Today: You Made This Possible!
2. Choose Your Rewards: Season Six Contributor Appreciation Drive
3. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve

For the fifth season of the Chivalry Today Podcast, we’re challenging all of our listeners to share their “lines of chivalry” – a line or quote from a movie, book, poem or play that (in your opinion) perfectly captures the essence of the code of chivalry. You can submit your line of chivalry in an e-mail, or by adding it to the reader forum below.

On each episode of the podcast, host Scott Farrell will select some of the more intriguing, memorable and humorous lines to share with listeners. So don’t hesitate – share your line of chivalry with us today!

You get a chance to win too! Additionally, everyone who submits an entry into the Lines Of Chivalry Listener Challenge will be entered into our monthly drawing — each month, one entry will be selected at random to receive a book, CD or DVD (donated by one of Chivalry Today’s generous sponsors) out of the Chivalry Today prize chest. Drawing winners and prizes will be announced on every episode of the show. (See our contest rules for complete details.)

Is Chivalry Today In Line For Your Support?

When you enter the Listener Challenge, you will receive (via e-mail) an invitation to contribute $10 to support the Chivalry Today Educational Program. Your contribution (of $10, or any amount your choose) makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible, and helps make Chivalry Today presentations available to schools, libraries and youth groups as part of our ongoing educational outreach program.

Premier Package: You can also support Chivalry Today with a contribution of $100 or more. The first five supporters to contribute at this level will receive a “thank you” package from Chivalry Today worth more than $100. (Details about contents of our prize packages will be available soon)

No matter what level of financial support fits your budget — $10, $100 or more — your generosity makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible. Everyone at Chivalry Today thanks you for your support.

No Purchase Or Contribution Necessary To Win

A contribution of $10 to the Chivalry Today Educational Program and an entry into the Listener Challenge is requested, but NOT REQUIRED to be entered into our “listener challenge” prize drawing. To enter the drawing, entrants must submit a postcard or letter with the following information:

ENTRY REQUEST: LISTENER CHALLENGE
Entrant’s Full Name
Legal Mailing Address
Telephone Number

Deadline: Submissions must be received by May 31, 2011.

Enter as many times as you wish; one entry per envelope or postcard please.

The drawing is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18. Void in Puerto Rico, and where prohibited by law;

The odds of winning will be determined by the number of entrants;

Employees and affiliates of Chivalry Today are not eligible to win;

Every effort will be made to contact drawing winners – prizes not claimed in 30 days will be awarded via another drawing from among all entries;

One winner per household;

Please submit written entries via US Postal Service to:
Chivalry Today
PO Box 712842
Santee, CA 92072-2842

Related posts:

1. Podcast 33: The Civil War of Chivalry
2. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die
3. Podcast 38: Ideology of Chivalry

Thanks again!

Every knight in shining armor has a coat of arms. Part of this coat of arms is the knight’s motto, a few meaningful words which express the value of the Code of Chivalry simply and efficiently. In some cases, the motto is a statement a knight makes to future generations; in others, it is a source of self-inspiration in times of doubt or temptation.

Unlike lengthy stories or essays, a motto captures a great deal of meaning in just a few words, and those words must be chosen very carefully. Consider these mottos from authentic knightly coats of arms — what do these sentiments say about those who espouse them?

He that envies is inferior
- Cadogan family

Let us be viewed by our actions
- Mott family

Observe the laws and ordinances
- Sir William Herne

Rather by skill than by force
- Young family

Faith lost, honor is lost
- Lewis family

I live in hope
- Stephens family

To be rather than seem to be
- St. Paul family

A wonderful way to expand your own understanding of Chivalry Today is to create a motto for yourself. What statement about integrity, virtue or strength do you want to be reminded of when you look in the mirror each morning? What words do you want to come to the minds of your friends or children when they think of you? Which of the Seven Knightly Virtues would you encapsulate in your own motto?

As part of our ongoing effort to further the understanding and application of the Code of Chivalry in the modern world, we invite you to share your motto with Chivalry Today visitors. Please, compose a motto that’s unique to you (i.e., not your family motto) and send it to us using the form below. If we post it on this page, you’ll receive a free Chivalry Today travel mug as our way of saying, “Thanks for sharing!” (Which might not be a bad motto for our website!)

Then, come back to Chivalry Today and read the list of mottos (below) to discover how others express their thoughts on chivalry through their unique and creative knightly mottos.

Fortitude, Grace, Wit
- Scott Farrell, California

The joy is in the doing. (Guadium est in factione.)
- William J. Knight, New Mexico

Life is worth more than gold, but honor more than life.
- Craig E. Cheney, Indiana

In hope I trust, in faith I persevere.
- Alex Nuutinen

One who ceases to learn is one already half dead
- Joe Felter

Ready for all things
- R. Slusher

In service to others we save ourselves
- William Elliott, Maryland

Strong in faith, lives long
- Steven Hyman, Texas

For Love, Life, and Honor
- Darin Calhoun, California

Respect all men; love your brothers; fear God; honor the law
- Mikal C Johnson, Idaho

Live that you might live
- M. Chad Johnson, Colorado

Never forget the humor
- Randy Ullon, California

Learn and teach
- J. Hortman, Colorado

Tant qu’espoir (Translation: As long as hope)
- Christophe Bachmann, France

Above all, honor thy family
- Steven R. Clements

Vigilance and Fidelity
- Kevin Rhodes, California

My heart is ready
- F. Valentine, Oregon

Happiness is both a gift and a treasure
- Caterine St. Loe, North Carolina

Faith, Honor, Love
- Steve Montgomery, California

Learning ever
- Wendy Rae Kiernan, Arizona

Truth above all
- R.C. DeVors, South Carolina

Pride in humility, wealth in generosity
- Adam Crawley, Nevada

Rank does not confer privilege, it imposes responsibility
- JeNell Hays, California

Pass knowledge on
- Terry Irene Blain

A custom of nobility
- Jan Chennault, California

Above all else: Faith, Hope, Kindness and Inspiration
- Lis Gelatt

Cowards never conquer
- Ray Ford, California

They who make may find
- Robert W. Franson, California

Fail not the king
- G. Robin Smith, Washington

Submit Your Own Knightly Motto:»

Related posts:

1. Class Projects and the Code of Chivalry
2. Generosity, Over Easy
3. My Approach to Chivalry Today