July demo report of 2018 - A tale of fire!

Her Excellency and I receive a lot of officer reports, but rarely are they so eloquently worded that we feel motivated to blog about them. However, Lady Biotta's account of the 2018 4th of July demo was an exception! So please hear the words of our demo coordinator as she speaks of the brave demo marchers! Thank you everyone for your service that day!

"A call to march went out across the Baronial lands and though the heat was oppressive on that fourth day of July a small, but determined band of Haelies did answer that call for the honor of Their Beloved Excellencies. With a magnificent show of outfit with banners held high, the band of eighteen did make the slow trek through the village streets offering tokens to the waving crowds as others were doing before them.

Lo these hearty men and women with growing sense of fellowship did speak of their home ways with those observers while they marched along the chosen roads and showed to them some feats of their Martial prowess while sounding invitation to all to join them in their studies when next they met at their home base. And at times the journey seemed never ending, but they took heart and found new resolve in one of their own who brought stead with him and supplied quenching waters throughout to get them to the appointed end and rest for the weary".

So ends the July demo report of 2018.

Yours In Service, Biotta

It was a bit warm!

The Hael welcomes the first of the new champions!

Her Excellency and I have started the process of selecting new champions (who will also serve our Heirs). On July 16th at thrown weapons practice our current Champion Lord Akayuma Yatarou Kage’o held a tournament to determine the new thrown weapons champion. The tournament included multiple ax, knife, and spear targets as well as rather challenging "chocolate chip cookie" knife throw. As a tribute there was a Royal Round knife target that required throwers to use the throwing knives of Master Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato.

With all weapons thrown, we are proud to announce we have named Lady Thalia Papillon as our new thrown weapons champion. Lady Thalia has spent the first part of the season taking thrown weapons by storm throwing at practice, events, and in tournaments. We know she will represent the Barony with skill and honor. Please congratulate her when you see her.

Her Excellency and I thank Lord Akayuma for his service and all the throwers and spectators who attended the tourney.

Our quest for new champions continues with Archery at the Archery muster this weekend:

Canton of Beau Flueve - archery muster - Sunday July 22nd

Heavy champion tourney is schedule for August 15th and normal practice.

Rapier, A&S, and Bardic date are TBD.

Populace in Focus! - THL Maeve Ni Siurtain

Real Name: Michele Nufer

SCA Name and Title: THL Maeve Ni Siurtain

Years in the SCA: On and off, 30+

Persona: Celtic, 10th-13th century Celtic Chieftain’s daughter. Never really came up with a detailed persona story

Group or Household affiliations if any: Ravenstar Lance, inactive with Tuatha Fieren

Tell us a bit about your life outside the SCA.

Currently I am a stay at home mom of 2 children. Erin, who just turned 21, and Ian, who is 12.  I am a former Special Education Teacher, teacher assistant (I semi-retired from the education field in 2007. I help out at the barn where my horse, Guinness is boarded in Orchard Park and work per diem for Carnaby Estate sales with Tiercelin. I have a small menagerie, 11 Koi, 2 guinea pigs (Bandit and Shadow) and one neurotic dog (Winston) My husband does not participate in the SCA.

What SCA activities do you participate in?

In my early days in the society, I did a little of everything, heavy (spear) fencing(had authorization in 4 weapon forms) archery (never was very good),scouting at Pennsic, scribal (calligraphy and illumination, which I can’t do anymore) and dance. Nowadays, I participate in equestrian mostly, embroidery and teach a few classes now and then as well as help wherever needed or wanted.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience.

I have been Baronial Dance Mistress and MOL and more recently Baronial Chatelaine and now Region 4 Chatelaine. My experience with the SCA started way back in 1985 at Buffalo State College at the Milton festival that they were participating in. I used to travel, and made many friends in many groups when I would stay with them and also when people came up here and crashed at my home. I have been in 2 kingdoms and one principality without even moving! (East and Aethelmearc).

What are your goals in the SCA?

Goals? Maybe to be King’s Equestrian champion at least once... To find a way to participate more without undue stress at home. To finally make some court garb… And one way out goal/ wish, to be fought for in a crown tourney.

If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the year 2018 what would it be?

To ride in as many equestrian events as I can.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

Try everything, go to meetings/practices, be curious (it’s ok to ask questions/give compliments (ooh, I really like your____...) It’s so much easier to get information these days as opposed to when I joined (had to go to libraries!). As to who to ask, Anyone! The groups are pretty friendly and happy to talk about anything! When I was new, I would wander around and if I saw something that interested me, I would ask the nearest person, or the one doing it about it

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have what would it be? 

Maybe to be excellent at one of the things I’ve tried??

Additional comments as you see fit.  

Being around as long as I have, I have seen changes in group dynamics and styles. Believe it or not, there are fashion trends!  Sideless surcoats, Tudor, Italian Ren, and quite a bit of Viking! The quality/ authenticity of garb has increased immensely over the decades. I consider myself as a “jack of many trades”, so, I know some about a lot of things!  If you see me at an event or practice, feel free to come and chat, I love meeting and talking to people (guess that’s why I like being a chatelaine<LOL)

Populace in focus - Lord Fearghus mac Eoin

Real Name: 

Nathan Littlejohn

SCA Name and Title: 

Lord Fearghus mac Eoin

Years in the SCA?

Just south of 20

Persona:

14th century Scottish wandering crusader type.

Group or Household affiliations if any:

House Gladique Scoparum

Tell us a bit about your life outside the SCA:

I work in the construction, primarily large industrial projects. I spend a fair amount of time tending my garden and working in my wood shop. I currently reside with my lovely lady, a Skye terrier whose name is Oscar, two geckos, and a rather grumpy bearded dragon. I also bonfires and beer. 

What SCA activities do you participate in: 

Primarily heavy fighting, but also woodworking, calligraphy & illumination, and armoring. Also period cooking and food preservation. Someday I may dabble more in brewing but there’s only so many hours in the day.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (offices, etc):

My semi nomadic lifestyle has led me across three kingdoms (the East, Aethelmearc, and Atlantia) so the only office I’ve held was Knight Marshal of Thescorre. I have autocratted, run more demos than I can count, helped in the kitchen, and generally try to make myself useful or at least amusing.

What are your goals in the SCA?

Besides making prettier garb and armor, my main goal has always been to have fun and encouraging others to do the same.

If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the year 2018 what would it be?

Besides attending more events, make more scrolls.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Don’t worry about rank, joining households, awards, or any of that, just go to events and have fun.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have what would it be?

Probably embroidery, I like making pretty things.

Scroll from the past, finally delivered!

One of the fun jobs of a Baron & Baroness is handing out scrolls and awards. Sometimes these come from our hands, but sometimes the task falls on us to deliver the words of the King and Queen. Not long ago, while attending the College of Three Ravens in Thescorre, a backlog scroll came to us. A Silver Buckle  (youth service award) for a "Robert of the Rhydderich Hael". I decided to take the scroll and search for the owner. Thanks to the power of social media I was able to contact Robert and (if my math is correct) deliver his scroll 14 years after is was awarded. Thanks to everyone who helped in the quest! Robert, enjoy the scroll. Maybe we will see you around again.

Meet the Officers: Minister of Arts and Sciences

Now it's time to meet the next officer of the Hael, if you do A&S in our barony this officers wants to help you and guide those who are interested to the art they love. Time to learn about it from THL Eleanore Godwin our Minister of Arts and Sciences

What does the Minister of Arts and Sciences do?

The Minister of Arts and Sciences is a facilitator of education. The officer does a few things that are connected to learning. MoAS's make sure people wanting to learn about a subject are connected to a teacher or place they can have access to the subject they are interested in. The minister also finds students for someone wanting to teach, or opportunities for teachers to teach others.

The MoAS also helps artisans find opportunities to display their work. The MoAS is responsible for arranging classes for their group in subjects that are wanted or helpful to newcomers. Another responsibility is to maintain records of demos, activities participated in by members, who has taught, who took classes, and who made something.

The final responsibility is filing quarterly reports of all these activities. The reports are easily written with the on-line report form provided by the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences Office.

Meet the Officers: Pursuivant

The next installment of our Baronial Officer Blog posts, this one written by our spectacular Pursuivant Mistress Ekaterina Volkova, please enjoy learning about what our Pursuivant does!

Pursuivant

A Great Barony is run with precision

A Baronial Court requires nothing less!

Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools

Without them - Disorder! Chaos! Anarchy!

In short, we have a ghastly mess!

What is the Pursuivant?

The Pursuivant is the Baronial Herald. This is a required posting as laid down by the Laws and Policies of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc in Article Vl, Section VI-200. In the Rhydderich Hael, this position has the title of Ice Dragon Pursuivant. The Pursuivant has a drop-dead deputy, in the Hael they are the Haelstone Pusuivant.

What does the Pursuivant do?

1. The majority of the time, the Pursuivant runs Baronial Courts. This means:
   1. keeping track of the docket,
   2. coordinating with the Scribal Guild to make sure scrolls will be coming in and from whom,
   3. running Baronial court,
   4. and filling out court reports for the Silver Buccle Herald.
2. If they are available, the Pursuivant also heralds in Their Excellencies in processions at such events as the Seven Pearls Tournament, Pennsic, War Practice and Coronations (depending on the wishes of Their Majesties).
3. Sometimes folks will come to the Pursuivant for help in designing and submitting SCA names and devices. I personally have a deputy that handles this aspect of the job.
4. Quarterly, it is the responsibility of the Pursuivant to submit a report to Kingdom. This is done via an online form found on the Kingdom Herald’s website.

What is required to be Ice Dragon Pusuivant?

1. You must be a member in good standing in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
2. You must submit your resume to the Seneschal of the Barony with a copy to the current Pursuivant
3. You must be voted into the office at the voting Barony meeting.
4. Other things that are a bonus:

1. Getting along with the current and potential future Baron/Baroness of the Barony,
2. the ability to keep confidences as you will know award information sometimes months ahead of time,
3. a loud and carrying voice,
4. little to no stage fright,
5. organizational skills (preferably spreadsheet and google docs abilities),
6. a comfortable pair of shoes (Ice Dragon court is LONG),
7. a sense of humor is a big bonus too.

What are the perks of being Pursuivant?

1. You get a front row seat to see people’s faces as they receive awards,
2. you get to see up close all the pretty scrolls the scribes of the Barony make,
3. you’re not straining to hear what they are saying in court