Society ANNOUNCEMENTS

September 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

4 September 2024, Time: 7:37 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the July meeting to order. The Seneschal Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) 

  • Schedule for this month:
    • 9/4 – Business Meeting (Zoom)
    • 9/11 – Project Night (Zoom)
    • 9/18 – DEIB Class (In-person)
    • 9/25 – Red Tower prep! (In-person)
  • Thank you to all that submitted nominations for the Swift’s Heart
    • Will work on ballots to send out this week to people to submitted nominations and anyone who requests one
  • Midwinter 2025 – Scheduled for Feb. 1, 2025
    • Please let us know if you’d like to submit a bid or know of a site that you’d like to use

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • No new submissions through Lorenzo, but there are some submissions that are in the works
  • Awards
    • Pennsic
      • Eiríkr Pálsson – Court Barony

Knight Marshal (Baroness Maighread Wilson)

  • Just took over from Baron Eiríkr
  • Will have loaner gear sometime this weekend
  • Have two potential deputies
  • Practices
    • 9/8 – Practice
    • 9/15 – Practice
    • 9/22 – out of town, may not have practice unless someone covers as marshal
    • 9/29 – MGT weekend, no practice

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and we’re trying to get better about including Discord.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Baroness Mairghread.  If you are using Discord, please @ us, otherwise your post will be lost in the chatter.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  My continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Baroness Mairghread.  BTW, special shout-out to Cpt. Pietro, newly warranted.
  4. Thanks to Baroness Mairghread, I’m now re-warranted as a youth rapier marshal.  We do not currently have a youth rapier program per sé, but if there is interest, we can begin.
  5. Thanks to Lady Sara, completed her Marshal’s warranting requirements, and will soon be on the team of Stunt Marshals so that practice can happen even if I’m not available.
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • Nothing reported

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri) 

  • $5112.20 in the bank
  • Please remember to save your receipts for event expenses and fill out check request forms for events and purchases
  • PO Box is expiring at the end of September, can sign up again if we need to since it’s in the budget should Lord Salim need it.
  • Started autopay for storage unit to help prevent checks getting lost in the mail

Fundraising Deputy (THL Majda Anwar) 

  • Nothing reported

Quartermaster (Lady Genovefa and Lady Samurra) 

  • Brand new quartermasters as of this week, thank you for stepping into the position!

Chatelaine (Baron Mark de Wytteney)

  • Nothing to report
  • Looking for deputy for Chatelaine and Demo Deputy
  • Ogata is temporary Gold Key deputy

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam al-Jawhariyya)

  • Not much to report for this month, working on competitions for Red Tower
    • A&S competitions for fiber arts, scribal, bardic competition
  • Need a deputy, if you’re interested, please let me know!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • We had 6 people in attendance this past month for Lady Genovefa’s class on Pickles in Period.
  • We will not have an A&S Class for the Barony this month.  Our usual Class Night – 9/25 – is being set aside for last minute in person Red Tower prep.
  • Currently, the class schedule for the remainder of 2024 is complete.  As we get closer to the end of the calendar year, we will be looking for teachers for 2025.  If you have something you would like to teach or otherwise share with the Barony, please get in touch with either myself or Sumarliði.  
  • Teacher sign-up for Red Tower has already gone live.  As of the drafting of this report, we currently have 3 signups – 2 classes and a Fiber Arts Salon.  We will be accepting sign-ups until Sept. 20.  
  • Also please begin thinking about classes you would like to teach for Castle Wars and Midwinter A&S.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Been Chronicler for a year now, looking for a deputy!
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • Nothing to report.
  • Baroness Emelina will be stepping up as THLady Agnes steps down.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Last month’s class was Sobriety in the Society from Valentine Blake
    • Great class that was canceled at RUM but was taught online for DEIB night. Thank you!
  • Sept. 18 – in person DEIB class
    • Baroness Rhonwyn teaching a hands-on paint by numbers class focusing on Extra European illumination.

Webminister (Acharya Mewadi Margavati Bai)

  • I have done some things behind the scenes this month (or last month, rather). Thanks to all who submitted updates to their Dramatis Personae entries for our website. Those have now been updated! Thank you Pietro, who helped me fix an incorrect email address on our site, which was preventing people from sending in requests to have awards info added. I have also added the list of Swift’s Heart awardees to the site, in light of the nomination and voting before Red Tower.
  • Speaking of Red Tower, the site is live! All the information should be current, and I am updating things as I get new information. The PayPal link is not up yet but will once Bam receives it and sends it my way. If you are a department head for the event and have something specific you need to post, please let me know via email at web.southdowns@meridies.org.
  • I am in the process of completing my quarterly report. If you have any questions or need any support before I send it in, please let me know in the next week or so, since I believe the report is due fairly soon.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Baron Ximon
    • Moment of silence for the couple of people who passed away today from the school shooting in Winder.
    • Thank you to everyone who’s been working on getting things together for the Swift’s Heart award.
  • Baroness Rhiannon
    • RT 50 planning
      • Working on getting one link to share for the website for RT 50 and for future events
      • Getting some favors sewn together and stamped, getting things together to help celebrate the Red Ravens at RT

SCA Business

  • Red Tower 50
    • RT pre-reg is up and running
  • Castle Wars
    • Bid by Salim and Maire
    • Looking to use Bert Adams as the site
    • Theme – Olympic Games
    • Adjustments to the bid for field supplies
    • Discussion on pricing the event for pre-reg/at the gate

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported

The business meeting was closed @ 9:10 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on October 2nd, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Announcements, Polls

AWARD OF THE SWIFT’S HEART NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

Award of the Swift's Heart logo

It is time again for the populace to Award the Swift’s Heart!

For those unfamiliar with the Award of the Swift’s Heart, this is the award bestowed by the populace, given to those individuals identified by the populace who have shown true kindness, and are helpful, considerate, and inviting. It was created last year to take the place of our previous gendered populace awards, the Heart of South Downs and the Chivalry Award.

The award is given no more than once per South Downs event, preferably at the event. The ceremony for the awarding is arranged by the previous recipient(s) in consultation with the baronage. We have three baronial events, clustered from Sep/Oct to February, so at most three awards per Anno Societatis.

Voting for the award(s) is conducted annually, prior to Red Tower, and the granting of the award(s) spread out over the event season.

STEP 1: NOMINATIONS (the thing starting now)

Nominations are now open and will continue through Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (to give people at Pennsic time to participate).

Every member of the populace may nominate up to 3 other members of the populace. Previous recipients of one of the South Downs populace awards are ineligible:

Heart of South Downs Recipients: https://southdowns.meridies.org/about-us/baronial-awards/heart/

Chivalry Award Recipients: https://southdowns.meridies.org/about-us/baronial-awards/chivalry/

Swift’s Heart Recipients: Justina di Silvestri, Ogata Mitsuko, Ælfric Hort, Sunneva de Cleia

Use this form to submit nominations: https://forms.gle/uqasDchJw1geX9179

If you’re unable to use the form, email the seneschal (sen.southdowns@meridies.org).

The results of the nominations will be received by a committee formed of the seneschal, baronage, and at least two previous recipients of a South Downs populace award – if you’d like to volunteer to serve on the committee, please do so.

STEP 2: POLLING

The committee will compile the nominations into a ballot. If you submitted a nomination, the ballots will be emailed to you at the email address on the nomination form. If you do not wish to nominate anybody, but do wish to receive a ballot, you can either submit a nomination form with the nominee names blank, or email the seneschal to let them know you’d like to participate in the voting.

Ballots should go out on or around August 28, 2024.

Ballots will be emailed out to all who request them. Voting will be ranked choice (indicate 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc).

The committee will review and count the votes cast to determine who the populace wishes to see awarded, and the next recipient of the Award of the Swift’s Heart will be recognized by the populace at Red Tower.

Society ANNOUNCEMENTS

July 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

3 July 2024, Time: 7:34 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the July meeting to order. The Seneschal Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) 

  • Schedule for this month:
    • 7/3 – Business Meeting (Zoom)
    • 7/10 – Project Night (Zoom)
    • 7/17 – DEIB (In-Person)
    • 7/24 – Linguistic Overview of “William and the Werewolf” with Lady Sara Wandrownyczka (Zoom)
    • 7/31 – Social Potluck (In-person) and Red Tower Bid voting
  • Meeting schedule has been confirmed for the rest of the year
  • Thanks to the Baronial officers for sending quarterly reports to Kingdom
    • Officers, please send me an email with when you stepped up to your office and if you have a deputy or not
  • Swift’s Heart nominations are now open, the google form will be posted. Please submit your nominations by the end of  July.
    • Ranked voting will take place in August, award to be given out at South Downs events.

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • Awards
    • Giant’s Dance
      • Lady Sara Wandrownyczka – Poet Laureate

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • It is hot out, please drink plenty of water before and during practice to make sure that you’re hydrated for practice.
  • Schedule for loaner gear
    • July 7th – Will not have loaner gear
    • July 14th – Loaner gear available
    • July 21, 2024 – Regional Practice after RUM
    • July 28 – Loaner gear available
    • Lord Eirikr will be at Pennsic at the two weeks after, Baroness Mairghread will be here for practices

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and we’re trying to get better about including Discord.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  If you are using Discord, please @ us, otherwise your post will be lost in the chatter.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  My continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, Baroness Mairghread.
  4. Thanks also to those who are fighting the never-ending administrative battle to obtain their rapier marshal’s warrant.  I look forward to adding you to the Stunt Marshal crew so that practices may proceed unabated.
  5. This coming weekend is the Shire of Arenal’s 1559:  Dios de los Muertos.  The Meridian Order of the Blade will be hosting the annual MOB Open Tournament at this event.  It’s “open” to any authorized rapier fighter from any kingdom except those with Grant- or Peerage-level rapier awards.
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • We will be having Live Weapons activities at the regional practice after RUM. Nothing outstanding to report.

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri) 

  • We have $3,971.86 in our account. 
  • July storage has been paid
  • Switching signatories is moving along, should have them switched by the end of the month to include Baron Ximon and Lord Salim.

Fundraising Deputy (THL Majda Anwar) 

  • Nothing reported

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • RUM coming up, contact me with when you need to stop by to get stuff for the event.
  • Stepping down at the end of the month, if you are interested in taking over, please contact me by the end of the month or contact the Seneschal or Baronage.

Chatelaine (Capt. Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing to report
  • Looking for deputy for Chatelaine and Demo Deputy

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Not much to report for this month except of course RUM. We have an excellent class schedule that is up now on the event Facebook page. I hope to see you all there on July 20th!
  • Next week we also have a virtual project night!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • We had 7 people in attendance this past month for Magister Lorenzo’s class on A&S Faires.
  • This month’s class will be on July 24 at 7pm via Zoom.  It will be a Linguistic Overview of “William and the Werewolf” with Lady Sara Wandrownyczka.
  • I am currently looking for teachers for August and September – both in person classes. If you have something you would like to teach or otherwise share with the Barony, please get in touch with either myself or Sumarliþi.  Also Please begin thinking about classes you would like to teach for Red Tower and Castle Wars, as those two events will be upcoming soon.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Looking for a deputy, coming up at a year as Chronicler.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • Nothing reported

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Looking to have an in-person DEIB Night this month, potentially looking at hosting a panel on accessibility in archery
    • Waiting to hear back from speakers to confirm if the class will move forward
  • The Kingdom Deputy DEIB Officer The Oloye Kehinde to help with accessibility at Red Tower this year
    • Red Tower 50
      • Looking to compile FAQs about the site for accessibility to help with expectations and to help inform people about the site
      • Think about general accessibility questions so we can answer and inform the general populace about the site on the website
      • Will send a list of questions to think about to Lady Lily so that we can start evaluating sites for accessibility concerns

Webminister (Acharya Mewadi Margavati Bai)

  • Acharya Margavati has just taken over as webminister, will have a report in for Q3.
  • We have a RUM website and a clickable schedule.
    • Will update the RUM website with maps and information about the regional practice
  • Please contact me if you need me to update anything on the website. 

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Baron Ximon
    • Red Tower
      • We do have someone putting in a bid for Red Tower, will be putting the bid forward to the financial committee and then present it to the barony
    • RUM
      • If you can pitch in, please come and help out! 
      • Regional Fighter Practice the Sunday after RUM is confirmed for 10 AM – 4:30 PM
        • Not just for fighters, come out and hang out!
  • Baroness Rhiannon
    • RT 50 planning
      • Bram and Maire have put in the bid for Red Tower
        • Bram, Bard, and Thomas will be our feastcrats for Red Tower
        • Bram will be reaching out to people to help with the event, so please pitch in and help us run a great event

SCA Business

  • Royal University of Meridies
    • Dame Sibella, RUM Chancellor
      • If anyone needs space for anything, please contact me ahead of time.
      • Dame Sibella will not be at RUM, there are five people that will be taking her place
        • Magister Lorenzo will be taking over as RUM Chancellor
        • Maestra Isabetta and Mistress Leda will be helping with checking the site after the event and will have access to Dame Sibella’s office.
        • Two colleagues will be helping, but don’t go to them with RUM or SCA issues.
        • This will be the last event that we will be having at Pafford as there will renovations
        • Put trash outside under the tree between Pafford and the parking lot at the end of the event.
          • Will try to get some big trash bags and put them in her office.
    • Lord Sumarlidi, Event Steward
      • Still have some staff needs
        • Need a list of landed baronage attending – royal liaison
        • Need help getting the hall set up by noon
          • Capt. Brendan to help with setting up the hall
        • Reach out to Dame Sibella if you see any classes listed wrong
        • Getting things out of storage
        • Quiet space for the event
          • Just need help staging the space
  • Red Tower 50
    • Bram and Maire putting together a bid
      • Should have the bid in by Monday, July 8th. Just need possibly adjust for feast prices
      • Genovefa – Friday night feast may be for about 30 people, need to just figure out feast costs
      • July 31 – vote on bid during the Social Potluck
      • Longer event, will need set up and break down crews for Thursday/Friday and Sunday.
    • La Magnifica Justina/Lord Salim
      • Can send in Paypal request form
    • Acharya Margavati
      • Can get the information on the website and a put a flyer together
    • Contact Bram via email, FB, phone, or through discord if you have any questions
  • Castle Wars
    • We currently have Camp Bert Adams reserved for Castle Wars in Covington GA
    • Please contact us if you are interested in running the event!
    • Currently looking for bids, please submit a bid if you’re interested in running Castle Wars.

Non-SCA Business

  • Bram is opening a catering business in case anyone needs BBQ! The Valiant Pig BBQ

The business meeting was closed @ 8:49 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on August 7th, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Society ANNOUNCEMENTS

June 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

5 June 2024, Time: 7:30 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the June meeting to order. The Seneschal Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) 

  • Schedule for this month:
    • 6/5 – Business Meeting (Zoom)
    • 6/12 – RT 50 Planning Meeting(Zoom)
    • 6/19 – DEIB (Zoom)
    • 6/26 – A&S Judging Workshop with Magister Lorenzo and  La Magnifica Justina (In-person)
  • Voting for Swift’s Heart
    • Starting July business meeting, nominations will be accepted
    • Through August, voting will start via ranked choice
    • Award will be given at a South Downs event!

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • Ajax name and device submitted
  • Awards
    • Artsy Crown
      • THL Bram Halfdannarson (Bam) – Order of the Scarlet Star

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Practices have been scarce due to events and weather.  I am looking forward to having more this month.  
  • The practice on 9 June will be run by Baroness Margheraed as I will be at Giants Dance.  There will not be loaner gear available.  I am planning on holding practice the rest of the month if weather will allow.  
  • The demo last weekend at Viking Alchemist Meadery went well and was well supported by artisans and fighters alike.  His Majesty has expressed his appreciation for the help and I know the Owls Nest practice had some people come out due to the demo on Saturday.
  • It is hot out, please drink plenty of water before and during practice.

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and we’re trying to get better about including Discord.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  If you are using Discord, please @ us, otherwise your post will be lost in the chatter.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. This weekend is the Southeast Renaissance Fencing Open (SERFO), a non-SCA historical fencing event.  Most of your local rapier marshals will be attending (many competing).  I encourage y’all to come see what it’s all about.  This event is popular with SCA rapier and C&T fighters.
    The venue is on the Kennesaw State University Marietta Campus (635 Walter Kelly Rd, Marietta, GA 30060).  No charge for spectators.   Parking is free, but not immediately adjacent to the gym (689 Polytechnic Ln, Marietta, GA 30060).
    We’ll be there on Friday, 12nn-6p (Eastern)
    – Under-Represented Gender longsword tournament
    – Rapier & Dagger tournament
    – Saber tournament
    Saturday, 9a-7p
    – Three open longsword tournaments (different levels of skill/experience)
    Sunday, 9a-4p
    – Single rapier tournament
    – Sword & Buckler (C&T) tournament
    Weather permitting, South Downs weekly fighter practice is still being held on Sunday, 12nn.  Baroness Mairghread (Charmone Newell) will manage the administration for rapier fighters.  It is unlikely that there will be much in the way loaner gear.
  5. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • We had Live Weapons practice last month alongside the cavalry practice. There were 3 participants. The pasture at Mistress Peryn’s farm has been cleared, and is beautiful for archery. 
  • Peryn has scheduled the next cavalry practice for Saturday 6/29. I will be at Atlantia’s Bardic Madness event and will not be able to marshal the practice for archery.

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri) 

  • We have $4,261.86 in our account. 
  • Our storage costs have gone up by $29/mo, making each month cost $335
  • This will add an expense of $203 to the approved budget. May we take a barony vote if approved, for the records, please?
    • 17 for, 1 opposed, motion passed
  • Second, our super cool deputy reeve did some magic with our Quarter reports from Q4 and Q1 and made the scary (but not really) ledger not have a negative number due to timing of when checks are written. We have a mystery $200, likely from me not separating the troll seed monies from the troll income cash before depositing it, so heads up to always deposit the troll cash separately. It confused the subtemplates on the file but Salim worked with Kingdom and we are all set for Q2.
  • Salim is taking over soon, so please be sure to cc deputy or include him in any exchequer questions or chats. This will super duper help the transition of the office to him.
  • We do have money to tide us to the next event, but as approved in the budget, we need fundraising to keep treading. Special deputy for reeve,  Honorable Lady Majda Anwar, will take that lead in her report.
  • ps as a note, if any of y’all see my name Justina or Meg anywhere with an address that is not a PO box, please let me know- want to make sure people have the right address for sending mail to the barony.

Fundraising Deputy (THL Majda Anwar) 

  • Looking into options for fundraising ideas for the Barony
    • Fundraiser lunches, bake sales, merch, silent auctions, etc.
    • Display devices on castle walls at Castle Wars/Fool’s War?
  • Gave a presentation with ideas on possible fundraiser ideas for feedback and brainstorming
  • Link to the presentation, please let me know if you have ideas for fundraising ideas!
  • Looking to get together a group of people to help pinpoint events and plan how to execute these ideas
    • Will post in the discord to look for volunteers, keep an eye out!

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • We have stuff
  • Still looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Capt. Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing to report
  • Looking for deputy for Chatelaine and Demo Deputy

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Artsy Crown was great, glad to see all the cool entries and classes!
  • RUM is coming up for classes, sign up to teach and take some classes.
  • This month’s class will be a workshop on A&S Judging, come take the class!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • Unfortunately, we had to cancel / postpone last month’s class on Sacred Geometry due to technical difficulties.  We will be rescheduling as soon as possible.
  • This month’s class will be on June 26 at 7pm – in person at Doraville Civic Center.  It will be a A&S Judging Workshop with hands-on exercises presented by La Magnifica Signora Justina di Silvestri.
  • I am currently looking for teachers for July, August, September, and October. I will not know if those will be in person or virtual until in-person nights are officially scheduled for the later half of the year, but if you specifically need one or the other, we can be flexible and shift months around if possible. If you have something you would like to teach or otherwise share with the Barony, please get in touch with either myself or Sumarliþi.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Looking for a deputy, coming up at a year as Chronicler.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • Nothing to report aside from a few new folks in the FB group and also one that reached out via email for a discord invite.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Working on figuring out what to do for the DEIB session this month since it’s online

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • RUM has a webpage thanks to Margavati.  I have taken on the duties of regional webminister and Margavati has agreed to take on the duties of Baronial webminister, she has a lot of experience doing this work and has a lot of plans for making our site better.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Baron Ximon
    • Come and teach at RUM!
    • Next week’s meeting is a planning meeting for RT 50, please come and help us hash out some ideas
      • Looking for an autocrat or co-autocrat to help head up the discussion for RT 50.
    • It was wonderful to see everyone at Artsy Crown under the pavilion. Thank you to everyone who helped set up and tear down the pavilion!
  • Baroness Rhiannon
    • RT 50 planning
      • A lot of the event will be planned or ironed out in the next week or two, so please let us know if you’re interested in being an autocrat
    • Artsy Crown
      • Thanks for hanging out together as a Barony at the event, and congratulations to all the fighters in the Barony who fought in Crown as entrants for their great fights!

SCA Business

  • Royal University of Meridies
    • Lord Sumarliþi 
      • Sign-up sheets for volunteers have been posted
        • Will need help with basic set up, tear down, etc
        • If you have any ideas or jobs that you’d like to do, let me know and we can find something for you
        • Sign up to teach!
        • Food options may be better as the dining hall will be open that day
        • Planning on Quiet Space like we did before previously
    • Baron Ximon
      • Vote for a check to hold the rental at the pavilion for the fighter practice after RUM
        • Will require a check for $150 to hold the rental, but they do not cash the check unless there’s damage or something after the rental.
          • Motion raised to approve funding for the pavilion, 18 in favor, 1 against, motion passed.
  • Red Tower 50
    • Still looking for an autocrat, please contact Lady Raven or Their Excellencies if you’re interested
    • Come to the meeting next week to discuss planning for RT!
  • Castle Wars
    • We currently have Camp Bert Adams reserved for Castle Wars in Covington GA
    • Please contact us if you are interested in running the event!
    • Currently looking for bids, please submit a bid if you’re interested in running Castle Wars.
  • Dance, Art, and Gaming Event in Trimaris
    • June 15th
    • Daytrip
    • St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1950 Silver St., Jacksonville FL

Non-SCA Business

  • SERFO is this weekend, a couple of us are attending. It’s free to spectate, so come watch people fight!
    • Marietta, GA
  • Quick shout-out to our new member Hannah for winning her category in the Foundations Revealed contest that she entered! Congratulations!

The business meeting was closed @ 8:48 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on July 3rd, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Castle Wars, Events, Fighter Practices, Meeting Minutes, Red Tower

May 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

1 May 2024, Time: 7:30 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the May meeting to order. The Seneschal Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) 

  • Schedule for this month:
    • 5/1 – Business Meeting (Zoom)
    • 5/8 – Project Night (Zoom)
    • 5/15 -DEIB Office Q&A (in-person)
    • 5/22 – Class: Sacred Geometry with Master Rhydderch (Zoom)
    • 5/29 – 5th Wednesday social/potluck (in-person)

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • Not much activity for submissions
  • Awards:
    • Coronation:
      • Mairghread Wilson – Count Barony
      • Lorenzo Petrucci – Kestrel’s Talon
    • Fool’s War:
      • Dorian Araigneé – Award of Arms
    • Dreamstone:
      • Roís O’Shannon – Meridian Cross
      • Lorenzo Petrucci – Argent Rapier
      • Valdemar Varg- Award of Arms
      • Istvan Roka- Award of Arms

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • May 4th – No heavy practice
  • May 12th – Practice
  • May 19th – Practice
  • May 26th – No heavy practice
  • Drink water before you come to practice, the weather is getting hot.

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and we’re trying to get better about including Discord.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group or message us in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  If you are using Discord, please @ us, otherwise your post will probably be lost in the chatter.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Congratulations to a slew of new authorizees.
  5. If you helped out transport and load the castle walls to Fool’s War, thank you so much!
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • Live Weapons is picking up popularity
  • Nathri from Bryn Madoc has been giving out target stands
  • There were thrown weapons at Crossroads, thank you Lord Ælfric for running that!
  • Practice this month, aiming for practice on May 18th
    • Nothing is scheduled yet, waiting for response from the equestrian practice

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri) 

  • $4902.86 in the account
  • Lord Salim is working on Q1 Report and updating Q4 for the Kingdom
  • Paypal for RUM is being worked on
  • Maestra Isabetta has checks for storage to give in person
  • Waiting to change signatories on bank account
  • If you can, CC Lord Salim on emails and messages when sending emails for Exchequer activities

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • We have stuff
  • Still looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Capt. Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing to report

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Some things are picking up!
    • Thanks to Lord Ælfric for teaching class on Archery
    • Project night and class on Sacred Geometry coming up this month too
    • Not too late to enter something for Kingdom A&S, submit via form ahead of time
    • RUM is coming up, sign up to teach!
    • Keep making things and talking about them.

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • We had 6 students in attendance at this past month’s class on basic concepts and language in Archery.  I think it went really well – if a little long for the format.
  • This month’s class will be on May 22 at 7pm.  It will be a virtual class night on Zoom and our teacher will be Master Rhydderch discussing Sacred Geometry. Come out to learn about the invention of geometry and its use in medieval construction and architecture, all without having to do any math.
  • I am currently looking for teachers for July, August, September, and October. I will not know if those will be in person or virtual until in-person nights are officially scheduled for the later half of the year, but if you specifically need one or the other, we can be flexible and shift months around if possible. If you have something you would like to teach or otherwise share with the Barony, please get in touch with either myself or Sumarliþi.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Aiming to have the May issue of The Read Tower Newsletter released this Friday.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

There once was a medievalist volunteer

Who set a tough precedent, oh dear!

Every month, a new poem

Each report, must now show some

Facts, figures, plus rhythm and cheer!

  • We’ve begun to get the word out about RUM; please keep an eye out for the Paypal registration, schedule, etc to become available. I’m pleased and thankful to report that Baroness Emelina will be the Social Media Officer deputy! Thank you! 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Planning on having a DEIB class on May 15 this month
    • DEIB Officer Q&A and Suggestions from the Barony about DEIB classes in the future
      • Come and ask questions about the DEIB Office and bring suggestions on what kinds of classes you’d like to see in the future
      • If you can’t come to the meeting, please feel free to send questions and suggestions to my email beforehand so your questions can be answered: dei.southdowns@meridies.org

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Some photos aren’t showing up on the website, will look into fixing it.
  • Have a flier for RUM, haven’t put it up yet. Will see if Acharya Margavati will want to put it up for the website.
  • For future events and needed updates please email me those to the web.southdowns@meridies.org email or use the request update link on the webpage.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Baroness Rhiannon
    • RT 50 planning
      • Rough graphic is up gate token, please take a look or submit other designs to get some more ideas in
      • Site is Little Tallapoosa
      • Thinking about giving young heralds a chance to get some practice and have a chance to herald in combatants at the tourneys at RT50
      • Major kudos to everyone who’s been active at events, in and off the field and supporting and helping the barony shine at events. Thank you for making this group the best group!
  • Baron Ximon
    • Progress:
      • Golden Lily – May 11 – Daytrip
      • Artsy Crown – Memorial Day Weekend – Arriving mid. afternoon on Sat
        • Will need to go to storage to pick up the baronial pavilion, will need help on Friday to help set up the pavilion and help tearing it down at the end of the event
      • June
        • Warden’s Challenge – hoping to go
          • If you’re into archery and thrown weapons, come out!
      • RUM
        • Fighter practice after RUM – will discuss with financial committee about funding for that and securing the pavilion
      • You guys rock! Please write in recommendations so we can get people recognized!

SCA Business

  • Royal University of Meridies
    • Lord Sumarlidi and Capt. Brendan
      • Flyer has been made, will send it to the Exchequer and Deputy Exchequer to get Paypal set up for the event
      • FB Event is set up, thanks to THL Agnes for handling that
      • Sign-up sheets for staff positions will be coming soon
  • Red Tower 50
    • Little Tallapoosa Park in Carrollton
      • Did confirm site policies regarding fire pits, archery, and equestrian. The same rules as MacIntosh. Raised fire pits are okay, we can have archery and equestrian as long as things are set up correctly.
      • If you have any questions, please email Their Excellencies or Lady Raven
      • Looking at hosting various salons at RT
  • Castle Wars
    • We currently have Camp Bert Adams reserved for Castle Wars in Covington GA
    • Please contact us if you are interested in running the event!
  • Bardic Event in Trimaris
    • Jacksonville, FL
      • May 4th 2024, hosted by Barony of Castlemere
      • Please contact Mathias if you have any questions
  • Dance and Gaming Event in Trimaris
    • June 15th 
    • Daytrip
    • St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1950 Silver St., Jacksonville FL
  • Artsy Crown
    • Baronial encampment in the works
  • Lady Maren has moved out of the area to Chicago, and she donated some things to the Barony. Baron Ximon will be bringing some of the items to the potluck at the end of the month so come by and feel free to peruse and grab some things.
  • Maestra Isabetta – Looking for a deputy for quartermaster for Gulf Wars. If you’re interested, please contact me. Will just need a copy of your resume.
    • Job: You would be the person that department heads could come to for checking-out inventory and check back in at the end of war.

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported

The business meeting was closed @ 8:22 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on June 5th, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Society ANNOUNCEMENTS

April 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

3 April 2024, Time: 7:36 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the April meeting to order. The Seneschal Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) 

  • Schedule for this month:
    • Apr. 10th: online project night
    • Apr. 17th: in-person dance class by Magister Lorenzo
    • Apr. 24th: in-person class night – Archery 101 Discussion by Lord Ælfric
  • Thanks to La Magnifica Justina and Seong Daegam for covering for me last week

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • A little consultation with some people for submissions.
  • Awards:
    • Gulf Wars – Bram Halfdannarson received Stallion’s Blood

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Have been having practices, weather is getting hotter so drink water before practice too to hydrate
  • Lady Mairghread has agreed to help cover practices this month since it’s event heavy
  • Looking for a deputy to take over at some point

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and sometimes other locations depending on circumstances.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. BTW, “Atlanta SCA Fighting” is still visible publicly and searchable, but is now “Private” to keep the bots out.  If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  It should be readable to anyone, but you’ll need to join in order to post.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Looking forward to seeing more folks having fun!
  5. Meridian Challenge of Arms was successful.  Congratulations to Master Ximón on his elevation to the Order of Defense and Ldy Ogata  on her induction to the Meridian Order of the Blade.  Barons Mark de Wytteney and Piers Simmons were the Royal Family’s choices to be included in the MCA Championship.  Well done everyone!
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • Busy this month with events
  • Working with Mistress Peryn to figure out schedules to use her farm for a practice site
  • North pasture of the farm is vacant
  • Equipment is currently being stored at the farm

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri) 

  • $4624.62 in account
  • Waiting for Midwinter check from Kingdom
  • Still waiting for confirmation that we can add Lord Salim to the bank account
  • Storage for April is paid
  • Will be starting Q1 report soon
  • Huge shout out to Lord Salim for helping get our paperwork all squared away
  • As always, books are transparent, so if you have any questions, please ask!

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • We have stuff, the new storage unit looks like it’s working out pretty well
  • Still needs to be organized, but will need to set some time aside to do so
  • Still looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Lady Ogata Mitsuko)

  • No Gold Key at Coronation, but Gold Key should be at Fool’s War

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Not much to report this month
  • Project and dance nights have been going wonderfully well
  • Looking forward to ArtsyCrown and Red Tower for A&S things
  • Keep doing what you’re doing, you may get a shout-out to in the quarterly A&S report!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • April Class night will be April 24.  This will be in person at the Doraville Civic Center.  Our class will be Archery 101 with a focus on terminology and basic archery concepts taught by Lord Ælfric.  This will be a lecture and Q&A style class – I will have items on hand to look at and help illustrate the discussion, but due to location, there will be no live demo shooting.
  • I am still looking for classes and teachers for most of the rest of the year – July, August, and October.  Please reach out to me if you have something you would like to teach or if you have any suggestions for class topics that I might be able to request teachers to provide for us.
  • Lord Sumarlidi is now the deputy for Provost

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Nothing new to report.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

There once was a group we call South Downs

They made right side smiles from flipped down frowns

They gather in the ether

’cause they can’t always be thur

It’s a sociable space with much renown!

  • (Nothing special to report)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Nothing currently planned
  • Want to figure out if people would want dance this month or a DEIB class this month
    • Will work with Magister Lorenzo to figure out how to plan for DEIB and dance classes

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Nothing significant to report.  
  • For future events and needed updates please email me those to the web.southdowns@meridies.org email or use the request update link on the webpage.
  • Acharya Margavati is now the deputy for Webminister

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Ximon and Rhi
    • RT 50 planning
      • Putting together notes and will send them out based on the last meeting that we had for RT 50 planning
      • Working on ideas on how to honor the Red Ravens and token/fundraiser ideas
      • Going to put ideas together in a document to discuss and vote on
        • Feel free to send me emails or messages with ideas
      • If you’re coming to Coronation, please come by and hang out with us
        • THLady Alisandre will be providing a hospitality table, come eat some of her yummy food
        • Bringing the wing instead of the Baronial pavilion, so look for the green and white stripes
          • Lady Mairghread will be getting the walls out of the storage unit on Wednesday evening, please come help to move them out of the storage unit if you can
      • Fool’s War
        • If you’re coming to Fool’s War, please come help with the castle walls

SCA Business

  • Fool’s War
      • Sumarlidi
        • If you’re camping with South Downs, please sign up to bring food for camp so we can make sure that we have enough food for camp
          • Check out the sign up sheet on the FB encampment page or the discord
      • Baron Ximon
        • He will be taking a protege in camp at Fool’s War
  • Trimarian Dance Event
      • Halfdan Eldinghogg
        • June 15th, daytrip event in Jacksonville, FL
        • Event will be hosted by the most northern barony of Castlemere
        • Will be willing to split funds with SD, just asking for SD to send teachers for the event
        • Primary focus on the event will be the ball at the end of the day, but there will be courtly gaming classes and performance things through the day
  • Royal University of Meridies
      • Sumarlidi
        • Staff sheets should be going out for sign-ups on Sunday afternoon, please keep a lookout for that
          • Will have more information on staffing needs after this weekend
          • Remember that we need to get the ad together for Pop Chiv by May 1st to hit the deadline
  • Red Tower 50
      • We’re still working on finding a site for the event
        • Looking at Little Tallapoosa Park in Carrollton, still have a few questions that we need to hear back from
          • Need to find out about equestrian and archery, open fires, etc
        • Also looking at Camp Lumpkin, boy scout camp in La Grange
          • Some regulations with Serv-safe certifications to be able to run the kitchen
          • Still need to go down to take a tour of the site
        • Possible hour-long Commedia show in honor for Red Tower 50
          • Would like players from SD in the show, please let Master Mathias know if you’re interested in participating
  • Castle Wars
      • We currently have Camp Bert Adams reserved for Castle Wars in Covington GA in case the future event steward wants to use it
  • Bardic Madness Deepsouth
      • May 4th 2024, hosted by Barony of Castlemere in Jacksonville, FL
      • Star Wars themed event
      • Free event with fundraiser lunch
      • Will share flyer to the barony page
  • Kingdom Webminister
    • We currently don’t have a Kingdom webminister, please contact Majster Nikoslav to apply

Non-SCA Business

  • Patrick Wade suddenly passed away in December and there will be a Memorial Service on Thursday April 11, 2 PM at United Methodist Church, 85 W Church Street Jasper, GA. 30143.

The business meeting was closed @ 8:30 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on May 1st, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Castle Wars, Meeting Minutes, Red Tower

March 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

6 March 2024, Time: 7:33 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the March meeting to order. La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri, covering for our Seneschal, Lady Raven Helmsplitter, started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. La Magnifica Justina read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter) (Covered by La Magnifica Justina)

  • Schedule for this month:
    • Mar. 13th: online project night
    • Mar. 20th: in-person dance practice
    • Mar. 27th: in-person meeting – RT 50 planning discussion
  •  

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • No activity for name or device submissions, please email me if you have something if you want to submit.
  • Awards:
    • MCA
      • Lady Ogata – Meridian Order of the Blade
      • Majster Nikoslav Mikolaevich – Order of the Pelican
      • Mistress Alessandra Giovanna Fioravanti – Meridian Majesty
      • Baroness Rhiannon verch Madyn – Order of the Bough
      • Baron Ximon Martillo De Cordoba – Order of Defense

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • April will have no heavy practices due to events.  Gulf Wars will take up next 2 weekends we will have practice on the 24th if weather allows.

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and sometimes other locations depending on circumstances.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. BTW, “Atlanta SCA Fighting” is still visible publicly and searchable, but is now “Private” to keep the bots out.  If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  It should be readable to anyone, but you’ll need to join in order to post.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Looking forward to seeing more folks having fun!
  5. Meridian Challenge of Arms was successful.  Congratulations to Master Ximón on his elevation to the Order of Defense and Ldy Ogata  on her induction to the Meridian Order of the Blade.  Barons Mark de Wytteney and Piers Simmons were the Royal Family’s choices to be included in the MCA Championship.  Well done everyone!
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • We had held practice at Mistress Peryn’s farm, she is happy to have us there to share when the Meridian Equestrian calvary happens
  • Practice may not happen this month due to events

Exchequer (Lord Salim) (covering for La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri)

  • Here are the march stats:
    • We have $5,522.22 in the bank.
  • March storage is paid
  • Go over MWAS numbers
    • total attendance tally: 112
    • Profit: 1228.14
  • If you sent Reeve a receipt, look for your reimbursement check coming to you in the mail- if you want me to hold sending it till after Gulf Wars, please let me know.

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • We have stuff, the new storage unit looks like it’s working out pretty well
  • Still needs to be organized, but will need to set some time aside to do so
  • Still looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Lady Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing reported

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Nothing reported

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Not a long to report this month
  • Had a great 2-in-1 class month in February, Research Basics and Research Basics: The Paper
  • Shout-out to everyone who volunteers to teach, thank you!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • We had 6 students in attendance at the February Class Night for Baroness Rhonwyn’s Research Basics class.  We also got a bonus class on Research Papers.
  • There will be no Class Scheduled for March, as the normal Class Night (3/27) is going to be used for the In Person Red Tower 50-year planning meeting.
  • I am still looking for classes and teachers for most of the rest of the year – April, June, August, September and October.  Please reach out to me if you have something you would like to teach or if you have any suggestions for class topics that I might be able to request teachers to provide for us.
  • I am still looking for a Deputy.  The job is not difficult, just requires a little bit of organization and scheduling ability.  If you are interested, or know anyone who might be, please get in touch with me so that we can start getting someone trained to be able to help with the upcoming Fall Event Season and to take over when I step down following Midwinter 2025.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Nothing new to report.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • We’ve got socials! Note about Discord and meeting schedules: Discord is currently reporting the baronial meeting schedule based on an automated link to the barony Google Calendar. Thanks to Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong for setting that up! 
  • Something for the barony to think about is figuring out how to get everyone, or at least the appropriate leadership and officers, access to add and edit meetings and other activities to that Google Calendar to take full advantage of this functionality. There is a google sheet that also has meeting information on it, but it isn’t linked to Discord and not sure it can be. Your humble Agnes does not know if the website could also be configured to be linked to the Google Calendar, but that would be cool to explore. Thank you!

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Thank you for bearing with me while we work through the DEIB office and classes
  • Hoping to pick up with DEIB Classes next month

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Nothing significant to report.  
  • For future events and needed updates please email me those to the web.southdowns@meridies.org email or use the request update link on the webpage.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Ximon and Rhi
    • Good luck if you’re currently packing for Gulf Wars!
    • Thank you to the barony for being so hospitable to our visitors during MCA and for Baron Ximon’s vigil
    • Meeting on March 27th will be a brainstorming session on RT50, please come to share some ideas
      • RT50 will be the first weekend in October at McIntosh Reserve.
      • Bring some snacks so we can share while we brainstorm!
      • If you have any questions or ideas for RT50 and can’t make it to the meeting, please message us on FB or email us 

SCA Business

  • Meridian Challenge of Arms
      • Baron Ximon
        • Had a fabulous event, thanks to THLady Alisandre for setting up the hospitality table
        • Lady Raven took some photos and will post them soon
  • Royal University of Meridies
      • Sumarlidi
        • In the planning stages, be on the lookout for for more information as it comes it coming weeks and months
  • Red Tower 50
      • Event Steward still TBD
      • Please come to the meeting at the end of the month so we can discuss planning!
  • Castle Wars
      • Lady Raven
        • Looking for bids, please contact me if you’re interested
        • Reserved Bert Adams for Castle Wars
      • Baron Ximon
        • I may not be there for all of Castle Wars due to not getting vacation off at work, but Baroness Rhi will be there, so please take care of her!
  • Comic Con Demo
      • Lady Mairghread
        • 100 names gathered from the demo, will be passed along to TRM to invite to Fool’s War
        • Had one newcomer come to MCA from the demo
  • Gulf Wars
    • If you’re going to GW, have fun and be safe!

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported

The business meeting was closed @ 8:03 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on April 3rd, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Castle Wars, Meeting Minutes, Midwinter A&S, Red Tower

February 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

7 February 2024, Time: 7:30 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the February meeting to order. Our Seneschal, Lady Raven Helmsplitter started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)

  • Schedule for this month:
    • Feb. 14th: online
    • Feb. 21st: online
    • Feb. 28th: in person meeting – Research Basics with Baroness Rhonwyn
  • Thanks to all who came out to Midwinter and the Fighter Practice!
  • We got the bid for RUM at UWG
    • Event stewards: Sumarlidi and Captain Brendan
  • If you have a website as an officer, please check the website and submit any changes to keep the information up to date
  • For the populace, we have a page for interests and information to be listed, so please contact the westminster if you need to update the page
  • The Baron and Baroness want to meet with the officers sometime soon to discuss plans for 2024
  • Officers, please email me if you haven’t already to update warrants and paperwork for the officers
  • We are going to start collecting items from South Downs’ history to display at Red Tower 50, so if you have anything you’d like to be displayed as well, please let me know.

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • No activity for name or device submissions, please email me if you have something if you want to submit.
  • Awards:
    • Midwinter
      • Lord Ælfric – Falcon’s Faith
      • Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong – Falcon’s Faith
      • THL Lykania – Court Barony
      • Magister Lorenzo – Meridian Majesty, Order of the Pelican
      • Acharya Mewadi Margavati Bai – Order of the Pelican

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • We have been having practices that have been relatively well attended.  Completed a few authorizations at last weeks regional practice.  Regional practice was fairly well attended even with the horrible weather.  There were 5 youth fighters.  And also 2 brand new fighters in loaner gear.  Performed multiple authorizations and reauthorizations.  My squire brother Ajax got authorized for youth sparring. 
  • There will be no practice on 11 February due to Knights Gambit and the Comicon demo and 25 February there will also be no practice, this is the week of MCA and I intend to be there to see his Excellency be recognized as a MoD.  As always I will post any changes to practices on the Atlanta SCA Fighting Facebook page.

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and sometimes other locations depending on circumstances.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. BTW, “Atlanta SCA Fighting” is still visible publicly and searchable, but is now “Private” to keep the bots out.  If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  It should be readable to anyone, but you’ll need to join in order to post.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to our celebrity stunt marshal team, particularly Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Looking forward to seeing more folks having fun!
  5. Regional practice after MWAS was successful.  Fencing, lessons, a little meleé.  Good fun.
  6. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • Supposed to have target archery practice at the regional fighter practice after midwinter, but the weather had other plans
  • Target archery practice will be Feb. 24th, which is the same weekend as MCA
    • Combining target archery practice with equestrian and Meridian Calvary practice
    • Will be at Mistress Peryn’s farm

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri)

  • We have $4,708.22 in the bank
  • 2023 Q4 has been submitted to Kingdom
  • Complete numbers for MWAS will be ready for the March report
  • Please get all event receipts to me by February 17th. You can email them to me at excheq.southdowns@meridies.org.
  • As many are aware, the NMR fee for events will increase to $10 starting this April

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • We have stuff, the new storage unit looks like it’s working out pretty well
  • Still needs to be organized, but will need to set some time aside to do so
  • Still looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Lady Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing reported

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Demo at Comic Con coming up this weekend, come hang out and help out at the demo!

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • We had a wonderful Midwinter A&S this weekend. Thank you to the autocrats, Her Grace Thorkatla, and Baroness Rhiannon for your help and guidance in making this happen.
  • A shout out to Mathias Blackett who received a score of 20 on his Shakespearean soliloquy entry!
  • I’m looking forward to Red Tower 50 right now – I definitely want to make sure we can show off all the prowess of our barony’s artisans!
  • Thank y’all for being great!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • Last month’s class night – Medieval Nicknames with Wenyeva – had 5 students in attendance.
  • This past weekend was Midwinter A&S.  We had 80 total students take 26 different classes over the course of the day.
  • This month’s A&S Class night will be February 28th – in person at Doraville Civic Center.  Baroness Rhonwyn will be teaching a class on Research Basics.  If you’ve ever wanted a bit more help or information on how to get started with researching that A&S project you want to start, don’t miss this class.
  • Finally, I am still looking for a deputy Provost.  February of 2025 will be the end of my term in office and I would like to start training a replacement before we get deep into the planning season for Red Tower.
  • As always if you have anything you would like to teach, please reach out.  I have openings most of the rest of this year through October.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Nothing new to report.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • We have media, we’re social, we’re doing just the most-ial!!

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • No DEIB class for this month, but we can work on one for next month
  • Please contact me if you want teach something, we can have the sessions in many formats, whether it’s a roundtable, a lecture, or more
  • The DEIB office for South Downs is still going forward as of right now

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Nothing significant to report.  
  • For future events and needed updates please email me those to the web.southdowns@meridies.org email or use the request update link on the webpage.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Ximon and Rhi
    • We’d like to say thank you for all the work for Midwinter and congratulations to all those who received awards this weekend
    • Looking forward to basically having a repeat of the same thing at RUM in July
    • In March, we’re hoping to host a kick-off meeting to plan for Red Tower 50

SCA Business

  • Midwinter A&S
      • Baron Piers and Lord Eirikr
        • Event went smoothly, thank you to all volunteered to help make it happen
      • Magister Lorenzo
        • Shout out to Ælfric for taking advantage of the tools to schedule classes for Midwinter
        • Maybe work scheduling out with meetings and classes next time so that meetings line up with classes so people don’t have to miss two classes for one meeting
      • Baron Ximon
        • Shout out to Ysabel who did the Royal Luncheon, it was a fantastic lunch
        • As far as we know, no complaints!
        • South Downs rocks and pulled it off again!
      • Lady Maryam
        • Her Grace Thorkatla helped make the A&S go smoothly, as she always does
  • Meridian Challenge of Arms
      • Baron Ximon
        • If you’re planning on going to MCA on Friday, we could use some help setting up the pavilions 
        • We’ll have a hospitality table set up
  • Royal University of Meridies
      • Sumarlidi
        • In the planning stages, be on the lookout for for more information as it comes it coming weeks and months
  • Red Tower 50
      • Lady Raven
        • No bid yet, looking to do it at McIntosh
      • Baron Ximon
        • Looking to showcase the history of South Downs
        • Looking to host a panel/roundtable on the history of South Downs
        • Want to see if we can create tshirts for it and host special tournaments
        • Want to put together a website specifically for the event, not just a FB page
        • Master Rhydderch wants to build a full size trebuchet for the site
        • Bring your ideas to brainstorm on what we can do for Red Tower 50
  • Castle Wars
      • Lady Raven
        • Looking for bids, please contact me if you’re interested
        • Looking to use Bert Adams for Castle Wars
  • Lady Lily
      • Wondering if we have a Baronial Historian when we’re discussing showcasing South Downs’ history
  • Baron Ximon
    • If you’re interested in becoming a Baronial Historian to help shape that office and start keeping track and recording our history
    • Will post a link to his virtual vigil
    • Discussion on display at Red Tower 50, possible tshirts, and other ideas

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported

The business meeting was closed @ 8:36 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on March 6th, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Fighter Practices, Meeting Minutes, Midwinter A&S, Red Tower

January 2024 Baronial Business Meeting

3 January 2024, Time: 7:30 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the January meeting to order. Our Seneschal, Lady Raven Helmsplitter started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)

  • Schedule for this month:
    • January in-person dates are 1/17 and 1/31 (5th Wednesday potluck)
    • Project online, class on third wednesday
  • His Excellency and I went to Bert Adams for a site visit to scout out the site for RedTower 2024 (RT 50!). Looking for a new site since it’s booked for the weekend that we wanted.
  • We need to start thinking about what KLE we might put in a bid for, as every barony is required to submit a bid for a KLE
    • Another group may be doing RUM this year
  • Midwinter A+S is coming (3 February 2024)! 
  • Officers:
    • Please check your officer page on our website to make sure your info is correct – especially links to external websites (kingdom, for example). If there are any updates needed, please get your updates to Eirikr (I believe he has a form to use).
      • Populace – please also check your listing in Dramatis Personae > People of South Downs. If you have updates (or are not listed), please let Eirikr know and he’ll update your listing.
    • Their Excellencies would like to meet with all the officers (and deputies) sometime soon (possibly in January, after the holidays), to discuss what we want to do in 2024.
  • Our pause during the pandemic made our usual processes, well, weird. I want to get back on track with our normal terms of office, and am looking into what the usual/expected terms of office should be. In the meantime, I’d like to have all the officers let me know when they started their terms.

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • Nothing to report
  • Write in award recommendations!

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Got a practice last weekend
  • Jan. 7th – next weekend will not have a practice here, but up at Laurel Grove for an interkingdom fighter practice.
  • Jan. 14th – no loaner gear for heavy available, but practice will happen
  • Jan. 28th – no practice

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and sometimes other locations depending on circumstances.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. BTW, “Atlanta SCA Fighting” is still visible publicly and searchable, but is now “Private” to keep the bots out.  If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  It should be readable to anyone, but you’ll need to join in order to post.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, my continued thanks to Ldy. Ogata, Master Ximón, Master Nikoslav, et. al.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Looking forward to seeing more folks having fun!  Just before Castle Wars, we had several new authorizations, and a couple of new auths at CW.  The field is getting bigger!
  5. The castle is now as functional as it’s ever been.  It still needs paint.  It’s really nice to see it stored indoors again, but let’s please keep in mind that it really does need a work day sometime for a sprucing up (new paint will also help protect the wood from bugs and weather).
  6. A couple of rapier-centric event announcements:  Bryn Madoc’s 12th Night celebration this weekend (https://brynmadoc.meridies.org/events/12th-night/) and Nantyderwiddon’s InterKingdom Fighter Practice (https://fb.me/e/78hCoX9RX) are bothe this Saturday.
  7. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • At Twelfth Night this weekend, there will be a thrown weapons range but no archery.
  • Archery practice this month, working with Mistress Peryn in Villa Rica for mounted archery
    • Jan. 13th – Calvary practice as well as archery on the ground to start out
    • Might check to see if archery practice is viable in Villa Rica
    • Details will be on the Meridian Calvary Page
    • If you’re interested in learning how to be an archery marshal, let Master Mathias know!

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri)

  • Our current bank balance is $2127.15
  • Did get a check in the mail, so it should be deposited soon
  • Expenses
    • Meeting space paid through June
    • Practice space for after Midwinter is reserved
  • Email made for the deputy Exchequer!
  • Paypal is up for Midwinter
  • Paperwork for the bank account will be updated soon

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • Nothing to report
  • Looking for a deputy

Chatelaine (Lady Ogata Mitsuko)

  • His Highness and Baron Engelbrecht have put together a demo at Atlanta Comic Con Feb. 9-11th.
  • If you want to get involved, contact His Highness Sebastianos or Baron Engelbrecht

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Demos covered by Lady Ogata

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

 I hope everyone had a good holiday season and a great start to the new year.

  • Midwinter A&S pre-registration is open, and the regional faire is open for all kinds of entries (except brewing due to site restrictions)! To register in the faire, find the link on the Facebook event page, the event’s Discord channel, or you can message me. 
  • Even if you don’t have anything to enter, there will be an opportunity to show your appreciation for our artists by voting for your favorite entry at the faire and sharing your input. 
  • Additionally, if maybe you have been researching a topic or fixated on something you’d like to share – please consider teaching or sharing your knowledge at a class night!

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

Getting back into the A&S Class Swing for the new year.  

  • Midwinter class signups are in full swing.  Still have approximately a week and a half remaining before the signup deadline Jan. 14.
  • Wenyeva will be teaching about Middle English Nicknames online on Jan. 24th.
  • I still have most of the year open for teaching slots, as well.  Please get with me if you have things you would like to share with the barony.  Our class nights are a great way to test out or dry run a class that you might be interested in offering for larger events as well.
  • I am still looking for a Deputy.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Thank you to all who got your reports sent in early!
  • Behind on newsletters, but will post them as soon as I get them done
  • Updating the baronial calendar with the in-person/virtual meetings, should update and in turn update the baronial calendar as well.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • Our social media is full of interesting things and beautiful people!
  • The preregistration link for Midwinter should be posted on the various channels, go preregister!

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Nothing to report.
  • Waiting to hear back on the reorganization of the office on the society level

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Send in requests if you need your information updated on the website
  • Link to form to update you information on the SD website: https://forms.gle/omZbL4QcaDFbHQV78
  • Midwinter event page and Paypal info are up and running.

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Ximon 
    • Happy Holidays to everyone!
    • Thanks to everyone who are working on getting Midwinter and the Regional Fighter Practice together
      • If someone wants to teach an outdoor class under the pavilion, please know that there’s plenty of space
    • After Midwinter, we’re going to start planning for RT 50th Year
    • You guys are an awesome barony and we’re really proud to be a part of South Downs!

SCA Business

  • Midwinter A&S
      • Baron Piers and Lord Eirikr
        • Looking for runners and people to help with parking
        • All the other positions are already filled
        • We’ve got about 15-16 classes already
        • There’s a couple classes at a Salon as well
        • Always looking for volunteers for Troll and Teacher check-in
        • Master Mathias
          • Commedia performance planned for an half hour right before court
        • Midwinter may be filmed for a documentary, going to look into what rules may apply for filming from the Society and from the University
        • May schedule a couple more order meetings, will check with the contacts to make sure
  • Twelfth Night
      • Master Mathias
        • Come support the regional faire at Twelfth Night!
  • Castle Wars
      • Lady Ysabel
        • Winners from the raffle have been contacted and the prizes will be brought to the Jan. pot luck meeting at the end of the month.
  • Commedia dell’Arte
    • Master Mathias
      • If you have any connections at universities that would be interested in hosting a lecture or two from Master Anton about Commedia

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported.

The business meeting was closed @ 8:17 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on February 7th, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

Castle Wars, Meeting Minutes, Midwinter A&S

December 2023 Baronial Business Meeting

6 December 2023, Time: 7:30 PM EST

Notes submitted by Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong, South Downs Chronicler.

Magister Lorenzo called the December meeting to order. Our Seneschal, Lady Raven Helmsplitter started recording the meeting and greeted the populace joining the Zoom meeting. Lady Raven read the Kingdom Anti-Bullying statement.

Officers’ Reports

Seneschal, (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)

  • Schedule for this month:
    • This is the last meeting for 2023
    • Stay tuned for January 2024, still TBD. January in-person dates are 1/17 and 1/31 (5th Wednesday potluck)
  • Baronial calendar has been updated for 2024 with the in-person dates through June 2024.
  • Castle Wars was a huge success! Thanks for everyone who came out, and everyone who helped make CW happen 🙂 
    • We will have our post-mortem later on in the meeting
  • Many, many thanks to Isabetta for securing our new storage unit, and for everyone who helped move our stuff there.
  • His Excellency and I went to Bert Adams for a site visit to scout out the site for RedTower 2024 (RT 50!). Waiting to hear that our requested reservation date is approved.
  • We need to start thinking about what KLE we might put in a bid for, as every barony is required to submit a bid for a KLE
  • Midwinter A+S is coming (3 February 2024)! Piers and Eirikr will present their bid later on in the meeting.
  • Officers:
    • Please check your officer page on our website to make sure your info is correct – especially links to external websites (kingdom, for example). If there are any updates needed, please get your updates to Eirikr (I believe he has a form to use).
      • Populace – please also check your listing in Dramatis Personae > People of South Downs. If you have updates (or are not listed), please let Eirikr know and he’ll update your listing.
    • Their Excellencies would like to meet with all the officers (and deputies) sometime soon (possibly in January, after the holidays), to discuss what we want to do in 2024.
  • Our pause during the pandemic made our usual processes, well, weird. I want to get back on track with our normal terms of office, and am looking into what the usual/expected terms of office should be. In the meantime, I’d like to have all the officers let me know when they started their terms.

Herald (Magister Lorenzo Petrucci)     

  • Not much news with submissions, contact me if you need help with submitting anything
  • Castle Wars Awards
    • Lady Roisin / Lord Ælfic – Order of the Broken Bow
    • Her Exuberance Anna / La Magnifica Justina – Argent Comet
    • Noble Ajax – Award of Arms
    • Acharya Mewadi Margavati – Order of the Falcon’s Faith
    • Mistress Veronica – Order of the Red Raven
    • Baroness Sunneva – Swift’s Heart
    • THL Kurt – Writ for Pelican

Knight Marshal (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • Practices have been going on, last week was canceled for weather
  • We should have practice for the next two Sundays, won’t have practice Christmas eve
  • Will start looking for a deputy to help take over and help run practices.
  • Had a lot of fighters that came out for CW and got reauthorized

Rapier Marshal (Captain Brendan de Hay)

  1. Practices have been proceeding, weather and other events permitting.  Sundays starting around noon (concurrent with armored practice).  Schedule changes, cancellations, and any other relevant information is shared on the FaceBook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting,” and sometimes other locations depending on circumstances.  Loaner gear is usually available, but it doesn’t hurt to check the “Atlanta SCA Fighting” group in advance.  Sometimes when I’m not available, the “stunt marshal” might not be able to bring it.
  2. BTW, “Atlanta SCA Fighting” is still visible publicly and searchable, but is now “Private” to keep the bots out.  If you have any trouble at all finding practice announcements, feel free to reach out directly to me or Ld. Eirikr.  It should be readable to anyone, but you’ll need to join in order to post.
  3. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep practices happening.  I wouldn’t mind having a deputy step up who could take over from me in the not-too-distant future.
  4. Big shout-out to folks recently giving rapier a try.  Looking forward to seeing more folks having fun!  Just before Castle Wars, we had several new authorizations, and a couple of new auths at CW.  The field is getting bigger!
  5. The castle is now as functional as it’s ever been.  It still needs paint.  It’s really nice to see it stored indoors again, but let’s please keep in mind that it really does need a work day sometime for a sprucing up (new paint will also help protect the wood from bugs and weather).
  6. Castle Wars:  The Meridian Order of the Blade Invitational tournament Saturday morning went well (Congratulations to Lady Ogata on her victory!), and the new meleé scenario from Ldy. Ogata was well-received.
  7. HYDRATE!

Live Weapons (Master Mathias Blackett)

  • Castle Wars was a very big day on the live weapons range, over 50 people show up on the range
  • Lots of tournaments and busy time on the range!
  • 13 people completed at least one royal round, including a little six year old girl who really enjoyed herself and didn’t want to leave.
  • Will need to get more target butts soon, will put together a proposal to purchase new targets, probably around $150 each.
  • Had a conversation about the new potential practice location, will go check out the site to see if it’ll work. If it is, we’ll have archery practice Dec. 17th!
  • Will probably start looking for a deputy soon

Exchequer (La Magnifica Justina di Silvestri)

  • Our current bank balance is $8,117.38 
  • Firstly, I am very excited to announce I have a deputy reeve! Lord Salim will be training with me over the next year and has already helped so much with paperwork. He is very skilled in all things reevery and the barony’s financial matters are going to be in such capable hands. We have submitted his request to be warranted and I will include him in the majority of correspondence from my office moving forward. 
  • As previously discussed, the Honorable Lady Majda is also joining the reeve team as fundraising special deputy 
  • The biggest thing to cover tonight is getting the 2024 annual budget discussed and approved.
  • I uploaded a pdf to our facebook group files page and will also add to the Zoom chat 
    • THL Mairghread made a motion to move it to vote, M. Isabetta seconded. 22 for, 1 opposed, vote passed.
  • Second approval needed is an overage from castle wars, the only overage. Original approved budget was $1150, the financial committee approved an urgent addition of $400 due to the expected attendance, and the bathrooms needed mid event cleaning. The final total was $1635, putting it $85 over budget. we need the barony to vote to approve this overage 
    • THL Mairghead made a motion to move to vote, Baron Ximon seconded. 22 for, 1 opposed, vote passed.
  • Another overage to note for your records, the FC approved $42.20 to reimburse Red Tower Travelers fare, no additional vote is needed
  • Salim and I are going to get the ball rolling again on completing the Financial policy update- stay tuned.

Quartermaster (Maestra Isabetta de San Marco) 

  • Got everything moved to the storage unit in one day and everything fits.
  • Many thanks to everyone who came to help.
  • Will head over during Christmas to reorganize and rebuild the spreadsheets
  • CW items and walls in the back, so things we need for CW will be out of the way for now.
  • Still need a deputy, took over in 2021.
  • Payment schedule has been put in place.

Chatelaine (Lady Ogata Mitsuko)

  • Nothing to report.

Demo Deputy (VACANT)

  • Demos covered by Lady Ogata
  • Lady Ogata is planning on taking over the demo deputy position when Baroness Arnora takes over, but if you’re interested, please let us know!

Arts & Sciences (Lady Maryam)

  • Castle Wars went well with the various classes and salons hosted. Hoping to see more salons in the future.
  • Midwinter A&S is coming! Will have more news soon! Look forward to it!
  • In the meantime, keep sharing your projects, interests, and/or rabbit holes you’ve gone down in any way you please! 

Provost (Lord Ælfric Hort)

  • Castle Wars saw a lot of classes and Salons being offered for the enjoyment of the attending populace.  26 individual people took 8 different classes with 31 RUM credits received overall.
  • There will be no Baronial A&S Class night for the month of December.  January Baronial Class Night should be Wednesday, Jan. 24th – and I am still looking for a teacher for that month and all of the rest of 2024 as well.
  • Also be thinking about classes you might want to teach for Midwinter A&S.  I will be putting out a call for teachers soon.
  • And finally, on that note, I am looking for a deputy Provost to begin helping me organize and promote A&S Class activities for the coming year, as well as help with coordinating classes for Midwinter Arts and Sciences in February.  Please get in touch with me on Facebook or Discord if you are interested in the position.

Chronicler (Seong Myeong Su Daesaseong)

  • Thank you to all who got your reports sent in early!
  • Behind on October and November’s newsletters, but will post them as soon as I get them done
  • Updating the baronial calendar with the in-person/virtual meetings, should update and in turn update the baronial calendar as well.
  • Always looking to interview the populace for each issue, so please fill out this form to get included! Eventually I’d like to collect these into one PDF so we have a good collection of information about our members: https://forms.gle/MNxww3KUQJo2VsEG9
  • Please submit photos, art, articles, shout-outs, or anything that you’ve found interesting and want to share! I’ll always be collecting stuff for the newsletters going forward. You can submit either through this form: https://forms.gle/8SyEF9D7c8rMCnZP6 or email me at chron.southdowns@meridies.org.

Social Media Minister  (THLady Agnes Halydaye) 

  • Nothing reported.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (DEIB), (Lady Lily of South Downs)

  • Currently not looking for a deputy while we work on some structural changes in the office and things get settled.
  • That said, please reach out if you’re interested in the office or want to help. DEIB is our collective responsibility, so help is always welcomed.
  • There will not be anything DEIB on the schedule for this month due to the holidays. We will work with the officers to figure out future scheduling.

Webminister (Lord Eiríkr Pálsson)

  • No deputy yet, but will start looking for one soon.
  • Send in requests if you need your information updated on the website
  • Link to form to update you information on the SD website: https://forms.gle/omZbL4QcaDFbHQV78

Minister of Children (VACANT)

  • Position is still open, if you are interested, please contact Lady Raven.

Their Excellencies, (Maestro Ximon Cordoba de Martillo & HE Rhiannon verch Madyn)

  • Ximon
    • Not much to say, but if you think people should be recognized, please give us award recommendations!

SCA Business

  • Castle Wars Post-Mortem
    • Lady Ysabel and Lady Hessa
      • Thank you to EVERYONE who came out and helped out with the event, it was incredible seeing our vision for the event come to life and become a reality.
      • Lots of happy people and vendors who were pleased with the setup of the event. We had the chance to try some new things with vendor services and an info point to help out and check in on people.
      • Spoke with the park, they are building showers and toilets permanently on the site in the cinderblock building. They were pleased with how the group handled our parking passes and they appreciated how we handled it.
      • We were having trouble with the gate codes, but moving forward they may add in multiple codes to help keep the gate from malfunctioning again.
      • We may need to find a way to tell the general population that it’s a closed and private event to help prevent random people from walking through the event.
      • Lost and found is still posted on the FB group, please check to see if you’re missing anything.
      • Please send in names for the volunteer drawing so that people can get a chance to get something after all of the help with Castle Wars.
      • Campsites have stone/rock markers with numbers and numbers on trees, and may want to use them going forward to help organize camps next time.
    • Baron Piers Simmons
      • Only complaint is that the last camp had to walk past parking for the closest porta potty, but the event was fabulous in general.
    • Lady Lily
      • Loved seeing the event stewards in one place and easy to find, and thank you for the food and snacks and general hospitality
    • La Magnifica Justina
      • So many thanks to Dorian for all of his help at check-in, you were a rockstar!
      • Thank you to the event stewards for letting us try new things with the location of check-in, and many thanks to Lady Ysabel for getting more signs to help inform people where to go.
      • Still some things that we can learn and improve on.
      • Going forward if we use this site again for bids since they use a flat fee, $625, but they also charge per person overnight per night. The total fee ended up being $1806, so it may be hard to calculate this bid in the future.
      • Total attendance: 455 people
      • Profit: $2758.40
      • We didn’t have the infrastructure to support late check-in. If we want to have support late check-in, we will need to plan ahead to make sure we have lights and staff to help cover shifts.
  • Midwinter Bid
      • Baron Piers and Lord Eirikr
        • Bid for Feb. 3 2024 at Pafford Hall at UWG.
        • Proposed $15 prereg and $20 at the gate for site fee
          • Myeong Su made a motion to bring the bid to vote, Dorian seconded. Motion passes and the bid is approved.
        • Popchiv and Kingdom Chronicler will be contacted to get the flyer in.
  • DEIB Directive
    • Acharya Mewadi Margavati Bai
      • There’s been a directive from higher up to restructure the DEIB office and local offices may be reworked or eliminated structurally. The work will not stop being done and we will still have resources, but we’re not sure how it will work going forward.
      • Things will be shared more as we know more going forward.
      • Many, many thanks to Lady Lily for all of your work!
    • Majster Nikoslav
      • DEIB stuff for the Kingdom is not going away, but will be restructured. The system will be more regional instead of local to help deal with issues as they arise.
      • Many thanks to Lady Lily and Acharya Mewadi Margavati for all of your work in both local and Kingdom offices.

Non-SCA Business

  • None reported.

The business meeting was closed @ 9:12 PM EST

The next business meeting will be held on January 3rd, 2024, 7:00 PM EST via Zoom Meeting.

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