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)

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Barony of South Downs

July 2024 Baronial Business Meeting