South Downs Baronial Business Meeting
1 April 2015
Notes submitted by Raven Helmsplitter (mka Helena Bretherton Hay), South Downs Chronicler
Lord Bjorn Gullhar called the meeting to order.
Greetings from Master Ximon and His Excellency, Master Lorenzo
Officer reports
o Chronicler (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)
- Introduced herself, due to new people present. Nothing new to report.
- Asked if anyone wanted to see any specific projects from the Chronicler (newsletter? Directory?) to please let her know
- Until the website is updated, please contact me via Facebook or at hbrethertonhay@mac.com
o Exchequer (Lady Maire Dhocair Inghean Chiarain)
- Introduced herself, due to new people present. Had nothing to report, other than quarterly reports are coming due
o A&S Minister (deputy, Lady Tryggva)
- Tryggva, deputy A&S Minister, gave the report and introduced herself.
- Is gathering info from those who want to teach classes and those who have ideas for classes
- Upcoming class (April) – SCA for newcomers
- 29 April – in garb 5th Wednesday social
o Seneschal (deputy, Lord Mattias)
- Mattias is running the meeting tonight
- Transition from current seneschal (Master Ximon) to new seneschal (Lord Mattias) is in progress
o Herald (Lord Bjorn Gullhar)
- Two submissions (1 device, 1 name)
- Master Ximon is now Captain Master Ximon, having been inducted into the Meridian Order of the Blade at Gulf Wars
- Amaris has received her protégé belt at Gulf Wars
o Knight Marshal (Lord Bram Halfdannarson)
- Master Lorenzo reported on Lord Bram’s behalf
- Joint practice (heavy and rapier) was held last Sunday at Blackburn park, during the Cherry Blossom Festival
o Chatelaine (Lady Wilhemina)
- Nothing to report
Baronial Business – events, etc.
o Fool’s War
- If you are interested in camping with South Downs, please contact Her Excellency
- Mistress Margavati is coordinating war drumming for the armies at Fool’s War – volunteers welcome!
- Captains Ximon, David, and Jean-Michel are all rapier warlords for Fool’s War
o Demos
- July 25, at the Smyrna library
- Potential opportunity to demo at Atlanta Streets Alive, September 27 in Virginia-Highlands. Route goes past a couple parks good for demos.
http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/2015-routes/highland-september-27/ (Mistress Margavati) - We’ve been invited back to demo at next year’s CONjuration Con (Harry Potter Con) – http://www.conjurationcon.com/ (Lady Wilhemina)
o RUM (Royal University of Meridies)
- As a Barony, we need to submit a bid for one kingdom-level event per year; we should really consider putting in a bid for RUM
- Mistress Sybilla has suggested University of West Georgia for a site
- A motion to vote on submitting a bid to host RUM was offered. Motion approved by acclamation.
o Gulf Wars
- Everyone had fun! Temps were warmer than expected, and for the most part, weather was drier than expected (except for the last night)
- Lady Veronica did at least five scrolls for Gulf Wars court – huzzah!
o Coronation
- Scribal challenge will be held at coronation
UPDATED INFORMATION for the Coronation Scribal Challenge (per Lady Mara Palmer, Parchment) - Please enter all scrolls by 9:30am as judging will be open from 10am to 4pm. All scrolls submitted will be added to the Kingdom case at the end of the day unless further work is required on the piece (added calligraphy, etc.)–if this is the case, please say so when the scroll is submitted and pick up your piece at 4:15pm. Winners will be announced at the ball.
- For the Challenge, you may submit any non-peerage scroll to add to the Kingdom case (such as AoAs, GoAs, Argent Comets, etc.). Scrolls may be entered in multiple categories and will be judged on a category-by-category basis.
o Crown’s Choice
- Best Rus Scroll
- Complete scrolls only
- Teams allowed
- Tracing allowed if noted
- Preferrence for 11th c Kievan Rus
o Parchment’s Choice
- Completed scrolls only
- Teams allowed
- Tracing allowed if noted
o Best Depiction of the Human Form (Baron Thomas Paumer)
- Incomplete allowed, illumination will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for illumination
- Tracing allowed
- Image of the original is preferred, but not required
- Grotesques allowed, but only the human half will be judged
o Best Novice Calligraphy (Lady Mara Palmer)
- Incomplete allowed, calligraphy will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for calligraphy
- Tracing allowed, but if tracing the letters, it must be noted. Tracing for lines/lettering guides allowed without note.
- Novice is defined as someone who has been doing calligraphy for less than 2 years and has not won any kingdom-level competitions for calligraphy.
o Best Novice Illumination (Baroness Catriona the Blind)
- Incomplete allowed, illumination will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for illumination
- Tracing allowed if noted
- Novice is defined as someone who has been doing illumination for less than 2 years and has not won any kingdom-level competitions for illumination.
o Best Incomplete Scroll (Baroness Catriona the Blind)
- Incomplete only
- Single entrant only
- Tracing allowed
o Best Scroll with Flowers (Duquessa Elisenda de Luna)
- Incomplete allowed, illumination will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for illumination
- Tracing allowed
- Image of the original is preferred, but not required
o Best “Selfie” (Baronness Adela Scrijver van Brugge)
- Must include depiction of a scribe
- Incomplete allowed, bonus points for completion, illuminatino will be judged
- Single entrant only
- Documentation not required, but an image appreciated
- The scribe depicted does not have to be you, but an attempt at depicting yourself will earn bonus points.
- PRIZE: 16th century Italian folding table
o Best Bird (Order of the Pelican)
- Completed scrolls only
- Teams allowed, prize for illumination
- Tracing allowed
o Best Period Correction (Mistress Graidhne ni Ruaidh)
- Incomplete scrolls allowed
- Teams allowed, prize for person making the correction
- Must be an honest mistake, not intended
- Calligraphy or Illumination
o Best Diapering (Lady Julianna of Empingham)
- Incomplete scrolls allowed, illumination will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for illumination
- Tracing allowed
o Best Faux Hand (Mistress Moreg Cochrane)
- Runes, Cyrillic, Persian, etc. styled scripts, but legibly English
- Incomplete scrolls allowed, calligraphy will be judged
- Teams allowed, prize for calligraphy
- Image of the inspiration appreciated, but not required
- Tracing allowed, but should be noted if tracing letters
o Best Use of Period Materials (Order of the Velvet Owl)
- Completed scrolls recommended, but not required
- Teams allowed
- Tracing allowed (Bonus for period tracing techniques)
- Min 3×5 index card explaining what period materials and techniques were used to make the piece.
o Volume Challenge (Order of the Bough)
- On ANY scroll submitted, points will be given per aspect contributed by each artisan: 1 point for lining, 1 point for illumination, 1 point for calligraphy. The person with the most points wins.
- Incomplete scrolls allowed
- Tracing allowed
o Dreamstone
- Baronial investiture for their Excellencies Bryn Madoc. We will be giving new silk banners to them.
o Gulf Wars
- Kudos to Lady Maire, Lady Tryggva, and Lord Bram (as well as all the others!) who volunteered at Gulf Wars
- The barony will get a check for volunteering
o Red Tower
- Lady Maire and Lord Bram are finalizing site options. Discussion was held regarding tenting vs. cabins, tenting options at cabined sites
- Currently, the site we have lined up is WoW in Gainesville, but it is somewhat expensive
- Priorities are cost, kitchen/feast space
- His Excellency has access to an additional camping database he is offering
- Maire is allowing herself one more week to find options, then will move forward with securing site
o Castle Wars
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Both for onsite, if you’re attending as well as off-site, if you can’t make it (helping with putting together presents and prizes for the volunteer raffle, for example)
- The armored fighters want to to do a Friday Night Fight Club
- His Excellency has thanked everyone who has submitted bids so far in advance
Other Baronial Business
o There was some debate as to when the baronial meetings should start. Getting to the Rec Center by 7:00pm is difficult for many, but if we start it at 7:30pm, would people be prompt, or will it still run on SCA time. Nothing was really decided.
o There was discussion about how to maximize communication within the Barony. Not everyone is on Facebook – but what options are there to reach the most people? Expand the website? Twitter? Yahoo Groups? We were reminded that the baronial Yahoo group (southdowns@yahoogroups.com) is available to everyone, you just need to sign up. It is rarely used any more except for automated announcements for practices and meetings.
o Lady Wilhemina reported that Fabric World is selling untreated canvas at $2/yard; good for baronial dayshades! She also has access to pieces of leather, suitable for molding into armor, etc.
o Lady Andreva invited everyone to come to her spring choral concert, featuring period music, on May 17. Contact her for more info.
o Sawyer mentioned that the upcoming Atlanta Streets Alive will take place in the West End on April 19, should be lots of fun http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/2015-routes/west-end-april-19/
o Amaris will be working in the kilt shop at the Georgia Renaissance Festival (April 18–Memorial Day weekend)
o Indian music workshops will take place in Huntsville this spring – please contact Mistress Margavati if interested
o Did you miss the Viking clothing workshop and presentation out at University of West Georgia in March? Nille Glaesel will be offering it again in Nashville and Atlanta, dates TBD.
Next Baronial business meeting: 6 May 2015
Thanks!
Raven