South Downs Baronial Business Meeting

5 April 2017, 7:30pm

Atlanta Friends Meeting House

Notes submitted by Lord Brendan de Hay (mka Ben Hay), South Downs Stunt Chronicler.

Lord Lucien d’Artois called the meeting to order. Master Wistric, warming up to take over as Seneschal, chaired the meeting.

Officer Reports

• Herald (Lord Lucien d’Artois)
  • Talmere’s Lusty Month of May will be hosting this year’s Meridian Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, so come on out! (13 May, Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Family Group Shelter

• Chronicler (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)
  • Lord Brendan reporting on behalf of Lady Raven – nothing to report

• Armored Marshal (Lord Robert Throckmorton)
  • Deputy marshal Lady Mairghread reporting on behalf of Lord Robert
  • We need to make sure people are aware of new location (Liane Levetan / Brook Run Park, 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338)
  • Let Robert know about anything else needed…
  • Wistric points out that Owls nest is looking for folks to help with a demo, the Medieval and Renaissance Faire at Swift Cantrell Park on April 29

• Rapier Marshal (Lord Brendan de Hay)
  • New practice location! Liane Levetan / Brook Run Park in Dunwoody
  • It’s time for the annual gathering of superfluous information to feed this year’s quarterly reports. Watch for update requests.

• Webminister (Master Wistric Oftun)
  • Deputy Webminister (Lord Pietro) has updated page, including a Dramatis Personae page listing members of the Barony and their interests / skills
  • Please submit profile updates using the form on the website
  • Stunt Chronicler’s note: Pietro has done some really good work on content. Everyone should check out atlantasca.org!

• Arts & Sciences (Lady Veronica da Lucca)
  • Lord Camulocaros taught a class on the history of beer last month
  • The topic of this month’s class will be blending and shading (painted elements in your illuminations), taught by Lady Veronica; she will teach teach this at Fools War as well
  • Please send Lady Veronica info for quarterly report; paper being passed as well

• Chatelaine (Lady Stella di Silvestri)
  • We welcomed new (and newish) folks – Nick, Jessica, and Conrad

• Their Excellencies
  • Fools War is coming!
    • Lady Alisandre is coordinating the South Downs camp at Fools War, period tents will be placed toward field side, and modern tents by road ( we have 3 lots)
    • If you are eating with group, please post on Facebook tonight, so she can plan the menu
  • Knowne Worlde Heraldic and Scribal Symposium is coming!
    • 23-25 June 2017, in Knoxville, TN; hosted by Nant-y-Derwyddon. For more information, go to their: website
    • Come on out and support Meridies!
  • Castle Wars Discretionary fund – Owls Nest is looking for someone to host a fundraiser lunch at Crossroads (16 September 2017). This would be a good opportunity to increase the budget for the Castle Wars revel fund
  • Congratulations to Pietro and Mairghread, the new Baronial rapier and armored champions! They both fought well and honorably!
  • Their Majesties Meridies have announced a new program – the Youth and Family Achievement program, the goal of which will encourage families and children to get involved in the arts and sciences. Volunteers are needed – share your knowledge and skill with the youth of Meridies!

Event Bids for 2017

• Red Tower (6-8 October 2017)
  • Lady Giuliana (w/ assistance from Mistress Adela), will autocrat
  • Event will be held at Booker T. Washington Park in Chattanooga
  • We will rent the group camp, which includes the hall in rental fee, cabin space, and camping
  • Will survey site at Artsy Crown
  • There is a bath house at the site, so there will not be any need for portapotties
  • We may lose some attendees from the south, due to the additional travel distance; however, as Bacon Bash does not conflict this year, we may draw additional attendees from the northern parts of the kingdom
  • Break-even at 270 people
  • Expected fees
    • Daytrip – $7 preregister, $10 at gate, camping $10-/-$13
    • Feast $8/head
  • 104 paid feast spots (+16 high table) available
  • At least 80 beds (cabin?) available
  • Need rapier marshal (Master Wistric volunteers)
  • Theme is Roman
  • Need lunch, breakfast people (fundraiser?)

• Castle Wars (16-19 November 2017)
  • Lord Piers will autocrat, with assistance from Sir Iastreb (If Yazzie wins Crown, Mistress Liz will step in to assist)
  • As discussed in previous meetings, site will be the Al Sihah Shrine in Macon
  • Site fees:
    • Total cost $7,024
    • $20 onsite, $18 pre-reg
    • Feast — $10/head; Lady Mairghread will feastcrat
  • Travelers’ fare and breakfast will not be offered
  • Will plan to have a fundraiser lunch available for hosting
  • Break-even is 250 weekenders, 125 day trips, 96 feasts (8-16 for high table)
  • We are expecting more attendees than last year (2016 had 600 adult attendees)
  • MoB invitational tourney could be a big draw for rapier fighters.

KLE (Kingdom-Level Event) Bids

• Due to recent changes in kingdom law, we will not be able to bid on Fighters’ Collegium; we need to find another event to bid on
• South Downs and Bryn Madoc both need an event to bid on
• Joint bid with Bryn Madoc, Depedale, and South Downs on Fall Crown
• Potential site for Fall Crown – McIntosh is current likely site
• Even split on costs & profit
• Complication – Fall Crown is scheduled the weekend before Castle Wars
• Bryn Madoc and Depedale both have people available
• Matthias will begin the bid process, and cancel the Tallapoosa reservation

Other Upcoming Bids

• Midwinter Arts + Sciences (2-4 February 2018)
  • We need a bid

• DragonCon
  • Closer than you think (1-4 September 2017)
  • His Excellency & Master Wistric were discussing whether the table is worth the effort
  • It’s a burden on Their Excellencies and the Chatelaine
  • Has there been a return on the investment?—NO TABLE
  • Parade is still important
  • Duke John suggested that a demo would be better / more fun than a table
  • Talk to Bam, Keith, etc. to find out who we contact about a demo room? Ximon will take point on querying that
  • Chariot needs humans, and may have an extra passenger (Vortigern), so more “horses!”

• Finance committee pre-approved event bids, so voting on bids?
• Red Tower—Passed
• Castle Wars – Passed

Non-SCA Business

• Museum Replicas sale is coming up – likely 20 May

All the business issues having been addressed, the business meeting was closed.

Next South Downs business meeting will be held Wednesday, 3 May 2017, at the Atlanta Friends Meeting House.

–Raven

South Downs Baronial Business Meeting

1 March 2017, 7:30pm

Atlanta Friends Meeting House

Notes submitted by Lady Raven Helmsplitter (mka Helena Bretherton Hay), South Downs Chronicler.

THL Mathias Blackett called the meeting to order.

Officer Reports

• Chronicler (Lady Raven Helmsplitter)
  • Working on newsletter
    • Not too late to submit content – still looking for articles, artwork, officer/guild columns! Please contact Lady Raven via Facebook or e-mail at mawrtyr88@gmail.comwith your questions or submissions
    • New deadline – before Gulf Wars, hoping to publish issue end of March/early April
    • Name for newsletter: The Read Tower

• Rapier Marshal (Lord Brendan de Hay)
  • Rapier practices are held Sunday afternoons (concurrent with armored fighter practice) and Tuesday evenings, usually at Blackburn Park. Check the Facebook group “Atlanta SCA Fighting” for updates and changes (such as cancellation or temporary location changes due to weather).
  • Attendance at practice varies dramatically, but rarely fewer than four, and sometimes as many as 14. We have some new (to us) folks joining us in the last few weeks as well. Welcome to Konrad, Will, David, and Somber.
  • Recent stuff:
    • Meridian Challenge of Arms was a successful day, thanks in large part to the support of non-fencers who came out to herald, marshal, make pretty scrolls, and other cool stuff. We rapier folk think you guys are awesome.
    • Special congrats to Master Wistric, who won the armatura challenge, and finished the day with an awesome match vs. Don Lazarus Gage.
  • Upcoming stuff:
    • Gulf Wars! If you’re going, and planning to fight rapier, Baroness Adela’s Gilded Companie will be under the command of Master Wistric. I understand Masters Wistric and Morgan will be representing the Order of Jerusalem.
    • We hear rumors that Her Excellency has suggested March 26 as the day to choose this year’s Baronial fighting champions. It also happens that Lady Raven has been discussing that date with other local groups for us to host a regional practice. Watch for further announcements on both topics.

• Armored Marshal (Lord Robert Throckmorton)
  • Armored fighters practice continues on Sundays – this pas week had a small turnout but practice was good

• Chatelaine (Lady Stella di Silvestri)
  • Demo season is coming! Abel is coordinating Streets Alive! on 11 June over by Georgia Tech. Streets Alive is held several times a year, throughout the city – the 11 June event is the most likely to not conflict with other SCA events, so come on out!

• Webminister (Master Wistric Oftun)
  • We have a website!

• Herald (Lord Lucien d’Artois)
  • Talmere’s Lusty Month of May will be hosting this year’s Meridian Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, so come on out! (13 May, Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Family Group Shelter
  • Speaking of Heraldic and Scribal Symposia, the shire of Nant-y-derwyddon will host this year’s Knowne Worlde Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, in Knoxville, TN, 23-25 June, 2017. For more information, go to their: website

• Arts & Sciences (Lady Veronica da Lucca)
  • Last week’s class was on bliauts, taught by Mistress Sunneva. This month’s A+S class will be on an intro to all things beer (yay!), and will be taught by Lord Camulocaros

• Their Excellencies
  • Gulf Wars is coming!
    • Please volunteer for raffle tickets and $ for the barony. we have been challenged to provide 75 hrs of volunteering by Baroness Iron Mountain. She is certain that we can easily hit that, so we want to crush that goal 🙂
    • We are processing in with TRM on Tuesday for opening ceremonies – need volunteers for banner holders (need to wear black and white garb)
    • Thursday is Known Worlde party – volunteer! have fun! drink responsibly!
  • Coronation!
    • Challenges for scroll cases and for regalia. Next week’s project night will be building scroll cases. Mistress Serafina commented that her office has a pile of cardboard she can contribute to the scroll case cause.
    • Mistress Symonne will make a silk banner for the group that provides the most scroll cases, as well as perhaps some finger loop braiding.
  • This month will be our 5th Wednesday garb potluck! Stay tuned for further details.
  • Baronial rapier and armored championships! Will be held at the upcoming Regional Rapier practice on 26 March
  • MCA scrolls – 4 of the 8 champions scrolls were bestowed upon South Downers (yay!)

• Seneschal (THL Mathias Blackett)
  • Master Wistric will step up as Seneschal in April

Post-Mortem for Midwinter Arts + Sciences

• Food location was great! Having it in the second-floor lounge area worked out really well.
• Third floor setup for A+S also worked out really well – good space to organize all the competitions
• Yay for multiple lounges – having space for attendees to relax on each floor was greatly appreciated
• Mathias is talking to Duke Thomas about the possibility of using KSU as a future event site
• Merchant space is still problematic – hallways were crowded. Maybe take one of the lounges as a merchant space? perhaps a classroom near the lunch?

Event Bids for 2017

• Event site updates:
  • Mathias is talking to Duke Thomas about KSU, but it’s too late to get it for RUM. Maybe Fighters Collegium? Fall is really congested with big events. We just need a field, a place for court/feast (BBQ?)
  • Tallapoosa was also suggested, as we’re already familiar with the site
  • Mathias will post updates on Atlanta SCA
• General future event discussions
  • Mathias and Wistric wants to get people together to see who tends to do what all the time, and come up with a strategy to determine what and how can we teach each other those skills so we can cover each other better?
  • This would also be a great opportunity to learn how to do a particular job. Jadi has offered to head up the autocrat roundtable
  • Margavati mentioned that many newcomers have a common problem – how to get involved if you don’t know where to start? Raven will look into how this can be added to the newsletter (as a column? in the information section?)
• Upcoming bid deadlines
  • Bids for Red Tower and Castle Wars are due for next month’s (April) business meeting.

Upcoming Events

• Fool’s War (7-10 April 2017)
  • Mistress Allesandra is heading up the A+S competitions, and she needs judges. You do not need an OVO to judge – just have someone vouch for your experience/knowledge.

Non-SCA Business

• Project night 2nd and 4th Thursdays at THL Andreva’s and Mistress Jadi’s home
• There is much interest in rebooting the South Downs Supper Club – for further info, check out their Facebook group

All the business issues having been addressed, the business meeting was closed.

Next South Downs business meeting will be held Wednesday, 5 April 2017, at the Atlanta Friends Meeting House.

–Raven