[Ansteorra] Warlord Thanks

[Gerita/Carolle Cox]

Greetings The Steppes, 

Although I was forced to take a <ahem> hiatus from serving as Autocrat,
there was much in this event to make me proud of The Steppes and the
people who live and play here.  

There were numerous people who gave of themselves to make Warlord XXXII
what it was, from the fighters, archers, riders, and rapier fighters who
practiced and showed themselves to be more than worthy of the challenges
that faced them in competition to the ultimate winners who stood proudly
at Court to receive the recognition they deserved.  Congratulations to
all of you on stellar performances.

Then there was the tiny group that banded together to make a few small
banners to add to the color and pageantry.  Lady Maggie and Lady
Gabriele spent many hours cutting, drawing, painting, and sewing banners
that garnered many compliments.  

There were a total of twenty-seven people directly working with me.
Every one of them pulled an enormous job into a work of art and fun. And
there were others, whom I dearly hope I've managed to name in toto, who
helped to keep things on track and working well.

Lady Lyneya de Grey, Lord Hrafn Olaffson, Lady Maili Donnel MacGregor,
Lady Allesandra di Giovanni, Don Ingve of York, and Lord Alvin de
Cleremont made possible the fighting competitions, set up and organized
fields, and all the myriad details that such activity entails.  I'm
sorry some of your events were rained out - we'll have to wait to see
them until later.

HL Chiara Francesca Ariana d'Onofrio not only created and put together
our Black Star announcements and created our site booklets, she taught a
mitten class, and stood steadfastly behind a relative neophyte autocrat,
mistakes and all.

Matthew updated and updated and then updated our website, never once
complaining about my many changes of mind, errors, and scheduling
snafus.  Thanks, Matt!

Ld. David Falconer, He Who Never Sleeps, did a tremendous job with Gate.
He stuck with the job, relentlessly finding things positive in the
blackest moments, and serving as my ambassador to our visitors and new
members.

Lady Maria Cabeca de Vaca, who volunteered at the last conceivable
moment to lead children's activities.  She created fun out of whole
cloth and a box of oddments as her carefully planned program went
floating away with the raindrops.  The kids were kept entertained and
busy for huge chunks of time under much less than the best
circumstances.

Lord Ulrich of Carolingea agreed to drive a truck that was almost the
size of his apartment, put up with delays and many hours of hard labor,
ultimately hurting his back doing things alone that needed a platoon of
gorillas to complete.  

Lady Osanna carefully set up her waterbearing area, went into shock when
we delivered a heap of goodies she never expected, then maintained
waterbearing stations in far flung parts of the site all weekend long,
and did it all with a smile.

Lady Fionauala the Fair started with nothing but ideas (certainly no
autocrat) to produce an astonishing number of scrolls, gift basket tags,
and invitations.  You and your crew have my undying respect for the
amount of yourselves you invest in this event every year with little
expectation of gratitude or help.  

Master Robin of Gilwell, our Herald, served not only admirably in that
position, but found tactful ways to keep the autocrat from having her
own foot in her mouth more often than absolutely necessary, and offered
smiles and fun along the way.  Although I missed your "informal bardic
evening", I bet it was a huge success!

Lady Katherine Cunninghame worked with House Bloodstone to bring our
visitors and newcomers the guidance and information they wanted to make
the event understandable and fun.  She also served as the Autocrat Staff
Lunch Chatelaine, and did so under some pretty horrific circumstances.

Lord Bre'nain MacGilla Pa'traic took care of a record number of
merchants, their needs and desires, helped the Chirurgion in Charge, and
still found time for fun and smiles. 

Lady Alienor Lewellyn gathered, sorted, and packed items into truly
beautiful prize baskets, keeping up the tradition of Steppes' generosity
with flair.

HL Ciard O'Shaugnessy ran our library again this year, giving many
people an opportunity to browse through a truly respectable collection
of materials.  She also took care of the On Site Embroidery Contest,
just for fun.

Lady Anne the Spinster served as Chirurgeon in Charge, and I'll be
forever in her debt for doing so this Warlord.  She backed up her
husband's efforts, and then helped mine as well.

Lord David ben Leon, our Hall Manager, hung banners, moved tables, fixed
and greeted and answered until he was laid low.  David, you again leave
me speechless.

Lady Maggie MacPherson worked on banners for weeks, then dove into the
hardest effort of all - serving as the keeper and companion of a lonely
and stressed autocrat.  AND dragged me off to watch a bardic competition
I will not live long enough to forget, then packed up all my family's
belongings after we had to leave site and helped unpack them again at
home.

Tenchi Sueko-san was my sounding-board, my mirror; she who kept me aware
of my clay feet, and kept them on the ground; the inspiration for the
theme of this event.

Master Darius of the Bells held no special title.  He just cooked so
well no one dared miss dinner.  Bless you, Dar, and what DID you put in
that stew?

Mistress Rosalia di Bellavita represented my absent Pelican (who was
nevertheless missed by his envious protégé), created and held the Period
Processes competition, supported the Hall Manager, offered guidance and
friendship, and listened to my sometimes silly concerns and worries. 

Baron Borek, another with no title.  Borek is someone who just turns up,
works his heart out for his Barony and his people, and then fades
quietly into the background.  Caught you, buddy.  Thanks!

Lady Elizabeta di Valore della Rosa looked after the needs of special
guests and our Princess's requirements with dash and a smile. She
brought her "new baby" for all to admire, and then was bereft of the
competition she hoped to school him in.  Max is gorgeous, and you are
wonderful.

Kaneki Ryoto no Akimatsu.  The Intern.  He put aside his own modern
worries (mostly) to help run a great event; stood behind me at every
turn; put out fires; dug up materials; and in the end quit his job to
stand by his adopted family. And you, Son.

HL Margarite MacBriden (yes, I, too, misspelled it) served as official
mentor and sounding board (no enviable task, that), ran security and the
List Babes' efforts, and then picked up seamlessly after her two charges
left her holding the clipboard and ran off on her.

Although it's rather difficult to count the maker of gate tokens as
'staff', I'll do it any way.  Mea Cornaro took a heap of heavy coins and
cording and made hundreds of gate tokens at the last minute, then
pitched in with the library.  Even as her beloved furchild was badly
injured the day of load-in, her guide dog ill, and her husband injured,
she was right there to help.  Thanks, Lady.

I had a lot of advisors along the way.  Being very inexperienced in
running Warlord, I asked questions of many, and kept people on the phone
for hours at a time with my concerns and worries.  HG Willow, HG
Larissa, Master Pendaran, HL Francesca, and HL Caelin have my undying
thanks and a promise to quit bothering them, for awhile at least.

Master Modius, who somehow knew where to put a few words that boosted
confidence right when it was at its lowest ebb, I am also in your debt.

I am grateful also to HL Elin the Timid who cleaned up countless messes
and explained and re-explained money stuff to someone who is known to be
unable to count, much less budget.  

And to Lord Jon Rolfsson, who really did not need a new autocrat just
now, but nevertheless found the patience to not bat her across the room,
kept her focused, and in the end let her learn some things the hard way.

And to Their Excellencies Mahdi and Valeria of the Steppes who trusted
someone with little track record, lent their support and patience,
watched her take off in the middle of things, dropping everything into
Their laps and that of an untried intern, and still found it in their
hearts to not drown her.

And of course, to those who attended this event, some from Kingdoms
other than our own, even though the weather man kept insisting things
would get wet.  Those same people were the sole reason for this event,
and I thank each and every one who came out and enjoyed the hospitality
of The Steppes.

Gratefully, 

Gerita del Mare
Autocrat no more.









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The years that a woman subtracts from her age are not lost.  They are
added to the ages of other women.  -- Diane de Poitiers (1499 - 1566)