[DFT] newsletter excerpt 1

[Diana at oldstyle.net]

Greetings to the Barony of Elfsea and its Canton, Dragonsfire Tor, from
your Central Regional Seneschal!

As you are aware, the deadline to declare baronial candidate status has
passed and you have two couples for consideration:  Duke Lochlan Dunn and
Baroness Sabine le Curter, and HL Gerhart Wolfgang der Rote and HL Elspeth
de Stervlen.  Sometime in the near future, as arranged by Baron Alejandro
before January populace, a meeting will be held so that the candidates
will be given the opportunity to address the members of the Barony to
outline their vision for Elfsea and give you the opportunity to ask any
questions you may have.  On Monday, January 27, 2014, I will supervise an
Opinion Polling (sample ballot to follow).  Prior to that date, I
encourage you to contact the Crown privately via email with your
commentary about the baronial candidates.

**Please Note:  The Canton of Dragonsfire Tor will have an opportunity to
hear and question the candidates at their January 12, 2014 meeting. 
Following the question and answer session, I will be supervising an
Opinion Polling for DFT members ONLY.  This separate polling will be made
to accommodate members of the Canton who cannot make the drive to Elfsea
for their regularly scheduled meeting.**

Polling Clarifications
Baronial Pollings are not a democratic vote and do not necessarily
determine who will be chosen for the position.  Rather, pollings provide a
way for the Crown to hear and consider the opinions of the populace on the
matter of Baronial succession.  The Crown considers many factors when
choosing new landed nobility.

Candidate Discussion
Try to avoid candidate discussion on email lists.  If you have suggestions
for the baronial candidates, contact them directly by email, not on a list
or social media, or talk to them in person.

Where to Send Commentary
The opinion poll form does not include space for written commentary, so
any commentary about the baronial candidates should be emailed directly to
the Crown at king at crown.ansteorra.org  and queen at crown.ansteorra.org.  Do
not send commentary to the Kingdom or Regional Seneschal.
Who Can Fill Out an Opinion Poll Form?
Everyone:  member and non-members, residents, and non-residents.  If you
are a member, bring your membership card with you to the polling on
January 27, 2014.

Mail-in Opinion Poll Forms
Mail-in opinion poll forms will be accepted only if they are filled out
completely, signed, and accompanied by a letter explaining the dire and
pressing issue that prevented the author from attending the physical
polling on Monday, January 27, 2014.  Mail-in opinion poll forms should be
mailed to the Kingdom Seneschal at the address listed in the Black Star.

Results of the Polling
The results of the baronial polling will not be made public.  This is the
norm for opinion polls conducted in Ansteorra.  The results of the polling
will be known only by the Kingdom Seneschal and the Crown.  The results
will not be shared with anyone else:  not the candidate, not the current
local landed nobility, not the populace - no one.
Please understand that the poll is a measure of your opinions, not a
democratic vote.  The Crown alone makes the decision.

If anyone has any questions, please contact me directly at
central at seneschal.ansteorra.org or (469) 236-0926.

Yours in Service,

Countess Elizabeth Seale
Central Regional Seneschal