[Elfsea] Business Meeting Notes

Thu May 21 20:17:06 PDT 2009

One slight amendment:

Dáire and I have _asked_ that our officer corps, as those who have stepped
up to be leaders, think about how we want to move forward as a barony in
terms of how we play our game.  This is something that we have heard
complaints about from newcomers, had discussions about on the Landed
Nobility List (started by HE Loch Sollier), and talked about in terms of
retention and recruitment.

We have heard from others that it would be great to have a baronial guard
like that of Bryn Gwlad, or that this other barony's pavilion looks so cool,
or how great silk banners look.

We have heard from some of the longer term players who have left and then
come back that the magic is gone.

We cannot do these things alone, and we would not nor could not impose a
stricter sense of SCA court etiquette on others.  It is something that we
all have to agree on, since it is each one of us who will have to action it
individually.

It is also hard to do, until you get some practice. Having a baronial guard
means that other people have to give up their time on behalf of the group,
silk banners mean time and expense to make them, and to remember to bring
them to events, and not everyone understands the basics of list pavilion
etiquette (when was the last time you read that article in the Knowne World
Handbook?).  Some days, there are simply not enough hands out there to do
all of the work.

So, we posed this question to our officers and will pose to our populace -
what kind of game do you want to play? We would ask that you think about it
before answering.  It is easy to say that you want to play a more period
game, but not always easy to make it happen.  We will say that it is
definitely worth the work.

As an aside, almost two years ago, each and every baronial candidate listed
as one of their goals to improve the level of our play in terms of being
more "period" or doing more to play the game so that we could get back the
magic.  It is not to say that our predecessors did not go a good job.  It is
something that is endemic to the entire kingdom. Events, such as Lysts, have
brought out the differences.

One other item we talked about was that we have not had classes in a long
time that explained the "secret code" of manners that we have in the SCA,
aka, courtly graces.  For those of you my age, we suffered through a modern
version of this at either our mother's and/or our grandmother's hands. We
climbed stairs balancing books on our heads, we used rulers to set the
table, and we would have never ever gone outside with a purse that did not
match our shoes and nail polish that did not match our lipstick. Those
things seem silly today, but back in the day, those behaviors and knowlege
were the hallmark of a young lady.

So, we hope that you will all think about the game, the magic, the "good old
days" and come to some conclusions about how you want to play in future.

We want to have a welcoming barony (something that Elfsea has always been)
but one that also provides our members with great experiences no matter how
often they can come out to Moot or to events.  Not an easy goal, but we feel
one worth reaching for.

in ever faithful service to our Crown,
Dáire and Druinne

On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 7:50 PM, Deana Covel Whitney <dmcovel79 at yahoo.com>wrote:

>
> Greetings,
>
>  The notes from Monday's meetings.  The post is long, but not as long as
> normal.
>
> In Service,
>  Hanna von Dahl, OL
>  Elfsea Chamberlain
>
> Elfsea Business Meeting Notes – May 18, 2009
>
> Most Important Item: Moot will be on TUESDAY, May 26, 2009 at Coors.
>
> MoA&S: (absent due to illness, report given by CR MoAS)
> Will be teaching a “Hot weather survival garb” at house on Tuesday.
> It will be more of a work night than a class, so hopeful that people will
> bring fabric and paper for notes. [UPDATE: There were 14 people in
> attendance from 3 different groups.]
> MoAS is looking for someone to be an active deputy.  She will be starting a
> graduate program in August, so she needs help. Will be stepping down in
> January.
>
> Scribes Guild: Will be teaching classes during the summer and might even
> play with the day the Guild is held on.  Look for announcements.  She is
> also looking for scribal teachers.
> In June, Lyonett is teaching a class on period Pigments and how to make
> them. If you know a way to find pigments or the tools cheaply, please share.
>
> Chamberlain:
> How big is Big Blue?  After much debate, size estimates range from 40x24
> feet to 30x16 ft.  Big enough for three Queen size beds, plus extra space.
> Permission to sell the three brown tables in the shed asked for and
> granted.
> Permission to sell armor belt to interested person prior to Warlord asked
> for and granted.
> Extra donations for the sale are to be brought to Warlord by the person
> donating.
> NEEDS help in running the sale. Please Volunteer.
>
> Chronicler:
> NEED reports by Thursday, May 21, 2009!!!!
> Newsletter will now be printed at Hanna’s work place.  Should be uploaded
> the Sunday before Moot.
> During the Summer, try something FUN and NEW. Create a Quiz, send in OLD
> photos, make a survey.  Do more than just report on what is (or is not)
> happening.
>
> Herald:
> Office open for bids, only one applicant so far.
> Only one submission this month (his own).
>
> Seneschal:
> The City of Arlington via the Library staff asked if we could send stuff
> for display to a Health Fair on Friday, May 22, 2009.  The theme was
> Medieval health.   Discussion followed.
> Consciences of Officers: Thank them for the offer, but politely decline due
> to the previous commitment to Warlord this weekend.
>
> B&B:
> Coming upon the yearly rotation of Baronial entourage.  “Thank you”
> Genevieve for running it and being in charge.  If people want to step up or
> step down from Baronial entourage, talk to her now.  Requirements: make it
> to the four official court events the B&B attend in Elfsea and DFT. Help at
> the regional events as you are able.
>  Requiting:  Most newcomers at Gulf Wars were there because a friend got
> them interested in the SCA.  Try to interest non-SCA friends in the SCA.
>
> Bringing back “The Game”: We have lost newcomers because “there is no game,
> just people in funny clothes watching sports.”
> B&B want to find was and to encourage people to bring back the “dream”
> elements of the SCA.  Remember to bow to the empty thrones, the etiquette of
> approaching nobles and royals, using covers on modern chairs, coolers, and
> boxes.
> Open discussion followed about various ways to go into the Medieval Mindset
> that will let people escaped into the dream and the game more easily.
> Suggestions: Not talk about “new computer” and other mundane matters, use
> mugs – not coke cans or bottles, use titles more, not talking during court,
> practice the formal etiquette's and courtesies we tend to forget, and
> others.  But no, we do not want to go to complete formality.
> Let’s use our Moot as a practicing ground for these etiquette's and try to
> make it a slightly more formal affair as it was a few years ago.  People
> need to remember not to shout out during court.
>
> The Baronial College in August is going to be an opportunity to teach the
> SCA 101, 201, and etiquette classes.  So start thinking about what you would
> 1) be willing to teach, 2) want to attend.
>
>
> "Burn brightly without burning out." - Richard Briggs
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elfsea mailing list
> Elfsea at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/elfsea-ansteorra.org
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