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<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Greetings unto the Populace, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">At the Steppes business meeting tonight, we announced that we would be stepping down from the position of Baron and Baroness at the coming Steppes Twelfth Night. It is with a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia that we make this transition. We have served this Barony in good faith and to the best of our ability for what will be exactly four years at our stepping-down, and we have been rewarded with the rich gifts of friendship, trust, challenge and opportunity. We have met many of the goals we set with you, and many of our personal goals as well. As in any aspect of life, we have fallen short in others. We hope in the end that we have been representatives that you could be proud of. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Their Majesties have accepted our petition for release from fealty, and have established the following timetable for the succession of the Barony: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Tuesday, August 5: Open applications for succession. Candidates will submit written applications and proof of membership to Their Majesties, the Kingdom Seneschal, and the Baron and Baroness. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Candidates may post their applications to appropriate elists (Steppes, Glaslyn, Lindenwood) after they have been submitted to the above parties. Obviously, public discussion on these lists regarding the candidates' merits will not be appropriate.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Tuesday, Sept. 2: Applications will be closed. All applications must be received and confirmed by the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal and B&B. Applications will be read and published for perusal at business meeting. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Wednesday, Sept. 3 through Thurs. Sept. 25: Populace may send their commentary regarding candidates to Their Majesties either by mail or electronically. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Ballots will be made available to those who wish to mail their polling rather than be polled at the September populace meeting **(see details below). </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">All commentary and/or mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Sept. 25th. Ballots will be accepted only at the live polling (September populace meeting) or by mail, no emails. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Thursday, Sept. 25: Their Majesties' emissary will attend populace meeting. Candidates will be invited to give brief statements, a Q&A session will follow, and polling will take place. Obviously, those who mail in their ballots may not submit another ballot at the meeting. **NB: Ballots will provide for your indication of 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice, your membership status and name. All ballots will be reviewed regardless of membership status. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Sept. 2 through Oct. 20: Crown will make themselves available to interview candidates at any event they attend. Candidates will schedule such interview through Their Majesties' Chancellor, Sir Godwin of Eddington. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Sat/Sun. Oct. 25/26: Steppes Fall Court. Successors will be announced.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Sat. Jan. 3, 2004: Steppes Twelfth Night. Baronial Investiture.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Some altering of the above schedule may occur. We trust that this process will be smooth and peaceful, just as was the transition that brought us to the Baronial seats. We thank you for allowing us to serve the Barony in the capacity of her Nobles, and look forward to welcoming our successors.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">On a lighter note, we have praise, congratulations and thanks to express over a lovely Steppes Artisan. We are delighted to report that all of those who claimed titles in the competitions are at home in the Steppes!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> Don Eisen was victorious in his bid as Steppes Artisan with an overwhelming and most impressive entry, spanning many disciplines and presented in an arresting display. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Don Brendan, who recently earned the title of Queen's Champion, accepted the mantle of Steppes Champion after many exciting duels with some of the sharpest fighters in the Kingdom. Although the list was small, it was excellently represented and brilliantly fought.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">In the quest for Steppes Archer, a newcomer to the Steppes and the SCA bested a field of expert archers in a most exciting final round! We hold the hope that Jason of Many Bows' new journey will be as fruitful as that of his predecessor, Lord Ulrich. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">We were pleased to be able to present awards on Their</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Majesties</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">' behalf, including Awards of Arms for Alvin de Clairmont</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">and Linet Gray, a Thistle in Illumination for 'Nualla the Fey, a Sable Crane for Donnel MacGregor, and a Star of Merit for Arianna Balfour. Also recognized for their service to Steppes were Countess Conal, Don Brendan, Morgan Buchanan, and Morgan Cain, who received their Acorns, and Master Petrucchio, who was accepted into the Order of the Oak. Congratulations to all!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">We wish to thank the event steward, Lord Bren'nian, for his hard work in making Artisan happen despite several setbacks in the planning stages. It was a lovely event. Our deep thanks also to Master Petruchhio, the feast steward, who smoothed over one of those setbacks with his generosity and expertise and provided everyone with two delicious meals. We are especially</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">indebted</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> to the Calligrapher's and Illuminer's Guild, who provided perfectly exquisite scrolls to our champions. Finally, our thanks to the many people on the staff of the event whose work made it all look so easy. Well done!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">We are looking forward to the approach of autumn and winter, and the exciting days ahead for the Barony. We anticipate a fun, relaxing Fall Court, and a splendid Twelfth Night to welcome your new Baron and Baroness. If there is any way that we may serve you in the coming days, let us know. It is our greatest pleasure. We remain, yet a while longer,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">For Steppes and Ansteorra,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Fritz and Catrin </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Baron and Baroness</FONT></SPAN></P>
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