Live-Blogging The Shire Meeting

Shire Meeting today, right now.

Present:
Lady Marie, Seneschal
Baroness Kristiana
Baron Gintaurus
Master Alexander
Lady Gretchen
Lady Arianna
Lady Metylda, Chatelaine
Lady Kyrstan, Exchequer
Lord Adrian, Rapier Marshal
Lady Phaedra, MoA&S
Lady Hilla, Bard
Lady Tabitha (Kyla)
Viscount Galen, Chronicler
Lord Kenwrec, Knight Marshal
Lady Iona
Lord Kveldulf
Lady Catherine
Lady Calybrid, Herald
Lord Dycon

OFFICER REPORTS

Kenwrec reports 5-8 heavy fighters at Thieves of Hearts fighter practice on Tuesday nights. Mentions low-profile thrusting experiment for two-handed weapons. I must get involved in that.

On the website, he's added a link to the newsletter (thanks for that!). Still working on getting pictures sized for a gallery. New submissions are especially welcome. Request was made asking for ability to view the site in 800x600.

Galen reports that the new newsletter was released last weekend, and submissions for March are welcome. Discussed needs for releases for submissions; I'll seek some guidance from superiors, from whom Galen has received no feedback.

Lady Phaedra is trying to get Lady Gwenevere Caer Vryddyn, to teach pattern drafting and fitting, yet to be scheduled.

Lady Marie reported on how well received the 30 cords presented to the Queen at 12th night; these are used for pendant seals on scrolls. The Queen was reported to be much impressed with how

Lord Adrian reports that Kai Tseng of the Thieves of Hearts became regional rapier champion at Festival of Maidens. Adrian's next report is due March 1st.

Lady Kyrstan reports we have money. Her Domesday report has been submitted. I won't post the extent of our riches.

Lady Metylda says nothing is happening with thrown weapons because the weather sucks.
Chatelaine would welcome donations of men's loaner garb, have received much women's garb. Kyrstan reminds her that much of Adrian's stuff was donated.

Lady Marie reports that she received by mail copies of the Ringmail. New policy: showing a blue card at troll means you don't have to sign another waiver. Feb Pale, Marie asks we read the article on background checks for those working with kids.

Tabards for the war company were worked on, and will soon be fitted. There will be one for each heavy and rapier fighter in the shire.

Next Sunday is social practice at Dycon & Tabitha's, 1-4, tabards will be worked on & fitted.

Baroness Kristiana reported that the Border Skirmish V staff meeting happened last week. Still looking for a site. Current tentative date is 6-8 of June.

The shire will not be submitting a bid for the regional A&S fair, as Ayreton is doing so. Last month's plan was to submit a bid as a backup.

The April meeting will be the 2nd Sunday of April, due to Rites of Spring.

Marie has a block of rooms reserved for Rites of Spring at the Chillicothe Holiday Inn.

Lady Callie reports that she'll be scheduling a banner-making workshop "before summer, at some point". Her next report is end of month.

NEW BUSINESS:

Baroness Kristiana: Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing a bowling event as a fundraiser; Christiana is coordinating an SCA entry. Shire members by consensus gave permission for the Shire arms to be on the BBBS website as a sponsor.

OLD BUSINESS:

Ravenslake's baronial status transition: We need 30 sustaining and 10 associate members within the zip code boundaries.

We have 26 sustaining and 24 associate within our borders. Plus 20 more living outside the shire.

Discussion of membership-related issues.

Marie suggests tabling the baronial transition for one year, and in the meantime, the Chatelaine form a committee to draft a recruitment plan, said committee to report back at the April meeting.

Callie suggests that we send a printed copy of the newsletter to inactive paid members who live in the Shire.

Marie's suggestion is adopted. Callie's suggestion referred to Metylda's new committee.

Marie asks the marshals to vary fighter practice locations to make the shire more accessible to people in southern Lake County, McHenry County, etc.

Discussion of fighter practice sites, potential places for recruiting demos.

Many snarky comments, meeting adjourned.

First Newsletter Done!

(Blogging from the shire meeting at Dycon & Tabitha's -- what a cool wireless network they have!)

The first issue of the new shire newsletter is now available.

Hopefully, this will be the worst issue of my tenure; that is, I hope the rest will all be better.

I may perhaps be blamed for rushing this issue into print, but having done this before, I know that the hardest part of publishing a newsletter is getting out the first issue, and so I wanted to get that part behind me.

Besides, I had to go to California this week, and I didn't want to wait until after the first of the month.

The feedback, what little there has been, has been positive.