Baronial Curia Meeting Minutes

June 25, 2000 (A.S. XXXV)

The following notice is to advise the populace of Ruantallan that local Canton and Port Officials, along with His Excellency Baron Andrew of York, met at Gower Castle [Truro] in the Canton of Distant Shore on June 25, A.S.XXXV for a regular quarterly meeting of the Baronial Curia. Meeting time: 2:15-5:30pm.

Those in attendance included:

Baron Andrew of York
Lord Wynfrith of Huntandune, Seneschal
Lord Brion MacEideard of Westmoor, Icicle Pursuivant [Herald]
Lord Caelain O Moray, Knight Marshal and Minister of Lists
Lord Theotime de Poitiers, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lady Deirdre du Champignon, Minister of Arts and Sciences
Lady Sorcha inghean Murchadha, Web Minister
Constance of White Birch, Chatelaine
Lady Edwenna of Raveneherst, Seneschal for the Canton of Distant Shore
Cailean MacKenzie, Deputy Seneschal for the Canton of Wolfsgate
Lord Gruffyd the Innocent, Deputy Baronial Seneschal
Teagara Angelus, Autocrat for Baronial War Camp

A. Officer Reports:

a) Seneschal
Lord Wynfrith advised the Curia that Lord Gruffyd the Innocent had accepted the position of Deputy Baronial Seneschal.

b) Icicle Pursuivant [Herald]
Lord Brion reported that no new name or device submissions were submitted during the previous quarter.

c) Knight Marshal/Minister of Lists

Lord Caelain advised that Lord Isard Farman and Lord Ragnar the Frogg were now qualified as heavy weapons marshals.
Lord Caelain also reported that fight practices over the past three months were taking place primarily in Distant Shore and that regular practices had fallen off sharply in the Port.
A report on the Baronial Rapier Championship by Dona Brita Mairi Svensdottir was also presented by Lord Caelain.

d) Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord Theotime reported that the current bank balance for the Baronial funds was $868.18. Of this amount, an additional $55.42 was owing to cover the purchase of new containers for the Baronial Cooks Guild. The Barony was also in receipt of $460.38 to be held in trust for the Canton of Wolfsgate. Lord Theotime completed a review of the financial records for the Barony to determine the status of the various funds. In this regard, allocations to the various funds include $150.00 (travel fund), $50.00 (A&S fund), $300.00 (pavilion fund), and $100.00 (regalia fund) - leaving an balance of $268.18 for operating funds.

e) Chronicler
On behalf of the Lady Allesandra who was absent the meeting, Lord Wynfrith advised that the Chronicler was in need of an advance for the June issue of Quid Nunc.

f) Minister of Arts and Sciences
Lady Dierdra gave an update on the A&S activities that have taken place in the Barony over the previous three months including the A&S competition at the Spring Festival event in Distant Shore on May 6, the various projects being undertaken by the Company of Artisans in Seashire, the "Grand Project" under the auspices of Maestra Francesca della l'Aura de Firenze which has involved several workshops, and a number of classes on a variety of subjects both in the Canton of Seashire and the Port of Lympha Profunda.

A question was raised whether anyone had received any requests or information this year regarding the Queens's favour's for Pennsic. As no information had been forthcoming as yet, Constance volunteered to look into the matter.

g) Company Captain of Archers
No report.

h) Chatelaine

Constance advised the Curia that the Barony has been continuing efforts to attract new members into the Society. In particular, the Cantreff of Ynys Y Gwaed has been holding mini-feasts to help orient potential new members and the Canton of Distant Shore has been hosting weekly demos/fight practices in the Truro area that is focused primarily on attracting new membership. The Newcomers Event held recently at the Port of Lympha Profunda was also successful in providing an opportunity for several potential new members to have a look at the Society.
Currently the Barony does not have any loaner garb available. Constance has made inquiries regarding the Baronial "Gold Key" but apparently there has not been any in some time. Loaner garb is maintained by the individual subgroups in the Barony but there is nothing in place to make loaner garb available at Baronial events. Following some discussion, a decision was made to form a committee to look after establishing a Gold Key for the Barony. Constance of White Birch and Teagara Angelus volunteered to be on the committee.
Constance also advised that she had sent out an email questionnaire recently to survey various members regarding their first experiences in the Society. The response was quite good and included several responses from newer members. Highlights from the survey included a number of concerns about having to deal with politics or seeing little in the way of actual reenactment other than dressing the part. This solicited considerable discussion at the meeting which focused on how to develop the concept of being, or least attempting, to be in persona at events. Other things that were discussed with respect to newcomers included avoiding the use of the term "newbies" which new members find offensive. It was also recognized that a brochure is needed for new people to help them with such things as what to bring to events.

i) Web Minister
Lady Sorcha reported that Lord Gruffyd was looking after most of the routine updates for the Baronial web site. There are plans to add a Royal Peer section in the Awards listings and an Articles page pending the submission of additional articles. Lady Sorcha also advised that she would be happy to receive any feedback on the site regarding the posting of other information.

B. Canton reports

a) Canton of Distant Shore

Lady Edwenna reported that Distant Shore had been quite active over the past three months. Regular fight practices were taking place on a weekly basis in the Truro area along with frequent armouring and A&S gatherings at Gower Castle. She also advised that several members had been working on a number of A&S entries for the Spring Festival A&S event held on May 6, and members of the local Citizens Guild had completed a gift for the new Baron of Havre des Glace at His investiture.
The Distant Shore web site is due to be moved to a new location in the near future and a notice will be posted when this takes place. Lady Edwenna advised that the annual library display in New Glasgow was being organized and efforts were continuing to be focused on attracting new people to the group. Lady Edwenna also reported that the Spring Festival event had been a great success, and in this regard, the fund raising activities had brought in a total of $201.25 of which $100.00 was being donated to the Ruantallan treasury.

b) Port of Lympha Profunda
No report.

c) Canton of Mycghalh
No report.

d) Canton of Seashire
No report.

e) Canton of Wolfsgate

Cailean MacKenzie, Deputy Seneschal for the Canton of Wolfsgate, presented a letter from Lord Penda the Northumbrian, Seneschal of Wolfsgate, in which he declared that he was resigning as Seneschal and Knight Marshal for the group effective June 22, A.S.XXXV. In addition, Lord Penda also advised in his letter that there was a majority decision by the few remaining members of Wolfsgate to disband the group.
Cailean discussed some of the internal problems the group had been having over the past couple of years and expressed his desire to see the group go into a period of dormancy rather than having it petitioned for immediate dissolution. There was unanimous agreement amongst the members of Curia to maintain the group as long as possible in the event that the group could be revived in the near future with an influx of new members. Following a general discussion, it was decided to request Kingdom for a variance to have the group go into dormancy for a period of least two years to allow time for the remaining members of Wolfsgate to try and rebuild the group. In this regard, Wolfsgate's treasury was handed over to the Barony, along with the Group's banner, until such time that the future of the Canton was known.

f) Cantreff of Ynys Y Gwaed
In a written report, Lord (Brother) Uilleam O'Fiaranghan reported that things are going well in the Cantreff. The group recently went through a reorganization that has helped considerably in re-establishing the group's goals and level of activity. In this regard, the group has continued to host local mini-feasts which has been a mainstay in developing and maintaining interest in the SCA for the members of the Cantreff, both old and new. Interest in archery continues to grow and efforts are in place to develop a junior boffer' fighting corps to encourage participation in rattan fighting in the future.

C. Legate's report(s)
Lord Caelain O Moray gave a brief report and advised Curia that a proposal had been put forth to hold a combined War Camp next year instead of the two Baronies [Ruantallan and Havre des Glaces] having separate events. No decisions were made in regard to the proposed event, although it was recognized that Their Excellencies would be responsible for any negotiations regarding a possible District War Camp.

D. Committee reports
Lord Caelain and Lord Wynfrith gave an update on the status of the review and preparation of the proposed Standard Operating Procedures for the Barony. Curia was advised that an initial draft had been prepared and that the committee would be finalizing the preliminary draft for presentation at the September curia meeting.

E. Event Updates

Julienne de La Rochelle forwarded a report to Curia on the Baronial Rapier Championship event (BRC) held on April 14 and 15, 2000. Julienne reported that the event was not as well attended as she had hoped which resulted in a lose of $177.02. She attributed the lose primarily to the poor turnout at the Sodden Seadrake part of the event and recommended that this not be done again in any future events of this kind. Julienne also advised that several last minute cancellations were also responsible for some of the loss. Lord Cosmano was the winner of the Barony's first annual Rapier Championship tourney.
Teagara Angelus gave an update on the plans for Baronial War Camp and advised that everything was going as planned. Approximately 90 reservations had come in so far for the event.

F. Old Business

a) Baronial War Camp event
Following a brief discussion, a decision was made to advance $500.00 to Lady Allesandra to cover expenses for the feast .

b) King and Queen's Archery Tournament
Discussion was raised regarding the possibility of hosting the next King and Queen's Archery Tournament in Ruantallan. Following a brief discussion on the logistics of doing this type of an event, a decision was made to form a committee to look into preparing a bid for presentation at the next Curia meeting. Lady Dierdra, Lady Elise (in absentia?), and Lord Wynfrith volunteered to be on the committee.

c) Marshal of Fence
Discussion was resumed from the previous meeting regarding the need for a Baronial Marshal of Fence to look after the interests of the fencers in the Barony. It was generally decided that a Baronial office was not necessary at this time and any further discussion would be tabled for a future meeting pending changes later on.

d) Bids for Baronial Investiture
A single bid was presented to Curia for the upcoming Baronial Investiture event in early October. The bid, on behalf of the Citizens Guild, was reviewed and accepted [unanimously] by Curia.

G) New Business

a) Pets at Events - Policy

Following a lengthy debate by the populace over the past several months, a draft proposal regarding the adoption of an official policy concerning pets at events was presented to Curia. A review of the issue and the proposed policy document was given by Lord Wynfrith. Following a general discussion by members of Curia it was agreed unanimously that the proposed policy be adopted, with some minor changes and additions.
Although subject to possible revisions in the Standard Operating Procedures, the current policy reads as follows:
1. Pets will be allowed at events at the discretion of the autocrat.
2. Pet owners must assume full responsibility for any pets that they bring to an event; this includes clean-up and disposal of pet waste.
3. Pets must be kept on a leash or properly restrained at all times, except in the case where a designated area is specifically provided for them to be loose; under no circumstances is a pet to be allowed to run loose in the vicinity of any martial activities.
4. Pets are to be registered with the troll.
5. Pet owners may be asked to remove a pet from the event site if the animal is misbehaving or becoming a nuisance.

b) Baronial Fencing Championship event
Lord Wynfrith presented a request from Lady Elise concerning the need for a new supply of arrows for the Baronial loaner gear. Following a brief discussion, it was recognized that there were insufficient funds available to consider the purchase of arrows at this time.

c) Bids for Royal Progress
Lord Wynfrith reported that there was a possibility that a bid for a Royal Progress event was being prepared. He also advised that any bids for the traditional November event must be presented to Curia for approval no later that the next Curia meeting in September.

d) Exchequer warrants
Lord Wynfrith advised Curia that he had received a letter from the Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer (HL William FitzBubba), that he needed written requests for exchequer warrants for three subgroups in the Barony of Ruantallan including the Port of Lympha Profunda, the Canton of Mycghalh, and the Cantreff of Ynys Y Gwaed.

e) Baronial Runetree
Lord Wynfrith advised Curia that volunteers were needed from each of the subgroups to help prepare a much needed update of the Baronial Runetree. Teagara volunteered to put together the list for Seashire and Lord Gruffyd volunteered to prepare the list for the Port. Lord Wynfrith volunteered to compile the Runetree for the Barony and advised that the list for Distant Shore was already completed.

f) Cooks Guild containers
Lord Caelain advised Curia that new plastic containers had been purchased to store and transport the Cooks Guild supplies, replacing the cardboard containers that were in very poor shape. He also reported that the Cooks Guild supplies included a lot of unnecessary and useless dishes and utensils that should be disposed of and replaced with some badly needed new equipment. Following a general discussion, it was decided that Lord Caelain should sell or dispose of the rarely used or useless equipment. Discussion then ensued regarding ways to raise funds for the Baronial Cooks Guild.

H. Next meeting
Sunday, September 17 (tentative date - location to be decided).

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