The Ballots Are In...

The ballots are in. Tomorrow (March 19th) the selection committee will be counting the ballots and tallying the totals. They will then inform their Majesties about the results and ensure the King and Queen have all the relevant information to make the important decision at hand. The chosen candidates or candidate will be publicly announced at Break the Back of Winter in Greyfells on March 28.

Until then Cristabell and I are filling our time with a number of projects. We have started work on an all linen corset for Cristabell (we found some wonderful canvas weight linen) and will be dancing at the demo in Kemptville this Saturday.

Thank you to everyone who chose us on their ballots.

Some of the Pledges We've Made

During this selection process we have promised things at the All Candidates Meetings as well as in our blog. Some of them were little things some are longer term goals, but we sincerely intend to fulfill all of them.

If we are chosen as the next Baron and Baroness:

We promise that Baronial courts will be short and creative. Court will be held at least once a year in every Canton.

We promise to keep the lines of communication open with all people in the Barony.

We promise our active involvement in addressing the problem of diminishing membership. We will help with demo's, media campaigns, and other activities to help new members feel welcome. We will also try to recognize and reward the efforts of current members so they feel appreciated.

We promise to support the people participating in martial activities in ways that are meaningful to them.

We promise to lead and participate in group A&S activities at events. We believe events would benefit from more dancing, singing and playing of games. We will invite every member to share in the fun of group projects such as painting banners together.

We promise that the kind of fun we bring to events will contribute to the historical atmosphere.

We promise to respect the traditions of Skraeling Althing and Ealdormere, as we explore new ways to grow and improve as a Barony

Caldrithig Polling Update

Copied from Lady Thora's (Henrietta) e-mail:

Caldrithig will be holding their polling day for the current Baronial Selection on:

March 11, 2009, The poll will be open from 8pm to 10pm.
Place: Sandy Hill Community Center, 250 Somerset E, in the lobby

Please bring proof of membership.

ALSO:

Lady Thora will be at the Jack Purcell Center THURSDAY NIGHT at rapier practice to pick up any Absentee ballots8:00-10:00pm the address is 320 Elgin street(**be careful where you park because they are very strict in that area**)

Absentee Ballots:
If you will be unable to come to the polling day, you may still cast your ballot.

To do so, write your first, second and third choice for Baronial successor on a plain piece of paper and on a separate paper include a copy of your proof of membership (either the print out confirmation from the web site or a photo copy of your card). It is important that your ballot and your membership are on separate papers so that your ballot does not identify you and is secret.
Seal these two pieces of paper in a regular envelope. On the outside of the envelope, sign your name and write membership#.
Arrange to have the envelope be delivered to Lady Thora on or before March 12.

Lady Thora's email is hverweybsmith@gmil.com

If you wish to bring some snacks to socialize while the fighters practice feel free to do so.
Hope to see you all tomorrow.

In Service

Lady Thora

A Skraeling Pilgrimage

Today we traveled out to the Harrowgate Heath meeting with the hope of discussing the upcoming Demos in Kemptville and Upper Canada Village. As it turns out meetings in "The Heath" are very short, so the formal meeting was ending just as we arrived. Anyway we had the chance to speak to a number of people individually about the demos and will continue the conversations on-line.

One of the best parts of the trip was the ride home. A stroke of inspiration hit us and we came up with a fun way to encourage travel within the Barony. We should all set out on a Skraeling Pilgrimage! If selected as the next Baron and Baroness we would set up a make believe route, including "shrines" at an event in each canton over the course of a few months. Any one who completes the entire pilgrimage will be rewarded with a special pilgrim's badge. Visitor's to the shrines will perform short (5min or less) ritual such as drinking from the sacred fountain, reciting a verse while climbing the steps, and other silly tasks based on historical examples.

This is an example of the creativity we offer to the Barony. A Skraeling Althing pilgrim's route achieves a number of our goals: it would be fun, it makes the game feel more medieval, and it encourages members from across the barony to visit one another.

Polling in Caldrithig and Absentee Ballots

We now have all the details and wanted to post them here for everyone.

Caldrithig's Polling Day:

March 11, 2009, The poll will be open from 8pm to 10pm.
Place: Sandy Hill Community Center, 250 Somerset E, in the lobby

Please bring proof of membership.

Absentee Ballots:

If you will be unable to come to the polling day, you may still cast your ballot.

To do so, write your first, second and third choice for Baronial successor on a plain piece of paper and on a separate paper include a copy of your proof of membership (either the print out confirmation from the web site or a photo copy of your card). It is important that your ballot and
your membership are on separate papers so that your ballot does not identify you and is secret.

Seal these two pieces of paper in a regular envelope. On the outside of the envelope, sign your name and write membership#.

Arrange to have the envelope be delivered to Lady Thora on or before March 11.

Pomp in Different Circumstances

How do you plan to bring a sophisticated level of presence or "pomp" to the game when you are playing (in general)? How would you extend this level of presence to events/functions in the barony if you (both) are not there? What about at kingdom events where the barony is/should be represented?

As a start you can count on our decorum and appearance to befit the station at all times. Although we enjoy our middle class clothing, we would choose to wear splendid apparel appropriate to the station. Even at camping events, as so many are in the summer, you will find us suitably attired. A little looking into the clothing of noble hunting parties and campaigns have offered some terrific options. We like to be actively involved in many activities at events and plan to continue to do so. While on the list, on the dance floor, in meetings and court; we would be mindful of the example we set and do our best to portray the part.

Cristabell and Wilhelm in Court at Coronation

When ever it is allowable by the event staff, we would set up a Baronial presence, similar to the way Eleanor and Menken did. So that all would be able to see that we are in attendance and have a rallying point at out-of-town events. We would also be quick to resurrect the Herald Tree. We love the visual impact and the participatory nature. Every Skrael deserves to be seen and recognized.

Lady Avelyn expressed specific concern for the Skrael presence at camping events such as Trillium War. To this effort we proudly boast of our beautiful pavilion, 16ft x 16ft, with dagged edging and a hospitable sun shade. It offers a beautiful backdrop for a variety of gatherings for the people of the Barony and on behalf of the people of the Barony.

If we personally cannot attend an event the trappings of the Barony and personal emmisaries can be sent. We can send the Herald Tree along with other Baronial Heraldic displays. There are many members of Skraeling Althing that could enter court for us to present gifts and messages from the lands of the Noble Hare.

Creating a Connection

Lady Avelyn also posed this question:
One of my favourite features of the SCA is how royalty can create a feeling of intimacy with individuals in a crowd, even though sometimes it's impossible to speak with every person at an event one-on-one. Do you think you could accomplish this, and how?

We think this is a skill that takes practice to develop. The opportunities we have both had to make presentations in court and at feasts have allowed us a small glimpse into what it takes. The basics include: making direct and gentle eye contact, speaking to be heard, and steering away from "in jokes". This is true when in conversation with a group as well as at head table for a feast or holding court. We would certainly seek guidance from others who have been successful at this in the past as well as feed back about our own developing skills.

Another important part of feeling intimate with the person on the dais comes from having a genuine relationship with them. So although there may not be time at every occasion to speak with every person at length, there should be time set aside though out the seasons to try to spend some quality time interacting with as many parts of the populace as possible. Attending a variety of practices and meetings for example. Offering and accepting offers of a place to stay after an event also gives a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with SCA friends you may not see as often. An idea that Agnes recently offered in her submission to the Chronicle was to host a Baroness' tea for newer members. We think the idea is delightful, Wilhelm has even offered to bake the cookies. Spending time together in a quieter atmosphere would undoubtedly help to create and sustain that connection when in the hustle and bustle of a busy event.

The Media is Your Friend

One of the questions posed by Lady Avelyn, at the Caldrithig All Candidates meeting was: "At the baronial level, do you think the media should be important to us as an organization, and if so, what do you think their role should be?". Although we did chose this one to answer, the following is a more complete reply.

Yes the media is important to the health of the Skraeling Althing. We should be taking the opportunity to showcase our best attributes as often as possible. The examples of positive representation in the media far out weigh the occasional "bad rap". Harrowgate Heath has had some lovely local coverage, including a full page spread of photos depicting a wide range of SCA activities and a healthy cross section of members. We have kept a copy as a memento of the enjoyable day we spent at that demo. That was I believe, the day I met you Avelyn.

We can not prevent a local paper from reporting about us if they so desire, so we had better be on top of things to make sure they feel welcome, get an accurate story and plenty of opportunity to build a collection of positive things to show and tell about us. I love the idea of matching any visiting reporters to a responsible guide or host. I also thought the TV spot Judith helped arrange before the Osgoode demo last year went very well. Mathias was an excellent spokesperson for the SCA. About four or five years ago I helped a student journalist from Algonquin arrange interviews with a number of local members. She was writing a comparative article about the variety of hobbies available in the Ottawa area that give a person a chance to play with swords. The resulting article portrayed the SCA in a very positive and accurate light.

We know how well these particular encounters with the media went because one or both of us have actively participate in all of them. We have always been willing and will continue to be willing to interact with the public, including the media. We understand that not all members of the SCA enjoy, or are permitted to share their free time with the public eye. That is another reason why the media should be invited to see what we do in an unobtrusive, well controlled manner. For all who would rather not be quoted in the news or seen on TV, we will happily be your spokespeople.

Ballots Are Being Cast...

The end of the race is near. The last of the All Candidate meetings has now taken place. Thank you to Lady Thora who hosted the meeting in Caldrithig and to Lady Moira who hosted the meeting in Greyfells last night. Each canton brought unique and interesting questions to the discussion. There were also some topics that came up every where; reliability, leadership for the combatants on the field, and plans to improve the barony.

Last night the first ballots were cast in Tor Brant. Thank you to all who expressed their support for us. Harrowgate Heath have announced their poll will be at their meeting this Sunday March 8th. Greyfells has announced that they will be holding their poll at their meeting Tuesday March 10th. Caldrthig's polling night is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday March 11th, we are waiting the final confirmation for this date, check with Lady Thora for more info. All ballots will be counted at the same time on March 19th by the Baronial Selection Committee.

Advanced ballots can also be submitted if you will be away. Harrowgate Heath just posted the following instructions for absentee ballots and I assume they are the same for everyone in the Barony. Use a regular envelope, include a copy of your proof of membership and on a separate paper write your first, second and third choice for Baronial successor. On the outside of the envelope, sign your name and write your membership number. Get the envelope to someone who is attending the meeting.

Our Vicar, Xristinia also made it known in Greyfells last night that every person is expected to select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice on their ballot. The second and third choices will only be considered if there is a tie. Ballots with out all three choices indicated will be considered spoiled, and not be counted. A final confirmation is still awaited from the selection comity, however we urge every one to be sure they are filling out their ballot correctly so that their voice is properly heard by Their Majesties.

Songs and Entertainment at Feast

One of Cristabell's fondest memories from her early days in the SCA is the singing at her first feast. The whole hall was aglow with candles, every voice was raised in praise of our King and His lands. There was a wonderful feeling of joy and unity. At that time we did not know and did not care that there was nothing medieval about the melody or the lyrics, all we knew was that there was something magical about that moment.

We see no reason why the best parts of this SCA tradition can not happily co-exist with the best kinds of historical examples. When it comes to music and other entertainments at feast we believe that there is time and space for all. The best part of our memories of singing at feast is the participation and the emotion created by the experience. There are many songs from SCA periods that are simple to learn and sing. If we began to regularly sing them at feasts soon every one would be able to join in. The joy of belonging comes from being able to participate, not from the specific song being sung.

Original work, in an historical style, is also being created by the talented members of Skrealing Althing all the time. The history of our own lands and people can only be celebrated this way. We are not likely to find any references to Baroness Enid, King Sarnac, or the vorpal hare in any pre-1600 manuscript. Our own history is a very important part of continuing to build a strong identity as Barony.

An appreciative audience for all types of entertainment can be found at every feast. Medival and Renaissance audiences apreciated a higly skilled musician, a silly story and even a tallent farter. (It's for real! Ask Wilhelm sometime. He'll just explain, not demonstrate.) In our oppinions; hearing, seeing, and enjoying a wide variety of entertainments can only make a feast better.

We view it as part of the Baron and Baroness' job as hosts in the Barony to both request and reward entertainment. If chosen for the job, we would be supportive of the efforts made by all members and guests who were kind enough to share their talents. We would seek out entertainment to suit many tastes and no less importantly we would be willing to participate in the festivites (even if Lord Vodnikov is asking for volunteers).

Bringing the Barony Together

There have been questions at each of the three Candidate meetings about how to improve the Barony in some way. We belive there is room for improvement when it comes to Baronial unity. Skrealing Althing is far from the "center" of Ealdormere, and the Cantons can seem very isolated from each other. We need one another. The Bond of being part of a Greater Barony can encourage great endevours, refresh our enthusiasm and provide support in challenging times. The first step is to build the feeling of belonging.

To accomplish this goal we need to bring members new and old together to have fun interacting with each other. Baronial projects are good ways to do this, but many Baronial projects are done independantly by individuals in their own houses, bringing it together for the final step. What we envision is something everyone can participate in easily, in a group setting. This way people get to know one another as something is being created for The Barony.

One idea we have is to paint wall hangings at events. The canvas is hemmed before the event and a design of a medieval theme, such as a tapestry scene, is outlined on it. Then at the event the various parts are filled in with paint in a paint by numbers fashion. We could easily do one per event and then have a wonderful set of decorations to give our halls more atmosphere. We could even branch out a little and create things like Coke machine covers and the like. This way people interact on the projects and have a chance to contribute to the atmosphere at events.

We can also learn a new song at an event together. Cristabell has a lot of experience in teaching songs to large groups of "not so experienced" singers. Trust me if she can teach Wilhelm how to sing a song, she can teach anyone. This way we can have a song or two that every one in the barony knows and can sing together. Obviously this is not a one time project, part of the secret is to keep re-enforcing what has been learned before adding something new. This way our event halls can be filled with songs being sung together, as a barony, making everyone feel more included.

These are just two ideas that we would be interested in leading at events. We also have other ideas of things that could take place at gathering of other types, like meetings, practices, and A&S days.

Highlights from Practicum

Practicum was a wonderful event this year! We all had so much fun.

Our Happy Family at the Practicum Ball

We filled our day with the second hand garb sale and teaching classes. Wilhelm taught an introduction to Rapier class. I co-taught an introduction to Black work embroidery with Lady Aelswitha. I was even lucky enough to take the gold leaf class by Lord Manus. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Garb sale so that we could also participate in classes. Agnes and Jason were at the table for much of the day. Lady May also helped out at the end of the day so that Agnes could teach. It was really fun to find out who had originally made some of the garb being sold. All the items are off to good homes. We also raised almost $200.

Court also held some very meaningful moments for us. Cristabell was given the opportunity by Baroness Xristinia, our kind and gentle Vicar, to thank many of the writers and artists who have contributed so much to the Chronicle in her first year as Editor. A colourful quill was presented to these writers and artists, a terrific tool of the trade, and "a feather in their cap". The second piece of business, near and dear to our hearts, was the presentation of the Great Chalice of Skraeling Althing. Lady Moira ni Namara is this years worthy barer of the cup. Chosen for her service to the Barony, attention to historical detail in her arts and science endevours, as well as her generous, admirable deportment. We are very proud to see Moira take up the position that we once held.

The evening ended on a terrific note with a dance floor full of smiling faces. Lady May of ye Wold organised and ran a most enjoyable ball. We were thrilled with the number of people new to dance who took to it so naturally. The balance between dances being taught and dances being danced by those who knew them was just right for us. We even had a rare opportunity to dance together. Thanks to Mistress Aelflaeda, who allowed Lillyana to nap on her lap for a couple of songs.

Thank you to all who helped make the day a success! Let's do it again soon.

From the Harrowgate Heath Meeting: more about scheduling events

This weekend Harrowgate Heath hosted its all Candidates meeting on Sunday afternoon. Gina did a terrific job chairing it. After the round of questions we had an opportunity to mingle with a number of friends we had not seen in a while. While we chatted, the topic of event scheduling came up again. Many members expressed support for moving towards a more co-operative event scheduling process of some kind. However, not everyone is willing to acknowledge the conflicts we have had and the potential for future ones. Unfortunately even some of those who see the problem feel like the solution is out of reach because the issue has been raised occasionally for many years with no progress being made.

Not everyone understood the importance of the latest proposal; to put at least a two week buffer between events in the Barony. It was proposed so that fewer people have to make the choice to attend one Skrael event over another. Over the years we have observed that even members of the Barony will choose between which Event to attend if two of them are scheduled close to each other. Obviously people outside the Barony who have to travel further are more likely to choose only one of two Events in the Barony if they are scheduled too close to each other.

As an example, this problem was last encountered when Hare and Hallowmas were only one week apart; many people felt they had to choose between the two. It could be a problem again in the future when our Barony has the opportunity to host Kingdom level events, such as a Spring Coronation or Crown Tournament. Poor scheduling could seriously impact traditional spring events such as Dandelion Festival or other spring events a Canton may wish to introduce. It would be better to work together to have our events spread out so that people can enjoy as many of the events offered in Skrael as possible.

We do see this as a real problem, but we also have faith that a solution can be found. It will require perseverance, understanding and compromise. A little effort now could lead to years of lower stress, more enjoyable event planning in the future. You can count on us to consider how our actions now could impact our Barony and it's residents in the future.

Tough Issues: Event Scheduling

As we see it, part of the role of the Baron and Baroness, along with the officers who make up the Baronial Council is to make the game run smoothly for every one else in this club. Sometimes paving the way for carefree fun requires dealing with some tough issues.

One of the tough issues facing Skraeling Althing currently is event scheduling. With four Cantons each with their own traditional events and a desire to grow or try something new once in a while there is barely enough room on the Calendar. When two events with in the Barony are too close together attendance, volunteer energy, and general support for one another all suffer. By Kingdom law, the weekends are filled first come first serve. Conflicts are allowed at the discretion of the group who booked the date first. Most relevant to our current topic; three events in one month in the same Barony is not considered a conflict.

However; we think the Barony can do better than this. We think that all the Cantons would be happier and have more successful events if we showed support for one another's effort. We have suggested to the Baronial Council that a Baronial policy or procedure be put into place to facilitate a more cooperative approach to booking event dates. Baronial council is a long way from implementing any kind of plan, it will require contributions and agreement from all of the Cantons. However the ideas we strongly support include: spacing events so that there are two weekends between events within Skrael, having an annual event scheduling session, and making greater use of "small e" events and activities instead of listing everything on the Kingdom Calendar. The end goal is for every one to find a way to have the kind of events they want to have without any unfriendly competition between Cantons.

If we are selected as the next Baron and Baroness we will continue to bring our ideas to the table at Council meetings. It is traditional in Skrael that the Baron and Baroness do not have a vote on council, and we respect that tradition. Therefore we plan to contribute by seeking out possible solutions and looking at problems from all points of view so that we may provide well formed opinions to the officers who may seek our council.

Cristabell enjoying feast at Dandelion

St. Valentine's Day

In honour of St. Valentine's Day we would like to share a couple of things we love most in the SCA:

We love how beautiful every one looks in their garb. The swirls of brocade and silk by candle light, beats jeans and sweatshirts under florescent lights hands down. The sweeping line of a Renaissance gown, or the snug fit of a pair of hosen can flatter a figure unlike most modern clothes.

We love the camaraderie. Nothing feels better than leaving the field shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of allies (new or longstanding) after a hard fought battle at Pennsic. A very similar bond is built by helping neighbours raise their pavilions, all hustling to get a feast on the table, or cramming into a friend's basement and unrolling a sleeping bag to stay the night after an out of town event.

We love the friends we've made. There is not another club out there where such a diverse group of people gather together to learn and share their knowledge with one another. It does not matter the age, education, profession, or beliefs a person has, in the SCA we all have an opportunity to become friends.

Most personally, we love that the SCA brings the two of us together. We first met at an SCA event. Since then we have enjoyed many romantic adventures dancing at elegant balls, fighting in glorious tournaments, and serving side by side. The SCA activities and projects we share continue to help us stay connected as a couple.

Cristabell's SCA History

I first joined the SCA when I lived in Der Welfengau, in the Barony of Ramshaven. I was attending University. The following years lead me to live in a number of different parts of the Kingdom. I lived in Trinovantia Nova, at the time it left Ramshaven to become an independent shire. I lived in BenDunfirth where I first taught SCA dancing. Then I moved to Greyfells to attend university again. Finally; job opportunities and Wilhelm of course lead me to settle in Caldrithig.

At my very first event I was fortunate to find a place amongst the good gentles serving feast. From that point on I have taken pleasure in service to my fellow SCA members. The most rewarding offices I have held include: Seneschal of Caldrithig, Preaceptor of The Ealdormere Academy of Defense, and Autocrat or Co-autocrat of a number of A&S oriented events. Currently I serve the Barony as the Chronicler. I have also had the privilege of serving Their Majesties of Ealdormere on a number of occasions - as Lady in waiting to Queen Genevieve de Rosse, and Rapier Champion to Queen Genevieve Chastellaine D'Anjou.

My past service has allowed me to see how the SCA functions as an organization and how the magic of the game is built. I have been most effective in roles that called upon me to set a goal and then encourage and help organize others as we all work together to reach that goal. I am a very good cheerleader (pompoms not included).

If selected as the next Baroness of Skraeling Althing my experiences would be useful when helping others find their most enjoyable way to contribute to the SCA and to the Barony. Some people prefer to lend a hand by planning, organizing, making phone calls, or hashing out the details of a policy. These people belong on the councils and committees that make our game possible. Other people prefer to perform, parade, paint banners, or sing songs in praise of our lands and heroes. These people are the ones who can make us believe that a school gym really is the grand hall of a majestic castle. It is my hope that everyone who wishes to serve their fellow noble, will find the way that makes them feel most valued and most importantly happy, just as I have from the very first time I served feast.

Wilhelm's SCA History

Wilhelm serving his Majesty as Kingdom Rapier Champion

I've been in the SCA since I was 17. I had attended one event when I was 10 with a friend and his father (the event was in Ben Dunfirth), but it was seven years later that I came back. Since then I have been a strong supporter of the SCA, dedicating many volunteer hours to helping the SCA run and making it a better place for everyone.

I have been an officer of the SCA for sixteen years running, my first office was Exchequer of the Canton of Ben Dunfirth. I served in that role for 4 years, including the period of time when the Canton became a Barony. Some of the highlights of my SCA offices are:
-Kingdom Rapier Marshal
-Baronial Exchequer (twice)
-Canton Exchequer
-Canton Rapier Marshal
-Marshal of the Field

I have also served in less permanent offices/roles; gate keep for events, autocrat for events, clean up crew, marshal-in-charge, dance practice organizer, and many others. My focus has been on jobs that are necessary in the background to make the SCA run smoothly.

I've also served in a variety of more ceremonial roles: As Baronial Guard to Baron Byron of Rising Waters, Rapier Champion for the Barony of Skraeling Althing, Rapier Champion for the Kingdom of Ealdormere (several times), as well as other roles in the Royal or Baronial Entourage.

If I was selected as Baron, these years of learning how the SCA works in the background would be a great asset. Because I know how the SCA internal organization works I can better advocate on behalf of the hardworking Skraels who deserve support and recognition. My experiences have also shown me that every person in a public role requires support and assistance from a whole host of officers, volunteers and friends.

Keeping Busy

The job of Baron and Baroness is no small task. Doing the job well requires time and energy dedicated to the Barony. Some of our friends have been asking; "are you sure you have the time for all this?". We have thought about it very carefully and our answer is an enthusiastic "Yes"!

For one thing, we both like to be very busy. Even before we found the SCA we both filled our evenings and weekends with meetings and special events in other organizations. That is why we have a long history of volunteer jobs and successful projects. With the addition of a baby to the family we have re-organized the way we participate, but now that we are in the swing of things as parents, the total amount of time we can spend on the SCA really has not dropped. For example, we used to spend more time traveling far away to other Baronies and other Kingdoms for specialty events. Now we spend more of our time right here in Skraeling Althing enjoying our favourite activities closer to home. This is one of the reasons we feel that now is a good time for us to serve the Barony as Baron and Baroness.

As well; both of us are stepping down from other volunteer offices or roles and so would be able to dedicate that time to Baronial responsibilities. Otherwise we would just have to go hunting for other ways to spend our volunteer hours.

Another important skill we believe we have developed is knowing our own limits. Careful scheduling, sharing tasks and occasionally saying 'no' to something we really would enjoy; help us avoid exhaustion. As an example, this weekend, work and family obligations have us traveling to Hamilton. We thought "great we can also go to the Kingdom Twelfth Night" but after thinking it all through we decided that was one too many things to fit into the trip. Instead we are spending time with our families now so that they will be understanding when we breeze through on our way to an SCA event in the future.

Please rest assured that we have set aside enough of our volunteer time to properly fulfill the duties of Baron and Baroness. So if you think we would be the kind of Baron and Baroness you would like to have, choose us on polling day.

History Is Fun

A recent e-mail came to us expressing concern that traveling down the path of historical accuracy meant sacrificing fun. However we see historical examples as a door to fun and games that we would not find anywhere else but in the SCA. People of the middle-ages and Renaissance liked to have fun. Have you heard about some of the big parties thrown by Royalty through the ages? Historically events such as the SCA's would likely be feast days, or fairs, which would have had a lot of excitement and games and coming together of different people. We think more celebrating is just what many SCA events need.

So to combat one of our least favourite misconceptions; here is a list of some of our favourite, fun, things to do at events (that also happen to be perfectly period):

1. Dance. Nothing makes people feel like they are amongst friends like joining hands and dancing around in a circle together. Bumping shoulders, a little flirting, and scrambling back to spot are all part of the fun.
2. Play games, the sillier the better. Boulles, Counting Stick,
Stool Ball, Hoodman and Jinggles are all easy, portable and bound to make you laugh. If Wilhelm can play with a drink in one hand it's even better.

Cristabell playing Norse Games
at Bonfield

3. Sing. Neither of us sing very well, but we like to try. Not all songs from the past were meant to be sung by a trained choir (although we love to listen to some of that kind of music too).
4. Make stuff. Sewing, painting, carving, casting, building, baking are all terrific fun, even more so when done in a group. Working with others to sew a garment by hand at Bonfield was a very fun activity. It provided a perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends, learn more about new friends, and feel terrific about making a gift for a well deserving recipient.

We have always been able to have fun doing historical activities, this is why we joined the SCA. Part of the excitement of the SCA is to explore having fun in medieval ways. Historical accuracy and fun are not opposite ends of the same scale.

How to Find New Members

On Sunday at the TorBrant all Candidates meeting, one of the topics that was discussed at length was the need to attract new members. As Lady Brennit pointed out, all of the candidates have expressed some desire to increase membership. However she wanted some concrete ideas about how to actually go about attracting new members. These are some of our ideas:

-Put up posters in public places advertising practices or events that a new person could attend. Libraries, sewing shops, game shops, community centers, and even the grocery store are good places to reach potential members. It is simple and it works.
-Hand out an easy to update flyer, like the one Wilhelm wrote and has shared with a number of SCA groups. It makes use of current popular references to the things we do and contains local information about where and when we meet. For example, describe our activities as being similar to those found in a recent movie, or popular book.
-Make media contact regularly before events and demos. A press release kit could help chatelaines and/or event stewards know what to say and who to send it to.
-Continued and increased participation in public demos at gathering and festivals where our potential members are likely to be found. Always do something active, let the on lookers give it a try, and have them write down their contact information so some one can follow up with an invite to an SCA activity soon after the demo.
-Invite clubs and groups with overlapping interests to attend an activity or event relevant to their existing interests. Local historical or fantasy fiction clubs, craft guilds, marshal arts schools, folk dance clubs, and sewing schools are all full of people just itching to find a new place to expand their interests. They don't have to leave the group we found them in to also enjoy and enrich the SCA. Many current members participate in multiple organizations.
-Use our web pages as advertising to potential members not just to deliver info to current members. Re-orienting our existing web pages to put the non-member first, with quick directions to contact a real person could have a big impact.
-Develop an integration plan for new members, so we don't loose that connection before we even know it. I'm sure you will hear more about what we mean by this suggestion in a future post.

Of course some of these ideas are already being used successfully by some people, in some Cantons. Harrowgate Heath has had local reporters visit many of their demos and events. Greyfells has been participating in a spring demo with multiple clubs for a number of years running. Judith Quiet Seeker helped organize a television appearance for some of our fighters last spring before the Osgood Township Festival. Sperry, and his team of Archers, spent three days shooting and chatting up the crowds at the Upper Canada Medieval Festival. All of this activity was in addition to the many people who have made one on one contact with friends, co-workers, or complete strangers who just happened to strike up a conversation. Each contact with the public makes a difference.

Our "Renaissance Baby" was a big hit
at the NAC Demo

Last spring and summer was a flurry of demonstration activity. However, since we didn't quite have a complete package in place we did not turn many of those first contacts into active members. All the parts of a great recruitment campaign take a lot of work. However it is work that Wilhelm and I enjoy and are dedicated to. When we all share our resources and techniques we can lessen the work load for each volunteer and improve our collective chances of success. There are a number of exciting opportunities for demo's on the horizon, if we are ready to make the most of them. By working together to raise public awareness of SCA activity across the region; we can find new members living in each of the four Cantons. Who knows we might even be able to inspire the growth of new Cantons in currently "unpopulated" lands.

We understand that this job is a big one. We intend to make our contribution to the effort. As Baron and Baroness we hope to be in a position to help co-ordinate a long term plan that includes the goals of all the Cantons. We also promise to attend demos and new member gatherings and to help make them a success. If this is the kind of leadership you would like to see from your Baron and Baroness please make us your number one choice on polling day.

Thank You to Lady Brennait and Family

Thank You from Wilhelm, Cristabell and Lillyana

We had a lovely time yesterday at the Baronial Candidates' meeting in Tor Brant. Brennait was a lovely host, welcoming the members of Tor Brant and the candidates into her home. Lillyana also had a fun time, a special thank you to Brennait's daughters Mykaila and Sid for entertaining and watching over Lillyana while we where there. Lilly was tired out by all the fun she had with the older girls that day.

Also thank you to Donnet and Raimund for their recommendation on the restaurant for dinner. The pizza and service was excellent, we have to remember Danny's restaurant for the next time we are going out for a meal in Petawawa.

The members of Tor Brant had excellent and insightful questions for all the candidates, and quickly focused on topics of particular importance to their Canton. There was some excellent discussion arround how to address issues in their Canton and how each candidate saw the role of Baron or Baroness. The time went by very quickly and pleasently, I'm sure we could have continued the discussion much longer but dinner time required us to wrap it up.

Our Top Three Favorite Topics

As we have discussed the possibility of being chosen as the next Baron and Baroness of Skraeling Althing we have discovered that our conversations tend to be dominated by three important topics: Baronial unity, membership numbers, and enjoying history. We have enjoyed spending a fair amount of our SCA time and energy on encouraging unity and cooperation between members of the Barony, recruiting and encouraging new members, and sharing our enjoyment of the time period recreated with in the SCA. We also feel that these three areas will continue to be important to us in the future.

Baronial unity, in our opinion, is very important in Skraeling Althing because the barony is remote from the center of the Kingdom and spread thinly over a wide area. Working together is the best way to combat dwindling membership and apathy. Many a member has commented that no matter what the reason they joined the SCA, the reason they stay is because of the friends they have made. Providing opportunities to develop friendships between cantons can only strengthen our Barony and increase everyone’s enjoyment of the SCA. Such opportunities may come in the form of joint projects, friendly competitions, and inclusive decision making. Both of us have been pleased to be involved in a number of inter-Canton activities in the past, such as co-operative demos in three Cantons, co-hosting Kingdom events and volunteering at events in other cantons. Cristabell’s direction as the Editor of the Chronicle is to deliberately include news from all corners of the Barony and seek out writers who may not normally have considered submitting articles. In the future we both hope to see the development of a more functional and co-operative event planning process or policy to help alleviate the current difficulty caused by events competing for attendance and volunteers. If members in all the Cantons will reach out to each other to work together more we could tackle larger, more satisfying projects that we have not yet dreamed up. We see a healthy SCA group as one which is cohesive, inclusive and inviting. We have been and will continue to work toward this vision.

Our second, but no less important area of focus, is the attraction of new members and the retention of current members. Complaints can be heard across the Kingdom, and indeed around the Known World – “our numbers are shrinking”. It also seems that every group thinks that they are alone in facing this problem. We believe that active steps need to be taken toward generating growth. New methods, tried and true methods as well as old, but possibly forgotten, methods of attracting new members must be used. If chosen as Baron and Baroness we would consider it part of our Baronial duty to be in the public view. We enjoy participating in public demonstrations and have learned quite a bit about what makes them work well. Once someone has decided to join the SCA they must be made to feel welcome and equipped to fit in. We plan to support the efforts of the Chatelaines across the Barony. One of the great duties of a Baron and Baroness is to provide opportunities for public recognition in court. We understand that timely and meaningful recognition is one key to membership retention. Both by awarding Baronial accolades as appropriate and recommending Skraels for Kingdom awards, we would help insure that members feel appreciated and want to stay. We have also learned that there are many small ways to show appreciation that are not attached to an award. Words of thanks, small tokens and praise for a job well done can be generously distributed as a part of our contribution toward strengthening the membership across the Barony.

The third area of focus is what we enjoy most about the SCA – the recreation of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. One misconception that occasionally comes up is that being historically accurate is at odds with having fun. Another is that it must be perfect from the start. We believe in neither of these statements. While both of us have a lot of fun at being historically accurate as possible we love the process of striving for accuracy. We truly feel that a great deal of fun springs directly from learning, trying, and being ‘into’ history. Personally, we love to research and create historically accurate, well fitted clothes because it makes us feel good and therefore look better. We also love to encourage the same in others, but not just in clothes, in all sort of disciplines. We also like games and entertainment from the middle ages and renaissance that are quirky, funny, and easy to have fun participating in. Every person in the SCA has their own individual focus in terms of historical recreation and they all should be encouraged to have fun learning about, using and sharing knowledge that they think is fun. The SCA is a big game of make-believe, and participants who have the right building blocks can have a lot more fun playing. We like to share our knowledge with those who wish to learn more. We like to encourage others with different areas of expertise. However we do know that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing so we try to respect the limits of each individual. Whether we are chosen as Baron and Baroness or not, we will continue to strive to share the fun of pretending to be a fine Lord or Lady from a real place in history.

We look forward to being able to talk about these ideas with all of you at the all candidates meetings, but please feel free to comment on them or ask questions here in our blog.

Welcome to our Blog

We have put this together so members of the Barony of Skraeling Althing can get to know us better. There will be few chances to meet face-to-face before the poll is taken and we want everyone to have a chance to learn about us. You are also welcome to use this forum to ask us questions.

We will be updating this once or twice a week with our thoughts and ideas. You will find posts about: who we are in and out side of the SCA, the way we play in the SCA and things we hope to do if selected as Baron and Baroness.

We would also love to have your feedback. What would you like to see the next Baron and Baroness do with the office?