The Crown Province of Østgarðr is the greater New York City chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a not-for-profit educational and social organization dedicated to re-creating aspects of medieval and Renaissance culture. You can read more about the SCA at “About Us.”
If you have any questions or want to get started with us, email our newcomers’ officer. You can find links to our Facebook group, mailing list, and local sub-chapters at “Getting Involved.”
Our faithful Chancellor of Minors (Director of Youth Activities), Arnora Ketilsdottir, is stepping down at the end of her term, December 31, 2020. Three candidates for the open position have thrown their hats into the ring. Here are their letters of intent, volunteering for the position and outlining their qualifications and intentions for the role.
I, Kunigunde Wedemann, am officially submitting myself as a candidate for the position of Chancellor of Minors of the Crown Province of Østgarðr.
Although a relatively new member to the Society, having only joined two years ago, I have already been active through my past offices as Deputy Chronicler of the Canton of Northpass, the Webminister of the Canton of Northpass, and am currently the webminister for the East Kingdom Youth Combat website.
I am already warranted as a Chancellor of Minors at large since a year ago, having decided there was need of such a person in the northern reaches of the Province after attending an event where there were children but nothing much for them to do. At that event, I was working on some illuminations for the A&S display, and a group of children decided to join me because they needed something to do. Two of the kids were my own, so I was already accustomed to sharing my art materials with them. It worked out really well, but I wanted to be more official and safe about it, so I had myself warranted for the position.
Prior to the Covid shut-down, I had been planning, along with some other youth officers, a doll garb making activity that was going to be held at the April 2020 Coronation, but that has been put on hold until some future event.
In my mundane life, I have experience working with young people through my current position as an assistant scoutmaster for a Scouts BSA all-girl troop in both an in-person and virtual setting. This past summer, I worked with young people at a socially-distanced nature day camp, running several nature related art projects.
As Chancellor of Minors, I intend to help plan and coordinate youth activities at various events within the province. Ideally, I would like there to be some kind of activities for young people at every event, with the exception of those events that are geared towards adults. That way, children will want to return to events with their parents and this is a good thing for the future of the Society.
I, Lord Oliver deBainbrig, do hereby nominate myself for the position of Ostgardr’s Chancellor of Minors.
I have served as CoM for four years now, from canton events to kingdom events. My record is clean and my most recent background check is good until 7/31/22.
YIS,
Oliver deBainbrig
Lady Pia Maletesta di Rimini brings greetings and this missive to the most proud Province of Ostgardr.
It is with great honor that I request the consideration of an office with in your borders.
My travels have taken me outside of my beloved Ostgsrdr and it’s not a place where I might serve. I wish to serve the great lands which the Khan now holds secure.
About me:
I started this journey many years ago in the great Iron Forest where the Crown Province was our Protector. Borders changed yet I remained.
Within the East – I have held the office of
Deputy Chancellor Minor (current)
Chancellor of the University (4 yrs)
Deputy Youth Clerk (8 years)
Arts & Science Officer (4 yrs-Rusted Woodlands)
Herald (4 yrs-Rusted Woodlands)
Director Emeritas -Known World Choir (at Pennsic)
Started the Children’s Choir & Youth Choir at Pennsic.
Teacher of dozens of classes in the Youth Track at Pennsic & multiple events over the past 10 years.
Member of the Presidents Council to Children & Family – (SCA Board President -across Kingdoms)
Licensed Teacher in NYS
In addition -I have been the Autocratic for
Coronation (Kelson)
Bardic Championships (2)
EKU (12)
Crown Tourney (2)
Local Events (6)
On staff for local events- dozens of them through my SCA involvement.
I have been working on a “Youth University” type of even for over a year however due to our current worldwide crisis…….
The EK Youth Office has prepared “You Tube “.Videos, activities and online classes to keep our children as active as possible. We are currently working on the legal guidelines of this with the Board.
Consideration – I am not local to the boroughs. I currently reside in Nyack-Rockland County. Attending virtual is possible. However physical attendance is limited for me until the threat of CV-19 has left us.
I have been awarded the Silver Crescent (2005), The Manuch(2006) & Troubedor(2010) and received my AOA in 2012). (Please note that Dates are Appriximate)
I am the Clienté to my Patron Mistress Sol La Cantor OL.
It is my goal for our children to keep a safe & healthy environment! I would act as another set of eyes to assure that the children of the Province are having fun in the safest of settings. – Confirming membership & Background checks, and that the supervisory rules are being kept. Consult with the Youth Clerk for status for Marshall’s & other people who will be working with our children.
Thank you for your consideration
In service,
Pia Maletesta
(FKA Erlandr Skald di Norlandi)
In recent commons meetings, we’ve discussed moving the time of our monthly Commons meeting away from the third Friday, in order to be more inclusive and because we are no longer meeting in-person.
If you would like to provide input on when the new schedule we choose should be, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/zr5np2mAGzpXzBBF7
Please join the provincial officers council and the populace of Østgarðr at our regularly scheduled 3rd Friday of the month social gathering and business meeting. Call begins at 7:30pm, meeting convenes at 8pm. Mistress Medhbh inghean Uí Cheallaigh, East Kingdom Seneschal, will be joining us for a brief question and answer session at the start of the meeting (8pm).
After the Q&A, we will review letters of intent for the 10 officer positions whose term expires at the end of the year. If you are interested in volunteering to serve the province in any of these capacities, please visit our website to review the role descriptions and officer responsibilities of these 10 offices. http://ostgardr.eastkingdom.org/provincial-service-opportunities/
To add items to the agenda, please email seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org
Join the meeting via Meet: https://meet.google.com/nhu-qsgk-zziOr dial in (audio only): (US) +1 402-364-0138 PIN: 616 864 602#
All are welcome!
Officers, please submit your reports for commons to the officers list [Ostgardr-officers@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org], preferably by Wednesday evening. Thank you!
A message from the event stewards of the Feast of Three Princes:
This past Sunday evening, we had the privilege to steward The Feast of the Three Princes, a virtual event. While virtual events are not new, this was the first time Østgarðr attempted a virtual feast. It could not have happened without the contributions of many, many people.
We thank Noble Anne of Østgarðr, who was the rock this event was built on. Their efforts in arranging for use of the East Kingdom Zoom, building the event website, processing pre-registration and coordinating all the technical aspects of the event literally made this event possible. We would also like to thank the Honorable Lord Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, for his assistance with the website, event graphics, and for knowing just about any process of procedure that came up.
We would not have had a feast without food. We thank the cooks, Baroness Zoe Mikra of Calontir, Lord Edwin Latorre and Fruha Arnbjorg Nilsdottir, for their efforts in preparing three tasty menu options for our event attendees and for making themselves available to answer any questions regarding the preparation of those menus.
The bardic arts played a key role in creating the ambiance of an SCA feast hall. We would like to thank Sayyida Laila al-Sanna’ al-Andalusiyya, for coordinating the bardic competition and running the open bardic for the event. We also thank ÌÞròttamaðr Grimm the Skald and Lord Drake Oranwood for helping judge the competition, and Lord Brandr Aronsson for creating the prizes.
To make a Zoom conference come alive as a feast hall takes skill. We would also thank Catelin Straquhin, Armiger for bringing flair and wit to the hall as our MC for the evening and Drotin Ragnarr Blaskegg, for his work behind the scenes as stage manager and Zoom support.
Letting the populace know of our virtual feast was a challenge in these times. We heartily thank Il-Khatun Lada Monguligin for planning, creating and posting the promotional materials for the event, and Biocunta Culann mac Cianain for creating the event’s commemorative postcard.
We would also like to thank, the Il-Khan and Il-Khatune of Østgarðr for being our hosts, the Østgarðr seneschal, Hlæfdige Alienor Salton for her continuous support and counsel, and the Three Princes, for letting us hold a party in honor of their friendship.
The East Kingdom web team was gracious enough to allow use of the kingdom Zoom account for the event. We thank Baron Symon of Barnesdale and the honorable Herr Matthias von Würzburg for their support in this endeavor.
Lastly, we thank all the bards, cooks and attendees who took the time to don garb, set a fine table and help us recreate a little bit of the dream in these challenging times.
In service,
The Event Stewards, Perez ben Meir Gershon Effendi and the honorable Lord Friderich Grimme
A message from our seneschal:
The following provincial officers are serving terms that end Dec. 31st, 2020.
Exchequer
Chatelaine
Minister of Arts & Sciences
Knight Marshal
Minister of Lists
Chronicler
Chamberlain
Archery Marshal
Youth Combat Marshal
Chancellor Minor
Would you like to volunteer for any of these offices? I am calling for nominations from the populace from anyone who would like to serve in any of these positions. Role descriptions are below. If you are interested in any of the positions, I urge you to check out the relevant website for the position. None of these positions are term-limited, so the incumbents are also welcome to run again.
Nominations and candidate statements will be accepted until Nov. 19th (the day before Nov. Commons). Please email them to seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org
Candidate statements should include your eligibility for the position (SCA membership, any required authorizations), relevant experience, and your goals for your service in the position — what you would like to make of the office.
If we have more than one candidate for any position, we will hold elections for those offices. Voting will be open to all paid members ages 14+ residing in the province, and will run until Dec. 17th. Results will be announced at the Dec. 18th Commons [social].
Provincial Officer Responsibilities for the positions now open for nominations:
All Provincial Officers are expected to:
• Fulfill the responsibilities of their specific office as described in Kingdom law and policy or as specified herein.
• Promptly report to their supervising Kingdom officers as required (except for those offices which do not have a kingdom reporting requirement).
• Maintain an active paid membership in the Society.
• Send a brief report to the Officers’ Council every month.
• Participate in at least half of the monthly Provincial commons meetings, either attending in person or by phone/video conference when available.
• Safely maintain any regalia of the office issued to them, as well as any Provincial assets which are entrusted to their safekeeping.
Exchequer
The exchequer tracks our financial records, maintains the provincial bank account, and submits reports to the kingdom exchequerate. Being able to use spreadsheet applications is a necessary skillset for this office. Past holders of the office are available to provide training. Reports to the kingdom four times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at exchequer.eastkingdom.org.
Chatelaine
To be a successful chatelaine, you have to like talking to people, both newcomers and people who have been playing for a while. You are the bridge between the modern world and the SCA. You tell people what we do, you find out what people are interested in, and you hook them up with other people who share their interests. We have a large collection of Gold Key (loaner garb) in the province, which you are responsible for circulating and maintaining. You also provide contact information and flyers suitable for distribution at demos. Being responsive to email is an important facet of this job. Reports to the kingdom four times per year on newcomer contacts and new members. Kingdom policies are posted at chatelaine.eastkingdom.org.
Minister of Arts & Sciences
The job of an MoAS is to encourage and promote Arts & Sciences within the group, and to submit quarterly reports on A&S activities engaged in by the group. You do not have to be a skilled practitioner for this job. What matters is that you are interested in what other people are doing, and can encourage them to teach, to display, and perhaps to compete. Finding out who is doing what, and putting them together with other people who want to learn how to do what they are doing, is a core skill for this position. Think of the role as a booking agent for the arts and sciences in the Province — organizing the people and places needed for local A&S activities to take place. Reports to the kingdom two times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at moas.eastkingdom.org.
Chronicler
The chronicler’s job is to produce a newsletter useful to the group on a regular schedule, at least quarterly. The newsletter may be electronic, and may be emailed to a subscription list and/or published on the group website (our webminister can assist with the publication thereof). Courtesy copies must be shared with the Kingdom Chronicler, current royalty, seneschal, historian and archivist. A paper copy must be printed and kept with our provincial archives, retained by our historian. Reports to the kingdom annually in December. Kingdom policies are posted at chronicler.eastkingdom.org.
Knight Marshal
Armored combat marshals must know and understand the rules of the lists and the conventions of combat, so that they can inspect armor and weapons, authorize fighters, and oversee combat. You don’t have to be a fighter to become authorized as a marshal, but it helps. Reports to the kingdom four times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at marshal.eastkingdom.org.
Minister of Lists
The Minister of Lists supports combat by assisting marshals in running tournaments and keeping track of authorizations. The primary skill required for this position is dealing with paperwork. Standard forms are available to help organize elimination brackets and round-robins. This can easily come with on the job training as there are some really great MoLs to learn from locally in the Southern Region. Reports to the kingdom annually in March. Kingdom policies are posted at mol.eastkingdom.org.
Youth Marshal
Supervises youth combat activity in the Province. Should be a warranted youth marshal, and therefore must know and understand the rules of youth combat, to inspect armor and weapons, authorize fighters, and oversee combat. All warranted youth marshals must be background checked by the Society. Reports to the kingdom four times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at youthfighters.eastkingdom.org.
Chancellor Minor
Supervises youth activities in the Province. All warranted youth officers must be background checked by the Society. Reports to the kingdom four times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at chancellorminor.eastkingdom.org.
Chamberlain
Our chamberlain keeps an inventory of provincially-owned assets, and maintains a storage space containing it. They also coordinate transporting said stuff to and from events and demos as needed. No kingdom reporting requirement.
Captain of Archers
Supervises target archery activity in the Province. Reports to the kingdom two times per year. Kingdom policies are posted at archery.eastkingdom.org.
The October commons meeting was held October 16th. Here are the minutes/notes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, edited by Alienor Salton. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.
Lada: I am looking for some fun art to post on our Instagram. Events and activities work well on Facebook, but Instagram is really best with engaging visual stories.
1. Mistress Medhbh, East Kingdom Seneschal, will be joining us *NOVEMBER COMMONS* (Nov. 20th, 8pm, same Meet link) to answer questions about prospects for the future of our northern counties. Officers, please note that November’s meeting will be an official commons, with officer reports and minutes, etc. Our December commons will be a social gathering with no official attendance required.
2. Should we reserve sites to host in-person events in 2021? Bids for events in our northern counties have been submitted. We will discuss their feasibility at this Friday’s meeting.
3. The Feast of Three Princes (November 8th, https://ostgardr.eastkingdom.org/three-princes/) planning is coming along beautifully. We will have an update from the event steward, Friderich Grimme.
4. I need a deputy!! Or several. It’s a good way to get training in how-to-be-a-seneschal. Offering to serve as my deputy will *NOT* obligate you to run for seneschal when my term limit is up (December 31, 2021). It will provide you with insight into how the job works, and give you experience that will be helpful should you wish to consider running for a canton or provincial seneschal officer position. Come see the sausage being made! Taste the spicy inside! Er….
5. The banner displaying the Ancient & Honorable arms of Whyt Whey will be presented to the province for safekeeping, and for the future enjoyment of those who are invested in it.
6. There is a scholarship fund in honor of Edward F. Morrill, known in the Society as Viscount Sir Edward of Gendy, providing tuition for Brooklyn youth living in the foster care system to attend the Brooklyn Children’s Theater, for whom he tirelessly volunteered. https://www.brooklynchildrenstheatre.org/morrill-scholarship/ I encourage individual giving. Would we like to think of additional funding support? Perhaps an auction? I would appreciate your suggestions.
7. We should consider scheduling our meetings other than on Friday nights.
3rd quarter report is due at the end of the month. Looking at the ledger from Q2, I’m not able to find a refund from Westchester for Brew U or Goat’s. We need to follow-up on those. [Ed. — will probably roll over deposits to 2021 events.]
Report due end of the month. Submissions have been continuing. Working with a number of people. Re-submitted sea-urchin but it hasn’t made it onto a letter yet.
Nothing to report.
No report submitted.
Little to report. If you want to do a class, I’m glad to help. If you want to enter Crown A&S, that is still going on; I’m glad to assist folks with modifying their display or documentation for the online format.
No report submitted.
The virtual fencing practices have become more of a tutorial as I only have one person logging on at a time. We have even started to use a reference book as a textbook! I will begin posting these to the Østgarðr Facebook page starting this week, to let anyone interested join in. (They’ve been posted on the Historical Arms FB page for a while now.)
A couple of fencers posted that they had expired auth cards. I have contacted them.
No activity.
No report submitted.
Helping with the upcoming event. Going fine on my end. Glad to help with other web things if you have questions. Webministry quarterly reports were due yesterday.
Next issue goes out December 1. Send me images and text and other things to include.
Gold key from Sofya’s has been delivered to Baron Ian’s storage. [Submitted by Alienor Salton.]
No report submitted.
Not much activity. There was a solar in October on reblocking felt hats. Officers are discussing a candidate for A&S as Godiva has stepped down after long and excellent service.
Lions End is quiet for the most part. Jenna is going to teach an online “SCA 101” class. I’ve renewed my membership. Nothing else to report.
Our elections for our new Seneschal are underway and will be announced at our online commons on Sunday the 18th. Nothing else to report. [Ed. — Ragnarr Bliskegg is the new Brokenbridge seneschal; welcome, Ragnarr! Brandr, thank you for your service to the canton and to the province.]
We have an event announcement. Zoom is set up. Reservation link: . If you want to attend, go reserve. Cookbooks are drafted, hopefully will be posted Monday. Some bardic entrants.
It’s a virtual feast event, held on Zoom after EK Court earlier the same day. Get dressed up in garb and set a table. We’ll have a three course feast. We’ll have cookbooks, you can use those or choose your own food. Eating and drinking will be interspersed with bardic performances, and an open bardic circle at the end.
Laila: for the Bardic competition, send in a video by November 1, in one of several categories (tacos!). The 1st round of competition is a pre-screening audition ahead of time. The crown bards will be helping to judge. It is open to entrants from anywhere, not just the East kingdom.
Friderich: we will have three cookbooks: Viking plausible by Arnbiorg, another by Edwin from Andalusian 13th Century cookbook, and the third is pre-Columbian MesoAmerican, by Perez. There are meats and vegetables and sweets in each menu — choose one menu, or mix and match, or go crazy and cook all three.
It’s a chance for us to get together and hang out in a social way.
Lada: When you register, there are optional mailing address fields, first 200 people to fill it out will get a custom postcard in the mail.
Friderich: If anyone else wants to help, Anne will need a team of Zoom experts to help with tech support at the time. Also looking for suggestions about how to set up your camera and table. Shoutouts to attractive tables. Email 110928@members.eastkingdom.org to volunteer. We have planning meetings Sunday afternoons which folks are welcome to join.
We’re hosting a virtual feast to celebrate Three Princes Day! Find out more about cooking, bardic, preregistration (and what Three Princes Day is) at https://ostgardr.eastkingdom.org/three-princes/
Østgarðr’s welcoming fire burns bright every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Join us as we warm ourselves sharing song & story!
7-9pm, Wednesday October 14th. https://meet.google.com/eqk-xdiy-ayxb
You may RSVP to the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/5Bxj12fvw
Østgarðr commons (social gathering & business meeting) will be held on our usual 3rd Friday of the month. Call starts at 7:30pm; business portion of the meeting will begin at 8pm, and is likely to last ~45 minutes. Socializing continues until everyone drops.
https://meet.google.com/nhu-qsgk-zzi
To join by phone instead, dial +1 402-364-0138 and enter this PIN: 616 864 602#
You may RSVP to the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/1PKGMdeiA
Find out more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/378041149908705/.
New to the SCA? Want to get an idea of what there is to do/get involved in? Or maybe you’ve been around for a bit and want to explore other things to try.
This class will cover the basics to getting started (including how to read an event announcement and some SCA-specific vocabulary), explore types of garb, things to do at events, and any questions you might have about getting started. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. There will be handouts that are basic class notes provided via PDF.
Google Meet link will be posted about 15 minutes ahead of the start time. There will be an option for dial-in by voice only, as well.
When: Tuesday 9/1/2020 from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST
Where: On Google Meet
Meeting ID
meet.google.com/bwx-irdz-woo
Phone Numbers (US)
+1 617-675-4444
PIN: 601 132 068 5638#
Description: Not sure how to make a personal page on the East Kingdom Wiki (or even just wondering what the East Kingdom Wiki is?). Join this class to walk through how to make a basic personal page for yourself.
When: Thursday 9/10/2020 from 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: On Google Meet
Meeting ID
meet.google.com/ory-bmbt-nyb
Phone Numbers
(US)
+1 617-675-4444
PIN: 443 344 016 8787#
Description: Have you wondered what an SCA Persona is or wanted to make your SCA Persona more useful? Join this class to review the basic concepts of persona and how to the persona work for you in your SCA experience.
Alec McL:
Alienor:
Angelica:
Anne:
Catelin:
Drasma:
Francisco:
Sofya:
Mathghamhain:
Uji:
Perez:
Richard:
Zahra:
Lada:
Ervald:
