Secunda Epistula, Sententiae Viceregalis

December 15, 2006 Posted inPositions

Sententiae Viceregalis

Secunda Epistula, Dec AS XLI

by Alexandre Lerot d’Avigne and Eularia Trewe,
Viceroy and Vicereine of Østgarðr

Greetings again to the people of the Crown Province of Østgarðr from Alexandre and Eularia, Viceroy and Vicereine of Østgarðr. Our thanks go out this time to those who made Agincourt such a pleasure this year: the autocrat, head cook, and the many, many people whose hands make light (or lighter at least) work. Which brings us to this month’s topic. In the Prima Epistula, we spoke of the officers who keep the groups functioning. This month We shall speak of event staff, those who make events happen.

Unlike the Officer Corp, Event staff can vary quite a bit depending on the kind of event. Typically, an event will require some or all of:

  • an autocrat, the main organizer of the event
  • a co-autocrat, often a less experienced person learning the ropes
  • a head cook, if food is to be served
  • cooking crew, if more than a little bit of food is to be served
  • marshals, if there’s martial activity
  • merchant wranglers, if there is space for merchants
  • set-up crew, to get the hall or space into shape for the event
  • clean up crew, to return the site to good shape for site owner

Event staff are not required to be officers. In many cases it is better if they are not, since the officers have regular duties which take up their time, and running events takes up a lot of time, although over a shorter period. However, there is sometimes overlap, particularly among the various marshallates.

What this means is that anyone can run an event or help in running an event. It all starts with an idea and a proposed autocrat. From there, a bid is prepared and the event is on its way to becoming reality.

The Provincial Officer Corp is developing guidelines to clarify what is needed to put together an event bid, but in essence a bid is a proposal put to the officers of the Province or a Canton for an event. It should include some discussion of what staff will be needed and who will fill those positions, when and where the event will be, what activities are planned, and some budgetary information. The bid allows the group to decide if they will sanction the event; without that sanction it can not be an official SCA event.

With traditional events, some of those steps are often taken care of: there may be a traditional date or site, or both, for instance. With traditional events, an autocrat is sometimes drafted if no one has volunteered, but if someone wants to autocrat one of the traditional events, We and the officers are delighted to hear from them, and will do our best to provide the new autocrat with the tools needed to succeed. It is usually a good idea to volunteer as co-autocrat first, since events often represent a substantial investment of group funds and energy.

If autocratting is a bit daunting, try volunteering to help out in some other way with the event. Autocrats are almost always looking for people to fill out their staff and it’s a good way to get your feet wet.

Baron Alexandre Baroness Eularia
Viceroy of Østgarðr Vicereine of Østgarðr

Prima Epistula, Sententiae Viceregalis

November 15, 2006 Posted inPositions, What's new

Sententiae Viceregalis

Prima Epistula, Nov AS XLI

by Alexandre Lerot d’Avigne and Eularia Trewe,
Viceroy and Vicereine of Østgarðr

Greetings to the people of the Crown Province of Østgarðr from Alexandre and Eularia, Viceroy and Vicereine of Østgarðr. First we wish to express Our thanks to everyone who was involved in Our investiture at John Barleycorn this year, and with the event in general. We are pleased and honoured to be Viceregents of a group so rich in history, talent, skill and knowledge as Østgarðr. We shall serve the Province to the best of Our ability.

However, a group as large and diverse as Østgarðr requires a great many people to function effectively. Broadly speaking, there are two sets of people who do the work that keep a local group such as this one strong: the Officers and the Event Staff, who are sometimes the same people. We shall talk about Events and Event Staff in an upcoming epistle, writing about the officers now.

The Crown Province is required by East Kingdom Law to have the following officers:

  1. Seneschal
  2. Herald
  3. Knight Marshal
  4. Chancellor of the Exchequer
  5. Chronicler
  6. Minister of Arts and Sciences
  7. Minister of Lists
  8. Chatelaine

The Cantons must have:

  1. Seneschal
  2. Chancellor of the Exchequer
  3. Herald and/or Knight Marshal and/or Minister of Arts and Sciences

Serving as an officer is a good way to get more involved in the SCA, in this great hobby which exists only because those involved give of their time, energy and talents to make it exist. Each of the officers listed above, at both the Cantonal and Provincial level, may and should have deputies. Deputies help their principal, learn the duties of their principal and sometimes take on specific duties as their own bailiwick. The main requirements to be an officer are an interest in the job and in helping the group, and the willingness to do the work. On-the-job training is available for deputies!

We urge any and all of you, new to the SCA or long-time member, to consider serving your Province or, where applicable, your Canton as an Officer. Speak to the Officers and find out what they do and if they’d like a deputy. Get involved behind the scenes and help keep the Province strong.

Baron Alexandre Baroness Eularia
Viceroy of Østgarðr Vicereine of Østgarðr

New Viceroy/Vicereine

June 28, 2006 Posted inPositions, What's new

June 28, 2006: Their Majesties announced the results of the Viceregal Succession Poll: Alexandre and Eularia will be the next Viceroy and Vicereine of Østgarðr, to be invested at Barleycorn on September 9.

Vivant! to the new Viceregency. Vivant! to the outgoing Viceregency, taking a well-deserved retirement from the position after c. 25 years. Vivant! to the other candidates, Andrea MacIntyre, Renier Verplanck, and Aurora ffolks; all the candidates ran courteous, thoughtful campaigns and brought good ideas to our attention.

Annal for A.S. XL (5/05 – 4/06)

April 30, 2006 Posted inAnnals

Patricia of the Tangled Wyldes took over as seneschal of Northpass in May; Thomas of Northpass took that position in January. Jibril al Dakhil received an Order of the Tygers Combattant on June 23 at Southern Region War Camp. At Pennsic, Andrea McIntire was inducted into both the Order of the Pelican and Order of the Laurel. Lile Dubh inghean ui Mordha took over as Chatelaine and Jan aff Visby became the Minister of Lists in September, and Gideanus Tacitus Adamantius filled in as Exchequer in November. At Coronation on September 24, the husband and wife team of Johannes and Johanna of Visby were both inducted into the Order of the Silver Crescent. At Twelfth Night on January 14, Alaric Jaeger von Bremen was inducted into the Order of the Maunche. The Queens County Fair demo was held the weekend of September 24 & 25.The Feast of the Sated Sultan was held on October 8, Agincourt on November 19, and Celtic Silliness on March 18.

The Canton of Brokenbridge was reorganized under a new group of officers and members, and its incipiency was announced at Crown Tourney on October 15. Aethelstan of St. Maur was the seneschal-designate. In January, Freiderich of Northpass took over as Captain of Archers (the office had been essentially vacant for four years), Jibril al-Dakhil resigned as Knight Marshal (no replacement was named at the time). In January, Brithwen de Boreshulla took over as Provincial Seneschal and in February Tauna Aelswith became the Seneschal of Whyt Whey.

Also this year, Ian and Katherine announced their intentions to resign as Viceroy and Vicereine.

It was also during this time that confusion in the Exchequer’s office (primatily at the Kingdom level) led to the Canton of Northpass being placed under suspension for improper reporting. Canton events were thus held under the “sponsorship” of the Province while the matter was resolved.

Madeleine Pelner Cosman passed

March 19, 2006 Posted inIn Memoriam, What's new
  • March 19, 2006: Madeleine Pelner Cosman, author of Fabulous Feasts (among other books), passed away. She wasn’t a member of the SCA, and this book has been superseded by subsequent research, but for many years it was the only easily-accessible book on medieval cooking, and as such it got a lot of SCA cooks started.

Viceregal succession timeline

January 20, 2006 Posted inPositions, What's new
  • Jan. 20, 2006: Since the announcement didn’t get into the December or January Pikestaff, the timetable for Viceregal succession has been pushed back a bit:
    • Feb. 15, due date for self-nominations (send to Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, Kingdom Seneschal, and (as a courtesy) Ian and Katherine.
    • Feb. 15-April 18, “campaign” period. Sir Edward would like to have a “Town Meeting” in each of the eight modern counties that make up Østgarðr. (It was pointed out at Commons that very few Østgarðrians live in Putnam County, and some of them are candidates, so the Westchester and Putnam County meetings may be combined.) You may attend whichever meeting(s) you wish, regardless of where you live.
    • April 18, Polls are mailed to all paid members of the SCA, 14 years or older, living in the official boundaries of Østgarðr. If you want to be polled, make sure your membership is paid by the end of March.
    • May 18, polling closes, and the ballots are counted.
    • Late May or early June, Their Majesties announce their choice for Viceroy and/or Vicereine of Østgarðr, informed and advised (but not bound) by the poll results.
    • September 9, investiture at Barleycorn.