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.

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.

Viceregal election

July 28, 2005 Posted inPositions, What's new
  • July 28, 2005: Baronial Review results, revised
    Their Majesties have agreed with Ian and Katherine to initiate the process of choosing a new Viceroy/reine, but on a “less precipitous schedule” than previously announced (which was to start at Barleycorn this September).
    To read more about the process of choosing new titular heads, please see East Kingdom Law, section VII, sections C and F.8. In brief, as I understand it,…

    1. Since the Viceroy and Vicereine are stepping down voluntarily, they will probably continue to serve until new office-holder(s) is/are chosen and invested, and there will be no need to appoint a Vicar.
    2. A poll of the populace may be held to determine whether the Crown Province wishes to retain its current status, become an ordinary Province (Baronial level, but with no titular head(s), or become a Shire. As far as I know, there is no public sentiment to change status, so I expect this will be skipped.
    3. Assuming the Crown Province chooses to remain a Crown Province, then another poll of the populace is held to determine the new titular head(s). The result of the poll is determined by simple majority; if no one candidate receives a majority vote, the Crown decides how to interpret the poll.

    Each of the two aforementioned polls involves sending, by U.S. mail, a ballot to every paid SCA member who resides inside the Crown Province and is at least 14 years old. The deadline for returning these ballots will be at least one month and at most three months after the ballots are mailed. (If you want to be polled, you might want to get your paid membership in soon….)
    All candidates for Viceregal positions must be at least 18 years old, reside inside the Crown Province, be paid SCA members, and not hold any other Provincial office during the candidacy (except as specifically permitted by the Crown).
    The Viceroy writes:

    [If you’re considering taking on the job of Viceroy/Vicereine,] please use the Pennsic War as a time to seek info on what it means to be a Territorial baron in the East and in the SCA. Speak to the Barons and Baronesses of our adjoining groups, Settmour Swamp and An Dubhaigeainn. Speak to Baroness Bridge, who has been in office almost as long as Katherine and me. Speak to Baron Salamallah, who retired a few years ago as Baron Beyond the Mountain. His games booth is opposite the barn. Come speak to Katherine and me. We want our successors to be able to nurture Østgarðr as we have. I do not yet know the timeline for the selection process. Katherine and I will be talking to Sir Edward after the war to get things going.

     

  • Weather Forecast for Slippery Rock, PA
  • Road construction between here and Pennsic: see State of Pennsylvania Interstate Highways for updates.
  • Some pertinent Pennsylvania state traffic laws:
    • When driving through a posted construction area, you must have your headlights on.
    • Booster seats are required for children 4-8, and baby/child seats for infants and toddlers. See Pennsylvania state law concerning child safety seats.
    • When driving through a posted construction area, don’t speed: 11 MPH over the speed limit can get your license suspended for 15 days.