From our Vicereagents – A January letter

Ostgardr court in session at Deck the Halls of Valhalla
Image courtesy of Sir Valgard Stonecleaver (mka Michael A. Cramer)

Deck the Halls of Valhalla infused our hearts with joy and warmth, marking a splendid beginning to the new year. The blend of new faces and cherished friends created an atmosphere of true delight, making the event exceptionally memorable. From outstanding classes to delectable food, every element of the day contributed to its perfection. Thank you to all who made this event a success, especially our two co-stewards Drasma Dragomira and Arnora Ketilsdottir.

Angelica and I were overjoyed to welcome Vitasha Ivanova doch’ into the esteemed Order of the Silver Lantern. Likewise, Abu Duruz Ibrahim ibin Musa al-Rashid received well-deserved recognition and joined the prestigious Order of the Silver Sea Lion and Silver Lantern.

But wait, there’s more to celebrate! This past Saturday at Birka in the Barony of Stonemarche, Perez ben Meir Gershon was honored with his induction into the Order of the Silver Brooch for his exceptional culinary skills.

Some samples of Perez ben Meir Gershon’s culinary delights!
Images courtesy of Perez ben Meir Gershon mka Gavin Skal


Cheers to these remarkable moments that continue to fill our hearts with warmth and delight!

Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!

Sofya Gianetta di Trieste & Angelica di Nova Lipa
Viceregents-Crown Province of Ostgardr

A letter from our Seneschal

To the Populace of the Crown Province of Østgarðr,

Happy New Year to all my fellow Østgarðians!  This is my first official hello as your new Seneschal. This will be an exciting time for me as I work to get up to speed with everything that is going on within the Province.  I am truly looking forward to working with you all to make the Crown Province excel in this coming year.  

I first want to thank Lord Nagashima Ichiro Ujimichi for all your hard work as Seneschal of Østgarðr.  Your leadership has been valuable to the Province and I hope that I can continue all the good work you have done for us.  

To all the Canton Seneschals, I can’t wait to work with you all.  I will be reaching out this week to formally introduce myself and see what help you need and what major issues you are dealing with.  I want to make sure our Cantons are strong and healthy and will help where I can.

To all the returning officers of Østgarðr, thank you for your continued service.  Your knowledge and experience of the workings of your position will be invaluable during this time. You are the backbone of our Province and appreciate your continued support.

To all the new officers of Østgarðr, thank you for stepping up.  As a new officer also, I probably know some of the feelings you are experiencing right now.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. If you are in a position that you need help or guidance with, please let me know and let’s work on it together to help you succeed!

And last but by no means least, to the populace of Østgarðr, thank you for your support.  Thank you for being with us and being part of the SCA.  I have heard some exciting things are coming and I look forward to what we all can accomplish together.

-Ragnarr Blaskegg

Seneschal of Østgarðr

A New Acting Chatelaine and Accepting Chatelaine Candidates

I would like to extend my thanks to Lord Albrecht Anker for his service as Provincial Chatelaine and for his continuing service to the Province. I would also like to thank Armiger Catelin Straquhin for stepping up as our Acting Chatelaine. 

The Province is accepting nominations for Chatelaine until December 26th. If there are no other candidates, in accordance with our charter, the Provincial Officers will vote starting on December 27th and ending December 31st. 

If there is another candidate, then the election will be open to the populace of Østgarðr who are registered members of the SCA and are at least 14 years old. The earliest the election would take place will be January 28th.

Yours In Service,

Nagashima Ichiro Ujimichi

長島 一路 宇治道

He/Him/His

Østgarðr Seneschal

From the Viceregents

I must admit, I dropped the ball.

Usually, I’m all about sharing the awesome stuff our community does, but after having a blast cheering on our fighters at 100 Minutes War, I totally spaced on coming back to spread the joy and pride of the day.

Furthermore, I failed to communicate the well-deserved recognition bestowed upon two of our esteemed citizens by Their Majesties.

Congratulations to Zahra de Andaluzia for her induction into the Order of the Maunche and Abu-Duruz Ibrahim al-Rashid ibn Musa al-Rashid for his induction into the Order of the Golden Rapier. Their achievements are truly commendable, and I apologize for not promptly celebrating and sharing these moments of honor and accomplishment.

Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!Sofya and AngelicaViceregents, Crown Province of Ostgardr

Meet the Candidates for Provincial Seneschal next Wednesday

With the upcoming officer election we have 2 candidates for the Crown Province of Ostgardr Seneschal office.
Candidates are:

– Nagashima Ichiro Ujimichi
– Ragnarr Blaskegg

We will hold a virtual Meet the Candidates night to have give the populace an opportunity to get to know the candidates and as them questions.

When: Wednesday 11/29/2023, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Google Meet https://meet.google.com/dnd-yzpw-beq?hs=224

When there is more than candidate for an office all residents of the Crown Province who are paid members over the age of 14 are able to vote in the election. Election will be held via electronic ballot.

Questions can be asked live during the meeting or submitted to Their Excellencies Angelica and Sofya at viceregents@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org if you wish to have your question asked anonymously.

Provincial Officer Nominations and Selection

The current terms for the following positions are coming to a close: Seneschal, Herald, Webminister, Historian, and Fencing Marshal. Additionally, there are several Provincial officer positions that currently have no incumbents: Archery Captain, Youth Combat Marshal, and Chamberlain. Furthermore, the position of Knight Marshal currently has an interim officer.

It’s worth noting that some offices, namely Seneschal, Fencing Marshal, Knight Marshal, and Historian, have incumbents who are willing to continue their service. However, we are still welcoming Letters of Intent (LOI) for these positions. Please be aware that the office of Knight Marshal will be filled mid-term, and whomever assumes this position will complete the previous term, which concludes on December 31, 2024. All other positions mentioned here will begin a new two-year term starting on January 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2025.

Descriptions of responsibilities for each office are available, along with links to the kingdom websites that outline relevant policies and procedures: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VIThUCBgOQSvMaj5fE120s-bwnMTHDUfutHFMnv5vSE/preview. If you have questions about any of these positions, please reach out to the current office holder or to others in provincial leadership (such as the Vicerienes or Seneschal) for more information about what the position entails.

The Province is inviting individuals who can fulfill the responsibilities of these roles, including maintaining an active SCA membership and attending at least 50% of the commons meetings to submit their LOI. We will be accepting LOIs until November 14, 2023. To submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), send an email to the Seneschal and the Viceregents. In the email, state which officer position you are interested in and any pertinent information that outlines your qualifications for said office. A link to your East Kingdom wiki page or other resources might also be useful to include.

If there is only one candidate for a particular office, the Officers’ Council will hold a simple majority vote to confirm the appointment on November 15, 2023. For positions with multiple candidates, a special meeting to introduce the candidates will be scheduled between November 15, 2023, and December 19, 2023. An online voting period will occur during this time as well. The results will be announced during the December commons meeting on December 20, 2023.

If you think you might be interested in eventually serving in one of these offices, but aren’t ready to take on the responsibility quite yet, please volunteer to serve as a deputy or assistant to the office for the coming term, which will let you get hands-on experience in a supportive environment.

Yours In Service,
Nagashima Ichiro Ujimichi
長島 一路 宇治道
He/Him/His
Østgarðr Seneschal

Come to the Østgarðr Third Annual Apple Picking Day

Join Østgarðr as we gather at Harvest Moon & Orchard for our 3rd annual Apple Picking trip!

Where: Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard 130 Hardscrabble Rd. North Salem, NY
When: Sunday, October 15th
Time: approximately 1pm.

All friends of Østgarðr are welcome to join us!

**Please note: Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard requires a ticket purchase for entry, $15 per person, which does not include apples. You must purchase your own tickets directly from the orchard. Ticket purchase for 10/15 is NOW open!

Get your tickets A.S.A.P. as they are sold with limited timed entries through the website below.

https://harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com

See you there!

Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, OL
Crown Province of Ostgardr

Upcoming in Østgarðr: October 2nd to October 15th

Here is what’s happening this week in Østgarðr. Come join us for…

Tue.
10/3
6:00 p.m. –
10:00 p.m.
Østgarðr Fighting & Fencing Practice
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details
Thu.
10/5
7:00 p.m. –
9:00 p.m.
Inaugural Medieval Music Jam Session!
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details
Sat.
10/7
9:00 a.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Cancelled: Demonstration at The King’s County Fiber Festival
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Cancelled

and next week…

Tue.
10/10
6:00 p.m. –
10:00 p.m.
Østgarðr Fighting & Fencing Practice
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details
Sat.
10/14
11:00 a.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Cooking Workshop: Goat’s Inn Pre-Preparation
(Mohegan Lake, NY)
Details
Sun.
10/15
1:00 p.m. –
4:00 p.m.
Østgarðr Third Annual Apple Picking Day
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(North Salem, NY)
Details

Upcoming in Østgarðr: September 25th to October 8th

Here is what’s happening this week in Østgarðr. Come join us for…

Mon.
9/25
7:00 p.m. –
9:00 p.m.
Northpass Business Meeting
Canton of Northpass
(online)
Details
Tue.
9/26
6:00 p.m. –
10:00 p.m.
Østgarðr Fighting & Fencing Practice
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details
Wed.
9/27
7:00 p.m. –
8:00 p.m.
Planning Meeting: Kings County Fiber Fest
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(online)
Details

and next week…

Tue.
10/3
6:00 p.m. –
10:00 p.m.
Østgarðr Fighting & Fencing Practice
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details
Sat.
10/7
9:00 a.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Demonstration at The King’s County Fiber Festival
Crown Province of Østgarðr
(Brooklyn, NY)
Details

Come to the Østgarðr Pre-Pennsic Melee Practice

The Crown Province of Ostgardr, flush with enough new fighters to field an ice hockey team, is hosting a “last-chance-before-Pennsic” melee practice, right here in one of the most car-accessible parks in NYC! (which is also less than a half mile from the famous, century-old Bohemian Beer Garden).

This event will have two melee fields, one for armored combat, one for rapier fencing, dedicated to melee training for Pennsic. Both fighting units and individual fighters are invited to attend. The idea is to prepare the new fighters for as much of what they should expect at Pennsic as we can, while the experienced and established fighters and units can practice what they know and try new things before facing the Might of the Midrealm on the field at Cooper’s Lake.

We will be holding authorizations at this event.

We regret that there will be no missile or siege weapons of any kind at this practice. The public will be too close and all around us.

The site is Astoria Park, conveniently located less than a mile from the RFK (Triboro) Bridge. There is a parking lot, not far from the field we have reserved, and an entrance much closer to it, so you can drop stuff at the entrance and then go park your car if you wish.

There is no site fee, as this is a public park. The event runs from 10 AM – 6 PM, with an hour before and an hour after for set-up and cleanup. You may come as early as you like, and stay as long as you want to enjoy the park, because it is quite a lovely park and the sun will rise early and set late.

We are working on the plan for refreshments during the day, but we definitely will be going to the Bohemian Beer Garden afterwards.


Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary.