Commons Minutes for June 2018

June 22, 2018 Posted inCommons

The June commons meeting was held June 15 at the home of Apollodora and Francisco in Northpass. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attending

Total of 29 people, of whom 6 were remote via video conference.

  • Suuder Saran, Viceroy — by video conference in transit and then in person
  • Lada Monguligin, Vicereine — by video conference in transit and then in person
  • Brennan mac Fearghus, King of the East — by video conference
  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal, Webminister
  • Angelica di Nova Lipa, Exchequer
  • Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, Minister of Arts & Sciences
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Marshal, Deputy Webminister
  • Ervald LaCoudre, Armored Combat Marshal
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Rufina Cambrensis, Chronicler — by video conference
  • John Elys, Deputy Chronicler — by video conference
  • Richard the Poor of Ely, Historian, Deputy Exchequer
  • Vika Grigina z Prahy, Whyt Whey Seneschal — by video conference
  • Apollodora of Delphi, Deputy Chatelaine, Deputy MoAS
  • Buenaventura Miguel Rivera de ponte roto, Northpass Exchequer
  • Wilhelm Larsson, Northpass Webminister
  • Grettir Bjarnylr, Northpass Chamberlain
  • Francisco Duraes, Brokenbridge Chronicler
  • Alissa
  • Donnchadh mac Eóin — by video conference
  • Friderich Grimme — by video conference
  • Gibbes Morrys
  • Jacqueline Loisel
  • Lilie Dubh inghean uí Mórdha
  • Luigi Vascili
  • Thomas of Northpass
  • Aurora ffolkes
  • Vladimir
  • Zillah

Commons Minutes for May 2018

June 11, 2018 Posted inCommons

The May commons meeting was held May 18 in Whyt Whey at the home of the Seneschal’s father-in-law. The location of this meeting was shifted at the last minute due a storm in the north of the province. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attending

  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal, Webminister
  • Beatrice della Rocca, Chatelaine
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Marshal, Deputy Webminister
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Erich Guter Muth, Minister of Lists
  • Richard the Poor of Ely, Historian, Deputy Exchequer
  • Buenaventura Miguel Rivera de ponte roto, Northpass Exchequer
  • Luigi Vascili
  • Jacqueline Helene Loisel
  • Branimira of the Isles

Open provincial offices: webminister, historian, exchequer

June 7, 2018 Posted inPositions

The Crown Province of Østgarðr has several officer positions that are coming open, and for which we are seeking candidates.  All positions are open to residents of Østgarðr who are current members of the society. (Please double-check your membership to make sure it hasn’t expired.)

If you are interested in any of the below positions (webminister, historian or exchequer), please submit a letter of intent to seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org by July 1st.  A letter of intent should include your Society name and membership number, the office in which you are interested, and any information you’d like to share with the voting officers about your qualifications or intentions for the office.  A vote or acclamation for each office will be held at the provincial commons meeting on July 20.

I. Østgarðr webminister

Although I have found it extremely convenient and personally rewarding to serve the province as both seneschal and webminister, those are major offices that should not be duplicated in a large, active, healthy group.  As such, I need to step down as webminister.

The webminister is responsible for keeping the provincial website up to date, posting minutes, meeting announcements and other relevant communications to the province.  Webminister also maintains the mailing lists that are hosted on the EK server.  Maintenance is minimal, as the website runs on a self-updating WordPress instance.  Technical skills involve being comfortable with web-based user interfaces for managing the content of the site and for interacting with the EK mail interfaces to Gmail and other google services.  The scope of the job can be greater for a candidate seeking additional opportunities to exercise their skills — the website is fully under their control.

The deputy webminister, Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, will continue to serve if desired, and is available for consultation, delegation and ongoing suport in this job.

If you have questions about what this job entails, you are encouraged to speak to me (webminister@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org), or to the viceregals (viceroy@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org, vicereine@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org).

II. Østgarðr historian

Master Richard the Poor has announced his intention to step down from his role as provincial historian at the end of June, after EK50.

The historian maintains a record of the major events in the life of the province.  You can view the past historical record on our website at https://ostgardr.eastkingdom.org/wordpress/category/annals/

If you have questions about what this job entails, you are encouraged to speak to Master Richard (historian@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org), to the provincial seneschal (seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org), or to the viceregals (viceroy@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org, vicereine@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org).

III. Østgarðr exchequer

Lady Angelica di Nova Lipa has been searching for some time for a candidate to take over the office of exchequer.  We are pleased to have heard from several individuals who are willing to take on this service.  If you have already volunteered, or if you would now like to submit your skills to the service of the province, please submit your letter of intent to seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org by July 1st.  Please indicate in your letter whether you are willing to serve as exchequer, as deputy exchequer, or as either.

The exchequer tracks our financial records, maintains the provincial bank account, and submits reports to the kingdom exchequerate.  We will provide training for this job before you are asked to take on the responsibility.  Being able to use a spreadsheet is a necessary component of this task.

If you have questions about what this job entails, you are encouraged to speak to Lady Angelica (exchequer@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org), to the provincial seneschal (seneschal@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org), or to the viceregals (viceroy@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org, vicereine@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org).

Commons Minutes for April 2018

May 3, 2018 Posted inCommons

The April commons meeting was held April 20 at the home of Arnora and Ragnarr in Brokenbridge. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attending

  • Suuder Saran, Viceroy
  • Lada Monguligin, Vicereine
  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal, Webminister
  • Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, Minister of Arts & Sciences
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Marshal, Deputy Webminister
  • Ervald LaCoudre, Armored Combat Marshal — Late arrival
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Rufina Cambrensis, Chronicler
  • Wilhelm Larsson, Northpass Seneschal
  • Brekke Franksdottir, Lions End Seneschal
  • Apollodora of Delphi, Deputy Chatelaine, Deputy MoAS
  • Arnora Ketilsdottir, Brokenbridge Exchequer
  • Ragnarr Bliskegg, Brokenbridge Herald
  • Buenaventura Miguel Rivera de ponte roto, Northpass Exchequer
  • Francisco de Braga, Northpass Chatelaine and Brokenbridge Chronicler
  • Marion of York, Lions End Lieutenant of Fence

Upcoming In & Around Østgarðr: April – June

April 20, 2018 Posted inCalendar

The spring calendar is packed with local and nearby events and activities!  Please check the provincial calendar or the provided links for more details.

With the warming weather, outdoor practices are starting up again for armored combat, fencing, and dance — the schedules and locations for those are still being adjusted but should be ironed out in the next week or two.

[Updated May 3 to add new practice dates.]

Friday, April 20 at 7:30pm — Ostgardr Commons in Brokenbridge

Saturday, April 21 at 10:00am — Lions Awaken in Lions End

Saturday, April 21 — Balfar’s Challenge in Dragonship Haven (Meriden, CT)

Sunday, April 22 at 11:00am — BrokenBridge Commons and A&S: Needle Lace

Every Tuesday at 7:30pm — Lions End Bardic Circle

Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Saturday, April 28 — Tournament of the Daffodils in Midland Vale (Goshen, NY)

Sunday, April 29 at 2:00pm — Picnic in the Ruins in Brokenbridge
Sunday, April 29 at 3:30pm — Northpass Embroidery Circle & Game Day

Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30pm — Fighter Practice in McCarren Park

Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Friday, May 4 at 7:00pm — Northern Østgarðr A&S

Sunday, May 6 at 9:00am — Lions End Archery Practice
Sunday, May 6 at 11:00am — Northpass Archery Practice
Sunday, May 6 at 12:00am — Staten Island Archery Practice

Monday, May 7 at 7:30pm — Lions End Commons

Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30pm — Northpass Commons

Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Thursday, May 10 at 7:30pm — Whyt Whey Evening in the Solar: Project Management for A&S Projects

Friday, May 11 at 6:00pm — Northern Northpass A&S Gathering

Saturday, May 12 — An Dubh Baronial Challenge (Middle Island)

Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30 — Central Park Dance Practice

Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Friday, May 18 at 7:30pm — Ostgardr Commons in Northpass

Saturday, May 19 — Viking Day Demo (Brokenbridge)

Saturday, May 19 — Baronial Investiture (Beyond The Mountain)

Sunday, May 20 at 11:00am — Northpass Archery Practice

Tuesday, May 22 at 6:30 — Central Park Dance Practice

Wednesday, May 23 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 — Northpass Fencing Practice

Saturday, May 26 at 11:00am — BrokenBridge Commons and Pennsic 101

Saturday–Monday, May 26–28 — War of the Roses (Concordia)

Tuesday, May 29 at 6:30 — Central Park Dance Practice

Wednesday, May 30 at 7:00 — Central Park Fencing Practice

Friday, June 1 at 7:00pm — Northern Østgarðr A&S

Saturday, June 2 — Farmingdale Demo (Farmingdale, NY)

Commons Minutes for March 2018

April 13, 2018 Posted inCommons

The March commons meeting was held March 16 at the home of Wilhelm and Conandil in Northpass. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attending

  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal, Webminister
  • Angelica di Nova Lipa, Exchequer
  • Beatrice della Rocca, Chatelaine
  • Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, Minister of Arts & Sciences
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Combat, Deputy Webminister
  • Ervald LaCoudre, Armored Combat Marshal
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Richard the Poor of Ely, Historian, Deputy Exchequer
  • Wilhelm Larsson, Northpass Seneschal
  • Brekke Franksdottir, Lions End Seneschal
  • Seònaid inghean Mhic Aoidh, Deputy Chatelaine, Deputy Book Herald
  • John Elys, Deputy Chronicler
  • Conandil, Northpass Minister of Arts & Science, Northpass Chronicler
  • Apollodora of Delphi, Brokenbridge Minister of Arts & Science, Brokenbridge Webminister, Northpass Chamberlain, Northpass Deputy Minister of Arts & Science
  • Marion of York, Lions End Lieutenant of Fence
  • Francisco de Braga, Northpass Chatelaine, Brokenbridge Chronicler
  • Oliver De Bainbrig, Northpass Constable, Northpass Brew Master
  • Ben of Brokenbridge
  • Christiana Sunshine
  • Cameron Sunshine
  • Suuder Saran, Viceroy — Delayed upon the road
  • Lada Monguligin, Vicereine — Likewise

Queen Caoilfhionn is in need of favors!

April 13, 2018 Posted inArts & Sciences

We’ve uploaded directions for creating the favors as well as a digitized format for embroidery machines. All interpretations on this design are welcome and encouraged. Favors can be done with embroidery, fabric paint, appliqué  beadwork, and any other techniques that showcase your own creativity

Favors can be given to Her Majesty’s Favor Coordinator, Dona Anastasia da Monte, myself,  any member of the Royal Staff or they can be mailed to Anastasia: Whitney Sternberg, 54 Shea Dr, Marlborough, MA, 01752.

Please be sure to include a note with your SCA name, modern name, mailing address and email with your completed favors.

Special thanks to Noble Apollodora of Delphi for digitizing the design. If you have any questions, please message me an email to: moas@ostgardr.eastkingdom.org

Mistress Sofya Gianetta di Trieste
Minister of Arts & Science
Crown Province of Ostgardr

The SCA: a view from middle school

April 3, 2018 Posted inUncategorized

What if we learned physics through weapons and armour? What if our physical education was through practice fighting with models of the same weapons and armour? What if we learned history from emulating history? I do many activities that other kids don’t do, including a more “full time” renaissance fair. The Society of Creative Anachronism(SCA) is dedicated to informing and teaching others about the world during the medieval era.

One thing I do is Youth combat, which is made to emulate Joust, which was not just about horseback riding and lances, but also just practice fighting in general. The way the base idea works is if you get hit on the head or the body, you’re dead. If you get hit on the arm, you lose that arm, and if you get hit above the knee, you lose that leg. I learned trough that, overtime, as people developed better armour and weapons, people would be given less and less mercy, as if you didn’t kill the other person first, then they would kill you. I also learned about a different way of fighting, hand to hand sarong fighting from indonesia and the philippines which relies on a scarf, belt, or other flexible piece of cloth. My mom learned how to make fabric and cord using 7 medieval techniques. My dad learned how to make a medieval “bender” tent. There are things for anyone who wants to join, if you want to learn how to cook food, fight, build, play games, or more. it’s also a good way to spend time with friends and family, as you can make some cool art, or weapon, or banner, or ring, or whatever you make, if there’s two or more people working on the same thing, together.

I also learned about physics from learning about weapons and armour. Celtic swords were heavy and unbalanced, not very useful for stabbing, but could swing strongly. From Celtic swords, Norman swords were lighter, more balanced, better at stabbing. Katanas were the bane of anyone foolish enough to get close – or not fast enough to get very far away to a samurai when unarmored, due to spreading out the force over the cut, and not one spot. Made as an stop all, end all solution to blades of all kinds, Plate armour was heavy, but good luck trying to kill the person in the armour with a bladed weapon. Due to the plates, you didn’t need a shield, and from that came the greatsword. To stop plates, there were the peasants, wielding mauls – giant hammers for wheat crops, useful for denting the armour. From that came double sided war hammers, half pick, half spiked hammer. It was an arms race, full of science the people using the weapons might not have fully understood, nor the builders. But it worked – and made some of the scariest weapons people had at that time, excluding war chariots. We don’t talk about the chariot, and definitely not the mongolian horses. Those are in their own category of weapons.

There are so many ways that people could use history to learn, not just about the past, but also about physics, languages, architecture, government, the arts, and even medicine.

Alaxandair wearing his shiny helmet.
Alaxandair helmed.

Upcoming In & Around Østgarðr: March & April

March 10, 2018 Posted inCalendar

Here are some upcoming local and nearby notable events & activities you might enjoy!  Please check the provincial calendar or the provided links for more details.

Thursday, March 8 at 7:30pm — Whyt Whey Evening in the Solar: Pysanky

Friday, March 9 at 7:00pm — Northern Ostgardr A&S: Garb

Friday–Sunday, March 9–11 — Known World A&S Symposium in Hartshorn-dale (Philadelphia)

Every Tuesday at 7:30pm — Lions End Bardic Circle

Friday, March 16 at 7:30pm — Ostgardr Commons in Northpass

Saturday, March 17 — Hrim Schola in Dragonship Haven (Middlefield, CT)

Saturday, March 17 at 11:00am — BrokenBridge Commons followed by A&S: Embroidery class

Sunday, March 18 at 1:00pm — A&S Workshop in Northpass

Friday, March 23 at 6:00pm — Archery Practice in Northpass

Saturday, March 24 — Mudthaw in Settmour Swamp (Roseland, NJ)

Saturday, March 31 at 12:00pm — Heraldic Symposium in Whyt Whey

Monday, April 2 at 7:30pm — Lions End Commons Meeting

Friday, April 6 at 7:00pm — Northern Østgarðr A&S

Saturday, April 7 — Coronation in Quintavia (Worcester, MA)

Tuesday, April 10 at 7:30pm — Northpass Commons

Thursday, April 12 at 7:00pm — Whyt Whey Commons followed by Evening in the Solar

Friday–Sunday, April 13–15 — Brew U in Northpass

Friday, April 20 at 7:30pm — Ostgardr Commons in Brokenbridge

Saturday, April 21 at 10:00am — Lions Awaken in Lions End

Saturday, April 21 — Balfar’s Challenge in Dragonship Haven (Meriden, CT)

Sunday, April 29 at 1:00pm — Picnic in the Ruins in Brokenbridge

Commons Minutes for February 2018

March 10, 2018 Posted inCommons

The February commons meeting was held February 16 at the workplace of Ervald LaCoudre in Ostgardr. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attending

  • Suuder Saran, Viceroy
  • Angelica di Nova Lipa, Exchequer
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Combat, Deputy Webminister
  • Ervald LaCoudre, Armored Combat Marshal
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Richard the Poor of Ely, Historian, Deputy Exchequer
  • Wilhelm Larsson, Northpass Seneschal
  • Brekke Franksdottir, Lions End Seneschal
  • Brandr Aronsson, Brokenbridge Seneschal
  • Jacqueline
  • Thorfinnr Hrothgeirsson, Whyt Whey Deputy MoAS
  • Arnora Ketilsdottir, Brokenbridge Exchequer
  • Marion of York, Lions End Lieutenant of Fence
  • Ozurr the Bootgiver, Armored Combat Champion