Meeting Minutes - January 2006

Present:  Viteliano, Vettoria, Kudrun, Ailis, Maewyn, Rhuadhan, Brilliana, Bronislava, Arnora, Alhwin, Valgarth, Ariella

Meeting called to order at 3:05 pm.

Officer's Reports

Arts and Sciences

• List was passed around.
• Semi-annual report was submitted and copied to the Seneschal.

Chronicler

• Had computer problems as well as a run-over cellphone earlier. Kudrun released a postcard-sized "Not the Birch" filler newsletter.
• Has not been able to reach Toki regarding the subscriber list, which is likewise preventing the Birch from going out to subscribers.

Exchequer

• Officer's funds were topped up.
• The new $50 fund for the Herald's office (approved at the Dec. meeting) was created.
• The Shire's finances stand as follows:
  
  

  Account		Assets
  Bank and Cash Accounts - Spendable Cash	$	2,440.38
  Arts & Sciences	$	50.00
  Chiurgeon	$	60.00
  Copies and Postage	$	20.00
  Event Reserve	$	800.00
  Griffin	$	45.00
  Herald	$	50.00
  Knight Marshall	$	40.00
  Minister of Youth	$	30.00
  Non-member Surcharge	$	90.00
  Rapier	$	54.56
  White Birch	$	170.23
  Total Assets:	$	3,850.17

Herald

• Domesday has been submitted.
• Found several promising books on Amazon.com, but wasn't certain that she could return them if they weren't as useful as they looked because there is no paper sales receipt. Various gentles suggested that the email confirmation and/or packing slip should suffice.

Rapier Marshal

• Alhwin met a possibly returning SCA member while at the last Coille Stormeille practice in Wilton. Hopefully more to follow.
• The next practice at Wilton will be February 28th. Contact Alhwin if you are interested in sharing the trip.

Seneschal

• Coille Stormeille is looking for someone to provide lunch for their That Moot Thingy, but this is two weeks before Tournament of Champions. No real enthusiasm for committing shown from Rokeclif, so the idea was tabled.
• Shattered Oak will host a SUN (Stellar University of Northshield) event in May. The seneshal strongly recommends this event, as an opportunity for Shire members to teach what they know or learn something new. Also the event is close (Augusta, WI) compared to other Northshield events. Bronislava pointed out that SUNs are good events for newer members because they allow you to "dabble" in a wide variety of crafts/activities.

Thrown Weapons

• No practices arranged, although the weather has been unseasonably amiable. Maewyn joked that if you know of an ex's wedding, let him know, and he'll schedule a practice to guarantee rain for that day. Vettoria pointed out that traditionally rain on one's wedding day guaranteed wealth, and the offer was duly retracted.

Webminister

• Just a reminder to anyone who has content for the Tournament of Champions website right now to kindly submit it before Monday, Jan. 23rd (i.e. the start of the Spring Semester).

New Business

Tournament of Champions

• The Sacred Heart site in La Crosse has been pretty much ruled out. Tournament of Champions will be held in Taylor, and we will have access to additional rooms.
• A field trip to a kitchen supply store in Rochester is planned because we can buy serving feastgear for less than retail. Arnora already has a list of what's needed. Maewyn plans on taking his van, which can accommodate a number of people. The trip is tentatively scheduled for a Saturday after the "practice feast" to be held after the February populace meeting.
• Alhwin may be able to obtain oak cutting boards ("I know a guy" The guy is his brother) for free. Alhwin was authorized to obtain up to six.
• We are currently planning on 50 for feast; however, if we receive 40 pre-registrations by the week of the event, we can up that to 80, assuming that Maewyn is comfortable with the staffing.
• Maewyn gave a quick rundown of the feast menu that was hashed out during last month's meeting of the major players. Their Highnesses have already been contacted regarding food allergies, which they apparently don't have. Maewyn and Ariella will publish the menu and ingredients list on the event website.
• Aine has done work for the list and finding marshals. We will need to borrow marshals because our own group Knight Marshal (Giles) is Autocrat.
• Gavin has agreed to be Chiurgeon for the event.
• No site token idea decided on, although ideas were bandied about.
• Arnora has volunteered to coordinate the volunteer signup on site.
• Arnora also volunteered to make the sashes for the event staff. Per Vettoria's suggestion, she will use green felt so that no sewing should be involved, and badges can be attached with velcro.
• We will attempt to find another group to serve lunch at the event. Failing that, we will serve sub sandwiches. (Webminister's Note:   There was no indication of who, if anyone, agreed to contact the other parties. Please contact Ariella to update this information.)
• Alhwin proposed holding a meeting of the principal event staff (Autocrat, feastocrat/server coordinator, volunteer coordinator, etc.) to create a checklist for the event, including setup and takedown.
• Vitaliano offered to organize youth activities if we need them.
• Site fee will be set at $5, which includes the $1 Kingdom Fund tax. Feast is set at $8 for pre-registered gentles; $10 the day of the event. (Children's feast fee is half; infants free.)

Other New Business

• The main branch of the La Crosse Public Library will be a "default" meeting site, at least when the weather is too cold to meet in a park or we don't need special facilities, such as the traditional December potluck or for non-meeting activities such as moots. (Note:   Next month's meeting will be part of the moot held at Maewyn's house.)
• Bronislava proposed that we make the Shire's motto "We know a guy." in honor of Alhwin and Vitaliano's running joke from the December and January meetings. No formal motion was made or vote taken.

Meeting adjourned at 4:27 pm.

Credits: Exchequer details provided by Vettoria Soranzo. Thanks to Vitaliano (formerly called Shane) and Vettoria for the homemade carroway-seasoned pretzels that they shared with the populace.

Page last updated:  16 January 2006