EK Seneschal Announces Updates to Kingdom In-Person Event Guidelines
Editors Note: This article has been updated to include the survey link, and also to correct a typographical error in the original text in section 2.A.1 of the East Kingdom Additional Requirements section. Questions about this change should be directed to the East Kingdom seneschal.
The Board of Directors has decided that in-person events can resume June 1, 2021, with limitations (see the full Board announcement in my previous message for details).
We have updated the East Kingdom’s in-person event guidelines, which are below. These will also be posted to all official communication channels, as well as on the East Kingdom Seneschal’s webpage (seneschal.eastkingdom.org).
A survey to gauge the Kingdom’s level of comfort with returning to events will be sent to branch seneschals and chatelaines and will be published in all official communication channels. We encourage the populace to full out the survey so we can better guide the East Kingdom’s slow and careful return to in-person events.
4/2 update: the survey is now available at this link: East Kingdom Resumption of Activities Survey
In service to the East Kingdom,
Medhbh, Kingdom Seneschal
Tindal and Alberic, Consules of the East
**********************************************
Greetings to the populace of the East Kingdom,
We continue to be in a phase of transition as various states/provinces within the Kingdom re-open for public activity in several stages. All who wish to return to in-person activities in the East must follow their state/province and local government requirements, and these Kingdom guidelines. We also strongly recommend following the safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. We continue to honor the choices of those who will be refraining from public gatherings for quite some time.
The Board of Directors has lifted the suspension of in-person activities as of June 1, 2021, subject to the following restrictions (copied verbatim from item VI in the Board’s resolution):
1. Masks that fully cover the mouth and nose must be worn by all attendees over the age of 4 at all times and during all activities except for eating and drinking;
2. Court, bardic circles, or any activity that involves voice projection shall also require that masks be worn at all times. Sound amplification devices are highly recommended;
3. No day board, water bearing, or food of any kind shall be provided by event staff or attendees to other attendees. All attendees must provide their own food and beverages;
4. While consuming food or beverages, attendees are required to remain stationary and follow social distancing rules;
5. No overnight camping shall be allowed;
6. All events shall be held outdoors;
7.There shall be a maximum of 150 people at any event; and
8. All events shall require preregistration.
As has been stated all along, any and all state, provincial, or local health regulations and guidelines will of course need to be followed, including keeping up with changes to government policy based on updated information. Be aware that some local jurisdictions have stricter requirements than their state/province. We also strongly recommend following the safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. The Society Seneschal further notes, regarding the prohibition on the event providing food or beverage: At this time, individual, sealed, commercial bottles of water may be provided by the event to attendees if necessary.
Within the scope of state & local requirements and the Board’s guidelines, the Crown and Seneschal of the East Kingdom strongly encourage all gatherings to remain explicitly very small — martial & A&S practices, guild and other topic-specific meetings, small events. The Kingdom Earl Marshal will provide specific guidance about martial practices.
If in-person business meetings resume, the meeting must also include a virtual component so that as many members of the group who wish to attend may do so.
Additional Requirements for East Kingdom in-person activities (June 1, 2021):
1. Do not attend an in-person activity if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop symptoms after attending an in-person activity, you must notify the person in charge of the activity as soon as possible. If you have an underlying condition which increases your risk, strongly consider your own health and safety before attending an in-person activity.
2. In addition to the requirements of state/province and local governments and the SCA Inc.’s Board of Directors, in-person gatherings in the East Kingdom at this time must:
A. Submit a plan to their local seneschal (except martial practices, who submit their
plans as directed by the Kingdom Earl Marshal)
(i) Showing that the type and size of the gathering is allowed under current state/province/local guidelines (copy of the relevant part of government re-opening language is sufficient).
(ii) Showing the organizer’s specific plans for complying with government and these Kingdom guidelines.
(iii) If the organizer is the group’s local seneschal, the plan must be submitted to the group’s regional deputy
(iv) The local seneschal or regional deputy must approve the plan in writing via their official East Kingdom email address before the activity can take place
(v) Once a local or regional seneschal approves an event, they must email it to the Kingdom Seneschal for record-keeping.
B. Have sign-in sheets for contact tracing
(i) Full legal name
(ii) Society name
(iii) Current phone number or email address
(iv) Minors will be signed in under their parent’s contact information
(v) Contact tracing sheets will be retained by the activity organizer and will not be added to a database or other Kingdom records
C. Specific requirements for martial practices, including reporting, will be provided by the Kingdom Earl Marshal
3. At this time, the Society’s legal counsel has said that we cannot require vaccinations to attend an event. If that position changes, these guidelines will be updated. We can follow CDC guidelines in addition to state/local public health policy.
Event organizers wishing to require a negative COVID test as a condition of entry MUST contact the Kingdom Seneschal well in advance to request a variance from the Board before approval for their event will be granted. Because any version of sharing medical information is sensitive, the Board has required this step.
We look forward to a slow and careful re-opening of the Kingdom and a return to the activities that all have missed so much. We hope to see you soon.
In service to the East Kingdom,
Medhbh, Kingdom Seneschal
Tindal and Alberic, Consules of the East