Returning to events, a few reminders from the Kingdom Seneschal

I share with you the reminders I sent to branch Seneschals earlier today. As you plan or attend events in the next few months, please keep these in mind.

As always, I am happy to answer your questions.

 

Always first: follow all federal/province/state/local requirements. These continue to be somewhat fluid, so activity organizers must stay up to date.

1. Per Society, all official activities of any size or type — practice, meeting, event, etc. — need to do the following:
   • A Pre-reg/have a list of those attending with their legal name and a contact number/email. There are many ways pre-reg might look; do what works for your branch & activity. Practices and meetings can simply have a sign-in sheet for those who arrive, rather than pre-reg.Seneschals will keep the sign-in sheets for 60 days after the activity,  and then dispose of them appropriately.
   • No shared food sponsored by/paid for by the branch, which includes feasts, open day boards, pot luck meals. Individually-sealed/wrapped items are allowed, if served by gloved staff (so, not available as grab & go on an unattended table).Bottled beverages and beverages in large gallon jugs to fill individual drinking vessels are allowed, though groups should be extra-mindful of personal drinking vessels touching a shared spigot. Consider extra cleaning of spigots and/or providing disposable cups.If individuals bring and share food on their own, that’s beyond our scope to monitor at this point. Dayboards, feasts, etc. run by individuals rather than the branch are not an ok work-around. Please don’t do it or allow it to happen with a wink-nudge.

 

• • All activities, event listings for activities, etc must prominently display the following paragraph (with multiple postings around a large event)

“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.”

• We may NOT ask about vaccination status in any fashion. If the legal jurisdiction where an activity happens requires vaccination to participate, or if the venue where an activity happens requires vaccination to use the space, only then may we enquire. Private homeowners who are allowing their space to be used must make it clear that this is their requirement, not Society’s. Let me know if you encounter this.

2.  As of today, July 1st, the East Kingdom is not imposing additional requirements beyond what the Centers for Disease Control/Canadian Public Health recommend. I join the Crown in urging all to wear masks at events and follow additional safety protocols — even if you are vaccinated — so that more of the populace will feel welcome to return. I have asked the seneachalate to set a strong example for our populace. This isn’t a requirement, but a request.

3.  And speaking of masks, NO ONE should be yelling at children regarding mask wearing. Speak to their parents, kindly, gently, and from the perspective of safety. Diligent parents may yet struggle to keep independent-minded children properly masked at all times. Our role is not to make things harder for parents in this regard.

4.  Publication in Pikestaff — as of next month’s Pikestaff, submission deadline Aug 1st, ALL events which will be having business requiring previous notice (RPs with Court where awards will be given, Kingdom officers will change over, etc.) MUST be published ahead of time according to Corpora.

5.  If you are planning an event for August that falls into this category, get your info to the Chronicler (chronicler@eastkingdom.org) as soon as possible. The deadline is today, but there’s a bit of wiggle room.

6. I echo the Crown’s message yesterday, encouraging patience and understanding as folks return with varying levels of comfort. A branch or activity might choose more stringent requirements, and that is fine (except, of course, about vaccinations).

 

Please let me know if you have questions about any of the above.

 

I thank the Kingdom’s branch Seneschals for all that they have done through this exceedingly difficult period. That we have branches and a populace that CAN return to activities is due to their work and care. I appreciate all of them.

 

In service,

Medhbh