Category Archives: Interviews

Q&A: Outgoing and Incoming EK Brewers Guild Masters

21 Wednesday Sep 2016

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Photo courtesy of Pan Kythe Szubielka

Last weekend, the Guild Master of the East Kingdom Brewers Guild passed from Mistress Sylvia du Vey to Master Magnus Hvalmagi.  To mark the occasion and educate the populace about their brewing opportunities, the Gazette posed questions to the outgoing and incoming Guild Heads.

Please give us a brief overview of the guild and the role of the Guild Head.

Mistress Sylvia: The guild head has a duel responsibility to both be a cheerleader and an effective administrator.  It is important to encourage brewers of all experience levels to participate and stretch for that next level of excellence.  It is pretty critical to make sure that the guild is as welcoming and accessible as possible.  That job belongs to all of us, but most especially the Guild Master.

The administrative piece involves a lot of record keeping and communication.  We have quarterly reports to file with the MOAS as well as records on every brewer who has paneled anything in the past three and a half years.  Those records are updated and sent to the brewer each time they panel a new item, along with notes about their next steps.  Good records are essential in helping us move forward as a group, especially one that spans such a large geographic area.

Master Magnus: The East Kingdom Brewers Guild is a kingdom-wide organization whose aim is to support and expand historical brewing arts in the East. We have members all over the place and lots of expertise to help brewers develop and hone their craft – and also, we have lots of good things to drink.😉

The Guild Head is sort of the general administrator (we file a quarterly report with the MoAS), and is also the sort of the leader/visionary/what have you of the Guild. We provide vision, guidance, direction, encouragement, support, and all that good stuff.

Which activities of the guild excite you the most and why?

Mistress Sylvia: I am super excited that we have been able to provide so many opportunities to panel and progress within the guild. Members are able to get very specific feedback about what they are doing well and what they can do to improve in their craft from other brewers who are equally invested in medieval recreation.  There is still work to be done, especially in the farthest reaches of the East Kingdom, but we are working on that by utilizing the SCA pony express and remote paneling opportunities.  This is less than ideal, face-to-face is always better, but remote panels are better than no panels.  I love that our guild is a work in progress and that we are continuing to strive to meet the needs of brewers all over the East.

Master Magnus: Brewing in general excites me, and experimental archaeology in particular excites me – so for me the guild is a really exciting place! – but I think the coolest thing we do is our Paneling process. We have a well-developed rubric, and we sit down with a brewer and their work and perform a critical evaluation, with the goal of helping them improve as a historic brewer. It’s a pretty intense process to be honest, but it’s a really powerful tool that can help a brewer make great leaps in what they’re doing.

How has the guild changed over the last several years?

Mistress Sylvia: When I was promoted to Guild Mistress, it was the hope of my predecessor, Mistress Suzanne de Londres, that I would pull more brewers into the guild and reenergize the work that we do.  I think that we have accomplished those goals.  The guild is definitely more active and more visible.  We are trying to be active and supportive of the kingdom with our art.  Additionally, we have more digital presence, including an email group, Facebook page, and a new and improved webpage.  Our webpage houses our guiding documents, which is a good resource for brewers all over.  The biggest change?  We are super busy!

Master Magnus: When I joined the SCA years and years ago when rocks were soft (in 2010), the EKBG was in a lull. Sylvia took over and revitalized the Guild as a whole. She started pushing for more panel opportunities, more presence, and regularly scheduled activities at events all across the kingdom. I’d say there’s been a big jump in activity and presence in the kingdom lately.

Are there plans for growth or new activities in the future?

Mistress Sylvia: It has always my goal to lay a foundation that another Guild Master could capitalize upon. We have a really nice infrastructure in place with our policies and procedures.  The guild is primed and ready for our next steps. The transition to a new guild master began about a year ago in order to make sure it was seamless and healthy for the group. I am anticipating continued growth and more fun under Master Magnus’s care.

Master Magnus: I have a four-part Vision for the Guild, which I’ll be sharing with Guild members and generally advocating during my tenure (this is a subtle hint saying that if you want to know what my vision is, you should come play with us). I’m looking at what I call a “Blue Ocean” strategy – we’ve got all these eager active brewers with lots of ideas and cool research, so let’s start exploring! I’m looking to expand the scope of the things we support in the Guild – non-beverage items like tools and bottles, pure research, non-alcoholic beverages, and a host of other things – as well as to empower the local branches to really grow and have a presence in their area.

I’d also like us to play more with the “mainstream” A&S community – the prevalence of dry sites sometimes limits where we can be, but there are ways to work around that.

Beyond that – I dunno, maybe we’ll form a vast trade empire and start minting our own currency. That’d be cool.🙂

Please tell us a little bit about your own work as a brewer and what about the activity interests you.

Mistress Sylvia: Mead making brought me from a lurker into a fully participating SCAdian. I am anticipating that my retirement from being Guild Mistress will allow me to focus a little more on my art.  Several years ago I changed the policy that brewing laurels would automatically become grandmasters in the guild. Instead, they become masters and must continue to brew and panel to become grandmasters.  This will be my next project as a brewer!  I have to panel ten period beverages outside my specialty (mead). I expect that process will take a few years to complete.  More brewing!

Master Magnus: How long ya got?🙂

The tagline I’ve been using (when I want to sound smart and impressive) is that I do “experimental archaeological reconstruction of pre-11th century northern European fermented beverages.” Really, I consider myself an experimental researcher with a particular interest in reconstructing the material reality of pre-modern brewing systems and techniques. I want to put my hands in every part of the process, figure out how and why it worked, and see what came out of that. Very nitty-gritty experimental archaeology stuff. Because, well, I’m a nerd and that’s what gets me excited!

Sometimes I actually make beer/mead/cider/weird stuff somewhere in there.

I also do stupid things like ferment Snickers candy bars because why not. A word of advice: don’t.

What one thing do you wish everyone knew about brewing in the East Kingdom?

Mistress Sylvia: There is room for every brewer, modern, medieval, ancient.  We all have something to learn from each other.  That being said, in order to move up in the guild, one must begin to brew with a medieval mindset.  If that seems intimidating, no worries!  There is so much help available, just ask!

Master Magnus: That it’s super easy to get into! We have brewers and local guilds all over, and we love when new folks show up and want to learn.

Mistress Sylvia: Finally, I want to shout out to the brewers of the East Kingdom Brewers Guild.  You placed a lot of trust in me to help the guild grow.  I so very much appreciate everything that members have done to support me and the EKBG.  When I reflect on the work we have done, I am humbled.

 

The First (Bouncing) Armor of Carolingia

03 Friday Jul 2015

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arms CarolingiaTwo of the first members of the Barony of Carolingia, Tabitha of Windmoor and Wescott de Gwhite, shared their memories of with the Gazette of the first weapons created in Carolingia using nothing but rumors of what was required.

Tabitha of Windmoor :

Swords have a story all their own. Dan (Daniel de Tankard) had told us that SCA swords were made of rattan. The council set to work locating a rattan source. Poring through the Yellow Pages (no internet yet), we turned up The Rattan Store on Rte.9 in Wellesley. Dan, Patri and I set out from my dorm to find the place. Yes—we walked up to Rte. 9 and walked along it toward Natick until we found the place (no GPS either). The store sold rattan furniture from the country we still called Burma (Myanmar).

After much talk with the manager, we persuaded him to order us a dozen uncut lengths of the light weight, ridged canes that looked kind of like bamboo from his supplier. Patri opined that it looked too light and brittle to use as a blade, but Dan assured him that rattan was what was used, though he admitted that he had never seen an SCA weapon or combat, only heard about it.

Dan drove out when our order came, bungeed it to the roof of his little yellow car, and brought it back to Cambridge where Doug, Patri, Carl, and anyone who could lend a hand made crude short swords of it.

Wescott de Gwhite:

All of our armor was designed and built to work well against the smaller, lighter bamboo.  Patri made a beautiful shield from a piece of Homosote (cellulose wall board), covered in fiberglass and painted with a coat of arms.  I made detachable basket hilts that could swap out the bamboo blades quickly, and I fumigated my MIT dorm room making up a fiberglass helmet from scratch.  Garb was also fabricated, although it was pretty simple by today’s standards.

We arrived Saturday early afternoon at the event, looked around quickly and realized that we were in trouble.  The real rattan swords were a LOT bigger & heavier than our gear was designed for.  They were using steel freon tank helmets, which had big dents in them!  They offered to lend us use of some swords, but that the padding in the armor was an awful lot lighter than what they wanted to fight in.

They allowed that Patri could wear it if he wanted to.  They said the helmet would never do, which I took exception to.  I had built it with a lot of overkill for the bamboo, and thought it would probably still work OK (for a while).  Lord El said they wouldn’t allow Patri to use it unless he “tested” it first.

El set it upright on the ground and grabbed a large two handed sword.  He took a big swing and tried to come down right on the crown.  I’m sure he was convinced it was going to shatter, or at least crush, but he didn’t hit it quite square, and it basically flexed a bit & bounced into the air.  He was clearly disappointed, and insisted on another attempt to hit it more solidly.  He succeeded, but the result was
pretty much the same.  We examined it, and saw no sign of damage, and it was declared usable.

I believe Patri fought in a total of 3 bouts.  Thanks to his fencing background, he managed to hold his own reasonably well. I think he lost two & might have actually won one.  At that point, the helmet was showing signs of impending delamination, and it was retired.  Every place Patri’s shield had taken a solid blow to the edge looked like someone had taken a good bite out of it.

Q & A: East Kingdom Exchequer

09 Saturday May 2015

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badge ExchequerThis is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers. The Gazette wishes to thank Maestra Ignacia la Ciega, East Kingdon Exchequer, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities. The job responsibilities of the Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer encompass several areas.  The most obvious is the managing of the kingdom funds and financial reporting of those funds.   Working to ensure all the groups in the kingdom are in compliance with the Society and East Kingdom policy, procedures and laws is another large responsibility.   Of course there is always the need to respond to an assortment of inquiries and requests from the various groups, individuals and from Society.  There are many responsibilities that fall within the very broad areas listed above.  I will not bore everyone with those details.    

What do you enjoy about this activity? I enjoy working with numbers and with puzzles,  so digging in a report to find the reason it is not adding up correctly  is fun and rewarding.   These is a logic to numbers that is always consistent and predictable, two things I tend to favor.   I like having a reason to meet people from different groups and having a common footing area of focus to start conversations.   I also find I do like to fill a need when there is a need, and the exchequer positions are an absolute need, for without them we would no longer exist.    

Do you have a goal for your term? My biggest goal right now is simple.  I would like to have all the groups in the East doing complete and consistent reporting each quarter.   There are several things that can help make that happen, like having more training available and having several more deputies to work with the various groups to help me ensure we are staying in compliance.   I would also encourage more people to show appreciation to the exchequers in the local groups, they do amazing amounts of work that no one ever sees, so we all can enjoy our hobby of living history.        

Are you currently looking for any deputies?Yes, I would like several more deputies.  Aside from the regional deputies that do reviews of the reports as they come in, training deputies would be very helpful.  The Tir Mara region is one area that a deputy would be a big help, especially since I do not speak any French.  Some of the regions are very large, so for those regions a second deputy would be very welcome.  Training deputies – I would like a couple of those as well.  There is always a new exchequer that wants training or an experienced exchequer looking to understand something more than they currently do.  Training materials are always in need of updating, so that is also in the shadows waiting for someone to take it on.  I recently took on an administrative deputy, his first project is to organize the exchequer warranting process and files, and then he is also working on the book review scheduling.          

What was your first event?  And what made you stay?My very first event, was Bjorn’s Ceilidh, in Concordia of the Snows.   The local members made an effort to interact with people they did not know (or recognize as I later discovered).  They were so willing to talk about the things they did and showed a lot of enthusiasm when talking about it.  The effort people put into engaging in conversation went a long way in getting me to come back at the beginning.   That quickly changed to seeing friends and learning or teaching new things.     

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why? I have to say that Baron Emerson G. True was one of the first people that had an impact on me.  I was on the group’s discussion list and had attended only one A&S meeting and one event.   Fabric was needed for the next meeting so I said I was willing to go to the store or meet someone there in order that we have it for the meeting.  Emerson was the person that I met up with for that outing.  He encouraged the pomp and circumstance, and was the reason I became the Baronial herald shortly after joining the group.   Baroness Lucia and Baron Baltasar (then he was Soichero)  both encouraged me to try  a variety of different things and they both took me under their wings as I did that.  The first event I was a steward for, was their investiture.  Which lead to my running many more events over the years.

Could you share with us a moment – or several moments – that describe what makes the SCA special for you?There was one particular year at Pennsic when My lord and 3 of our ‘sons’ were all actually fighting.  We were on the fighting field with 2 of our ‘daughters’ sending the men off to war.   It was one of those moments when it feels like you are really there in that place and time.  I was giving each of them a piece of my clothing (not an entire sleeve) to remind them of my love and telling them to stay safe and come back to me.  Knowing that they would be with a dearly beloved Knight, the Baron and the King meant they would be in the company of proven warriors but also that they would be in the deepest of the fray.    I have had many very personally special moments over the years.  Some that make my heart truly sing, have been those times I have created a scroll for someone dear to me, and the personal touches and research done show so completely when they see it.  Knowing that the person is so touched by what you have created for them, not for the courts or for the kudos, but simply for what it means to them personally.    Most recently, in my current position, I was very touched after doing an online training session with an exchequer.   The session started with the person feeling like they could not manage the spreadsheet we use; they were very confused, and the stress was apparent in the voice.  By the end of the 1.5 hour session I could hear the confidence in the voice and knew the exchequer was feeling very capable of dealing with the position.  Of course there were profuse thank you’s but it really was they change in the voice and the confidence that made the entire thing very special for me.  

In service to the keeping of the coffers. Ignacia

Press Article From East Kingdom Coronation

13 Monday Apr 2015

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The following message is printed by the Gazette at the request of Lord Martyn de Halliwell.

On Saturday, a reporter from BillyPenn.com, a local Philadelphia news-blog, attended part of East Kingdom Coronation. The reporter spent time speaking with several people before Court and through Last Court / Coronation Court.  Several people were instrumental in providing a wonderful experience for our guest.

I would like to thank Baroness Aneleda Falconbridge, the East Kingdom Media Liaison, who offered advice and guidance when I contacted her ahead of the event. For their work on the day of the event, thanks also go to Dueña Mercedes de Calafia, Baroness Ysmay de Lynn, Master Peter the Red, Lady Suba al-Hadid, and Lady Iseault of the Clews who sat with her during Court and explained what was going on.  Also a thank you to Lady Katrin Daans for loaning some accessories to complete our reporter’s outfit for the day.

These are the gentles I know who spoke to her, but I know several others did as well.  To anyone else who took a moment to speak to the reporter, thank you, you were all shining examples of “crazy, insane, wonderful people.”

Please take a moment to read the finished article, it is wonderfully done, and be sure to share it with all your friends and family:

http://billypenn.com/2015/04/13/game-of-thrones-irl-i-spent-my-saturday-dressed-as-a-peasant/

-Lord Martyn de Halliwell

Q&A: East Kingdom Webminister

20 Friday Mar 2015

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tmp_27697-download_20150320_135110-1941433276This is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Lord Lorenz Greylever,  East Kingdom Webminister, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities.
I am the Lead “Defender” for the East Kingdom’s Æther Realms. In other words, if it has something to do with the security, usability, accessibility and supportability of the Official on-line/Internet presence of the East Kingdom, it falls to myself and my team to make certain that it is ready for the populace of the Kingdom and its varying regions to use.
– This includes but is not limited to:
.. Every Local branch, Kingdom Office and Royal Guild website that exists for the Eastern Realms
.. Email forwards and Email lists for each Local branch, etc
.. Email lists for the Polling Orders
Educating the East Kingdom populace about what the Office of the Webminister is and how it helps the Kingdom, but more importantly, what the Office is not.
– Reducing the confusion surrounding several aspects of the services available to the Kingdom, including but not limited to:
.. The East Kingdom Calendar of Events (working with the Chronicler and Pikestaff Editor). The Webministry only makes certain that the Calendar is up and functioning properly. We do not police for content or completion of the entries for inclusion in the Pikestaff. The Local branch Seneschal and the Kingdom Chronicler do these tasks.
.. The East Kingdom Order of Precedence (working with the Office of the Brigantia Herald). The Webministry only makes certain that the website for the op is active and accessible. All content is supplied and updated by the Shepherd’s Crook Herald, or by a designated Webminister assistant when needed.
o Training Local branch, Kingdom Office and Royal Guild Webministers in best practices for website design and use. You do not have to be a modern webmaster to be a Webminster for the East, however knowing some basics will go a long way in supporting the website the Webminister has.
o Overseeing the 150+ websites and making certain that all are in compliance with Modern, Society and Kingdom acceptable use policies.
o Overseeing the 1700+ email addresses that are used throughout the Kingdom for proper use by the designated Officer.
o There’s certainly more, but you’ll never get this to print if I don’t stop somewhere. Continue reading →

Q&A: East Kingdom Mistress of Lists

12 Thursday Mar 2015

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Sabina MoLThis is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Lady Sabina Luttrell, East Kingdom Mistress of Lists, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities.
My job as the Kingdom Minister of Lists is multi-layered.

My very visible task is to run the Crown Tournament of the King and Queen twice a year. I am also responsible for running the King and Queen’s Champions Tournaments for Heavy Rattan Combat and Period Rapier. “Running” means that I check all fighter and rapier authorizations to make sure that everyone is safe and playing within the rules of the East Kingdom. I am also the scorekeeper and historian for each tournament. I keep track of who has won what bouts and who moves on to the next round of the tournament.

Behind the scenes is a much busier place. All rattan fighters and rapier fighters are required to authorize in different weapons forms. They are also required to sign a waiver to participate in practices and tournaments in the East Kingdom. I am the person that keeps track of all of those waivers and weapons forms. I, along with my database deputy, update a central database roughly once a month, that allows all marshals and MOLs (local minister of lists) to do their jobs efficiently.

What do you enjoy about this activity?
I LOVE being the Minister of Lists. I enjoy interacting with the people of the East Kingdom. It is so much fun to see other people enjoying themselves. I get a front row seat to all of the best tournaments and get to cheer on everyone! I also have to admit that I like to organize things. Paperwork and databases are fun to me. Call me crazy!

Do you have a goal for your term?
My goal for this term, as in last term, is to continue to update entries regarding all combatants and marshals. If you ever see anything in the database that is incorrect, I would love to fix it.

Are you currently looking for any deputies?
I am always looking for MOLs for local groups. MOLs at large are also very important and help the fighters of the East more than you would imagine.

What was your first event? And what made you stay?
My first event was around 7 years ago with my family. We attended a very wet and rainy archery event in the Barony of Stonemarche. My children were young and we didn’t stay long, but the people were very friendly so we decided to try again. We next attended A Shire 12th Night in the Barony of Smoking Rocks. This is a 10 foot rule event that is geared toward a specific time period. I think that year it was 1180? Anyway, it was a fabulous event and again, the people were fantastic. I couldn’t wait to attend more. All in all, I would have to say that it is the people of the East that keep me coming back.

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why?
Three people have really shaped my SCA experience.

The first was Duchess Avelina Keyes. She was the first person that my husband and I made contact with in the Society. She was welcoming and encouraged our enthusiasm for archery and “All the things”. She made sure that we felt welcome and at home.

The second and third great SCA influences were Baroness eLeri of Concordia of the Snows and Baroness Lily of the same. These ladies were having so much fun running tournaments! They loved every minute that they spent behind an MOL table. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them both and want to spend more time doing what they were doing and spend it with them. I am so grateful that I was able to spend the time that I did with eLeri. She showed me what it was to have a true love of service to the people of the East.

Q&A: East Kingdom Brigantia Principal Herald

05 Thursday Mar 2015

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Photo by Baroness Cateline la Broderesse

Master Ryan in action as a court herald. Photo by Baroness Cateline la Broderesse

This is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Master Ryan Mac Whyte, Brigantia Principal Herald of the Kingdom of the East, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities.
The responsibilities of the Brigantia Herald’s office are many and varied but the functions can be broken into three broad areas.

The First is the most visible, that of Court Heraldry. Through the Eastern Crown deputy’s office we organize and perform the ceremonial portions of our events. The Brigantia and Eastern Crown deputy work together on a week to week basis on arranging for court and organizing the scrolls on the day of the event and work together with the Shepherd’s Crook Herald to maintain the records of awards in what is called the Order of Precedence. The intricate dance which is Court takes a good portion of every day’s time for the Royalty and the Court Heralds. Most of the time ‘Court’ for the Heralds begins first thing in the morning when they get on site.

The Second broad category which the Herald’s office is broken into is Field Heraldry. Field heraldry includes calling for combatants to enter the lists during a tournament, crying announcements to the event site, and otherwise being Loud. The Troubadour Herald’s office arranges for the organization of heralds for Crown Tournament, K&Q Champions of Fencing, and K&Q Champions of Arms. Being a Field Herald is all about grabbing the attention of distracted people across the fields of a list and managing another dance between the heralds and the Ministers of the Lists and the Marshals in order to keep the tournament moving. There are several deputy heralds who assist the troubadour with the display of heraldry during the tournaments.

The third category of the Heralds’ office is the least visible, but the most intricate and arguably the most important. Book heraldry is broken into Armorial Heraldry, which concerns the regulation and development of coats of Arms, and Onomastics, which is the research of Names. Onomastics and Armory combine to give us a sense of who we are, and who we want to have been in the times we are recreating. They are the basis of our personae and there is a virtual mountain of research which has been done over the last 50 years. Book heralds are not only those who sit in consulting tables on the weekends and assist our members in designing heraldry and selecting names, but also those who during the week, in their spare time, research and document and confirm the authenticity of our heraldry and names. Book Heraldry is led by the Blue Tyger Herald and staff.
As Brigantia I manage the personnel who fall into these areas and ensure that the College of Heralds of the East continues to perform at its best. The Eastern College has been the leader of the Known World in heraldic research and heraldic performance for years and I can only hope that my leadership and management continue that tradition.

What do you enjoy about this activity?
I initially got involved with the College of Heralds when a friend of mine, Rowen Cloteworthy, noticed I could be REALLY loud on the archery range. He saw me at a Crown Tournament and he gave me, and my lady wife Kayleigh, the opportunity to cry the lists. I was hooked instantly. Within three years I had become the Troubadour Herald, in charge of running Crown Tournament’s Heralds. As a heavy fighter myself I really enjoyed having a front-row seat to watch the fights. Being able to watch the best fighters in the known world from close range is an amazing thing.

Soon after I began my foray into field heraldry I was introduced to Court Heraldry by Malcolm Bowman. He coached me through court procedures and, along with Alys Mackyntoich trained me in the finer points of running a Court. Again Rowen coached me and set a fine example for me to follow for running Coronations. But the greatest thing in enjoy about Court Heraldry, and the real reason I keep doing it, is being able to see the look on a recipient’s face when they get an Award. There is no greater joy in the SCA than seeing a person’s face light up when it happens.

I have long had a fascination with Armory. My family can trace its bloodline, on the fraternal side, back to the 1600s when they left Southern France for Canada. When I was little I used to enjoy seeing the Armory in the family tree, from back in history when it was recorded. When I began in the society I designed my own arms and immediately became fascinated with the rules and with the design elements. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Do you have a goal for your term?
My primary goals for my term were to get all the Kingdom’s awards registered, which is finally finished, and to get the Kingdom’s Order of Precedence repaired. The Challenges in both are many but, with one problem down, the Order of Precedence is going to take center stage this year. I can only hope I leave the College stronger than I found it.

What was your first event? And what made you stay?
My first event was Jack Frost Bite Me II. An informal archery event held in the dead of winter. It had to be 10 below zero, with blowing, biting wind held at a member’s home in the Barony Beyond the Mountain. I was brought by my long-time friend, new, at the time, girlfriend, and now, years later, wife Kayleigh Mac Whyte. She had joined the SCA the summer before and had brought me along on a date. A month later I had purchased my own bow and arrows, and a month after that I was a SCA member. I can say that it’s she who kept me in the SCA but it was really the community which we share in the SCA which keeps me coming back.

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why?
I can not possibly do justice to a list on this topic because there have been so many. I’d have to say the first person to make an impact on me was Ragnar Two-Axe of the Reeking Swamp for being my mentor in archery and for teaching me that this IS a game and the first rule is to have fun. I’d have to say Duke Andreas von Ulm for being an example of chivalry and leadership to which i still strive to match. I’d have to say Duchess Anna of Tarragon for showing, by her example, how to still have fun with this game after all these years and for sharing with me her boundless energy and enthusiasm for the SCA. And lastly I’d have to say my Protegees, Raffaella, Donovan, Brighid, and Anastasia. Their faith in me inspires me to be better than I ever thought I could be.

Q&A: East Kingdom Marshal of Equestrian Activities

26 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by in Equestrian, Interviews

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DoucetteThis is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Baroness Doucette de Verdun, the Kingdom Marshal of Equestrian Activities, for answering our questions.

What do you enjoy about this activity?
It’s the combination of two of my favorite things! For a long time, I didn’t combine my horse world with my SCA world – there were no equestrian events in my region and I didn’t think of it. But when my horse became injured and I started using some of the SCA Equestrian games for his rehabilitation, I started to get involved, and it is now my favorite type of riding competition to do. I still ride in some mundane competitions, but SCA Equestrian events are now my first priority.

Do you have a goal for your term?
This is my first round as a Kingdom officer, so my number one goal for my term is “mess nothing up”. I have some likes… I’d like to see equestrian activities in Tir Mara. I’d like to see more new equestrians. Most of all, I’d like to see our equestrians and participants and spectators have fun, leave smiling and want to do this more often. That would be success.

Are you currently looking for any deputies?
I actually recruited my regional deputies before stepping up, and I took the extra step of recruiting a new position, a Deputy in Charge of Minors. Horse activities carry a lot of liability concerns, and sometimes those concerns get in the way of us letting our most enthusiastic riders (the littlest ones) get up and ride. I want them to be able to ride, and I felt the issue was important enough.

What was your first event?  And what made you stay?
My first event was Pennsic 31. My friend was a garb merchant, and she said “Come along with me on this annual camping trip I always go on, you need a break. Just one thing, you have to wear what I tell you to.” That was a week of surprises, to say the least! I stayed, as I continue to stay, for the people. I love my SCA friends and the broad range of people I meet. And the East Kingdom Equestrians are some of my favorite people!

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why?
The East Kingdom Equestrian Marshals are terrific people and they’ve had such an amazing effect on my life. From the moment I walked into my first Equestrian Annual Meeting at Birka, I was hooked. Each and every one of them has taught me important things, and their influence has improved my life in every aspect from self-reliance to career development. I am still privately amazed that they are allowing me to be Kingdom Marshal of Horse – it’s a huge compliment coming from them.

Q&A: East Kingdom Earl Marshal

20 Friday Feb 2015

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Sir Jibril al-Dakhil by Baroness Cateline la Broderesse

Sir Jibril al-Dakhil by Baroness Cateline la Broderesse

This is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Sir Jibril al-Dakhil, the Kingdom Earl Marshal, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities.
It is my job to ensure that rules of safety are learned and adhered to by all.  It is also my job to ensure that we have the best safety standards in each area of marshal exercise in the East Kingdom

What do you enjoy about this activity?
My favorite part of this job is making everyone happy.  It’s so rare that you can hold a position that your every decision pleases everyone.😀

Do you have a goal for your term?
My goal is to continue to foster the integrity of the marshals throughout the Kingdom and to remind everyone that the marshal volunteers make up the foundation for all chivalric activity in the game.  Sometimes we forget to give the marshals their due respect because they are not the most glamorous ones on the field.  After all, when everything goes well and everyone understands the rules the marshals are almost invisible.

Are you currently looking for any deputies?
I am currently looking for a Southern Region Heavy Weapons – and among the existing deputies my “drop dead”.

What was your first event?  And what made you stay?
My first SCA event was Gulf Wars.  I drove down with Sir Stephen von Dresden and stayed because he kept the car keys.  It was also tons of fun, free outdoor showers and I got to sweat off those few extra pounds.

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why?
This is not a question that I can answer easily.  There are just too many people that have made a huge impact on me both on and off the field.   The one that shapes all of my experiences is Sir Balin’s statement, “you never regret going to an event but you regret missing one.”  The kindness and generosity of people in SCA is beyond comparison and a beacon of light in a sometimes dark world.

Could you share with us a moment – or several moments – that describe what makes the SCA special for you?
A smile from then Avelina Keyes on a very bad day, when she didn’t know me from a hole in the wall.  Encouraging words from Duke Vissevald that I hadn’t realized how much I needed.  Manfred Man-Butter.  ICOD squire walks.  Yes, cryptic.

Q&A: East Kingdom Marshal of Fence

13 Friday Feb 2015

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Frasier MacLeod

Don Frasier MacLeod

This is one of a series of Q&A articles with East Kingdom Officers.  The Gazette thanks Don Frasier MacLeod, the Kingdom Marshal of Fence, for answering our questions.

Please describe your job responsibilities.
The office of Kingdom Rapier Marshal is, as the name implies, responsible for Rapier activities in the East.  In its simplest terms, my job is to make sure the game we play is safe for everyone who wants to play.  Some of the duties I am responsible for are the reviewing and writing of Rapier rules and conventions, overseeing Rapier activities at the Pennsic war (every other year at least), and overseeing a staff of both Regional marshals as well as Experimental and Youth deputies.

Do you have a goal for your term?
After 25 years in the Rapier community, the vast majority spent as a marshal at large and local marshal, I felt it was time to step up into the Kingdom Rapier Marshal position.  I very much love the community which fostered me, and this is an incredible opportunity to give back to that community.  During my term I hope to get a set of rules in place for Two Handed Rapiers, I am contemplating a complete rewrite of the Rapier Marshal’s Handbook, and I would like to implement a Marshalate Training Program Kingdom-wide.

What was your first event? And what made you stay?
For me my first official event was Duello II, held in the Barony of Carolingia in November 1989 (if I remember the month correctly).  I had found the SCA through the University of Maine Blade Society and Master Gregory Finche, and fell in love with Rapier combat immediately.  After 25 years I have never once looked back and wished I’d done anything else.  I had found my home, both with the SCA and the sword.

Which people made an impact on you in the SCA and why?
Undoubtedly the most influential person on my life in the SCA was Master Gregory Finche.  Gregory brought me into the SCA, taught me how to fence, and guided me along the path to where I am today.  But more than that he taught me Honor, Dignity, Chivalry, and the responsibility that were all lacking in my life.  Gregory made Frasier the man he is, and I can never thank him enough for that.

Could you share with us a moment – or several moments – that describe what makes the SCA special for you?
One morning, many years ago when Great Northeastern War was at the horse farm on the coast, I woke up very early one morning to heed nature’s call.  On my way back to my camp, I heard something.  I thought I could make it out but wasn’t completely sure what it was.  I followed the sound and the further I went the more clear it became that it was bagpipes.  This particular morning was very foggy, being right on the ocean.  The closer I got the clearer the pipes became until I finally saw what was going on.  Someone from camp was standing, facing the ocean, piping out to the sea in the fog.  Had I not seen this I would never have believed it possible, the moment was truly right out of a movie, and yet there it was.  Moments like that are what make the Society so special for me.