Category Archives: Classes

Newcomer Night: Pick a Hobby or Collect Them All

Pick a Hobby or Collect Them All

(Taught November 3, 2022 for the Aire Faucon Newcomer A&S Night)

Activities of the SCA : 
The SCA has three pillars supporting it: Arts, Service, and Martial activities. Arts is the Phoenix flames visible from a distance and it’s beautiful feathers, Martial is the raptor’s cry and claws, heard by many and respected by all, and Service is the bone structure within the beast and the nest it provides to its family. As a non-profit educational organization, we must teach our arts and perform our services, with the martial activities often being the easiest for outsiders to grasp.

Martial Activities
Armored Combat/Heavy Weapons
Light Combat / Rapier
Cut & Thrust
Youth Combat
Combat Archery
Target Archery
Thrown Weapons
Siege Weapons
Equestrian (Jousting)
Coursing
Black Powder
List Minister
Marshal(s)
Waterbearing
First Aid / Chirugeon

Service Activities
Event Stewart
General Helper at Events
Gate / Welcome
Newcomer Staff
Head Chef
Helping in Kitchens
Port-a-John cleanup
Setup Land
Parking help
Local or Kingdom Officer
First Aid/Waterbearing
Largess making
Scroll making
Heralding
Garb making for Baronage
Hosting Arts Competitions
Monitoring A&S Displays

Arts & Sciences Activities – Wearing, Teaching, Competitions, and Displays
Scroll – Illumination
Scroll – Calligraphy
Scroll -Wording
Heraldry (Design & Performance)
Spinning
Embroidery (garb & items)
Nailbinding
Knitting
Garb making
Jewelry making
Hat design
Bardic – Stories
Bardic – Singing
Bardic – Plays
Bardic – Jesters
Mid-Eastern Dancing
Mid-Eastern Drumming
European Dancing
Astronomy / Astrology
Siege Weapons
Forestry
Cooking
Brewing

Barony of The Sacred Stone Guilds and Guild-Like Activities

  1. Sacred Stone’s Cook’s Guild – help cook events, welcomes all cooking types (herb, brew, research, kitchen, serving, etc)
  2. Sacred Stone’s Scribes
  3. Order of the Phoenix Eye – Runestone Collegium (even years); In a Phoenix Eye (odd years)
  4. Solar Fibers
  5. Sacred Stone Guards

SCA Geography and Events in the Aire Faucon Area

Welcome to the Canton of Aire Faucon, within the Barony of The Sacred Stone, in the Kingdom of Atlantia which is part of the Knowne World.

In the modern world, we would say: the City of Gastonia, in the County of Gaston, in the State of North Carolina, in the federated republic of the United States of America, on the planet Earth.

Since the overlay of SCA to Modern World often isn’t clear, today’s lesson is on Geography.

I’m going to start small and work my way up first.

The Canton of Aire Faucon
Covers Cleveland, Gaston, Lincolnton, and parts of Rutherford Counties. (Rutherford County is shared with Hawkwood and Crown Lands). Total square miles is 1,628 miles and the modern population is just shy of half a million (2016 census). And no, I don’t know how many paid SCA members are in that area.

Artwork from The Sacred Stone website: http://sacredstone.atlantia.sca.org/about-us/

The Barony of Sacred Stone
Follows the I-85 and I-77 corridors down the western third of NC which isn’t full-on mountains. It is mostly square-shape and is 125 miles north to south and east to west. Total mundane population is over four million and covers 12 thousand square miles. In the modern world, this puts us in land mass between #41 West Virginia at 24K miles and #42 Maryland at 9.7K in size. (Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island are all smaller.)

Aire Facuon is located on the Western-Southern edge of the Barony.

The Barony has four other Cantons, and one defunct canton which is now crown lands.

The Canton of Charlesbury Crossing is the greater Charlotte area (Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Stanly, and Union Counties). Salisbury Glen is immediately north with just the single county of Rowan and acts much close to a traditional Canton in activities. Crois Brigte is Forsyth, Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin; while Middlegate is Davidson, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, and Stokes Counties.

Artwork from Atlantia website – Map of Atlantia courtesy of Master Bran Trefonnen – https://atlantia.sca.org/offices/chatelain/atlantia-map

The Kingdom of Atlantia
Broken off from the East Kingdom, the Kingdom of Atlantia includes Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and a small portion of Georgia. It is about average size for a kingdom, but has a higher population due to its coastal location.

The kingdom has 17 baronies at this time. Aire Faucon abuts both the Barony of Hawkwood (visible on the NC-Sacred Stone map above) and the Barony of Nottinghill Coil (on the SC border) and many of their functions are closer and easier to get to than some Sacred Stone events.

There are also six shires, two of which are located in NC. Between them, the baronies contain nine cantons, incipient cantons, and colleges. (For a total of 31 groups for the Kingdom)

Artwork from sca.org website – https://www.sca.org/geography/

Known World
The SCA has groups throughout the world. The most important aspects in relation to us immediately are the Wars and the Kingdom of Meridies. Much of Meridies is closer to us than the Kingdom of Atlantia, in fact, Barony of Thor’s Mountain (Knoxsville, TN – 3.5 hours) and the Shire of Nant-Y-Derwyddon (Kingsport, TN – 3 hours) are extremely close by and can easily be daytripped.

 

EVENTS

Known World Symposiums and Wars
Symposiums and Academies, such as the recent agriculture one hosted by Sacred Stone, draw people from around the Known World on special subjects. Upcoming include one focused on all things Italian (Mississippi in March), Rapier and Costuming in April in Canada, and Science in June in Utah. (dates related are 2019 and 2020 – check out https://www.sca.org/activities/events.html#kws for the most recent information)

Interkingdom WarsPennsic Wars was the first and still the largest and is held in late July/early August in Pennsylvania. The other big draw Atlantia (and even bigger for our portion of Atlantia) is Gulf Wars, held in March in Mississippi. Other wars you will hear people talk about are Estrella (Arizona), Lilies (Missouri), and the Great Western (Southern California). Balancing them out are the two baby wars of A&W (Oregon) and Battlemoor (Colorado).

Pennsic Wars for 2020 is July 24 to August 9th. Gulf Wars for 2020 is March 14-22.

You can find details about Known World Events at sca.org – Activities & Events – Events. From there you can click to the particular events.

Atlantia Events – atlantia.sca.org/events/atlantia-calendar-events
Kingdoms have certain required events: Crown Tournament and Coronation. In Atlantia, these are held twice a year. Other Kingdom Events include: UnEvent, Kingdom 12th Night, University, Kingdom Arts & Science Festival, and War of the Wings. All of these events, except for War of the Wings, rotate between various regions of the kingdom and groups are encouraged to bid on them.

Within Atlantia, certain groups have “big” events which draw people from all over. If you are a fighter or A&S person, these are great locations to up your game against people you don’t have a chance to face-off or learn from regularly.

Ice Castles (January, Black Diamond – VA), Ymir (February, Windmaster’s Hill – NC), Ruby Joust (May, Caer Mear – VA), Highland River Melees (May, Highland Ford – MD), and Trial by Fire (September, Bright Hills – MD).

Sacred Stone Events
Baronial Birthday (and Investiture when appropriate) is usually September; In a Phoenix Eye / Runestone Collegium are hosted by the Phoenix Eye (the arts award for the barony) in alternating years – 2020 will be In a Phoenix Eye. A member of our Canton autocrated Runestone in 2019, and Phoenix Eye in 2018. The Barony also usually has their UnEvent end of May/early June.

The Canton of Aire Faucon used to regularly host a newcomer event: Flight of the Falcon (August). Previous historic events include Inn on the Road (see our Aire Currents for history). We regularly host demos in Lincolnton, in particular Lincolnton Apple Festival.

The Canton of Charlesbury Crossing, like Aire Faucon, has had their big event slide. They also host demos every year at ConCarolinas (May) and Muggles Market (October). Aire Faucon often helps out their nearest neighbor with these.

The Canton of Crois Brigte has often hosted Gardens of Thyme in August.

The Canton of Middlegate hosts Return to Crecy.

The Canton of Saleberie Glen, until recently, hosted a regular bardic event.

 

Calendar of Events
What events should you go to? Well, depends on how far you like to travel, what type of events you like (camping, fighting, arts, university, feasts), and your free time.

Aire Faucon’s nearest neighbors – often with events within an hour or two are:
Canton of Charlesbury Crossing
Canton of Saleberie Glenn
Barony of Hawkwood (Baronial Birthday – May);
Canton of Falcon Cree (Barony of Nottinghill Coil)

Next round out – two to four hours
Canton of Crois Brigte
Canton of Middlegate
Incipient Canton of Stormwall (Barony of Hawkwood)
Barony of Windmaster’s Hill
Barony of Nottinghill Coil (Baronial Birthday – January); (Yule Toy – December)
Shire of Nant-Y-Derwyddon (TN)
Barony of Thor’s Mountain (TN)

Next round out – four to eight hours
Shire of Cathanar (NC shore)
Barony of Raven’s Cove (NC shore)
Shire of Seareach (NC shore)
Barony of Hidden Mountain (SC shore)
Shire of Border Vale Keep (GA)
Barony of Black Diamond (VA)
And like half of Meridies.

Things to look forward to in first quarter of 2020
http://atlantia.sca.org/events/atlantia-calendar-events
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ybEjlRMfEEbMlGDYDpJHDqTDm93Lwtk3hRuVgHZkKT0/pub

January 2020
4 – MERIDIES (not a kingdom event) 12th Night – Barony of Bryn Madoc – Athens, GA (http://www.brynmadoc.meridies.org/12thnight-2019.html)

11 – Garb Workshop – Nottinghill Coill – Spartanburg, SC

18 – Atlantia Kingdom 12th Night – Roanoke, VA (ROYAL)

18 – MERIDIES Menhir – Shire of Rising Stone – Murfreesboro, TN (https://www.facebook.com/events/458445958144486/)

25 – Tourney of Manannan mac Lir XL – Canton of Tear-Seas Shore (Hidden Mountain) – Harleyille, SC (ROYAL)

February 2020
1 – MERIDIES – Midwinter A&S – Barony of South Downs – Atlanta, GA

14-16 – Nottinghill Coil XL – Nottinghill Coil – Bennetsville, SC

21-23 – Ymir 45 – Windmaster’s Hill – Ellerbe, NC (ROYAL)

March 2020
7 – Kingdom A&S Festival – Matthews, NC

14-22 – Gulf Wars

14 – Raven’s Cove Baronial Birthday – Barony of Raven’s Cove – Richlands, NC

14 – A Day of DaVinci – Canton of Cydllan Downs (Barony of Nottingham Coil) – Trenton, SC

27-29 – Hidden Mountain Birthday and Investiture – Hidden Mountain – Bennetsville, SC (ROYAL)

Event Checklists: Camping events

(Taught at the 4/5/2018 Newcomer meeting in Aire Faucon and several times before that – this is a go-to class taught about every six months to newcomers)

Pennsic Checklist 

The focus for this checklist is Pennsic, a two-week camping event. Trim it down and adjust to site specific situations depending on the event. Most are two-to-three day weekend events, but some, such as War of the Wings, can last an entire week even though they are “just” in-kingdom.

Camping Equipment
(  ) Tent, poles, stakes, & instructions
(  ) Plastic drop cloth for tent
(  ) Extra rope to tie down tent (Pennsic and Gulf Wars have bad wind storms)
(  ) Hammer (for getting stakes into and out of the ground)
(  ) Broom (to sweep tent)
(  ) Towel for mopping inside of tent (In case of rain)
(  ) Tarp (to cover dining area and/or your tent)
(  ) Sleeping bag
(  ) Pillow
(  ) Sheets and extra blankets
(  ) Air mattress (and pump), pad, cot, or rope bed frame
(  ) Flashlight and extra batteries
(  ) Propane lamp
(  ) Fire extinguisher
(  ) Water bucket for campfire
(  ) Shovel for campfire
(  ) MATCHES – for lanterns, stove, campfire, etc..
(  ) First aid kit (aspirin, sinus medicine, calamine lotion, and bandaides especially)

Nice to have Camping Equipment
(  ) Rug for tent
(  ) Chair for inside tent
(  ) Battery lamp for tent (NO CANDLES!)
(  ) Landry bag
(  ) Tiki torches
(  ) Solar showers
(  ) Personal Banner

Toiletries
(  ) Hairbrush and/or comb
(  ) Deodorant (unscented if possible)
(  ) Soap (unscented if possible, not flower scented at all)
(  ) Babywipes (wonderful for cleaning your face)
(  ) Shampoo and conditioner (unscented if possible, not flower scented at all)
(  ) Toothbrush and toothpaste
(  ) Razor
(  ) Towels, bath and handwash (as many as needed – take into account the number of days you’ll be there)
(  ) Something to carry toiletries to showers
(  ) Contact and/or eyeglass materials
(  ) Extra toilet paper
(  ) Feminine products
(  ) Birth control (as appropriate)
(  ) Personal medications
(  ) Cosmetics (but no perfume – unless you like bees)
(  ) Hairspray (but not your electric plugin blow drier)

Food Preparation and Feast Gear
(  ) Chair to sit in
(  ) One or two tables to eat and cook on
(  ) Tub to wash dishes in
(  ) Dish soap and scrub brush
(  ) Washcloth, sponge, and dishtowel
(  ) Dishes:  Plate, bowl, goblet/mug, utensils (bring enough for one full day, at least – you will wash dishes at some point)
(  ) Cooking gear:  Stove, propane, pots, pans, spatula, stirring spoons, etc.. (think of what your are going to cook and of all the utensils you will need and write it out)
(  ) Cutting knives and cutting board
(  ) Spices (Salt, Pepper, Garlic, etc…)
(  ) Can Opener
(  ) Bottle Top Opener/Corkscrew

Food and Drink – Take into account the number of days there
(  ) Grocery list of what to buy in town once on site
(  ) ICE
(  ) Ice chest/cooler
(  ) Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (there are on-site restaurants)
(  ) Alcoholic drink (May want to buy there – some state border crossing are illegal with alcohol example: PA-NJ)
(  ) Non-alcoholic drink (Gatorade diluted by half, soda, etc.)
(  ) Drinking water
(  ) Snacks
(  ) Ziplock bags for food

NOTE:  Cooper store offers fresh fruit, bread, milk and ice.  Plan to buy these staples on site after the initial big purchase in town.  Milk, bread & fruit usually last no more than two days under camping conditions.

NOTE: Pennsic has an amazing food court. If it is just you, buying dinner at the court is a lot less effort and doesn’t cost much more than eating on your own.

NOTE: Other events. At this point most large events have food courts of some sort, Walmarts within easy driving distance, Welcome-commons for the first night, and food plans set up by household who camp together. Plan your food requirements accordingly.

Clothing
Weather varies drastically outside of climate control – in the winter or summer, it can be hot during the day, and still reach freezing at night. Wind, rain, hot, cold – all occur. Prep for it. War of the Wings is in October in North Carolina and has had both freezing and 90 degree weather on top of its mountain. Pennsic in Pennsylvania in August likewise.
(  ) Cloak (It gets cold at Pennsic)
(  ) Cloths for as many days as you are there – Summer outfits
(  ) Winter outfit (bring at least one)
(  ) Thermal underwear (It gets real cold at Pennsic, sometimes)
(  ) One court outfit
(  ) One outfit for theme parties
(  ) Underwear
(  ) Socks
(  ) One full outfit for storage in car, including shoes, in case of rain
(  ) Bathing suit
(  ) Sleepwear
(  ) Period looking walking shoes
(  ) Waterproof boots
(  ) Hat to keep sun off head
(  ) Mundane outfit to drive home in
(  ) Ziplock bags for clothing/Waterproof clothing storage
(  ) Box for clothing that is waterproof for at least 2 inches of water
(  ) Watch (for keeping track of when tourneys/classes are)

Electronics
(  ) Cell phone
(  ) Cell phone charger
(  ) Laptop
(  ) Laptop charger
(  ) Solar power recharging station (Pennsic note – if you are located on the Serengeti, these work great. They do not work in the Swamp.)

Car Storage
(  ) Outfit for car previously mentioned
(  ) Emergency kit for your car: white towel, flashlight, duct tape, extra water, car care manual
(  ) Something to clean your car windows off after a week: Windex and papertowels

Special Interests
(  ) Armor & Weapons
(  ) Authorization cards
(  ) Bow and arrow
(  ) Scouting helm
(  ) Gaming materials (cards and board games)
(  ) Class list (you can download your first look from the Pennsic website before coming – also there is Pennsic Thing (thing.pennsicuniversity.org) which allows you to access the calendar of activities online)

Other
(  ) Talcum powder (for chafing)
(  ) Suntan lotion
(  ) Sunburn cream
(  ) Bug spray and citronella candles
(  ) BEE STING KIT (If you are allergic, wear at all times in plain view)
(  ) Pen and paper
(  ) Camera, charger, and extra discs
(  ) Needlework and/or Books (for the slow times)
(  ) Music payer and charger
(  ) Money, credit cards, checks (some merchants do not take checks; credit cards work fairly well when the Wi-Fi is cooperative for SquareUp)

NOTE:  At Pennsic, two ATMs are located on site, but they do charge for the convenience.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Clochette.  August AS XXVIII.  Pennsic Camping List.  Erik Blaedring.
Ferrugo.  August AS VIII.  Happy Pennsic List.  Unknown author.
Ironmonger.  August AS XXV.  What You Should Think About Taking
            to Pennsic War and What You Can Leave Behind.  Lady Valery Fitzgerald.

Event Checklists: Feast

(Taught at the 4/5/2018 Newcomer meeting in Aire Faucon and several times before that – this is a go-to class taught about every six months to newcomers)

Feast Checklist 

Initially packing your feast gear in a plastic bag will be fine. Eventually most people decide on a feast gear box.

Most people aim at feast gear to match their personas and their heraldry.

Feast Gear
(  ) Tablecloth (put on top of your gear)
(  ) Lunch gear: Small bowl, fork and spoon, non-breakable cup (per person who is attending) + Paper napkins

Easy alternative: Plastic gear which can be thrown out instead of waiting in a hot car to be washed once you get home.

(  ) PERSONAL Feast Gear (per person): Plate, bowl, goblet/mug, utensils (knife, spoon, fork) + Nice napkins
(  ) PER FAMILY GROUP Feast Gear: Orts bowl, large knife for cutting, spices (salt, pepper, garlic, etc), an extra service spoon or two

  • Definition of Orts – from late middle English (1400-1500) – a scarp or morsel of food left at a meal

(  ) Lighting: Candles, candlesticks, matches and/or battery operated candles (for those halls where open flame is not allowed)
(  )  Plastic grocery bags to pack dishes in when feast is done (best just keep a bunch)
(  )  Plastic food bags to pack leftover in
(  ) Washcloth, sponge, and dishtowel (not every site provides cleanup possibility but it is nice when available)

Extra Gear
(  ) Cooler for drinks and/or to take food home with you
(  ) Centerpiece decoration
(  ) One set of feast gear for unexpected guests
(  ) If at castle site (a Sacred Stone outdoor site) or other outdoor event: Your own chairs

Helping in Kitchen
(  ) Cutting Board
(  ) Two good knifes, one large for meat and one small for paring, and/or sharpener
(  ) Dishsoap
(  ) A couple of washcloths
(  ) A scratchless scrubber
(  ) A metric ton of drying cloths (really, I have gone through ten; there are never enough after cooking for over 100 people)

Event Checklists: Daytrip

(Taught at the 4/5/2018 Newcomer meeting in Aire Faucon and several times before that – this is a go-to class taught about every six months to newcomers)

Daytrip Checklist

Check-in at Gate
(  ) Directions to event
(  ) Money or checkbook to cover gate fee
(  ) SCA membership card or $5 surcharge if not a member (membership is easy at sca.org)

If you have a tendency to lose stuff out of your wallet, take a picture of your blue card and keep it on your phone. Same with any authorization card you might have. If you travel in a group, such as a family unit or household, you may want to expand this advice as needed.

Check-in at Gate for Minors, not-your-own

Some, but not all, events allow you to bring a child not-your-own with permission from the minor’s parents. The decision is driven by local and state laws and the ability to check a minor into a local hospital without parent present. Contact autocrats in advance for that event’s policy; it may change year-to-year since events do not always happen at the same location.

(  ) Medical Waiver. Some states will require the form to be notarized (example: Florida) – Show this form at gate, but do not turn it over. You keep it in case of medical emergency. Form can be found here and can cover an extended period of time, e.g. all summer: http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/treatminor-notary.pdf

(  ) Permission Waiver. Since the permission waiver needs to be signed in advance, you will need to have the parent sign this waiver before leaving. This form is a by-event form and will need to be filled out new each time. You will turn this form over at gate. Notary is not required. http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/chldwaiv.pdf

 

Dayboard Feast Gear
(  ) Lunch gear: Small bowl, fork and spoon, non-breakable cup (per person attending) + Paper napkins

Easy alternative: Plastic gear which can be thrown out instead of waiting in a hot car to be washed once you get home.

(  )  Plastic grocery bags to pack dishes when done

Garb
(  ) Garb appropriate to the weather (per person)
(  ) Spring/Fall weather – layers works good
(  ) If children, extra set of garb per child
(  ) Cloaks for night, cold, wind, or rain
(  ) Hat (for sun or rain)
(  ) Court garb
(  ) Jewelry as appropriate
(  ) Shinys – Baronial cornets, order medallions, favors (royal, romantic and household), belts (apprentice, squire, etc)
(  ) Street clothes to drive home in

First Aid
(  ) Cooler with water, ice and other drinks
(  ) Small plastic bags
(  ) Sunscreen AND Bugspray
(  ) Babywipes
(  ) BEE STING KIT (if you are allergic)
(  ) Backups of any personal medications – one day’s worth
(  ) Small first aid kit: Band-Aids (bonus for blister type and/or sweat resistant), feminine products, headache medicine (aspirin (ex. Bayer) AND ibuprofen (ex. Advil))

 

ACTIVITIES

Martial Activities – Heavy, Fencing, Thrown, Siege, Archery
(  ) Authorization Card(s)
(  ) Heavy Weapon Kit: Armor (including helm, gorget, cup, kidney belt, knees, and gauntlets – chest protection if female), weapons, shield, duct tape, electrical tape, armor repair kit appropriate to armor type (ex. Rivets, leather straps, extra plates),
(  ) Rapier kit: Armor (including mask, gorget, cup, jacket, gloves), weapons, shield, repair kit (electrical tape, extra tips)
(  ) Thrown Weapons kit: Weapons, gloves
(  ) Archery kit: Bow, bow string, bow stringer, gloves, arrows, quiver, repair kit (glue, extra feathers, extra tips)

Arts and Academic Activities
(  ) Notebook and pen(s)
(  ) Plastic bag for notebook and pen(s)
(  ) If teaching a class: handout and materials
(  ) Embroidery/sewing kit: Sewing basket, chalk, thread (black and white), multiple needles, measuring tape, scissors, and other things appropriate to today’s project
(  ) C&I kit: Extra paper, ink, pen, surface, pencils, water container, brushes, paints, eraser

General Service: Troll, children’s, setup/cleanup
(  ) Troll kit: Extra highlighters, tape, extra paper, pens and pencils (you should be supplied with the waivers)
(  ) Children’s kit: wipes
(  ) Setup/cleanup kit: working gloves, dustpan, rubber gloves, bleach, Windex/ammonia glass cleaner

Helping in Kitchen
(  ) Cutting Board
(  ) Two good knifes, one large for meat and one small for paring, and/or sharpener
(  ) Dishsoap
(  ) A couple of washcloths
(  ) A scratchless scrubber
(  ) A metric ton of drying cloths (really, I have gone through ten; there are never enough after cooking for over 100 people)

Car Kit
(  ) Ice scraper AND Snowbrush
(  ) Map of US – for when GPS doesn’t work
(  ) Extra $50 in fives for tolls – I use max of PA turnpike (in 2015 for a passenger car was $46.10)

Challenge Friendly

(Prepared for the March 1st 2018 Canton of Aire Faucon Newcomer Night.)

CHALLENGE FRIENDLY
How to Treat Service Animals; Choosing Challenge Friendly Sites for Events; and Making Activities Challenge Friendly

Class Objectives:

  1. Teach how to interact with service animals to adults and children.
  2. Start a dialogue of making the SCA more accessible to all.

PART 1: How to Treat Service Animals.

One) Working Animals from period, breeding to task.
A. Herding – Intelligence, loyalty, protective but also capable of attacking to protect, problem-solving, capable of independent and dependent actions. Examples: German Shepherd.
B. Hunting – Senses – sight and/or scent, loyalty to pack group and one leader, attacking – Hunting large game (elkhounds), hunting small game (dachshunds), hunting racing game above ground (greyhounds).
C. Transportation – Riding, pulling – equestrian, bovines, and canines.

Side note: Hybrids – the Mule (male donkey (jack) to female horse (mare)) and Henny (male horse (stallion) to female donkey (jenny)); Have the endurance and disposition of a donkey and proportional strength – with the larger horse size. They also are smarter than donkeys and longer-lived than horses. Hennies are smaller than mules because of parentage. In very, very rare instances female mules (molly mules) are fertile with true donkeys and horses. In general the chromosomes issues make them sterile (horses got 64 and donkeys have 62, and the hybrids have 63).

D.  Food and Manufacturing Industries – activity (plowing, pollination, grass trimming, rodent control); indirect products (milk, eggs, honey, hair for clothing, wax, quills); direct product (meat, leather, vellum)

Two) Economic Animals in Modern Life, trained to task.
A. Herding, Hunting, Transpiration, and Food Industry – Still ongoing.
B. Protection – Police and guard animals. Chosen for scent skills, protection skills – and trained further. Also guard animals like peacocks and geese.
C. Household companions – Highly intelligent creatures about half the size of humans or smaller. Chosen for compatibility around children. Most common animals are dogs and cats.
D. Companion Animals – Animals which provide emotional support for various minor physical and mental challenges. Some of the animals have been trained for several months in their tasks, for example emotional comfort in crowds or a second pair of hands.. A wide range of animals provide the comfort of companion animals. These animals are not protected under the disability laws.

E. Disability Animals – Animals which have gone extensive training from childhood, most at least two years, in their particular tasks. They are trained to work well in crowded situations, be around other animals, recognize the difference between being on-job or off-job, etc. Most disability animals are drawn from the herding breeds of dogs.
1. Children – Children love to pet these highly social animals. If the vest is on, explain to the children what the animal is doing. Explain the rules for approaching and walk them through it.
2. Vests – When the vests are on, the animal is on-the-job. Courtesy is to leave the animal alone so it can concentrate on its job of taking care of its handler. Just like you dislike it when a friend drops by while you are working and just wants to hang out and talk, the discordance between working and play for the animal also happens.

From American Girl (might no longer be available)

3. Approaching the animal – Ask the handler of the animal for permission to approach the animal. Ask if it is okay. See if there is a better time of day, such as when it is off duty. DO NOT GET BETWEEN THE ANIMAL AND ITS CHARGE. Pet the animal, but do not overwhelm it. Let it continue to concentrate on its human.
4. Off duty – Give the animal a transition period between being on-duty and play-time. Find out what it likes and play with it. Understand if it is tired from its day and just wants to relax.
5. Disability Animals at event
(a) Troll – set aside an area for the people and animals to check in. Have water available if possible.
(b) Weekend events – Have a running/play area set aside in the campground for the animals or make arrangements with the animal’s human.
(c) Crowded events – Have area set aside for a small quiet place.

6. Legal rights related to disability, therapy, and emotional support animal.

For Service Dogs – They have the same “rights” as a wheelchair and are considered medical equipment. You can no more separate a blind person from their service animal than a mobility impaired person from their wheelchair. This applies to trained SERVICE dogs only.

Characteristics – from “pleasedonotpetme.com” Service Dog Therapy Dog Emotional Support Animal
Handlers’ rights to be accompanied by these dogs in establishments open to the public are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.      X
Dogs must be temperamentally sound to tolerate a wide variety of experiences, environments and people.      X      X
These dogs may live with their disabled owners in housing with a “no-pets” policy in place.      X      X
Dogs visit hospitals, schools, hospices and other institutions to aid in psychological or physical therapy.      X
Handlers encourage these dogs to accept petting and socialize with other people while they’re on-duty.      X
Dogs are individually trained to perform tasks or do work to mitigate their handlers’ disabilities.      X
Petting, talking to or otherwise distracting these dogs can interfere with their job and pose a serious danger to the dog and handler.      X
Dogs’ primary functions are to provide emotional support, through companionship, to their disabled owners.      X
Subject to state laws regarding dog licensing and vaccination.      X      X      X
These dogs enjoy plenty of off-duty time, during which they rest, take part in fun activities and get to act like a regular, pet dog.       X      X      X

PART II: Choosing Challenge Friendly Sites

One) Types of Challenges – Mobility challenge (wheelchair, cane, balance, limited walking), crowd/anxiety challenge (too much noise, too many thing happening, too crowded), sight challenge (blindness, can’t handle bright lights, limit range), hearing challenge (can’t hear in crowds, no hearing), language challenge (different primary language, cannot read, cannot write).

Two) Mobility Challenge – Many people in the SCA have mobility issues. A lot of them are active in A&S activities. When planning an A&S event, try to keep it on one level – or have elevators between levels. At outdoor events, try to have the activities on flat ground and close together.

Think Ambulance – If an ambulance (outdoor) or gurney with two people pushing (indoor) can’t get to the activity , neither can a wheelchair.

Three) Language challenge – Are directions clear? If in an area with multiple languages, are heralds available in the languages of the area? Can information be shared verbally as well as written?

Four) Sight challenge – Can you make the print bigger on the waivers for poor sighted people? Is braille versions available? Is the light adequate – is more or less needed?

Five) Hearing challenge – Are sign heralds available? Can hazard information be passed on the field in more than just shouts? Can cloth be added to walls to cut down on echoes?

Six) Anxiety challenge – Are activities available in non-crowded areas? Can tasks be given to reduce people-fright (troll and kitchen for example)? Is a room available for quiet – nursing mothers, napping children, and people needing alone time?

PART III: Making Challenge Friendly Activities

One) Big Plus – Making activities more challenge friendly also make several of them more children friendly. Limited hand mobility, language barriers, walking distances, inability to concentrate in crowded, noisy situations all apply.

Two) Color Challenge – For people with color blindness, scribal arts still work.

Three) Planning Classes – Think of how to make it simpler for people with limited hand mobility or control. Bigger embroidery tasks, less detail on scrolls.

Four) Teaching class – is there room for a wheelchair to get in the door? For dancing, how can the steps be modified if one of the dancers needs a walker?

Class: Largess: The Gift That Keeps Needing Gifting

Largess: The Gift that Keeps Needing Gifting

(Taught October 5, 2017) for the Aire Faucon Newcomer A&S Night)

What is Largess?
Largess is the trappings of the “stage” side of the SCA, the sets and props carried into court or used to produce an event. In SCA vocabulary, largess usually refers to gifts given by Royalty and Baronage, but can include gifts given to them as well.

Merriam-Webster’s definition is (13th century) (1) liberal giving (as of money) to or as if to an inferior; (2) Generosity.

Our royalty and baronage, as part of the dream/play, are expected to give gifts generously to those they visit – other royalty, other baronage, medallions and scrolls in court to their populous. In addition they are to look totally spiff. All while holding down real-world jobs, traveling from one end of the kingdom to the other (and outside the kingdom), paying for their normal living, and taking care of the behind-the-scenes management like recommendations or personality friction resolutions. Unless they have a private stream of income like real royalty do, they afford this “production” by the generosity of their friends and those they have no clue.

Types of Largess: Gifts and Spiffs
Royalty Court Largess – The cups given to newcomers, the gifts given in the children boxes, medallions (also candles for flames, feathers, ect.), scrolls, scroll carriers, rings from their hands.

Royalty Gifting Largess – Brews and cookies to get allies at wars like Gulf Wars, Pennsic, and War of the Wings; baskets to give to other baronages and royalties at events useful (like gas-cards) and pretties (like napkins) or both (like paper umbrellas).

Populous Gifts to Royalty for Largess – All that Royalty Court Largess and Royalty Gifting Largess comes from somewhere. Everything they gave out came from someone else’s hands, so see the lists above.

Populous Gifts to Royalty for Spiffness – Garb (including shoes, head coverings, and jewelry), coronets, thrones, tables, pillows, rugs, knifes/swords, mantles/cloaks.

Populous Gifts for Peerage Spiffness – Each time a peer is made certain symbols of rank are given or used in the ceremony. A special vigil and ceremonial outfit, a processional banner, a tent/vigil area with food, a vigil book. Knights: chain, spurs, belt (in some kingdoms a sword); Laurel: medallion, mantle, laurel wreath; Pelican: medallion, mantle, cap of maintenance. (Court Baroncy: Coronet.) – In all cases, an amazing scroll or scroll-like product.

Event and Demo Materials (for Spiffness) – Site and feast tokens, gold key, banners, flags, tablecloths, cooler covers, or anything PERMANENT and/or REUSABLE which makes the site and activities more medieval feeling (dance, food cooked, classes taught don’t count as largess).

Largess Night in the Canton
The Canton of Aire Faucon has had a monthly Largess night since June 2015 as part of their A&S cycle. The purpose is two-fold: (1) make largess both spiff and gifts; and (2) have a small hands-on class allowing people to learn new A&S skills without a big commitment.

Things we have made:
2015 – Fibula pins; Jeweled bookmarks; Spices mixes to give as Largess; Painted processional banner of Aire Faucon for WOW at the request of the Baronage; Painted wooden boxes; Painted notecards

2016 – Messenger bags; Kumihimo cord; Mug hangers; Site tokens for Wow 2016; Origami; Mustards; Repaired all canton and baronial gold key

2017 – Drawn threadwork towels; Sweet bags; Heraldic banners (and planned for December Scribal carriers)

Largess Ideas for Home or Classes
Doesn’t all this sound like fun? You can make this stuff at home, attend Largess night on the 2nd Thursday of the month, or even volunteer to teach a class. Do you have something which will only take about an hour or two? Perfect for a Largess night. Bonus points if children can participate in it in part (example: Isibel’s twins helped with stuffing the sweet bags this year.)

Court
Scrolls, scroll carriers (see medallions and cording under jewelry)

Clothing
Belts for baronial gold key (the canton has some but the barony doesn’t have any)
And for the ambitious: new outfits for our new baronage.

Jewelry
Necklaces (pendants or beaded), rings (wire or stone), bracelets, earrings, painted beads, glass beads, prayer beads. Fibula pins
Hat/hair/veil pins

Awards: Medallions and Cord
Medallions made from wood & paints, painted ceramic; cast in various metals like pewter, leatherwork, embroidered, carved in amber or stone, glass/enamel work (check with the baronage for particulars of what is needed right now)
Cording to hand medallions including Kumihimo and Lucet (green and white for barony and blue and white for kingdom is especially welcomed). Bonus if clasps are included.

Accessories
Belt pouches made from felt, linen or leftover materials then plain, beaded, trimmed, or embroidered. Belt pouches made from leather.
Coifs made from linen; Snoots made with linen, silk or cotton; Veils (rectangular or oval – silk or linen),
Mug holders (leather is best), neck coolers (my goodness wouldn’t this be an awesome site token at a summer event!)
Woven trim, buttons (cast)

Linens and Things
Napkins, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, runners, doilies, towels, basket liners, rugs, pillows (pincushions, chair cushions, kneeling cushions, etc). These can be painted, stamped, embroidered, woven, sewn, etc.
Cup covers – usually lace or fabric and beaded

Food and kitchen creations – Any food largess should only be given in relations to particular requests (usually timed to major wars) and only through prearrangement as most have a limited shelf-life and specific transportation requirements.
Brews (mead and beer); Cordials; Cookies; Spices and sauces, Perfumes, Soaps, Candles, Beeswax forms for sewing

Scribal Support
Scribal paint brush carrier, Small scribal paint box, Paper for starting scribes, paint brush holders (think chopstick holders), Painted notecards (thank you cards)

Fiber Arts Support
Drop spindles, Wooden lucets, Sewing kits, Needle cases (cloth, leather, wood, bone), Winding sticks, Laying tools

Games
Game boards and pieces (embroidered, carved, wood-burned, painted, etc – example games Chess, Nine-man-Morris, Fox and goose), Cards made in a period fashion, Dice (metal, bone, wood)
Toys for toy box (small, light, can handle jostling, gender-neutral is good, $2 and under) – cup & ball, small dolls, pirate eyepatch, clothespin/peg doll sets, etc.;

Miscellaneous
Cups – glass, clay, plastic, metal; Cork screws, flatwear holders for feastgear
Gas cards, Paper umbrellas, Small mirrors, Hair combs, Wooden boxes all sizes (from holding a ring to a feast gear box), Beaded flowers, Sweet bags, Small notebooks – or notebook covers, Bookmarks, Tissue holders, Messenger bags,

Sites for some of the projects
Cup covers – (link broken and removed)

Feast gear (flatwear holders) – http://the-earth-is-flat.blogspot.com/2014/03/largess-project-1a-flatware-holders.html?m=0

Medallions – https://aethelmearcgazette.com/2016/01/18/making-sca-order-medallions/

Neck coolers – http://www.instructables.com/id/Sew-Very-Useful-Neck-Cooler/

Needle holder (notebook style) – http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/02/needle-book.html

Scroll carriers – (link broken and removed)

Toy (small felt seahorses) – https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/felt-seahorses

Toy (Crayon booklet party favor) – https://youandmie.com/2012/09/07/crayon-booklet-party-favors/

Toy (linen balls) – http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=394405001&objectid=159640

Toy (rag doll) – http://missgioia.com/2007/06/rag-doll-tutorial.html

Class: Martial Activities Available in the SCA

I Can Kill You With … (Martial Activities Available in the SCA)

(Taught April 6, 2017 for the Aire Faucon Newcomer A&S Night)
(Taught October 21, 2017 for the War of the Wings newcomer track)

Activities of the SCA
The SCA has three pillars supporting it: Arts, Service, and, the most exciting, Martial activities. As a newcomer you have a lot of different options in learning combat and weaponry in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

 

Martial Activities

Armored Combat/Heavy Weapons Target Archery Black Powder
Light Combat / Rapier Thrown Weapons List Minister
Cut & Thrust Siege Weapons Marshal(s)
Youth Combat Equesterian (Jousting) Weaterbearing
Combat Archery Coursing First Aid / Chirugeon

Armored Combat / Heavy Weapons – Traditional knight fighting. People wear armor, fight with various rattan weapons, and self-score damage. Marshals monitor combat for safety of the participants and audience and do not decide the winner. Fighting is done in single combat, small unit (or team) style, and large maneuvers. Various tournament formats exists including single-elimination, double-elimination, bear pit, and wars.

Light Combat / Rapier – Olympic fencing taken to the streets. Participants wear fencing masks, specialized garb, fight with various fencing swords and parry objects, and self-score damage. Marshal again are safety officers. Fighting is done in single combat or small unit style. Various tournament formats exists including the Spanish Circle, the Slippery Slope, and Barroom. Oh, and since they are late period they allow single shot rubberband guns.

Cut and Thrust – The new kid on the block requires armor but uses the standard of “unarmored” for measuring the effectiveness of blows, because the weapons are real … not sharpened, but real. Everything from side swords to two-handed are brought to the field.

Youth Combat – Armored combat for participants between ages 6 and 17. Marshal do monitor the “scoring” but the participants are the final arbiters. Fighting is done in single combat or small unit style.

Combat Archery – Using specialize arrows and wearing appropriate armor, archers enter the armored combat field for large maneuver activities. Most combat archery, due to the expense of the special combat arrows, is “sniper” type.

Target Archery – Target archery can be done with crossbows, recurve, and long bows. Royal rounds are done at practices and at events and count toward the Archery Ranking system. A royal round is a shoot consisting of “six shafts each shot at 40, 30, and 20 yards, and a 30-second timed round at 20 yards”. A clout shoot occurs at Pennsic and involves getting arrows inside a “castle” at 120 yards. Themed archery competitions occur at many events. (More details can be found at https://scores-sca.org/public/scores_rules.php?R=2&Shoot=2)

Thrown Weapons – Thrown weapons include knife, hand axe, stars, and spears. The Middle Kingdom has a royal round format for ranking.

Siege Weapons – “There are two types of siege devices: active siege engines and passive siege structures.” Active siege engines, including man-powered trebuchets, are designed to deliver small or large ammunition to range of 40 to 80 yards. Siege structures include towers and ramp and are used to support personnel, but not fitted with active weaponry. Ammunition includes “rocks”, 4-tennis ball clusters, combat archery arrows, and ballista javelins. Activity at events including participating in large combat maneuvers and target practices. (SCA siege weapon handbook is here: http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/siege/siege_engines_handbook.pdf)

Equestrian (Jousting) – Jousting is done with lances at rings ranging in size from six inches down to one inch. Other activities include spear throwing, “stabbing objects on the ground, knocking (fake) heads off posts with a sword, obstacle courses, and archery from horseback.” Pageantry is an essential element of equestrian activities and many people have full barding for their animals.

Coursing – Canine activities including rabbit chasing. This martial activity is rare in Atlantia.

Black Powder – At Pennsic and other large events, you may meet those playing very late period. They do rifle maneuvers and shoot the cannon to announce the beginning and end of battles.

List Minister – An officer position involved in registering fighters and organizing the administrative portion of competitions, especially large single-combat tourneys.

Marshal(s) – The safety officer responsible for inspecting equipment, both armor and weapons; inspecting the field; monitoring the physical and mental state of fighting participants and the observers; organizing fighter practices; training people (if local officer); organizing fighting at events (marshal in-charge, MIC); running authorizations; and turning in the waivers from fighter practices.

Waterbearing – Gentles who bring water out to participants on the fields of battle. Lifesavers!

First Aid / Chirugeon(s) – Gentles who provide first aid in the SCA. This group is a guild.

 

Specialized Vocabulary
Kit – The armor and weapons used for the marshal discipline of choice. Often includes the fighter authorization card and repair kit.

Authorizations – Anyone can attend fighter practices to learn how to fight. To enter tournaments, you must be an authorized fighter. An authorization includes inspecting your kit, a Q&A session on the basic rules of the SCA marshal form, and a series of one-on-one combats showing ability to hit someone, block being hit, taking a blow, and participating in a live exchange. Authorizations include the marshal doing the combat and two observing the activity.

Inspections – Review of weapons and armor for wear-and-tear and meeting the present regulations.

List – Both the list of fighters and the field upon marshal activity is being practiced.

MIC – Marshal in-Charge. The event MIC may oversee several activity MICs. Because of this, all marshals must train in general discipline knowledge as well as their specialization.

Hold – When spoken on the list, fighters are to freeze. Usually something dangerous has occurred and the marshal needs to fix the situation. Examples: Child runs onto the archery range, a tip falling off a rapier blade, a buckle busted from the last hit in heavy causing the armor to swing free.

Clear – Used to let people know active weapons are in play. Most often heard in archery with “Clear down range.”

Lay on – Let the battle begin. Most often used in single combat.

 

The truly dangerous group in the SCA – I can kill you with … the arts
Kitchen Crew, Herbalists, and Gardeners – The Known World Apothecary Facebook Group, the Atlantian Herbal Guild, The Sacred Stone Cook’s Guild, etc.

Other Kingdom Guilds are listed on the Kingdom A&S Minister’s Webpage.

 

Upcoming fighting activities the summer
April 21-23

  1. SAAD – South Atlantia Archery Day – Canton of Crois Brigte in the Barony of Sacred Stone (Booneville, NC)
  2. Queen’s Rapier Championship (Royal Progress) – Isenfir (Weyers Cave, VA)
  3. Kingdom War Practice (Cathage, NC)

April 28-30 – Costal Raids – Armored, Rapier, and Target Archery – Barony of Raven’s Cove (Richalands, NC)

May 5-7 – Spring Crown Tournament – Marinus (Clarksville, VA)

May 19-21 – Hawkwood Baronial Birthday (Royal Progress) – Armored, Rapier, Target Archery, Thrown Weapons

June 16-18 – Return to Crecy IV (Royal Progress) – Armored, Rapier, Youth, Cavalry, Combat Archery, Target Archery, Siege

August 26 – Flight of the Falcon: St. David’s Market Day and Fair – Armored and Rapier

 

Fighter Practices
Canton of Aire Faucon – Does not have a regular martial activity practice of any sort.

Canton of Charlesbury Crossing – Armored combat practice in Freedom Park. Rapier is also welcomed, but often does not have the marshal required to allow the practice to occur.

Barony of Hawkwood – Aire Faucon’s nearest neighbor after Charlesbury Crossing (and depending on your location within the group may be even closer), has various practices.

Barony of Sacred Stone – Archery practices happen further north in some of the other cantons and BSS has a monthly rapier practice as well.

 

Class: Getting Cultured – Creating Your Persona

Getting Cultured – Creating Your Persona

 

Prepared for the Aire Faucon Newcomer Meeting on 2 February 2017
by Lady Prudence the Curious
website: penpoint.biz                 email: PrudenceCurious@aim.com


So you been to an event or two and a few A&S meetings and fighter practices and gentles keep asking what your name is. When you say “Wendy” (a name which started use only in the late 1800s and was popularized in Peter Pan in 1904 by J.M. Barre), they ask you what your persona name is.

In the SCA you end up being three people.

The Modern You – the person you are at work, the person you are for any legal transactions, and the name they put up on websites so people can contact you.

The SCA You – this person uses the SCA name you chose but doesn’t actually stick closely to the persona definition. This part of you does service at events, makes period armor using modern welding techniques, pays US dollars for medieval glass, and attends the business meetings in modern clothing.

The Period You – this is the persona you have created. Someone who could have existed in medieval or renaissance time but did not. They lived in a country and culture during a time frame and this tends to be the primary timeframe you will do much of your research in, but the SCA You is not limited – so if you want to go to a Japanese event in Japanese garb with your 12th century Irish persona name you can.


Creating a Persona – Questions you should ask yourself

  1. What clothing do I look good in?
  1. What sort of things do I like to make and when is the most interesting times they were made?
  1. What sort of things am I interested in (example boats, agriculture, banking systems)?
  1. What countries do I like to visit/research?
  1. What historical period is interesting to me? (Fall of the Roman empire, the Viking expansion, etc)

PERSONA CREATION SHEET

Name Ideas

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Centuries interested in

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Countries interested in

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Cultures interested in

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Arts & Sciences I Like

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Clothing I Like

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Class: Offices of the SCA

A Newcomer Class: Offices of the SCA
(2 Hour Course)

Prepared for the Aire Faucon Newcomer Meeting on 5 January 2017
by Lady Prudence the Curious
website: penpoint.biz                 email: PrudenceCurious@aim.com


ALL OFFICERS
All officers of the SCA, including Autocrats and the Crown must: Maintain SCA membership for the duration of their office and be over the age of 18. Deputies (except for autocrats, the Crown Heirs and anyone directly handling SCA funds) do not need to be official SCA members or over the age of 18 allowing for people to train to see if they actually want the office.


REQUIRED CANTON OFFICES
Seneschal, Exchequer and at least one of the following three offices: Herald, Marshal, A&S Minister.

(Baronial required officers are Seneschal, Exchequer, Herald, Marshal, and A&S Minister.)


SENESCHAL – The Club President. Named after steward of the great medieval houses who oversaw the day-to-day business for the lord of the manor.
Duties – (THIS OFFICE IS REQUIRED FOR GROUP TO EXIST). Attend Seneschal training to become warranted. Will need to have Internet and phone access and a mailing address; must be willing to have phone number, email and a mailing address (PO Box is okay) published on the kingdom and local websites and newsletters; must regularly check email. Turn in a quarterly report on the activities of the group to Kingdom. Review the Exchequer reports and sign off on them. Oversee the autocrats of any local events; attend all events the group holds. Arrange the business meetings (no min or max requirements for Cantons). Monitor the local group’s social media. Support the officers of the group and be the acting officer if the group does not have one with the exceptions of herald and exchequer. Be a signee on the group’s bank account. ONLY THE SENESCHAL CAN SIGN CONTRACTS. (SPECIAL NOTE – The exchequer and the seneschal cannot live in the same mundane household or be closely related to each other.)

Duties specific to the Barony of Sacred Stone – Attend or send a report to the baronial business meeting & newsletter at least once per quarter.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon – Run a business meeting once a month.

Nice to do – Write recommendations for members of the group as appropriate. Attend all group activities as possible (ex. demos, business meetings, A&S meetings, and fighter practices). Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.

SPECIAL NOTE: Autocrats are treated as deputy seneschals from the time the group accepts the bid until the final (exchequer) event report is accepted by kingdom.


EXCHEQUER – The Club Treasurer. In medieval times, the exchequer was responsible for the management and collection of taxation and governmental revenues.

Duties – (THIS OFFICE IS REQUIRED FOR GROUP TO EXIST). Attend Exchequer training to become warranted; in Atlantia this is two classes which last about 2 hours each. Turn in a quarterly to Kingdom which has been reviewed by the Seneschal. Review all financial bids for events for legal financial requirements and help autocrats complete the final event report. Help the autocrats of any local events to set up troll and verify all troll staff meet the kingdom requirements of age & membership; for the event itself, make certain the waivers are collected and the final box is counted by themselves or a fully trained and specified substitute acceptable by the Seneschal, Exchequer and Autocrat. Publish the year-end report (usually called a domesday) through a public medium like a group newsletter or in the business meeting minutes available to all members of the group. Be a signee on the group’s bank account. Be available to write checks for events and other financial purchases. Review all financial purchases by the group to meet SCA and Federal non-profit legal requirements.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to all canton business meetings.

Nice to do – Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


HERALD (At-Large Option) – The Group’s Ceremonial Officer and Messenger/Ambassador. Named after the official employed to oversee state ceremony, precedence, the use of armorial bearings, and carry proclamations and ceremonial messages.

Duties – (This office is optional at the Canton level (and required at the Baronial level), but helps meet the three required offices a Canton must have. If a Canton does not have a herald, the Baronial Herald acts for the Canton in this capacity. This is the only office where the Baronial officer is specifically stated in kingdom law to act both for their office and a canton.). Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Help an autocrat arrange for heraldic coverage at events, including but not limited to: field herald, announcement herald, court herald, and feast herald. They do not have to be the event herald, but they are to aid an autocrat in getting the coverage an event needs. In many groups, if the Seneschal is not present at a business meeting, the herald is to run the meeting.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter.

Nice to do – Attend any demos the group has as well as several fighter practices to work with fighters on field heraldry. Arrange with the A&S minister for two classes on heraldry to be taught per year in the Canton, one of names and one on devices (mixing these in with the Newcomer night works really well). Encourage all forms of heraldry within the group. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.

Forms of heraldry: “SHOUTING” – Field heraldry, announcement heraldry (including feast), court heraldry (overlaps with Ceremony), speaking for the group or individual at a court, silent heraldry; “BOOK” – name heraldry, device heraldry, commentary; “CERMONY” – Court heraldry (including the report turned into kingdom), precedence and recommendations, setting up major ceremonies, making a group “pretty” by encouraging use of passed heraldry; “SCRIBAL” – Assignment and collection of scrolls, Wording of scrolls, Calligraphy of scrolls, Illumination of scrolls, Assignment and collection of medallions, medallion cords, medallion crafting.


ARTS AND SCIENCES MINISTER – An Educational Officer. Note: In some groups, this office can be broken into an Arts Minister and a Sciences Minister.

Duties – (This office is optional at the Canton level (but is required at the Baronial level), but helps meet the three required offices a Canton must have. If a Canton does not have an A&S minister, the canton Seneschal is to administer the A&S duties including but not limited to turning in the quarterly report.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Help an autocrat arrange for A&S at events, including but not limited to: classes, exhibitions, competitions, solars, performances, and judging. They do not have to be the event A&S coordinator, but they are to aid an autocrat in getting the coverage an event needs.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Arrange for A&S hosts and teachers for the weekly meetings.

Nice to do – Attend any demos and A&S meetings the group hosts. Support anyone interested in A&S by helping them network with other people with their interest. Attend Baronial & Kingdom Unevents.


MARSHAL (At-Large Option) – A Safety Officer. Note: Marshals are specific to a fighting/weapon style and include: heavy, rapier, archery, combat archery, thrown weapons, siege, equestrian, and youth combat. A group only needs one main office holder, but they can have multiple deputies to cover any additional fighting styles the group may have interest in.

Duties – (This office is optional at the Canton level (but is required at the Baronial level), but helps meet the three required offices a Canton must have. If a Canton does not have a marshal, the canton Seneschal is to administer the marshal duties including but not limited to turning in the fighter practice waivers.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted – this is a multi-month training process including a class and an apprenticeship and is completed separately for each fighting form.  (Further Note: If a youth combat marshal, they must also go through the process of a background check which is paid for by the kingdom. Renewal is required every two years.) Make sure all group fighter practices are being held with appropriate supervision and following of SCA safety rules. Collect the group waivers at the local fighter practices. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom; turn in the group’s fighter practice waivers or report no waivers were collected. Help an autocrat arrange for all fighting forms at events, including but not limited to: tournaments, group maneuvers, and classes. They do not have to be the marshal-in-charge (MIC) over the entire event or any particular activity, but they are to aid an autocrat in getting the coverage an event needs.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Support the Charlesbury Crossing and/or Hawkwood fighter practices as our Canton does not have one at this time.

Nice to do – Attend any demos and fighter practices the group hosts. Support anyone interested in marshal activities by helping them network with other people with their fighting form. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


OPTIONAL OFFICES YOU MIGHT FIND IN A CANTON

CHATELAINE/CASTELLAN – Newcomer Officer. Chatelaine is the femine and Castellan is the masculine forms. Historically a chatelaine is the chain to which the keys of the castle were attached and the castellan was the warden for a castle.

Duties – (If a Canton does not have a chatelaine, the canton Seneschal is to administer the chatelaine duties including but not limited turning in the quarterly report.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Have Internet and phone access and a mailing address; must be willing to have phone number, email and a mailing address (PO Box is okay) published on the kingdom and local websites and newsletters; must regularly check email and the social media of the group. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Work with autocrats on any newcomer centric activities, arranging for gold key if appropriate.  Attend any demos hosted within the bounds of the Canton, if at all possible.

GOLD KEY DEFINITION: Garb, feast gear, A&S tools, and weapons a newcomer can borrow for an event to help them learn about the SCA.

DEMO DEFINITION: Demonstration of SCA activities presented to non-SCA members, usually with an educational bent. Demonstrations can be done for youth groups, schools, libraries, for-profit stores, non-profit groups, home school groups, conventions, and other groups of people. We cannot do them for payment, but will accept donations. Activities presented could be art forms, marshal forms, lectures, and hands-on activities and vary in size from one person to several dozen presenters and can last from a single hour to multi-days.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Support the local group running at least one demo per year. Verify any canton gold key is cared for, but the chatelaine is not required to store it themselves. Work with the A&S Minister to have a monthly Newcomer meeting; help arrange for a topic and instructor.

Nice to do – Attend A&S and fighter activities as possible to help integrate newcomers into the SCA. Assemble the list of newcomers and provide regular contact throughout the first year, helping them know about activities them may be interested in. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


WEBMINISTER – Website Administrator.

Duties – (If a Canton does not have a webminister, the canton Seneschal is to administer the webminister duties should the group have a dynamic website.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Have Internet access and be willing to learn the group’s website format. Turn in an annual report to Kingdom. Work with local autocrats on setting up a page specific to their event to help with advertising. Support the local seneschal in monitoring the group’s social media activities. Verify the website meets all SCA requirements for photograph models and intellectual property.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Publish the monthly business minutes provided by the Chronicler to the website. Publish the annual domesday provided by the Exchequer to the website. Keep the officer list on the website up-to-date.

Nice to do – Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


CHRONICLER – Secretary and Publisher.

Duties – (If a Canton does not have a chronicler, the canton Seneschal is to administer the chronicler duties including but not limited to the publication of the business notes.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Have Internet access and email. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Arrange for business minutes to be taken at any of the local group’s business meeting and published in a manner to allow all members of the group to have ready access to the minutes, usually through a newsletter, website, or email distribution. The officer does not need to be the person who does this activity at every meeting; they just need to arrange for it to happen for all meetings. Should the local group have a newsletter, the chronicler is to see to the regular publication and meeting any SCA requirements for photograph models and intellectual property.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Send the monthly business minutes to the webminister for publication.

Nice to do – Restart the Air Currents and/or support the Baronial Chronicler with The Phoenix. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


CHANCELLOR OF YOUTH (At-Large Option) – Educational officer specific to activities of legal minors.

Duties – (If a Canton does not have a youth minister, the canton Seneschal is to administer the youth minister duties including but not limited to quarterly reporting requirements.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted, plus arrange for a background check by SCA Inc (renewal required every two years). Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Assist local autocrats in arranging children and youth activities (outside of youth fighting) for events; they do not need to be one running the activities, just help the autocrat in making the arrangements. Kingdom does require a youth minister, at-large or group-linked, to run one youth activity at an event per year.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter. Work with the A&S minister to have at least two children/youth-centric A&S activities per year, helping the A&S find appropriate teachers and background-check adult support (mixing these in with the Largess nights works really well).

Nice to do – Attend fighter and A&S activities as able to get to know the children and youth of the group and what their interest are. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


MINISTER OF LISTS (At-large option) – Administrator of Tournaments.

Duties – (If a Canton does not have a Minister of Lists, the canton Seneschal has no additional duties.) Arrange with kingdom to become warranted. Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Assist local autocrats in arranging for any marshal tournaments to have organizers; the list minister does not have to attend the event, just help the autocrat arrange for coverage. Work with marshals at events on warranting new fighters.

Duties specific to the Canton of Aire Faucon- Attend or send a report to at least one canton business meeting per quarter.

Nice to do – Attend fighter practice regularly to get to know the fighters and show support, also to gain familiarity with the marshals. Attend the Baronial and Kingdom Unevents.


REQUIRED BARONIAL OFFICERS

As previously mention: Seneschal, Exchequer, Herald, A&S Minister, and Marshal.

In addition


BARONIAL SEAT – The Baron and/or Baroness. May be held by one or two people of the same or different genders in real-world or SCA-persona.

Duties – (If a Barony does not have a Baronial Seat, the Crown will choose a Regent until such time as a new Baronial Seat can be chosen.) Turn in a quarterly report to Kingdom. Attend all events held by the local group as able. Attend appropriate kingdom level events as able. Hold court regularly and hand out awards as appropriate. Support the local officers in their duties. Support the local Canton activities as able. Choose champions.

Duties specific to the Sacred Stone – Call business meetings (the Seneschal runs them, but the Baronial Seat calls them). Be part of the Financial Committee and the Emergency Financial Committee (the Exchequer runs these).

Nice to do – Attend demos, business meetings, A&S meetings, and fighter practices as able.


OPTIONAL OFFICES YOU MIGHT FIND IN THE BARONY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED OFFICES FOUND IN CANTONS

Under Exchequer – Chamberlain

Under Herald – Scribal Coordinator, Medallion Coordinator, Entourage coordinator

Under the Baronial Seat – Order Principals


ADDITIONAL OFFICES EXIST AT THE KINGDOM AND SCA LEVELS BEYOND PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

For example, the SCA is overseen by a Board of Directors and the Kingdom has the Crown office and an administrator of kingdom law. But these are beyond the scope of a newcomer class, so I won’t go into them here.