A message from the Seneschal

Friends,
Despite having a horrible cold, I’m feeling very lucky today. I’m so thankful that the officers and deputies who are stepping away from their positions were kind enough to give us what time they had available to assist, and that the people stepping into their shoes have the excitement needed to take up the torch. Being an officer or a deputy is a very big commitment, and I thank all those people who put their names on the ballot. We could not make this Organization work without volunteers.

I’m so happy to pass the torch to our new Shire Officers. Vivat, Baron Adolphus Benner, who will take up the position of Seneschal. Vivat, Lady Mairi Crawford, who will be our new Minister of Arts and Science. Vivat, Lady Dionise O’Towie, who will take on the position of Chatelaine. You are all crazy awesome!

Working hard in an organization like this one can be very rewarding. The research that you put into your work draws both yourself and those around you closer into our crazy world. The time you spend working with others, supports everyone around you and creates an atmosphere of forward motion and inclusion. The exciting projects we all forge create magic moments, and allow people to become caught up in the pageantry and joy of an event.

I really appreciated the time that I spent as Seneschal for the Shire of Caer Adamant. Thank you to everyone for the support; it’s truly a rollercoaster ride! My biggest piece of advice is to remember that it takes a lot of different skills to build a bridge, and a lot of awesome people to keep it well maintained. Never try to do something by yourself, when there are so many wonderful people that could help you.

In Service,
Shoshana Gryffyth
(Ellen Weiner)

From the pen of the Seneschal… Candidates

Thank you to everyone for your patience. Below are the letters for the candidates for elections. Please be sure to attend the Business meeting on Sunday Feb. 21 at 5:00pm at Days of Knights in Newark, or send in an absentee ballot by Saturday, Feb. 20 as indicated.
-Lady Shoshana Gryffyth, Seneschal

 


From Baron Adolphus Benner, interested in taking over the position of Seneschal.

I am running for the position of Seneschal because I am interested in working, spreading our hobby to others.

I have worked in many different areas in the SCA.

I have worked with Royal Households, held the local office of Seneschal, Chatelaine (2) and Chancellor Minor.

I was also Deputy Chancellor Minor in charge of children with challenges, a position I held for three years.

I do have plans for the Shire:

1) I’d like us to have at least four events per year, they don’t have to be huge events but something.

2) Along the line of events, I want to start fostering relations with our neighbors and to that end, Co events. We are lucky enough to have event sights available in the Shire that are relatively inexpensive. Other groups have people and the money, we have the spaces.

3) Regular monthly A&S items gatherings in both the North and Central parts of the state.

4) I want to send out a “mailer” to members of the SCA in Delaware to see what they want the Shire to do. This hopefully will get more people interested in what is going on in the Shire and plan classes that they might want.

5) Create more of an online presence. I want the Shire’s webpage to contain more about the people that make up the Shire and encourage people to build their Wiki Page.

6) Recruitment and in this I would like to be “seen” more. It used to be we did more demos and etc, I want to look into doing more of that.

7) My big wish is that we could “build” a Cooking Guild in the Shire.

8) There has been talk about getting Kingdom Crusades going again with the Kingdom of Atlantia. I would like to get the event “re-started” sometime in 2017. My hope is, the Shire could be the home for the event.

These are my ideas I have for the Shire and would welcome other ideas and help with them.

Thanks for you support in these matters.

Baron Adolphus Benner


From Lady Laurena Mouchot, interested in taking over the position of Chatelaine.

Greetings to all,

I would like to say that I love the office of Chatelaine…it is a position that really can change a person’s initial experiences in profound ways and really help individuals by being the first welcoming link to a whole new world or helping people who may have been in that world, but in other kingdoms, where rules and policies, as well as local shire customs, may be different than what they are accustomed to. A Chatelaine has the ability, through their service, to ease this transition and aid the newcomers and old timers alike in finding a place to belong within the established group. I have found that these initial experiences can really make a lasting difference in a new member’s perception of a group and can seriously impact their decision to stay. The bigger a group gets, the richer the diversity of skills and ideas are that become available to the entire group. While it can be challenging to manage and may result in growing pains at times, new growth is so worth it.

I would welcome the opportunity to serve the Shire of Caer Adamant in all the ways a Chatelaine can. By assisting with organizing demos and activities, making sure new members have garb for their first event, encouraging new people to participate in A&S, games, and dance nights, as well as, fighter practices and meetings whenever possible. Checking in on people who have been out of touch for a bit to see if there is any way they might need support to come out and play again. I like people, even ornery, hard to get along with people. I love hearing their stories and sharing my own with them. I love showing them why I find the SCA to be such a magical pastime and how it is possible to make fun in even the roughest spots by finding your talents and sharing them with others. I love those magical times when you experience the “time slip” and you drift into another world for just a little while and sharing those moments with people really makes me happy. I hope that you will consider my bid for the Office of Chatelaine.

Yours In Service,

Lady Laurena Mouchot


From Lady Mairi Crawford, interested in taking over the position of A&S Mistress.

I would like to submit my letter of intent to be the Shire mistress of Arts and Science. I try to attend all A&S nights and have been attending A&S nights offered out of the shire. Due to working retail I will not be able to attend all Shire meetings but will try to make at least once a quarter at the least.

In service,

Lady Mairi Crawford


From Lady Dionise O’Towie, interested in taking over the position of Chatelaine.

When I went to my first event in the summer of 2014, I really did not know what to expect. Earlier that year three different people mentioned the SCA to me and told me I should check it out, so I contact the Chatelaine, Marietta Messina, through the website. I had lunch with Mari, and we made plans to attend the upcoming Southern Region War Camp. I quickly sewed up a dress, threw some stuff in a bag and off I went to New Jersey. That day I wandered around the event, chatting with the people Mari introduced me to and had the wide-eyed tourist look on my face and a huge smile. At one point, I was standing by myself watching the fighters on the field, the families gathered around it, people in all sorts of garb shopping the vendors or just sitting talking with a project in their lap and I thought “Why haven’t I been doing this for the past twenty years?”

If we fast forward a year to the same event, you’d find me wandering around talking to people again. But things had changed a lot in that past year. At my first event, I followed Mari the Chatelaine around like a new puppy, bouncing from person to thing, desperate to soak up every little detail. This time, I was following around a Queen as one of her retainers. Last time I didn’t know to bring my own chair and drinking vessel but this time I had my own stuff. Last time I was newbie from Delaware, but this time I was the Webminister of the Shire of Caer Adamant, deeply involved in the local group, planning to attend Pennsic and receiving my Award of Arms. I’d grown into my little spot in the SCA because some people encouraged me with a kind word, a bit of advice, a hint of direction and my own determination to fix the Shire’s website. It snowballed into an entire hobby, which I love.

It is easy for the people who have been in the SCA for a while to talk about their hobby and forget that they were once the wide-eyed newcomer. Eventually your friends are SCAdians, too, and you acclimate to the distinct culture of the SCA. But it’s not easy for a new person to navigate the SCA world and not everyone can jump in and hit the ground running or has a friend to hold their hand in encouragement. The job of Chatelaine appears simple on the surface: it is the newcomer liaison. But the real job of the Chatelaine is to smile and try to help all the people feel good about the SCA; she’s the PR gal, in charge of recruitment and retention. It’s a full time position, since people don’t often schedule appointments to start a new hobby or only need attention at big events.

When at any Shire function, I will be the one who approaches an unfamiliar face and strikes up a conversation. When someone contacts me through the website or Facebook, it will be not only my job, but my pleasure, to respond as quickly as possible and make that person feel special and welcomed. If you bring a friend to a meeting or activity, I will want to be introduced. Expect me to pop up at Fighter practice and chat up the crowd and try to get them to tag us in any pictures the take; I will still your Webminister and I want the Shire to shine online. If a family relocates to our Shire from another part of the Known World, I will be there to help them transition to our culture. Are you Shire member who doesn’t play anymore with the Shire? I want to know why and what I can do to bring you back into the fold and experience Caer Adamant at its best; you can expect to hear from me soon. I will help outfit new members from the Gold Key, and will be working on getting that up to a level where the garb is not only an “attempt” but something people will want to wear.

Realistically, the Chatelaine won’t be able to be at every event, practice or activity, nor will every person want to be deeply involved in our game. But you can be assured that I love what the SCA does and feel passionate about helping Caer Adamant grow and enrich the lives of its populace. If I am your Chatelaine, I will be here for you, your friends and anyone else who comes along with a word of encouragement, a bit of advice, and a hint of direction on the SCA path.

In Service,

Lady Dionise O’Towie


 

Officer Election 2016

2016 candidates for the offices of Seneschal, Chatelaine and Minister of Arts and Science have submitted their letters of intent and the election is scheduled for the next Shire Business Meeting on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Days of Knights in Newark.

Seneschal

Chataleine arts_and_sciences

 

1. SENESCHAL (One candidate)
o Baron Adolphus Benner (David Smith, Jr.)

2. MINISTER OF ARTS AND SCIENCE (MOAS) (One candidate)
o Lady Mairi Crawford (Lisa Moran)

3. CHATELAINE (Two candidates)
o Lady Dionise O’Towie (Denise Setchko)
o Lady Laurena Mouchot (Lorraine Padgett)

In order to vote, you must be a current member of the SCA and live within the boundaries of the Shire (geographical Delaware.) You will need to bring identification showing your address and a copy of your SCA Membership card in order to cast a vote at the meeting.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may submit an Absentee Ballot. Absentee Ballots must be received by Saturday, February 20, 2106 and will be counted at the Shire’s Business meeting on Sunday, February 21, 2016. Please print the ballot at the following link:

Absentee Ballot Caer Adamant 2016

Complete ballot and send via postal mail along with a copy of identification showing your address and a copy of your SCA Membership card to:

Hope Mick (Lady Sybilla of Rona)
40 Fairway Road, 3C
Newark, DE 19711-5659

If you have any questions please contact Lady Shoshana.

Schola in the Shire – Saturday, February 13, 2016

Join us for Schola in the Shire, a day of classes with something for nearly everyone!

Schedule!

10:00 a.m.: doors open
11:00 a.m.: classes begin
12:30 p.m.: dayboard is available
4:00 p.m.: classes conclude
4:30 p.m.: Court of TRM
6:00 p.m.: site closes

The Classes!

CLASS SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION (Google Docs)

Our teachers are developing a diverse offering. Some of the classes being offered are:

Martial:

*How to watch heavy weapons fighting for the non-fighter
*Doin’ the Deed (Pas d’Arms, the Deed, and the formal tourney)
*Rattan Weapons and Design
*Melee Tactics and Training

Performance and General:

*Ethnic Folkdance — what it is and why it is important
*Songs Every SCAdian Should Know
*Lampwork (Glass Beads)
*Tips and Tricks of the Professional Tailor

Calligraphy & Illumination:

*Twists: Acanthus and Ribbons
*Making Gouache Paint for Scribes
*Starting from Scratch
*Award Document Layout

Embroidery:

*Introduction to German Brick Stitch
*14th Century Purse Embellishments
*16th Century English Monochrome Embroidery
*Athena’s Thimble 101…Guild Information and Panel

BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR TEACHERS


The Food!

Our talented kitchen staff will take us on a culinary tour.

First Service — French
*Crepes with Applesauce
*French Toast
*Smoked Salmon
*Brie
*Fruit
*Bread

Second Service — Andalusian
*Batter-fried eggplant
*Ahrash (fried-flattened meatballs)
*Grape Leaves
*Green Chicken
*Naan

Third Service — German
*Quark Savory
*Good Roast Pork
*Bread
*Apple Pillows

For food-related issues, contact our Head of Kitchen, Lady Hasanah bint al-Khalil ibn Habib (LadyHasanahOfCarillion@yahoo.com).


Event Location
First Unitarian Church of Wilmington (DE)
730 Halstead Road
Wilmington , DE 19803
Google Map

Directions:
The site is just off of Route 202 (Concord Pike) in north Wilmington, and is relatively accessible from I-95. Google maps and most GPS programs provide reliable directions. Parking is available behind the church. If there is no snow on the ground, additional parking is available in a vacant lot across Whitby Drive.

Event Fees
Site: Members: $12.00 age 18 years and older (non-members will be subject to the SCA’s $5.00 non-member surcharge.) Youth younger than 18: $10.00. Children under the age of 5 are guests of the Shire. A family cap of $44.00 ($54.00 for non-members) can be applied to family members residing at the same address.

Feast: No feast, but a substantial dayboard will be available to all at no extra cost.

Make Checks Payable to: SCA, Inc. — Shire of Caer Adamant

Contact Information
Event Steward:
Hedewigis Ockenfussin
(Linda O. Brizendine)
hedewigis@gmail.com
tel. 302.239.9787 (land line)

Send Reservations to:
Hope Mick (Lady Sybilla of Rona)
40 Fairway Road, 3C
Newark, DE 19711-5659

Other Contact Information:
For any food-related issues, please contact Lady Hasanah bint al-Khalil ibn Habib (LadyHasanahOfCarillion@yahoo.com)

Class scheduler Baroness Mari Clock van Hoorne (Marietta.sca@gmail.com)


 

Text copied from the East Kingdom Event Calendar

Please use the link provided above for the most up-to-date information on classes.

2016 A&S Evenings Topics Announced

Arts and Sciences (A&S) Evenings are the 2nd Monday of each month starting at  7:00 p.m. at Baroness Hedewigis’ home in Hockessin, DE (directions) Contact Baroness Hedewigis 302.239.9787 for more information.

A& S Evenings are an opportunity to work on various A&S projects in good company. Trying an new stitch? Need help marking a hem? Need tasters for your new recipe? Light refreshments will be available.

The following topics* will be covered in the next months:

December 14, 2015 – Make your own four-panel Viking fur hat

January 11, 2016 – Songs that everyone should know

February 5, 2016 – Event prep for ‘Shire in the Schola’ (Feb. 13)

March 14, 2016 – Garb Night

April 11, 2016 – Make a Butter bar

May 9, 2016 – Recipes for Pennsic

June 13, 2016 – Glass bead making

July 11, 2016 – Pennsic Prep

September 12, 2016 – Pennsic class review

October 10, 2016 – Planning for 2017

*Subject to change

If there is a date change or cancellation, the Google Calendar will be updated to reflect this.

Banner Making

Greetings Shire Mates!
We are getting close to setting up our banner making day. I’m very excited about it, how about you?
What size banner would you like? A small one the size of your outstretched arm or a larger, grander one?
Do you have a frame? If so, what size?

Please send your answers and details of your needs to Alejandro at yibachefonc@gmail.com by Thursday October 1, 2015 so I can start organizing this. Your participation is greatly appreciated. The date for banner making will be announced shortly.

Yours in Service,
Alejandro

Notes from the Seneschal

Good Afternoon! As we move into the last quarter of 2015, I would like to make some announcements about local goings-on and events.

  • A copy of the bylaws that was updated last year has been recovered from the lifeless husk of a computer! If you would like to go over the notes and make any changes, please meet me prior to Fighter Practice this Sunday, October 4 at 11:30-1:00. Please email me (Ellenrw1@yahoo.com) or text me if you plan to join me so I can bring enough copies and bagels.
  • Recommendations for the second polling of Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II will be accepted through the end of Friday October 9, 2015. Please make sure to get your recommendations in for those that you feel are deserving. http://surveys.eastkingdom.org/index.php/945932/lang-en
  • Adolphus has very kindly offered to step up as my deputy, and I am very excited to have his help. Please feel free to contact him as well as myself with any questions about the current Shire events. You will find his information of the Shire website shortly. Onboarding into a deputy position can take some time, so please be kind if it takes us an extra day to get back to your request.
  • With so much to do in the last three months of the year, I am going to ask for assistance getting classes together and setting up meetings. Thank you to everyone who has offered to help, I truly appreciate it!
  • The November business meeting will be in Dover, and prospective dates and locations are being looked into.
  • There are a number of great events coming up in the East Kingdom that I hope to see you at like Shire Wars, the Shire’s Tourney of the Fallen Stag and the Yuletide parties.  Don’t forget about our Schola in the Shire Royal Progress event in February 2016, too!
  • Please consider donating something small to the Treasure Chest we are creating for the Royals to be presented in February, posts have been shared to Facebook with ideas.

Yours in Service,

Lady Shoshana

 

 

 

Tournament of the Fallen Stag 2015

Please join the Shire of Caer Adamant at the Tournament of the Fallen Stag on
October 24, 2015 at Glasgow Park, Glasgow, Delaware.

We will be holding a timed points tourney to ensure everyone gets plenty of fighting. Registration starts at 10:00 am; Tournament starts at 12 pm, and site closes at 6:00 pm. There will be prizes for:

Overall Victor
Highest Placed Shire Fighter (Shire Champion)
Best Death
Best Female Fighter

Spectators are most welcome, and garb is strongly encouraged. Site is a county park, so the public will be attendance. We will have the Gold Key (clothing that can be borrowed for the day) available for those who wish to use it. This event is free of charge, and there is no Feast. Dayboard and refreshments TBD. No alcohol as this is county park.

Event Steward:
Baron Simon Montgumery (Jim Stackable)
704-493-5727
jstackable@yahoo.com

Location:
Pavilion #4
Glasgow Park, Glasgow, Delaware
Route 40 between Route 896 and Route 72. See map below for location details.

Schedule:
10:00 am – site opens
10:00 am – registration for tourney begins
12:00 pm – tourney begins
3:00 pm – ‘pot luck’ dayboard starts
6:00 pm – site closes

Check back here and the Shire’s Facebook page for more information as the date gets closer.

 

Pavilion location in Glasgow Park

Pavilion location in Glasgow Park

September Shire Meeting in Dover

The September Caer Adamant business meeting will be in Dover.

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2015

Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30ish

Location: Dover Public Library (see map below for directions)

Dress is casual; no garb please.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

 

October’s meeting will resume the normal monthly schedule of every third Sunday at Days of Knights in Newark at 5:00 p.m. 

Pennsic44: Campground Restrictions due to Weather Conditions 07/12/15

From the Mayor’s Office
Regarding Campground Restrictions due to Weather Conditions 07/12/15

Be advised that these restrictions & closings only apply for PW44

   Due to abnormal rainfall this year some areas of Cooper’s Lake Campground are
very wet and muddy (and have a high probability for vehicles becoming stuck). Due to that and potential complications of further rain, both before and during the event, the Mayor and the Land Staff are placing the following restrictions and closings into effect. See the list below to find out if your campsite is affected; on site look for Red Lines which will be painted around or within blocks denoting closed sections.

Blocks that are closed or restricted:
• All of E-32.
• All of W-19.
• All of W-23.
• Part of W-21 closed, west of site 52 (the fire pit is okay).
• Part of N-15 closed, the eastern portion just past the water spigot.
• E-31 (The Island) is no longer handicapped accessible! The Island is campable, but muddy & prone to flooding in severe weather. Camping on the Island will be allowed, but campers are advised that this is at their own risk due to the possibility of flooding. No vehicles will be allowed on the Island. No trailers will be delivered to the Island. The foot bridge is the only access to The Island; if you choose to camp there your encampment must make arrangements to move your gear by hand from storage to your encampment & back to storage at the end of War. Note: The Cooper’s will not be able to make any site improvements to the Island to alleviate muddy conditions.
• W-09 is not closed, but has Driving Restrictions—cars may not drive off of the
of the gravel road.

Roads that are closed or restricted:
• Howard’s Fenway is closed.
• Nagashino Road, between B05 and B09 is closed.
• Hill Road, is restricted to one way traffic (south bound only!) from the Low Road to Good Intentions.
Other block restrictions/concerns:
• N-12 is not closed, but there will be no single campers on the block.
• W-20: very muddy & prone to flooding in severe weather.
• No ground fires are allowed on the Battlefield.
• No ground fires are allowed in the southernmost section of E11.
Land staff will be in touch with those groups affected by closings and restrictions and every attempt will be made to accommodate needs of campers. If you are forced to move this year you will still get your land point. Next year you will be
allowed back into your block.

Storage Trailers
If you have a storage trailer that the Cooper’s deliver to your campsite or unloading, it may be required to remain there for the duration of Pennsic depending on your encampment’s conditions. No extra footage will be allowed for your storage trailer; you must make room it in your encampment. While the driver will attempt to meet your requests, we cannot guarantee that your trailer will be placed where you want it to be. If you choose not to have your trailer moved to your camp site, you are responsible for unloading, moving the contents of the trailer to your site, loading it again at the end of war. You will not be allowed to tow your trailer yourself from storage to your site.

Construction Projects
We understand that due to muddy conditions some groups may wish to build structures or modify the land to alleviate the mud, be advised, however, that NO changes to the landscape or building projects in encampments may take place without the direct permission of the Coopers! If you have a water/mud issue and you MUST come to the War Room and discuss it with the Coopers BEFORE you can make changes/build anything in your camp. NO ONE will be allowed on site before July 24th to view or work in any encampments. Failure to get appropriate permissions from the Coopers for modifications to alleviate mud may get you expelled from the site.

A Final Word
This is a difficult situation, we know. We also know how you all feel about your Pennsic encampments, but we hope that everyone will be understanding of the unusual conditions this year that require these changes. These block restrictions& closings only apply for PW44. We hope our attendees will be understanding of the compressed conditions necessary this year and conserve and share the space with grace and courtesy. If you have any questions concerning the above announcements, please email Land Staff.

Thank You for your patience & understanding,
Baron Illiam Uaine, Mayor Pennsic War 44

Originally posted at: http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn44/CampgroundRestrictions.pdf