Minutes from 1-8-00 - Twelfth Night

In Attendance:

Lesser Officers in Attendance:

I. Their Serene Highnesses

• A. E-Mail Server
  TSH's asked after the progress of Lord Roger's inquiries to Lord Owen Alun (Ben Tucker, Minneapolis, MN) into setting up an e-mail server for the Northshield Royalty. Lord Owen has not yet responded; Mistress Guenievre will follow up with him. HE Tristan may have another server option if necessary.
• B. Regalia
  1. Coronet Boxes
     TSH's would like small coronet boxes for travel. The extant ones are lovely, but rather large for traveling. The boxes TE the Heirs have are the desired size. HSH Kelinda asked how to go about soliciting bids, and Mistress Guenievre noted announcements in court, in the Northwatch, and on the net as options. Lord Roger volunteered to make the boxes as a gift, and HE Eilika planned to show the Heirs' boxes to Lord Roger later in the day.
  2. Prince and Princess Banners
     The existing banners for TSH's were made by different people at different times and don't match. TSH's would like a matched set of new banners for displaying together. HSH Kelinda will speak to the Laurels to see if they have suggestions for apprentices, etc., who might like to take on this project, and she will also speak with Viscountess Therica (Ann Nielsen, Rochester, MN), who made one of the banners, to thank her for her efforts and explain the desire to encourage and involve new artisans. Northshie ld will cover the costs of these new banners.
  3. New Coronets
     TSH's would like another set of coronets for Themselves and the Heirs. It was decided to speak with Duchess Caitlin Stuart of Ealdormere (Nancy Frankel, Ontario, CAN), who made the current Heirs' coronets, regarding new Prince and Princess' coronets, and to go to the Laurels regarding apprentices, etc., for the Heirs' new set. If the artisans wish to be recompensed for their work, they must submit bids to the Stallari; if they wish to donate coronets as gifts, bids are not necessary. The first set of Nor thshield coronets (not the ones TSH's wear currently) have seen wear and tear and are currently in need of repair.
  4. Calontir Regalia Gift
     The Kingdom of Calontir, our southern neighbor, has offered to create a gift of regalia of our choice, and seeks suggestions. Suggestions to be forwarded include baldrics for the Heirs' attendants, and also for TSH's champions, guards, etc., perhaps with some of leather.
  5. History of Northshield Coronet
     HSH Kelinda would like a needleworked history of the Northshield Royalty to be created. It would consist of the personal devices of the Coronets on a dark background, and would require a Butler for care and updating with each reign. She would like this completed by June. HE Tristan emphasized that HRM Finn, King during our Crown Principality and therefore Crown Prince of Northshield, should be included in the lineage in this piece and on the web page, relating that HRM Finn has always been very fond of N orthshield and, as King and Crown Prince, always wore the coronet of Northshield when he was in Northshield, rather than the Midrealm crown.
  6. Scroll of Honor
     HSH Kelinda noted that the Scroll book, which is in the keeping of Mistress Margaret Malise (Melissa Vigil, WI) is bound and hard for scribes to work in, and asked if a new book with removable pages could be commissioned. She will discuss this with the Laurels along with the other regalia opportunities. HSH also mentioned that each reign is supposed to commission a page in the book, which was a surprise to Viscountess Fiona and the Heirs. Mistress Guenievre will add this requirement to the Policies.

II. Their Excellencies

• A. Awards Listing
  HE Tristan related that Lady Clare du Saint Denis (Dawn Vukson-Van Beek, Minneapolis, MN) will be creating an illuminated document listing and detailing dates, reasons for awards, etc., of all awards TE's Tristan and Eilika give out during their reign, in the style of the period English roll of chancery (or a similar term). This will serve as a trial for future reigns, who may continue it. This information will also be added to the web page Order of Precedence; much of it is there already, but new inform ation, especially reasons for awards, will be welcome.
• B. Seals
  He Tristan detailed that Lady Clare will make three seals: one, a Northshield seal to be included as regalia, will feature two seated sovereigns, after a later period style, and can be used by Coronets with late-period personas or just for variety. In contrast, the seal Herr Gevehard (Garret Bitker, Walnut Grove, MN) is making features the Northshield arms on a banner, and is suited to early period personas. Lady Clare will also make individual personal seals for TE's reign, which they will keep
• C. Mace
  HE Eilika inquired after the mace which was a gift from Ealdormere. It is in the keeping of HSH Gaylen.

III. Minutes

IV. Great Officers

• A. Seneschal (most items taken from written report)

  1. Coronet Tourney Bids
     • a. The bid for June 24, 2000, from the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr has been approved.
     • b. Bids for November 2000 Coronet/Investiture are open until March 15, 2000.
  2. General Commentary
     • a. Things are quiet as the moment; however, Domesdays are due January 10. Guenievre will call all seneschals to check on their progress.
     • b. Guenievre and Alasdair will be on their honeymoon from Friday, January 14, through and including January 23, 2000. Guenievre will be unavailable during this time, but her deputies will be available for emergencies during that time.
  3. Succession
     There is one applicant and Guenievre has had three inquiries about the position. The closing date for applications is January 31.
  4. Highlights of 12/12/99 Midrealm Curia
     Detailed notes are available from Mistress Guenievre. Portions specific to Northshield are included below.
     • a. HRH Dag wishes to stress that, following the RUM restructuring, regions can always hold mini-RUMs and collegiums at any time to supplement the full RUM schedule.
     • b. HE Tristan inquired about available funds if Northshield hosted the Known World Party at Pennsic, as requested by TRH.
     • c. Jararvellir is among the five Midrealm Baronies in or due for transition.
     • d. Per the Kingdom Seneschal, proto-incipient groups cannot be listed in The Pale, since this implies they are registered branches of the Society, which is not the case until they have filled out the forms for Incipiency. The Pale will instead have a listing advising interested people living in areas with proto-incipient groups to contact Regional or Principality Seneschals for further information.
     • e. In conjunction with Kingdom changes in the office of Minister of the Lists, Northshield should consider re-naming our Minister of the Lists, using Clerk of the Roster instead. Discussions between KEM Viscount Myles, Mistress Guenievre, and the Northshield Marshal of Fence have led to deciding that the Northshield Clerk of the Roster will have the authority to send out both rapier and heavy combat authorization cards. Currently, Northshield only sends out heavy combat cards.
     • f. In response to Guenievre's query, it was clarified that e-mail lists for administrative purposes are not official communication for the SCA, and that their maintenance is not assigned to any particular office. Since most unassigned duties fall to the Seneschallate, the Seneschal may appoint any person or company to run a listserv.
     • g. The Kingdom Chirurgeon expressed concerns about Northshield
       1. The Principality Waterbearer has not reported to Kingdom. Guenievre noted that she probably didn't realize this was required.
       2. Some version of a Northshield Waterbearers' Handbook currently in use has not been approved and appears to have massive plagiarism.
       3. Her memo to the NS Chirurgeon was mistakenly printed in the Northwatch, which Guenievre emphasized was done in good faith.
       4. Lady Sian has not yet reported.
     • h. There have been changes in the Midrealm awards structure, most significantly the designation of the Dragon's Heart, Red Company, Greenwood Company, Bronze Ring, White Lance, and an as-yet uncreated Arts and Sciences award, as grant-level awards. This is not retroactive. Among other changes, Court Barons and Baronesses are now ranked above GOA's, but below the Territorial Baronage. All changes will be read into law and published soon.
     • i. TRM plan to institute new requirements for territorial Barons and Baronesses, including requiring a report in writing once per reign and requiring the Baronage to renew/reaffirm their oaths of fealty every year, submitting oaths to designated representatives if travel presents problems. Discussion of penalties for nonperformance of these requirements, as well as discussion of a Kingdom-wide vote of confidence in the territorial Baronage, was tabled.
     • j. Following an inquiry by HRH Tamara, the Peerage Secretaries will be compiling lists of peers' mundane abilities and hobbies to use as a further resource.
  5. Precedence in Northshield Awards
     • a. TSH's have questions about the lack of precedence in the Northshield award structure. Lady Elaine referred to several moots on this topic held during the reign of Cnut and Nina (1997-1998), and Mistress Guenievre will locate the notes taken on these moots for TSH's to provide historical context for this discussion.
     • b. Regarding the Sheriffs and Constables: a change is needed, despite the unpopularity of proposals so far. HE Tristan will write up his proposal and will present it at the next meeting and via e-mail.
     • c. HE Eilika expressed concerns regarding the complex requirements for many Northshield awards, and discussion continued with the perceived lack of completeness in the Northshield award structure compare to the Midrealm, which is a concern as we continue to think about becoming a Kingdom. It was decided that this topic should be presented at the Althing, and that more detailed discussion on e-mail and a specific proposal or targeted question to bring to the Althing, rather than unstructured discussion , are desirable.