September Crown Seneschal Notes.

[arontius]

.....Greetings All,

.....So, what does one do when one is nervous about one's quickly approaching nuptuals? One types up the notes taken at the September Crown Seneschale's Meeting. :-) I used to do this all the time for Master Ljotr, but Viscountess Nedezdha has not really needed them as much (she takes much more of her own notes), but I still do it anyway to keep in practice. They may be useful to someone. :-)

.....I've put them behind an LJ Cut to save space. If anyone reading these has corrections, I'd sure appreciate them.

An Tir Seneschal(e)’s Meeting
Saturday, September 1, 2007
10:30 AM

Viscountess Nedezdha opened the meeting by introducing herself and then asking everyone present to introduce themselves.
Present were:
Magda, Seneschale of Rivers Bend.
Mistress Lenora – Currently Administrative Kingdom Seneschale Deputy. Will become Principality of Tir Righ Seneschale in October.
Ulf – Kingdom Waiver Secretary.
Macas – Deputy Seneschal for Terra Pomeria.
Arontius – Incoming Seneschal for Dragon’s Laire.
Angharad – Outgoing Seneschale for Dragon’s Laire.
Murin – Deputy Seneschale for Glymm Mere.
Francisca – Seneschale for Glymm Mere.

First Question: What was Viscountess Nedezdha’s favorite drink? On this occasion, it is the mimosa.

At this point two new gentles joined the meeting. First was Elanora, Madrone’s new Seneschale. The second was the current Seneschale of Terra Pomeria.

Viscountess Nedezdha asked the assembled Seneschal(e)s why the Kingdom was not receiving more Kingdom Event bids. The Kingdom is currently looking for bids for Kingdom A&S 2008 and July Coronation 2008. There are POSSIBLE bids for May Crown 2008 and September Crown 2008, but nothing solid yet.

Angharad stated that Kingdom Events are large and require quite a bit of funding. Kingdom Officers do not help as much as they probably should. In order to host a Kingdom Event branches need a LARGE work force and most don’t have this resource.

Francisca stated that people are being told that before a branch can host a Kingdom Event they are required to have experience in running a larger event. This experience is hard to obtain.

The Seneschale of Terra Pomeria stated that they don’t have new fresh workers and that the older players are burnt out to a large degree.

Francisca stated that Kingdom Events look like a lot of work for a small reward.

Ulf stated that new re-enactment groups are taking away viable venues, the competition for event sites is getting tough.

Madrone’s Seneschale stated that their Barony is currently working on gaining financial stabilization and growing a new work force.
Viscountess Nedezdha discussed the new financial policy regarding Kingdom Events. If a group gets all the required financial reports in within 30 days after completion of the event, the group will be allowed to retain 40% of the profits gained from that Kingdom Event. If all reporting requirements are met between 30 and 60 days after the event, the group will be able to retain 20% of the profits. Between 60 and 90 days after the event, the group will be allowed to keep 10% of the profits. If the group has not turned in the required financial reports within 90 after completion of the event, that group will face administrative sanctions.

Baroness Rosamund of Aquaterra joined the group at this time. She stated that it is hard to find event venues in those branches that are primarily urban based. She stated that Aquaterra was awarded Kingdom Bardic because they did have that kind of venue available to them.

Viscountess Nedezdha asked those assembled how best to fix all the problems mentioned above. Is there a need for a lot more education? Is there a lack of education as to how Kingdom Events are bid and run?

The Seneschale of Terra Pomeria stated there is a need for new, fresh people to take on the planning and running of Kingdom Events.

Baroness Rosamund stated that people on the branch level need to be integrated more into the Kingdom. If people are made to feel more a part of the Kingdom at large, more people would be willing to take on Kingdom Level Events. Those in Aquaterra are working hard at talking to their populace about how to play at a Kingdom level. They are encouraging people within Aquaterra to put together bids for Kingdom Events. Their goal is to bid for at least one Kingdom Event per year. They are also encouraging the populace to go out for Kingdom Championships.

THL Angharad stated that the Coronets of Dragon’s Laire are constantly encouraging the populace to play at a Kingdom level. Having the Coronets encouraging Their populace can be a powerful tool in this regard.

At this point, the Seneschale of Three Mountains (Helena) and the Baron & Baroness of Lions Gate (Devin and Aurora) joined the group.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that in some instances the Kingdom (officers and volunteers) can run with a Kingdom Event if a local group would sponsor / provide a site / venue.

Macas stated that the new financial split policy will help encourage branches, especially smaller groups, to submit bids for Kingdom Events. Having more direct Kingdom assistance will also help.

Helena stated that it is important that groups have those with experience at running larger events be involved in the planning and running of a Kingdom Event. Three Mountains has this experience and expertise available.

Francisca asked if there was a Kingdom liaison available who could help smaller groups figure out how to bid for, plan for and run a Kingdom Event.

Khalja, Deputy Seneschale of Three Mountains, joined the group at this time.

Khalja stated that Kingdom Events are naturally harder to do.

Baron Devin stated that a liaison might be considered a slight to some groups.

THL Anneka, Kingdom Events Deputy to the Seneschale, joined the group at this time.

Baroness Rosamund stated that Baronies can and should encourage smaller groups to combine forces in order to do a Kingdom Event.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that the Kingdom can provide all the funding needed to do a Kingdom Event and can financially sponsor an event.

Helena stated that the Kingdom should have a dedicated person to help groups directly to organize and run a Kingdom Event. Someone more ‘hands on’ than the Kingdom Events deputy.

THL Anneka stated that she will encourage more of this process when she works with groups during the Kingdom Event planning process.

THL Angharad stated that she would like to dedicate space in The Crier for an ‘Office of the Month’ in order to educate the populace on how to plan and execute Kingdom Events.

Helena stated that more advertising of this process was needed.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that new officers (Seneschal(e)s and Exchequers especially) would be ‘quized’ when taking on their new officers to ensure that they knew the basics of how their offices needed to be run and where the resources were as far as knowledge was concerned.

Mistress Khalja stated that the populace needed to be ‘empowered’ and encouraged to do Kingdom Events. The Autocrat’s Web-Site was an excellent tool with many ‘must have’ lists on how Kingdom Events are planned and executed. It is also important to advertise to potential Kingdom Event planners on what resources are available to them on web-sites such as the Autocrat’s Web-Site.

Mistress Khalja stated that events such as an Autocrat’s Retreat could be very useful in teaching people and groups about how to plan and execute a Kingdom Event.
Baroness Aurora stated that classes on how to be an autocrat should be taught at events and gatherings.

THL Angharad stated that more information on how to be an autocrat should be more easily visible on the Kingdom Web-Site in the forefront.

Mistress Khalja stated that the Autocrat’s Web-Site would have much more linkage to the Kingdom Web-Site.

Baroness Brighid joined the group at this point, along with her Lady-In-Waiting, Jenae.

Baron Devin stated that people sometimes find it difficult to go to a web-site and that maybe information can be better spread through the use of e-mail lists and through more direct means.

Helena stated that sometimes individuals put together bids for events when bids would be better prepared when submitted as a group function with group consensus..

Both Terra Pomeria and Lions Gate stated that most event bids within their groups were by group consensus rather than by individuals. Once the group comes together on a bid, then an autocrat is chosen / asked.

Duchess Angharad, Seneschale of Aquaterra, joined the group at this point.

Baroness Brighid stated that she has had recent experience with a group who put in a bid for a Kingdom Event without going through their populace first for discussion. It is important that group consensus is gained up front.

Viscountess Nedezdha changed topics at this point and asked those assembled for input on changes in the Constabulary. At this time there are no warranted Constables in the Kingdom except for the Kingdom Constable. Viscountess Nedezdha presented four options as she saw them. Option 1: Leave the Constabulary structure as it has been (not a good option). Option 2: Restore the old system of tiered constabulary and combine with a lot of education and warranting. Option 3: Eliminate the Constabulary completely. Option 4: Move the Constabulary to a position as a Lesser Officer under the Kingdom Seneschale. Their primary function at this point would be to educate the populace on safety issues (as opposed to security).

Baron Devin stated that Option 4 looked best to him and that was how Lions Gate was pretty much already operating.

Baroness Rosamund stated that Snohomish County required large events have a ‘security force’ in place and that the Constabulary filled this function adequately.

Mistress Lenora stated that she saw the best option being to move the Constabulary under the office of the Seneschale. People are tired of the frustration of not having a functioning Constabulary and that decisions and structure had to be completed.

Baroness Brighid stated that ‘Constabulary’ implies ‘authority’ and ‘wannabe cops’ gravitate towards that statement.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that Society would be providing no leadership in this process but would be providing some ‘guidelines’ before the end of the year.

Baroness Brighid stated that the worst case scenario should be used as an example and a new structure built around. Baroness Rosamund agreed with this assessment. Baroness Brighid stated that the functioning statement for the Constabulary still needed to state that they were still ‘security personnel’ so as to comply with scenarios such as was stated in Snohomish County. This structure needs to be in writing as soon as possible.

Baron Devin stated that Whatcom County also has a requirement for large events to have named security personnel.

Baroness Rosamund stated that there are still other counties where this requirement is stated. There are also municipalities where this and other additional, but similar, rules are enforced.

Helena stated that Washington County in Oregon has a similar rule.

Viscountess Nedezdha asked those assembled what the probable response from the Kingdom populace would be to changes in the Constabulary and what can be done about it.

The Seneschale of Glymm Mere stated that no new Constable would be chosen until a new system was adopted and training was in place.

Marak stated that if the new system was presented in a tactful manner that it would be taken well by the Kingdom populace.

Helena stated that if this were presented as a ‘no other option’ scenario for some sites and areas that it would be generally accepted well by the Kingdom populace.

Baroness Brighid stated that this should be a non issue for the general populace.

Baron Devin stated that this should be looked at as a ‘marketing issue’ with a ‘buy-in’ from the Kingdom Seneschale and Their Majesties, as well as from the local authorities of the different areas of the Kingdom.

Baroness Rosamund stated that this should be presented as a ‘must do’. She also stated that even though Snohomish County requests a list of names of security personnel for an event, this was resisted by the populace due to possible liability issues. But that sometimes contracts required a listing.

Mistress Lenora stated that more marketing on the issue should be done. She also stated that as a Lesser Officer that was no longer a required office it would be easier for some groups to make this a non-issue all together. Many Kingdoms do not have a Constabulary at all and function quite fine without one.

Ulf presented a fifth option. Involve the Knights (and other peerages) in a ‘firewatch’.

Baroness Brighid suggested also the Barons and Baronesses of the Kingdom. People would have a different reaction seeing these people work this function.

Ulf stated that in other Kingdoms where this was the culture there was more involvement from the populace as a whole. An Tir should consider shifting its culture to accommodate this more.

Mistress Khalja stated that in Three Mountains the Constabulary does not have the negative issues due to the fact that their Constabulary is more of a ‘welcoming committee’ at events. They are very polite and non-threatening.

THL Angharad stated that complete disclosure to the populace of any decision made is very important. There should be no secrecy and a lot more transparency. This would help diffuse the hotheads.

Duchess Angharad stated that the main duties of the Constabulary should be parking and firewatch and should involve the peerages more.

Baron Devin stated that the use of the Seneschalate and the Barons/Baronesses would help promote change in attitudes towards the Constabulary.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that branches should start promoting the culture change now and to be very careful to not spread misinformation.

Baroness Rosamund stated that many were expecting some sort of announcement on the fate of the Constabulary to be made at September Crown. Something should be stated to show ‘forward progress’ on the issue to shoe how serious the Kingdom was towards resolving the issue.

Ulf requested that all present work harder at ensuring that waivers be submitted more diligently, especially those filled out at Fight Practices. Target archery does not require waivers, but combat archery does.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that if there were questions on whether a waiver was needed or not, please question her directly and she could request and answer directly from Society.
Ulf stated that equestrian, rapier and heavy activities especially required waivers be completed.

Viscountess Nedezdha stated that waivers are required, they are not an option. She went on to state that there was a new Kingdom Earl Marshall and a new Youth Combat Marshall. A new Youth Combat handbook was in the works but that there was no ETA as of yet.

.....Signing Off In Growing Nervousness, Aaron / Arontius. :-)

Comments

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

Congratulations again to you both. Just remember you're already both in love with each other, this is just cake-icing. :)

Oh, and today is the first day of the rest of your life. ;)

[freewaydiva.livejournal.com]

Dood! You're ALREADY MARRIED!!!

Today is all about the PAR-TAY!!!


Woot!

[nadezhda13.livejournal.com]

Nadezhda takes notes, but doesn't remember to publish them, so you are still needed :) Although, please note, it is spelled Nadezhda :D

[renartthefox.livejournal.com]

or Nummy will work...

[liesl-elizabeth.livejournal.com]

Many happy congratulations on your marriage!!! You both always look happy these days... a great sign.