Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne :
It's difficult to limit this to the past 12 months -- just because
memory is faulty. Every year the storytellers guild goes to a variety
of borough meetings. I'm pretty sure we've been to Felding, Fenmere,
and Mitgaard in the past 12 months -- although it may be slightly
longer. Last year, i Sebastiani did a series of workshops on commedia
during IAP -- and is always encouraging to borough folk who wish to be
involved. Aleksandr has taught a wide variety of classes at the
boroughs -- mostly on storytelling and persona -- and has acted as a
resource on things Russian and French for those who have expressed an
interest. Two of his apprentices were drawn from the boroughs
(Duncharloch and Fenmere) as well. Although not in the past year,
Morwenna's SCA career began at Fenmere, where she served as provost for
a year and a half, as well as co-autocrat of May Day. This experience
gives her insight into the problems faced by the boroughs and their members.
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Master Justin du Coeur :
I think it's fair to say that I do a good deal with the boroughs, more
than most of the older generation do -- I'm one of the mainstays during
demo season, I try to help out with things like IKU and suchlike.
Caitlin admittedly isn't as involved with that side of things, but I
think that's okay -- the main reason we can know as much of the Barony
as we do is that we *don't* entirely run in the same crowds. If knowing
all of the Barony is a difficult task, it's made somewhat easier by
splitting the task.
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Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon :
As Magistra, Godith has been to every demo she could physically fit
in, including the Mitgaard activites night. Diego, despite not being
Magistra, has gone to all these demos too. Godith has been to sewfests
for Mitgaard and Ivory Keep this fall (and only missed the one at
Felding because of an injury). Last IAP we were at Mitgaard's shoe
classes, and Godith was the cloak-making workshop.
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Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux :
Master Seamus Donn :
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :
When I was Mistress of A&S (long ago) I spent much
more time at various boroughs, going to most demos and
recruitment meetings and participating in many A&S
demos.
Boroughs are very important in Carolingia as a major
source for recruitment and as centers of activity. I
think the baronial coronet should do what lies in its
power to become familiar with the members of the
boroughs and help integrate the boroughs with the rest
of the barony.
Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :
Seigneur Jehan du Lac :
Master John McGuire :
Assisted my former journeyman Lucretzia with the Renaissance Clothing
Workshop at Mitguard. Brought two machines and helped students make
shirts.
I assisted a number of individual borough members make patterns and
clothing.
I have a standing offer of teaching anyone who asks, and I repeat that
offer in email or at council several times a year. I usually get a few
new college students following up on that every year.
Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :
I haven't interacted with the buroughs much in the last couple of
years. I am still in contact with the Medieval recreation group at BU
(Southbanke).
It would be hard for me to track what I've done in the last calendar
year. Off and on I've tried to be helpful to the Ivory Keep, as my
time and their need allowed. I've been a subscriber to the Southbanke
mailing list since I moved there. Mostly I'd have to say that I've
listened. Where opportunity has presented itself I've tried to take
the time to hear things from their perspective. Sometimes I've
presented examples from my own experience running a (mostly) college
group, but without trying to tell them how they should do
things. Every experience is unique. I've heard a number of things. I
have talked to borough folk who have been discontent with being
ignored, being undervalued, or being constantly hit on by middle-aged
men. I have tried to address what problems have been presented in what
ways I've been able to in individual circumstances and in how I
conduct myself as an example. Are these common issues? Are they just a
minority of vocal malcontents? In my role of Baron it would become my
duty to understand such things. If nothing else, I would like to be a
person that anyone can bring problems to, that aren't necessarily
fulfilled by an appropriate officer. I take the concept of fealty very
seriously. It is not just about retainers serving a liege, but also a
liege serving their retainers.
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Nothing specific that I can think of. My current
activities tend to center on guilds or practices that
are not borough specific. I have participated in
guilds or practices that rotated to the boroughs in
the past; for instance, I participated in I
Sebastiani's IAP classes on commedia dell'arte 2 or 3
years ago.
Not very much, I must admit. When Felding was planning a screening of _The
Lion in Winter_ last spring, I volunteered to do a brief presentation on
the historical setting - but the screening never came off, and I turned my
notes into an article for the Minuscule instead. I attended the
Philosophers' meeting hosted by MITgaard, which is another good example of
the kind of co-sponsored meeting I mentioned above. I taught a class at
Ivory Keep University, but that was really a baronial event more than a
borough one. Other than that, I haven't had much interaction with
boroughfolk in the past year.
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I teach fencing at the Sunday night practice and have met some borough
folk through the newbie class that we run. Unfortunately I haven't
visted a borough recently, although I have plans of taking the "Manners"
course on the road after the baronial election process is over. I do
have a history of being more involved with them in the past. I was
deeply honored at Legends when one of the clan heads of the new
Lochleven household thanked me for a Falling Leaves a few years ago when
I took more Fenmereians than my car would legally allow to that event,
gave them feast gear, cloaks, food and made them feel at home.
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Unfortunately for me it has been a rather quiet year, as far as
interacting with boroughs. Too many projects both work and SCA have
monopolized my time. All I have done is:
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To our shame, we have gained more from the boroughs than we have repaid
them -- many of our favorite events and activities are supported by our
boroughs. Yeliz was more active with the Carolingian boroughs in the
early-to-mid 1990s, teaching at meetings and doing demos. Hua Fu was very
active in his borough in Sterlynge Vale back before moving to Carolingia
-- the sort of pattern that we hope reoccurs with your alumni when they
must move away. Most recently, Yeliz led sing-alongs at Falling Leaves,
IKU and May Day prior to stepping down as Quire Mistress.
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