What will you keep the same?

Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne (other question responses)
Mistress Caitlin Davies and Master Justin du Coeur (other question responses)
Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon (other question responses)
Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux and Master Seamus Donn (other question responses)
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch and Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland (other question responses)
Seigneur Jehan du Lac (other question responses)
Master John McGuire (other question responses)
Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva (other question responses)

I can only hope to be as friendly, welcoming, and accessible as Aquel and Johanna are. I think they are excellent at meeting people and making them feel comfortable in almost any situation. Aquel fought with the "Carolingian Troops" at Pennsic one year, and that's something I'd like to do (or even see more of). I would also keep the three baronial champions that Aquel and Johanna instituted. Of course, I'll continue attending Council and writing a monthly column for the Minuscule.

Lady Morwenna Westerne :

I can only hope that we will do as good a job as Aquel and Johanna. They will be a mighty tough act to follow. We will continue going to Pennsic and I'm sure Aleksandr will lead the Carolingian troupes into battle (he's one hell of a line commander -- just ask King Ragnar of Atlantia, or ask me for the story sometime). We will still go to Council and write a letter for the Minuscule, hold court and have baronial Champions.

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Mistress Caitlin Davies and Master Justin du Coeur :

These are good questions, and I don't have good answers for them yet. Justin and I are different people from Aquel and Johanna, our styles are different. We're a little younger. In some ways, we're more formal - I think courts may get a little more serious in terms of spiffy and pageantry, but not stuffy (I can't imagine Justin doing stuffy -- he was pouting awhile ago that if we became baron and baroness he couldn't sit on the floor during court anymore!). But at the same time, there's room for more humor, and more acknowledgement of people's achievements outside of the three baronial orders.

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Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon :

We do not believe Carolingia is in the midst, or on the brink, of any crises. Aquel and Johanna, as Patri and Barbara before them, well understood the wisdom of letting Carolingia be Carolingia. (As well as when not to.) Our leadership would prefer the quiet nudge to the shove, and example to decree.
There are a couple of areas we would like to see emphasised. The tourney companies are doing a good job providing more pagentry at events; more public exposition of the arts & sciences; and of course more music (period music) at events.

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Master Seamus Donn :

The things that have most impressed my about the current Baron and Baroness are their dedication to the people, and their activity in supporting the various guilds and groups. In particular the small unofficial awards given, such as the Baron's ring, enable immediate acknowledgement and encouragement of all acts of service, arts & science, and martial activities.

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Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :

I am not personally setting out to change any major aspect of the barony or steer it in any particular direction. Things will be different with new baronial heads because each person's style is different.

I reiterate that court is important to us. We desire interesting but reasonably efficient courts that have suitable amounts of pomp and circumstance and a certain theatrical element. I know this is somewhat vague, but we don't have a full plan ready to plug in. No matter who ends up being the baronial head, there will be an adjustment period.

One thing I think Aquel and Johanna did particularly well and that I would strive to maintain is the personal interest they take in the people of the barony, especially those entering or leaving. The current baron and baroness are a welcoming and encouraging presence and I would like to see that continue.

Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :

Differently than / the same as Aquel & Johanna, I assume? I don't want to go too much into specifics here, exactly, because we're not running against A&J and yet I don't know the other candidates intentions well enough to compare and contrast with them. One thing I will say (and this looks like an appropriate place to say it), is that court is important to us, would be where we'd probably most show our own stamp. We have a strong interest in making court more engaging, not by adding schtick but by effective presentation of the business. The Japanese-style court held at this last Pennsic was so impressive that it makes me think about an occasional "themed" court, maybe for our occasional themed events. We also want to look for ways to encourage the enjoyment of period activity, period behavior, and period values, and this would probably also show up in how we held court.

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Seigneur Jehan du Lac :

One of the things I most admire about Johanna & Aquel is their extremely welcoming attitude towards newcomers, and I would hope to live up to their standard. I also like the way that they recognize people with their gifts of silver rings. I would probably want to continue a similar custom.

another thing they have done is lead the barony at Pennsic. For years we didn't have that, and it has been nice to see them organizing a Carolingian presence there with nice pagentry. I would continue that tradition, and would pull myself together to fight with the troops, although no one will ever mistake me for William Marshall :).

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Master John McGuire :

Carolingia has a great number of traditions and customs that have served it well. Those will not be changed.

The traditional Baronial Champions will stay the same, I just may dress them better.

I will make certain that I am as approachable as I can and will try to be as approachable as the current Baron and Baroness.

I will keep courts as interesting as possible.

I will continue to support the arts and all other activities in the Barony.

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Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :

We think Aquel and Johanna have done an excellent job, so there isn't much that needs fixing or changing. They did a terrific job on reaching out to the newer members of the group, and it shows in the Barony's vitality - we'd continue to do that.

In general, we'd like to continue the same confident pace of the group while continuing to encourage new activities and diverse events. Yeliz is keen on making sure we keep the various Baronial champions up to date, and perhaps sponsoring some new ideas to involve other non-martial groups more - maybe more A&S opportunities. Marian brought up the period Olympics in Coucil, which sounds wonderful. We had already been discussing a sort of decathalon idea, and finding a period reference is great.

We would probably have more pagentry than Aquel and Johanna have had, since we think it really adds to the atmosphere. Fu is interested in running court in a variety of styles -- adapting the style to the period of the event, in many cases, or holding a Chinese Baronial Court because of his persona. Viking, Roman and French courts appeal as well. There is a Carolingian processional march that Tibicen wrote that should get more attention, too.

We love the variety of Carolingian pursuits; to us, the diversity of activities is what brings so many people together. We'd try not to change anything that people think is going well, but we'd like even more people to have even more fun! The Baron and Baroness can act as the focal point to get communication flowing between the barony's groups, and that could bring interesting new things.

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