Officers – Page 5 – Stórfréttir

July Missive from the Baron & Baroness

Hello Debatable Lands! Salve Accolens!

Here we are, at the threshold of a new day! The SCA is peeping its head out of our pandemic-hidey-holes. Events and activities are scheduled and happening. Many (vaccinated) folks are released from our masking obligations. How glorious!

And yet… we find ourselves yet tentative, like many of you. Things don’t actually seem very normal yet. We haven’t found our pace. And we are just coming to terms that it will be, even if familiar, a brand new world. Things are the same, yet different. Comfort levels of individuals vary across many, many areas, like masking, socializing, leading and participating in activities, and many more. How can we find our new shared joy? The answer is: together.

Debatable Lands, reach out to your neighbors in our hobby. Reach out to your friends, acquaintances and communities. And especially across communities. Have patience with each other, and compassion, especially for families with smaller children, and the officers navigating these waters. We’ll find our comfort and joy and affection again together. We promise! 🙂

And our first steps to some Baronial martial fun? The Stellar Tournaments! Our heavy fighting and rapier fighting communities are holding these monthly tournaments at our Baronial practices, and the first ones in June proved amazing! Not only is it a chance for fighters to get tourney practice, but also heralds, MOLs, marshals, and us, too! We want to thank all the people that put forth their time, energies, and enthusiasm thus far, and those to come, especially the folks whose concept it was: Master Kieran and THL Guillaume.

More to follow, but we are exceptionally pleased to announce the first two winners!!

The Defender of Sun (Heavy List) is Sir Bors of Rouen!
The Defender of the Moon (Rapier List) is Don Jorundr hinn Rotinn!

Vivant to them both! They will be able to defend their status twice more. The next Stellar Tournaments will be held in July. Stay tuned to the e-channels for details.

Our next Court will be *in person* at the September Barony Meeting, scheduled for September 11th. If you are interested in receiving a scroll assignment for that or our Court at Agincourt in October, please let our Baronial Signet, THL Rachel, know. If you interested in helping set up, tear down or retain at our Baronial Courts, please let us know. We very much look forward to working with you all again!

And please PLEASE if you know of a gentle that should receive a Baronial award, send us a letter of recommendation! Email baron@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org, or use the online form at http://debatablelands.org/award-recommendation.php .

If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns about anything in our Barony, our door is always open. Please reach out to us (or other appropriate officer), or use the anonymous form (http://debatablelands.org/resources/feedback-form.php), and help will come. We look forward to seeing you all!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

Sharpening in the Park

I was taking a close look at some of my tools the other day, and realizing that the last sharpening workshop was almost two years ago! Please join us at the Washington Boulevard practice site this Sunday (weather permitting) for a sharpening-themed A&S Practice, sponsored by the version of me that is also the leader of the Woodworking Guild.

We’ll bring sharpening stones, blades to sharpen, and other maintenance supplies, and trade information about the best way to take care of our cutting tools. If you don’t have anything that needs sharpening, but just want to know more about blade maintenance, just bring your curiosity! If you have no interest in sharpening, and just want to hang out for a while, that’s cool too.

Join us from 10am to 1:30pm, this Sunday, June 27th. Pandemic procedures apply for one more weekend, so please wear a mask and bring your own accommodations.

Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to try to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary.

Stellar Tournament Today, 6/13 – Rapier!

Hello Debatable Lands and Neighbors! Salve Accolens!

The Moon List (Rapier list) of The Stellar Tournament is happening today, June 13th, at around 4pm at practice at the Washington Blvd practice site!

ALL are welcome to enter – from any lands, and any skill level.

This monthly Tournament will be held once a month at the Baronial practice, and the winner in the rapier list shall be named Defender of the Moon. The rapier format will be round robin into single elimination (subject to variations).

Please note that, while we are humbled and excited to be participating today, we’d like to emphasize the practice aspect for the month of June. The Moon is finally breaking through the clouds of plague! But it has been a long period of inactivity in our lands. Please remember to take it slow, knock the rust off thoughtfully, and listen to your bodies!

(Also note that the weather forecast is uncertain today. Should there be thunderstorms and practice cancelled, the Inaugural Moon List of the Stellar Tournament will be postponed until July.)

Can’t wait to see you there!

In Levitate et Caritate,
Baroness Hilda

P.S.: With many thanks to Master Kieran and THL Guillaume, whose brainchild this is and who are steering its path; Don Jorundr, our Rapier Marshal; Lady Vika, our MOL; Mistress Irene for her thoughtful contributions; and to THL Gesa and Master Annais for creating the beautiful regalia.

Also:
Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to try to ensure
the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate
the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events.
By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge
and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps
to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as
you believe to be necessary.

Arts and Sciences Practice – Sunday!

Let’s have another Arts and Sciences “practice” this Sunday (June 6th) from 10am to 1:30pm at the Washington Boulevard site. A&S will be over on the “Small Field” side closer to the river. We will finish up promptly by 1:30pm to make room for afternoon practices.

The theme of this gathering is “making progress”. Please bring a project you are working on now, or that has been on the back burner for a while. We’ll chat and enjoy being out in the (I hope) sunshine while we make progress together.

Attendance is limited to 25 people, and masks are required. We will give everybody the distance they need to be comfortable, so please bring your own seating, water, food, and shade if you desire it. Please note that the parking lot is smaller than it was, and be considerate of others.

Salve Accolens and see you Sunday!

Announcing the Inaugural Stellar Tourney THIS Sunday, 6/6!

Hello Debatable Lands and Neighbors! Salve Accolens!

A new day is dawning! I am so pleased and humbled to be sponsoring our new premier local fighting tournament – The Stellar Tournament!

ALL are welcome to enter – from any lands, and any skill level.

This monthly Tournament will be held once a month at the Baronial practice, and the winner in the heavy list shall be named Defender of the Sun. The winner in the rapier list shall be named Defender of the Moon.

The first heavy list in the Stellar Tournaments will be THIS Sunday, June 6th, at practice at the Washington Blvd parklet, at 3pm. All Sun (heavy) list formats will be traditional double elimination, in the style of Crown Tourneys and Kingdom Champs. Click HERE for more details.

Heralds & Marshals, here is also your time to shine! Should you have a mind to, please come and practice your arts, as well! MOLs, here’s your chance to practice double elim at a local level! (See our Baronial MOL, Lady Vika, to volunteer.)

The first rapier list (Moon list) and format will be announced at a later date. Rapier fighters and others interested in the monthly Stellar Tournaments should reach out to Baroness Hilda with ideas and suggestions.

Can’t wait to see you there!

In Levitate et Caritate,
Baroness Hilda

P.S.: With many thanks to Master Kieran and THL Guillaume, whose brainchild this is and who are steering its path; THL Robert, our Knight Marshal; Lady Vika, our MOL; to THL Gesa and Master Annais for creating absolutely beautiful regalia; and to Forveleth for volunteering to create scrolls for the inaugural Defenders of the Sun and Moon.

AAR – Arts and Sciences Practice

It was a small but mighty A&S practice this past Sunday at the Washington Boulevard practice site. The day was sunny and beautiful, and there was only a faint occasional whiff of sulfur from the sewer vent.

Ishiyama brought a wooden bench he’d made, then sat on it while practicing braiding. Forveleth showed off some wire and bead jewelry, and some tablet weaving, and worked on an embroidery project. Li stopped by on the way to Archery practice, and showed off a Chinese helm and a small but mighty crossbow.

It was a wonderful day to spend in the park, and so amazing to see real people again in person now that it is safe. We wore our masks and kept our distance anyway, but amazing to be together with our neighbors enjoying the day. Salve Accolens!

Arts and Sciences in the Park – Sunday

We have been given the go-ahead to have our first Arts and Sciences “practice” this Sunday (May 23rd) from 10am to 1:30pm at the Washington Boulevard site. The parking lot now bisects the site. The Archers will have their practice on the “Large Field” side as usual, and A&S will be over on the “Small Field” side closer to the river. We will finish up promptly by 1:30pm to make room for afternoon practices.

The theme of this gathering is “catching up”. Please bring a project you are working on now, and one or more projects you worked on during the shutdown for show-n-tell. We’ll chat and enjoy being out in the (I hope) sunshine with our artsy/crafty friends.

Salve Accolens and see you Sunday!

Woodworking Guild Field Trip – Friday!

Some members of the Debatable Lands Woodworking Guild have decided to meet up at the “Pittsburgh” location of Woodcraft down in Canonsburg tomorrow (Friday, May 21) at 5:30pm. The rumor is that they have not repriced their lumber during the recent “shortage”, so there may be some real bargains there right now.

This is a retail store, so please follow all health guidelines requested by the establishment. Please also follow all SCA guidelines for gatherings, including masks, regardless of what the store allows. The “official” meetup time is 5:30pm, but feel free to show up earlier if you are bored.

The store closes at 7pm, so you could still make it back home by 8:15 if you want to watch Romeo and Juliet online!

Archery is ON again this Sunday

Last week’s archery practice was such a success that we thought we’d do it again this week! This Sunday, April 18th from 11am-3pm, archery practice will take place at the home of Master Kieran and Mistress Odriana! We will be following the same pandemic procedures as last year, so please take note of the rules posted below.

Hope to see you there!

*Note: The loaner gear policy has changed! Loaner gear can be provided on an individual basis if you contact me ahead of time. If you plan on attending practice and you require loaner gear please send me an email at archerymarshal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org and I will provide a set for you.

The address of the site is 3000 Harts Run Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. To get there from the city, head north on Route 8 and make a right on Harts Run Road, then after 1 mile their house is on the right side. The driveway for the site is a small bridge. Look for the SCA sign!

Parking will be at the empty lot next door with the sign that says “Virgin Flooring” (2984 Harts Run Rd on Google maps). Anyone who needs to may drive directly up to the site to drop off people or equipment before heading to the parking lot.

We want to do this as safely as possible, so the following safety and social-distancing guidelines will be put in place:

Masks must be properly worn at all times (covering both nose AND mouth).
No sharing equipment. This includes bows, arrows, gloves, armguards, etc.
The loaner gear will not be available for general use. Contact the marshal ahead of time to reserve a set if needed.
Only the marshals can handle another person’s bow, arrows, or equipment, and only for inspections.
Maintain 6 ft. of separation when shooting on the line and when waiting in line to shoot. The ground will be appropriately marked.
When retrieving arrows, only one person per target may retrieve their arrows at the same time.
Marshals will be monitoring the practice and reminding people to adhere to these guidelines.
This is a practice for archers only. Please do not come just to socialize.
DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL OR ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ILLNESS.
These rules will be reviewed with everyone prior to the beginning of practice. In addition to these guidelines, I will do my best to ensure there is hand sanitizer, hand wipes, etc. available for staying clean. Being considerate of the health and safety of our populace is greatly appreciated!
If anyone has additional questions or concerns regarding the practice please reach out to me at archerymarshal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org.

Stay safe out there!

Yours in service,
Rónán Ó Conaill
BMDL Captain of Archers

Missive from the Baron and Baroness

By now, as many of you know, Pennsic has been postponed again until 2022, due to the ongoing pandemic. For many of us, this news is disheartening, as Pennsic plays such a large role in how we play in the SCA here locally. We miss our friends, we miss the camaraderie of the fields of honor, we miss hugs and campfires, and being surrounded by 10,000 of our closest friends. It seems at times, our souls are frayed with the longing of it.

Take heart, Debatable Lands…. We are still here. We are still a community.

We know that this past year, and even before that, has been full of challenges – and the pandemic has just been one. Our personal lives have changed dramatically, in ways that only you personally can know and understand. Our hobby, like most of the world, has endured the rough edges of social awakening, in all its forms. We’ve seen each other’s words, and have spoken words, online and in social media, that stem from pain, and cause pain. Our humanity has been on display, in every facet. It’s difficult. So difficult. And we’ve felt it, too.

But, Debatable Lands… We are still here. We are still neighbors.

The edges may feel bruised right now, but the core – the very core – of what makes our hobby so amazing endures. Courtesy. Honor. Shared Passions. Camaraderie. Joy. Our challenges cannot shake them. They cannot be erased. We are still here.

We remember Baroness Hilda’s first event. A small 30-ish person schola in Highland Park. She took a class by Master Dani on medieval counting, learned what Troll was, and pasties. She was offered a seat on a cloak at a bardic circle and made dear friends. We can still have these events.

We remember the day Baron Brandubh chose his SCA name. It means “black raven” in Gaelic. And he wanted a wolf on his heraldry until we joined Mistress Elsbeth’s Laurel staff, and spent hours and hours in her basement, absorbing all things heraldry and making lifelong friends, and discovering jicama. We remember, too, the day he attained Grand Master Bowman, the swelling of pride and accomplishment. Our interest groups can still meet.

We remember the day the Brewer’s Guild opened that oak cask of aged, redacted 14^th century mead to bottle, from under Master Tofi’s stairs – the smooth, perfect taste of it, the feeling of shared appreciation, the laughter of friends brought together. We can still research our passions and share in the joy of it.

We remember the day we saw our first tourney – the raw feeling of it just below the surface of the type of chivalry we thought only existed in storybooks. The violence and speed and beauty of our athletes giving primal life to our ideals of honor. Those ideals and feelings of chivalry are alive and well and are still burning bright in our hearts. And very soon, we will be able to bring that to external realization again. Soon.

We remember our first SCA campfire, the cold, still air meeting the warm light of the fire, songs and conversation and laughter ringing into the night, our bellies warm with drink and friendship. We can still meet with our friends over a campfire.

We know you have had experiences just like these, and countless others. Remember them. Recreate them in all the old and new forms that are available to us today.

They Joys and Passions of the SCA do not live on the fields and in the camps of Pennsic. They live in US. No one place is the SCA. WE are the SCA.

We Are Still Here.

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

And Ad Gloriam Aethelmearc, and SALVE ACCOLENS!