Seneschal Spotlight: 2019 In Review

It’s the end of the year and the end of the decade and the usual thing to do is to write about the things that have happened in the last year. This is a view on the positives, negatives, and everything in between.

This is not going to be comprehensive and if I missed anyone, it is completely accidental.

Changes

  • The Baronial Position of Steward was held by Michelina for 16 years (2003-2019) and this year she chose to hand off the responsibility of storing/maintaining/etc. the Baronial Larder and Master Alaric MacConnell was selected to take on that role.
  • The Baronial Sewing Guild was generously hosted by Ts’vee’a for many years and was handed off to Hara, who has already been doing a wonderful job of filling some very difficult to fill shoes.
  • We created a new Newcomer’s Guild to help our new members find their way in the Barony and get more information about what it is that we do. Lord Ronan, Lady Svava, and THL Libby have been doing a great job running the meetings and getting things rolling. I can’t wait to see how this grows in 2020.
  • Elss of Augsburg stepped down as A&S Minister to focus more time on the Culinary Guild, which has been wonderfully active and a true pleasure to watch bloom over the last year.
  • Baroness Isabel Fleuritan became our new A&S Minister, her first time ever serving as an Officer of our Barony.
  • Lord Ronan took on the Archery Marshal position from THL Kathryn Tantzel after many years of service from her to the Barony in that job.
  • The Agincourt Event was passed on to me by Baroness Constance and Baron Liam. There are some awesome things in store for the 2020 event and I am humbled by their trust in me to carry this event forward.
  • Baronial Twelfth Night passed from the capable hands of THL Elss to THL Kathryn. Elss was the autocrat for this event for about five years.

Celebrations

  • We were in THREE parades this year, the most notable of which was the WPXI Thanksgiving Parade. We were invited because of our presence at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Heritage Days in Lawrenceville. People loved seeing us and it was a heck of a lot of fun. We were even on television! Lord Yingurz and Lord Ronan were the masterminds behind making the parades as successful as they are.
  • Speaking of parades, Lady Kat Fixis, known as Vixxie, who has been instrumental with coordinating things on the back end with Yingurz is expecting a child!
  • The Woodworker’s Guild was activated by Master Ishiyama and has been a fantastic addition to the activities in our Barony.
  • The fencing community now has a monthly practice with the folks at Broken Plow. The ability to share knowledge between combat organizations only makes the martial community stronger.
  • Thanks to a robust training program built by Mistress Anna and Baroness Soteria, there were more MoLs trained in 2019 than previously. It’s always a pleasure to see more people finding something that makes them happy and feel like part of the Barony.

Good-Byes
We lost some good people this year:

  • Alan and Fran Lefkowitz
  • Richard Berlin.

Thank yous

Thank you to the officers of the Barony, who donate their time and energy to helping make the Barony run as smoothly as possible: Baron Brandubh, Baroness Hilda, Maighster Kieran, THL Robert , Lady Arthes, Skjoldrbjorn, Baroness Isabel, Baroness Anna, THL Libby, Don Joundr, Lord Ronan, Lord Kuma, Lady Jasmine, Lady Gesa, and Baron Kameshima. Also, thank you to all of our Deputies who make our lives easier and ensure that we don’t have to learn the skill of cloning or bi-location. Your time and energy is deeply appreciated by all of us.

Happy New Year, Debatable Lands!

On a personal note: Thank you to Maighster Kieran, Lady Alethea, Baron Liam, Baroness Constance, Baroness Anna, Baroness Hilda, THL Murigheal, Lord Eamonn, Mistress Ts’vee’a, and my household Huis Witschoof for all of your support, love, advice, and guidance for the last four years while I have been Seneschal. I literally could not have done it without you.

Seneschal – Call for Letters is Closed

I want to thank everyone that considered sending in a letter and sent in a letter. The deadline passed yesterday 28 December 2019. The official vote for our new seneschal will take place at the 5 February 2020 business meeting.

I don’t have the words to truly express what an honor and a privilege it has been to serve the Barony as its Seneschal for the last four years. Thank you to everyone that made my job a true pleasure and I look forward to seeing how my successor will serve you.

~Odriana

Fight Practice December 29

Hello,
In an informal poll at last week’s fight practice, several people indicated interest in having practice this weekend. So there will be Fight Practice this Sunday, December 29, from 2 til 6 PM, at the Pittsburgh Chinese Church. Loaner armor will be available.
Robert

Jan Sewing Circle – Thurs 9th

January sewing circle is Thursday Jan 9th starting at 7:30. The location is 1105 Shady Avenue in Point Breeze. This date is before kingdom and baronial twelfth night. If you have last minute sewing or ironing, feel free to bring that to the house. There are two ironing boards, a serger, a regular machine, and an embroidery machine. If you have questions you can contact me by email sewing at debatablelands dot org, or send email to Hara Kikumatsu. You can find the e-mail address in the dark pages. There are two cats so medicate appropriately.

Motto Poll

Hello Debatable Lands!

We’d love your input on a new Baronial Motto! Last month, we asked for suggestions from the populace, and here they are! Feel free to write in, too!

https://forms.gle/YFFzy4eey4yEimwk7

A couple notes:

  • A few suggestions have some additional context, reasoning and/or information provided by the submitter – click on the links in the poll for those.
  • Fair warning… I did not check any of the Latin except for my own suggestion.
  • Remember that creating and using mottoes in the SCA is always completely optional – just for fun! – and unofficial.

Those reading from the email list can open the link to the blog below to see the active poll link, or just copy and paste it.

If you prefer, feel free to send me feedback and/or your choices to baroness@debatablelands.org .

In Levitate et Caritate (with Levity and Affection),
Baroness Hilda