600 Cedar Street, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 726-4396
herald@sca.org
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel
March 29, 1998
Unto the members of the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive do Mistress Jaelle of Armida, Laurel Queen of Arms, and Mistress Sionyn Muirgen ní Dhomnall, Pelican Queen of Arms, send Greetings!
The March Laurel meeting was held on Saturday, March 14, 1998 and considered the following letters of intent: Lochac (November 6), Drachenwald (November 7), Atlantia (November 9), Outlands (November 13), Caid (November 20), Artemisia (November 20), Atenveldt (November 20), AEthelmearc (November 24), Meridies (November 24), Ansteorra (November 26), West (November 28), and Caid (November 30).
The April Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 1998 and will consider the following letters of intent: Middle (November 30, redated to December 2, based on postmark), Atlantia (December 7), Outlands (December 10), Drachenwald (December 8), Caid (December 16) Ansteorra (December 20), Artemisia (December 21), West (December 21), Atenveldt (December 25), Trimaris (December 28), Meridies (December 29), Middle (December 31) and Calontir (misdated January 30, 1997, redated by Laurel to December 31 based on postmark). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than February 28, 1998. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than March 31, 1998.
The May Laurel meeting is scheduled for Sunday May 3, with roadshows later on in the month and will consider the following letters of intent: Drachenwald (January 10), Lochac (January 11), Artemisia (January 12), Atlantia (January 13), East (January 14), Outlands (January 15), Middle (January 17), Atenveldt (January 20), AEthelmearc (January 22), An Tir (January 25, tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork), Meridies (January 26), West (January 29), Ansteorra (January 30), Caid (January 30), Ansteorra (January 30), An Tir (dated November 25, redated by Laurel to January 31 for lack of receipt of paperwork, tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork), and An Tir (dated December 19, redated by Laurel to January 31 for lack of receipt of paperwork, tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than March 31, 1998. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than April 30, 1998.
The June Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, with a roadshow at Atlantian University and at Known World in Atenveldt and will consider the following letters of intent: Lochac (February 5), Outlands (February 5), Drachenwald (February 8), Atlantia (February 12), Atenveldt (February 20), Artemisia (February 22), Caid (February 22), Meridies (February 24), Middle (February 24), Atlantia (February 24), West (February 25), AEthelmearc (February 27), Ansteorra (February 28), Trimaris (February 28) and An Tir (February 25 tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than April 30, 1998. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than May 31, 1998.
The July Laurel meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 1998.
Not all Letters of Intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this Cover Letter. Date of mailing of the LoI, date of receipt of the Laurel packet, or other factors may delay consideration of certain Letters of Intent. Additionally, not all Letters of Intent received have been scheduled because the administrative requirements (receipt of the forms packet, receipt of the necessary fees, etc.) have not yet been met.
REMINDER: due to problems with receipt of Laurel packets, until the packet containing the paperwork is received, the letter may not be scheduled.
Warrant Status - or where do things go from here
The following should be in all the April newsletters.
Position Openings - Laurel and Pelican Sovereign of Arms
The Laurel Sovereign of Arms (Laurel) is the principal heraldic officer of the Society and the head of the College of Arms. Laurel is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, processing submissions, and overseeing the heraldic activities of the Known World. The Pelican Sovereign of Arms (Pelican) is a major deputy of Laurel. Because the duties required to operate the College of Arms and process submissions are so great, this position was split in two several years ago. Previous incarnations of Laurel and Pelican have split the job into names, and devices & administration. The current split is for submissions and administration. Applicants may use either of these configurations, or a new one which better fit the applicant's skills. The Board will accept applications from an individual or a team to perform the duties of these offices; however, they will not accept applications where only part of these duties will be assumed.
Laurel and Pelican are unpaid positions. Laurel currently requires approximately 20 hours a week (primarily submissions processing) plus about 10-20 hours a week for Laurel staff. Also required is office space sufficient for 18 filing cabinets, 27 boxes of "to be archived" submissions files, five boxes of "currently in process" submissions, five boxes of binders with "archive" copies of armory, and about 20 more boxes of assorted books, etc.), plus the computers, computer programs and documentation, backup tapes and disks, printer, photocopier, and flatbed color scanner.
The position requires tact and patience, local staff to assist in the weekly filing (an average of 3 people at least once a week), armory and onomastic knowledge, bureaucratic ability, the ability to meet tight deadlines and produce a Laurel letter of Acceptance and Return monthly, computer literacy and word processing skills, e-mail access, and time and ability to travel.
Resumes should be made in writing to the SCA office, at Box 360789, Milpitas, CA 95036.
If anyone has any questions regarding the workload or the job function, feel free to contact the current Laurel (Judy Gerjuoy, (202) 726-4396, (herald@sca.org).
They forgot to include a deadline for resumes; they will be following it up with the amendment below.
The Directors continue to accept resumes for the positions of Treasurer and Laurel Sovereign of Arms. Please send resumes to The SCA, Box 360789, Milpitas CA 95036, Attn: Resumes. The last day for acceptance is July 1.
It is our understanding that at the July 1998 Board meeting the Board will decide on who the next Laurel and Pelican will be. Sionyn and I will be reapplying for our jobs.
Filling out forms
We are continuing to receive forms which are not completely filled out. Last month one kingdom failed to include the SCA name on close to 80% of the armory forms; if there hadn't been an LoI to match to the forms we wouldn't have known who the forms were for. Another kingdom failed to provide two color copies in several cases; luckily a member of Laurel's staff took it upon herself to color in the uncolored forms.
While I am loath to return submissions for this kind of paperwork failure, if this trend continues I will be forced to. Please avoid this situation by ensuring that the paperwork is entirely there and filled out properly and completely.
On the other hand, we wish to commend Bordure for taking the time to highlight the SCA name on the forms, making it easier to spot.
Russian Titles
After reviewing the commentary on the Russian titles, we have decided to adopt the proposed new title set. Below you will see the revised list:
King Tsar
Queen Tsaritsa
Prince Tsarevich
Princess Tsarevna
Duke Kniaz
Duchess Kniaginia
Count Kniaz
Countess Kniaginia
Viscount Kniaz
Viscountess Kniaginia
Master Master
Mistress Master
Knight Rytsar
Sir --
Baron Posadnik/Voevoda
Baroness Posadnitsa/Voevoda
Lord Pomestnik
Lady Pomestnitsa
Remind people about postmark
There seems to be confusion about dating of letters. To be considered valid the letter must be postmarked by the first of the following month. Otherwise it will be redated. We will grant an exception to this only when the submissions herald contacts us right away and gives a reason which we find acceptable for such an exception.
Getting on the mailing list
There seems to be some confusion about the procedure to get onto the mailing list.
1. Commenters. To be added as a commenter, the prospective commenter must first produce a timely letter of comment. On a case-by-case basis, Pelican may waive the requirement of the first letter comment.
2. Principal Heralds and Submission Heralds. To obtain a warrant as either, and to be added to the mailing list, Pelican must be contacted and a copy of the open book test of the Administrative Handbook obtained, filled out, and sent back to Pelican.
LoAR Subscriptions and Roster changes:
Send roster changes, additions, subtractions, subscriptions to the LoAR and address changes in a separate letter, not in the body of a LoI or LoC to: Mistress Sionyn Muirgen ní Dhomnall, Pelican Queen of Arms, Jackie Watkins, 3532 Winding Wind Cove, Bartlett, TN, 38135-3044. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc. - College of Arms". The cost is currently $25.00 a year.
Also, remember all administrative issues (requests for warrants, quarterly reports, etc.) need to be sent to Pelican.
And remember to be a principal herald or a submissions herald, you must pass a test in advance of receiving your approval from our office, on the administrative handbook.
Certified mail.
I cannot accept certified mail at home. If you need to send me mail return receipt requested, contact me privately, and I will send you my work address.
Miscellany:
July 21, 1980 AS XV
To: All Members of the College of Arms
From: Wilhelm von Schlu:ssel, OL, OP, OLM, QOG, Laurel King of Arms
Greetings:
Enclosed with this letter is the July Letter of Acceptances and Rejections. It was a busy month. I passed something from every kingdom, with a total of 108 acceptances and 40 rejections. The backlog now stands at two months. At the August 10 meeting I will consider the submissions from the second part of May and from the month of June. Everyone should have their comments on Letters of Intent dated before July 1, 1980 in to me before then.
Until next month, pray believe that I am, and remain,
Your faithful servant,
Jaelle of Armida
Laurel Queen of Arms