600 Cedar Street, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 726-4396
herald@sca.org
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel
April 22, 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!
NOTE: THIS COVER CONTAINS SOME VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. PLEASE READ THIS ALL VERY CAREFULLY
The April Laurel meeting was held on Saturday, April 11, 1998 and considered 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), and Calontir (misdated January 30, 1997, redated by Laurel to December 31 based on postmark).
The May Laurel meeting is scheduled for Sunday May 3, with roadshows later on in the month in Drachenwald and will consider the following letters of intent: Middle (December 31 rescheduled from April for lack of paperwork), 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). 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 scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 1998 and will consider the following letters of intent: An Tir (January 25 tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork), An Tir (February 25 tentatively scheduled pending receipt of paperwork), Calontir (February 27, redated by Laurel to March 3, based on postmark), Outlands (March 5), Middle (March 17), Atlantia (March 24), Drachenwald (March 25), Meridies (March 25), Atenveldt (March 25), Lochac (March 25), Meridies (March 27), West (March 29), and Caid (March 30). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than May 31, 1998. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than June 30, 1998.
The August Laurel meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 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.
Laurel Abroad
I will be in Drachenwald attending an event in the Barony of Aarnimetsä and then Double Wars in the Principality of Nordmark from May 6 through May 30. I will probably not be able to check my e-mail or my voice mail. If anyone has any problems or concerns while I am gone, contact Pelican. Note: Because I will be doing a road show in Nordmark the last weekend in May, the May LoAR will probably going out until early June.
Warrant Status
The Board has extended our warrants through October 1998. When we know more as to what will happen after that, we will let you know.
Forms
At the April 1998 the Board approved the standardized forms. A set will be mailed out to all Principal and submissions heralds shortly, and a set will go out with the next Laurel packet as well. We would like to see them in use by no later than November 1998 LoIs, and they will become mandatory by the February 1999 LoIs. If this schedule will cause severe problems for any kingdom, please contact me directly.
Roster Changes:
The Escutcheon Herald of the Middle has moved. His new address is: Paul Wickenden of Thanet (Paul Goldschmidt) 802 Bowman Ave, Madison WI 53716
Dame Cateline de la Mor la souriete, has agreed to return to commenting. Please add her to your mailing lists and rosters as a Laurel Staff Herald. (Triste Elliott) 21 Langoma Ave., Elverson, PA 19520 (610) 942-2915 cateline@chesco.com.
Documentation
We have been receiving letters of intent which cite web pages as part of their documentation. Let me remind the college that the only web pages that will be accepted across the Board as documentation are the ones on the Laurel web page as part of the www.sca.org site. NO other sites are acceptable as they stand. For documentation to accepted from any other site, the entire page(s) of documentation must be sent with the Laurel package, along with information about the site itself.
Use of Official SCA Group Names in SCA Personal Names
There has been a number of commenters counting the use of an SCA branch name in an SCA name submission as a "weirdness" if the official group name is in poor style -- i.e. not in the form of a documentable place-name. The use of any registered official groups will not count as a weirdness. To decide on a case-by-case basis if the group name is a weirdness in a personal name submission requires an additional, unnecessary level of decision.
Laurel Ombudsman at KWHS
Mistress Margherita Alessia (Susan Earley), the Laurel office ombudsman will be attending KWHS.
Should Heralds be required for groups below Barony level
At the April Board Meeting exchequers were made required for all group. While heralds still remind a required officer for all groups, it is possible that there may be a proposal to remove heralds, or at least move them to be one of the three others (like marshal or moa/s). What is the opinion of the College on this matter? Please copy the Laurel Ombudsman, Margherita Alessia (Susan Earley); 4443 Dubois Boulevard, Brookfield, IL 60513-2223; 708-485-1276 with your comments on this, and only this. Since this issue effects the way the SCA is structured, we invite commentary on this subject from all members of the CoA, not just the commenters.
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 on the administrative handbook, in advance of receiving your approval from our office. This test is obtained from Pelican.
Certified mail.
I cannot accept certified mail at home. If you need to send me anything that requires a signature, contact me privately, and I will send you my work address.
Miscellany:
"The creation of Knights in Florence depended on three conditions: the visit of a foreign monarch, like Charles of Anjou, the assupotion of power (the Podestà) by a foreigner such as the Duke of Athens (Walter de Brienne) and by the people, either in a public meeting or by revolutionary action as during the Ciompi revolt in 1378 when Michele di Lando, Salvestro de' Medici and some sixty others were pronounced knights." From A Signature of Power and Patronage: The Medici Coat of Arms 1299-1492, by Roy Brogan
Until next month, pray believe that I am, and remain,
Your faithful servant,
Jaelle of Armida
Laurel Queen of Arms