Dallas, TX 75221-1646

Unto the members of the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive does Da'ud ibn Auda, Laurel King of Arms, send Greetings!

The attached Letter of Acceptances and Returns covers the following Letters of Intent considered at the Laurel meetings held Saturday, August 24, 1991, which considered the following Letters of Intent: Outlands (4/6), Atenveldt (dated 4/29, but mailed in mid-May), Ansteorra (5/1), Laurel (5/13), Trimaris (5/15), An Tir (5/16), Middle (5/20), Atenveldt (5/21), Atlantia (5/22), Meridies (5/30), and Calontir (5/31).

The September Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September;21, 1991, and will consider the following Letters of Intent: East (5/25), West (6/12), Atlantia (6/16), Middle (6/16), Caid (6/23), Meridies (6/24), Atenveldt (6/26), Caid (6/28), West (6/29), and Calontir (6/30).

The October Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, and will consider the following Letters of Intent: Outlands (7/12), East (7/12), Ansteorra (7/14), Trimaris (7/15), Atenveldt (7/19), Atlantia (7/22), Middle (7/23), Caid (7/30), and Calontir (7/31).

The November Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 30, and will consider Letters of Intent dated in August.

ROSTER CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS

Lord Gold Falcon asks that you add to your mailing lists the Kestrel Herald, Annys de Vernun of Kettering (A. Marie Watson), RR3, Box 96, Valley Center, KS 67147; (316) 755-1917

Please add to your mailing lists the new Heralds Ombudsman on the Board of Directors, David C. Thewlis (Duke Siegfried von Höflichkeit). His address effective the end of September will be: 180D Park Lake Circle, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. His telephone number will be (510) 256-0596, Compuserve ID 71210,76.

Lord Dragon asks that you change on your roster the title of Mistress Fiona Averylle O'Connor of Maidenhead from Targe Herald to White Mantle Herald, and add her to your mailing lists. Her address is on the enclosed roster.

Please remove Lion's Blood Herald, Christopher Sigismund Olaffson, from your mailing lists for non-commentary.

APPLYING X.4.j.ii (or, Hearts, Mullets, and Suns, Oh, My!)

The commentary on this issue has been diverse enough that I am having to ask for specific input on this so that a decision may be informedly made. My original feeling that a mullet (of five points) was just simple enough for X.4.j.ii. to apply was based on the training I received in grade school (lo, these many years ago) that a star was a geometric figure. Having had brought to my attention some of the problems with this definition, I want your opinions. Is a mullet simple enough for X.4.j.ii to apply? (I am starting to become convinced that it is not.) How about a sun, a charge considerably more complex, certainly not a "geometric" figure in the classical definition of such, but with a large surface on which tertiary charges may show up well? (This would have to be a specific addition to the definition of X.4.j.ii, if allowed.) Please give me the benefit of your commentary in time for the November Laurel meeting.
UNICORN/HORSE HYBRIDS (or, Towards a Policy of Unicornity Uniformity)

The discussion on the device submission of Catherine of Wessex, in the attached LoAR, brought up the question of returning to the ban on unicornate pegasi and other unicornate horse-hybrids. Lord Laurel personally feels that the ban on unicornate horses should be retained, but does not have the same strong feelings regarding unicornate pegasi. (Though there should not, in my opinion, be a CVD between a pegasus and a unicornate pegasus.) How do the other members of the College feel on this issue? Please let me know your opinions and the results of your research in time for the December Laurel meeting.

HELP WANTED (or, Classy Classifieds)

For a number of reasons, having to do with what's happening in my personal life and because of my desire to quit before I burn out (so as to stay active in the College afterwards), I have decided not to ask the Board to renew my warrant when it expires in July, 1992. I am making this announcement now so that anyone who is interested in applying for the position may do so well before the January Board meeting. If you are considering applying for the office of Laurel Sovereign of Arms of the Society, I highly recommend that you talk to me about what the job entails, how much time, money, etc. it takes, as well as ideas for the future. (One of my regrets about stepping down next year is that some things that I wanted to do with the job will not get done.) Applications should be sent to the Board of Directors, with a copy to the Heralds Ombudsman and me, well before the deadline for the January, 1991 BoD meeting. It is anticipated that the Board will select my successor then, allowing a number of months for a smooth transition of the office. If you have any questions, please write or give me a call.

MISCELLANY

The May-June 1990 issue of "Desktop Publishing and Graphics" carried an advertisement for World Wide Heraldry, of Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia. The firm advertises a product called "Today's Heraldry", "a must for your soft-ware library" on seven floppy disks, "compiled by the Earl Marshal of one of Australia's Leading Colleges of Arms". "Tutorial disks which explain the rules and terms used in heraldry and blazonry, clarifying and demystifying the subject as never before." The 600 shields, crests and charges on the disks enable the designer to "mix and match a million or more emblems and the guide to the meanings of the symbols enables him to create meaningful graphics". (Reported in "The Heraldry Gazette", September 1990, p. 1, published by The Heraldry Society, England)

[I wasn't aware that Australia had enough "Colleges of Arms" that they could have "leading" ones. It is to be hoped that no one in the SCA is involved in this. (Or if they are, they should offer the SCA College of Arms a sizable discount at the very least!)]

Until next month, I remain, as ever,

Your servant,

Return to the LoAR Index Page