Unto the members of the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive do Shayk Da'ud ibn Auda, Laurel King of Arms, and Baron Talan Gwynek, Pelican King of Arms, send Greetings!

The November 1995 Laurel meeting was held on Saturday, November 18, 1995, and considered the following Letters of Intent: Outlands (6/28, mailed 7/9); Middle (7/7); Atlantia (7/11); An Tir (7/11); Caid (7/19); West (7/24); Calontir (7/26); and Atenveldt (7/28). Original commentary on these LoIs must have been in the College's hands no later than September 30, 1995. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must have been in the College's hands no later than October 31, 1995.

The December 1995 Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, 1995, and will consider the following Letters of Intent: East (8/11); An Tir (8/12); Middle (8/21); Outlands (8/22); Trimaris (8/25); Atlantia (8/27); Meridies (8/30); and West (8/30). Original commentary on these LoIs must have been in the College's hands no later than October 31, 1995. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must have been in the College's hands no later than November 30, 1995.

The January 1996 Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, 1996, and will consider the following Letters of Intent: Caid (9/1); Atenveldt (9/10); An Tir (9/17); Atlantia (9/17); East (9/26); Calontir (9/26); and West (9/27). Original commentary on these LoIs must have been in the College's hands no later than November 30, 1995. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than December 31, 1995.

The February 1996 Laurel meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 17, 1996, and will consider Letters of Intent dated and mailed in October 1995. Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than December 31, 1995. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than January 31, 1996.

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.

ROSTER CHANGES

Calontir has a new principal herald. The new Gold Falcon is Thyri Haraldsdottir (Maria M. Poore), 113 Hillcrest Drive, O'Fallon, IL 62269; (618) 624-3530; kirkpoor@basenet.net. Please place her on the mailing list and Roster in place of Master Gerald.

Trimaris also has a new principal herald. She is: Laura de Botelesford (Laura Dolan), P.O. Box 1360, Silver Springs, FL 34489-1360; (904) 620-9032. Please place her on the mailing list and Roster in place of Doña Ysabela.

Triton asks that you add the new Atlantian submissions herald to the mailing list and Roster. He is: Golden Dolphin Herald: Aodhán Doilfin (R. Mark Jones), 1201 South Courthouse Road, Apt. 726, Arlington, VA 22204-4644; (703) 486-3650; rmark@access.digex.net.

Beginning the first of the new year, the office of Lambent (Meridies) will change. The new Lambent will be John the Pursuwer (John M. Hill), 882 Manoo Street, Diamondhead, MS 39525; (601) 255-3372. Please substitute him on the Roster and mailing list effective January 1, 1996.

Vesper (West) asks that you remove Matins Pursuivant, Krysta of Starfall, from the Roster and mailing list.

Lanner (Calontir) asks that you remove him from the mailing list.

Enclosed with this LoAR is a copy of the latest Roster. Please compare it to your mailing list to make certain that you have all the changes made recently.

JOB APPLICANTS

The Laurel office has received two bids to succeed the incumbents when the current warrants expire at the end of June 1996.

The first bid is from Jaelle of Armida/Sionyn Muirgen ní Dhomnall. Both are former principal heralds (of Atlantia and Meridies, respectively) and have been active in the College of Arms for some years. They propose to split the workload into submissions processing (Jaelle) and administration (Sionyn), following the pattern of a number of kingdoms Colleges of Heralds who have a submissions herald separate from the administrative officer; the difference here is that the administrative officer would report to Laurel, the submissions officer. Their bid notes that they have no intention of coming in and changing any current Laurel policies or procedures, and that they intend to be very proactive in encouraging the kingdom Colleges of Heralds.

The second bid is from Talan Gwynek/Zenobia Napthali. Both are former principal heralds (of the Middle and Caid, respectively), and Talan is the current Pelican King of Arms. Both have been active in the College of Arms for some years. They propose to split the workload into administration and names registrations (Talan) and armory registrations (Zenobia). The only change to current procedures that they envision is the requirement that the mailing of submissions forms packets be split, with the names submissions forms being mailed to Talan and the armory submissions forms being mailed to Zenobia.

If you desire additional information on either or both of these bids, copies of the bids are available from Laurel or from the applicants, or you may contact the applicants directly with any specific questions.

If you have an opinion on either or both of the applications, I urge you to write to the Board of Directors with your thoughts and recommendations before January 5, 1996. The Board will be making a decision regarding successors to the incumbents at their January 1996 meeting.

MISCELLANY

AND NOW - BUCKET SHOP EMBROIDERY

"An advertisement in a magazine devoted to embroidery, suggests `Why not stitch a coat of Arms?, and says that it would make `a super present that is bound to become a family heirloom'.

As is usual with these firms they claim that `the ducal coat of arms is fully researched'. The accompanying artwork, if it is representative of their product is pretty dreadful."

Item in The Heraldry Gazette, The Newsletter of the Heraldry Society of England, September 1995, p. 5

Until next month, pray believe that I am, and remain,

Your faithful servant,

Da'ud ibn Auda

Laurel King of Arms