Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms

427 W Ave
Spokane, WA 99203
+1 509 570 4189
[email protected]

For the December 2019 meetings, printed February 24, 2020

To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Juliana Laurel, Alys Pelican, and Cormac Wreath, greetings.

* From Laurel: KWHSS 2021 Bids Requested

It's that time again! For those considering bidding on the 2021 Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, the deadline to have your bid entered into OSCAR is May 1, 2020. This will give the College of Arms time for consideration so that we can announce the bid's award at the 2020 KWHSS in the Barony of Stormhold in Lochac, on July 8-10, at the Road Show.

Please remember that bids posted to OSCAR are publicly readable. Because of this, any personal information, such as legal names, addresses, phone numbers, and email, should not be included in these bids without signed written permission. Such information as is necessary for the entire College of Arms to see should be posted as a comment after the bid is finalized; any identifying information that the Sovereigns might need should be included as a Sovereign Note.

Please send a copy of the full unredacted bid to Laurel at [email protected].

As a reminder, there is a KWHSS domain and web hosting space available on the SCA's servers. Please do not register a new domain.

Please see http://heraldry.sca.org/kwhss/ or contact Laurel if you have any questions.

* Open Position - Laurel Sovereign of Arms

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is seeking candidates for the position of Laurel Principal Sovereign of Arms (Laurel).

Laurel is the principal heraldic officer of the Society and the head of the College of Arms, and is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, supervising the processing of submissions, and overseeing the heraldic activities of the Known World.

Laurel is an unpaid position, currently requiring approximately 20 hours a week. The position requires considerable tact and patience, armory and onomastic knowledge, supervisory ability, the ability to work within tight deadlines and coordinate closely with Wreath, Pelican, and other staff to produce a Laurel Letter of Acceptance and Return monthly, computer literacy and word processing skills, reliable e-mail and telephone access, and time and ability to travel.

A more detailed position description will be posted on the Society website in the near future.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, together with modern and SCA qualifications, hardcopy to:

Renee Signorotti
Society for Creative Anachronism
Box 360789
Milpitas CA 95036-0789

with courtesy copies to [email protected]. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2020.

* From Laurel: Call for Applications for Pelican Sovereign of Arms

Pelican is an unpaid position, currently requiring approximately 20 hours a week. Some knowledge of period onomastics and how we use that information in the SCA is essential. The position requires considerable tact and patience, research and reasoning ability, a clear understanding of the Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory and past Laurel rulings, the ability to write clearly and succinctly, the ability to work within tight deadlines and coordinate closely with Pelican, Laurel and other staff to produce a Laurel Letter of Acceptance and Return monthly, computer literacy and word processing skills, reliable e-mail and telephone access, and time and ability to travel. Given the current structure of the office, a high-speed internet connection is required.

Resumés must be sent electronically to Laurel at [email protected]. Resumés must be received by June 1, 2020, with an expected start date of October 2020.

* From Laurel: Limitation on Name and Armory Registrations

In the January 2009 revision of the Administrative Handbook, the limit of name and armory slots for individuals and groups below the Baronial level was increased from four to six. In commentary on the rules change, some raised concerns that increasing the limit would lead to individuals and groups pushing up into the limit and beyond, filling up valuable onomastic and heraldic real estate. Over ten years later, 31 individuals have six pieces of armory (not including augmentations) registered to them, and no SCA branch subject to the limit has reached the limit on armorial bearings. The increase in the name registration limit has seen similar restraint by submitters.

Given the lack of widespread abuse of the expanded registration capability, we propose expanding the limit of name and armory registrations from six to ten, and welcome commentary from the College of Arms on this. A letter from Palimpsest will follow shortly.

* Commendations to Commenters

From Pelican: This month I would like to thank two hard-working newer commenters, Ellisif in kristna and Lilie Dubh inghean ui Mordha. Not only are they diligent and always learning, they are brave enough to dive in with the "big kids" and occasionally make mistakes. This is exactly how someone learns to be a good commenter! In addition, I can always count on Ellisif or Lilie to ask a question that I may have taken for granted. I encourage more of our newer heralds to follow their examples and try out commenting at the Society level or attending decision meetings.

* From Pelican: Reliable Sources

We have noticed recently in commentary some confusion about what is a reliable source. For example, this month it was asserted (mistakenly) that three sources are necessary to document a name element. This is a misunderstanding of what we expect. A single, reliable source is sufficient to attest to a name element. "Reliable" means a period manuscript or an academically-sound source. This does not mean the source has to be published by a university but that it is well researched and well documented, gives dates for name elements (rather than simply stating it is traditional) and does not appear to modernize spellings of the relevant name element. Appendix H of the Administrative Handbook is simply a list of some reliable sources that are broadly owned, so that copies of the documentation do not need to be provided to Laurel with the submission. Appearing in Appendix H does not make a source "better," it merely means that it is very common.

* From Pelican: Letters of Attestation and When You Need What

This month we had a submitter who wished to use her legal father's entire full name as part of her registered name. To do so, the submitter provided a letter of permission from her father claim a relationship with him by using his full name as part of her name. However, the submitter did not include one other necessary piece of evidence: a letter attesting to the real world legal/blood relationship between herself and her father. A letter attesting to that relationship is necessary in order to use the Existing Registration Allowance.

(Remember, only real world legal relationships, whether of blood or marriage or adoption, allow for the use of the Existing Registration Allowance. SCA household or fealty relationships do not.)

As there seems to be some confusion on the paperwork required to use the Existing Registration Allowance, we reiterate the requirements, all in one place.

1. To use the Existing Registration Allowance, the submitter needs to prove a legal relationship with the person who originally registered the name element. The required letter is an attestation in the following form from the person who originally registered the name element:

"I, [Legal name], known in the Society as [Society name], hereby attest that [Legal name of submitter], known in the Society as [Society name of submitter] is my legal [son/daughter/child/spouse/grandchild, etc.]. I declare [or certify, verify, or state] under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct." Dated and signed with the legal name of the person giving the attestation.

Permission to presume/claim a relationship IS NOT required if the submitter is using only part of the other person's name.

For example, Violet de Luna is the legal child of Olalla de Luna. Violet needs to use the Existing Registration Allowance to document her name because de Luna is Spanish and Violet is English or Scots, which cannot be combined with Spanish. Violet needs to submit a letter from her parent attesting to the legal relationship. However, because the only part of the name she is using is de Luna, she does not need to submit a letter of permission to presume.

2. Berto di Guido Paletta is a claim to be the son of Guido Paletta. Whether or not Berto and Guido are related, Berto needs permission from Guido to claim to be his son in the Society. The letter should take the following form:

"I, [Legal name], known in the SCA as [Society name], give [Legal name of submitter], known in the SCA as [Society name of submitter], permission for my Society name to be used in part of [his / her / their] Society name in order to indicate a relationship. I understand that this permission cannot be withdrawn once [Legal name of submitter]'s name is registered." Dated and signed with the legal name of the person giving the attestation.

If Berto is actually the legal son of Guido Paletta and does not want to re-document his father's name, then he needs BOTH an attestation of legal relationship letter AND a letter of permission to claim a relationship. These two letters can be combined in a single document. For example:

"I, [Legal name], known in the Society as [Society name], hereby attest that [Legal name of submitter], known in the Society as [Society name of submitter] is my legal [son/daughter/child/spouse/grandchild, etc.]. I declare [or certify, verify, or state] under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

I further give [Legal name of submitter] permission for my Society name to be used in part of [his / her / their] Society name in order to indicate a relationship. I understand that this permission cannot be withdrawn once [Legal name of submitter]'s name is registered." Dated and signed with the legal name of the person giving the attestation.

This two-part letter is required ONLY when submitters are using the entire name of a relative and not otherwise documenting that name (i.e., relying on the Existing Registration Allowance).

* Society Pages

On January 18, at Menhir held in the Shire of Rising Stone, their Majesties Meridies Boru and Fianna elevated Taran the Wayward, former Lantern Herald (Education), to the Order of the Pelican.

On January 25, Bjorn Bjarnylr Bassason ór Bjarneyu, Rocket Herald for the Kingdom of Lochac, and his wife, Iona, were delivered of a healthy baby boy.

On February 5, Dr. Gerard Brault passed away. Dr. Brault spoke at two Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposia. From his obituary: "He wrote numerous books and articles about medieval French literature and, from 1985 to 1988, served as president of the Société Rencevals, an international organization for the advancement of romance epic studies. Among his most important works were his two-volume edition of the "Song of Roland" (1978), a landmark literary analysis and modern English translation of the poem; "Early Blazon," (1972); and his 1997 "The Rolls of Arms of Edward I (1272-1207)." The latter earned him the Riquer Prize of the Académie Internationale d'Héraldique and the Bickersteth Medal of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies. His book, "The French-Canadian Heritage in New England," (1986) demonstrated his great interest in his forebears and their descendants in the Northeast, and is treasured by his family."

Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.

* Send What to Whom

Letters of Intent, Comment, Response, Correction, et cetera are to be posted to the OSCAR online system. No paper copies need be sent. All submission forms plus documentation, including petitions, must be posted to the OSCAR online system. While black-and-white emblazons must be included in the Letter of Intent, only colored armory forms need to be posted in the forms area.

Cheques or money orders for submissions, payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms" are to be sent to Trent Le Clair, 928 Frazier Dr, Walla Walla WA 99362

Send roster changes and corrections to Laurel. College of Arms members may also request a copy of the current roster from Laurel.

For a paper copy of a LoAR, please contact Laurel, at the address above. The cost for one LoAR is $3. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms". The electronic copy of the LoAR is available free of charge. To subscribe to the mailings of the electronic copy, please see the bottom of http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.

For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.

* Scheduling

Items listed below in square brackets have not been scheduled yet. For information about future scheduling, please review the status table located on the Web at http://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.

The December Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, December 15, 2019 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, December 8, 2019. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Avacal (03 Sep, 2019), Calontir (09 Sep, 2019), West (20 Sep, 2019), Ealdormere (23 Sep, 2019), Ealdormere (25 Sep, 2019), Northshield (27 Sep, 2019), Avacal (28 Sep, 2019), Drachenwald (29 Sep, 2019), An Tir (30 Sep, 2019), Ansteorra (30 Sep, 2019), Atenveldt (30 Sep, 2019), Atlantia (30 Sep, 2019), Caid (30 Sep, 2019), East (30 Sep, 2019), Gleann Abhann (30 Sep, 2019), Meridies (30 Sep, 2019), Outlands (30 Sep, 2019), Trimaris (30 Sep, 2019), Laurel LoPaD (18 Oct, 2019) (redraws), and Laurel LoPaD (31 Oct, 2019) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Saturday, November 30, 2019.

The January Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, January 12, 2020 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, January 19, 2020. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Lochac (31 Aug, 2019) (pushed due to packet not uploaded), Calontir (05 Oct, 2019), Middle (05 Oct, 2019), Æthelmearc (13 Oct, 2019), Æthelmearc (14 Oct, 2019), Palimpsest Rules Letter (15 Oct, 2019), An Tir (22 Oct, 2019), Atenveldt (25 Oct, 2019), Ealdormere (27 Oct, 2019), Artemisia (28 Oct, 2019), West (28 Oct, 2019), Outlands (29 Oct, 2019), Drachenwald (30 Oct, 2019), Ansteorra (31 Oct, 2019), Atlantia (31 Oct, 2019), Caid (31 Oct, 2019), East (31 Oct, 2019), Meridies (31 Oct, 2019), Northshield (31 Oct, 2019), Laurel LoPaD (01 Nov, 2019), and Laurel LoPaD (30 Nov, 2019) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

The February Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican and Wreath meetings held in February 2020. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (05 Nov, 2019), Æthelmearc (07 Nov, 2019), Middle (11 Nov, 2019), Lochac (14 Nov, 2019), Laurel (15 Nov, 2019), Northshield (24 Nov, 2019), Atenveldt (25 Nov, 2019), Ealdormere (25 Nov, 2019), Atlantia (26 Nov, 2019), Outlands (27 Nov, 2019), Ansteorra (29 Nov, 2019), An Tir (30 Nov, 2019), Artemisia (30 Nov, 2019), Caid (30 Nov, 2019), Drachenwald (30 Nov, 2019), East (30 Nov, 2019), Gleann Abhann (30 Nov, 2019), Gleann Abhann (30 Nov, 2019), Meridies (30 Nov, 2019), Middle (30 Nov, 2019), Trimaris (30 Nov, 2019), West (30 Nov, 2019), Laurel LoPaD (01 Dec, 2019), and Laurel LoPaD (31 Dec, 2019) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Friday, January 31, 2020.

Not all letters of intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this cover letter. The date of posting of the LoI, date of receipt of the Laurel packet, or other factors may delay consideration of certain letters of intent. Additionally, some letters of intent received may not have been scheduled because the administrative requirements (receipt of the forms packet, receipt of the necessary fees, et cetera) have not yet been met.

REMINDER: Until all administrative requirements are met, the letter may not be scheduled.

Pray know that I remain,

In service,

Juliana de Luna
Laurel Queen of Arms


Created at 2020-02-24T20:56:29