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Meeting opened at 5 PM by Ailith Mackintosh, acting seneschal, who thanked everyone for attending, and for bringing potluck items to the picnic portion of the meeting. Attached find the agenda and Ailith's Mission Statement, Concern Points, and other discussion items.

1. Ailith laid out her view of our future, with her mission statement, plans and concerns

• Encouraged group to build on strengths
• Reaffirmed kingdom's desire for a baronial structure in northeast Ohio (other than Cleftlands)
• Mentioned the perception as reality, dealing with two specific issues: "Empire of Gwyntarian", and the "Barony will swallow all groups whole" concept.

FUTURE PLANS

Thistle will host a fall Revel in Medina in mid-to-late October. More details to follow

Hosting opportunities for the Holiday Revel are still open. Please contact Ailith if your group would like to host the Holiday Revel. Target time frame: Between Thanksgiving and January 12.

Upcoming Gatherings: Member groups are asked to develop and host non-business baronial gatherings beginning in the fall and continuing throughout the spring. Ideas discussed during meeting are:

• A&S Boot Camp (prepping projects and documentation for Spring A&S, may be combined with Spring Revel)
• Armor Workshop
• Scribal Workshop
• Garb Workshop

• Spring Revel
• Museum Trip(s)(Cleveland, Detroit, Boston, etc.)
• Authorization Clinic (for new fighters/combat archers, instruction in finer points of technique, and authorizations)
• Archery/Thrown Weapons Workshop
• Equestrian Workshop (what Equestrian is about, what's involved in starting in Equestrian activities, how to be an EQ marshal)

BARONIAL MANAGEMENT

Ailith noted that we have nearly 20 offices, some of which aren't operating now. She is planning on following the suggestions of the Kingdom Seneschal, and streamlining for efficiency. Projected list of offices, including required kingdom offices: Seneschal, Exchequer, Pursuvant, Chronicler, Knight Marshal. The kingdom would like to also see a Chatelaine, and Ailith will also include Minister of Arts and Sciences on this officer roster.

The service by the current holders of these offices and the other listed offices was noted and those holding them were thanked for their dedicated service to the group over the extended formation process. Ailith has asked those in the roster above to begin searching for replacements, with the transition planned by the end of the year, so that the new officers may begin their term at the beginning of the calendar year. The exceptions to this are the office of seneschal and chronicler, both of which have changed in the last calendar year. Other listed offices will be examined on a case-by-case basis for reopening, particularly after the barony has been invested.

Officers are also requested to send courtesy copies of their reports to baronial sensechal's office, and to consider making this a continuing practice. Ailith feels it is important for her to know the information as we re-form, and for future seneschals to stay informed of activities in each specialty in the barony. She feels this will add to the development of better communication in the barony. top

OFFICERS CONTRIBUTIONS

Chronicler Robert ap Hywel is planning 2 special newsletter issues for the year: A&S special edition for October, and Martial special edition for January. Please contact him for details.

Knight Marshal Ragnar Ironhand would like to again try to develop a baronial fighter practice. He requests that all interested fighters and marshals work with him to organize a time and place. Ashford said he'd be glad to help organize the fighters in his area (Emerald Moors) and bring them up if a practice is scheduled. It was suggested that practices be scheduled several months out, and then the schedule be published in baronial and local newsletters, sent to seneschals and posted on local elists.

OTHER DISCUSSION POINTS

(not in chronological order) Arwenna asked if there were any updates on transitional processes. Ailith is in touch with the Kingdom new groups/transitions office to check.

Robert ap Hywel asked if there could be a written statement from the kingdom endorsing the continuing formation of Brendoken. Ailith said she would contact transitions to see if that was possible, and see from whom it should come if it is.

Arwenna asked if anyone knew of a way to identify the members in the area who voted "no" on the earlier baronial polls, and if there were any way to discover what they might want or need from a regional structure. Ailith said she hoped to try to begin the process with her group tour, which will begin with initial group visits after Pennsic, with, she indicated, more planned through the year and as the re-formation process continues. Ancel pointed out that more than one group visit was needed, and Ailith agreed, noting that her plan called for continuing visits. It was noted that due to the privacy regulations of the SCA, it is not possible to get a list of all members in the area.

Ancel asked if it was possible to cut out Trumbull County and Youngstown from further polling, as they seemed to be a large source of negative votes as regards the barony. Anastasia mentioned that there were many favorable to the barony in the region, and that the issue may not lie there. Giles noted that particular region did not seem to be as large a block as those votes from Medina County, as numbers discussed at a early spring meeting seemed to bear out. Ailith mentioned during this discussion that an "us" vs. "them" mindset could only hurt our cause, and we needed to remember to be gracious, present a unified, tactful front that avoided unilateral statements and listened to the opinions of those who do not always agree with our points of view. It was mentioned that perhaps we could start from scratch, completely start the process again. Ancel felt we should keep the baronial heraldry and name. Ailith mentioned that starting over would put us at the line with other new groups, and we would be liable to have to develop a name and heraldry again. Many expressed these ideas: stay where we are, keep the progress we've made, don't want to restart it, been a long time already, let's get on with it, let's keep things moving...

Anastasia suggested placing small newspaper ads in the Youngstown Vindicator to let SCA members know the barony was happening, and point them to an up-to-date information source if they wanted to know more. Others suggested the Pale, the Pennsic paper and an embassy to the Tuchux camp at war to convey information. Giles and others volunteered mead for the Tuchux meeting, and to escort Ailith to that meeting.

It was mentioned that all baronial officers may wish to consider Ragnar's example of working with his marshals in the local groups and develop programming for the future, either for events, revels, workshops or short sessions after baronial business meetings. top

ATTACHMENTS: AILITH'S MEETING NOTES

BARONIAL CONCERNS AND COMMUNICATIONS

The kingdom sees the formation of the barony as a good idea--one whose time is past due. They're looking for us to build this barony on a solid foundation of four highly active local groups.

There are some concerns that have been raised to me as we continue to build this barony and they're not new ones. A major point is the perception that the barony will take over and that the local groups will disappear once it's formed. Nothing could be further from reality. The local groups will not be superceded by the barony, they will continue to be completely autonomous and to grow and flourish. The marches and the barony will co-exist and complement each other.

The kingdom is NOT looking for a barony to replace the groups, and quite honestly, neither am I. That's not the point of having a barony. In my view, the barony gives us a further place to play, to develop talents, to learn more skills on a larger scale than that of a local group, yet still at a level more manageable than that of region or kingdom.

Another concern is that the barony will become the "Empire of Gwyntarian." Although it's true that many members of that group have volunteered for offices or have taken an active role in building the barony, I want to make it very clear that ALL groups are, in my eyes, EQUAL, no matter how many bodies from where are doing what. Might--or in this case, size-- doesn't make right. All of our groups must be equally heard and their opinions considered as we continue.

Communication is something that has always been an issue. I am working on a communication plan which will depend on all of us to work successfully. Communication is a two way street. I won't know if my messages aren't reaching you if no one comes to me and says, "We haven't heard anything in a while. What's going on?" The plan calls for use of email, US mail and telephone calls to convey information to each seneschal. The group seneschals are expected to pass this information along to their groups and relay and questions or concerns back to me, or to encourage those who have questions or concerns to me directly.

If you have complaints about the communication, please tell me. Feel free to gripe to your friends to blow off steam, but keep in mind that your friends can't solve the problem for you. They can listen and be sympathetic, but they can't fix the problem. Please, come to me or one of the baronial officers so that we can try to address whatever the problem/concern/issue is and attempt to remedy the situation.

We are first and foremost responsible for and to each other, regardless of our personal feelings regarding the barony. This responsibility includes making the game of the SCA fun for everyone, regardless of their group, personal affiliation, household or kingdom. We should be civil and respectful to each and every person in the region that the barony encompasses.

What is important is that we are all involved in a hobby that we love and that in the tone of that hobby, will have the grace and respect to listen to the points of view of all. We need to avoid the churlishness that comes with the belief that everyone must play our way or no way. Just because their way is different from yours doesn't make it wrong.

• Is accountable to the populace first and always
• That does not direct the focus or energies of the local groups (local groups will not be superceded by the barony)
• Gives equal weight to the arts, martial arts, and service
• Aims for complete communication of baronial policies and activities.
• Has a populace willing to take responsibility for speaking to important issues--and that they know that even if one takes an unpopular stand, one's voice will be heard
• The populace should be comfortable to come to any baronial officer, up to and including the seneschal, to discuss either in private or in public, issues of importance.
• Has officers that understand that it is expected to bring news, good or bad, and issues, good or bad, to the group so that all may assist in baronial governance.

• A stable and unified barony that works well together. To help the talents of our barony come together, grow, teach and flourish.
• A leadership made stronger by knowing the opinions and goals of the populace of the barony. (If I don't know what you think, I can't help you to reach your goals.)
• A great place to play! Our area has such incredible talent, both on and off the field; great events; tremendous feasts and the best people in the Midrealm!