The month of April marks a year since We stepped up as the Crown. It was not what We had envisioned for Our “Coronation”, but We do not regret the choices that were made. There were so many unknowns then and as we look to the future, there are so many more.

As we move into Spring and the weather warms, there are still so many unknowns as to when things will reopen and we can all gather. Every day we all face new challenges and hurdles, but there have been some constant and wonderful things throughout the past year We have Reigned and that is the love, support and fellowship We have felt and seen demonstrated by the people of this wonderful Kingdom.

We made a pledge to the Kingdom a year ago and We would renew that pledge to the Kingdom now.

We pledge to the People
of the Kingdom of Ealdormere
to uphold and support you in dark days,
honour the laws and traditions of Ealdormere,
and to keep the needs of Ealdormere
foremost in our thoughts and hearts.
We stand with Ealdormere
apart, yet together in sprit,
until the day comes we can embrace again.

We will continue to hold steady, to support and to guide. We will continue to encourage, to inspire and to lead. We will continue as long as needed and the Kingdom will have Us.

Apart, yet together in sprit, until we can embrace again.
King Rattanicus and Queen Isabel

Greetings, all

As you have no doubt seen, the BoD has released a new resolution to take effect on 1 June that allows for events subject to local health guidance, as well as mandating a number of restrictions. If you have not seen it, the announcement is here: https://www.sca.org/news/resolutiontoliftsuspensionapril2021

Given the state of the Province and our various lockdowns and restrictions we will not be having events starting in June. We will continue to stay the course as laid out in our reopening plan, which does not allow for events except after a staged resumption of activities as restrictions are lifted by the Province and benchmarks for COVID spread are met. Variances will be applied for as required and needed for differences in our situation versus the resolution's allowances.

The Privy Council will be revisiting the reopening plan to account for vaccines and loosening restrictions as that guidance becomes clearer in the coming months. When the plan has been updated, there will be general announcements.

For now we are, unfortunately, still as we have been for a while yet. It's been a long slog, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a bit brighter every day.
​
Lars

Good people of Ealdormere--

The voting process for the position of Lawspeaker has now concluded. We were incredibly lucky to have three amazing candidates step forward and make the decision incredibly difficult (in a good way), and I want to thank all three--Duchess Adrielle, THL Emer, and Dame Siglinde--for their willingness to serve the people of this kingdom in this capacity.

The people have spoken, and your new Lawspeaker will be Dame Siglinde. She and I will be working in the next month to transition the role, and I anticipate she will formally take the reins in May.

It has been my great privilege to be given the opportunity to serve the Kingdom in this unique position these past three years. I particularly want to thank Baroness Sciath, who served as my moot secretary, as well as the Royalty and Seneschals I worked with in those years, through both calm and stormy days. In particular, I'd like to acknowledge the counsel and assistance of those Lawspeakers who have gone before me, and to offer that same assistance to all who will follow me.

Nika Dmitrieva doch' Zvezdina (Nicolaa)
Lawspeaker

April Tidings (PDF) is available for download. Check out the Kingdom Chronicler's page for information about submitting articles or images to the newsletter, or for back issue questions.

March Tidings (PDF) is available for download. Check out the Kingdom Chronicler's page for information about submitting articles or images to the newsletter, or for back issue questions.

February 2021 (PDF) is available for download. Check out the Kingdom Chronicler's page for information about submitting articles or images to the newsletter, or for back issue questions. 

The Tidings is now open for all members to view. This is a huge change the BOD announced at the end of 2020. 

January 2021 (PDF) is available for download. Check out the Kingdom Chronicler's page for information about submitting articles or images to the newsletter, or for back issue questions. 

​Greeting Ealdormere
With less than a year remaining in my two year terms as Kingdom Archery Marshal and Kingdom Thrown Weapons Marshal I must begin the search for my successor(s).

Duties of a Kingdom Marshal include:

1. Coordinate activities of all marshals within the kingdom by:
a) Receiving the semi-annual reports from the marshals.
b) Solving problems, anticipating problems or clarifying misunderstandings by answering questions and initiating frequent dialogue with marshals at events.
c) Communicating frequently in the kingdom newsletter.
d) Keeping an up-to-date address/phone list of all warranted and inactive marshals and MIT’s.
e) Renewing warrants annually.
f) Coordinating warranting and training of MIT’s.
g) Consulting periodically with the Crown and the Earl Marshal in order to best respond to kingdom needs.

2. A quarterly report to the Earl Marshal and Society Marshal by means of:
a) Writing reports on the state of archery in the kingdom.
Reports should include:
i) a summary of archery activities in the kingdom
ii) a list of current warranted marshals
iii) a brief summary of the status of current projects you are working on or have delegated
b) Regular check-in at events or by e-mail on the status of current projects

3. Encourage archery throughout the kingdom by:
a) Supporting ideas and projects whenever feasible.
b) Suggesting projects that would help to encourage activity or improve accuracy and accepting feedback on the success or failure of said projects
c) Being a resource for archery and maintaining and enforcing all safety rules
d) Travelling to various regions throughout the kingdom to both encourage archery and gain feedback on activities (being visible and accessible).
e) Making award recommendations to recognize service and skill in archery in the kingdom.

If there is anyone interested in putting their names forward for consideration please contact me at one of the following email addresses:
ealdormere.archery@gmail.com or ealdormere.thrown.marshal@gmail.com

YIS
Master Gunther Wahlstadt

Greetings Ealdormere;

I stepped up into the Lord Clerk Register role last November. Although it is a different job than I initially thought it is still a really interesting one, and one that I am proud to have. It is the practice of Privy Council to seek deputies to replace members at one year so that there is time for overlap, so at this time I am seeking applications for my eventual replacement. 

The bare minimum requirement: 

The Lord Clerk-Register needs to have 

1. a current SCA membership, 
2. a reliable internet connection, and 
3. a working computer. 

The Duties

1. Report to Privy Council and the duties therein such as reading Kingdom level event bids, vote on laws and other motions. Advise the Crown and the Seneschal
2. Oversee the regional deputies, and maintain a current warrant list for their majesties to sign at future Coronations
3. Report to society 5 times a year, including Blackfox award nominations, and keep up with the the society wide Slack chat server
4. Keep ealdormere.ca up to date, including making sure any approved expenses related to the web site are paid in full and update content as required
5. Maintain the Emaildodo listserv and add groups as the Kingdom requires
6. Book Zoom video conferencing appointments with the Kingdom Calendar Secretary using google calendar, and launch the program for the use of anyone in the Kingdom. 
7. Answer emails related to the ealdormereweb@gmail.com in a timely manner, and
8. Attempt tech support when needed

I spend probably 4-12 hours a week on the above, most of that staying on top of the Zoom requirements. Once things are back to "normal" I think that these hours will go back down to pre-pandemic levels of 4 to 5 hours a week. I will train my successor on all the software requirements. 

If you have any questions email me at ealdormereweb@gmail.com and I will try to answer them. 

Applications are due by December 31, 2020. 

In your service
Barones Lucia de Enzinas, OL
Lord Clerk-Register. ​

Hey folks

--as mentioned during Kingdom Court on Saturday, we're going to be going ahead with the traditional Kingdom Moot on November 9 at 7pm. As is traditional, it is the right of all Ealdormerians to propose topics for discussion at the Moot. This will be your chance to provide some possible input on what you'd like to see the Kingdom doing while we're still not able to have regular events, as well as other topics of interest to the populace. Please let me know your topic proposals by  emailing me at ealdormere.lawspeaker@gmail.com.

Remember also that we're starting the progress to choose the next Lawspeaker. Details of what's needed are in the current issue of the Tidings. It's a challenging, but rewarding position, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions about what's required.

​-Nicolaa

Greetings unto Our Inspirational Kingdom of Ealdormere,

As we move into the fall of this most unusual year, We are reminded of the grand Crown Tournaments past fought this time most years. We are reminded of the pageantry, of the camaraderie, of the prowess, and of the companionship. Most importantly, We are reminded of the inspiration that helps drive and support the combatants in their quest for the Crown.

In homage to the consorts of the past whose inspiration has led their combatants to glory, the theme for Our October Court will be inspiration. Inspiration comes from so many of those around us and in so many different forms. We are inspired to create, to fight, and to support. We are inspired by friendship, by guidance, by great and noble deeds. We are inspired by dedication, by service, by leadership, by prowess. We are inspired by teachers, by helpers, and by craftspersons. So many amazing people in this glorious Kingdom inspire us all in so very many unique ways.

​We personally find inspiration every day in the wonderful classes and gatherings being hosted throughout the Kingdom to help keep everyone connected.   

While tournaments oft-times give participants an opportunity and a venue to speak of the virtues of the one that inspires them on the field that day, there are seldom opportunities for non-marshal members of the populace to do so. As such, We would like to hear your stories and praise of those who inspire you and share those words with the populace during Our Court. Your inspiration could be a person or a group. Written boasts can be sent to Us through the form on the Kingdom website at http://links.ealdormere.ca/boast or directly by email to ealdormere.crown@gmail.com. If you would like your boast for your inspiration to come from you, you can submit a short video of you talking about your inspiration that We will play during the evening. If you would like it to be kept secret who it’s from, We can do that too! Just make sure to note it in the submission that you would like it to be anonymous.

We very much look forward to hearing your stories of inspiration and sharing them with the Kingdom. 

King Rattanicus and Queen Isabel

Year of the Plague

​As Their Majesties announced in court, we have unfortunately been forced to roll back to Phase I of our reopening plan. This is based on the ever-increasing daily case count, which has now put our seven day rolling average over 250/day, and the Provincial government reducing allowable gathering sizes below our minimums.

This puts us all back to online gatherings only. It is unfortunate, but here we are. We all look forward to getting things back in hand so that we can progress back to Phase II and beyond. As always, the reopening plan can be found at https://links.ealdormere.ca/covid-reopening.

Stay safe, everyone.

Greetings unto Our Steadfast and Resilient Kingdom of Ealdormere,

This summer it has been wonderful to see all of the activities being planned and implemented virtually, not just in Our Kingdom, but across the Known World. It can be difficult to remain connected and this is not what any of us are used to. But Ealdormere is strong and proud and resilient and we shall make it through these dark times together and be all the stronger for it.

With the announcement from the Board regarding the suspension of events until into the new year, We find Ourselves facing many months ahead. To keep Ourselves at a manageable pace, We plan to hold Court the third Saturday of each month for the remainder of this calendar year. While We continue to hold awards for once we all can gather together in person, We do know there are some in Our Kingdom where receiving recognition virtually may be the most appropriate way for them. Maybe it’s someone who has long been deserving for service to their local group, but has been unable to make it to events on Saturdays or maybe it’s someone who does not want to be called into Court, but wouldn’t mind being acknowledged virtually without being showcased on the screen. Whatever the reason might be, please send Us any recommendation for deserving gentles in Our Kingdom that might benefit from receiving recognition in this way. 

In July, We added many names to the Scroll of Honour. We recognized many of Our Kingdom for their work as front line workers and many more for making and/or assisting with the making of masks and other necessary protective gear for their communities. In September, We would like to recognize those that have been hosting or assisting with online content. If you have any names to recommend for this recognition, please forward them to Us by email. If there are names that were missed in July, please send those to Us as well so they might be rightfully added to the Scroll for their deeds.

Lastly, We would also ask you for your help during the months to come. Our staff, the Kingdom Officers, and so many others have been working hard to provide online content to help find ways to maintain and strengthen our connection with one another during this forced hiatus. With potentially six more months to go, We would ask for input from the Kingdom for new ideas for connectivity, and volunteers to donate some of their time to help support these endeavours. We would ask good gentles in the Kingdom to contact Us or Maister Colyne should you wish to help. We welcome input and assistance from all: newcomers to the Society, long time members, those who have unique interests, those who have ideas they would like to see realized. We hope to hear from you.

Stay strong friends and stay safe. We will get through this together.

King Rattanicus and Queen Isabel

​Year of the Plague

Hi everyone! Your friendly Kingdom Chatelaine here! We're going to try something new ... a monthly video chat meeting to help our newcomers understand the SCA.

At 7pm this Thursday August 20th, this month's topic will be, cantons, shires, baronies, and a kingdom, oh my! How our club is broken down into local chapters.

After a brief chat about this, we open the floor to any newcomer questions.
(Now the practical stuff -- we are trying to build an comfortable space for new people where they can easily ask questions and get simple answers. Newcomers might be someone playing 0-3 years but want to understand the SCA better. Experienced folks may want to join in to help, and that's great, but please message me privately in advance, and we can coordinate your involvement without overwhelming newcomers.

meet.google.com/qyb-xpet-gam
​
Cheerfully slaving for my feudal masters,
Brand
ealdormere.chatelaine@gmail.com

Greetings unto Our most patient Populace of Ealdormere From King Rattanicus and Queen Isabel.

Long you have waited to see your fellows in person and We know this has been hard. As a community, you have all done amazing keeping things going in the very different virtual world in which we all find ourselves.  We are so very happy to finally announce that the time has come to allow us to begin to move forward opening the Kingdom!

As the Province is now completely in Phase 3 of Ontario's Reopening Plan,  We, along with the Privy Council, have voted and agreed that it is time that the Kingdom can move into Phase II of the Ealdormere Reopening Plan. 

Ealdormere will go into Phase II this Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 10:00am

This will allow groups to host in-person local meetings and A&S gatherings should they choose to do so.

Her Majesty and I are so proud of the sacrifices made by the people of the Kingdom and are so looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

Rattanicus and Isabel
Rex and Regina

NOTE: To keep Our Kingdom Seneschal happy, We remind groups that all meetings and gatherings must comply with the rules stated in the Ealdormere Reopening Plan for Phase II and follow Provincial Guidelines for gathering sizes. This does not allow for any martial activities at this time. Please contact Master Lars with your group's plan.

---

From the Kingdom Seneschal

I'll remind everyone of the reopening plan (which has now been updated to reflect Their Majesties' good news) http://links.ealdormere.ca/covid-reopening

And, please, while the Provincial limits are quite generous, let's bear the spirit of the BoD resolution in mind - and not make the Society Seneschal have to explain to the Board why there were 100 people at an A&S gathering in Ealdormere 

I'm pleased to announce that Sir Tiberius is the new Deputy Earl Marshal for Steel Armoured Combat.
​
He'll be heading up the effort bring this exciting new martial discipline to Ealdormere.

Many thanks to Tiberius for offering to take on this important role. It's all new territory, so we'll all be learning as we go along.

Menken
Kingdom Earl Marshal
​
For interest, here is the SCA Steel Combat Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SCA-Steel-Fighting-2248270048818486

Have you ever wondered just how Pennsic happens, the planning, the expense, where your fees go?  Do you have the time, energy and commitment to become a Pennsic Officer?  If so, apply to be the Pennsic Exchequer.  This is a volunteer position involving a very large commitment of time and energy.  Only serious applicants should reply.

Hourly commitment expected:
During Pennsic, 6-8 hours per day from Opening Day through final Saturday. Ability to arrive a week Prior to the Start of the event a Major Plus.
Attend both weekend planning sessions, November and May.
5-15+ hours per week for the remainder of the year. 

Duties:
Work with the Pennsic Mayors to create and maintain a budget, with detail down to department expense levels.
Report regularly to the Pennsic Financial Committee and the Kingdom Seneschal Group on activities relating to Pennsic finances.
Report directly to the Society Exchequer using SCA standard financial reporting forms.
Serve as a subject-matter expert in determining allowable expenditures.
Travel to two planning meetings (November and May).
Be on-site for the entire Pennsic War (Both Weeks) and be available on site during the week preceding the war if possible.
Hold regular “office hours” during war and monitor a radio and/or pager for the entire war.
Work with the Cooper’s Lake staff to coordinate resources and funds transfers.

Skills and resources required:
1)  Moderate to expert knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
2)  Moderate to expert knowledge of QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online.
3)  Moderate to expert knowledge of SCA reports
4)  Experience as an SCA Exchequer preferred, but not required
Accounting/bookkeeping experience desired.
Reliable phone and email access.
Ability and willingness to communicate to several people over long distances.

Successful applicants will be expected to attend Pennsic for the entire war.

Please send applications (modern resume and SCA activity summary) to CJO@pennsicwar.org  Application period closes 11:59pm EST, September  1, 2020.

Please direct any questions to the Acting Pennsic Exchequer depexchequer@pennsicwar.org 
It is the hope of the Pennsic Financial Committee to complete the selection process by November 1, 2020. 

For information on the various Pennsic Financial Policies please refer to the Documents below.

https://seneschal.eastkingdom.org/PW/PW-ADMIN.pdf

http://www.sca.org/docs/finpolicies/PennsicFinancialPolicy.pdf

Greetings unto Our Most Resilient Kingdom of Ealdormere,

As many of you have now seen, the Board of Directors has approved a Resolution that suspends in-person events until January 31, 2021. While it pains Us to continue to be apart, We wholeheartedly support this Resolution. Always the health, safety and wellbeing of Our populace is paramount in Our decision making in these most difficult times. We know you all want to be able to gather together again. We too want this. We miss every one of you and look forward to raising a glass together in-person. But that time is still not quite here yet. While We are saddened that this plague has not yet released us all from its harsh grasp, We would not put Our populace at risk needlessly.  

We are hopeful that, with luck, We will see the Kingdom able to move forward to the next phase in the Kingdom Reopening Plan and have small, safe local gatherings begin in the coming weeks. The Plan has already been updated to include the requirements with respect to the Board’s Resolution. Should the Kingdom be in a position to open earlier than January 31, We will revisit things at that time.

As our time as the Crown will be longer than expected , We would ask you for your help during the months to come. Our staff, the Kingdom Officers, and so many others have been working hard to provide online content to help find ways to maintain and strengthen our connection with one another during this forced hiatus. With potentially six more months to go, We would ask for input from the Kingdom for new ideas for connectivity, and volunteers to donate some of their time to help support these endeavours. We would ask good gentles in the Kingdom to contact Us or Maister Colyne should you wish to help. We welcome input and assistance from all: newcomers to the Society, long time members, those who have unique interests, those who have ideas they would like to see realized. We hope to hear from you.

Stay strong friends and stay safe. We will get through this together.

​King Rattanicus and Queen Isabel

The SCA honours living history, and has always done so with a progressive social mindset that values inclusion, tolerance, and common respect. Intolerant, exploitative, and predatory practices were a part of many historical cultures that our Society depicts, but we have always made the conscious choice to concentrate on the best social virtues that history has to offer. Against the backdrop of challenges that modern society is grappling with, our ‘conservative’ re-enactment of history is at its best when it honours a ‘progressive’ social value system. In the current climate of completely warranted anger over the status quo, the Order of the Chivalry has pondered how we can improve the situation. 
​
As knights and masters who choose to do so, we swear to the Royalty each reign that we will be the “Shield of the Weak”, “Courteous at all times”, and “Champion of the Right and the Good”. The chivalric virtue of humility teaches that each of us, from time to time, will fail to live up to what our oath demands, and that as an Order, we must guide one another towards being better. Recent deliberations within the Order have led us to believe that further improvement is warranted; our values compel us to hear your criticisms, and to do better in living up to our oaths. There are no perfect knights, but trying to be is a worthy endeavour in spite of inevitable flaws. 

This is not the first time that our Kingdom or our Society has made this sort of statement. If we take this challenge seriously, then recurrent deliberation and reaffirmation of these values is appropriate, in much the same way that we renew our oaths for each new Sovereign. We are not the only ones who serve this Kingdom: we rely on officers, peers, and our fellow populace to hold up the ‘Mirror of Chivalry’ so that we can see our flaws. Sometimes it is people outside our Order that are best suited to define our problems and show us the path to solutions. Our role as an Order is to hear them, respect them, and learn ways to be better from them.  

We value inclusion, tolerance, and respect, and support the cause of justice.  We will not defend those who, through bigotry, sexism, intolerance, bullying, or other predatory behaviours, have made themselves morally indefensible 

If you have experienced one of these things, we encourage you to bring it to one of us. We will advocate for a resolution. We will help ensure that the person best qualified addresses your issue.

Roak 
Steinarr 
Evander
Richard 
Shahid 
Quilliam 
Tristham 
AElfwyn  
Gann 
Rattanicus 
Kasimir
Menken 
Varenko 
Mordain 
Baldric 
Elizabeth 
Tiberius 
Finnvarr 
​Edward the Red

Greetings to the Good People of Ealdormere.

I think I can safely speak for the Crown when I say Thank You to all the generous groups and individuals who have donated towards the Kingdom Zoom account.

As you may know from the challenge issued in Episode 4 of Ealdormere At Home, the Kingdom has been using the 500 participant level of Zoom account ($87/mth +tax) to make sure we can reach our populace.

As we have settled into our Digital routines, we have noted that the participant numbers have safely dropped below the threshold of the next lowest account. We have added other means of distributing our broadcasts such as streaming on the Kingdom Facebook Group and uploading the recordings to the Kingdom YouTube account. We can still reach the populace without the continued need of the high level account.

For these reasons, and to maintain good stewardship over the funds you entrust us with, the Privy Council has decided to shift our Zoom account to the 100 participant, unlimited time tier ($20/mth +tax).

Knowing that groups may be contemplating donations towards our Zoom account, we wish to inform you of the change to maintain transparency and to enable you to make informed decisions.

YIS,
April R/ Jane Caldwell, KExch

 Greetings, Ealdormere.

 I am... well, pleased is not the right word given that we even need to have such a document for these times. In any case, Their Majesties and the Privy Council have approved this plan for the reopening of Ealdormere. As you are all aware, we are officially shut down until 31 July which isn't that far off at all. We are of course in no position to just go back to things on 1 August, so please read and understand the course that has been charted to move forward. This plan describes a phased resumption of activities as Provincial health authorities and the pandemic situation allow. Many thanks to those who had great input and insightful comments as this was being developed. As always, if you have any questions please reach out to me at ealdormere.kseneschal@gmail.com.

 http://links.ealdormere.ca/covid-reopening