Prince Titus and Princess Anna Leigh. Photo by THLady Amalie Reinhardt.
At Crown Tournament in Endless Hills yesterday, Duke Titus Scipio Germanicus bested Count Andreas Morgan in a hard-fought 3 out of 5 final round to win the Crown of Æthelmearc for his lady, Countess Anna Leigh. Count Andreas fought for the honor of his wife, Countess Kallista Morgunova.
The other semi-finalists were Earl Thomas Byron of Haverford fighting for the honor of his wife, Countess Ariella of Thornbury, and Duke Marcus Eisenwald, fighting for the honor of his wife, Countess Margerite Eisenwald.
The following policy and procedure document was previously posted on the Kingdom website by the Kindom Seneschale, Mistress Cori Ghora, and updated today.
Kingdom of Æthelmearc Youth Officer/Marshal Background Check and Mandated Reporter Training Policy and Procedures Including for Officers Active in Pennsylvania
Please note that these policies apply to all people working with minors in the State of Pennsylvania as warranted officers of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., whether the person volunteering lives in Pennsylvania or is coming in from another state to work at activities held in Pennsylvania on a regular basis (30 days or more aggregate through the calendar year).
This includes but is not limited to all warranted Youth Officers, Youth Marshals, Youth Fencing Marshals, Sparring Marshals, Local Knights Marshal and Group Fighting and Fencing Marshals who have minors fighting or fencing as adults at local practices in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Local Seneschals are encouraged but not required to take the Mandated Reporter Training and get required Background Check (BGC). Pennsylvania Local Seneschals should ensure at least one person in their group has completed all mandated requirements for working with minors.
Please Note: Completing the Background Check Process and taking the Online Mandated Reporter Training does not replace the Society-required “Two-Deep Rule.”
Any Society activity where there are minors present MUST HAVE TWO UN-RELATED ADULTS present at all times.
CURRENTLY WARRANTED OFFICERS
As of July 1, 2015, any currently warranted officer of the SCA, including marshals, are grandfathered in on the required Pennsylvania Background Check requirements. These officers have until July 1, 2016 to bring their Background Check certifications into compliance. Please follow the BGC procedure listed under NEW OFFICERS below for obtaining your Background Checks and getting reimbursed for the fees.
Current officers are, however, required to take the free, easy, online Mandated Reporter Training as soon as possible. All Officers must have their training certification in to the Kingdom by August 30, 2015 to maintain their warrant.
Please see the listing below for training links.
NEW OFFICERS WARRANTED 7/1/15 OR LATER
For any person applying to be a Warranted Youth Officer/Marshal:
Apply with your Kingdom Youth Officer/Marshal to be accepted for the Warranting Process.
For any person applying to serve as Knight Marshal or Marshal of Fence in Pennsylvania groups.
Apply with your Kingdom Earl Marshal to be accepted for the Warranting Process.
The first part of this application will include turning in an online Mandated Reporter Training Certificate of Completion.
If accepted, the Kingdom Officer will issue permission (Reimbursement Certificate signed by the Kingdom Officer approving candidate to request reimbursement for PA BGC fees.) to apply to the Kingdom for reimbursement of the costs for the Pennsylvania required background checks.
At this time, the Kingdom Youth Officer/Marshal will also issue to the candidate the paperwork required for the Society Background Checks. Fill this out and mail/fax it to the Society (Contact info on forms). All Warranted Youth Officers and Youth Marshals in AEthelmearc still require Society Background Checks. The PA BGC is in addition to this Society requirement.
The Kingdom Youth Officer/Marshal will notify the Kingdom Seneschal of the candidate’s approval for a Society BGC via email, including:
Membership number and expiration date
Applicant’s full legal name
SCA name
Address, with City, State and Zip
Email
Phone number
NO ONE MAY BE A WARRANTED OFFICER UNLESS THEY ARE A PAID MEMBER OF THE SCA, INC. IN GOOD STANDING
The Kingdom Seneschal will verify that the candidate may be approved for a Society BGC and shall forward that approval to the Society Corporate Officers.
The Kingdom and the individual will both receive outcomes of the Society BGC.
The Kingdom does not receive the PA BGC outcomes. The candidate must provide those to the Kingdom.
When the BGC results for Pennsylvania come back, the candidate may turn the results, any related material, the signed “Volunteer Clearance Exception” statement (if required), and the Reimbursement Certificate in to the Kingdom (Seneschal Office), with a Kingdom Reimbursement Form, to be compensated for the costs of the BGC. The Kingdom will only reimburse when receiving results and all supporting required documentation. http://www.aethelmearc.org/…/exchequ…/reimbursement_form.pdf
The Seneschal will scan required documents and distribute to the Kingdom Officers as required for the individual’s specific warrant. The Seneschal Office will maintain a list of all PA and Society BGC requests and outcomes.
The ‘originals’ of all documents will be stored with the Kingdom Archivist/Waiver Secretary.
Scanned signed documents stored in a static format (PDF) are acceptable as ‘originals’. Email is acceptable for sending these static documents to the Kingdom.
When the candidate has completed any additional requirements as required by the specific activity, they will then be warranted. Completion of Background Check requirements is a precursor to training as a Marshal or Youth Officer and does not guarantee warranting as an Officer.
Rosters of warranted officers with the PA Endorsement will be maintained in addition to the standard Roster of Officers by the applicable Kingdom Officers.
LINKS AND DIRECTIONS:
Pennsylvania will be waiving the $10 fee for its Criminal Background Check and Child welfare Background Check starting July 25, 2015
LINKS FOR PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS:
If you have been a continuous resident of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years:
Pennsylvania State Police Clearance ($10)
Click here to apply online OR
Click here to download the form for printing and mailing
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance ($10)
Click here to apply online OR
Click here to download the form for printing and mailing
Proof of completion of online Mandated Reporter training (free)
Click here to access the course through the University of Pittsburgh; takes 2-3 hours to complete. This document will show other options available for fulfilling the course requirement.
Signed “Volunteer Clearance Exception” statement
Click here to download the statement
The “Volunteer Exception Form” is definitely required for people who’ve lived in PA for 10+ years and don’t have to take the FBI Background Check. See the next-to-last paragraph on the first page here. Based on this same document, please get any required FBI checks through the Department of Human Services, not the Department of Education, as the SCA, Inc. is not a school. This also saves a bit on the cost ($25.75 vs. $27)
When forms are completed on line, other than the Volunteer Exception Form which MUST be printed be signed, all of the certifications come as electronic documents by email or as a certificate that displays at the end of the process. As such, it should not be necessary to print and scan those documents. Be aware of this fact when working with the systems as it can be easy to miss where option to print, especially where it shows up at the end of the Mandated Reporter course.
LINKS FOR NON-PA RESIDENTS AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS OF LESS THAN TEN CONTINUOUS YEARS:
If you have NOT been a continuous resident of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years:
Pennsylvania State Police Clearance ($10)
Click here to apply online OR
Click here to download the form for printing and mailing
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance ($10)
Click here to apply online OR
Click here to download the form for printing and mailing
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report-PDE ($27)
Click here to register online at the Cogent website. After you register online, you will need to visit a Cogent fingerprint facility. The Cogent website includes a map noting where these facilities are located throughout Pennsylvania. Based on this document, please get any required FBI checks through the Department of Human Services, not the Department of Education, as the SCA, Inc. is not a school. This also saves a bit on the cost ($25.75 vs. $27)
Proof of completion of online Mandated Reporter training (free)
Click here to access the course through the University of Pittsburgh; takes 2-3 hours to complete
When forms are completed on line, other than the Volunteer Exception Form which MUST be printed be signed, all of the certifications come as electronic documents by email or as a certificate that displays at the end of the process. As such, it should not be necessary to print and scan those documents. Be aware of this fact when working with the systems as it can be easy to miss where option to print, especially where it shows up at the end of the Mandated Reporter course.
NON- PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS:
If you have your state’s equivalent clearances (typically required for people in positions like teacher, coach, and medical personnel), then you may not need to obtain Pennsylvania clearances. However, you may be required to sign the “Volunteer Clearance Exception” statement noted above for PA residents.
If you do NOT have your state’s equivalent clearances, you may look into acquiring them in your state, or you may be able to obtain PA clearances using the list above for people who have not been continuous residents of PA for 10 years.
Thank you for your patience during these changing times.
Mistress Ekaterina Volkova steps down as Sylvan Signet. Photo by Lady Christina Mary Lowe, called Jinx.
I look back on my term as Sylvan Signet of the Glorious Kingdom of Æthelmearc in wonder. Through the position I have met and worked with some of the most amazing and talented artists in the Known World.
This started 5 years ago when Duncan von Halstern and Ilish O’Donovan said “Sure, let’s hire her” when my name was presented to them to take over for the Retiring Gillian. They have the first of my thanks. I also give thanks to all the Royalty that I have served under: Christopher and Morgen, Isenwulf and Rosalinda, Andreas and Kallista, Khalek and Branwyn, Maynard and Liadain, Timothy and Gabrielle, Tindal and Etain; and Titus Germanicus and Anna Leigh. I learned a great deal from all of them and hope that they too feel that a friendship has formed.
But I could not have done the job without my various deputies. To Marija Kotok, Giana di Aurelio, and Sthurrim Caithness, who at some point stood as my drop deads, I told you I wouldn’t do it. To my education deputies Giana and Yvianne, thank you for coordinating classes for Heralds and Scribes. To my Pennsic University Coordinator Matilda Bosvyle, you were a godsend, thank you for helping to increase the reputation of the scribes of our Kingdom. To Filippo and Anna Leigh, who were my fund raising deputies – because of your works we were able to host the known world at Pennsic. And to Giana and Juliana Rosalia Dolce di Sienna, my webministers, thank you for the work you did to make our website better.
Also a big thank you to my Heralds, Master Brandubh and Master Kamishima – thank you for being the Yang to my Yin in making court happen smoothly and being a sounding board when I needed.
To Kayleigh MacWhyte, Marguerite Louise Gingraix and Augusta Weyfare – fellow Signets who helped me at times throughout my terms.
A big thank you to Baroness Alexandra dei Campagnella, who agreed to take this job after me. I know I leave the office and its people in good hands.
And finally, a thank you to the ones I could not have done this without… my scribes. I am awe at the skill, talent, dedication and generosity that you have all shared. The scribes of Æthelmearc are the Kingdom’s true jewels. These fine folks have produced 1599 scrolls in the last 4.25 years. They worked under all kinds of pressure, usually short notice being the biggest. They were given an average of 37 days to make unique one of a kind scrolls (more often than not, it was closer to 15 or fewer days) to help make someone’s special moment even more special. These are the unsung heroes that deserve the praise and rewards for my term. No matter how long I am gone from the office I will always think of you as MY scribes. I can only hope that I was able to serve you well.
To the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, my home and the best Kingdom a person could hope to live and work in, I thank you for being you and appreciating the scribal arts as strongly as you do. Don’t forget to thank your scribe.
Greetings! I would like to introduce myself. I am THL Meadhbh inghean ui Bhaoighill, and I have recently taken on the office of Kingdom Equestrian Officer of Æthelmearc. I live in Sunderoak, and have been in the SCA for about six years now. I am a lifelong horse(wo)man, having been sat up on a horse for the first time at about six months of age. I bought the first horse I owned myself at age eleven, and I never looked back. I have spent a (long!) lifetime training/retraining horses and riders, showing hunters, fox hunting, trail riding, riding sidesaddle, and, more recently, carriage driving, as well as dabbling briefly in a few other things, such as polo and endurance riding. I currently own two horses – both bays – an Arabian gelding, Cien, and his half sister, an Anglo-Arabian mare, Mouse, who is my usual SCA mount.I actually joined the SCA without even realizing that there was much in the way of equestrian going on. As it happens, I love fiber arts (especially weaving), making cheese, making soap, leatherwork, and wood carving. After listening for many years to people telling me that since I did all of these things, I really needed to join “this organization called the SCA”, I finally did so, and was delighted to find whole bunches of people who like the same things I do!
Lady Aaliz de Gant, Deputy KEO
The equestrian program is going through some huge changes at present. We are holding experimental activities in the Kingdom, including wood lance jousting, mounted to ground combat, and now cut & thrust. I am hoping to see some growth in driving, as well as in mounted archery and driven archery. We are currently training several new marshals, and there are more riders showing an interest in becoming part of our group. I hope that I can keep the Æthelmearc equestrian program balanced and moving steadily ahead while I hold the reins. I would like to thank Mistress Gozen for all of her hard work and dedication to the program while she held the office. She’ll be a tough act to follow! But take heart, folks, she’s not going anywhere! Gozen will actually be taking on the job of Experimental Deputy, and she is in charge of the experimental activities that are happening in the Kingdom now. I would also like to welcome Lady Aaliz de Gant as Deputy KEO. She is officially in charge of keeping me on the straight and narrow, and I know she’ll do a wonderful job of that!
Meanwhile, there are equestrian practices going on throughout the Kingdom. Mistress Gozen is hosting practices at her farm. Sunderoak is sponsoring practices at my farm, and in Sylvan Glen, one of our new MIT’s, Lady Roana River of Sylvan Glen, is hosting practices with the very able assistance of Lady Alienor de Bathe. It’s really great to see that we now actually have enough practices going on that we have to schedule around each other to avoid conflicts.
The Æthelmearc Equestrian Championships will be held on the Fourth of July in Stormsport. We hope to welcome in- and out-of-kingdom riders to compete at the Championships. The King’s and Queen’s Champions, of course, will be chosen from among the Æthelmearc riders, but there will be an individual prize for the highest scoring horse and rider pair of the day, regardless of their citizenship.
Last year’s Kingdom Equestrian Championship – THL Meadhbh riding the course.
Æthelwald Proving Grounds will once again showcase equestrian activities June 19-21 in Sunderoak, and there will be more equestrian events to come as the year rolls on.
We hope to see many of you at these events, and I would like to thank all of the local groups and individuals who are making these practices and events possible.
The Kingdom Exchequer’s office is being reorganized to better serve the Kingdom. I would like to thank THL Alina Marie de Valenciennes for her years of service as the Regional Exchequer for Region 4. Taking effect immediately, Regional Exchequers are changing. Baron Tofi is stepping out of the role of Regional deputy to get ready for taking over the Kingdom office as of Pennsic.
Please begin sending reporting to your new Regional deputies. The NMS Secretary THL Etaine Eame is not changing, but she is taking over additional duties as the Region 1 deputy. Baron Bataar and Baroness Anastasie are moving to different regional deputiships and I would like to welcome Countess Etain and Lady Laurentia of Caladonia as new regional deputies.
As always, any changes in signature cards should start with an email to me of the Bank Account Request form, so that we can provide this to the Society. Please email to ae.exchequer@aethelmearc.org.
Thank you all for your continued service,
Dame Kateryna ty Isaf
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Unto the good populace of Æthelmearc do Titus, Rex, and Anna Leigh, Regina, give greetings!
As you are all aware, there has been a great deal of emotional and passionate discussion over the past week regarding the SCA Board of Directors’ decision not to implement a rapier peerage. The confusion over whether or not the BoD was advocating the knighting of fencers added further heat to the SCA community’s concerns.
We would like to share with you what has taken place among the Crowns of the Known World over the past week, and what possibilities We anticipate over the coming weeks and months.
First, we would like to thank David Keen (Master David of Caithness), our Kingdom Ombudsman on the Board, who has done his best to keep Us informed of the Board’s plans and thought processes. The Board has been flooded with letters from gentles all over the Known World, and is well aware of the sense of urgency felt by SCA members regarding resolution of this issue. They will be holding an executive session on Monday, Feb. 2, to discuss possible options. Since they have already rejected the proposal for a rapier-only peerage, that option is not on the table at this time. One of the options they are considering is an Omnibus peerage for all non-rattan martial arts – not only rapier, but also archery, thrown weapons, equestrian, siege, combat archery, etc. If you would like to send your opinions to the Board of Directors, please write to them this week, before the Feb. 2nd Executive Session, at comments@sca.org.
In the meantime, the Crowns of the Known World have also been discussing the issue. As you might imagine, getting 19 couples from all over North America, Australia, and Europe to come to agreement on a subject this controversial is not an easy task. One thing We are agreed upon is that all endeavors in the Society deserve a path to peerage. There is also a general consensus that if the BoD does not act on this matter very soon, then the Crowns may take the matter into Their own hands.
One of the barriers to knighting rapier fighters is the 1999 Seneschal’s ruling, referenced by the BoD in their announcement of Monday, January 19, barring the knighting of non-rattan fighters. We are hoping that the Board and Society Seneschal will not sanction any Crowns who choose to ignore that ruling. We know how contentious knighting someone for fencing would be, and it is not Our first choice. That said, the Crowns of at least four Kingdoms have indicated that they are prepared to take that step if the Board cannot come to agreement on a solution to this issue. We can only wait and see what the Board chooses to do, continue discussions with the other Crowns, and then make Our own decisions accordingly. We are talking to the Chivalry and White Scarves of Æthelmearc, and may poll them regarding their opinions on this matter since they are the ones who would be most directly affected.
We appreciate thoughtful, impassioned, and courteous discussions of this issue. Know that We are listening and want to find the best solution for all concerned.
In service,
Titus Scipio Germanicus and Anna Leigh
King and Queen of Æthelmearc
Unto the Board of Directors of the Society for Creative Anachronism do Prince Timothy and Princess Gabrielle of Æthelmearc send greetings,
We would like to thank our Ombudsman, Baron David of Caithness, for calling on Monday night, assuring us that the BoD was feverishly working towards a solution to the current crisis. We took great comfort in his comment that the BoD had decided to rework their peerage proposal in such a way as to include the other marshal aspects of our Society that do not currently fall under the umbrella of Rattan combat. We were further comforted and greatly surprised with his assurance that this adjusted proposal wouldn’t have to go through a lengthy process of evaluation, and would, in all probability, be ready for consideration at the April BoD meeting, which I (Timothy) look forward to attending.
Given that this solution may or may not be possible, we would like to take the time to offer our opinion regarding the current turmoil that is dividing our Society. The time to assess blame or mistakes is another day. For now, we need to determine some way to salvage what members we may retain from the chaos that surrounds us.
Whatever solution the BoD devises needs to be done rapidly. Our Society has been hemorrhaging members for years, and this tumultuous situation seems to be greatly increasing the pace of these losses. Exploratory committees and focus groups are not what is needed right now. Within the bounds prescribed by Corpora, we need action by the BoD with all possible haste.
We put forth that a minimum item in any possible solution that you design is that the Rapier community, a growing, thriving part of our Society must have a legitimate path towards a Peerage. Not a “service to the rapier community” Pelican, not a “research into the art of historical fencing” Laurel. In our opinion, explaining that a path to a Peerage already exists based on these two existing routes is a cop-out.
Based in part on the conversation on January 19 with Baron David, it seems that at least one of the BoD members voted against the Rapier Peerage proposal because it did not include a path for other pursuits such as Archery, Equestrian, Thrown Weapon and other martial activities. This should not be a problem. We have always favored erring on the side of giving one too many cookies out, rather than too few. It seems reasonable that if these martial arts are pursued to a level of excellence worthy of a Peerage, then why not combine them into the same category, whatever name it is assigned.
The second consideration is to determine where it should be included. Perhaps this is the most tragic part of the current debate. Whether by design or incompetence, the misinformation that was shared with the populace after the BoD meeting on Saturday January 17th has dramatically divided our Society. Prior to last Saturday’s meeting, hardly anyone was anticipating the option of including the Fencers into the Order of the Chivalry. Most were expecting that they were to be granted a separate Peerage unique to their endeavors. We know several couples in our Kingdom who are actually on opposite sides of this issue. In one couples case, BOTH of them have strongly implied they will take their ball and go home if the other side “wins”. I am sure that this is not a unique situation and extends to other Kingdoms. Opinions also vary greatly from those who we consider our family and close friends.
So what to do? We start with addressing the concept of a Rapier-only peerage. I (Timothy) love fencing. I am not very good at it, but I have had an absolute blast as I continue to grow in this new pursuit. The Rapier fighters have a sense of community that doesn’t really exist in the Heavy fighting world. As much as both Rapier and Heavy compete on the battlefield and on the list field, it just isn’t the same. I can’t really explain why, it just isn’t. If you also consider the additional martial aspects of each pursuit, it makes even less sense to add Rapier to the Chivalry. And aside from the historical differences between the two pursuits, you are asking a community with nearly fifty years of history to change on a dime. That seems a bitter pill to swallow. Personally, I can accept this change, but I am afraid that many of my brothers could not. I greatly fear the repercussions. Surely you have noticed the vitriol expressed over the last few days, and it does not just come from the Knights. For every, “I’ll turn my belt in if they knight a Fencer” comment, I read “the Knights need to get over themselves and suck it up” from a Laurel or a Pelican. That sentiment will not go away if you choose to add Fencers to the Chivalry, and until such time as this wound heals, there will be Kings who simply will not make a Rapier Knight. To us, that seems a tragic, if unintended result.
It seems to us that the best possible and only realistic solution is to create a new Peerage. Call it what you will (if it is Masters of Defense, no time will be wasted creating a name, heraldry etc.) and voila, the issue is settled, and we can all get back to studying Machiavelli, rather than emulating him.
Whatever you do, please do it with all possible haste, we don’t want to be sitting the throne while the Society we love and cherish crumbles down around our shoulders.
As always, we remain in service to Æthelmearc and the Society,
Prince Timothy and Princess Gabrielle
The Æthelmearc Gazette publishes the following missive at the request of their Highnesses.
Unto the Kingdom of Æthelmearc do Prince Timothy and Princess Gabrielle send greetings,
As most of you know by now, the SCA corporate Board of Directors has chosen to decline the addition of a fourth peerage for Rapier combatants. It had been our intention, if the BoD had passed the proposed MoD, to provide writs to five or six candidates at our Coronation, and task them with developing a ceremony that was fitting with their new station.
The BoD’s rational for this decision was mixed. Some on the BoD wanted the peerage to be “an omnibus” peerage for all things martial not heavy weapon in nature. Others felt that it should just “be included into the order of the Chivalry”. The Board then adjusted our governing documents, Corpora, to remove the obstacles in our laws preventing such action by the Crowns who were so inclined. If only all the practical obstacles could be moved by fiat, there would not be a problem.
Our initial decision upon receiving news of the BoD’s decision was, alright, let’s just knight a fencer or two, and the process will eventually take care of itself. We understand the repercussions of such actions to ourselves and would discuss it with our household members. However, we aren’t sure that a candidate would completely understand the path that lay in front of them. Even if our Order of the Chivalry were to welcome these new members with open arms (which we seriously doubt would be the case), we are confident that the Chivalry of the Known World would not. This would literally tear our Order apart, and trust me when I say by extension, the Kingdom would be torn apart. And, at the end of the day, for what? If we were to make a knight or two, in our opinion, it would be a hollow victory for the Rapier community. We have already gone from our plan of making five or six new Peers, the leading edge of a fine new Order, beloved by all, to one or two who wouldn’t be welcome into the Peerage that was “forced” to induct them. In the reasonable future, it is unlikely that any Monarchs would add more fencers to the Order. We would have created at best two Peers without a home.
It seems then that the only choice open to us is to force the hand of the Board of Directors. We propose creating a de facto peerage for the Rapier community, by Kingdom law and custom equivalent in status to the three Peerages, until such time as the BoD sees fit to correct their oversight. If we treat these new Peers as such, encourage other Kingdoms to follow suit, and get enough of the other Kingdoms to do so, the BoD will be forced to grant these “Peers” true status as Peers.
We plan to task our Kingdom officers with developing a proposal for Kingdom Law, developing Heraldry for the Order, and plan all the other details to make this proposal a reality. We will begin contacting the other Royalty to see if they will join us in forcing the BoD’s hand. For now, until someone more clever and/or more Heraldically inclinded comes up with a better name, we will just title this new Order “The Guardians of Æthelmearc”
As always, we remain in service to Æthelmearc,
Timothy and Gabrielle
