This is just a quick update to keep you informed of our progress tp Pennsic 49.
Over the last month the Pennsic 49 senior executive has met with the Crowns and Seneschals of the East, Midrealm, and Æthelmearc. We have discussed specific issue regarding the planning and running of Pennsic 49 and are discussing options and figuring out ways to run it safely, albeit maybe a little differently. Those plans are still under consideration, discussion, and planning, but we are still moving forward to our well-published final decision date of May 30.
I am aware that the Known World Seneschals have met with the SCA Inc. Executive Board over a range of issues prior to the full SCA Inc. Board meeting, I think some time in April. I am not aware, nor do I need to know the specifics of that meeting, however we were asked and did supply representation at the meeting to field any Pennsic War-specific questions.
We are continuing to plan for Pennsic 49 in 2021 until either 30 May 2021 or our hand is forced to make a decision sooner.
The good news is the the COVID-19 overlay is getting better in the USA, UK, and parts of Europe week by week. I pray it keeps going that way with the vaccines roll out.
I know this is not the news many need right now, but I’m letting you all know so that you can plan accordingly and be as aware as we are. Sorry I can’t say more.
As promised, I am sending this message out to keep you all informed as to how we are progressing to Pennsic 49. The reason for the update is so that you are able to walk the decision making path with me in a clear and transparent manner and know the rationale behind any decisions we, the Pennsic Management Team are making.
First of all I want you to all know that we are still planning for Pennsic 49 in 2021. I want to make it very clear that we are “planning,” not holding Pennsic 49 next week, as we are still months away from either the Pennsic 49 decision date at the end of May or the Pennsic War event itself.
Let me explain for those that have never seen behind the running of a major event like Pennsic… it does take a lot of planning and organisation. We can’t just start organising it at the end of June and get it all in place. The Pennsic War Management Staff and myself as Mayor of Pennsic start the process two years out from the Pennsic War we are running. I won’t go through all the boring administrative details, but it is a long and well managed process.
However, you need to be assured that I will adopt the same fact-based and health-informed approach to the planning for Pennsic 49 this year, as I did last year. I fully understand the concerns you all have about any large event at this time, but I still need to continue the planning required well ahead of the event itself.
The same timeline will be adopted again for this year as it was for last year and we have a decision date which at this stage is at the end of May 2021, give or take a week. We still have just under 6 months till Pennsic 49, and I am prepared to support the PSG and deliver the hard call if need be, the same as I did last year. Note the SCA Inc have currently suspended all SCA events until May 30, 2021. Those types of decisions are out of my control.
I also want you to understand that we are much further ahead this year regarding our knowledge of COVID-19 than we were at the same time last year. And yes, we are fully aware that mutant strains are evolving and that vaccines are being rolled out. However, these things need to be observed and evaluated over the next few months and consideration given as to what effect they are having on the COVID 19 health overlay, nation and worldwide. This in itself will form a large part of our decision-making package and like last year will always be based on current, up to date, CDC plus local State and County Health information.
I will not endanger people or risk Pennsic 49 becoming a “Super-spreader Event” just for the sake of having an SCA event. I am fully aware that people have concerns. At this stage I again reiterate that we are “planning” for Pennsic 49, not running Pennsic 49 right now. You all trusted me last year and those of you that know me, should know that I have no “ego” about being Mayor of Pennsic 49. I view myself as the custodian of the Pennsic War event, which encompasses the safety of attendees, organizers, staff and public community that surrounds the Pennsic War. I will not risk any these for the sake of swinging a stick, camping with friends and having a few pints around a campfire.
I hope this update helps you all understand the process we are going through. I will keep you updated with future posts when new information is available.
Did you know that our Kingdom Webminister, Baroness Amalie, provides a full list of Æthelmearc-centric activities at the Pennsic War! It’s called the Periscope, and it’s available right on the Kingdom Website!
And… Maestro Filip of the Marche provides a link to his Printable Pennsic Planners, so helpful for many, many years, and customizable with different covers! Thanks, Flip!
Is your head spinning with all there is to do at Pennsic? Not sure how you’ll keep it all straight? The Gazette is here to help! Here’s the third in a series of articles of Æthelmearc Kingdom Happenings at Pennsic.
Their Majesties have provided the following times during which They will conduct Their Royal Courts. Times provided in parentheses are for the activity listed – exact Court times may vary. More Royal Courts may be added on site.
Debatable Lands Dinner – Æthelmearc Royal, Sun Aug 2nd (5 – 7:30pm)
Castle Battle – East Kingdom Battlefield Pavilion, Mon Aug 3rd (10 – 11:30am) (Read more)
Rapier Village Battle – On the field, Tues Aug 4th (1 – 3pm)
Æthelmearc Kingdom Court – Great Hall, 6pm, Tues Aug 4th
10 Man Melee Battle – On the field, Wed Aug 5th (3 – 5pm)
Known World Choir Concert – Performing Arts Pavilion, Thurs Aug 6th (6:30 – 8:15pm)
Æthelmearc Party – Æthelmearc Royal, Thurs Aug 6th (8:30pm – 10:30pm)
Field Battle – On the field, Fri Aug 7th (10am – 1pm)
Thank you to Her Majesty, Queen Gabrielle, for providing content for this article. ~Hilda
Is your head spinning with all there is to do at Pennsic? Not sure how you’ll keep it all straight? The Gazette is here to help! Here’s the first in a series of articles on Æthelmearc Kingdom Happenings at Pennsic.
Æthelmearc Royal, the Kingdom encampment at Pennsic (block N04), is much more than just the home our our Royalty and their staff; it’s a hub of Kingdom activity – gatherings, order meetings, parties…. We also show our famous Æthelmearc hospitality by hosting Known World functions, the Medieval Food Lab, a robust Scribal Track, and this year, the A&S War Point!
Below is a list of the meetings, gatherings, and classes at Æthelmearc Royal. The schedule in the Hospitality tent on site will guide you to which area within Royal each activity takes place.
Kingdom Order meetings
Millrind Meeting* Saturday August 1, 9-10am
Pelican Meeting* Saturday August 1, 10am-noon
Laurel Meeting* Saturday August 1, 1-3pm
Fleur Meeting* Saturday August 1, 3-4pm
White Scarf Meeting* Saturday August 1, 4-5pm
Scarlet Battery Mtg* Sunday August 2, 2-3pm
Gage Meeting* Thursday, August 6, 2-3pm
Chivalry Meeting* Thursday, August 6, 3-4pm
Officer, etc meetings
Exchequer Meeting Sunday August 2, 11am-noon
Knowne World Chatelaine Meeting Wednesday August 5, 9:30-10:30am
Equestrian Marshal Training Wednesday August 5, 3-4pm
Knowne World Equestrian Meeting Wednesday August 5, 4-5pm
Parties
Haakon Oaktall Anniversary Bardic Wednesday, July 29 8:30-10:30pm
Debatable Lands Baronial Dinner Sunday, August 2 5-7:30pm
KW Masters of Defence Reception* Sunday, August 2 8-9:30pm
Knowne World Hatter’s Tea Monday, August 3 11:30am-1pm
Knowne World Scribal Tea Monday, August 3 1-4pm
Ladies of the Rose Happy Hour* Monday, August 3 3-6pm
Hrefna Ulfarinsvindottir Pelican Vigil Monday, August 3 6:30-9:30pm
Seven Pearls Baronial Dinner* Wednesday, August 5 6-10pm
Kingdom Family/Youth Party Thursday, August 6, 6:30-8pm
Kingdom Party (Seven Pillars of Virtue) Thursday, August 6, 8:30-10:30pm
Official Pennsic Activity
Pennsic A&S War Point Wednesday, August 5, 9am-5pm
Food Lab Schedule
You can read more about the Food Lab here. All classes are registered with the Pennsic University (Check it out! You can look at all the University classes ahead of time!)
Thursday July 30:
12PM to 3PM – Oven Building Day 1
Friday July 31:
12PM to 3PM – Oven Building Day 2
Saturday August 1:
12PM to 3PM – Oven Building Day 3
Sunday, August 2: 10AM to 12PM – Hard Cheese Made Easy
2PM to 4PM – Pirogi
Tuesday, August 4: Baking Day
12AM to 2PM – Sourdough Bread
3PM to 5PM – Islamic Bread
Wednesday, August 5: 10AM to 3PM OPEN FOOD LAB
Assuming the weather holds and the oven lasts, they will also be firing the oven each morning for baking. If you have something that you’d like to get into the oven one morning, please make sure to touch base with Baron Janos (caseyodonovan@yahoo.com) the day prior so they can make sure there is room enough for everyone.
Scribal Track Schedule
All classes are registered with the Pennsic University (Again, check it out!), where you can find class descriptions and other details. Classes are an hour unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday July 29:
11AM – How to Draw Manuscript Flora
1PM – Mixing Paints for Scribes: Shading and Highlights
1PM to 5PM – Scribal Playtime
Thursday July 30:
10AM to 12PM – Beginning Illumination: Loving the Dot
1PM – Mixing Paints for Scribes: Shading and Highlights
1PM to 5PM – Scribal Playtime
Friday July 31:
10AM to 11:30AM – Cadels and Flourishes for Late Period Scrolls
10AM to 12PM – Beginning Illumination: Loving the Dot
1PM – Cutting a Quill Pen
1PM to 3PM – Taking the Brush: Japanese Calligraphy
1PM to 5PM – Scribal Playtime
Saturday August 1:
10AM – Scribal Wordsmithing 101
11AM – Calligraphy 101
11AM -Creating Armigerous Scrolls Without Tears
1PM – Script Analysis
2PM – How to Draw Manuscript Flora
3pm to 7PM – Scribal Playtime
4PM – Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta: A Masterful Model
Sunday, August 2: 10AM to 12PM – Beginning Scribal Track
1PM – Creating a Sampler of Medieval Pigments
2PM – Beginning Celtic Knotwork
4PM – Creating a Flourished Hand by Bocskay
Monday, August 3:
10AM to 12PM – Beginning Scribal Track
10AM – The Calf-to-Codex Project
11AM – Gilding the Scroll
1PM to 4PM – Known World Scribal Tea
4PM to 6PM – I Spy: Calligraphy
Tuesday, August 4: Baking Day
10AM to 12PM – Beginning Scribal Track
10AM – Taking the Pain Out of Period Pigments
11AM – Creating Pigments – Period Style
1PM – Intro to Celtic Knotwork: 5-Dot Technique
2PM – Script Analysis
2PM – Scroll Personalization Without Modernization
Wednesday, August 5: 10AM to 12PM – Beginning Scribal Track
10AM – Taking the Pain Out of Period Pigments
11AM – Creating Pigments – Period Style
1PM – Advanced Celtic Knotwork Class
1PM – At a Loss for Words
2PM – Calligraphy 101
2PM to 4PM – Drawing with a Proportional Scale
3PM – Cutting a Quill Pen
4PM – Beginner Russian Calligraphy
Thursday, August 5:
10AM – How to Draw Manuscript Flora
10AM – Heralds and Scribes – Oh My!
11AM – A Droll Challenge: Itty Bitty People
1PM to 5PM – Scribal Bootcamp
*Event not open to the public
Thank you Mistress Ts’vee’a, Maestro Philip, Baron Janos, and the Pennsic University Thing for providing content for this article. ~Hilda
