ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 10-12-06

 

Those present:  Perri Scott-Hawthorne, Donna Miles, Bonnie McIntyre, William Freeman, Billy Warren, Darlene Freemon, Jim Lake, Lee Freeman, Ralph Bowersox, Paul Daniel, John Holcomb, Aubrey Gaskins, Carol Burhans, Susie Rickard, Jan Roblin, Her Majesty Queen Freya, John Iaria, Chris Solis, Mary Nicely, Noelle Smith, A. J. Mashburn, Larry Kimbrough, Mandi Green, Thomas Ray, Noelle Smith

 

  1. The group welcomed back Thomas Ray who has been a member of the Roundtable in the past.

     
  2. Billy Warren announced that the Roundtable has placed a book entitled A Book of Courtly Love in the public library in memory of Lewis Kimbrough, the late father of Larry Kimbrough.

     
  3. Billy Warren reminded everyone that the article about this year’s Feast and the accompanying photograph of 20 Roundtable members in full regalia will appear in tomorrow’s Times-Daily (Friday, October 13).

     
  4. William Freeman reported that publicity for the David Simpich marionette show is being posted in as many places as possible.  He further stated that telephone calls are being fielded daily about the show.  Billy Warren stated that he has sent a four-page summary of the plot of “A Pilgrims Progress” to all English teachers in Florence City Schools in grades 5-12 as a way of helping them to encourage their students to attend the exciting show.  Billy then distributed copies of the summary to all members of the Roundtable present at today’s meeting.

     
  5. Billy Warren announced that a special written invitation to the feast at UNA on October 27 is being mailed to each Roundtable member who is set to attend.  The staff members in the UNA Foundation office are preparing the mailing, a really thoughtful gesture on the part of UNA.

     
  6. Lee Freeman complimented Terry Pace’s lecture on Joan of Arc on the Silver Screen which took place last Sunday afternoon (October 8) at the public library.  The presentation was extremely well done.  Lee encouraged all members of the Roundtable to attend Jan Roblin’s lecture this Sunday (October 15) on Renaissance Art.

     
  7. Billy Warren thanked everyone who participated in First Friday in downtown Florence last Friday (October 6), especially these Roundtable members who appeared in costume:  Her Majesty Queen Freya, Jan Roblin, John Iaria, and Na’Koal Springer.  He noted that Diana Tidwell, a former Roundtable member, was also in costume and was selling her handmade costumes.

     
  8. Billy Warren distributed copies of an e-mail from Camilla Burcham, the librarian at Harlan Elementary School.  It states that the program at Harlan on Thursday, November 2, begins at 1:30 p.m. and is scheduled for 45 minutes.  Billy stated that others on the Roundtable should feel free to join these who plan to perform there:  Darlene Freemon, Jan Roblin, William Freeman, John Holcomb, Don Green, Carol Burhans.

     
  9. Aubrey Gaskins circulated a list for people to sign up for the Roundtable’s own feast at Stephano’s in Town Plaza Shopping Center in Sheffield on Thursday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m.  Cost is $15 plus gratuity per person.

     
  10. In a discussion about the Roundtable’s creating a quilt to commemorate the Renaissance Faire’s 20th anniversary, these ideas were set forth:
    1. We might use the 2006 tee shirt as the center panel of the quilt and surround it with squares made of the 2005 tee shirt.
    2. We might use scraps of our own costumes to make the quilt top in a “crazy quilt” pattern (perhaps we might even sign the scraps).
    3. Photographs of previous years’ posters/tee shirts might be scanned into a computer and ironed onto scraps of fabrics for the quilt top.
    4. The quilt might really become a tapestry/wall hanging which we can use as part of the decorations at the Feast.

       

There will be further discussion about the quilt at a future Roundtable meeting.  The group expressed gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Freya for making the original suggestion that we create a 20th anniversary commemorative quilt.

 

  1. Because of Her Majesty Queen Freya’s hurt foot, the “invasion” of the Marriott was postponed; it will be discussed further at the Roundtable’s meeting on Thursday, October 19.

     
  2. Lee Freeman:
    1. Circulated a multi-page bibliography of the Medieval/Renaissance holdings at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library (a very impressive collection!); and
    2. Encouraged everyone to visit the Renaissance-related exhibits on both floors at the public library, especially the exhibit of Sonny Phillips’s collection of Prince Valiant-related memorabilia.

       
  3. Her Majesty Queen Freya announced that the Marriott is “comping” two rooms for Jim Matterer and his group for Saturday evening, October 21.  A huge thank-you to Her Majesty.

     
  4. There was a hearty round of applause for Susie Rickard because the advertisement for the Feast and the Faire on Channel 59 began Monday, October 9.

     
  5. Darlene Freemon distributed copies of the Morgan la Fey image for the sixth coin of the realm in the Arthurian Legends series.  There was resounding applause for Rick Freemon’s excellent work.  Darlene stated that the coin is currently being created by the mint in California.

     
  6. These people will operate sewing machines at the costume-making workshop this Saturday (October 14):  Susan Key, Carol Burhans, Bonnie McIntyre, Carol Burhans, Don Green, Perri Scott-Hawthorne, Keith Hawthorne.  These people will assist in other ways:  William Freeman, Lee Freeman Donna Miles, John Iaria, Billy Warren, Darlene Freemon (and her students), Her Majesty Queen Freya, Larry Kimbrough, Thomas Ray, Paul Daniel.

     
  7. Billy Warren announced that Aubrey Gaskins has expressed his desire to step down as the Ambassador of Goodwill from Florence, Alabama, to its sister city – Florence, Italy.  At a called meeting on Thursday, October 5, of the Renaissance Faire Board of Directors, it was unanimously decided that Darlene Freemon should be asked to serve as Aubrey’s replacement.  Darlene has accepted the role!  There was enthusiastic applause for Aubrey for the wonderful way that he has represented the Faire and the city of Florence and for Darlene for accepting this important post.

 

Billy stated that a ceremony to install Darlene as the new Ambassador of Goodwill will be incorporated into Mayor Irons’s official opening of the Faire on Saturday, October 28, at 1:00 p.m.

 

  1. William Freeman circulated a copy of a short article and an accompanying photograph advertising the costume-making workshop which appeared in today’s edition of the Times-Daily.

     
  2. Billy Warren displayed a copy of an article and an accompanying photograph which appeared in the Times-Daily on Sunday, October 8.  It states that eight of the 50 events in Alabama which will be highlighted in the promotion, “2007:  The Year of the Arts in Alabama,” are in the Shoals.  One of the eight is the Alabama Renaissance Faire!  Needless to say, everyone was very pleased.  It’s especially meaningful for us since the honor comes in the 20th anniversary year of the Faire.

     
  3. Billy Warren reported that the 2006 tee shirts are currently being printed.  At least some of them will be available for sale at the Feast.

     
  4. Darlene Freemon distributed copies of a flyer describing Renaissance Week at Florence High School (October 23-27).  She reviewed the event and the schedule of the week.  Members of the Roundtable will visit the school throughout the day on Wednesday, October 25.

     
  5. In a drawing, both Noelle Smith and Susie Rickard won special Harry Potter bookmarks.

     
  6. A group of Roundtable members agreed to visit with the students at McBride Elementary School in Muscle Shoals on Monday, October 23.  They will go at various times during the day.