ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 10-04-07

 

Those present:  Mary Nicely, John Holcomb, Rick McAdams, Jim Lake, Thomas Ray, William Freeman, Karen ugrovics, randall ugrovics, Lee Freeman, Carol Burhans, Chris Solid, Anne Iaria, John Iaria, Ralph Bowersox, Sue Bevis, Aubrey Gaskins, Cathy Wood, Don Green, Amber Moore, Susan Key, Bonnie McIntyre, Jan Roblin, Billy Warren, Leah Brewer, Christy Garner, Donna Miles Debbie Martin

 

  1. The group gave a round of applause for Cathy Wood who arranged for Jim Hannon, a photographer from the Times-Daily, to make a picture of Roundtable members in full costumes as a publicity shot for the upcoming Feast.

     
  2. Christy Garner agreed to be a seamstress at the costume-making workshop on Saturday, October 13.  Donna Miles reminded everyone to bring these items to the workshop:  thread, measuring tapes, power strips, extension cords, scissors.

     
  3. Ann Iaria announced that Dr. David Bronner is in town today to celebrate the 100,000th guest at the Marriott Hotel.  She invited Roundtable members to come to the Marriott this afternoon in costume.

     
  4. Lee Freeman:
    1. Stated that Leah Brewer, William Freeman and he will install the Renaissance Faire exhibit in the Pocket Museum on East Tuscaloosa Street on Friday, October 5, at 4:30 p.m.;
    2. Invited Roundtable members to join him at the library on Sunday, October 7, 2:00 p.m., for an “Ivanhoe” film; and
    3. Stated that Roundtable members have been invited to make a presentation at a Cub Scout meeting in Muscle Shoals on Monday evening, October 22.

       
  5. Billy Warren reminded everyone that tickets to the Feast are selling very fast; therefore, they should be purchased quickly.

     
  6. There was a round of hearty applause for Jan Roblin and Leah Brewer for the wonderful castle that they created for children to decorate at the Faire with buttons, tokens, feathers, sequins, etc.

     
  7. Billy Warren asked everyone to bring the buttons, sequins, jewels, feathers, etc. to the Roundtable meeting next week (Thursday, October 11) so we can determine whether we have a sufficient quantity.

     
  8. Billy Warren reported that the UNA Circle K Club members are creating the maze from appliance crates for children to enjoy at the Faire.  Proceeds will go to the Children’s Museum of the Shoals.

     
  9. Billy Warren reminded everyone that Roundtable members and their friends have been invited to appear at First Friday in downtown Florence on Friday, October 5, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  The swordfighters will perform on the stage at the intersection of Court and Mobile Streets at 6:30 p.m.  There will be a table for the Roundtable to sell the jewelry that Rick McAdams has made.  All Roundtable members are encouraged to appear in costume.

     
  10. Billy Warren reminded everyone that Roundtable members have agreed to appear in costume at schools according to this schedule:
    1. McBride Elementary School – Monday, October 22; and
    2. Florence High School – Wednesday, October 24.

       
  11. Amber Moore;
    1. Announced that the collection of framed Alabama Renaissance Faire posters is now on display in the lobby at the Marriott Convention Center and will be there through November 30;
    2. Reported that an advertising banner for the Alabama Renaissance Faire will appear on AL.com through a $2,500 advertising package that the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau has been awarded; and
    3. Announced that the State Legislators who are members of the State Tourism Committee will be at UNA on Thursday, October 11, and that Billy Warren has been asked to make a presentation regarding the Alabama Renaissance Faire at that gathering.

       
  12. Aubrey Gaskins stated that specific information about the Roundtable’s own feast on Thursday, October 25, will be sent immediately via e-mail by Marcia Austin.  Tickets to the feast will be available at the Roundtable meeting on Thursday, October 11.

     
  13. Donna Miles reported that Heather Batey, a singer whose specialty is Early Music (Medieval-Renaissance), will perform in a formal manner at the Feast and will then go to various tables performing informally.  She is a music teacher in Birmingham.

     
  14. In a drawing, Lee Freeman won a book of poems and Ralph Bowersox won a ceramic gargoyle.

     
  15. Billy Warren distributed copies of the menu that Chef Jim Matterer will prepare for our Feast.  Jim has already given the menu a test run at an event in West Virginia.

     
  16. Sue Bevis agreed to create the layout for the Feast so everyone working at the Coliseum will know the plans.

     
  17. Jim Lake agreed to be in charge of lighting for the Feast.

     
  18. There was a round of applause for Susan Key for the great job she does in laying out the park for the Faire.  The huge percentage of returning vendors who request the site that they had last year reflects the excellent job that Susan does.

     
  19. Leah Brewer circulated a copy of a brief advertisement for this year’s Faire that will be inserted inside every food bag at Chick-fil-A.  The Roundtable expressed great appreciation for Leah’s willingness to assist the Faire in this way.