ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 2-15-07

 

Those present:  Darlene Freemon, Carol Burhans, Donna Miles, Bonnie McIntyre, Randall Ugrovics, Billy Warren, Rick McAdams, Thomas Ray, A. J. Mashburn, Her Majesty Queen Ostara, Mary Nicely, Owen Miles, Cathy Myers, Andy Betterton, Jan Roblin

 

  1. To a round of applause, Billy Warren introduced the two newest members of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Renaissance Faire:  Rick McAdams and Bonnie McIntyre.

     
  2. Darlene Freemon:
    1. Announced that these nine members of the Roundtable will be part of the group of 45 people who will go to Italy in April:  Becky Bassham, Sue Bevis, Carol Burhans, Darlene Freemon, Rick Freemon, Bonnie McIntyre, Trenelia Malone, Donna Miles and Jan Roblin; and
    2. Distributed copies of the itinerary for the group’s visit to Italy.

       
  3. Billy Warren encouraged everyone to visit our MySpace page to view the three-minute video on the Faire that was created by Steve Trash, the magician.  William Freeman has posted it on both MySpace and You Tube!  Billy also stated that Vince Brewton, our webmaster, has posted it as a link on the Faire’s website.

 

Everyone who has seen the short video agrees that it is professional quality and a great advertisement for the Faire.

 

  1. In the absence of Susan Key, a date was not set for the decorating of our information tent.  This will be discussed at a future meeting of the Roundtable.

     
  2. Billy Warren:
    1. Distributed copies of a letter from Mayor Bobby Irons dated 1-17-07 in which the Mayor thanked Billy for the proposal regarding the construction of a Medieval/Renaissance Village at Veterans Park and stated that the proposal would be given to Dr. David Bronner at the Retirement Systems office in Montgomery;
    2. Distributed copies of a letter to Mayor Irons from Nicolo Mattina, a journalist in Firenze (Florence, Italy), in which Signor Mattina requested information about Florence, Alabama, and the Renaissance Faire; and
    3. Distributed copies of a document which he (Billy) was asked by Mayor Irons to write in response to a portion of Signor Mattina’s request (see 5.b above).

       
  3. Jim Lake (in absentia) announced that he is developing a history of the Alabama Renaissance Faire.  He requests that pertinent information be sent to him electronically at this address:  jimlake@hotmail.com.  The roundtable noted its appreciation for Jim’s plan to chronicle the history of the Faire since the Feast and the Faire are definitely an important part of the story of Florence.

     
  4. Billy Warren announced that the Board of Directors, at its meeting on 1-25-07, voted unanimously to bestow upon Jim Holland the title “Royal Chancellor of the Exchequer” because of Jim’s years of pro bono work as the Faire’s treasurer.  There will be a ceremony at either the Feast or the Faire to make this honor known to the world.  Carol Burhans suggested that a chain made of coins of the realm be created to use in the ceremony.  Everyone agreed that her idea is excellent:  a chain of coins for the keeper of the exchequer!

     
  5. In the absence of Don Green and William Freeman, Billy Warren reported that these two Roundtable members were received enthusiastically by the entire student body at Harlan Elementary School on January 18, 2007.  Don and William’s presentation was informative and engaging; William even had a group of students on stage doing a Medieval-Renaissance dance!  The Roundtable expressed its sincere appreciation to them for representing it so well.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of an email from Jim Sweetland, a vendor from Wisconsin who specializes in books, prints, maps and educational activity kits related to the Middle Ages/Renaissance.  The Roundtable expressed pleasure over this news because we have wanted such a vendor for many years.

     
  7. Billy Warren stated that, at some point, the minutes of all Roundtable and Board meetings (all minutes beginning in July, 1987, are currently on file) will become part of the archival collection of Florence.  He asked for support from the group for the establishment of a Florence-Lauderdale Archival Center, preferably in a portion of the First Southern Bank building which was recently purchased jointly by the Florence City Council and the Lauderdale County Commission.

     
  8. Billy Warren circulated the collection of photographs taken during the 2006 Faire by our “official” photographer, Glenn Bevis.

     
  9. In a short brainstorming session, these ideas were generated for the 2007 Faire:
    1. Be on the alert for openings of movies related to the Medieval-Renaissance era so that groups from the Roundtable might appear in costume;
    2. Resurrect the tunnels for children created by a series of appliance crates lying on their side (perhaps as a fundraiser for a local group);
    3. Host costume contests for children and adults at both the Feast and the Faire;
    4. Create a large cardboard castle for children to decorate by gluing on buttons, sequins, etc.;
    5. Invite specialty clubs from local high schools (e.g., Spanish, French, History) to create booths at the Faire to reflect the history of the Middle Ages/Renaissance; and
    6. Perhaps work in conjunction with the Children’s Museum of the Shoals for a fundraising activity (e.g., sidewalk art) in keeping with the theme of the Faire.

 

More discussion regarding these and other ideas will take place at the March meeting of the Roundtable.

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that the staff at the Children’s Museum of the Shoals is now using the Renaissance costumes which Roundtable members made and presented to the museum.  The costumes are used at birthday parties held in the throne room there.

     
  2. In a drawing, both Darlene Freemon and Randall Ugrovics won small banners from the 2006 Faire commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Alabama Renaissance Faire.