ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 2-17-05

Those present:  Ann Iaria, Ralph Bowersox, Mandi Green, Lee Freeman, Mary Nicely, William Freeman, Billy Warren, Susie Rickard, Carol Burhans, Sue Bevis, Brittney Letsinger, Spencer Letsinger, Her Highness Queen Salana Letsinger, Martin Dean

1. Billy Warren introduced Susie Rickard, the newest member of the Roundtable.  She will represent Northwest-Shoals Community College at the request of the College’s new president that NW-SCC be more involved in community events.  Welcome, Susie!
   
    
2. Billy Warren circulated the Master List of Roundtable members and asked everyone to make updates on it if needed.  Following today’s meeting, updates will go directly to the computer and e-mailed to all members.
   
    
3. Billy Warren congratulated Carol Burhans for being elected to the Alabama Renaissance Faire’s Board of Directors and welcomed her to the Board.
   
    
4. Ann Iaria agreed to check on the cost of renting booth space at Big Spring Jam in Huntsville this fall.  If it is affordable, the Renaissance Faire will rent a space to gain publicity for the Feast and Faire.
   
    
5. William Freeman reported that he is already communicating with potential entertainers, including some that might be considered as artists-in-residence in Florence City Schools as well as performers for the Feast and Faire.
   
    
6. Billy Warren reported that the Roundtable received a thank-you note from Rick McAdams for the book that the Roundtable placed in the public library in memory of his late mother.
   
    
7. Lee Freeman:
   1. Announced that our chef, Jim Matterer, has taped another segment with the Food Channel, but we don’t yet know the date it will be aired;
   2. Stated that Jim Matterer and his assistants are working on an Italian menu for this year’s Feast and should have a preliminary description for us soon;
   3. Reminded everyone that Jim Matterer refers to his association with the Alabama Renaissance Faire on his web site (www.godecookery.com) and encouraged everyone to visit it; and
   4. Distributed copies of a flyer advertising a program entitled “The Struggle for Freedom: African-American Experiences Before Civil Rights” which he will present at the public library on Tuesday, February 22, at 2 p.m.
      
       
8. Billy Warren reported that, at its January meeting, the Board of Directors:
   1. agreed that we should recommit the Feast and Faire to educating the public about the Medieval-Renaissance Era;
   2. agreed that we should resurrect the emphasis on various European countries (e.g., Spain, France, England, Italy, Russia, Poland, etc.) that we did for several years, inviting school and college groups to create displays, etc.;
   3. decided that we will create an attractive information booth that will represent our Faire information booth that will represent our Faire in a more authentic, professional fashion; and
   4. agreed that we will encourage the formation of a local troupe similar to the one from Tennessee that we have hired and contract with it to perform at the Faire – but it will not be formed under the aegis of the Alabama Renaissance Faire.
      
       
9. Mandi Green reported that Don has designed the walls for the Feast using canvas and PVC pipe.  Her Highness Queen Salana volunteered to help with the painting of faux stones on the canvas.  She will talk to Don about a date and time for this to take place.
   
    
10. Billy Warren reported that Jim Lake underwent heart surgery yesterday (Wednesday, February 16) and that various people are working toward securing a place for Jim to go for a few days after he is dismissed from the hospital since Jim has no family in the Shoals area.
    
     
11. Billy Warren reported that he has written a follow-up letter to Simpson Russell, the liaison between the local RSA project and Dr. David Bronner, who is the CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA). In the letter, Billy reminded Simpson that we are still very interested in the creation of a working Medieval village at Veterans Park.  Billy noted that two articles in recent issues of the Times-Daily indicate that the Park Authority (the entity composed of the Mayors of the four largest towns in the Shoals and the chairmen of the Colbert and Lauderdale County Commissions) seems to be bowing toward the desire of Dr. Bronner regarding the development of Veterans Park.  We will continue to monitor the situation and to represent the Renaissance Faire’s ideas at every opportunity.
    
     
12. In a drawing for Volume I in the Harry Potter series of books, Her Highness Queen Salana was the winner.
    
     
13. Billy Warren distributed copies of a flyer advertising the fourth annual Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire to be held March 5-6, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day, in Pensacola, Florida.