ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 2-21-08

 

Those present:  Aubrey Gaskins, Perri Scott-Hawthorne, His Majesty King Gregory of Bowling, Debbie Martin, Bonnie McIntyre. William Freeman, Cathy Wood, Lee Freeman, Ann Iaria, Sue Bevis, Jan Roblin, Rick McAdams, Chris Solis, Lucy Howard, Carol Burhans, Karen Ugrovics, Randall Ugrovics, Gage Ugrovics, Billy Warren

 

  1. Billy Warren, on behalf of the Roundtable, extended sympathy to the families of Larry Kimbrough (aka Zolin the Wizard) and Trish Parrish who, along with her husband, Bill, has been a vendor in a booth next to our Information Tent for many years.  Billy announced that the Roundtable has placed the book, Living History by Phillip J. C. Elliott-Wright, in the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library in memory of Larry.  A book will also be placed there in memory of Trish.

     
  2. His Majesty King Gregory:
    1. Reported that he has already appeared this year in costume as part of Children’s Reading Night at the Winfield Public Library;
    2. Stated that he is scheduled to appear, also in costume, at the Haleyville Public Library;
    3. Stated that he plans to “ham it up” a bit after each entertainment act at this year’s Feast as a way of thanking the performers and of livening up the High Table; and
    4. Displayed a ring engraved with his name and the year of his reign as the Renaissance Faire monarch (which was presented to him as a gift) and suggested that the Roundtable present each year’s monarch with such a memento.

       
  3. Billy Warren distributed paper copies of an email he sent earlier to Roundtable members.  It announces the airing of “Cities of the Underworld: Viking Underground” on the History Channel on Monday, February 25, at 9:00 p.m.

     
  4. Billy Warren praised the short video of Jan Roblin which her son, Shane Wilson did to promote her book.  He reminded everyone that he emailed the video to everyone on the Roundtable and urged them to view it.

     
  5. Jan Roblin:
    1. Stated that her son, Shane, is creating an hour-long video featuring the Alabama Renaissance Faire and that she hopes to be able to show at least a portion of it at the March Roundtable meeting;
    2. Suggested that various spices be featured in the menu – and, perhaps in other ways – at this year’s Feast since pirates would have stolen them during Medieval times because of their rarity and value;
    3. Reported that the public library wants to display the castle decorated by children at the 2007 Faire;
    4. Suggested that the artist’s name be listed beside each Renaissance Faire poster on our website; and
    5. Stated that we should have another structure (or even a creature) for children to decorate with buttons, sequins and jewels at the 2008 Faire.

       
  6. (drum roll, please!) Billy Warren thanked Sue Bevis for making a photograph of each of the posters advertising the Renaissance Faire. Thanks to Sue, Vince Brewton and William Freeman, photographs of the entire collection are now posted on www.alarenfaire.org and on www.myspace.com/alrenfaire!

     
  7. Lee Freeman:
    1. Reported that Jim Matterer is already at work on the pirate-themed menu for the 2008 Feast;
    2. Stated that, if we schedule a film series related to the Medieval/Renaissance era this fall at the public library, it will be sponsored by the library (not the Roundtable) because of licensing issues that surround the public showing of full-length films; and
    3. Reported that he will begin soon on his research on the history of children’s games so we might offer some of them at the 2008 Faire.

       
  8. It was agreed that the Alabama Renaissance Faire will be represented at the Ardmore Faire in April.  We will use one of our 10’ x 10’ pop-up tents, with the roof of it decorated with the material that Carol Burhans affixes to her group’s tent at our Faire.  (Thanks, Carol!)  Anna Iaria, William Freeman, Karen and Randall Ugrovics, Chris Solis, Lucy Howard and Lee Freeman (among others) will tend the booth on a rotating basis.  Decisions will be made ahead of the April Faire regarding what, exactly, we want to feature in the booth.

     
  9. Billy Warren announced that the guidelines for the 2008 Renaissance Faire Poster Contest will be posted soon on our website and will be emailed to all Roundtable members.  He welcomed the email address of anyone else who might like to receive an electronic copy of the guidelines.

     
  10. Sue Bevis announced that she will photograph each winning entry in the 2008 children’s art contest.  These photographs will be displayed at the Faire for the enjoyment of all who attend, especially the children (and their families) whose art will be featured.  Everyone agreed that Sue’s plan is excellent because the artwork can be enjoyed through the photographs while the original art will not be in danger because of weather.  She asked everyone to help her think of a good way to display the photographs at the Faire.

     
  11. Billy Warren:
    1. Reported that Amber Moore, a staff member at the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, brought the framed posters from the Marriott to Richards Center where they will be stored until it’s time to display them again this fall; and
    2. Reported that, thanks to the untiring efforts of Don Green’s eBay shopping , we now own 19 tapestries and that the Renaissance Faire Board approved another $300 allocation for Don to make additional purchases.

       
  12. Aubrey Gaskins suggested that we make very sure that our website address and our Myspace address be carefully listed on every advertisement or official document that we use.  Great idea!

     
  13. Randall Ugrovics suggested, and all agreed, that we make sure that we have the maze made of cardboard boxes at this year’s Faire for children to crawl through!  (The plan to have it in 2007 was derailed by rain destroying the maze during its construction – with no time remaining to reconstruct it before the Faire.)

     
  14. Jan Roblin suggested that Sue Bevis’s photographs of the winning entries in the sonnet-writing contest be posted on our website.  Carol Burhans stated that the winning entries in the sonnet-writing contest be posted also.  Excellent suggestions!

     
  15. Carol Burhans reminded everyone that the annual Cerebral Palsy Telethon will take place on Cable Channel 3 on March 16.

     
  16. Billy Warren stated that he will create a prototype of the revised application for crafts vendors.  (The revision will be based on suggestions made by Board members.)  He will bring the prototype to the March Roundtable meeting to get reactions before the final draft is mailed to vendors in mid-April.

     
  17. In a drawing, His Majesty King Gregory and Randall Ugrovics each won an official first day cover from the tenth anniversary celebration of the Alabama Renaissance Faire in 1996.