ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 4-26-07

 

Those present:  Darlene Freemon, John Iaria, Ann Iaria, Jan Roblin, Thomas Ray, Carol Burhans, Rick McAdams, Donna Miles, Becky Love-Bassham, Bonnie McIntyre, Her Majesty Queen Ostara, Larry Kimbrough, Billy Warren

 

  1. Darlene Freemon presented the updated Renaissance Faire scrapbooks to the group.  She stated that Kyle Westrick, a student at Florence High School, was the archivist this year.  There was a round of applause for Kyle.  Lee Freeman will be asked to create a certificate designating Kyle as our official Royal Archivist for 2006.

     
  2. Darlene Freemon, Carol Burhans, Donna Miles, Jan Roblin, Bonnie McIntyre and Becky Love-Bassham reported that the recent trip to Italy led by Darlene Freemon was a grand experience.  They thanked Darlene for leading them on a great adventure and for arranging for Allesandro to be their guide (in their words, Allesandro is, hands down, the best guide in Italy!).

     
  3. Ann Iaria reported that the Ardmore Renaissance Faire last weekend was very enjoyable.  The leaders of that Faire, who came to our Feast and Faire in 2006, were delighted to have Roundtable members in attendance.  Jon and Lisa Butts (aka Menagerie) did perform there and sent greetings to our Roundtable.

     
  4. (drum roll, please!) Ann Iaria announced that the Marriott Shoals Hotel has agreed to provide two free rooms for Jim Matterer and his crew for three nights (October 18-20) while they are in town for our Feast.  Kudos to the management at the Marriott and to Ann for arranging this fine contribution!  Billy Warren will write letters of appreciation to Marriott personnel.

     
  5. Billy Warren announced that guidelines for the poster contest have been e-mailed to potential participants, including Roundtable members.  He distributed copies of the guidelines at today’s meeting and encouraged everyone to share them with people who might be interested.

     
  6. Billy Warren read a note from Deborah and Fred Harris who participated in our Faire for many years (she, a facepainter; he, a creator/vendor of ocarinas made of clay).  The Harrises have moved to Virginia but wanted us to know that they really enjoyed their years with us.  Billy has responded to this note on behalf of the Roundtable.

     
  7. Billy Warren distributed free tickets to the Tennessee Renaissance Festival which takes place each weekend in May and on Memorial Day.  He will send an email to Mike and Jackie Freeman asking for additional tickets.

     
  8. Billy Warren:
    1. Distributed copies of an e-mail which advertises the availability of training in the Mystic Knights tradition (web address:  www. Mysticknight.org and this e-mail address for Francois Lepine:  flepine@flepine.com);
    2. Distributed copies of a request from Cheryl English for Roundtable members to help with a Renaissance-themed Cub Scout event in Prattville in June (this request rejected by the Roundtable because of the distance and the small amount of time allocated for the Roundtable’s participation at the event); and
    3. Distributed copies of a request from Libby Babcock for Roundtable members to help with a Girl Scout event in Rogersville this summer (this request accepted by the Roundtable).

       
  9. These Roundtable members agreed to participate in full costume in the Multicultural Festival in full costume at Harlan Elementary School from 12:00 noon until the end of the school day on Thursday, May 10:
    1. Bonnie McIntyre,
    2. Donna Miles,
    3. Larry Kimbrough, and
    4. Darlene Freeman.

       

Billy Warren will ask for more volunteers at the Renaissance Faire Board of Directors meeting later today.

 

  1. Thomas Ray introduced a more Period way for our drawing to be conducted at our monthly Roundtable meetings.  He walks to each Roundtable member holding a fabric pouch in his hands. In the pouch are colored stones, with the total number reflecting the number of members present.  Two of the stones are green; the remainder are blue.  Each person reaches into the pouch; the two who retrieve green stones are the winners that day.  Hooray for Thomas!  This procedure adds a Medieval-Renaissance atmosphere.  Today’s winners:  Larry Kimbrough won a fabric banner advertising the 2006 Faire as our 20th anniversary event; Darlene Freemon won a Princeton University Press book on the life and times of William Shakespeare.

     
  2. Jan Roblin announced that her children’s art camp this summer will have a Renaissance theme.

     
  3. Billy Warren distributed copies of the brainstorming lists from the Roundtable’s February and March meetings.  As the group reviewed the lists, these ideas from them were especially popular:
    1. Tunnels for children created from appliance crates lying on their sides;
    2. Large cardboard castle for children to decorate with buttons, sequins, tokens, etc.;
    3. Sidewalk art (perhaps as a fundraiser for the Children’s Museum); and
    4. Parade of Canterbury Pilgrims, with a specific pilgrimage in mind (e.g., start at our information booth and eventually end at the Royal Pavilion).

       
  4. Roundtable members are encouraged to begin immediately locating collections of buttons, sequins, etc. To decorate a fairly large castle will require lots and lots!

     
  5. Rick McAdams reported that he is still experimenting with ideas for jewelry made from coins of the realm for us to sell at our information booth.