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ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE Minutes of Meeting, 7-20-06
Those present: John Iaria, William Freeman, Lee Freeman, John Holcomb, Perri Scott-Hawthorne, Virginia Brown, Billy Warren, Cathy Myers, Donna Miles, Noelle Smith, Carol Burhans, Jan Roblin, Na’Koal Springer, Aubrey Gaskins, Jim Lake, Mary Nicely
Jan Roblin introduced the Roundtable’s
newest member, Na’Koal Springer. The group welcomed Na’Koal who, along
with Laura Braddick, is an official archivist for the Alabama Renaissance
Faire. Lee Freeman announced these two topics for the lecture series at the public library in October:
Carol Burhans stated that she is donating
a collection of Gothic crosses to the Roundtable. This announcement was
followed by a hearty round of applause. Donna Miles announced that the
costume-making workshop will take place on Saturday, October 14, 9:00 a.m.
until 2:00 p.m., in the back yard and rear studio at Kennedy-Douglass Art
Center. These people volunteered to assist with the workshop: William
Freeman, Lee Freeman, Carol Burhans, Don Green, Donna Miles, John Iaria,
Billy Warren. It was agreed that we should include in our advertisements
that fabric brought to the workshop should be 60” wide. John Iaria and William Freeman reported on
the Renaissance Faire’s presence on MySpace.com. They noted that our site
now has 57 friends and that they determine who becomes our friends. They
encouraged Roundtable members to visit the site and react to it. Billy Warren, on behalf of the entire
Roundtable, thanked all who made the trips to public libraries across the
state to educate children and adults about the Medieval/Renaissance period
and about the Alabama Renaissance Faire. Billy extended a special word of
thanks to Darlene Freemon for setting up the visits and to William Freeman
for organizing each trip.
Those who made the latest trips to
Rogersville, Haleyville, Pell City, Pelham and Alabaster reported
successful visits in each case. There was enthusiastic applause for
everyone who represented the Roundtable in such superb fashion. Lee Freeman stated that he hopes to have
details on our Feast menu to share with the Roundtable at our August
meeting. Don Green reported that he and Mandi have
acquired several tapestries that will add wonderful atmosphere to our
Feast on Saturday, October 21. William Freeman reported that the two
performances of “Pilgrim’s Progress” in October by David Simpich’s
marionettes are still on the calendar. Billy Warren announced that Don Hinely
will return to the Faire this year with his “glass harmonica.” Hooray! John Iaria took a collection of
photographs from our 2005 Faire to scan and convert into a disk so they
can be easily added to our website. Perri Scott-Hawthorne and John Holcomb reported a successful series of live metal performances at the recent opening of the film, “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
In a discussion about the live metal group (which also includes Keith Hawthorne and Taz Scott), these clarifications emerged: · The umbrella organization is Musqueteers and Maidens. · There are various regiments around the country that are units within the umbrella such as: o Walter Butler’s Dragoons (the group in Arkansas that performs at our Faire each year); and
o
Garde-Ecossais Regiment de Hepborn
(the Florence live metal group). The Regiment de Hepborn is based on the
Scottish First Regiment which was composed primarily of Scots and which
fought primarily in France. (All Regimetns are based on groups that were
involved in the Thirty Year War, 1614-1643.)
The Musqueteers and Maidens has the following
website:
www.musqueteersandmaidens.com
Roundtable members were encouraged to visit
the site to learn more about our live metal group and its relationship to
the umbrella organization. In a drawing, Mary Nicely won a book of
historical fiction entitled King Hereafter; Donna Miles won a
fleur de lis made of papier mache and painted with gold leaf. Jan Roblin announced that an additional
“First Friday” will be held in downtown Florence on Friday, July 28, as
part of the W. C. Handy Music Festival. She encouraged all Roundtable
members to attend. Mary Nicely encouraged everyone to attend
the “Mostly Blues” exhibit in conjunction with the Handy Music Festival.
It will be on display at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center through August 8. Jim Lake reminded everyone of the
production of “Lion in Winter,” a Renaissance-era drama, that will be
presented by a local theatre group in October. Billy Warren stated that the Roundtable’s
own Andy Betterton is playing the king in “The King and I” on Friday and
Saturday, July 21 and 22, 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, July 23, 2 p.m. All
performances will take place in the auditorium at the Florence Middle
School/Freshman Center. Billy Warren distributed copies of a
7-19-06 e-mail from a teacher at Evangel Christian School who saw
Roundtable members’ recent performance at the Pelham Public Library. She
said, “It [the performance] was fabulous!” She also asked that some
Roundtable members come to her school during the academic year since her
students will be studying the Medieval/Renaissance period. Don Green and
William Freeman will determine whether her request can be met. Billy Warren distributed copies of a recent word search, “Medieval Weapons,” which appeared in the Times-Daily. He stated that he had sent copies to all social studies teachers, grades 5-12, in Florence City Schools so they can use it in their classes if they wish. Billy added an assignment to the word search (i.e., that students use available resources to identify each of the weapons).
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