ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 8-16-07

 

Those present:  Mary Nicely, Don Green, Mandi Green, Bonnie McIntyre, John iaria, Ann Iaria, Rick McAdams, Her Majesty Queen Ostara, Leah Brewer, Chris Solis, Billy Warren, Jan Roblin, Christy Garner, Aubrey Gaskins, Larry Kimbrough

 

  1. Billy Warren:
    1. Reported that Lee Freeman has entered a Medieval-style literary contest through Renaissance magazine using a portion of the history of the Alabama Renaissance Faire which he writes under the pseudonym of Bro. Denis de Courcy;
    2. Reminded everyone that the exhibit, The Age of Armor, at the Huntsville Museum of Art ends on Sunday, August 19; and
    3. Announced that the staff of the Children’s Museum of the Shoals (CMOS) has agreed to create the maze for children and to operate it during both days of the Faire as a fundraiser for the CMOS.

       
  2. Aubrey Gaskins thanked William Freeman for creating a user-friendly DVD of the Il Palio, a flag-tossing competition which has been held annually in Sienna, Italy, since the 1200’s.  (Detailed information about this exciting, colorful event may be found on-line at:  www.ilpalio.com.)  It is hoped that we can have demonstrations of this type of flag-tossing at the Feast and the Faire.  Leah Brewer volunteered to teach flag routines based on her experience as a member of a flag line.

     
  3. Billy Warren:
    1. Reminded everyone that tickets to the Feast will be sold at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center and at Shaolin Computers beginning October 1;
    2. Reported that five tickets to the Feast have already been sold per requests through e-mail; and
    3. Reminded everyone to continue to collect buttons, tokens, sequins, etc. for children to use in decorating the castle at the Faire.

       
  4. Jan Roblin and Leah Brewer described their plans for creating the castle at the Faire.  Instead of using refrigerator crates, they will use a lighter-weight material.  The castle will be set up near Jan’s tent, and the people who assist her will supervise children as they decorate it.  Therefore, it will not require supervision by other members of the Roundtable.  Hooray for Jan and Leah!  After it has been decorated at the Faire, it can be disassembled for ease of storage.  Consequently, it can be used each year at the Feast and Faire.

     
  5. Billy Warren reminded everyone that there will be two meetings of the Roundtable in September:
    1. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, and
    2. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

       
  6. Ann Iaria urged everyone to make plans to come in costume to the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center during the month of October.  The management there is very interested in promoting local events.  She stated that people could go in costume with her whenever she will be in costume; if people go at other times, they need to call the Manager’s office ahead of their visit.

     
  7. In a drawing, Mandi Green won a Medieval-style Christmas ornament, and Mary Nicely won a hardbound copy of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

     
  8. Don Green, Mandi Green, Mary Nicely and Bonnie McIntyre made this report on the decorating of the Information Tent which took place the weekend of July 27-29:
    1. Susan Key had purchased multiple yards of both burgundy and gold fabric.
    2. The tent was partially assembled in the auditorium of Richards Center so the group could work with it more easily.
    3. Fabric was cut in strips so the burgundy and gold could be alternated on the top of the tent.
    4. The sides of the tent will be solid burgundy.
    5. Short scallops of fabric will be attached where the roof meets the sides.
    6. A banner labeled “Information” will be mounted on the roof of the tent.

       

There was a huge round of applause for all who worked on the tent and for Susan Key who not only worked on it but also coordinated the project.  The tent will look very period, modeling for vendors how their tents should look.

 

  1. Jan Roblin reported that Russell Carrier (aka Torok the Troll) plans to get married at the Faire this year.  Billy Warren will notify Donna Miles who is now the official Wedding Coordinator for the Alabama Renaissance Faire.

     
  2. (drum roll, please!) Billy Warren reported that Debbie Wilson, Executive Director of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, has asked for a complete set of posters from each year of the Faire.  Staff members at her office will frame these and put them on display in October at the Marriott Conference Center.  This is a very exciting development as it will advertise the Faire to thousands of people!

     
  3. Billy Warren reported that a potter who will be a vendor at the Faire has requested permission to create a tile that would be a souvenir of the Faire.  It would be sold at both the vendor’s booth and at our Information Tent, with 20% of the sales accruing to the Faire.  Such a request requires action by the Board of Directors.