ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 8-17-06

 

Those present:  Her Majesty Queen Freya, John Iaria, Lee Freeman, Darlene Freemon, Jim Lake, William Freeman, Mary Nicely, Kim Lovelace, Don Green, Chris Solis, Billy Warren, Ralph Bowersox, Jan Roblin, Cathy Myers, Andy Betterton, A. J. Mashburn, Salana Letsinger, Carol Burhans

 

  1. Billy Warren reminded everyone that the Roundtable will meet twice in September:  Thursday, September 7 and Thursday, September 21.

     
  2. Lee Freeman stated that Jan Roblin will conduct the lecture at the public library on Sunday, October 15.  He will determine the exact titles of the three lectures and report them at the Roundtable’s next meeting on Thursday, September 7.

     
  3. Carol Burhans presented the Roundtable with a collection of Gothic crosses.  They will look terrific as decoration for the Feast.  A huge thank-you to Carol!

     
  4. These people agreed to add their names to the list of volunteers for the costume-making workshop on Saturday, October 14:  Darlene Freemon (and her students from Florence High School) and Her Majesty Queen Freya.

     
  5. Lee Freeman reviewed the menu for the Feast and stated that Chef Jim has agreed to substitute another dish to replace the fava beans.  Lee also reported that Chef Jim is negotiating to have his own show on the Food Channel.  Newspaper and other forms of publicity about his being our chef will aid him in this goal.

     
  6. William Freeman reported that he explained our page on MySpace.com to the Board members at their July meeting.  He used a PC Tablet to show the page to the Board and explained that we have complete control over it, including the decision regarding who becomes a “friend” to our page.  (At this moment, we have 66 “friends.”)  The Board voted to link the MySpace page to our website.  Billy Warren thanked William Freeman and John Iaria for the diligent work they have done and continue to do to make our MySpace page an excellent advertising tool for the Feast and Faire.

     
  7. Don Green reported that he and Mandi have acquired several tapestries to be used as decorations on the canvas “walls” that we use at the Feast.  He stated, also, that the Board voted to allocate $300 toward the purchase of additional tapestries.

     
  8. William Freeman stated that performances by David Simpich’s marionettes of “Pilgrim’s Progress” will take place in the Family Life Center of First Methodist Church on Friday and Saturday evenings, October 27 and 28, at 7:00 p.m. each evening.  Andy Betterton stated that the church is not charging a rental fee for use of the space, that the church members will take responsibility for tickets to the performances, and that the church will provide child care for pre-schoolers during the performances (those attending the performances will have to pay for the child care.)  William stated that seating will be limited to 400 each evening and that tickets will be $5.00 each.

     
  9. Billy Warren circulated a copy of the 2006 edition of Signatures, the award-winning creative writing magazine done by students of Darlene Freemon.  Billy noted that the students wrote all of the pieces, created the art, produced the audio CD and assembled the magazine.  Year after year, each issue of the magazine receives national praise.  There was a round of applause for Darlene and her students.

     
  10. Darlene Freemon:
    1. Stated that she hopes Menageie will perform for the whole student body of Florence High School  Tuesday, October 24 (and will be artists-in-residence at the school for the entire week);
    2. Invited Roundtable members to participate in a Renaissance Day at the high school on Wednesday, October 25;
    3. Stated that her students will assist with the costume-making workshop on Saturday, October 14, with decorating and clean-up of the Feast Hall (Coliseum), and with the serving of beverages at the Feast; and
    4. Reported that Rick Freemon is in the process of designing the sixth and final coin (Morgan La Fey) in the Arthurian legends series.

       
  11. Billy Warren exhibited a unit of classroom study on the Vikings bound in a three-ring binder.  He stated that he had asked Lee Freeman to read it for authenticity and historical accuracy and that Lee declared it to be excellent.  Billy will provide copies to those teachers in Florence City Schools whose curriculum includes the era of the Vikings.

     
  12. (drum roll, please!)  Billy Warren displayed the certificate awarded to the Alabama Renaissance Faire by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast for October-December, 2006.  Billy noted that it’s unusual for an event to receive the award two years in a row.  There was loud applause.

     
  13. There was great applause for all members of the Roundtable who made trips to perform and advertise the Feast and Fair at public libraries in Alabama.  Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter of appreciation from Rachel Hodges, Youth Coordinator for the Pelham Public Library.

     
  14. Billy Warren distributed copies of an invitation to the UNA for a dinner meeting on Friday evening, October 27, on the lawn at Coby Hall.  The Foundation’s officials want members of the Roundtable and Menagerie to attend the event in costume, to enjoy a meal and to make presentations similar to those done this summer at public libraries.  Andy Betterton and Billy Warren will attend a meeting at UNA on August 28 to learn more details and will share them with the Roundtable at its September 7 meeting.

     
  15. In a drawing, Andy Betterton won a handmade chess board, and Jim Lake won a book on the mythical bases for C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

     
  16. (drum roll, please!)  Billy Warren displayed the 2006 poster – which has just been delivered from the printer – and distributed copies to everyone present.