ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 9-15-05

 

Those present:  Carol Burhans, William Freeman, Lee Freeman, Paul Daniel, Mandi Green, Don Green, Jim Lake, Autumn Harris, Donna Miles, Darlene Freemon, Aubrey Gaskins, Mary Nicely, Her Highness Queen Salana Letsinger, Brittany Letsinger, Spencer Letsinger, Andy Betterton, Billy Warren

  1. Don Green reported that all 780 joints on the PVC pipes for the 10’ “walls” he’s constructed have been glued into place!  He further reported that most of the canvas has been sewn together and that he has located gesso and paint under the trade name of Liqui-Tex which are less expensive – and just as durable as conventional gesso and paint.  Hooray for Don!
     
  2. Darlene Freemon:
    1. Reported that Rick Freemon is working on the design for the coin of the realm (it will feature Lancelot as the fifth of six coins in the King Arthur series);
    2. Stated that she is working on some improvements for Renaissance Week at Florence High School and will share her plan at a future Roundtable meeting; and
    3. Suggested that we be on the lookout for Feast servers from another source this year (or at least to think of her students as Plan B) since the Feast falls on the end of the week of Fall Break.
       
  3. Carol Burhans suggested that a Boy Scout looking for an Eagle Project might take charge of Feast servers this year.

     
  4. Billy Warren agreed to e-mail Susie Rickard to see if students from Northwest-Shoals Community College might be servers for this year’s Feast.
     
  5. Carol Burhans displayed two sizes of ribbon wands which she has made to be sold at this year’s Faire.  They are very similar to the wands that Darlene and Rick Freemon distributed to guests at their wedding in 2004.
     
  6. William Freeman stated that he will bring a video of David Simpich’s work with marionettes to our next meeting.  William expressed hope that we might schedule David for a performance at the Shoals Theater in 2006.  Billy Warren reminded everyone that he has forwarded David’s web address to all Roundtable members.

     
  7. After not being able to host the feast for Roundtable members in 2004, Aubrey Gaskins announced that the feast is on again this year!

Since Stephano’s has moved its kitchen to the basement of its restaurant there is space to accommodate 30 at the feast.  Aubrey will bring 30 tickets to our October 5 meeting, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.  The cost is $15 each plus gratuity.  The date is THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, at 7:00 p.m.  Hooray for Aubrey and Stephano’s!
 

  1. In the drawing, Lee Freeman won “Fellowship of the Ring” by Folkein on VHS.
     
  2. Billy Warren announced with great pleasure that Henri’s Notions, the Celtic band that replaced Full Moon Ensemble, will perform free of charge at this year’s Faire (at least one day, if not both).  Great!
     
  3. These people agreed to assist with the costume-making workshop on Saturday, October 8 (those marked with an asterisk agreed to operate a sewing machine):
    1. Don Green*
    2. Mandi Green
    3. Paul Daniel
    4. Lee Freeman
    5. William Freeman
    6. Carol Burhans*
    7. Spencer Letsinger
    8. Autumn Harris
    9. Billy Warren

Of course, more are needed, so we anticipate that additional people will agree to help.

  1. Billy Warren agreed to e-mail the 2005 poster design to Don Green so he can create staff badges.

     
  2. Billy Warren stated that Teri Thomason from the Times-Daily couldn’t be present at today’s Roundtable meeting because of a prior commitment.  She asked that a press release about the Feast be e-mailed to her.  Billy Warren distributed and reviewed copies of the press release which he sent to her.

     
  3. Donna Miles announced that a wonderful TV spot about Renaissance Month activities appears regularly on channel 59, the channel devoted to Northwest-Shoals Community College.  (It also appears on channel 3.)  Billy Warren distributed copies of the text for the TV spot – there are pictures from the Feast and Faire that accompany the text – and publicly thanked Susie Rickard for securing this publicity for us.

     
  4. There was a round of applause for Vince Brewton, our webmaster, for the terrific job he does in keeping our website up-do-date.

     
  5. Billy Warren announced (drum roll, please) that we have received a donation of $1,000 from Florence Main Street.  Hooray!

     
  6. Billy Warren urged everyone to visit this website:  www.huntsville.about.com.  He reminded everyone that he had forwarded Susan’s article to all Roundtable members earlier this week.  A local lady, Susan Elsass, writes for that site and, this week, wrote a very fine series of short articles about the costume-making workshop, the Feast, the Faire, etc.  Billy thanked Susan profusely for her work.

     
  7. Billy Warren distributed copies of the 2005 poster and the new brochure to Roundtable members.