ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Minutes of Meeting, 9-20-07

 

Those present:  Rick McAdams, Susan Key, Ralph Bowersox, Ann Iaria, Billy Warren, Cathy Wood, Her Majesty Queen Ostara, Don Green, Lee Freeman, William Freeman, Jan Roblin, Bonnie McIntyre, Donna Miles, Sue Bevis, Darlene Freemon, Andy Betterton, Leah Brewer, Aubrey Gaskins

 

  1. Rick McAdams:
    1. Delivered 120 Renaissance Faire business cards with a coin of the realm attached to each to Ann Iaria who agreed to present them to the management at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center for distribution to selected guests and clients; and
    2. Displayed the collection of coins of the realm with a clasp glued to each which, after a “staff” ribbon is attached to each, will be used as staff badges for Roundtable members.

       
  2. Ann Iaria reminded everyone that Roundtable members and their friends are welcome to appear in costume during October at the Marriott.  If people schedule a time when Ann can go, they will have access to much more of the hotel and conference center.  If they go without her (which is certainly OK to do), they may go only to the public areas such as lobbies.  Billy Warren thanked Ann for paving the way for this to happen and encouraged Roundtable members to participate.

     
  3. Lee Freeman:
    1. Reported that the display window at the Pocket Museum still contains the Red Cross display, so the Renaissance Faire display will be installed as soon as possible;
    2. Announced that there will not be a Sunday afternoon lecture series at the public library this year; and
    3. Agreed to create a scroll-type commemorative menu for this year’s Feast.

       
  4. William Freeman reported that an English gentleman from the Ardmore Renaissance Faire has tentatively agreed to play Chaucer in conjunction with our re-enactment of a portion of the Canterbury Tales.

     
  5. Billy Warren reminded everyone that tickets for the Feast go on sale Monday, October 1.  They will be sold at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center and Shaolin Computers.

     
  6. Jan Roblin:
    1. Displayed a small castle which she will have on display at her booth for the enjoyment of children; and
    2. Circulated photographs of the castle that she and Leah Brewer designed for children to decorate at the Faire.

       
  7. It was agreed that our annual costume-making workshop will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, in the rear yard and studio at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center.  These people agreed to sew costumes:
    1. Susan Key,
    2. Don Green,
    3. Leah Brewer,
    4. Bonnie McIntyre, and
    5. Donna Miles.

       
  8. Leah Brewer reported that she has developed a flag routine for our re-enactment of the routines at the Il Palio.

     
  9. Darlene Freemon:
    1. Made this report on Renaissance day at Florence High School:

                                                              i.      It will be an all-day event on Wednesday, October 24,

                                                            ii.      Roundtable members must check in at the school office and, for those who can arrive early, be ready to begin performing by 7:45 a.m., and

                                                          iii.      Roundtable members are encouraged to stay at the school as much as possible between 7:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.; and

    1. Stated that, again this year, her students will assist at both the costume-making workshop and the Feast.  (Hooray!)

       
  1. Cathy Wood:
    1. Announced that she will write stories about the Feast and Faire this year for the Times-Daily;
    2. Asked everyone to be present in full costume on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 12:00 NOON, for a photo shoot to advertise the Feast; and
    3. Stated that the photo and the accompanying story about the Feast will appear in the Times-Daily on Friday, October 12.

       

Billy Warren, on behalf of the Roundtable, thanked Cathy profusely for her assistance with publicity for the Feast and Faire.

 

  1. In response to the request by McBride Elementary School, it was agreed that Roundtable members will visit that school in full costume on Tuesday, October 23.

     
  2. In a drawing:
    1. Susan Key won a bulletin from the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was published in 1953; and
    2. Her Majesty Queen Ostara won a pottery gargoyle.

       
  3. It was agreed that Roundtable members will appear in costume at First Friday (October 5, 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.) in downtown Florence.  These people agreed to attend the Fist Friday event:  Jan Roblin, Ann Iaria, Leah Brewer, William Freeman, Donna Miles.  It is hoped that our sword-fighting group can perform between musical acts at the intersection of Court and Mobile Streets.  Rick McAdams also suggested that we use this venue as a test run for selling the jewelry that he has made.

     
  4. Billy Warren:
    1. Reported that he delivered a collection of 18 posters from 1990 through 2007 to the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau who will frame each one (at the Bureau’s expense) in preparation for an exhibit in the lobby of the Marriott Conference Center from October 1 through October 31; and
    2. Circulated a copy of a new multi-page, full-color brochure about Florence (including a listing of the Renaissance Faire) published by the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.

       
  5. Jan Roblin announced that she has a paid advertisement in Kidsville News (the monthly publication just for children done by the Courier-Journal) advertising the venues, including the Renaissance Faire, at which Bubbles the Dragon will be appearing – great publicity for the Faire!

     
  6. Billy Warren announced that the Florence High School Falcon Theatre will perform at the Faire again this year and will have a booth to raise funds for the Theatre Department.

     
  7. Aubrey Gaskins reported that he will soon have the tickets to the Roundtable’s own Feast at Stephanos ready to sell.

     
  8. Leah Brewer will collaborate with Billy Warren to develop an advertisement for the Faire which can be placed in all food bags at Chick-fil-A during October.

     
  9. Andy Betterton:
    1. Suggested that the Alabama Renaissance Faire join the Shoals Chamber of Commerce as a civic gesture and as another way to gain publicity for the Faire through the Chamber’s campaigns, and
    2. Stated that he will inquire at the Chamber office regarding the amount for dues for a non-profit entity such as the Renaissance Faire.