What News

Finnoula
Currently in contract on a house in Patchogue and reading a great book on the founding of Australia

Guthrum
Just came from the dentist before the meeting and was still in pain.

Brogan
Got all of the parts needed for a crucible furnace and a gas forge. Plans on making a new spit and firedogs. Is planning on buying a van and has committed to towing the kitchen trailer to Pennsic. Has started painting miniatures again with Colin, Aonghus and Momus

Colin
Has cleared space in his basement for a mass brewing area. Painting miniatures.

Vollund
Just got back from a trip to Vegas. Is making torc heads fro Brogan and is working on a label for his mead.

Aonghus
Has cleaned up his shop (lathe is back in action) Has completed 4 tables and gotten a new router table. Also painting miniatures and has started writing again. Also has been working on picture framing

Faellon
still experimenting with different meads. Currently brewing a peach and a tea mead. Made and subsequently destroyed a first wooden knife sheath (still refining his technique)

Eberwolf
Read and was blown away by Stephen Hawkings, "A Brief History of Time." Working a lot on the wedding.

Dairchain
learning how to brew. Reading "The Lion of Ireland," by Morgan Llewellyn. Elsysia is in North Carolina planning their wedding. Had a major problem with their mortgage broker and their closing on the house got pushed back. Planning on building a yurt

Helska
Planning the wedding.

Treasury Report

Currently just over $2000 in Treasury. Clan raised over $1000 in auction at Imbloc.

Old Business

Grades of Nobility
tabled

Brogan's Book of Lore
tabled

Trailer
Aonghus will tow trailer to Beltaine Eberwolf and Helska to get sheets to mount inside trailer cabinet doors listing what the contents of each should be Need to transfer the title on the trailer from Valerian to someone else. Eberwolf to call Valerian

New Business

Beltaine Planning

Date: 2nd weekend in May 5/10-5/12

Eberwolf informed the clan that we have been asked by the Park not to block the bike trail anymore. Plan is for us to move our encampment to the other side of the big field to stay out of the way of the trails.

Feast:
Dairchain - bread, cookies and cleanup
Vollund - Rabbit, Chickens
Brogan - Rabbit and Duck
Faellon - honey butter and vegetables
Eberwolf or Brogan - Pottage
Finnoula - Berries and Cream
Aonghus - Barley and firewood
Colin & Brogan - Beer (Brogan will be hosting a brewing session at his house on April 13th at 10AM)

He-Man Competition
To be run by Guthrum
Vollund suggested that we include a javelin throw in the competition

Handfastings
Both Eberwolf & Helska and Dairchain & Elysia to be handfasted in ceremonies performed by the Druid

Egg Hunt
To be run by Vollund

-Brogan will bring coloring
-All clan members who wish to participate, please bring a few hard boiled eggs

Prizes for Egg Hunt
-Vollund will supply mead
-Brogan will make something

Extra Tent
Colin brought up that he currently has and extra 10x10 wedge tent in his basement. He has given Momus a week to take it; otherwise it goes to Dairchain and Elysia

Coins
Vollund will get tool steel from Brogan and will work on new coin dies. Plans on making gold, silver and bronze coins to be available for sale to clan members and friends as a fundraiser. Proposed selling price of $5 for gold, $1 for silver and $0.25 for bronze.

Colin will mange project (bug Vollund)

Repayment of Valerian
Vollund brought up paying Valerian out of the Clan Treasury for her past contributions to the Clan in general and especially for the trailer and items within it.

Motion made to pay Valerian $300 in cash and give a 2 year waiver on paying any dues or site fees, with the exception of Pennsic, starting at this current Beltaine.

Motion passed unanimously

Personal Business

Brogan offered his help to anyone who is interested in building a yurt. Aonghus offered the use of his shop for working on this or any other projects

Move to adjourn by Eberwulf, passed unanimously

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 PM

What News

Aonghus: Got a new saw. Obtained documentation from the SCA and is currently studying to become an SCA Marshall. Turned some bowls. Built a bed. Made a portable coin striker from steel found alongside the LIRR tracks.

Valerian: Mother recently had some medical tests done. Awaiting the results. Looking for full-time employment. Recently applied for employment at a bank. Waiting to see how it goes.

Vollund: Got a new acetylene torch; to be used for braising, soldering, welding, annealing, etc. Has some photos from last Pennsic, but forgot them. Making mead (has approximately 50 gallons). Wants to begin doing some work with horn. Stated that the new torch would allow him to begin doing metal fittings for drinking horns, etc.

Finnoula: Closed on house. Doing a lot of work on and in the new house. Plans to begin brewing some mead. Plans to start a garden. Guthrum (working during first part of meeting) is working “a lot – a lot”.

Finn took his first step at the age of 8 and one-half months!

Brogan: Made a bed. Has been going to Aonghus’ shop every morning before work in order to work on projects. Built a wheelbarrow, but has not assembled it yet. Turned some new feast gear out of a log that he found on the side of a road. Built some stools. Currently working on a gas-powered forge (has all of the parts that are required) and a crucible furnace. Paid for “Half of a Van”. Should be able to tow the kitchen trailer with the van once he acquires it. Has been doing extensive research on metal casting.

Assisted other clan members (Dairchan & Elysia and Guthrum & Finnoula) in cutting khana slats for their yurts (ghers). Also made a candle box, in which to store candles.

Erlan: Is peeing. Upon conclusion of peeing, stated that she was recently re-authorized in two fighting styles; (Sword & Shield & Polearm), and is going to authorize in a third (Florentine) very soon. Made the archery list. Going to England next week. Buying rattan next week, and asked clan members if they were interesting in purchasing any rattan. May be getting a laurel for her achievments in the SCA.

Colin: Just got back from San Francisco. Has been turning bowls, plates, etc. Recently acquired 150 pounds of strawberries to be used in making mead.

Momus: Comedy is going good. Still working on hobby store business project with Colin. Turned a couple of plates.

Eberwolf & Helska: Mostly working around the house.

Elysia & Dairchan: Preparing for the upcoming wedding. Dairchan recently created a wedding website: www.thistlebright.com . Elysia finished embroidering a druidical robe for Brogan and sanded and stained/varnished a number of trestle tables for various clan members. Both Dairchan and Elysia have been doing some work on their gher (yurt) with the gracious assistance of Brogan and Aonghus.

Elysia recently got a new job that is much closer to home. Both Elysia and Dairchan have new torcs. Two batches of mead are coming along nicely, and will be ready for bottling soon. One of the batches had gotten stuck, but was hopefully saved. Dairchan has been working on a project in collaboration with his younger brother and a number of others, namely a history learning CD-ROM. Also, Dairchan recently received his first official paycheck for a piece of artwork that he did for the National Association for Small Communities. Diarchan has been doing research on wax carving and spruing for metal casting, has created a design for a clan T-Shirt for the Beltane event, and has begun learning to speak Bulgarian.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer not present at meeting. Finnoula stated that she believed that there was approximately $1200.00 in the treasury at this time.

Old Business

Trailer
Valerian brought registration to trailer and gave it to Brogan. She has not been able to locate the title, but will do so and provide same to Brogan at the earliest opportunity.

New Business

Pennsic Planning

First Week: First week camp duties proclaimed a “Free-for-all” by Eberwolf.

Motion to lend Brogan funds ($500) to purchase a
trailer hitch for his van – Passed.

Extra land has been requested by the clan for Pennsic – based upon the clan’s number of period pavilions, tents, etc. Also, it has been confirmed that the group has been registered online.

Brogan will be in charge at Pennsic until the land-map is signed, at which point Vollund will be in charge.

Brogan made arrangements to have Wolgemut play at the clan feast for a donation. Brogan suggested $400 which would work out to $16 per head (at 25 attending). Motion was made and passed unanimously to hire Wolgemut.

Brogan volunteered to cook whenever no one else wants to.

Erlan volunteered to cook two nights.

Vollund volunteered to eat whatever is cooked and to
supervise everyone else’s work efforts from the comfort of his own tent.

Erlan volunteered not to do dayboard.

Vollund volunteered to keep track of purchases, etc. – Aonghus states that this is not feasible and volunteered to be the clan treasurer for the first week.

Discussion concerning water supply/filtration system: In reference to budgeting for this project, Brogan suggested a $400 cap. Aonghus stated that there was not a question of success in reference to this project, but of budget and installation. Dairchan suggested an add-on system vs. an integral system in order to save valuable trailer space.

Motion: Water committee consisting of Brogan, Guthrum, Momus & Aonghus is appointed.

If the project can be completed in time, it will be implemented. If it cannot be implemented in a timely and feasible manner, then the clan will purchase water.

Discussion concerning firewood: Who will order firewood, how much, etc., and who will dig and fill the firepit.

Motion: Erlan will order firewood. A firepit crew consisting of Vollund and Colin has been appointed.

Fisting discussion and reminisces brought about by firewood discussion. All members attending offered to lend a hand if they could only put their finger on what needed done. Some clan members attempted to palm off their portion of the task until Eberwolf put his fist down. All gave Eberwolf a hand. Vollund declared discussion a hoot!

Discussion concerning cooler/storage arrangements: Who will be in charge of the cooling and storage arrangements, what equipment will be made available, and how will it be set up?

Motion: Erlan appointed chargeperson of cooling and storage. Erlan requested assistance from Brogan in constructing shelving apparatus.

Erlan – Q: “Is the big white cooler coming?”
Aonghus – A: “I guess so.”

Valerian will ask Lynette & Wee Aonghus to donate a cooler.

Discussion concerning propane tanks: Vollund suggested looking into whether or not the clan’s propane tanks are still valid in Pennsylvania in light of recent policy changes concerning propane tanks/safety in New York state. If they are not acceptable, Vollund suggested that it may be a waste of time and resources to transport unusable tanks all the way to Pennsic.

Motion: General agreement to look into this mystery… though it is unclear to the acting secretary who was assigned this responsibility, if anybody.

Discussion concerning inter-group feast: Momus suggests a formal/informal first week inter-group feast, bog-party, what-have-you. Aonghus suggested an annual Pennsic
‘Clan-Thing’.

Motion: Momus appointed chair person of project “Medieval Mixer” (phrase coined by Vollund).

Proclamation: “We don’t care about Norseland anymore”.

Discussion concerning bar and butterball (moniker missed): Erlan no longer wants the bar in her personal tent. Options discussed. Eberwolf pledged to drink gin & tonics every day. Aonghus suggested colocating bar & kitchen within a sheet wall underneath a dining fly. Erlan suggested purchasing plastic bar tables vs. particle board tables and/or wooden tables that are currently in use, chiefly for reasons of
sanitation.

Motion: For Erlan to be reimbursed from the clan treasury for the purchase of plastic tables to be used as a clan bar. Said purchase not to exceed $100. Motion passed.

Project: Dining Flys. Brogan volunteers to assist.

Project: Tent/Yurt/Pavilion dimensions for each member to be recorded. All members must furnish this information to Eberwolf.

Second Week:

Finnoula & Guthrum volunteered to cook a 2nd week meal. May bring Lobsters.

Aonghus vigorously defends “Pre-planning of camp duties scheme” and states that while this has been in effect that all camp duties have been performed properly, and in a smooth efficient manner.

Discussion concerning dayboard: Discussion as to whether or not there will be a dayboard at this event. Vote held to determine whether or not there will be a dayboard.

Motion: Vote in favor of dayboard. Motion to have dayboard passed.

Discussion concerning traditional food vs. mundane food on menu: Momus, Colin, and other selected clan members raised objections concerning the requirement for traditional food to be on the menu on a daily basis. Discussion followed outlining the relative merits of traditional food vs. mundane or modern food items. Discussion concerning the “no corn/tomatos/potatoes policy”.

Discussion regarding the possible gastrointestinal ramifications inherent in a strictly traditional diet, and the probable atmospheric degradation resulting from such diet.

Motion: In view of the relatively long duration of the Pennsic event, and partly due to the clan’s interest in clean air and tasty food, a motion was passed to allow the person who is charged with preparing the nightly meal to determine what the meal will consist of.

Feast: ( Pennsic duty roster to be released by Eberwold)

Discussion concerning beer and empty kegs: Question as to whether there was a sufficient quantity of beer. Brogan stated that he did not have a sufficient number of empty kegs at this time.

Motion: Brogan will be hosting a brewing session at his house on July 13th at 10AM - Empty kegs are required, for a total of four (4).

Vollund will donate five (5) gallons of kegged mead.

Personal Business

Brogan does not wish to be a weenie… however….

Brogan brought to light some questions regarding the working habits and practices of selected clan members as they pertain to tool use, safety issues, etc. specifically mentioned was the lathe and band saw. It was pointed out that while these tools are useful and fun to work with, that they are inherently dangerous. Certain liability questions were raised in light of the fact that the shop is Aonghus’ place of business. The first concern however, is the safety of all members of the clan.

Resolution: Erlan motioned to appoint Brogan the “Safety Nazi”. Motion passed. Brogan will hold a shop safety/tool use class in the near future. The class will focus on lathe use. It was also determined that if any clan member is seen to be misusing or improperly using a tool, they will be directed not to use that tool until they have been properly instructed in its safe use, and have been checked out on said tool.

Monus brought up the issue of including medieval
paraphenalia, etc., in his and Colin’s hobby shop business, and asked all clan members to give some thought towards giving workshops to people who may not have any knowledge at all about medievalism. Momus stated that any clan member giving such a workshop would be compensated for their time and effort. Momus and Colin announced that they intend to merchandise at next year’s Pennsic event.

Move to adjourn by Eberwulf, seconded by Vollund, and
passed unanimously

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM