Meeting Saturday, December 9, 2006
Meeting began at 2:40pm
Officers in attendance: Colin, Momus, Brogan
Members: Comyn, Aonghus, Sabha, Guthrum, Fionnuala
Friend: Tess
Comyn took notes for the meeting
Comyn opened the meeting with a blessing in the old Druidic style
WHAT NEWS
Aonghus is suffering from something which hasn't been identified yet, he had a test this week and his platelets are fine. He's having another test next week. It might be lyme's disease since he has antibodies for that. Some doctors don't agree. It might be blood sugar related, or a result of the steroids he's been on. He's got a lot of pains and is tired all the time. The trailer is still in the shop, hasn't had time to get to it with the health problems. Learned how to re-skin a natural skin boron (and performed on the Samhain CD with it).
Brogan made a violin, but he didn't bring it this time. He brought it to violinist friend (Tommy Mulverhill who plays at Molly Malones on Friday and Sunday) who played Toss the Feathers on it, so it got a work out. Tommy pointed out some things to be done and Brogan plans to bring it back to him for some tweaks. He will bring it to the next event. Has been checking out European groups and their crafts and will have some cool lampshades that he will try to have ready for the next event as well. May have some for auction.
Comyn talked about music projects he's been working on this year, and that he doesn't think he will be able to do another CD for Imbolc. Plans to continue in the same manner for this coming year under the direction of the Bard.
Sabha mentioned the crafts, Christmas preps, brewing is a constant - has a Cyser going now. Would like to get a business going for crafts.
Guthrum brought Beekeeping for Dummies since he has been interested in starting to keep bees. Thinking he should start with one, but he may want to start with more, it depends on what he learns. 90 lbs of honey per hive is typical yield. There is a Long Island association that gives a class in March which is when you want to start up. Brogan may want to sit in on the class. Started building the shed that will someday be the smithy on his property. Has worked on it for only two days, but already has a frame set up. It's only dug into the ground, it does not have a cement floor or foundation. The building, when finished will be 10' x 12' with a metal roof. Has been jamming with Momus and Comyn and Finoulla and likes it.
Momus did everything the other guys did too. He's been doing music steadily, getting back into the swing of it and for the last few weeks he's been going over to Guthrum's house to jam with Comyn. Comyn has been hauling the recording equipment out as well recently, so we have some new stuff recorded.
Colin has been getting his shop geared up to prepare for working on something for the craft fair. Has 8 cases of mead he has to bottle! It's a big job getting everything cleaned up in prep for that. Work has been really busy, though he is still thinking about moving on to greener pastures.
Tess had an accident and a subsequent consussion after that. Her ambulance got hit in an accident, and ended up with a related injury shortly thereafter due to the loss of balance. Her memory has seemingly improved somehow, so there was a silver lining. December is a month of healing.
Fiachra called in, he's looking at houses, hopefully some with land! The Clan votes that he should buy lots of land so we can camp there!
OLD BUSINESS
1. The trailer has been aquired, it's in good shape, it's a tank. It's beyond beefy. The trailer was something over $960 + $80 for change over electrical stuff and a new trailer hitch. Rated for 8000 pounds. The trailer probably needs new brakes though haven't checked them yet. Maximum estimate is $240 if all brakes need to be redone (about $60 each). They are electrical brakes, and we will require an electric brake module for the van. Module is $60 according to Brogan. Brogan wants to replace the lights on the trailer for $20. Another thing Aonghus is investigating is shorter axles so that the wheels can be sunk into the frame. Has some concern about how much this mod would cost, knows a guy named Rocka-Billy through the glass shop that might be able to do it. Shooting for maiden voyage at Beltaine. Guthrum wonders if there are any updated plans as yet. Not yet - focused on the mechanical issues right now. It should be a lot like the old trailer, only bigger. Hoping to get it lower though. Someone was eyeing our old one - should we sell it as is, or strip some stuff out of it first? Nomad may be getting to the point where it needs to be serviced or at worst, replaced. Nomad requires a certain flow rate to kick in, if it doesn't get it in a low water situation as is common at our campsites, that's a problem. We need to check the valve that controls that function. The Nomad was $800 at the time we got it, so it may be good to keep that. A work day was set for the 2nd weekend in January (Jan 13th) to flow water through Nomad and evaluate the function.
2. Clan coins: The Clan spent $50 on the 'anvil-shaped object' which was broken. A 50 lb from Harbor Freights was the only thing in our price range (Comyn brought out a Centaur Forge catalog which showed that a cast steel anvil from them was in the hundreds of dollars), since we had planned to drill into it anyway there wasn't a desire for an expensive one. Aonghus suggested that cast Iron anvils are more likely to break, what we want is a Cast steel anvil (which isn't as good as a milled steel anvil). Brogan got a cast steel 15 pounder for $0.99 on ebay. Guthrum straightened the dies and took the mushroom off. He has the dies and Colin will take them home. Some discussion ensued about the best process required to do the coin striking. Colin has the anvil in his basement now. Brogan will take it, he can bring it to the Suffolk College metal shop and may be able to do something with it, in order to salvage what we have. If that doesn't work out, Comyn offered to bring it to work where he has a massive machine shop at his disposal. The claim was made that Cast Iron absorbs some of the blow, Guthrum admits that it is brittle and chips more, but suggests that that is because it is a harder material. Brogan and Aonghus make the claim that cast iron is more porous and so it compresses with each hit, what we want they say is cast steel if we can't afford milled steel.
FISCAL BUSINESS
1. Guthrum brought coins for those folks who had previously put in coin orders. Members who came with enough money were able to pick up their coins. Has 235 stamped coins ready to sell, and 240 are pleged for, and 250 blanks left to stamp.
2. Treasury has $1,590 ($800 is allotted to the trailer fund)
3. Most people already paid what they pledged except Aonghus and Brogan, though they have paid for stuff for the trailer and haven't been credited as yet, but $1,000 has already been paid out for the purchase of the trailer. Some outstanding members on dues.
4. Aonghus, Brogan and Momus are fined $1 each for not wearing their torcs.
NEW BUSINESS
Imbolc is usually the first weekend in February (Saturday the 3rd). There is always a chance that we won't get Swan Lake - Aonghus' parents put a bid in on a house, they may close by Christmas, but things are up in the air but Aonghus doesn't think anything will happen.
1. Feast - Discussion ensued regarding what would be the best fare. Many things were discussed: Leg of lamb, Chicken, birds of some kind. Aonghus suggested we tone it down since there is always so much waste. Comyn agreed that this is not the time of year for waste traditionally. We should settle on a simple theme for the event. Brogan was nominated Feast-o-crat.
• Brogan will prepare a few chickens and one leg of lamb.
• Faellon will bring bread and honey butter
• Jen will bring desert
• Eberwulf will bring pottage
• Vollund will bring roast veggies
• Fiachra and Eberwulf will do dishes
• Aonghus on garbage duty
• Guthrum and Finoulla will bring 5 gallons of beer (probably Blue Point)
• Sabha will do desert
• Guthrum and Finoulla will bring salad
• Aonghus will bring the jockey box with Momus' help
• Momus will clean jockey box with Aonghus' help
• Colin will bring non-alchoholic apple cider
2. Silent Auction - Colin offered, but Guthrum will run, which Aonghus believes is very appropriate given his position as Treasurer - should it end at a specified time? Discussion about the pros and cons of ending during an active bidding war.
3. Craft Show - all clan members are required to present at least one craft. Should a craft be only be a tangible item? Precedents are written lyrics presented at previous craft shows. The Fili originally charged the clan to produce a physical craft over the winter months. Is the File charging the clan again this year? Brogan as Fili, believes that a poem or a song takes just as much effort and does benefit the clan. Poems should be written out, and songs should have lyric sheets so others can sing along.
4. Game show - Guthrum, Finoulla and Momus will present a Celtic game show and Aonghus is required to play.
5. General Gaming
• Encourage all members to bring Fitchneal boards, etc.
• Shut the Box should be played en masse
Aonghus will do Tee Shirts for Samhain this year with a commemorative Wicker Man motif.
Guthrum brought up the question of probates. Should we start doing some recruiting? Brogan suggests attending local SCA events as a group and show up as an obvious presence to impress and meet new propectives. Aonghus, as an SCA member receiving the newsletter, will look for local events that we can attend and post ideas to the Yahoo list. The clan will plan to attend a local SCA event as a group.
Guthrum says that fighter practices are still being held by local SCA groups (either at the Sayville Grange or a local school) and Brogan was interested. Comyn suggests that he might be interested in making some armor, Guthrum and Brogan both offered their aid. Aonghus would participate in armor making, but the trailer will take precedence.
Comyn nominated new webmaster. There will be announced meetings to plan the implementation. Comyn will not register anything without discussion with the clan.
PROBATE REVIEW
Neither Faellon or Maeve are here, and since Maeve is covered under the old probate laws anyway, it doesn't really matter.
PERSONAL BUSINESS
Comyn has been having a great time being back in the clan.
We want Elvis in the Clan! But since our laws eliminate this possibility, we will offer him FRIEND status instead. The motion was made and seconded. Passed unanimously. Another motion was made to offer FRIEND status to Christianna as well. Passed unanimously.
Who holds the official list of friends of the Clan? On the old site or meeting notes.
Meeting cosed at 5:40pm