Clan Tuatha de Bhriain

Autumnal Equinox '98 Edition

Clan Meeting Minutes: September 12, 1998

In Attendance:

Officers:
Aonghus - Chieftain
Guthrum - Fili
Comyn - Druid
Members:

Finnoula
Sabha
Erlan*
Probates:
Eberwolf*
Eachna
Friends:
Colin*

* late in attending

The meeting was called to order at 2:15 pm.

Treasury Report:

Guthrum provided a summary of the accounts to date. Members may view the report in the Treasury section.

What News:

What news was tabled in the interest of saving time. Comyn did note that he now has a rug and poles for his tent. Eachna also mentioned that she now has a rug for her tent.

Old Business:

1. The proposed trip to Ireland was the only old business discussed. Finnoula proposed the trip be postponed to May 2000. The motion carried unanimously.

New Business:

1. Persona-non-grata Status - a new classification of status or relationship with the clan was proposed. A -person with persona - non-grata status is not welcome at and may not attend any clan sponsored events. This person would be treated as a nonentity by clan members. It would take a 2/3 majority of voting members in attendance at the vote to confer or revoke this status. - PASSED

2. Conn Lochlainn O'Finn - it was moved that in light of recent events, Conn's "Friend of the Clan" status be rescinded. - PASSED

3. Clan Law - Guthrum, as Fili, moved that the Clan vote to accept the laws as they currently stand - PASSED

4. Events - In the past activities which are planned for events have often been forgotten or passed over due to the momentum of other activities. It was suggested that the bard's duties be expanded so that the "Bard shall be responsible for maintaining the agreed upon schedule of events as set by the clan in consultation with the Chieftain. - PASSED

5. Samhain Event

A. Dates: Friday October 31st - Sunday November 2nd

B. Feast: The following tasks were assigned for the feast

SabhaWelcome stew for Friday night set up

VollundBeer
AonghusBarley dish
EachnaLeg of venison
GuthrumMashed turnips and roasted vegetables
Eberwolf Honey butter
ValerianPottage

FinnoulaDessert
FalgonBread, cheese, fruit for Saturday day board
BroganHome made bread

C. Ceremony: As always the ceremony will be run by the Druid. Comyn will be supplying wood and the wicker man

D. Masks are strongly recommended for all attending Samhain. Time will be set aside for mask making - plan to make elaborate masks requiring drying ahead of time. Contact Sabha for instructions on how to make blanks like the ones available last year - they take at least a day to make.

E. Each tent group is asked to bring tablecloths for the feast. (Aonghus, Comyn & Sabha, Guthrum & Finnoula, and Collin have already committed to tablecloths).

6. Clan Elections. Elections take place at Samhain. It was suggested that in the future no clan member be allowed to hold both an office and an administrative duty unless there is no other member available to fill the vacancy. This motion was passed and then after further discussion repealed. The motion would have forced an unwilling member to hold an office or position even if some one else was willing to hold two positions.

7. It was moved that preambles and dates for changes be added to the laws. There was no second for the motion as this is considered two separate issues.

8. Some of the previous Filidh have written preambles for the laws. It was proposed that these preambles be added as permanent parts of the laws. The discussion moved to the archival of clan documents. Keeping the laws and the history (and thus preambles) is already a part of the Fili's job - so further legislation is unnecessary. - DEFEATED

9. Clan Trailer - the purpose of the proposed clan trailer would be to house the kitchen and possible a hot water heater/filter shower. A cost and labor analysis was requested and Guthrum has agreed to help with the research. It was also proposed that clan members donate money to the project as the preliminary cost estimates exceed the clan budget.

10. Yurt - A twenty foot Yurt seen by the clan at Pennsic appears to be the ideal size for our group. However the engineering of the yurt still needs careful consideration as the Pennsic Yurt was very complicated - our whole camp broke down before the yurt did.

11. Honor Price (log na enech ) Laws - The honor price laws as posted by Aonghus were reviewed and PASSED with minor changes. See the new Honor Price Laws in the Clann Law section.

The following items were TABLED

12. It was proposed that lateness to a scheduled gathering could be considered grounds for paying log na enech if it inconveniences a member who is forced to wait.

13. Any member can remove an unsafe person from an event

14. Any member who witnesses disruptive behavior is responsible for alerting an officer.

Minutes supplied by Sabha, Clan Sencha.

Please note:

Without question, interruption and lateness add significantly to the amount of time we spend in meetings, as well as having other detrimental effects to clan harmony and moral. Fines were handed out at the meeting for lateness, interruption, and lack of torc. All the fines that were assigned were rescinded as we have been lax in the past to hand them out. This meeting, however, should serve as a warning that, henceforth, clan meeting rules will be applied more strictly.

It should also be noted, that this meeting saw a record number of laws passed in a minimal amount of time. Part of this was due to the application of fines as noted above, but majorly it was in the organization in which the new proposals were presented. Copies of the proposals were handed out to all in attendance so people could consider them in detail. Also, the chieftain had an agenda, listing the majority of items to be considered at the meeting.

Though not a law at this time, It is strongly suggested that anyone with a proposal, however simple or complex, should hand out copies to all in attendance at the meeting, and, prior to that meeting, should inform the chieftain so that item can be added into the meeting agenda.

Clannsfolk should take advantage of the Message Board to communicate their opinions and ideas on these and other subjects with the clann.