Fall Meeting Minutes

The meeting began at 1:53p.m., with a blessing from the Druid.

In Attendance:
Members: Eberwulf
Brogan
Aonghus
Faellon
Colin
Momus
Finnoula
Guthrum
Volund
Probates: Fiachra

Friends: Helska

What News:

Colin has bottled 3 cases of mead with the help of Momus and Volund. Bree is probably going to be moving in with him soon.

Finnoula has moved into a new house with her husband, Guthrum. They bought a sailboat. She also plans to resign from her job soon.

Guthrum, in addition to moving and buying a sailboat (see above), has been on a canning binge. He and Finnoula have canned 46 jars of different things. He also plans to build a trebuchet to use in a pumpkin flinging contest.

Volund has been working on starting his winery tours business, but is encountering difficulties with insurance. He also has many gallons of mead that need to be bottled.

Faellon’s has bought a new house, and has been getting settled in there.

Brogan has a new job!! He is the chief engineer at Suffolk Community College. He has also acquired a commercial forge, and he has his home made forge at his house. He hopes to start casting things soon.

Aonghus has been experimenting with modifying the design for his tent ridge pole. He has come up with a hooked scarfed joint which should be more sturdy for joining two separate pieces into one pole. He brought small pieces along to show us how it works.

Momus helped Colin to bottle mead, and his job continues to go well.

Eberwulf found out that his first child will be a masculine child.

Fiachra has been reading the Tain Bo. He’s also been branching out his legal work to divorces and appeals.

Helska is busy carrying Eberwulf’s boy child.

Treasury Report:

The treasury had only $420 at the beginning of the meeting. There are some who owe debts.

Fiscal Business:

Aonghus returned $300 to the treasury which had been given to him to purchase a power auger before Pennsic. Unfortunately, he was not able to obtain one before that time.

Old Business:

1) Brewer’s Guild: There has been no progress on this. The Chieftain decrees that it shall no longer be carried as business, until such time as someone is ready to bring it up again as new business if some proposal is ready.

2) Clann Coins: Volund has asked Faellon to see if his company (which manufacture’s steel elevator parts) is capable of engraving new dyes if we provide a design. If they cannot, then Volund will begin making new, deeper and larger dyes.

3) Auger: Since a power auger is only necessary for Pennsic, and since it was not possible to get one for this past Pennsic, and since the Clann has more urgent funding needs for the trailer project (see “New Business”), the power auger project was repealed by unanimous vote. Aonghus returned the $300 alloted for the project during Fiscal Business.

4) Fall Thyng: The Clann has obtained approval from Norseland to cook a steamship of beef as a gift at the Norseland 25th anniversary. Brogan will be heading up this project, and the expense will be born by the treasury. There seem to be seven people definitely set to attend, and there are a few more who are possibly going.

New Business:

1) Samhain: Scheduled for October 28, 29, 30, 2005, at Cathedral Pines Park. Events to occur will include the following:
a. Face Painting: Guthrum will provide the paints and encourage all to participate.
b. A Silent Auction: Colin will run this event which will last from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please bring anything you wish to donate to the auction. All proceeds will go to the trailer fund. (see “New Business” item 4)
c. The Champions Battle: Aonghus, as current Champion will run the event, which should begin around 3pm. Any wishing to contend should plan on being ready to go at that time.
d. The Great Feast: We will again have our traditional Samhain pig roast. See the job assignments below for a full list of all dishes and responsibilities.
e. Elections.
f. Druidic Ceremony: Run by our current Druid, Volund, and featuring the burning of another fine wicker-man crafted by our good friend from the north, Greycloak.

2) Samhain Continued: The jobs necessary to ensure a successful and fun event have been assigned as follows:

a. Firewood: Guthrum

b. Transport trailer, white cooler, and half barrel: Brogan

c. Water hookup: Aonghus

d. Rake firepit area, and pathway between sites: Fiachra

e. Jockey Box set up: Faellon

f. Set up spit/start fire for the cooks: Volund

g. Tiki Torches: **We are short on Tiki’s, everyone who has their own will bring them and set them up.**

h. Welcome Stew for Friday night: Faellon

i. Dayboard on Saturday: Colin (Also, Brogan will make Scotch eggs during the day, if there are people willing to help him)

j. Feast coordinator/Table set up: Finnoula **make best efforts to get feast ready for 6pm**

k. Main Course, Pig: Brogan to cook, Colin to order

l. Roasted Vegetables: Volund

m. Cale: Brogan

n. Pottage: Eberwulf

o. Barley: Finnoula

p. Bread and Honey Butter: Fiachra

q. Beer: 5 gallons from Guthrum, 5 gallons from Momus

r. Cider (non-alcoholic): Helska

s. Dessert (to be served after the ceremony): Helska – Apple pie; Guthrum – A Non period dessert; Faellon – Another dessert.

t. Leftover detail: Valarian

u. Bus Tables: Bree

v. Dishes: Aonghus and Momus

w. Jockey Box Clean up: Eberwulf

x. Pack Trailer: Fiachra

y. Disconnect water and coil hoses: Colin

z. Sunday Garbage detail/general camp clean up: Eberwulf

aa. White Cooler clean up: Brogan

bb. Fire pit and half barrel ash clean up: Eberwulf

cc. **Everyone remove your own tiki torches**

3) The Trailer: After Brogan’s exciting adventure getting home from Pennsic, it has become clear that the Clann is in need of a new trailer. It was generally agreed that we need a dual axel trailer between 12 and 16 feet long which can hold a minimum of 3500 lbs., and can be cleanly registered in NYS. There was a unanimous vote to place Aonghus in charge of acquiring a suitable trailer and designing it. Aonghus is willing to consider design suggestions, but will have the final say on the ultimate design. The goal is to have a new functioning trailer in time for a test run at Beltain 2006.

4) Trailer Funding: As the treasury is low, and it will cost a lot to acquire and build a new trailer, several things are being done to raise funds. As stated above in the Samhain events, there will be a silent auction during the day at Samhain, and all proceeds will go to the trailer fund. Additionally, Momus has pleged that he will host a Monday Night Football party, to which he will charge an admission fee, and he will donate the profits. Furthermore, the following members have pledged cash contributions: $500 from Brogan, $300 each from Aonghus, Eberwulf, and Colin, and $300 from Guthrum and Finnoula. Anyone else who wishes to donate to the project, whether through money, or an outside fundraising effort such as what Momus is doing is encouraged to do so. Of course, once the trailer is acquired, it is hoped that there will be donations of time to help with the construction.

5) Tee-Shirts: Guthrum will begin the preliminary research for a new Tee-Shirt project, and hopefully we can have a new shirt ready for Imbolc.

6) Dues: Guthrum proposed rethinking our dues procedure. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of significantly raising the annual dues, but incorporating site fees into the dues. Currently, an active member pays $30 annual dues. We hold 3 local events, with a site fee of $20 per event. Thus, if a member attends all 3 events, there is a total cost of $90. It was therefore proposed to raise the annual dues to $80, but the site fees for our 3 local events are included within this fee. Thus, a member who attends all events will save $10. It is hoped that structuring the dues this way will encourage members to attend all events, as you will have already paid for them. It will also ease the burden on the treasurer when collecting site fees, and it may make budgeting for projects and the events easier. Concern was expressed about members who may not be able to lay out $80 all at once. It was noted that the law already gives discretion to the treasurer to make alternate payment arrangements and even waive payments for anyone who is having financial difficulties. Therefore, the following new law was unanimously passed:

Annual Dues are raised to $80 per year, but site fees for the three yearly Clann events, Samhain, Imbolc, and Beltain are included within the dues.

Probate Review:

Fiachra is reading the Tain Bo. He needs to make more of an effort to keep in contact with his sponsor.

Personal Business:

Eberwulf announces that in light of his impending fatherhood, he is not going to seek another term as Chieftain.

Presentations:

Brogan brought in some books on Celtic Mythology and Artifacts which were passed around for perusal during the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned by motion of the Chieftain at 5:42 p.m.

Good Meeting!!