What responsibilities do you feel the Baron/ess has to whom?

The Baron/ess has a responsibility to him or herself, to recognize issues of overcommitment, health, and responsibilities to job and family outside of the SCA, and when those need to take priority over their SCA role.

The Baron/ess also have a responsibility to the Crown, to hold the lands faithfully, to protect the barony, and to protect the Crown when called on to do so, as a part of their fealty to the Crown.

• To be courtly, both in court and out. Above everything else, the B/B are figureheads in the game. They are the high nobles for the area, and need to at least somewhat act the part. This shouldn't be carried to extremes, which can become aloofness and/or high-handedness, but needs to be kept in mind.
• On the flip side of that, the B/B need to be friendly and open. This is particularly important in Carolingia, where we have some expectations that the B/B know the populace, both in the aggregate and individually insofar as possible. This mainly reflects the fact that the B/B also have a leadership role in the *club*, entirely outside of persona, and folks expect the heads of the club to be reasonably approachable.
• They need to be evenhanded. As mentioned earlier, politics and disagreements will arise from time to time, and it is *very* common within SCA branches for the B/B to become involved in factional politics. I think it's vital that they stay above that as far as they can, so that they can act as diplomats and peacemakers when necessary.
• They should strive to be role models. This isn't very different from the expectation of a Peer -- when you have a high title, you're sort of on stage all the time whether you like it or not. It's important to keep that in mind, because the newer members are going to tend to emulate you, *especially* in the ways you least want them to.

The concept of Fealty is very important to me. It drives how most of things operate in the SCA. Featly is not just blind service of a retainer to a lord. It goes both ways. In the same way service is due, when asked, from the retainer to the lord, support is due from the lord to the retainer.

You can deconstruct the example of the "naked newbie" above along these lines. In return for service, I take on the responsibility for clothing the retainer and integrating them into the rest of the Barony.

It is such contract of fealty that bind the Baron and Baroness to the people. (And to the King as well.) I cannot expect them to fight on my behalf unless I am willing to take the field with them. I cannot expect them to help me when I need it unless I am willing to help them when they need it. As a retainer swearing fealty to a lord I usually have one particular phrase in my oath "To serve as I am served". Living by my own rules I would feel it my responsibiliy, as Baron, to serve the people to the greatest extent possible to fulfill my half of the fealty oath, and inspire their service in return.

The baronial coronet has a responsibility to the barony as a whole to devote a reasonable amount of time, attention, and effort to baronial activities and concerns, including giving the barony a focus of activity so that it can work together as a whole.

The Baron/ess also has a responsibility to him/herself and the barony to try to take care of his or her own well being.

The baron/ess is also responsible for encouraging everyone in the projects that make our barony so rich in skills, ideas, and experience. This means welcoming new people, recognizing people's contributions, listening to people's complaints, and fostering a positive attitude. By this I mean one that is constantly striving for improvement, but is non-elitest and welcoming. This may be a hard balance, but it is the baron/ess's duty to strive for it.

The baron/ess also has the responsibility to represent our barony outside its borders, and to be a gracious emissary for us. At the kingdom level, the baron/ess should advocate for our citizens and their interests in curias and by petitioning the kingdom orders on their behalf. In some ways, the baron/ess is like an old-fashioned Congressman, looking out for his constituency and getting the potholes filled for his hometown.

The baron/ess also has the responsibility to lead the barony at Pennsic. This is one of many great things Johanna & Aquel have done for us, creating a strong and colorful presence at our big national convention. In addition to the processions to the field, the hospitality tents, and the like, I would feel obligated to take the field. No one will ever mistake me for William Marshall, but I feel it is important to be there.

The baron/ess of Carolingia IS Carolingia in the historic sense, and because of this his/her responsibilities are to all the people, not to any particular individual or group.

The baron/ess obviously has the duties of fealty to the crowns of the East, and the responsibility of presenting the rose to receive confirmation of our charter. The baron/ess should zealously guard our ancient privileges, rights, and liberties.