What do you expect to have to give up to accept this position? How will your participation in other Baronial activities change?

I am likely to give up my position as head of the Storyteller's Guild, as I do not feel the baron should appear to have a bias towards one of the groups in the barony.

Last, I would likely step down my activities within i Sebastiani. Currently I manage the troupe, direct many of the performances, as well as acting. It would be unfair to both i Sebastiani and the barony if I were to try and fulfill both roles.

Like Morwenna, I can easily see myself attending many practices or guild meetings that I might not were I not baron. I feel it is one of the major responsibilities of the office to know the thoughts of the populace and to be accessible to them.

As baroness, I will participate in some activities that I, as a private citizen, would not, because it is important for me to know the populace. One way of doing that is to attend meetings of guilds, boroughs, etc.

As for changing my participation in other Baronial activities, I expect there to be some mild shifting of priorities, but not terribly dramatic ones. I'm already something of a dilletante, visiting various guilds and such as they strike my fancy; I believe that's a strength in a B/B, who need to know the Barony as broadly as possible. I'd probably step that up a little, but I don't think it needs to get too extreme.

(The one specific change I'd make is getting back into armor, which would require some time and focus. I haven't fought in, oh, more years than I care to contemplate, but I feel that it's symbolically important for the Baron to be able to take the field with the troops.)

Beyond that task of getting out and visiting the various subgroups that make up the great Venn Diagram that is Carolingia, I don't think the job requires all that much *time* specifically; this isn't like being Royalty, with the various timesinks that entails. There are some other tasks involved, such as external relations with the Royals and the other Baronies, but those tend to happen at events on an as-needed basis.

As for my other jobs within the Society, I don't expect things to change dramatically. Being active on the questions@sca.org list is, frankly, recreational for me -- I'm only one of several people there, so I can answer questions as I have time, and I enjoy doing it. Running the Rolls Ethereal takes virtually no day-to-day effort, since it's largely automated. The Low Company would be an interesting question: if someone wanted to take it on actively, I'd probably let them have it, and otherwise continue to play and teach as I have time.

My criteria for participation will change from what I want to do to what the Barony needs me to do. I'm more likely to go to a wider range of activities, than just the few that compose my primary interests.

Gwendolyn and I each have families, and therefore have certain outside commitments that are irreducible. On the other hand they are two separate families, and separate commitments, and the hope is that this will give us a little extra flexibility to help us meet the Coronet's demands on our attention.

I would probably have to give up keeping a tavern. However, it is impossible for me to stay out of the hospitality business, and I would fill that void in my life by trying to keep the estate proper to the lord of a great household of my time period, which includes providing hospitality. This means that at most events I attended I would set up a corner where people could expect to find a cold drink, a place to sit, and perhaps a nibble. And of course, there would be musicians; what is court, however provincial, without musicians? :). At outdoor events, a nice fly would do, at indoor events, a few oriental rugs, a table, perhaps one of those "indoor tents" I saw a nice pattern for...

I would have to give up more weekends. A baron/ess must attend all baronial events, all kingdom events if humanly possible (not necessarily driving to Canada in a blizzard, for example), major events held by our neighbors when possible, and Pennsic. Luckily, although I am a singleton (no co-baron/ess), I do have a fabulous support system at home (who is a very long-term SCAdian) and can bring formidable forces to bear in meeting these obligations.

I guess I wouldn't be able to serve myself at table. But it wouldn't stop me from serving the King & Queen.

Free time.
The ability to skip a local event.
I do not expect to have as much time for projects.

Affect Other Activities:

Increase attendance at order meetings...
I am more likely to participate in martial activites.
I expect I will be doing more regalia and Baronial based projects.