How have you interacted with the boroughs in the past year?

Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne (other question responses)
Mistress Caitlin Davies and Master Justin du Coeur (other question responses)
Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon (other question responses)
Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux and Master Seamus Donn (other question responses)
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch and Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland (other question responses)
Seigneur Jehan du Lac (other question responses)
Master John McGuire (other question responses)
Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva (other question responses)

Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne :

It's difficult to limit this to the past 12 months -- just because memory is faulty. Every year the storytellers guild goes to a variety of borough meetings. I'm pretty sure we've been to Felding, Fenmere, and Mitgaard in the past 12 months -- although it may be slightly longer. Last year, i Sebastiani did a series of workshops on commedia during IAP -- and is always encouraging to borough folk who wish to be involved. Aleksandr has taught a wide variety of classes at the boroughs -- mostly on storytelling and persona -- and has acted as a resource on things Russian and French for those who have expressed an interest. Two of his apprentices were drawn from the boroughs (Duncharloch and Fenmere) as well. Although not in the past year, Morwenna's SCA career began at Fenmere, where she served as provost for a year and a half, as well as co-autocrat of May Day. This experience gives her insight into the problems faced by the boroughs and their members.

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Master Justin du Coeur :

I think it's fair to say that I do a good deal with the boroughs, more than most of the older generation do -- I'm one of the mainstays during demo season, I try to help out with things like IKU and suchlike. Caitlin admittedly isn't as involved with that side of things, but I think that's okay -- the main reason we can know as much of the Barony as we do is that we *don't* entirely run in the same crowds. If knowing all of the Barony is a difficult task, it's made somewhat easier by splitting the task.

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Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon :

As Magistra, Godith has been to every demo she could physically fit in, including the Mitgaard activites night. Diego, despite not being Magistra, has gone to all these demos too. Godith has been to sewfests for Mitgaard and Ivory Keep this fall (and only missed the one at Felding because of an injury). Last IAP we were at Mitgaard's shoe classes, and Godith was the cloak-making workshop.

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Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux :

I haven't interacted with the buroughs much in the last couple of years. I am still in contact with the Medieval recreation group at BU (Southbanke).

Master Seamus Donn :

It would be hard for me to track what I've done in the last calendar year. Off and on I've tried to be helpful to the Ivory Keep, as my time and their need allowed. I've been a subscriber to the Southbanke mailing list since I moved there. Mostly I'd have to say that I've listened. Where opportunity has presented itself I've tried to take the time to hear things from their perspective. Sometimes I've presented examples from my own experience running a (mostly) college group, but without trying to tell them how they should do things. Every experience is unique. I've heard a number of things. I have talked to borough folk who have been discontent with being ignored, being undervalued, or being constantly hit on by middle-aged men. I have tried to address what problems have been presented in what ways I've been able to in individual circumstances and in how I conduct myself as an example. Are these common issues? Are they just a minority of vocal malcontents? In my role of Baron it would become my duty to understand such things. If nothing else, I would like to be a person that anyone can bring problems to, that aren't necessarily fulfilled by an appropriate officer. I take the concept of fealty very seriously. It is not just about retainers serving a liege, but also a liege serving their retainers.

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Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :

Nothing specific that I can think of. My current activities tend to center on guilds or practices that are not borough specific. I have participated in guilds or practices that rotated to the boroughs in the past; for instance, I participated in I Sebastiani's IAP classes on commedia dell'arte 2 or 3 years ago.

When I was Mistress of A&S (long ago) I spent much more time at various boroughs, going to most demos and recruitment meetings and participating in many A&S demos.

Boroughs are very important in Carolingia as a major source for recruitment and as centers of activity. I think the baronial coronet should do what lies in its power to become familiar with the members of the boroughs and help integrate the boroughs with the rest of the barony.

Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :

Not very much, I must admit. When Felding was planning a screening of _The Lion in Winter_ last spring, I volunteered to do a brief presentation on the historical setting - but the screening never came off, and I turned my notes into an article for the Minuscule instead. I attended the Philosophers' meeting hosted by MITgaard, which is another good example of the kind of co-sponsored meeting I mentioned above. I taught a class at Ivory Keep University, but that was really a baronial event more than a borough one. Other than that, I haven't had much interaction with boroughfolk in the past year.

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Seigneur Jehan du Lac :

I teach fencing at the Sunday night practice and have met some borough folk through the newbie class that we run. Unfortunately I haven't visted a borough recently, although I have plans of taking the "Manners" course on the road after the baronial election process is over. I do have a history of being more involved with them in the past. I was deeply honored at Legends when one of the clan heads of the new Lochleven household thanked me for a Falling Leaves a few years ago when I took more Fenmereians than my car would legally allow to that event, gave them feast gear, cloaks, food and made them feel at home.

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Master John McGuire :

Unfortunately for me it has been a rather quiet year, as far as interacting with boroughs. Too many projects both work and SCA have monopolized my time. All I have done is:

Assisted my former journeyman Lucretzia with the Renaissance Clothing Workshop at Mitguard. Brought two machines and helped students make shirts.

I assisted a number of individual borough members make patterns and clothing.

I have a standing offer of teaching anyone who asks, and I repeat that offer in email or at council several times a year. I usually get a few new college students following up on that every year.

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Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :

To our shame, we have gained more from the boroughs than we have repaid them -- many of our favorite events and activities are supported by our boroughs. Yeliz was more active with the Carolingian boroughs in the early-to-mid 1990s, teaching at meetings and doing demos. Hua Fu was very active in his borough in Sterlynge Vale back before moving to Carolingia -- the sort of pattern that we hope reoccurs with your alumni when they must move away. Most recently, Yeliz led sing-alongs at Falling Leaves, IKU and May Day prior to stepping down as Quire Mistress.

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