20 April 2005

Report: Monthly to Kingdom

Greetings unto Ibrahim and Ileana, Sultan and Sultana of the Outlands, Hoegaarden and Chiara, Amir and Amira, Mistress Leah de Montgomerie, Outlands Seneschal, the Outlands College of Heralds, and to all others who come by these letters, from Lady Sorcha MacLeod, White Stag Principal Herald!

Specific issues:

• Several times during 2004, I presented proposed changes to kingdom policy as it pertains to the College of Heralds to the Crown, the Kingdom Seneschal, and the Kingdom Exchequer as an affected officer. Having received no negative feedback on the proposed changes, the Outlands College of Heralds is currently operating under the new policies. I will be resubmitting the proposed changes in the near future, but I wish to give the Exchequery a chance to complete the transition phase, which always brings a special brand of chaos.
• Vacancies in kingdom staff: Rampart Herald (External Submissions), Fretty Herald (CoA commenter), Stag's Attire Herald (Heraldic Regalia and Display).
• The Rampart office has now been divided into three separate offices, having for some time been far too much to expect of any one individual. Lord Cameron de Blakstan takes on the Internal Submissons position, and Lord Taliesin ab Iago takes on the duties of the Notifications Clerk. These positions are as yet untitled.

Current activities:

• Updating Kingdom Policy pertaining to heralds. Goal: 15 July. Updates submitted for review 14 July, 17 October, and 19 November.
  Pended.
• Informational/Educational articles for Outlandish Herald. Goal: Each month.
  Meeting goal.
• Informational/Educational posts to Outlands-heralds list. Goal: Each week minimum.
  Meeting goal. For the second month in a row, I have relied on the momentum of the College for these posts to continue, and I am pleased to note that several senior heralds have stepped in to keep education moving forward.
• The Plover Field Heraldry Challenge continues, and prizes have been set as follows: First Prize - Herald's tabard and scroll, Second Prize - Herald's notebook and scroll, Third Prize - scroll. Prizes will be awarded at KWHS 2005 in the Baronies of Unser Hafen and Caer Galen. More information can be found at: http://plover.outlandsheralds.org/challenge.html
• KWHS 2005 will be hosted by the Baronies of Unser Hafen and Caer Galen. I am handling organizing the heraldry track of classes, which is nearly full. The website for this event is at http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/kwhs/KWHSWebpage.html
• Ceolwen æt Axanbrycge is head of a committee formed to create a database and web interface to allow for an on-line search of the Precedence and Roll of Arms databases. A recent progress report indicates that some modules are finished, and user modules are being created so that testing may begin in earnest. I am very excited to see this project progressing.
• After soliciting opinions from much of the College, and to bring the internal ranking structure of the Outlands College of Heralds more in line with at least one period ranking structure, individuals will now progress from Messinger-of-arms through Macer, Pursuivant, and Herald, to Herald Extraordinary. Offices will remain as Heralds for kingdom staff, Pursuivants for baronial heralds, and will change to Macers for shires, cantons, and colleges. Previously used "Cornet" was a significantly post-period term, and previously used "Pursuivant Extraordinary" was being used in a manner not consistent with its meaning. "Herald Extraordinary" is retained with respect to the Laurel edict that created it, and in keeping with SCA history, which also has its merits. The structure used in later period Scotland was "Messinger (of arms), Macer, Pursuivant, Herald, King of Arms."

Normally I would summarize the reports received from various staff and branch officers. Baronial heralds are required to report monthly, all others are on a quarterly schedule. I regret that I am still recuperating from the illness that felled me just before my last report, and must once more abbreviate my report. Reporting is currently at a high percentage, and I will return to my summaries next month. Rest assured that all reports are being read and filed, and I will be answering any questions contained therein between tomorrow and Saturday.

Administrivia:

Finances are in the hands of the Kingdom Exchequer. White Stag/Rampart reports to the Exchequer each month on checks received for which groups, submitters, and items, and requests payment to Laurel for submissions likewise itemized.

In service and in duty,
Sorcha White Stag