This is a test to see how an electronic newsletter would be received in the Bog. This is the April-May issue and it will only be available electronically.

Out of 72 possible people/families who could respond, 29 sent a response (40% of the Bogl) the results were 20 people wanted an electronic newsletter, 2 wanted paper only, and 7 wanted both paper and electronic newsletter.

Some of you sent wonderful ideas along with your reply. Some of those were: sending a message on the e-group to alert you that a new issue has been posted. Placing a list of items coming up for a vote on the e-group so people who have an interest in a specific topic make sure to come and have their voice be heard, and a few others.

As you may know Lord Quinn has been Chronicler for over 2 years. This job can be a lot of fun and at the same time can be a real pain. Hopefully, a lot of that pain can be relieved by having an electronic newsletter. If you have been a member for over 1 year and have some experience doing newsletters, be at the May business meeting and let the Baron/ess and Seneschal know you are interested in being the Chronicler.

With the retreat of winter from the mountains of AEthelmearc, the Dragon and the Tiger both begin to grow restless in their lairs. Soon the specter of war will stalk the land. Warriors of all kinds will soon hear the call to arms. Now is the time to sharpen your skills.

Thus, the Western Border of St. Swithin's Bog invite all archers to come and bend their bows in an unusual sort of archery competition. Participating archers will try their skill against a cleverly (some might say fiendishly) designed course of targets. But it is not accuracy alone which will determine a victor, one's speed will play a major role.

For those who do not wish to shoot, we will offer a number of A& S activities, including the creation of a tapestry on a large loom. This activity will be open to any adults or children who wish to participate. There will be ample space for pick-up bouts for both fencers and heavy fighters. There will be a silent auction as well. Proceeds from the auction will go to purchase a new book on a medieval subject for our meeting place - Adamas Memorial Library, in Latrobe PA. As always, merchants will be most welcome. Please contact the autocrat and let him know you are coming.

During the evening's repast, there will be a themed bardic competition, sponsored by House Firebrand. And, for the enjoyment of the ladies, there will be a men in tights competition.

The site is discretely damp (beer, wine, and mead only please)

The site will open at 10:00 AM and will close 10:00P.M.

Our site will once again be the Flax Scutching Grounds on Rte 711, in Stahlstown, PA (No Street Address) This site is easily accessible from either Rte 30, or the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Directions below.)

The fees for the day's festivities are; Adults: $8.00, onboard $4.00 off-board. Children: 4 - 12 $2.00, Children under 4: free. $1.00 off admission with the donation of an item for the auction.

Directions:

From the West:

Take your best route to Route 30. Take Route 30 east toward Ligonier. At Ligoneir, make a right onto Rt 711 South. Follow 711 south for apporximately 6 miles. the Flax Scutching Grounds will be on your right. Keep an eye out for the SCA signs.

From the East:

Take your best route to Route 30. Take Rt. 30 west toward Ligonier. At Ligonier, make a left onto Rt 711 South. Follow 711 south for apporximately 6 miles. the Flax Scutching Grounds will be on your right. Keep an eye out for the SCA signs.

From the North or South:

Take your best route to Route 30 and follow whichever of the above directions best fit your situation.

The site is also accessible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Exit the Turnpike at the Donegal exit. Make a left out of the interchange, and follow the signs for 711 North toward Ligonier. The Flax Scutching Grounds will be on your left, approximately 7 miles north of the Turnpike.

For clarifications, or other directions, please contact the autocrat.

Many of you know the many wonders of the "BOG" and new comers will surly delight when they enter and feel that they have died and truly gone to BOGHALLA! We have great plans for you within our Barony and wondrous journeys for you to take.
Once again, The Barony of St. Swithin's Bog will proudly host the Pearls of AEthelmearc Inter-Baronial Rapier Championship. The tournament will begin promptly at 9:00 A.M. Saturday morning. Tournament details will be sent to all baronies and their champions beforehand. There will also be a Rapier tourney in the afternoon for everyone attending........so pack up your gear and join us for a full day of fencing in the Bog.

Come and play with us as we fight for damsels in distress and treasures beyond your wildest imaginations. There will be a Mead competition and prizes awarded, along with several class’s offered please visit our website for specifications and help with this venture and for the class addenda.

Troll opens on Friday, July 19, from 4:00-10:00P.M. And will reopen on Saturday from 8:00A.M. And will close at 4:00 P.M. I know that honor plays an important role in our great society of the SCA and I also know that if you enter our event and the troll is closed that you will make every effort to troll in when it reopens.

Greetings fellow Boggers,

Alot of this may not be chronologically correct due to the difference between writing and printing time but here goes. Finally, SPRING! Just had to celebrate there for a moment. And along the line of celebrating....VIVAT to Lord Quinn for being named as the Queen's Rapier Champion! Also vivats to the entire Bog fencing group for an impressive showing at the Queen's Rapier event. I'm sure that soon our fighters and archers will be returning with tales of victories as well.

While speaking of acts well excecuted, vivat to Lord Kenn for the great job he has been doing on our web page. I could probably go on patting Boggers on the back for various deeds, but then I'd fill the entire newsletter.

In order to keep this short allow me to just remind everyone of the high points upcoming on the calendar. Have all ready for War Practice, Three Day and Pennsic! Remember folks we have time alloted for A&S, you can bring anything you need to work on, company makes the task go faster.

Until next month.
Talishar

Greetings Fellow Boggers;

Once again you make us proud to be Boggers. Lady Talishar, Lord Iago and Lord Lodovic have been asked to be on the Queen's guard. Lord Quinn has been chosen to be the Queen's Rapier Champion. Obviously we are not the only one's who know the true worth of the Bog.

Summer is fast approaching and we will be traveling to as many events as possible. We look forward to seeing many of you at War Practice this month. Time is running out (June 1st) to pre-register for Pennsic, please do so if you are planning to attend. You may also pre-register on line at the Pennsic web site.

Speaking of Pennsic- We would like to see as many painted sheets as possible for our camp site at Pennsic. If everyone painted only 2 we could cover the entire front of the site. At the war meeting held at our home we all decided to make everyone responsible for their own camp showers. The best thing to do is break up into groups of 5-8 people and share one shower. The water subject is on hold until we can gather more cost info. As it stands we will most likely go with the barrels filled at the beginning of the War with clean (ok clear) Pennsic water for showering and bring your own drinking water.

Please send us any recommendations for Baronial awards, especially A&S and martial, this month.

So long as the Raven flies and the Cattails grow, we shall remain in service to Crown and Bog;

Aquila and AElfra
Baron and Baroness of St. Swithin's Bog

The following members were in attendence: Alric, Lord Ludwig, Lord Connor, Lord Kenn, Lady Katya, Dona Caroline, Dame Vivienne, Baroness Aelfra, Lord Tower, Nelle, Lord Quinn, Lord Gavin, Nicodemus

Reminder marshalls are responsible for getting and sending in waivers.

The next officers meeting will be held April 23 7pm at Chapple's.

The revised bylaws have been passed by the officers and will be sent to Kingdom for their blessing.

Balance is $5429.38, Bank statements are still going to the Seneschal, the new revised bylaws state the Exchequer will get the statements. Dona Caroline will contact the bank to make this change.

The King would like all landed Baronies to process with him. This is the first year all landed Barons will fight in the Pennsic War.

April 20, Baron Connor is looking for help installing the new seating in the ampitheatre for the Sylvan Crusades. If you are willing to help contact the B& B.

Thursday the Scibal Guild met and Lord Kusar taught about color. THL Cynthia has opened her house for working with scrolls. The first Thursday in May (May 2) Lord Kusar will be teaching how to use gold leaf on scrolls.

Small wooden boxes will be the next project. So bring a paint brush, dremel, or wood burning supplies to work on this project.

Check your authorization cards. There will be a new procedure for Marshall cards.

Laurel Arts demo is coming up. (See notice on web page).

New web address is: stswithinsbog.org

All devices are online check out the website to see the new spiffy features such as the Bog board.

Needs replacement, discussion was held on who could take over this position. The bylaws state you must be a member for at least 1 year before you can hold an office.

Discussion was held on posting the newsletter on the webpage. Lady Katya will do a survey to see if there is sufficient interest in posting the newsletter on line.

The new chamberlain is Lord Tower. If you pick up any supplies from the shed, sign for it and return it in the same shape. Future projects include building shelves in the shed.

12^th Night Bid, Viva la France, Autocrats would be Dame Vivienne and Baroness Charmaine

Admission will be $18.00 with a $3 discount for an auction item .Our cost will be approx. $11 per head for a total cost of $1200-1500.

Our Baronial Bardic Competition will be held during the event Court and Country dancing will be held in the Afternoon.

The bid was passed.

No update on the 3 day event for the second month.

Baroness Aelfra will talk to Coopers regarding having a water buffalo brought in for Pennsic. It is rumored a new water line has been installed.

We can fill barrels with good water, currently 5 barrels are buried at our camp.

Will plan a clean up party after war practice.

Camp showers: instead of camp shower break into groups of 5-8 and bring your own shower.

Sheetwall: If every person made 2 sheets the entire camp could be covered. Our camp would be cleaner and more private.

Discussion was held on using canvas for the sheetwall, we will revisit this idea next year.

WESTLAND MORS:

Greetings unto the Barony of St. Swithin's Bog from its Western Border.

At the April 9th gathering on the border, many topics were brought to the table.

Events:
Plans for the Spring Archery Challenge (aka Spring Thing Event) are going along smoothly. By the time this reaches the homes of our Boggers, a target making class and party will have been held by Lord Morgan with assistance from Lord Derrick. Targets made will be used at the June 8^th event. For reasons beyond us, the announcement has not been in the AEstel, but Lord Morgan plans to email a copy to all the area newsletters. Lady Rowan and Lord Laochlain are still putting together the days food. Lady Kat has made a donation request for yarn of any kind and color. She plans to bring a large loom to the event for people to view and use.
Anyone wishing to donate please contact her at 724-838-0420 (before 9pm)
or email her at mozina@sgi.net. Thank you.

Demos:
The Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe has asked us to do a demo for their Summer Reading Club program. The theme for this year's program is "Spotlight on Reading @ your Library", focusing on the arts, history and so forth. We agreed on Saturday, July 27th. The demo will be held at Christ the Divine Teacher School across the parking lot from the library. Kids are
mostly K - 7th grade with some preschool age kids as well.

Rose Thorne contacted several area colleges about the possibility of doing a demo in the Fall or Spring semester. She was told that they would not be scheduling until June for the Fall. However, UPG seemed interested.

Both the Barnes & Noble and Twin Lakes demos are being checked into.
When more information is available we'll pass it along.

Other Things Around The Border:
Æthelmearc Chirurgeons supply donation. Lady Rowan has experienced difficulty contacting the individual needed to get a supply list. However, Fianna will be performing at War Practice on Saturday night following court in the Barn. Anyone wishing to donate supplies to the Chirurgeons, please bring them to the event and give to Rowan or Morgan, who will pass these
beneficial gifts along to the proper people.

Also at the gathering on Tuesday, the group passed around a book entitled "The Origins of Fruits and Vegetables" by Jonathan Roberts. This illustrated and informative book gives in insight on the origins of many common fruits and vegetables. For instance, did you know that "Cherry trees...actually originated in China, but were not domestically cultivated until the first century B.C. in Greece, and are closely related to peaches, plums, and almonds"? Also found in the book are Latin names for the item of interest. Lady Meglin, inspired by the book, mentioned her lord's large avocado... the women swooned and the men were all envious. Before long this digressed into a competition on who owns the largest avocado, the results are still out.

If you missed April's gathering, then you'll want to mark Tuesday, May 14th, on your calendar. Meeting time is 6:30 to 7:30 pm, although attendees are welcome to arrive around 6 pm to chat, research or work on a project. We meet at Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe.

And so ended yet another fascinating chapter in the on-going saga that is the Western Border's Monthly gatherings.

In service to the kingdom and bog,
Lady Caitilín ní Mhaolconaire

Fencing:

Congratulations to St. Swithin's Bog's first Aethelmearc's fencing champion, Quinn Kerr. We are all very proud of his achievement and look forward to supporting him during his tenure. I would also like to acknowledge the ability of Kusar for reaching the final four in the tournament. Great work, Kusar! The finest kill of all was Lodovick's kill on Ian-done in true bog style. Also, I would like to recognize Jim for a great effort in his first out of bog tourney. Our fencers are being recognized throughout Aethelmearc for their courtesy, skill, and for being "a fun fence".

Iago

Mistress of Lists: Finally...the MOL did something! Last month I ran a tournament for the fencers to prepare Quinn for Inter-Baronials. It was a round robin tourney that included all five weapons forms. Participants included Quinn, Caroline, Iago, Kusar, Jim and Cheri. It was a very close battle with Iago pulling ahead of Quinn by one point. I am looking forward to future monthly tourneys and this summers events. Let me know what is being plotted for the 3-day! I need to be prepared!

Bubba
Emilia O'Madagain

The Barony of St. Swithin's Bog Sentinel is not an official publication of the SCA, Inc., and does not reflect its policies, etc. If you would like to submit an article, please contact Lady Katerina De La Marne, Interim Chronicler for the Bog at cindleap@aol.com.