Calendar of Events 

October 2002

Sunday, 6th -- Bog Business Meeting
                        6pm at Lady Sarai's in Johnstown

Tuesday, 8th -- Western Border Gathering
                           6:30 - 7:30 pm at Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe

Saturday 19th -- Baronial Champions Event
                             10am at the home of Isteri
                            

Heavy Weapons Practice: Sundays, 2pm at Roxbury Park. (Contact person: Lord Tower)

Fencing Practices: Wednesdays, 6pm at Kusar's; Sundays, 3pm at Roxbury Park.  (Contact person: Don Iago)

Archery Practices: Fridays, 6:30pm at Flood City Bowman. (Contact person: Lord John)

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Greetings fellow Boggers

The Baronial Champs tourneys will be held at Isteri's on October 19th.  Please see the event announcement else where in the newsletter.  We realize that not everyone likes to stand in court, however, we consider it an honor to have the Baronial champions with us at court.  So if you would fight/fence/shoot or throw to be champ we would like to see you in court but we will not make it mandatory.  What we do expect of the Champions is the following: Represent the Barony in the 7 Pearls Tournaments, if you are unable to attend, recommend a replacement to the B&B to go in your stead.  Plan the Championship tourney for you discipline at the next Baronial Champs Event.  Conduct yourself as befitting a representative of the best Barony in the Known World.  Most importantly, have fun.

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

Aquila and AElfra
Baron and Baroness

Greetings unto their Excellencies and the populace from Talishar, Seneschal,

This month will be our Baronial Champs tournament.  I wish all those who are participating the best of FUN!  Have fun, enjoy yourselves, laugh and have safe play.  Hopefully the weather will co-operate with us and the cattails won't have frost on them for this event.

As winter approaches we all are apt to want to cocoon in the warmth of our homes.  I hope that we will find good reason (projects) that we may come together over the long cold months and share hearth and hand.

I'm sure Dame Viv can think of some things to get us motivated on  (notice how smoothly I pass the buck).

Until next month, be well and have fun.,
Talishar

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From the Chronicler  

Greetings all,

Along with their Excellencies and our Seneschal, I would also like to add my wishes of good luck to all the competitors for Baronial Champion.  Fight well, with the courtesy and spunk the Bog is known for.  And may you have a perfect Autumn day!!!

If you have any questions or would like to submit anything to the newsletter (either the hard copy or electronic version), please contact me at 724-238-0114 or bogchronicler@yahoo.com.

In service,
Lady Caitilin "Cait" ni Mhaolconaire

     Be it known, throughout the Barony of St. Swithin's Bog, that the Baronial Championship Tournaments Event will be held on October 19, 2002, at the home of Isteri (196 Concord Drive, Somerset, PA 15501).  The site opens at 10 am and closes after court.  This is no fee for this event.  A lunch will be prepared by Baroness AElfra and will consist of a hearty Beef soup, breads and cheeses.

     Please contact the current Baronial Champs for the details of the manner of tournaments to be held:

     The site opens at 10am for set up with the first tournament to being at 11am with fencing followed by archery and thrown weapons, then ending with rattan.  Autocrat - Isteri (Duane Lohr - 196 Concord Drive, Somerset PA 15501, 814-443-9711).

Coming from the East:
Make best way to Somerset.  At the main Diamond in town take Rt. 31 west, this is one way going thru town.  Get into the left lane. Go all the way till the one way ends you must either go straight or turn left.  TURN LEFT! You go one block then turn right onto Rt. 281 going toward New Centerville.  Set Odometer at that point (you will be next to Dressler Arts Center where demo was), go 2.7 miles, look for left turn onto Concord Drive (there is split rail fence on either side and a sign behind fence that says Tippiecanoe). Turn left here go to bottom of hill and turn left onto the gravel road. Go about 20 yards bear off to the right this will take you up to the Castle.

Coming from the West:
If you like the Turnpike get off at Somerset Exit.  When you get off at the gate go straight to the second light.  You turn right there onto N. Center Ave.  Take this to the  main Diamond where you turn right onto Rt. 31 west and follow the directions as coming from the east.

Or from Donegal Exit, after exiting turn left on Rt. 31 east.  Take this till you get to the Lavansville crossroad. (You will know you are almost to it when you pass a lumber yard on the right, there is a golf cart resurrection on the left and a barn type building on right.)  Turn right here on Samuels road.  Stay on this till you come to Rt. 281.  (will come down a hill and intersect with it... there is a large farm just across the road)  Turn left here, go about 300 yards and turn right onto Concord Drive (it is just as the farmers field ends on right). Go to bottom of hill and turn left onto gravel road.  Go 30 yards and bear off to right this will come up to our house.

     Park anywhere in drive.  We are going to try double parking as there is a big area in front of the BIG GARAGE.

     We are planning to continue into the evening with a Bonfire for all those interested.  There is crash space for anyone desiring not to make the journey home that night.  Contact Isteri for more information.

Unto the Heavy Weapons fighters of the Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog does Lord Uthr Darrus send greetings.

     Once again the time has come to take up arms in the tournament that decides who will represent the Barony as this year’s champion.

     Thus do I send out this challenge to all the fighters of the Bog – polish your armour, put new tape on your sticks, paint your shields and bring your guts, determination, and love of the game to do battle in honour of the Baron and Baroness.

Here are the rules:

This can be anyone you choose and s/he doesn’t need to be an actual herald, but you must have one in order to enter the competition. You may write your own introduction (please watch the profanity) or take your chance with the herald of your choosing.

2 points for shield and sword/ax/mace also two weapons any style (including Maudu)
3 points for great weapon sword/ax
4 points for pole arm/glave
5 points for spear and/or dagger

The only way to win the points is to win the bout with that weapons form.

     You may only fight the weapons forms you are authorized in. Bring your stuff, your water, your attitude and your oxygen for it’s crunch time folks let’s have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me (David Cook) at 724-529-0636 or lorduthr@msn.com.

Always in service to Bog and Crown,
Lord Uthr Darrus
Heavy Weapons Champion

Greetings unto the populace of the Bog and beyond!

I am happy to report that we had one of the best attendances at the September 10 gathering than I believe we've had in a long while!  I would especially like to thank Uthr, Alric, Ludwig and... Mike.  Of the three new people who came to the library, at least two were interested in heavy weapons and the one gentle seemed very impressed with what you were able to share with him.

Primarily an attempt was made to summarize the SCA - a near to impossible feat.  However, the new people seemed to remain interested despite the overwhelming amount of information we delivered into their laps.

Next month's meeting will be Tuesday, October 8, at Adams Memorial Library from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, but as always I remind everyone that we have the room beginning to 6:00pm.  Please feel free to utilize the room for research or to visit with other members.

As there is a good chance that our new people will attend the October gathering, we would like to continue familiarizing them with the SCA.  Heavy Weapons has been represented (although they are always welcome to return) as was Archery, so we hope people more familiar with some of the other aspects of the SCA will consider attending and bringing along things to share with the group.

Another thing brought up again at the gathering was the possibility of doing classes.  Anyone interested in teaching a class on some aspect of the SCA, please contact me (Cait at 724-238-0114 or snowdragon1027@yahoo.com) or attend the October 8 gathering.

In service to Bog and Crown,
Lady Caitilin ni Mhaolconaire

Greetings,

Due to illness, I was unable to make the meeting, but wanted to let you know that I did contact a number of local sites in hopes of finding places to meet and engage in workshops, demos, etc.  The most promising of these were St. Clair Park in Greensburg and Twin Lakes Park, also in Greensburg.

St. Clair Park just needs us to provide them with warning, a copy of the whole waiver things, and the only charges that would be incurred is if they needed to bring maintenance in to clean up after us or if providing us with seats, electricity, or whatever.  Twin Lakes has a small pavilion that seats 25 people at the lower lake on the shore opposing the boat rentals.  While there isn't electricity there, it costs $15 to rent Monday through Friday.  There is an enclosed privy nearby as well as a peaceful view of the lake and surrounding woods.

Unfortunately, when I inquired with Westmoreland Mall as to the availability of a community room or other similar facility, I was told that they do not have any accommodations of that sort.  Additionally, there has been no further word from the local colleges regarding our being able to provide the student body with a demo this fall.

In service,
Rose Thorne

Greetings to the Barony of St. Swithin's,

Another three day has come and gone and I am excited to report a generous profit.  Thank you to all that have helped.  I could not have done this without you!  Of the food that was left over, some had gone to Pennsic for the Bog Party, the rest is ready for Baronial Champs.  Thank you all again for your support!!!

THL Cynthia
Autocrat

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Books

We recently purchased some books at the library on the middle ages, here are two of them:

Daily Life in the Middle Ages by Paul B. Newman - "This book covers all aspects of day to day life in the medieval era, including such everyday concerns as diet, housing, clothing, hygiene, medicine, and amusements.  Illustrated with drawings and period art, the book also lists collections of medieval art and artifacts in North America, and provides a comprehensive bibliography for further reading."

The History of Castles: fortifications around the world by Christopher Gravett - "takes readers on an exhaustive global tour that also includes stops in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, to examine why and how Castles were built in different regions, how they were used, and in many cases, how they were destroyed in warfare."

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