September 27, 2003

Here are the much-awaited Althing Notes of September 27th 2003.

Item #1) A discussion on Man-at-Arms/Pages, who can take them, and how many can be taken. This item was separated into two sections: A) Should there be a limit as to how many Man-at-Arms/Pages can be taken, and B) Who can take Man-at-Arms/Pages.

A) Should there be a limit as to how many Man-at-Arms/Pages can be taken?

Yea: 4, Nay: 8, Abstain: 2, There will be no set limit as to how many Man-at-Arms/Pages can be taken by an individual.

B) Who can take Man-at-Arms/Pages?

The Noble title of Lord and Higher on the Order of Precedence and Squires: 11
The lesser title of Esquire and Higher on the Order of Precedence and Squires: 0
Abstain: 1
Those with the Noble title of Lord and Higher on the Order of Precedence and Squires will be allowed to take Man-at-Arms/Pages.

Item #2) Adoption of a firm schedule of events, to be placed in the corpora, so that all may know when, how, and who is happening at all times. This schedule also shifts Goldenvale current Crown Months so that Winter Crown Qualifications are moved away from the holidays, and so that the Summer Crown Qualifications are moved (slightly) away from the heavy eventing season.

Yea: 11, Nay: 1, Abstain: 2

Item #3) Weapon Covers on the field of Goldenvale. A revisit at what seems to be the "hot topic" of the reign. The following are the different options brought up, and the votes that accompanied them.

All weapons need a cover all the time: 4
All weapons need a cover in the winter: 1
Keep the ruling the same as per last Althing: 8
Abstain: 2

Item #4) Dame Willow has stepped down from her position of Guildmaster of Reeves. Dame Fionna will have Reeve's Tests available from October 4th forward in an attempt to expand the Reeve's Guild a little in order to provide a new Guildmaster of Reeves. This was a general announcement, and required no vote.

Item #5) In order to avoid further confusion as to the tallying of points towards Warmaster and Arts & Sciences Champion, it was suggested that Goldenvale adopt the point scheme of 5 points for 1st place, 3 points for 2nd place, and 1 point for 3rd place for all future Crown Qualifications.

Yea: 12, Nay: 1, Abstain: 3

Item #6) A general announcement from Dame Katala regarding the pumpkin shoot on Sunday, September 28th. Rain is predicted for that day, and so a phone tree will be used in the event of cancellation. This was a general announcement, and required no vote.

Item #7) A discussion on the scoring of Arts & Science Entries during Crown Qualifications in so far as the scale to be used, and what denotes a "passing" entry. The following are the different options brought up, and the votes that accompanied them.

A scale of 0-5 with 2 as "passing": 2
A scale of 0-5 with 3 as "passing": 4
A scale of 0-10 with 3 as "passing": 6

It was, however, a strong feeling that the education of judges, in so far as how to judge particular entries and the difference between "passing", "average", and "quality" should be a focus of the next Crown Qualifications process.

The next Althing will be held on October 18th, beginning promptly at 11:00 AM. If you have something that you would like put on the agenda for the next Althing, please email LdyFionna2000@yahoo.com. The agenda will be posted a week in advance of the Althing.