The Honorable Lady Judith of Northwode & Lord Rikkar Fundinn
Sara & Cully Simon
Most humble greetings unto Their Royal Majesties Lars III and Mary III, the Future Royal Heirs, Their Excellencies Baron Gabriel and Baroness Caoilfhionn, the good people of Northshield, and the populace of the Barony of Nordskogen. Myself, the Honorable Lady Judith of Northwode and my gracious husband, Lord Rikkar Fundinn, hope this letter finds you safe and warm!
We pen this missive with fervent ardor, beseeching your attention and humbly conveying our desire to assume the mantle of Baron and Baroness Nordskogen within our illustrious society. With resolute devotion and a deep reverence for antiquity, we yearn to dedicate our mettle and ardently serve this noble endeavor. We doth pledge our steadfast allegiance for a term of three years or beyond, as the fates decree.
After many hours of consideration, discussion, and feedback from our brood we believe we are able and most willing to serve in this capacity. We love the SCA and the Barony we now call home. Our fervent allegiance has graced the SCA’s hallowed halls for seven winters, where we have borne witness to the transformative enchantment wrought by historical reenactment. The SCA’s unwavering commitment to authenticity and the preservation of medieval customs has forever been our compass, guiding us to this path. If chosen, we shall steadfastly uphold and perpetuate society virtues, inspiring others to immerse themselves in the annals of history and fostering bonds of amity amongst our brethren.
Throughout our sojourn in the SCA, we have gallantly participated in sundry capacities, refining our leadership, organizational, and diplomatic acumen. We have marshaled the affairs of ten revels as a stalwart event steward, orchestrating their triumph with unwavering vigor. Moreover, we have borne the mantle of Shire Seneschal, Shire MOAS, Kingdom Cartographer, and Kingdom Signet gleaning invaluable insights into fostering a sense of kinship and unity within our sacred community.
In this position those who serve must, above all, embody honor, empathy, and an innate comprehension of the needs and aspirations that stir within the hearts of our local SCA denizens. If we are selected, we shall unfurl a tapestry that fosters erudition, inclusivity, and personal growth. We shall labor to forge an environment wherein all souls, irrespective of lineage or ken, feel treasured and ardently contribute their singular gifts. Furthermore, we are cognizant of the solemn charge that accompanies the mantle of this office – the onus to nurture lucid correspondence with both the Crown and the esteemed local populace. With unswerving devotion, we shall foster harmonious relations, bridging chasms, and faithfully represent the concerns and yearnings of our esteemed Barony populace on the grandest stage.
We doth yearn to create a wondrous endeavor, an outdoor winter event, wherein merriment and revelry shall abound. We are the great north – it would be most excellent to be able to use the full amount of our wool to play in the snow, snuggle up to friends by an outdoor fire, witness the sight of winter combat, and feast on seasonal favorites.
Furthermore, we humbly aspire to tread the path forged by the noble deeds of Their Excellencies, who hath diligently nurtured our beloved Barony and kindled the flames of enlightenment and revival. Moreover, we seek to cultivate our populace, to nourish their insatiable thirst for wisdom and rekindle the flames of our shared heritage.
Enclosed with this missive, we humbly proffer our detailed vitae and any pertinent parchments that illuminate our experience and accomplishments within the hallowed annals of the SCA and the mundane world. In gratitude, we bow before you, eager to take up the mantle of Their Excellencies Nordskogen. We await, the honor of your consideration. Should you seek further information, we stand ready to furnish any you may require at your most gracious convenience.
With deepest regards,
THL Judith of Northwode Lord Rikkar Fundinn
MDA: Sara Simon MDA: Cully Simon
The Honorable Lady Heliseus Mort d ’Arbor and The Lady Cynthia the Innocent
Stefanie and Cynthia Rauenhorst
For those of our friends in the SCA:
Hi all! This is a shorter, redacted version of our full Baronial application. If interested in the complete document, please DM or email @Cyndi Rauenhorst. (With @Stefanie Steele)
Statement of Intent
With great honor, we, The Honorable Lady Heliseus Mort d ’Arbor (Stefanie Rauenhorst) and The Lady Cynthia the Innocent (Cynthia Rauenhorst), submit this letter to declare our intention to run for the landed Baronial Leadership of Nordskogen. After seven & ten years of participation, respectively, and given mundane, non-SCA experience, we believe that we can continue to provide the Barony with positive local leadership and give back to our local group.
We know these past few years have put our community in a state of change, requiring an evolution of tools in order for us all to continue the dream as best we can. We have had to, as a group, step back and consider what’s important. Now is the time to identify what makes us Nordskogen, and why we want to be a part of this barony. To identify how we can find pride in being uniquely Nordskogen, while remaining inclusive, and open to the wider community. This requires involvement, and input, from our members. As the world continues to open up, we would encourage more participation from existing members, and sponsor moots and events accessible to the public, highlighting SCA skills to the wider local community.
If entrusted with the roles of Baronesses of Nordskogen, we will strive to listen to our community, identify opportunities, and remain flexible with evolving needs. Being involved on a day-to-day basis is a priority; keeping one’s finger “on the pulse,” in order to support the enjoyment of other members and encourage success. To maximize our outreach, we’ll use all of our tools, and actively reach out, to gather thoughts and opinions on how to adapt these methods.
While insight from the community is imperative, we have goals of our own; invest our time, energy, and administrative skills into current infrastructure, specifically identifying or updating tools to encourage events or gatherings. Also, support existing members while embracing the new, whether in a weekly meeting or at war. Provide members and new persons with the opportunity to explore interests and contributions to the barony, while highlighting those worthy of recognition and awards.
Fundamentally, we would seek, as Baronesses, to be an example to our community. Good leadership has the same qualities as productive members, and one inspires the other. Attending events as a well garbed, knowledgeable, and supportive presence, as often as possible, provides familiar consistency. Helping with behind-the-scenes planning, scheduling, logistics, and presentation, creates the community bond we ultimately seek for everyone who shares our passion and interests.
Background
Stefanie was drawn to the SCA from a youthful interest in medieval studies, having focused her bachelor’s dissertation on 9th -13th century Iberian Visigoth script, and the attendant Latin translations. This path led her to seek out a history-centric hobby many years later; a quick google search brought her to the SCA. Cynthia, conversely, was introduced to the SCA through a close theatre friend and found that the pomp and circumstance of the SCA had a similar draw as the theatre. Even more than stage management, which Cynthia had been involved with for over a decade, the SCA required the same, enjoyable application of project management skills. With an additional lifelong background in camping, and Girl Scout volunteerism, Cynthia found it a natural fit.
By attending events over the past years, Cynthia was able to dive deeper into participation, while focusing on service, camping, and historical etiquette. Stefanie found Rapier Combat as the most structured outlet for her participation, by marshaling and hosting tournaments, while dabbling in arts and sciences. Local meetings, practices, and connections helped us find roles to enhance our participation.
Conclusion
Baronial leadership is a position of trust within the community, and we would put that trust, and our baronial roles, above all other Society-based priorities, feelings, or interests. We desire everyone, from Seneschal to one-week newbie, to have the most positive impact possible. We already have a great, existing team in the Barony, who, we are confident, will continue that tradition. We will seek help, guidance, and input from others. While we desire to invest time to build new systems, we recognize the importance of learning from past experience. This is a community for the people, which should be led by the people; as the landed Baronial Leadership of Nordskogen, our goal would be to continue to provide our community with focus, structure, and force, to serve through leadership; to maintain what is great about our community, and to help it move forward, with diligence and intention, in positive, profitable, ways.