Announcements!
From their Majesties - Mask requirement
Beloved West Kingdom,
We look forward to seeing you at Fall Crown-Coronation. However, like many of you, We have a deep concern about the recent changes We have seen with the COVID Delta variant. We wish to add a layer of protection and do what We can to ease the minds of those that want to attend events in the West. We are adding a mask requirement for all SCA official gatherings in the West indoors or outdoors. With two exceptions, 1. if you are eating or drinking and 2. if you are on the fighting field fighting you do not have to wear a mask if you are vaccinated and outdoors (this is on your honor). Once your fight is over and you remove your helm, we ask that you re-mask. If you wish to wear a mask while fighting or at any other time in the kingdom, that is always ok.
This is what that should look like when you attend camping events. When you are in any and all public spaces, i.e. not in your personal encampment, and any time you approach the Royal pavilion, you should be masked. We understand you might pull a mask down for a moment to take a drink or get a bite of food. Please eat meals without masks in camp, just not in public spaces. The gray area will be some camps that may have large public spaces, and we ask that you wear masks in those areas as best you can. When in the private areas of camp, your tent or pavilion, you can go mask-free. At indoor events, please have the mask on anytime you are not eating or drinking. We ask that you use common sense and be kind when working these things out. Based on federal, state and local statements and guidelines, outdoor gatherings appear to be a reasonably safe way to socialize. We are adding this layer to further minimize health risks for the Kingdom, and to remove any doubts that everyone is wearing a mask that should be. Please give the benefit of the doubt where possible and remember we are all in this together.
Lastly, We ask that if you are at high risk or immune-compromised for any reason, you consider do you really need to be at an event at this time? As much as We want to see you, We want you to stay safe more.
Uther Rex Vera, Regina
From the Head of Court: Court business and elevations to take place at Fall Crown
OYEZ and pay heed!
If you have business for the Courts of Their Majesties Uther and Vera at Fall Crown please reach out to me via direct message or at damir@westkingdom.org at your earliest opportunity.
Furthermore, Their Majesties wish it known which special events will take place at which courts:
Be it known that the elevation of Katrina Yarbrough to the Order of the Pelican shall be at Saturday morning court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Frederick de Cathcart to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Saturday evening court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Roric Darkinson to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Sunday morning court. Vigil to take place Saturday night.
Please share this information widely.
YIS,
Damir
From the Kingdom Constable
Greetings West Kingdom Populace,
Please follow all posted signage at events as requirements may change between printing and events. Please listen to Event Staff and Kingdom Officers for updates and observe all posted signs.
As always please remember to flag rope lines and trip hazards, have fire extinguishers at the ready, park appropriately and not blocking fire lanes, follow West Kingdom Fire Safety Policy, Society Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harassment policy, and all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations.
Please remember to properly dispose of garbage, leaving site cleaner than when you arrived. Lost and found items should be reported/turned in and logged with Gate.
*********************************
Greetings All Constables AND those interested in becoming Constables, please:
1. Identify yourself at Gate.
2. Fill out a current information sheet for the Constable Roster. Include all training/refresher/warrant requests.
3. Sign up for a gate or safety walk shift (or more).
4. Know you and your service are greatly appreciated.
In Service and With Thanks,
THL Christel Leake,
West Kingdom Constable
From the Head of Court: Court business and elevations to take place at Fall Crown
OYEZ and pay heed!
If you have business for the Courts of Their Majesties Uther and Vera at Fall Crown please reach out to me via direct message or at damir@westkingdom.org at your earliest opportunity.
Furthermore, Their Majesties wish it known which special events will take place at which courts:
Be it known that the elevation of Katrina Yarbrough to the Order of the Pelican shall be at Saturday morning court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Frederick de Cathcart to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Saturday evening court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Roric Darkinson to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Sunday morning court. Vigil to take place Saturday night.
Please share this information widely.
YIS,
Damir
From the head of court- Elevations, court business
OYEZ and pay heed!
If you have business for the Courts of Their Majesties Uther and Vera at Fall Crown please reach out to me via direct message or at damir@westkingdom.org at your earliest opportunity.
Furthermore, Their Majesties wish it known which special events will take place at which courts:
Be it known that the elevation of Katrina Yarbrough to the Order of the Pelican shall be at Saturday morning court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Frederick de Cathcart to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Saturday evening court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Roric Darkinson to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Sunday morning court. Vigil to take place Saturday night.
Please share this information widely.
YIS,
Damir
More details will be added to the schedule as they become available
From the Head of Court: Court business and elevations to take place at Fall Crown
OYEZ and pay heed!
If you have business for the Courts of Their Majesties Uther and Vera at Fall Crown please reach out to me via direct message or at damir@westkingdom.org at your earliest opportunity.
Furthermore, Their Majesties wish it known which special events will take place at which courts:
Be it known that the elevation of Katrina Yarbrough to the Order of the Pelican shall be at Saturday morning court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Frederick de Cathcart to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Saturday evening court. Vigil to take place Friday night.
Be it known that the elevation of Roric Darkinson to the Order of Chivalry shall be at Sunday morning court. Vigil to take place Saturday night.
Please share this information widely.
YIS,
Damir
A note on safety, inclusion and safe spaces from our DEI Officer
It has come to Our attention that there are concerns about the safety of People of Color and LGBTQIA+ members in the area where Fall Crown Tournament will be held.
Working together, the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal, the Autocrat team, and the Kingdom Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, have extensively looked into these concerns including: contacting the Southern Nevada LGBTQIA+ Center, contacting the local Sheriff’s department, and reviewing multiple online crime and area review websites (links below). Based on Our reviews, and what we have been told, the Fernely event Site appears to be as safe as any other site We have used.
What We have found is that roughly a decade ago, Fernley was a troubled area. Since then many things have changed, notably economic opportunities in the area have increased (such as the Amazon facility). Per the 2017 Lyon County Sherrif’s Office Annual Report (most recent available online), violent crime (including criminal homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, etc.) decreased from 1,217 crimes in 2013 to 689 crimes in 2017 (an approximately 44% reduction). Please note these are the total numbers of violent crimes for the entire county (an area of approximately 2,024 square miles), not just within the Fernley town limits. From what we can tell, this trend has continued and quality of life has continued to improve.
We also feel it is important to support members of Our community who may be at greater risk. We want to do all we can to make sure members of the populace can get to the event safely, and, equally important, feel safe while they are there.
To that end, We have come up with a safety plan for this event, and for all future events as needed:
1. Caravan: If you would like to caravan with other people to the event for whatever reason, please email Nisaa (nisaa@westkingdom.org) including where you will be coming from. If you would like to be an ally and volunteer to caravan, please email her. (We will post this on the event announcement as well.)
2. There will be a tent donated by the Cynagua Accessibility and Inclusion Office available as a safe/brave space*. There will be a Progress Pride flag at the tent so you can identify it (see attached photo).
If you feel the need for support at any time, please go to the tent and ask for assistance.
If you have concerns leaving the Site, please remember to use a buddy system or ask someone already doing a town run to pick up off-site items for you. Please go to the tent if you need help arranging any of this.
Volunteers will be needed to attend this tent. Please email Nisaa (nisaa@westkingdom.org) if you can volunteer some time. (This will also be posted on the event notice). This is a great opportunity for someone who wishes to be an ally.
3. His Majesty will be asking the Chivalry to keep an extra eye on the Site while there for people who don’t belong to help keep Our Kingdom and populace safe. If at any time you feel you need support, please be very vocal so that a member of the Chivalry can get to you as quickly as possible and give support.
4. In the future, if we want the safe/brave space to continue, we are going to need individual sponsors/volunteers to staff and support this effort. Nisaa will help you coordinate, but she will not be able to always run it, because no one can be at every event.
Links to some of the websites and online reports we reviewed:
Lyon County Sherrif’s Office 2017 Annual Report: https://www.lyon-county.org/.../2017-LCSO-State-of-the...
https://www.bestplaces.net/.../fernley_nv/quincy_ca/overview (comparison of Fernley to Quincy)
https://www.bestplaces.net/.../fer.../tres_pinos_ca/overview (comparison of Fernley to Tres Pinos)
https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-fernley-nv/
In Service to the Kingdom and Populace of the West,
Uther, Rex Vera, Regina
Galvin Conall of Greenlaw Nisaa Karahisari
West Kingdom Seneschal West Kingdom Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Newcomer coffee meet up- Saturday
Please see the Newcomers! page for more info
With the permission of Her Majesty and the Kingdom Chatelaine, Haus von Schwetzingen will be hosting a "getting started in the West Kingdom" coffee meet up Saturday morning at Fall Crown. Everyone is welcome, especially those who are new to the Kingdom or who've been around awhile and are still trying to find their feet. We especially encourage group chatelaines to attend, so we cannot people with local resources.
We will be collecting items that are useful to those getting started, including clothing/fabric and accessories, feast gear, beginning arts supplies, and fighting supplies (rattan, armor bits, etc). All attendees will be issued raffle tickets for a chance to pick whatever item might be most helpful to them.
We are also considering an icebreaker style scavenger hunt to help introduce participants to the different facets of West Kingdom life.
Lastly, we are organizing a Zoom call, probably for the Wednesday or Thursday before Crown, to explain some of the elements of the event that might be confusing for those with less experience in our kingdom.
Please let me know if you'd like to help out with any of this, including getting the word out to those who may be new to our Kingdom.
Thanks,
Eliska