To all,

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be manning the table at
12th night with some informational flyers to hand out and to discuss
aspects of the guild.

I will be, unfortunately, only there for an hour or two. sometime
during the day, I will have to attend and the Kingdom exchequer's
social, since I am the Seneschal of Cynagua. ( It's not all kickback,
but I go for the cookies....helps keep the accounting talk
palatable....zzz!)

if people have any books of period texts that they would want to have
used at the table I would greatly appreciate it. (Do not give me
something you do not want handled, please)

Ximon
dean of curriculum

--- In westfence@yahoogroups.com, "Else Hunrvogt" <nancyreimers@...>
wrote:

Forwarded by request of HRH Uther - Else

**************************************************
Greetings to the Rapier Fighters of the West from Uther, Crown Prince:

Our upcoming reign is destined to be EPIC and it includes plans to
promote the prowess of rapier fighters of the West.  We have great
plans to increase the word fame of rapier in the West Kingdom.  We
hereby invite you to meet with Us at 12th Night Coronation to discuss
the role of rapier during Our reign.

The meeting will be held approximately one-half hour after the King's
Champion Boffer Tourney begins.  Please speak to Staffan Arrfuidson
to
find out the location, since he will be coordinating on-site
arrangements.

--- End forwarded message ---

Re: From the Kingdom Rapier Champion


--- In westfence@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jacobs <mikej@...> wrote:

[snip]
> During Court I was asked by TRMs to take up a collection for
> them. The money for this collection will be used to create the
> regalia for the new Champions and to bring them together with a
> common uniform. Please contact me off line (directly) if you would
> like to contribute.

===

My personal response;

As the principal of the Company of the Martíllodores, I would
challenge all households of the West to make a contribution to this
endeavour in the name of your group.

  Michael, I will be contacting you privately for our donation to this
cause.
===

To add to this,  I thought that I should post part of  this letter
here to the RGoD list, since I presume that most of you have already
read his post on Westfence yahoo.group.

I feel that being able to contribute to the making of the Kingdom
Rapier champion's regalia is  one of our duties to the kingdom as  a
chartered Guild.   As written above, I have already pledged my
company's contribution to this and made my call out to other
households.  I also ask that any members of the Guild take this
opportunity to contribute to this also in the name of the guild.

As of writng this,  I have not heard who is going to make the
capelet/cassock for the champion, but if we have  people who are
willing to do that, I am sure that volunteers are needed as well as
any who do embroidery.  The emblem of the champion as of 12th night
has not been publicly decided, so that also may be something that
people could make suggestions for. These are just a couple of things
that don't involve just donating cash for the regalia.

I challenge people to come up with not just ideas, but solutions and
send them to Michael of Castlekeep ( mikej@... ) or if need
be, you can send it to me, (cynaguancourtier@...)  so that
the information may be forwarded to the right person handling this
for His Majesty.


Xímon Martillo de Cordoba
Dean of curriculum
Journeyman, Royal Guild of Defen

--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, "Ximon el Martillo de
Cordoba" <xochimil@...> wrote:
> As of writng this,  I have not heard who is going to make the
> capelet/cassock for the champion, but if we have  people who are
> willing to do that, I am sure that volunteers are needed as well as
> any who do embroidery.  The emblem of the champion as of 12th night
> has not been publicly decided, so that also may be something that
> people could make suggestions for. These are just a couple of things
> that don't involve just donating cash for the regalia.

When last I spoke to Her Majesty, she was looking for volunteers to sew
the Champions' Cloaks.  The completion deadline is March Crown.

I believe a badge design has been bounced around the Herald's office.

Else

What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement that
there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what happened? No
one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was pointed
out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be able
to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far away to
travel to at the last moment.
Would someone mind filling the rest of us in?  Some actual details
might be nice for those of us in the Guild that were not able to hop in
a car and drive to the event.
Seems like somehow we have begun to drift away from the cooperative
discussions that include all of us, and once more are sliding into the
mindset of factions and geographical groups.  Lets not do that and
remember to include EVERYONE when there are proposed changes, projects,
or Royalty that wants to steer rapier to their own idea of what it
should be.

Alaryn Aecenstaeff,
Journeyman
And slightly annoyed at the lack of information sharing lately

Ed wrote:
> What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement that
> there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what happened? No
> one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was pointed
> out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be able
> to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far away to
> travel to at the last moment.
>
Actually, there have been several posts regarding the content of that
meeting.  You might want to go back and check the Yahoo archive if you
didn't get them.

Santiago

--
Tim "Santiago" Converse

Enter a World of Elegant Magic
http://www.santiagosmagic.com

Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com

1-831-239-9862

--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, "Ed" <evbranscum@...> wrote:
>
> What happened at 12th night?

Let me see if I can elaborate...

First off it was not a Guild Meeting, it was a meeting of rapier
interested folk that happened to be held at the guild table.

Basicially, HRM Uther expressed an interest in meeting with those
rapier fighters who happened to be at 12th Night Coronation so that He
could outline His plans involving Rapier in the upcoming reign.

Yukiko was kind enough to take notes during the meeting so that said
information could be shared with all the rapier fighters of the West.
The notes were posted to SCA-West and westfence.

Yes the meeting was posted at the last minute.  For that I take full
responsibility and apologise, as it was my duty to arrange a meeting
place at the Hotel and forward His Majesties invitation.

FWIW mundane obligations kept me from the event as well.

Else

To Alaryns defense, the meeting information was not posted here. It was posted
to the westfence list though.

Guess we should have cross posted.


THL Bianca

----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Converse <santiago@...>
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:21 am
Subject: Re: [RoyalGuildofDefense] Guild Opportunities?

> Ed wrote:
> > What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement
> that
> > there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what
> happened? No
> > one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was
> pointed
> > out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be
> able
> > to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far
> away to
> > travel to at the last moment.
> >
> Actually, there have been several posts regarding the content of
> that
> meeting.  You might want to go back and check the Yahoo archive if
> you
> didn't get them.
>
> Santiago
>
> --
> Tim "Santiago" Converse
>
> Enter a World of Elegant Magic
> http://www.santiagosmagic.com
>
> Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
> http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com
>
> 1-831-239-9862
>
>

You are correct Santiago,  I havent been getting any messages at all
from the west fence list so I was out of the loop, not however
becasue of anyone else.  That should teach me to not spout off before
checking ALL other sources.
I apologize for going off before I had the information that was
available.  But just for those of us who arent quite bright enough to
put two and three together, next time would someone please post here
where the real discussions are happening?

Alaryn
Who feels like a real d*#k at the moment


--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, Tim Converse
<santiago@...> wrote:
>
> Ed wrote:
> > What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement
that
> > there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what
happened? No
> > one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was
pointed
> > out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be
able
> > to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far
away to
> > travel to at the last moment.
> >
> Actually, there have been several posts regarding the content of
that
> meeting.  You might want to go back and check the Yahoo archive if
you
> didn't get them.
>
> Santiago
>
> --
> Tim "Santiago" Converse
>
> Enter a World of Elegant Magic
> http://www.santiagosmagic.com
>
> Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
> http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com
>
> 1-831-239-9862
>

You are correct Santiago,  I havent been getting any messages at all
from the west fence list so I was out of the loop, not however
becasue of anyone else.  That should teach me to not spout off before
checking ALL other sources.
I apologize for going off before I had the information that was
available.  But just for those of us who arent quite bright enough to
put two and three together, next time would someone please post here
where the real discussions are happening?

Alaryn
Who feels like a real d*#k at the moment


--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, Tim Converse
<santiago@...> wrote:
>
> Ed wrote:
> > What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement
that
> > there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what
happened? No
> > one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was
pointed
> > out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be
able
> > to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far
away to
> > travel to at the last moment.
> >
> Actually, there have been several posts regarding the content of
that
> meeting.  You might want to go back and check the Yahoo archive if
you
> didn't get them.
>
> Santiago
>
> --
> Tim "Santiago" Converse
>
> Enter a World of Elegant Magic
> http://www.santiagosmagic.com
>
> Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
> http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com
>
> 1-831-239-9862
>

ldybianca@... wrote:
> To Alaryns defense, the meeting information was not posted here. It was posted
to the westfence list though.
>
> Guess we should have cross posted.
>
>
Ah, missed that detail.  All my fencing message go to the same place in
my email.

Santiago

--
Tim "Santiago" Converse

Enter a World of Elegant Magic
http://www.santiagosmagic.com

Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com

1-831-239-9862

Not any kind of problem.  Just figured that checking the archive would
be easier then trying recreate the general content of the messages.

Santiago

Ed wrote:
> You are correct Santiago,  I havent been getting any messages at all
> from the west fence list so I was out of the loop, not however
> becasue of anyone else.  That should teach me to not spout off before
> checking ALL other sources.
> I apologize for going off before I had the information that was
> available.  But just for those of us who arent quite bright enough to
> put two and three together, next time would someone please post here
> where the real discussions are happening?
>
> Alaryn
> Who feels like a real d*#k at the moment
>
>
> --- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, Tim Converse
> <santiago@...> wrote:
>
>> Ed wrote:
>>
>>> What happened at 12th night?  Last I saw was a late announcement
>>>
> that
>
>>> there was to be a meeting of some sort with TRH.  So, what
>>>
> happened? No
>
>>> one has posted what the discussion was about, or even if it was
>>>
> pointed
>
>>> out that MOST of the rapier fighters in the Kingdom would not be
>>>
> able
>
>>> to attend a hastily called meeting at an event that is too far
>>>
> away to
>
>>> travel to at the last moment.
>>>
>>>
>> Actually, there have been several posts regarding the content of
>>
> that
>
>> meeting.  You might want to go back and check the Yahoo archive if
>>
> you
>
>> didn't get them.
>>
>> Santiago
>>
>> --
>> Tim "Santiago" Converse
>>
>> Enter a World of Elegant Magic
>> http://www.santiagosmagic.com
>>
>> Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
>> http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com
>>
>> 1-831-239-9862
>>
>>

--
Tim "Santiago" Converse

Enter a World of Elegant Magic
http://www.santiagosmagic.com

Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com

1-831-239-9862

--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, "Ed" <evbranscum@...>
wrote:
>
> You are correct Santiago,  I havent been getting any messages at all
> from the west fence list so I was out of the loop, not however
> becasue of anyone else.  That should teach me to not spout off
before
> checking ALL other sources.
> I apologize for going off before I had the information that was
> available.  But just for those of us who arent quite bright enough
to
> put two and three together, next time would someone please post here
> where the real discussions are happening?
>
> Alaryn
> Who feels like a real d*#k at the moment

**
No worries, Alaryn... I assumed that everyone who reads this boards
pretty much keeps up with the other boards. I only have 2 boards email
me.

So, to bring you up to speed:
Rapier Meeting at 12th Night
--------------------------------------
Greetings,

His Magesty Uther met with quite a few of us fencers today to discuss
the future of rapier here in the West. Cerridwen was kind enough to
take notes of most of the meeting, but I've asked Yukiko to post the
notes that she took (since, I believe, she has all of the meeting).

It looks like its going to be an exciting year!

In Service,
Staffan

*****

At 11:30Am on Saturday, then-incumbent King Uther addressed the guild
of defense regarding the Kingdom Rapier Championship and his evolving
perspective of the populace of the West.

His Royal Majesty first shared with the guild his observations of
other kingdoms and the mutually beneficial relationships they have
with their rapier fighters.  It was made clear to him through an
advocate that here in the west, the rapier folks supported the crown
but received little reciprocation.  He realized  that this was a great
failure that was within his power and duty to amend.

The first step to this goal was the creation of the Kingdom Rapier
Champion office.  The duties of this champion are to fight for the
glory of the crown and "make the job look cool".  The element of
theater should not be overlooked.  Uther urged the guild members to
support their champion when possible.  The added bonus of creating
this office is increasing the number of people who feel involved in
crown affairs by proximity.  A "smaller" kingdom is one of Uther's
goals.

The first Kingdom Rapier Champion competition will be held at March
Crown (in Red Bluff) by Michael of Castlekeep.

Concern was voiced that future kings might not uphold this tradition,
to which he replied it is easier to let a law exist than to take the
trouble to veto it.  He admitted not every king may support the rapier
community as is just, but even dukes have to abide kings who think
they are "loud and scary".

Uther offered a place for fencing on the aric Sunday mornings to
encourage recruitment.

In heavy fighting, there is a tradition known as "the century
challenge".  One fighter bets another he/she can't practice 100
perfect attacks a day for 100 days.  It was suggested that fencers
might adopt a similar way to support each other in the pursuit of
excellence.

In closing, Uther gave an anecdote about an event some time ago.  A
medieval historian was present amongst all the motorcycle boots and
not-completely-period fighter kits on the field.  At the close of the
day, the historian said," I could tell you who fought who where on
what day and who was ransomed and for how much, but you here today
taught me how they lived."  Uther said the SCA was not so much about
period stuff, but period relationships involving loyalty and fealty.
That is what we do well and what holds the SCA together.  It is the
one thing we all have in common.

I believe the guild meeting took no more than 20 minutes.  I apologize
in advance if I have included any inaccuracies in these notes.  I urge
others to also post what they observed.

Sincerely,
Yukiko

******
[and here is my letter]

Re: Rapier Meeting/12th Night letter (Long)


An open letter to my Brothers and sisters in rapier.
to our Peers among us, both in word and in sword.

I write this letter to you to tell you of a momentous occurance this
past 12th night. Before the event for some days before, We had been
notified by Elsé, our KRM (and various members of our community who
have been chosen for the Queen's guard) that His (now) Majesty, Duke
Uther will make a Kingdom Rapier champion starting with his
reign. There was also an announcement that His Majesty would meet
with the rapier fighters of the West on that day too.
As someone who has been waiting for a kingdom rapier champion for
years since I came to make the West my home, I am absolutely elated
and overjoyed at this news. Those of you who have worked hard to help
integrate the kingdom with the rapier fighter have finally succeeded
in doing so. It is you who have seen the turmoils come and go,
sometimes even been in a part of it and yet you STILL came to another
event after that.

For what it is worth, as one of your fellow fighters, I congratulate
you and thank you for your hard work, your dedication and your love
of this kingdom and the SCA.

This 12th night, I set up the Royal Guild of Defense table and as I
was doing so, a court member of His Majesty came up and asked me when
the Guild meeting was to be so His Majesty could attend it to speak
with the rapier community. Shortly after, His Majesty stopped by and
asked the same question. So, to make a long story short, he decided
to have the community meeting at the guild table.

At the meeting, the essence of it all came down to a few good points;
(please forgive me if I repeat what has been said before)

In his travels and during his reign in An Tir, Uther came to see
various aspects of the populace, the fun that all the NON-hard suit
communities were adding to the kingdom he ruled and the SCA in
general. He saw the different people who integrated between hard-suit
and rapier and archery and equestrian and arts and sciences and in
essence, made the SCA fun with THIER expression of service and work
in the SCA there. He saw a vibrant membership and This, also coupled
with getting to know Her Majesty

Kara from An Tir, was how he came to realize that this grand aspect
was sorely missing in the West. He realized that he had been one of
those people who was narrow-minded in their focus of how the SCA
should be. His Majesty had expressed to us his dissappointment in
himself that he could have many times, but did not, make those
changes to include such communities sooner in his previous reins. We
rapier fighters politely reminded His Majesty, that he was not the
only king who could have had this revelation and made such changes
but HE could be the one who would finally initiate this new direction
for the West.

In speaking about such things, His Majesty even started to break down
a little, his tone seeming truly apologetic and I sensed a real
reaching out from him. He put his cards on the table with no guile,
no seemingly hidden agendas and no pretense.

And Now, it comes to OUR part of the change. His Majesty did not
express that this was some kind of a deal or an agreement, but I
think that we should think of things that we in the rapier community
should do in the coming reign. The perspective is that now that we
have been given the committment by the king and the LAW for what we
want to do to have rapier as a part of the whole landscape, we now
have licence to do more ourselves.

If you have ever wanted to run a tourney or a class at an event and
have not done so before, now is the time to do it. Please remember
there is a support group for people to help you with ideas for your
touney/class, to organize it, run it, to herald it and show you how
to do any paperwork after it is done. You are not alone. All I ask is
let us not have only the same people doing these things as it has
been before. If you have not done this level of committment before,
consider this; The people who have recieved thier accolades from the
Crown and Coronet have gotten them by the things they have done, not
just shown up to.

I myself am again planning my event, L'Esercisio della spada and have
in the past, due to the generosity of friends in the community have
had three sucessful showings of it. This is one example of what can
be done. You don't even have to be a fighter, you can support the
rapier community in other ways too. House Regola della Donna has been
there to give shelter and comfort for anyone who has needed it many
times. House Darkclaw has sponsored fighters and has always been a
solid supporter of rapier in the past years. Both of these entities
have been a great example of a "rapier household".

In court later that day, before he and Her Majesty dismissed court,
Uther stood in front of the populace and retold these things to the
whole populace, but he spoke about something more....The one MOST
vital thing that you can do as a member of the populace of the West
is to introduce someone to the SCA. Show them the fun we have, show
them the REAL spirit of what we are; the friendship, the camraderie
and the re-enactment of not the historical costuming and acoutre' of
history, but it's the chivalric ideals and what they can enrich us
with that makes us a great club to belong to.

I know many of you have given a lot of your blood, sweat and tears
over the years and I have been there with you at times. But this
letter is not just for you and me, but for those who are now
empowered to do so and can step up and shine.

In celebration, I am also deciding to take that example from His
Majesty and now make my challenge to any who would join me as I hope
to build on that Ideal of camarderie.

Starting this Friday, January 12th, I am pledging to drill 100 (true
and sincere) rapier thrusts for 100 days in a row. I have started a
list online in the group to place my name. when I started/if I fail,
what day I was on and finally, when I finished my pledge. I ask

that the members of My Company of the Martillodores join me in this
endeavour even if no one else cares to do so. Any of us who join it
are on our honor, but at Betaine I will ask those who have joined me
in my challenge to report to me how they have done.

It is with great respect that I salute our King, Uther and Our Queen,
Kara and the New kingdom rapier champion. But Most of all, I salute
you all who, when we gathered at that 12th night site those years ago
and all introduced each other to ourselves, we pledged to "keep the
faith".

We have done so and we will continue to do so..........for All of OUR
West.

Ximón Martillo de Cordoba
A Rapier fighter for the Kingdom of the Wes

I want to put in a reminder to everyone that if you have a class that
you want to teach, please contact me to let me know that you have
something to teach, that way we can establish it as a "rapier" track.

SOME THOUGHTS
-------------
Potential Guildmasters, this is the PERFECT venue to teach your
required class for becoming a Guildmaster of Fence. (I myself am
intending to teach a beginning class)

If you're not a potential Guildmaster of Fence, your class does NOT
have to be about rapier fighting. Maybe consider the aspects of the
Courtier and how it relates to the SCA in historical context(e.g.,
How one dressed, acted, thought in one's culture/country) or maybe on
the aspects of the liturature of the time periods.

As an instructor, don't limit yourself to a singular perspective of
what we know and can share

I know this is a long way out from May, But it is never too soon to
get ready to share knowledge, promote the guild and make it a more
valuable resource for late period martial and peaceful study.

and lastly, consider this;

The more we can present as a guild (with focus on the later periods
such as the rennaisance and just before), the more that the kingdom
will be more curious about, causing people to seek more.


Xímon
Dean of curiculum

--- In sca-west@yahoogroups.com, "fighterdata" <fighterdata@...> wrote:


In order to better serve the combat community, the Earl Marshalete has
started keeping track of expiration dates.  This way we can anticipate
expirations and respond accordingly.

Can all fighters on this list, please email fighterdata <at> yahoo
<dot> com and provide your SCA name, mundane name and expiration date.
Please cross post where appropriate.

YIS,

Heinrich von Melk
Database Deputy

--- End forwarded message ---

Went to the Cut and Thrust collegium today and got to
revisit the C&T
101, and take the 102 and 103 classes.

If you did not attend it, you missed a great set of classes!

I want to thank our Kingdom Rapier Marshall, Elsé for leading the
classes and the authorizations.  I had a great time geting to spar
with Mari and Gemini, the hospitality of the great Canale people,
Brendan McNeill O' Neil and several people getting the Heavy rapier
authorizations all made this a great day for learning about Cut and
thrust Rapier. I also got some insight on a few things.

1. If you're a hard-suit fighter, this is great venue for playing
with steel in the SCA. Persusive cut combos rock!

2. If you're a rapier fighter.......... You better start learing to
do pell work, cuz you're gonna need it.

3. I came across a curious thing when I fought Mari. As I fought her,
in most attacks that involved a thrust, I got a good shot to land
about 70% of the time without being parried.  Sometimes, I was lucky
enough to get a "quick-draw" shot on her.
BUT, when it came to doing combos that you see a Hard-suit fighter do
in an attack past my point (Ask Her Grace what an "oogah" shot is), I
pretty much was toasted....(...on a spit......with bar-b-que sauce) I
could only just stand there when she got past my point and wince,
knowing that I had the good fortune to see my demise
coming......Lucky me.

But seriously, I am really, really glad I went.  In fact, I am so
enamoured with playing C&T,  I am planning to add it as a martial
class at the L' Esercisio della Spada this year!...Are you
authorized?

I will be waiting for you in June.

Xìmon

Can't go to estrella, would someone like to buy my prereg?  If so,
contact me at oso@....

Thanks!
P-) Jack.

Jack,
I forwarded this message to SCA-West.

Staffan


--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, "P-) Jack." <scholar@...>
wrote:
>
> Can't go to estrella, would someone like to buy my prereg?  If so,
> contact me at oso@...
>
> Thanks!
> P-) Jack.
>

Hi guys,

I wanted to let you all know that the Renaissance Symposium is being
held this coming weekend in San Jose. While it's mainly targeted for
the
Renaissance faire community and the focus is thus on the late
sixteenth
century, there are many classes on topics ranging from English Country
Dance to sixteenth century foundation garments.

I'd also like to plug my class on Introductory Italian Rapier. This
class will last one hour and is based on the Davis (i.e. Puck, Eric
and
my) interpretation of Capo Ferro. We will be covering basic guard
positions, constraint, attacks, defenses, and counter attacks with the
single sword. I am not sure what kind of class I am going to have, but
if i have enough advanced students i will cover more advanced topics.

And the great things are: It's in San Jose, and the entire event's
only
$20!

http://www.rensymposium.com/

And the Class list is here:
http://www.rensymposium.com/classes.aspx

Hope to see some of you there:
--kevin

Forwarded - it is time to light a candle for the passing of an
important member of the historical swordplay community.

L. Geoffrey Lessingham - Provost


Dear All,

It is with sadness that we report the death of Mr. Patri Pugliese.
Mr. Pugliese passed from this life on the afternoon of Sunday
February 11, 2007. For those of you who did not know Mr. Pugliese
was
the first person to make photo-copies of historical fencing  texts
available to the public. He did this as a service to those who are
interested in classical and historical fencing. He was never
motivated by profit or personal recognition but by his love for
fencing and history which was instilled in him by his late mother
and
teacher Ms. Julia Jones who was the fencing coach at Hunter College
for many years and student of the great fencing master Maestro
Julio
Martinez Castello.

The importance and significance of Mr. Pugliese's contribution to
the
resurgence in the interest in classical and historical fencing
cannot
be emphasized enough. It was due to his generosity and efforts that
many of those who are involved today in the study of the historical
fencing treatises got their start. He was also one of the first
pioneers in the serious and systematic study and reconstructions of
the methods that the great masters of the past left in their
written
works.

Mr. Pugliese will be sorely missed by all those who knew him as
well
as those who did not know him personally. He was one of the first
who
breeched the wall of fencing mythology and opened the gate for
access
to the truth.

Patri, we offer a Grand Salute to you and like the legendary
swordsman and poet Cyrano De Bergerac, we pray; "...that when you
enter before God, may your salute sweep all the stars from the blue
threshold..."

Sincerely,
Ramon & Jeannette Martinez

Greetings all,

First I will apologize for the time it has taken me to finish this
update.
Secondly, thank you to all who reviewed and gave input for this
amendment.
Third, I have just posted in the file section the amended Bylaws
reflecting the changes in the Rapier Rules for the West Kingdom from
July 2007.

Best Regards
Sorcha Careman
LGM

Hi Folks,

Well it is coming up on two years since I've stepped in as the Lord
Guildmaster/Lady Guildmistress for the Guild. At this time I would
like to call for any nominations or interested parties who would like
to have their turn in this position.

Per our Bylaws the job description is as follows:

Lord Guildmaster (/Lady Guildmistress)
Duties
The Lord Guildmaster is the Chief Officer of the Guild and will be
responsible for the promotion of the goals and maintenance of the Guild.
Term of Office
The duration of office for any Lord Guildmaster/Lady Guildmistress
shall be 2 years.
Selection Process
At the end of the Lord Guildmaster/Lady Guildmistress' term of office,
a successor will be chosen by them and approved by the officers and
those guild members who have successfully played a Prize for the rank
they hold.  If the successor chosen does not meet the approval of the
officers and said guild members then, a new successor is to be chosen
by a method agreed upon by the officers and said guild members.

The following Guild offices will be filled as needed at the discretion
of the Lord Guildmaster.
Dean of Curriculum, Dean of Students, Webminister

So please give this some thought.  I have been honored to work with
every one of you.  We have come a long way in two years.

Sincerely,
Sorcha Careman
LGM

Come one and all to a weekend of Rapier fun and frolic, March 9th to the
11th!

The Canton of Caer Darth and the Barony of Darkwood is hosting a full
weekend of Rapier related events, including:

     Training and Authorizations for The West's first ever Rapier
Champion Tourney,
     The Vinhold Baronial Rapier Champion Tourney,
     3 Man Melee Tourney,
     3 Baronial Champions Tourney (Darkwood, Vinhold and Westermark duke
it out!)
     Guild Provost Prize Tourneys for Sheagdha Cameron, Staffan
Arffruidson and Juan Santiago

Caer Darth and The Baroney of Darkwood will also be hosting a potluck on
the Eric Saturday evening!  We'll bring the giant BBQ, you bring what
you want to cook and we'll all share an evening of food, fun and stories.

The site is Ed Levin Park in Milpitas.  Site fee is $8.00 for the full
weekend.

For more information and directions visit:

http://www.santiagosmagic.com/rapierevent.htm

Thank you!

Santiago
(co-autocrat)

--
Tim "Santiago" Converse

Enter a World of Elegant Magic
http://www.santiagosmagic.com

Home of Professor Scratch's Flea Circus
http://www.fleacircusentertainment.com

1-831-239-9862

--- In westfence@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jacobs <mikej@...> wrote:

BE IT KNOWN to all that profess arms that I Michael of Castle Keep,
Courtier to the Crown of the West and Kingdom Rapier Champion grant
leave and license to our Journeyman, Herre Staffan Arffuidsson, to
play his Provost's Prize.  All Guild members are invited to test his
skills with the Rapier,  Rapier & Buckler, Rapier & Cloak and Rapier
& Dagger.  This Prize will be held on the 10th day of March A.S. XLI
(2007) where Herre Staffan will perform and do his uttermost for the
achievement and bearing away of the prize.

Long Live the King and Queen of the West!
Michael of Castle Keep
Kingdom Rapier Champion
Courtier to the Crown of the West

"Don't Blink...You'll Die in the Dark!"

408-734-5164
mikej@...

--- End forwarded message ---

Let it be known to all who profess arms that we, The West Kingdom Royal
Guild of Fence and her Ancient GuildMaster Sorcha Careman, do give leave
and license to our Scholar, Tama Katerina Evstokh'eva, to play her
FreeScholar’s prize against all FreeScholars, Journeyman, Provosts and
Guild Masters in their subtle and diverse mysteries at Single Sword as
pleases the attending guild members and others interested is proving her
skill.

We hereby invite those interested to witness and support Scholar Tama as
she presents herself at the Pavlovsk Gavan Fantastic Fairytale Fete
being held on Saturday, March 31st (Kodiak, Alaska), to perform and do
her uttermost for the achievement and bearing away of the prize.

Long Live the King and Queen of the West!

Greetings,

Good luck to Scholar Tama Katerina Evstokh'eva.  Unfortunately, I will
not be able to attend.  I hope that it is a joyous and inspiring day
for you.

In Service,
Staffan Arffuidsson,
Journeyman, WKRGoD


--- In RoyalGuildofDefense@yahoogroups.com, "Beth Berry (Sorcha
Careman)" <sorcha@...> wrote:

Let it be known to all who profess arms that we, The West Kingdom
Royal Guild of Fence and her Ancient GuildMaster Sorcha Careman, do
give leave and license to our Scholar, Tama Katerina Evstokh'eva, to
play her FreeScholar's prize against all FreeScholars, Journeyman,
Provosts and Guild Masters in their subtle and diverse mysteries at
Single Sword as pleases the attending guild members and others
interested is proving her skill.

We hereby invite those interested to witness and support Scholar Tama
as she presents herself at the Pavlovsk Gavan Fantastic Fairytale Fete
being held on Saturday, March 31st (Kodiak, Alaska), to perform and do
her uttermost for the achievement and bearing away of the prize.

Long Live the King and Queen of the West!

Tama Katerina Evstokh'eva,

I send my good wishes to you on your time to play your prize!
May your sword arm be strong, your eye keen and your mind be calm and
ready to start your journey.


Xìmon Màrtillo de Cordoba
Dean of Curriculum
Journeyman, Royal Guild of Defense

Greetings,

At the Caer Darth Rapier Event
(http://www.santiagosmagic.com/rapierevent.htm) there will be three
Journeyment attempting their Provost Prizes; Staffan Arffuidsson,
Master Juan Santiago, Shaeghdha Cameron.

Also, at Cynaguan Coronet (May 25-28) Ximon de Cordoba, and Roelandt
Storme van Raedt will be attempting their Provost Prizes.

In Service to the West,
Staffan Arffuidsson
Journeyman, WKRGoD

To all whom this missive reaches; Good health and well met.
      Please forgive the lateness of this notice, but certain
proprieties had to be observed first.  Now to the matter at hand.
      Be it known that we, Provost David Falcone and Provost Crimthann
Mac Giolla Padraig give leave, license and encouragement for
Journeyman, Juan Santiago, to play his Provost Prize March 10th, AS 41
(2007) at Caer Darth.  We further encourage all Guild members to attend
this rite, and those of sufficient rank to test this worthy, that his
bearing away of the prize might be unimpeachable.


Humbly,
Provost Crimthann Mac Giolla Padraig for myself and Provost David
Falcone.

Greetings,

It's with great excitement that I announce the format and schedule
for the first West Kingdom Rapier Champion Tourney...

Please attend Their Royal Majesties of the West!!
All Rapier Combatants willing and able to fulfill the requirements of
this year long office are invited to compete in this tournament.  It
will be held on Sunday, March 25th.  Armor inspections will begin at
9:30am.  The lists will close at 10:15am and TRMs will begin the
Invocation promptly at 10:30am.
The format will be a Double Elimination Tournament.  The first round
will be strictly single rapier and the Finals will be best three out
of five.  Further details on the tournament will be announced during
Invocation.  Any questions should be directed at myself or our KRM.

			 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the West's first KRC I want to recognize all of your efforts.  We
have all worked very hard to make this Championship a reality.  Over
the years we have had a many victories and many defeats....but we
have succeeded!  Now is not the time to relax and take a break
though.  Now is the time to take advantage of all the years of effort
and make them truly worthwhile!  We have the opportunity to truly
make Rapier combat and our community integral to the health and well
being of the West Kingdom in general.  I encourage you to teach as
many as are willing about Rapier and to welcome all comers with open
arms.  At the same time, please help any newcomers to understand the
SCA, the West and our values.  We can make an even more important
impact here than with just our activities on the Eric.

One of you will win the tournament in a few weeks and you will truly
be our Champion.  You will represent the Rapier Community and the
West to the rest of the Known World.  Their Majesties will rely on
you for your prowess on the field as well as your council off of it.
Be prepared to travel, fight and teach.  Most importantly, be ready
to be the epitome of Honor, Chivalry and Courtesy.  Everyone will be
looking at you and judging you, the Rapier community and the West by
your actions...and possibly by your inaction.  You won't be alone
though.  As you make us all proud as our Champion we will be there to
support you.

Last, I look forward to seeing you all at March Crown.  I'm sure that
this will be the greatest Rapier Tourney we've ever seen!

Yours in Service,
--
Michael of Castle Keep
Kingdom Rapier Champion
Courtier to the Crown of the West

"Don't Blink...You'll Die in the Dark!"

408-734-5164
mikej@...