I know many of you are asking yourselves, “Why do I have to pay taxes, we’re a volunteer organization!”.  Well, the answer is quite simple.

1) The Barony is based on feudalistic principles and 2) I said so!

There are a few different ways you can pay your taxes to us:

*Donating something to the Baronial Largesse…handmade or otherwise, we can always use things that make our visiting Royalty feel at home.  They need not be expensive, just something you would like to see get handed down to a good home.

*Bring canned food to the Feast, for donating to members of our society.  Baroness Shawna will be taking all donations of canned food (you should each bring at least one can of food products to Harvest Feast) to a food bank in the area, where your taxes will be used to feed the less fortunate.

*Since the Baron has a really small attention span, it can be anything that he (or his lovely Baroness) deems ‘taxable’….I leave that to your imagination!

Hope to see you at the Feast!

-Baron Aleksii Konstantinovich Chernoi

Proud Baron of Blatha An Oir

As I sit here writing this missive, it’s about 35 degrees and hailing right outside my window.  Nevertheless, we know that spring is right around the corner and there will soon be reason to celebrate actual GOOD weather!

We have had an influx of new members to Blatha An Oir, who have been seen at many fight practices, meetings, etc.  and many of them may need help with garb, armor, and camping gear.  If you’re planning on going through your gear (as I know many of us do each spring), don’t throw out anything old….maybe some of these new people will have a use for it. 

Lord Defenders will happen.  At the time of this writing, it looks like we may have to move the date AGAIN, as the parks and recreation centers in this area are booked solid through the entire year.   More on that in the next issue.  Rest assured that everything is being done to ensure that we have a successful event in this area.

WAR IS UPON US!  June 12-14 of this year marks the next HONEY WAR, where Baron Godric and Baron Aleksii fight over a few pounds of honey.  It’s at a new site this year (but old to us…it’s the Equestrian Center in Rainier), so check it out on their website.  More information will be posted to our E-mail list as soon as we get it!

Not part of the E-mail list?  Please send an E-mail to Baroness Anne Fraser of Bearshaven at bearshaven@comcast.net to get up to date happenings in our Barony.  It’s really the best way to stay apprised of things pertinent to the SCA in Blatha An Oir.

Autumn War planning committee is being formed, if you’re interested please contact HE Elspeth nic Grath at elspethn@comcast.net.   We’re already getting a TON of interest for this year’s war, and we know that it will be well-attended. 

Tuesday night fight practices are being well-attended also, and we’ve got quite a few good fighters here to teach newcomers.  Please, if you can make it to the fight practices do so, there’s quite a bit of socializing going on as well (and more room will be available when it gets a little bit warmer).

Check our website, www.blathaanoir.org, to find out details about the other events that are happening in this area (there are far too many to list here).   Just about anything medieval has a meeting of some kind here, so get involved!

In service to the Crown,

Baron Aleksii Konstantinovich Chernoi and Baroness Elspeth nic Grath

Proud Baron and Baroness of Blatha An Oir