Now Heed the Words
of Your Liaison to Caer Darth
Greetings! No one wants to see the College of St. David come out of abeyance more than I and my fellow alumni. The college has a rich and varied history, and has produced many proud, long-time members of the SCA - all of whom stand ready to help the college get back on its feet.
Standing right next to them is the Seneschal and people of the Canton of Caer Darth, as well as Baron Erich, Baroness Leisl, and the entire populace of Darkwood (your barony). We are willing and waiting to show you the ropes - where things are, how things are done - and help however we can, but there is only so much we can do. The actual work of reactivating and running the college must be done by its members.
What You Can Do
First things first... The CSD is still in abeyance. Before it can be reactivated it needs UCSC students to show more than a passing interest, both in the college and in the SCA. Here are some ways you can demonstrate your interest:
- Join the College of St. David group email list -- Introduce yourself, meet other interested UCSC students, alumni, and many members of the local SCA populace who support the reactivation of St. David's.
- Join the Canton of Caer Darth group email list -- Meet the local populace and be kept up to date on all the local SCA news, meetings, workshops, and so forth.
- Email the Caer Darth Chatelaine or the Caer Darth Seneschal -- They're both very nice and can answer any questions you have about how to get involved the SCA. They can also explain all about SCA rules (there aren't many unless you're an officer or peer) and people's titles, and just generally how things are done.
- Come to monthly CSD Meetings-- The College of St. David meets once a month, but does not currently have a set meeting schedule. Contact the Liaison to the College of St. David to confirm next meeting date & location.
- Come to monthly Canton Meetings -- Meetings are casual and fun, and sometimes we do a potluck - which means, you know, Free Food! (Everyone is welcome. No membership or period garb required.)
- Come to Thursday Night Fighter Practice -- Yes, this is the time and place when the local fighters get into gear and hit each other with sticks, but it is also a social nexus. Coming to fighter practice is a great way to meet other local SCA folk, in a very relaxed setting.
- Come to SCA events -- Here are some useful links: St. David's Calendar of Local Events, etc., Caer Darth Calendar, Darkwood Calendar, West Kingdom Calendar. You don't have to be a member of the SCA to attend events. You don't even have to come in medieval garb, although it is more fun that way and loaner garb is usually available for those who want it.
- Attend other SCA gatherings -- Workshops, classes, group sewing & project nights, choir practices, instrumental music practices, dance practices, armor nights, scribal nights, work parties, SCA demos, and, of course, fighter practices are happening all the time. You can find out more about them and how to find them either by using the calendar links listed above or by joining SCA group email lists (such as the College of St. David and the Canton of Caer Darth group lists) and expressing an interest.
What Really Matters
The best way to show you're serious about reinstating the CSD is to become involved. Meet the other SCA locals, join in our reindeer games. Eventually, you'll want to host SCA demos and/or small events on campus to get more students interested in joining the college. And rest assured, you have a strong support group out here, just waiting for the chance to help you do this.
Besides doing demos, you could hold a tourney to choose a Champion for the college, host a bardic competition or medieval ball, or a feast. Or any of the types of gatherings mentioned above. The possibilities are nearly endless. Your events could be fundraisers or just people getting together to have a good time, the SCA way. Whatever makes you happy.
If enough UCSC people show an interest in pulling the college out of abeyance, the Seneschal of Caer Darth and other supporters of St. David's will help guide them through the process of becoming an Incipient College (that's sort of like being on probation or having training wheels). Pending a Status Review by the Kingdom Seneschal, the Incipient College will then regain the full status of a regular SCA College.
Yes, I know. The term "Status Review" is a bit intimidating, but never fear... Do the kinds of things described above, fulfill the SCA & UCSC requirements, and then make it through a summer break or two without dissolving, and the CSD is sure to pass the Status Review with flying colors.
Once Last Thing
You can always come to me with questions, concerns, ideas...to show off your latest accomplishment, or even just to brainstorm. Or vent.
I am here for you. As the Caer Darth Liaison to the College of St. David, it's quite literally my job to be here for you. And the reason I took this job because I care - both about you students and about the college. After seeing for myself how playing in the SCA has allowed so many people to find hidden within themselves a truly amazing array of talents, passions, and strengths, I want to do whatever I can to guide as many UCSC students as possible towards that same opportunity.
...Being involved in the College of St. David is a good first step on that path.
In Service,
- Lady Cassandra Rossignol
Liaison to the College of St. David
Page Last Updated: 05/15/08