| (okay, it's corny. YOU think up a better name for a now-official newsletter!) The Now-Official Newsletter of Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein. Published monthly, or whenever I get around to it. The opinions contained herein are strictly my own, as are any typographical errors. Not to be taken internally. Entire contents copyright 1995 by Paula Peterka. Yeah, like you'd WANT to steal anything out of here! Void where prohibited by law. |
| Volume 2 | Issue 3 |
Date Unknown | |
Greetings !
I am writing the first part of this the week before Jamestown. Things have been extremely hectic!! I have put about 4,000 miles on my truck in the last 2 weeks! I would first like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all of their hard work getting ready for Jamestown. I would especially like to thank Bob Kriner for the help on the pikes and for the use of the armory in manufacturing them. If not for Bob's patience and skill we would not have gotten these done. I would also like to thank Drew and Rob Spencer for all of their work on the pikes. If it was not for these people we would never have gotten the pikes done! We all owe these people our thanks for getting these done! We also owe thanks to Drew's parents for allowing us to store things at their house and for allowing us to work there on other projects! I am not forgetting all of the people who have been working on costumes and things at my house, and also the people who have been getting and making other props. I am very proud of the group, you have pulled together well to get ready for this event! NOCH WEITER!
Well, it is now the week after Jamestown. I think I have finally caught up on some sleep. We still have a few things to unload from the truck. To say the least I am very proud of the whole group! You guys blew the socks off of a lot of groups out there. Even the Hussars were impressed with what we were doing. Taking 3rd place in Judges Choice is no small feat! We got some good feedback from the judges and some of the other re enactors. Look elsewhere in this issue for more details. There are lots of opportunities are coming up for the group! I am currently negotiating with the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and with the Norfolk Renaissance Faire. Look for these articles for more information!
What does this strange word mean? "Super (Lands)Knechts", the MVP of an event, the members who went above and beyond what was expected of them, to the great benefit of the unit. This is something that I (Larry) came up with on my own and it will be my decision as to how it is awarded. I will choose one (in this case, two) after each event, as warranted. This will be my way of saying "better than excellent job"! For Jamestown, it was a tough decision; everyone did a great job. But two people consistently went above and beyond.
The first Überknecht is Karen Dawson (Katerina Kobbler). Karen started working when we arrived on Friday and worked all the way through the weekend. She cooked and washed dishes and did anything else that she saw that needed doing. She was always talking with the public and explaining the unit. Great job Karen, you set a hard example to follow!
The second Überknecht is Mike Amos (Heinrich Dreiswert). Mike was already on site when we arrived on Friday and had already collected some wood and made a lean-to. Mike also worked all weekend! I saw Mike interacting with the public constantly, explaining about the unit and our weapons and tactics. Mike also impressed the judges with his harp playing. I have not come up with the actual award yet, but everyone should know the fine job that both of you did!
This is in no way to make less of the effort that everyone else put into this weekend: you all did an excellent job!
Our Chief Financial Officer (Drew) has requested that all members pay their yearly dues no later than April 1, earlier, if possible. That's $20.00 for individuals, $30.00 for families. Thank You
A Million Stories in the Naked City. .
Last month I promised you the thrilling story of the Italian Campaign and the Battle of Pavia! I LIED!! No Room, and No Time. Look for it Next Month! (Maybe)
The Maryland Renaissance Festival would like us to return as guards for the 1995 season. They would like us to bring as many people as we can, but we must guarantee that we will have at least 4 men each day. They would like us to remain German Landsknechts, even though we'll be guarding English Nobility. (Well, maybe one German Noble: Paula will be returning as Anna, but she's a naturalized English Noble. But I digress) They will also allow us to set up a Pavilion and have information and flyers about the group available there. We can also do a show/demo, if we wish, such as the English guards did last year. In return, they are offering the group $4000.00 for the run of the festival. Drink and/or food coupons are also being discussed.
The decision on whether or not to take this offer is up to the group. By taking this offer, we will get good exposure and more practice together as a unit, as well as the financial bonanza this will mean for us. $4,000.00 will certainly go a long way toward outfitting the unit with all the toys we've been talking about: a drum, arquebuses, artillery pieces, unit-owned pavilions, and maybe even a wagon!
We will have to make a decision fairly soon about whether or not we will do this. Contact Larry, Paula, or Drew ASAP to let them know your vote and/or availability. You should also be aware that the festival is being extended one extra weekend this year, and runs from August 26 to October 22.
We have been contacted by the Norfolk Renaissance Faire, which will be held in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 20 & 21. Paula and I did this event last year, and they are hiring us again. This is a very small event which has not been running for very long: this will only be their third or fourth year, I think. I put in a plug to try and get the group hired. They are interested in having us come down to be guards for Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and maybe the Duchess of Norfolk (Paula).
There is no minimum number needed, so we can bring whoever wants to come. You will recognize some of the performers from the Maryland cast (like Bill Huttel as Henry, Kitty the Falconer, Hack and Slash, and the Pyrates Royale).
The faire is held in a city park, and they do not charge admission. They have offered to provide 3 hotel rooms for the Germans to share, and will try to come up with some cash or gas money. The hotel rooms will be for both Friday and Saturday night. Last year this was a great event, and the coordinators fed us lunch both days. Paula and I met a lot of nice people, including some folks from the local SCA and other similar groups. These kinds of events are great networking events to find out about other events in the area.
Again, the decision to do this will be up to the group. It is a fairly low-key event, with nice small crowds, and lots of time to "bop around" and have fun. We shouldn't have to bring much to do this event: no cooking, equipment, bedding, or pikes, just maybe one pavilion and its furnishings, if we wish, and our personal gear and weapons. We will have to make a decision very soon about whether or not we will do this.
Contact us ASAP to let us know your vote and/or availability. Either way, Paula and I will be doing this event.
If you are interested in getting armor, i.e., a breastplate, helmet, gorget, or whatever, please contact Drew or Larry. Under the tutelage of Bob Kriner (thanked elsewhere in this issue for his oh-so-kind help in making our pikes), we will be producing various pieces of armor with the help of the Bright Hills Armorer's Guild. Prices drop substantially when you help work on your own pieces.
There are only three left at the rock-bottom price of $70.00. These pikes are made from 12' tapered ash poles, and steel heads of the finest Drew-Larry-Bob-and-Rob craftsmanship. Don't wait! Get Yours Today!
Reach Customers Quickly! Your Ad Here!
Who was Eleanor of Austria? The first person to call me and correctly answer this questions wins a prize!
Congratulations to the Fähnlein! We took third place in the Judges' Choice category, for our first appearance at the event, and the first ever participation of a Landsknecht company! Excellent Job!
This means that the judges were very impressed with all aspects of our presentation , but that we weren't incredibly outstanding in any one area. They gave us score sheets for four of the areas in which we competed.
We received the highest score in the Unit Demonstration competition, 44 points out of a possible 50. We received 9 of 10 points for adhering to safety regs, and beginning and ending the demo on time. One judge's comment was "did nice job - but perhaps should be a little further away". We received 5 of 5 points for degree of difficulty, with the comment "nice job". We received 8 of 10 points for the historical accuracy of the drill and activities, but "one man was not in proper position re short sword. Did HRE really have 'largest standing army in world' - ie Turks, China". Well, we thought we did!
The historical and contextual accuracy of our equipment took 10 of 10 points, with the judge commenting "equipment & uniforms very nice". For providing an effective interpretation and demonstration to visitors, we received 12 of 15 points, because we "directed comments to crowd - answered questions, explained role of women - question same comment see pt 3." (in reference to largest standing army).
Our next highest score was for the Overall Camp: 36 out of 50 points. The historical and contextual accuracy of our camp, including equipment, appearance, materials, clothing, layout, etc., took 8 of 10 points, for being "very nice - beautiful clothing however need to improve shoes, clothing manufacture - music wonderful - overall great job - but needs minor improvement". For high level or accurate interpretation to visitors we received 10 of 15 points: "nice - but could improve organization - need handouts or other descriptive info".
For anachronistic materials present in the camp, we first took 7 out of 10 points, but then the number was scribbled out and changed to 6. "modern makers marks on pewter cup, modern nails & grommets -SHOES - modified Keds - ". For the degree of difficulty in presenting our camp, we first received 9 out of 10 points, but then the number was scribbled out and changed to 10. (So I guess that evens out.) Lastly, we received 2 of 5 point for not adhering to all safety regulations "NO - unsecure blade of ax turned out from bale".
Our next area of competition was in Individual Dress, where we received 31 points out of 50 possible. We received 1 point out of 5 for historical documentation (Mea Culpa) and 7 points out of 10 for historically correct textile, trim, cut line, and silhouette, with no comments. We received 5 points out of 10 for historically correct construction and construction techniques for "lots of obvious machine stitching". We took 8 of 10 points for historically correct use of accessories and accouterments, with the comment "? stockings". We received 10 of 15 points for degree of difficulty, with the comment "« very theatrical & interesting to look at but don't stand up to close inspection -"
Our last area of competition was Camp Cooking, where we received 30 points out of 50 possible. We received 0 point out of 5 for historical documentation (Mea Culpa) "food documentation needed". In the category of use of historically correct equipment, ingredients, and preparation, we received 4 out of 10 points. Their comments were "more accurate equipment needed - pay more attention to style of equipment - isolate tim seasons of year, and cater recipes and ingredients accordingly. Preparation techniques appropriate".
We received 12 of 15 points for a consistently high level of interpretation maintained during the meal's preparation, with the comments "very enthusiastic, informative". For the taste and appearance being pleasant, similar to the documentation, and correct for having been prepared over an open fire, we received 8 of 10 points, and the comments "food offered tasted good". We took six of 10 points for degree of difficulty, because of "grinding salt/pepper spice in bags ".
Over all, a very good performance for our first year. Now that we know a little more of what the judges are looking for, we will be able to better prepare next year. For my part, I promise that our documentation will be better next year, now that I know more about what they want.
Other comments we received in person included remarks about machine-made rugs, and the suggestion that we could hand sew canvas to the backs of them, comments on the machine stitching on our pavilions, and suggestions for covering the modern grommets on them, a lively discussion on whether or not the double-headed eagle is period to our time, or wasn't adopted until the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the 18th century, and the comment that the unfinished slashed edges should be hemmed. The judges also remarked on how good every thing looked, and that we made a nice addition to the event.
The best comments however, came from the visitors and other re enactors who visited our camp and were impressed with our interpretations. The Viking children were especially charmed, and liked both the cooking and the music. The WWI and WWII Germans liked the sense of family and heritage (and we liked their sidecars and tanks), and the (ptui) Burgundian Swiss, who have seen us progress from Marietta last year and at MDRF, were very impressed with not only how good our camp and people looked, but also with how far we've come. As Roger puts it, "you guys are doing a very difficult period, and you do it well". Thank You.
Calvin, Hobbes, and Peanut Peterka would like to express their appreciation to Victor and Tim, who made sure that they had food, water, a clean litter box, and clean bedding for the weekend, while their mommy was running around like a no-head chicken, trying to get everything packed for Jamestown. We appreciate it.
There will be an official business meeting at 7:00 pm Saturday, April 8, at the Peterka's. We need to discuss upcoming events and other official "stuff". Be There!