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The Landskonnections

The Official Newsletter of Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein.

(okay, it's corny. YOU think up a better name for a newsletter!) The Official Newsletter of Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein. Published monthly, or whenever I get around to it. Any opinions contained herein are strictly my own, as are any typographical errors. Not to be taken internally. Entire contents copyright 1995 by Paula Peterka, unless otherwise noted or authored. Yeah, like you'd WANT to steal anything out of here! Void where prohibited by law. Taxes, license and destination charges extra.

Volume 2Issue 7

Date Unknown


In This Issue:


Maryland Renaissance Festival

The 1995 Season of the Maryland Renaissance Festival is now finished. The Fähnlein worked quite well and quite hard for the duration of the nine weekend event. The Festival administration has made many positive comments about the unit's participation, and seems to have been very pleased with its performance.

Everyone in the unit who participated did a wonderful job. This is not to say that we didn't have our share of logistical and interpersonal problems; however, after sixteen weeks of working together very closely, it's surprising that any of us are still talking to each other. Performing at the Festival can be very stressful, even if it is also very enjoyable. The unit commanders would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this event such a success for the unit. Enclosed with this newsletter you will find a performer's evaluation sheet. If you have any comments that you would like to make about this season's show, please write them down and send the evaluation to Carolyn Spedden at the Festival office. She takes all comments very seriously, and tries very hard to accommodate requests and suggestions.

If you have any comments that you would like to make about the unit's performance at the festival, we will be having a Maryland Post-Mortem meeting in December. The exact location and time will be set at the Lost and Found party on November 18. (see related article)

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LOST and FOUND

"Hey, this isn't my goblet!", "Oh, man, what happened to my pouch?", "Wait a minute, I thought I had two of these. How'd I end up with three?". Does this sound familiar? If so, you should come to the Post-Fest Lost- and-Found Party on Saturday, November 18th. Kellie Hendley (Danica) has graciously offered to host this event, which will start at 1:00 pm. Kellie will also provide stuff for sandwiches, so please bring something to go with them, as well as anything that turned up in your gear, or a list of what you can't find. If you found something that was in need of a wash, please be nice and clean it. Additionally, we will be setting the schedule for the upcoming winter workshops and meeting, so please bring your calendars.

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Landsknecht Invitational Winter Campaign

It's official. On February 17 & 18, 1996, das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein will host the Landsknecht Invitational Winter Campaign at the Marietta Mansion Historical Site in Bowie, Maryland. This is Presidents' Day Weekend, so hopefully most of you will have Monday off to recover. This event will be similar to last year's, except that we are inviting more units to come play with us for the weekend. With any luck, some of them will actually show up.

This event promises to be a good one. We have scheduled individual and combined-unit drills, inter-unit battles, a cooking competition, and a Saturday night potluck feast. We are hoping for spontaneous outbursts of camp visits, cultural exchanges, group sing-a-longs, and body-looting.

February weather can unpredictable, but this event will take place rain, snow, or shine. We will have workshops over the winter to get everyone into warm clothing. The campaign is designed to be fun and enjoyable, and also to give the unit a good shakedown before the competition at Jamestown. If you would like to help with organizing the event or planning activities, contact Drew or Paula as soon as possible. We will publish more information in our next issue.

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Trivial Pursuits

And now we present . . .The ANSWERS!

Give yourself 1 point for each correct answer, unless otherwise noted.

  1. It is the year 1529. Charles V is on the Imperial throne, and all is right with the Empire. We are heading where to face what new threat?
    D. Vienna, to Help Ferdinand of Austria against Sulemein.

  2. Maximillian I is from what ruling house?
    B. Hapsburg
    If you answered C, Pfannenkuchen, deduct one half point.

  3. Charles V is Max's
    C. Grandson

  4. Eleanor of Austria is
    E. All of the above
    Give yourself two points if you answered this one correctly, one point if you answered A, B, C, or D.

  5. Rome
    E. All of the above

  6. Which of the following is not part of the Holy Roman Empire?
    B. Spain
    This one was a toughie. Charles V is King of Spain, through his mother Juana, but Spain is not a part of the Empire.

  7. In 1541 Charles V is married to
    B. Eleanor of Toledo C. Isabella of Portugal E. None of the above

  8. In 1541 Henry VIII is married to
    B. Katherine Howard

  9. Manferd Blöde is
    C. A Landsknecht captain

  10. Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein means "the
    C. Devil'sNightmare Regiment"
    Deduct one point if you missed this one.

  11. What would you do with a "kartoffel"?
    A. Eat it.
    OR
    E. Give it to a Campfollower.
    Give yourself one half point if you answered C, Spend it.

  12. Which of these cities was NOT sacked on the way to Rome?
    D. Florence
    It's out of the way, and it's not in the song. If someone proves me wrong, then you can give yourself a point no matter what you answered.

  13. Which of the following is NOT a military command?
    A. "Geht Doch!"
    It means "go away", and while an officer might say it to you, or order you to do so, it is not an official word of command.

  14. What is the significance of two halberds and a pike?
    B. They're used as a gate to a muster camp.
    If you answered C, "when broiled with a little garlic and lemon they're delicious", deduct one point.

  15. When on duty, a guard bows only to
    E. None of the above

SCORING:

16 to 10 points: Congratulations! You are a mercenary of great reknown. You're so cool, Georg asks you for advice. You're so up-to-date, Chuck calls you in for monthly debriefings. You should be your own Kriegsherr.

9 to 5 points: Well done! You are an upwardly mobile soldier/campfollower, well versed in the arts of campaigning. You've obviously picked up quite a few things since you joined the Fähnlein (especially if they weren't nailed down).

4 to 1 point: Well, you have been paying a little attention, haven't you? You should try not to sleep so much during meetings. Go but yourself a copy of the Osprey book, and hit the library (before it hits you).

0 to -2 points: Oh, a Wise Guy, eh? (A-Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!) I see lots of chains in your future. No, not gold chains, . . .MANACLES!

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Hey, Where Did Everybody Go?

Several members of the unit have moved, changed their phone numbers, or have changed other vital information about themselves since the beginning of the year. A new "Members and Friends" list will be published in the next issue. If you are one of the people whose vital statistics have changed, let Paula know ASAP, so your new information will be included.

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In Sympathy

Jennifer Lease's (Johanna) Grandfather passed away on November 1. The Fähnlein would like to express its condolences to the Lease Family during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with you.

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The Borders Connection

Tim Vert (Friedrich) would like everyone to know that he is now a happy employee of Border's Books in Arlington. As such, he has acess to information on books in print, can place special orders, and even gets an employee discount! If you are interested in expanding your library (more books for research, more books for research!), please contact him.

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