| 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. For external use only - but you may read this inside. Entire contents copyright 1997 by Paula Peterka, unless otherwise noted or authored. Yeah, like you'd WANT to steal anything out of here! Please keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle until the ride comes to a full and complete stop. No eating, drinking, smoking, and especially no flash photography. |
| Volume 4 | Issue 1 |
February 28, 1997 | |
Annual Meeting Held: New (Old?) Board Members Elected
Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein would like to introduce Board of Directors and Field Officers for the 1997-1998 term. Larry Peterka remains our Chief Executive Officer, Paula Peterka is still our Chief Recording Officer, Drew Jones continues as our Chief Financial Officer, and Kellie Hendley and Mike Amos are our new Directors-at-Large. Additionally, Larry Peterka stays as our Hauptmann, and Paula Peterka remains our Hauptfrau. Neither the Hauptmann nor the Hauptfrau have stated whether they will appoint new junior officers or keep they current Leutnant, Weibel, Kuchenfrau, and Snackenfrau. Congratulations (or is that Condolences?) to our Officers. In other unit business, on the agenda will include our participation in Jamestown, our Winter Campaign, purchasing of pikes and commissioning of period shoes.
The Landsknecht Invitational Winter Campaign was held on February 15 & 16, at Marietta Mansion Historical Site in Bowie, Maryland. We were joined in our endeavors by six members of Der Sonnen von Krieg, a Pennsylvania based Landsknecht unit. The weather over the weekend was nice, slightly overcast with patches of sun, and only a little rain on Friday night. Temperatures were in the 50? - 60? range during the day, but considerably colder at night. We were very glad of the campfires (and the non-period propane heater in Hotel Heidelberg) on Saturday night.
Herr Derrick and Obrist Willam returned from last year, bringing with them the Obrist's two daughters, Amy and Sarah, who took the opportunity to improve their campfollowing skills. Although other units had said they might come to play with us during the day, the only visitors to our camp were very enthusiastic tourists. We had a small but steady stream of camera-toting visitors on both days, perhaps 75 people total.
Unit turnout was good, with Larry (Hauptmann Manferd), Drew (Leutnant Andreaus), Mike (Weibel Heinrich the Good), Don (Fritz), Peter (Dieter), Rob (Lars), Bob (Heinrich the Catholic), Barchan (Barchan), Rob (Karl), Bob (Rudolph, formerly Ule), Charlie (Gunther), Sean (Albrecht), Paula (Anjabeth), Kellie (Danica), Anna (Elfrieda), Linda (Wilhelmina), Jen (Heidel), Lauren (Lottie), Jen (Johanna), Janice (Maria), and Elizabeth (Elizabetha) participating at various points over the weekend.
The event was scheduled, but we fell behind fairly quickly, due to the cold weather. We made our prescence known to visitors and neighbors alike with fairly steady weapons fire and combined-unit pike drill. The cooking competition was scrapped for the second year in a row, but we did hold the Fire Skills 1A and 1B workshops, which emphasized how to start and keep cookfires burning. Bob Wilson amazed us all with his truly spectacular 15-second fire start, using completely period materials. , We didn't have quite enough soldiers to do unit skirmishes, (and therefore no body-looting), but the campfollowers were able to join in the last drill of the weekend. Paula, Linda, and Jen Wadford grabbed Zweihänders and were our Doppels, and even Elizabeth joined in, bravely doing Pike drill with a large wooden spoon. We sincerely hope our visitors and guests enjoyed themselves, and that they consider it worthwhile to return next year, when we look forward to even more participants, and, as always, more fun!
The unit has been invited back to Military Through the Ages at Jamestown, which will be held March 15 & 16. Our registration forms have been sent in, and Jamestown we have finally received our confirmation letter. There are a few major changes this year, but none of them are untenable. This will be our third year at this event, and we hope to have as much fun this year as in the previous two. This event is a showcase of reenactment units, and there will be groups representing everything from the XX Roman Legion through the National Guard. Since this event takes place at a state-run museum, there are some rules for participation which they strictly enforce.
MTA is a judged event, and our unit has entered in the competitions again this year. We will be competing in cooking, tactical /drill, clothing, general camp environment, and pretty much anything else they've got. The judges rountinely walk into camp, and pick up things to look at their bottoms and see how they were made. One judge kicked over the edge of a Persian carpet and remarked that they weren't made by machine in the 16th Century. Last year we lost points for modern glasses and modern shoes. We would never make someone remove their glasses and go blind, but we might send them on an urgent errand outside of camp when the judges arrive. The judges can get very nit-picky, especially if the competition is tight. Therefore, if you know something is "farby", leave it at home. If you're unsure, bring it. There will be a camp inspection Saturday morning, and anything that doesn't pass muster will be removed from camp. This includes all aspects of your kit, including, weapons, tentage, and clothes. As Larry says, "If it ain't period, it ain't here!"
The meal fee for this event is $10.00 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch for both days. Please turn your money into Drew, Kellie, or Paula no later than March 11. Dinner on Saturday night is provided by Jamestown, and features grilled/BBQ chicken, baked beans, potato salad, rolls, dessert, and beverages. There will also be a group of us going to the Mongolian BBQ in Williamsburg, as we did last year. We were able to set up before 5:00 pm on Friday last year, and plan to do so again. An early caravan for people who took the day off from school/work will be leaving from the Peterka's apartment at 11:00 am on Friday, March 14, led by Larry. A late caravan for those who couldn't get the day off will be leaving from the apartment at 6:30 pm, led by Paula. If you plan to travel in either of these caravans, please call Larry or Paula, so they can make sure to wait for you.
If you are planing to bring your pavillion or tent, you need to contact Larry immediately. All pavillions must travel with the early caravan, even if their owners do not.
We will have some extra special guests with us this year. My parents and my Aunt Alene will be coming out to see us and the event. Some of you have met my mother and aunt when they came to the festival rehearsal last July. They are looking forward to meeting all of you/seeing you again. Also, Andy and Beth Bradshaw, better known as Father Anders and Frau Isabeau, will be joining us in camp. Plan on religious wars and maybe a Katzbalger wedding or two. Additionally, the Thirty Years' War camp wants to have a witch trial on Saturday night, with our Lutheran-leaning help. Jamestown may never be the same!
Marching through Time at Marietta Mansion Historical Site will be held on April 12 & 13. This is another timeline event, and many of the groups who participate in Jamestown also come to this event. MTT has no formal judging, however, and it is a little more relaxed. Since this is in many ways our "home" event, we hope to have a good turnout. Highlights of the event include the Sunday Morning Mayhem, wherein all the units are formed into two teams for a running field battle. Last year's skirmish included the 1812 Gebadier's hurling orage and easter egg "grenades", and the untimely demise of four American Civil War soldiers who snuck behind our lines to snipe shoot at the Landsknechts, and failed to watch out for Anjabeth. ( And you wonder why we say "be afraid of the men. Be VERY afraid of the women".)
The meal fee for this event is also $10.00 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch for both days. Dinner on Saturday night is on your own. We will probably head out to Wendy's or IHOP.
We have been encouraged by the Marietta people to make physical improvements to our campsite, and we will begin these during the weeks before the event, depending on the weather conditions. Additionally, MTT will host local elementary school groups on the site on Friday, April 11, to promote the event to the community. Anyone who can come out on Thursday evening to help set up a few things, and then either stay over or comeback Friday morning to talk to the children, parents, and teachers would be appreciated. Larry will be doing so, and would like some help.
To Jamestown: Take a caravan, and see attached map!
To Marietta Mansion: Take 495 to 450 East, and get into the left lanes. Continue on 450, and turn left at route 193. Turn left at the first available turn, just past the brown Historic Marker, onto Bell Station Road. Turn left into the first driveway, and park/unload where indicated.