Covering July 2009 – February 2010
An offer had been made to us to run the Tavern at a public event we were calling the White Stag Joust, to be held in Hall in October. The organizers (Declan Kane and Kiwi Hunter) allowed us to run a Shoot-a-Knight game as well. The event went well, but was small, as is normal for the first year such events are run. Beth had been organizing this, but had to drop out in September because of a family medical disaster. Russ and Eileen picked up the running of the event. It went off well, and we netted nearly $400.
As plans for the Joust Tavern went ahead, we received another offer of a free wind turbine, available if we came to collect it and transport it to the property. The turbine was transferred to site on 16 August, where it still is (near the site sheds), waiting for a suitable time to be re-assembled. It will need concrete footings. We need to decide how best to use this: the most promising idea at the moment is to use it to pump water (such as between the Guild Hall rainwater tank and the main tanks), with the possibility of then using water-power to produce a small amount of electricity (such as enough to power a few lights for non-medievalist hirers, or an asthma or sleep-apnea machine, in the Guild Hall or in a tent/structure nearby). Other ideas are welcome! Blayney is the engineer on this project, since he acquired the donation for us, and knows the capabilities of this windmill.
Rob Bolin had been given Board approval to run a war event, group agnostic, on Easter weekend. This was given the name of “The 100-Hours War.” He had gathered together a committee by the end of 2009, and begun publicizing the event and taking bookings. Bookings have been slow, however, and so while we are still holding an event, it will be more like a camping event with some pick-up fighting and archery, some working-bee efforts, and food. More info as we have it. Do book, if you want to come – it’ll be much more relaxed than any other event in April!
In August, another portable toilet and a portable shower were purchased for use on-site. These are now sited on the Village Green, near the Guild Hall. The shower unit didn’t have a heater, so a water-heater was purchased.
A minor appearance of a black mould broke out on the exterior timbers of the Guild Hall. It was all cleaned off, and the exposed timbers all treated to prevent further bloom, in September.
Sveinn (Steve Worthington) submitted plans and a proposal to build a metal-working forge at Crossroads, to be named Grimsson Forge. The Board approved. For interested members who were not aware of the proposal, or who would like to see the plans again, the link is at: http://grimssonforge.org/?page_id=9 . The plan is for the forge to take up the near end of the lowest camping platform south of the Grand Staircase (at the other end from Sui’s glass-kilns), with camping for the smiths nearby, and raised seating for groups of viewers (such as school groups, someday). The forge itself can use the fire-bricks we already own, and be faced with rocks from on-site.
A horse paddock has been established not far from the site sheds. This will allow members to keep horses on site, and visitors to bring in horses for events. Fencing is nearly complete/complete. There is no stable at the moment, but building a small one is the next stage. If it’s small enough, we will not need a building permit for it.
We were given a notice in November, by the Southern Slopes Noxious Plant Authority, that we have too much serrated grassy tussock (legally, a noxious weed) on the property. Craig has been heading up the eradication program. We may have a donation of weed-killer in the near future, from Western Sydney Uni, which will save us some money on any follow-up spraying. The weed-killer is not organic, but we have to use what the NSW authorities require us to.
In the same vein, this lovely wet summer – well, damp, anyway – has left the property with a fair bit of healthy green to the land. Unfortunately, that growth includes all the peskier plants, too. Members are all asked, and welcome, to dig out or at least cut down any St John’s Wort, Patterson’s curse, or thistles they see growing on the property.
The AGM was held in December: a new Board of Directors was elected. Groo had resigned from the Board in September. The new Board of Directors consisted of: Russ Bradbury as Chair; Eileen Procter as Treasurer; Beth Schoenberg as Secretary; and Craig Warne, Terry Rudd, and Simon Price continuing. Steve Worthington was not present, but had notified the Board that he would be interested in becoming a Board member, and that was agreed to in principle by the members present.
Subsequently, Russ Bradbury stepped down as Chair, since he is now living in Newcastle; he is still a member of the Board, however. The new Chair was voted in at the February BoD meeting, and is Steve Worthington (“Sveinn”). All the other officers remain the same as last year.
Last September, we found out that Yass Valley Gun Club needs to find a new home, and we are looking into the possibility of offering them a place on the property. Russ and Craig have been handling the information-flow and negotiations regarding this. The council is very eager to have this settled, and are being very accommodating to both parties. There are many more details on this issue on the Xrds-Members list, posted by Craig last week. The Board very much needs to hear members’ thoughts, ideas, and opinions on this! It is a big decision.
Just a final reminder: all members are entitled to receive copies of any of the BoD minutes they want. Most members now getting minutes regularly prefer email copies, but at least one member is receiving regular snail-mail copies (she provides the postage as a donation to the co-op). Please contact me (Beth, the Secretary), if you want to take advantage of this right.
Next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Sunday, the 21 March, 2010. 3 pm, on the Crossroads property (Old Hume Highway at Sheldrick’s lane, Yass, NSW). BYO chair.
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