Meeting Minutes
December 5, 2009 (Sunday)

The regular meeting of the Five Gates Household was held on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at 6:40 p.m., at Margaret's keep in Wallace, Idaho, the Acting Seneschal being in the chair and the Acting Chronicler being present. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote.

Present were the following members:
James; Jessica; Shannon; Margaret; Seamus;
Lochlainn; Lovella; Ottarr; Roland; Jorg; (Larry)

Old Business:

• "Local Events"
  
• While nothing is stopping us from currently sponsoring local events, it would be necessary to have a local autocrat to preside over the event.
  
• Also, having our own group would make it easier to recruit local people; there would be less travel time; and it would be easier for people to get together, as many people do not like to travel over the 4th of July Pass for meetings and events.
  
• There was discussion of the possibility of remaining a household, without forming a separate branch; however, forming a separate branch would allow greater self-sufficiency, better local organization, more opportunity for Arts and Sciences events, and would provide a learning experience for local members.
  
• Conversely, some of the "cons" would be that the participating members may "burn out," or that the group may become more isolated.
  
• It was agreed that the distance and travel time from the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls areas would be the main factor in favor of forming a new local branch.
  
• Other issues such as numbers, participation and mobility were discussed. However, the consensus of the group was that the Pro's outweighed the Con's and that we would continue to pursue forming a new local group.
  
• Sir Jorg advised that, in order to proceed with forming a new group, we should do as follows:
  
  1. Write a proposal to be presented to Kingdom, setting forth our plans and consideration in depth;
     
  2. Have our local acting officers make contact with Canton officers, and become "deputies in training" in order to learn our duties;
     
  3. Create a formal proposal, within the next couple of months, for presentation to a Canton meeting;
     
  4. Remain a household for a year, then re-evaluate our progress;
     
  5. Host a new event, some time between March 2010 and March 2011. The Canton will front the money, and allow us to retain the profits, provided that we present them with a budget proposal.
     
  
  
• In addition to the current acting officers, it was advised that we will need a Master of Swords and Master of Stables. Larry volunteered to be Master of Swords and Roland volunteered to be Master of Stables.
  

Larry and Lochlainn stated that they would be able to attend the Canton meeting, to be held on December 6, to discuss our proposal.

New Business:

In light of the previous discussion, it was agreed that the group should consider planning an event. A possible demonstration in either the Wallace Civic Auditorium or the St. Alphonsus Church Hall was discussed.

Seamus announced that his new shop would be completed by approximately December 21st.

Announcements

The Silver Heart meeting would be held on December 6, at the doughnut shop in Hayden.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
James,
Acting Chronicler