From the Seneschal
This is just a friendly service announcement: If you have any awards, any at all, please check with Edar to make sure that he knows about them so he can make sure that his list of who has what is updated and complete. Please keep in mind that Edar is not on his list so you will have to call him or see him in person about these awards. Also, if you have a name (even if it is not registered) that you would like to go by in the SCA (or currently do go by), please see if it is listed in the Runes on the contact list. To be blunt, its really hard to put people in for awards if you have no clue what name to use when recommending someone. If your name is not listed on the Runes list, please e-mail Rich directly (he is not on this Yahoo group list) and let him know to add you.
Thanks,
Ellonyia

Demos
Hello, I was sounding out various people to see if Tuesday, April 9th would work for doing the demo at the Geneseo school? Would you be able to assist with the demo? Would another date be better? Please email me with your thoughts,
Thanks, Kevin

From the Chronicler
The Shire of Dark River also has a Yahoo Groups list on the Internet at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shireofdarkriver. Anyone interested can sign up and get announcements and reminders. We will be utilizing this list more in the future rather than the mailing list, which is unwieldy to maintain. You can be in charge of keeping your own account information correct so you will always be assured of receiving any important shire related information.
If anyone has anything they would like included or corrected in the future copies of this newsletter please let me know. Any suggestions are welcome. If any officers would like a "standing" message (such as this one) to run please send it to me via email and I will include it in future copies.

Blacksmith's Guild
Hello All, We will be having our first guild meeting at my house on Saturday April 6th at 4:00pm. If you are at all interested in learning the skills of blacksmithing, then perhaps you should think about being a part of the guild. At this first meeting we will discuss plans for projects that we would like to work on this upcoming season. The guild will meat at least once a month. Actual meeting dates will be decided upon at the first meeting. For more information or for directions please contact me at 309-736-0385 or rjfiii@revealed.net
Yours in service, Gunther Todmacher

Middle Eastern Dance
Hi all!
Well, my sabbatical to heal my knee is over, it's all better. And our great search to find a place to dance was successful! So Bellydance Practice will resume next tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 pm! It will be every tues at that time, rain or shine! We will be starting at the raw beginner level because it's been months since most of us have danced, and we'll move up at our own paces. :)
The goal of these practices is to have fun, have fun while working out, have fun while learning a little about period M.E. culture, have fun while learning a new and useful skill (if you don't already know how). Oh, and did I mention we'll be having fun? :) Anyone is welcome, but if you come you DANCE. No guys sitting on the sidelines watching!
Our new dance location is at the Palmer Cafeteria. Go up Brady street in Davenport and just after you go under the Palmer skywalk you turn right (it's a one way street, 11th st I think) and park in the visitors parking lot. The building on that side of the road (the east side of Brady) attached to the skywalk is the building the cafeteria is in. Go in the closest door and down stairs. The cafeteria takes up almost all the downstairs and that's where we'll be.
Mellilah (aka Melisande)
Michele
habibidancer@mchsi.com

From the Fighter Marshal
Fighter practice has been moved from Tuesday nights to Wednesday nights at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. The location is still the same: Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church 1201 13th Street Moline, IL 61265. For more information see Daffyd or Gunther.

From the Herald
Those in need of Names or Devices please see me. Get the forms and instruction sheets before working on your Name or Device, then follow the forms and instructions in drafting something. Get this draft to me for a two or three-week review and I'll get back to you with suggestions for a final submission to me, which I will complete and copy for sending up the line. Stay somewhat flexible on your Name and Device until you finalize it for submission. This will give you the best chance for approval on the first try.
Also, please drop me a note regarding the particulars whenever you receive an Award. I need to maintain records on all awards. Information should include the following: Type of Award, Recipients Name (as listed on scroll), Reason for Award (as listed on scroll) and Date of Presentation (as listed on scroll).

Cooks Guild
Mar 5; Apr 2; May 7; June 4

Stitch-n-Bitch
Mar 19; Apr 16; May 21; June 18.
For more info contact: Annyse24@aol.com

Arts & Sciences
To all the gentles in Shire of Dark River - please consider entering your Arts & Sciences accomplishments for judging at any upcoming A&S faires. You would be competing against set criteria as opposed to against other individuals. I know there are those of you that are stitching, brewing, cooking, armoring, etc. There are all manners of categories to choose from. We have very talented artisans in our shire and I would like to see you be recognized for your various talents. Imagine returning home with a first place award! What a confidence builder.
Many members of our shire are frequently working on Arts and Sciences projects at home, that I am unaware of. It is my duty to send a quarterly report to the Regional MOAS about what our shire and all of it's members have been doing. In order for this report to accurately reflect all your talents you have to share information with me about what you are doing. I routinely pass a notebook around at monthly business meetings for people to record their current projects, but members can not always attend. You can email me (wmal@mchsi.com) or phone me (787-6653), or even send by your personal messenger (preferably on horseback in period garb - my neighbors would be so impressed) details of your accomplishments. Lets show the rest of the kingdom our A&S talents!
In service
Ceridwen verch Gruffyd, (mka Sarah Malaise)
MOAS