Barony of the Stargate

Home Page Information for Newcomers Meetings, Guilds and Workshops Contact the Officers Events Links of Interest Stargate's Champions Stargate Awards and Orders History of the Barony Two Towers Scribes Guild Photos Mailing Lists Exchequer

Information for Newcomers

Welcome!
We're really glad you're here!

This page is meant to provide answers to questions you may have about the SCA and our Barony. If you read this information and still have questions, however, we'll be happy to try to answer them for you personally.

Newcomers meetings provide information on local activities, how the SCA functions and what you can do to participate in the fun. To get more information and meeting dates, contact our Hospitaler, Lady Ciarnat of Firethorn at 281-693-6441 or send email to dragonlaw1 AT nww.net.

How to get involved

Participating in the SCA is easy; all you need to do is show up. Stargate is a very active barony! There is a regular monthly Populace meeting on the 1st Monday of the month, and a weekly fighter practice (with plenty of socializing non-fighter attendees as well) every Tuesday evening at the University of Houston main campus, Entrance 13A (no parking sticker required after 6 p.m.).

Stargate has members involved in almost every art and craft practiced in medieval and Renaissance times, including everything from indoor pursuits like the scribal arts, weaving and other fiber arts, period costuming, period dance, brewing and vintning, and period cooking, to outdoor activities like chivalric (heavy armored) and rapier (fencing) fighting, archery, and equestrian practices. Both fighter practices and monthly Populace meetings are good places to find others who are interested in whatever you're interested in.

Another good source of the latest information is to join a mailing list. There are two Yahoo mailing lists specifically for Newcomers, one for the Houston area and one covering all of Ansteorra:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnsteorraNewcomers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HoustonAreaNewcomers

Some links to get you started:

Life in the Current Middle Ages
This excellent introduction to the SCA includes answers to questions like, "What Kind of Person Joins the SCA?" and "Fighting in the SCA, or Why are those people hitting each other?"

The Guiding Hand
Ansteorra's "Guide For Our Newly Arrived Friends" includes a section for the complete beginner. Go here for all the information you need to go to an SCA event and feel like an old-timer!

Kingdom and Local Mailing Lists
We may play in the Middle Ages, but we live in the 21st century, and use the Internet a lot to keep informed and in touch. Mailing lists are free to join, and a great source of information.

Newcomers section of Stefan's Florilegium Archive
Huge amounts of information gathered from SCA members about everything we do.

News from the Barony

Click for the Current Issue or Back Issues of the Two Towers.

The May Populace Meeting meeting is Monday May 5th, and the June meeting is June 2nd. The regular location for the meeting is Hope (formerly St. Michael's) Episcopal Church, 1613 W 43rd St, in Oak Forest. This site is next door to Oaks Presbyterian, the long time site for Sunday’s European Dance Practice. Park in the row of spaces on Cheshire at the corner of 43rd, by the small white buildings just down from Oaks - go past the nearest building to get to the meeting.

Stargate Sunday Fighter Practice (Chivalric and Rapier)
Sunday afternoons in Memorial Park from 3-5 pm (we often keep at it past 5!). See the Two Towers for details on the revival of this old tradition. The location - where N Picnic Lane and S Picnic Lane meet Memorial Drive - has main road access, parking and restrooms. Type in “sca fighter practice” at Google Maps to get custom directions.

Plan to attend the Sunday Tourney on May 18th! Armor inspection will begin at 3 and the list will begin soon after. Prizes and more! Classes will be held that day on a variety topics including "How to be a Fighter's Consort" and "How to Run a Tournament List."

European Dance Guild
Come join the fun at our wonderful new location! Practice is held the 1st and 3d Sundays of the month in the 2nd floor Community Room at the Central Market, 3815 Westheimer Rd (at Wesleyan Ave, inside Loop 610), from 5:30 to 8 pm. For more information contact Lord Antonello del Bello at (281) 850-2443 or antonello.sca AT sbcglobal.net. Please, no calls after 10 pm. Garb is not required, but is recommended as this is a public location. Food is available for purchase on-site and may be taken into the classroom; you may not bring in food from outside, per Central Market's policy, but individual drinks are okay.

Scribes Guild
The Stargate Scribes Guild is for learning the scribal arts, as well as to provide a service to the Barony and the Kingdom by creating award scrolls. The Guild meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 7pm till 9:30pm at Hope (formerly St. Michael's) Episcopal Church, 1613 W 43rd St, in Oak Forest (same as Populace) in the freestanding building near the sanctuary. Come learn the ancient and beautiful arts of calligraphy and illumination.For further information, please contact Hillary Greenslade, by phone: 281-855-9447 or email: hillaryrg AT yahoo DOT com

Applications are being accepted for the following office:

Youth Rapier Marshal - Serves the Barony by training our young rapier fighters and maintaining the youth rapier loaner equipment. Contact the Seneschal for more information.

Holding an office is a great way to become involved and meet your fellow Stargaters. Eligible applicants must have enthusiasm and a wish to learn and carry out their new office. Please send your application to the Stargate Seneschal, Lady Cristyana (clambright2000 AT yahoo.com), the corresponding Regional officer, and the B&B.