[SCA-BMDL] Meet your officers: Herald

[Ben Cogan]

Greetings from Brandubh,

Meet Your Officers: Comet Pursuivant, the Herald for the Barony.  Comet is a
baronial herald.  The purpose of the office is two fold - first is to be the
mouthpiece of the barony as the officiate of baronial courts, and second is
to be a point of contact for the barony to the college of arms for the
purpose of submitting arms and names.



The duties of the office are to ensure that Their Excellencies have a herald
for their courts, to ensure that court reports are written and published in
the Althing, with copies forwarded to local and kingdom OP clerks and Silver
Buccle, and to ensure that the local Order of Precedence is maintained.  Co=
met
does not have to do all of these things personally, but it is the duty of
the office to ensure that these tasks are done.  To that end the baronial
position of OP clerk is a deputy of the office of Comet Pursuivant that is
required to publish the OP in the Althing once a year.  Additionally Comet
must be a warranted Herald by the Kingdom of Aethelmearc.  The office is the
point of contact to the College of Arms for the barony; this does not mean
that Comet must take all heraldic submissions in the barony.  It does mean
that Comet must be familiar with the College of Arms, and know to whom to
send queries about name and armory submissions.  Comet must also from time
to time take submission paperwork and money and forward them to Garnet, the
Aethelmearc submissions herald.  The herald is also the point of contact for
announcements and list crying.  It has become tradition in this barony that
Comet runs the monthly barony meetings.  As an officer of the barony
attendance at barony meetings and officers' meetings becomes mandatory.  Co=
met
is also required to travel through the kingdom, just as the Baron/ess is
required to witness Crown Tournament and Coronation; Comet is required to
ensure that the Baron/ess has a herald for these occasions.



Comet is an officer of the court, whereas the other officers have mundane
responsibilities than take up time outside of events, Comet is busiest at
events.  Heralds lend a certain level of glamour to our events, through
clever wordsmithing, and the identifiability of the tabard.  The court
duties are the most fun that one can have with the office.  You are
guaranteed a spot right up front in court and get to hear everything said. =
 You
get to give your friends awards, surprising them and gratifying them, though
you must still give your enemies awards in court with the same smile that
you gave to your friends.  A strong voice and confidence on stage is the
best start for anyone interested in becoming a herald.  Any vocal or stage
experience will best aid you here, the pomp, ceremony, and right words can
be learned through the job.



Comet like most of the Officers of the barony serves two year terms and is
normally limited to 2 terms of office.  Currently Brandubh O'Donnghaile
serves as Comet, before him came Cadell Blaidd Du, Giuliettta da Venezia,
Margaret Makafee, Elsbeth Anne Roth, Ardis Bluemantel, and others.  All of
these Gentles would give valuable tips and insights in to the office of
herald at the baronial level.

In Service,
Brandubh
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