[MR] Change to the Queen's Arms

[Jennifer Thies]

Greetings unto the most generous populace of Fair Atlantia, from 
Baroness Genevieve d'Aquitaine, Kingdom Chamberlain.

It was announced in the September Acorn and on the Herald's Webpage 
(http://herald.atlantia.sca.org/) that the most recent submission for a 
change to the Queen's arms from a shell to a Crown Vallery was not 
provided with enough populace support to make the change.  Currently a 
petition form to gather input is circulating.  You can print off a copy 
of the form (http://herald.atlantia.sca.org/Arms_Change_Petition.pdf) or 
pull out the center page of your September Acorn.

It came to my attention this weekend at Kingdom Crusades that at this 
time the response rate is still low. We only have until November 1st to 
gather responses.  All you have to do is fill the form out and mail it 
in to the Triton Herald, who's address is at the bottom of the page. 
There is a space to check that you do support the change, and there is 
also a place to select to not support the change.  I beg you all to 
respond, regardless of your leaning, so that an accurate feeling may be 
gathered on how the Kingdom feels.  You get a chance to speak your mind, 
use it.

If you signed the form I had on Saturday night at Crusades, assume that 
your response is already submitted.  We do not want duplicates so that 
the job of the person going over the petitions is easier.  I know that 
some groups have sent around the petition at Barony and group Meetings, 
or local events.  If the people who have those forms in their custody 
could please send them into Triton, even if they aren't full, that would 
be a great help.  You can always send in another half sheet later.  For 
those who have not sent this form around their group meetings, fighter 
practices and local events, I beg someone from the group to take up pen 
and clipboard and gather responses and send them in.

Some of you may ask why I care.  The reason this matters to me is that I 
have taken over the job of maintenance, storage, and distribution of the 
current Royal regalia.  There are quite a few items that need to be 
updated and replaced with newer versions.  This helps our King and Queen 
and Prince and Princess look their best, and provide a regal atmosphere 
for courts and Their presence.  Each new stain or tear in the regalia of 
our monarchs may not tarnish their reputation in our eyes, but newcomers 
and other kingdoms may not look so favorably on them and the populace 
who should be supporting them.  Alas, we cannot go forward with updating 
the regalia while the question of our Queen/Consort's arms remains 
unanswered.

So I implore you all to send in your opinion, and forward this to your 
local lists so that others will know that their opinion is likewise 
important and necessary in this endeavor.

Thank you,
Genevieve
Atlantian Chamberlain