Greetings to the populace and friends of the Barony of Cleftlands.
As Their Excellencies have announced, Cleftlands has begun the process of selecting its next Baronial representatives.
Over the coming months, the populace will have an opportunity to learn about the candidates and provide feedback to Their Majesties through the Baronial polling process. I will be handling the local administrative portion of the polling process in coordination with the Middle Kingdom Deputy for Group Transitions.
Their Majesties will receive the polling results, Letters of Intent, and the comments submitted by the populace that will help guide their decisions regarding who will serve as the next territorial representatives of the Barony.
If you support a candidate, let the Crown know why. What qualities, experience, judgment, communication skills, or vision do you believe they would bring to the role? Likewise, if you have concerns, thoughtful and constructive comments give Their Majesties far more useful information than simply selecting a name.
Important Dates
- October 13 – November 11 – Letters of Intent will be accepted from those wishing to be considered.
- Please submit Letters of Intent (LOI) to seneschal@cleftlands.org
- The letters must include:
- SCA name and any titles (how they would like to be listed on the poll)
- Legal name with contact information including: mailing address, phone number, email address
- Copy of valid membership card (valid through the transition time period) and a copy of photo identification
- Letters can include any information the candidate wishes to communicate to the Crown or the populace – such as SCA experience or vision for the barony.
- The submission of the letters should also include a single photo of each candidate with the current MK photo release form.
- The preferred method to send these to me is through email and in PDF format (not as the text within an email — or through Facebook.)
- A photo of both candidates together should be submitted separately as PNG, JPG, GIF, or TIF.
- The letters must include:
- Please submit Letters of Intent (LOI) to seneschal@cleftlands.org
- November 18 — Baronial Candidate Q&A
- We will hold a Candidate Q&A at our regular Baronial meeting site to give the populace an opportunity to learn more about those asking to serve as the next Baronial representatives.
- A moderator will lead the session and read questions submitted by the populace so that the candidates have an opportunity to address the same subjects in an orderly and respectful format.
- This will be an informational session, not a debate. The goal is to give the populace a better understanding of each candidate’s experience, goals, ideas, and approach to serving the Barony.
- Please submit questions in advance to: seneschal@cleftlands.org and use the subject line: Baronial Candidate Questions
- Questions may be combined or lightly reworded for clarity when several people ask substantially the same thing. The person submitting the question will not be identified when it is read.
- November 19 – December 9 — Baronial polling will be open for the required three-week period.
- There will be separate polling opportunities for residents and non-residents.
- For polling purposes, a resident is someone who lives within the recognized geographic territory of the Barony. Paid SCA membership is not required to participate in the resident poll, although residency will be verified.
- Those who live outside the Barony but participate in Cleftlands will also have an opportunity to provide feedback through the non-resident poll.
The current schedule anticipates a decision from the Crown by February 16, with proposed investiture planned for March 27, 2027. More information about the candidates, their Letters of Intent, and the polling links will be posted as we reach the appropriate stage.
If you have questions about the process, please feel free to contact me.
Sir Crispin de la Rochefoucauld
Seneschal, Barony of the Cleftlands