Baronial Candidates:
Baron Christian Doré and
Baroness Claire Isabel Shayhan

Greetings Bryn Gwlad, from Christian Doré and Claire Shayhan. We write to you to ask you to consider us for your next Baron and Baroness.

Bryn Gwlad is the Crown Jewel of Ansteorra. We are critical to the kingdom's well being and what we do here echoes across the Known World.

All of this makes the office of Baron and Baroness of Bryn Gwlad among the most challenging and important jobs in the kingdom. We are honored to be among those the people of Bryn Gwlad have encouraged to apply for this position.

Diversity is Bryn Gwlad's Strength. People cross freely from one discipline to the next, enjoying, contributing and building bonds along the way. It is these bonds that make Bryn Gwlad strong and give us the ability to do things lesser groups cannot. It would be difficult to lead Bryn Gwlad without understanding this. As Baron and Baroness it will be our duty to encourage all the various disciplines and to see they are well led and well organized. Our own broad range of experiences will help us to understand Bryn Gwlad's needs.

Our involvement and history as leaders within Bryn Gwlad has been long and deep. Christian has over 23 years and Claire more than 16 years of service to Bryn Gwlad. Christian has served in the Guard and been its Captain, served in the Bryn Gwlad War Company and the Southern Regional War Company under Duke Kien's leadership, and he has led his own company of fighters—most from Bryn Gwlad—to victory on the rapier field in Gulf Wars. Christian has held local, regional and kingdom offices in Heraldry and Rapier and is currently Kingdom Rapier Marshal. Claire is currently proud Captain of the Baronial Guard. She has held local offices as A&S minister (Shadowlands), Demo Coordinator and Virtual Scribe. She is currently the Kingdom Youth Rapier Marshal. We have both been regulars at business meetings and fighter practices for well over a decade. We hold baronial awards for our service, teaching, and leadership. We have taught many classes, performed at Candlemas, run lists, stewarded events and cooked feasts.

The Dreigiau Bryn and Halberd serve as advisors to the Baron and Baroness and are often the leaders and problem solvers. We are long-standing members of the Dreigiau Bryn; Christian was given his DB by Jeremy Scurlock 14 years ago, and Claire received her DB from Pendaran and Jehanne 9 years ago. We will call on the DB and the Halberd for their advice and counsel, as well as for service.

For all its glory, Bryn Gwlad does have its issues as well. We believe the most serious of those is a difficulty recruiting and retaining new members. We both have a proven track record of welcoming new members and helping them get involved. We believe recruitment of participants for our barony is paramount for the growth and continued health of Bryn Gwlad and the SCA. It is important to make our newcomers feel welcome and useful, to show them a friendly face, and to bring them in on the fun. The best thing we can show potential recruits is happy, excited new members.

Although we have ideas and enthusiasm, we are aware we cannot know all the answers, nor lead every project. We will bring together interested and involved people to participate in the design of solutions and projects. We will guide, encourage, and focus the overall attention of the barony. When disputes arise we will allow people a chance to work things out for themselves, but we will not let them fester or hinder the health of the barony.

An important and enjoyable part of our duties shall be to recognize and reward those who serve the barony well. We will execute this duty with integrity and impartiality, not based on personal friendships but on deeds we learn of through recommendations and our own experiences.

As Baron and Baroness we will uphold our responsibility to represent the Barony of Bryn Gwlad, to stand as Their Majesties’ representatives, and to encourage all disciplines to serve and to support His Majesty’s wars and undertakings. We take our duties seriously. We will honorably maintain our oaths. We will give the Crown, Kingdom, and Barony our best.

We invite you all to visit with us directly or by email about any issues or concerns you have.

Baron Christian Jérome Doré Court Barony, WSA, Iris, Star, Crane, Thistle, Q. Rapier, Dreigiau Bryn, Cross Fleury, Silver Chalice 512-567-5076 christian@swordworks.org	Baroness Claire Isabel Shayhan Court Barony, Iris, Crane, Thistle, Q. Rapier, Dreigiau Bryn, Martlet, Silver Chalice 512-567-2124 claire@swordworks.org
Full contact information can be found in the December issue of It Cometh in the Mail.