Greetings and salutations unto the Known World.
I am Lord Valdis of Gotland, coordinator of the Pennsic Memorial Runestone. I would like to take a quick minute to describe our project and let you know how you can make a contribution financially or physically.
This is a community project, in the sense that the community of Pennsic 38, you will be carving the stone with the assistance of some carvers who will be on hand. The stone is approximately 9 tons and will stand over 7 feet tall when erected.
The wording, written and translated into runes by Magistra Fiana of Clare, is as follows:
'The People of the Folk-Assembly (Society) raised this stone in order to give honor to those who have walked these fields and fallen. We will meet again.'
The artwork will includes viking elements of war and passage into an afterlife. There will be no religious references or personal names on the stone as it honors all who have walked with us. Each day for 4 hours we will have the runestone available for anyone to carve upon the stone. The artwork will be laid out already and tools will be provided as well as instruction with practice stones available for you to become comfortable with carving before moving to the main stone.
For those groups that wish to carve together whether in memory of someone or socially, we will block off time for groups of 10 or more. Whether you want to carve the stone in memory of someone or simply to have the opportunity to carve a period style stone with period tools, you are welcome.
Now, financials...unfortunately these types of projects cost money. For the tools, insurance, stone and delivery of the stone we need to raise around $6000 (six thousand dollars) in a short amount of time. For those individuals that donate a hundred dollars or more we will have a pendant in the shape of the runestone in bronze cast by Crafty Celts, for those individuals that donate two hundred dollars we will have the same pendant in silver, again cast by Crafty Celts. While six thousand dollars seems like alot to raise in less than two months it is less than a hundred individuals who feel moved to help sponsor this worthy cause. Any donation in any amount is needed and appreciated.
Donations made be made at PayPal using our email address of PennsicRuneStone@oakthorne.com or you may go to www.pennsicrunestone.com and link PayPal from there. Snail mail donations (checks or money orders) may be made to:
Marilyn Pannell
Baroness Bromwyn Acthorn
91 SME
Shippensburg, PA 17257
I will be posting more to the Pennsic runestone website as we move forward. The site is designed as a blog so we may discuss different elements of the runestone but more importantly I want to hear stories of our members who have passed and why you are inspired to donate or help carve with your hands...remember you do not have to donate to carve on the stone although your financial support is appreciated.
Please help spread the word of this project by forwarding to SCA list and friends so that we may reach our goal quickly and have the stone delivered and honor those scadians who are no longer with us.
Yours In Service,
Lord Valdis of Gotland
East Kingdom
kenkoll8974@hotmail.com
Donate to the Pennsic Runestone Project:
Donations go to Paypal account: PennsicRuneStone@oakthorne.com
About Me
- Lord Valdis of Gotland
- I am Lord Valdis of Gotland, coordinator of the Pennsic Runestone. I will write some more about why I put this project together in other post as well as details to the venture. Right now a little about me, I have been in the SCA for over 16 years now...I will be going to my 15th Pennsic this year. I have served our shire as chronicler, castellan and currently knight marshal. I have been nominated for the society blackfox award for my work,'Carving Rock Crystal According to Theophilius.' I have been recognized with the East Kingdoms Queens Honor of Distinction. I am probably most widely known for my artwork from my booth and AS displays. Now, if you do not recognize me, I would like to meet you this Pennsic War at the Runestone carving to honor our fellow scadians who no longer walk those fields.
I feel that this is a worth while venture and not something to take lightly. I personally believe that to honor one's dear departed is a true sign of respect and wisdom for all persons.
ReplyDeleteOne question: Where will this stone stand?
ReplyDeleteAnd one comment: today (04/9/2010) is the first I have heard of this project. It is possible that more publicity would help. Also, more than 10,000 people attend Pennsic each year, it sounds like a donation of $1 from only half of them would cover the amount you require. If you don't get the money for May, is there any way of having optional donations made at the time of troll-in? And if you don't get the money then, is there a chance that the Coopers / Pennsic Autocrat could arrange for an optional $1 donation to be on the registration form for Pennsic 2011?