Mayor and Executive Staff

News and Updates

Mayor’s Missive #2

This is not an announcement I enjoy making but sometimes change is unpleasant.

We are implementing a rule change which will include explosives under the prohibited items in the General Rules. This will preclude the use of the canon(s) on Main Battlefield.

The matter has been a running source of issues for almost a decade and it was, once again, discussed at length during the November senior staff meeting. All sides of the argument were examined. Many, if not most of us enjoy the canon, and will miss the flavor it brought to the battlefield. Yet, the decision was unanimous. The down sides weighed in favor of this change. The main issue remains the continued negative effects on the health and well being of an unknown number of attendees, including but not limited to PTSD sufferers. CAWS (Cannon Alert Warning System) warns those affected ahead of time that they are going to be traumatized, it doesn’t avoid it. Many have no warning.

The entire Pennsic staff would like to thank the Gunner crew for their service and dedication over the years helping to keep the Dream and the Magic of Pennsic alive.

We sincerely regret any grief this may cause.

Yours in Service, Oscar Goerijs Goriszoon, Pennsic Mayor 53

Mayor’s Missive #1

Greetings and Salutations unto all!

It is my pleasure, privilege and honor to introduce myself as your Mayor for Pennsic 53. Here is the short version of my CV: Pennsic 34 was my first SCA event and I knew nothing and no one…… Found my way into the gameside and helped out with various Reigns in the East. Ten years ago I asked a staff member: “What is Pennsic Staff like?” and I have been a member ever since. Spent a few years in the Watch tent and in short order ended up in Technical Services, eventually leading the department. And now here I am. It is my full intention to be “reachable” for all. I’ll have office hours from 9 am-11am every day, come to the Watch and they will direct you. And on nice days I just may be on a bench out in front of the watch. Of course you can always email at mayor@pennsicwar.org

For Senior Staff one Pennsic runs directly into the other. Last weekend we had the first meeting with this year’s team and I cannot express enough gratitude for their professionalism and dedication to the cause. I am confident we are going to have a great Pennsic!

After last year’s false start, the Registration Building is now becoming a reality. The picture below shows the framing of the structure in progress. We will post updates on this and any other matters of interest as information becomes available.

Yours in Service to the Dream,

Baron Oscar Goerijs Goriszoon, OP known as Oscar.

Office of the Mayor

The Mayor is the senior official responsible for keeping all activities at Pennsic in compliance with modern law, the corporate policies of the SCA^[1] and Pennsic^[2] rules. The Mayor works with the SCA and the three main Kingdom Seneschals to assure the orderly running of the event. The Mayor is also the primary on-site liaison with Coopers Lake Campground management. There is a designated Emergency Mayor who is a previous year(s) Mayor and can take over should the Mayor be unable to do the job. Pennsic Staff are organized into eight divisions, headed by Deputy Mayors who report to the Mayor.

Two years ahead of time, aspiring Mayors submit a bid containing a proposed budget, demonstration of support from other prospective staff, and their modern and SCA qualifications demonstrating sufficient administrative and operational experience to run the event. The bids are then reviewed by the Seneschals of the three main Kingdoms responsible for the event (The East, Middle, and Æthelmearc) and the Mayor is then selected by the sitting Royalty of the hosting Kingdom. After selection the applicant will serve one year as a deputy of the Mayor the year prior to theirs, also referred to as being “Mayor on Deck”. At the November staff meeting the torch is passed from the old to new Mayor.

Royalty Liaison

The Royalty Liaison exists to ensure Royalty at Pennsic are provided with a single point of interface with the staff. The Royalty Liaison coordinates transportation and other logistics functions of Royalty at the event. As such, any request for Pennsic resources from Royalty and their associated staff is the responsibility of the Royalty Liaison.

Staff