1. Minutes of the last Annual General Mooting were agreed to be a fair representation of last year's meeting. Although nobody could really remember much about it, particularly after the fight broke out.
2. Matters arising - Nobody had carried out any of the actions from last year. Everybody meant to have got round to doing their actions, but you know how it is. They were busy, and then Harold Camping forecast the end of the world. Twice. So there didn't see any point in starting anything before November. And then it was Christmas, and it hardly seemed time to start anything up before the AGM.
3. Archdruid's Report - Eileen thanked Hnaef, Daphne, and Young Keith for their support, and expressed her loathing of Burton Dasset. She said it had been a very hard year, spiritually and financially. But she had high hopes that the daily pouring-out and filling-up of beakers continues, sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, Consider Yourself Our Mate. Sorry, her attention wandered there, but she didn't suppose anyone was still listening anyway. Onwards and Upwards!
4. Treasurer's Report - Burton Dasset reported that official income was 45p last year. It was probably more than that in reality, but all the electronic records are missing, believed hacked. It is a fundamental rule of the Beaker Folk that Druidic Expenses are reported every year. However this year all the receipts have been eaten by a mutant sentient star-cheese. Having failed to report on the Druidic Expenses yet again, Burton received his annual sacking.
5. Election of New Treasurer - Eileen paid an eloquent tribute to the outgoing Treasurer's superb combination of a financial qualification with extreme gullibility, and proposed that Burton be elected as the new Treasurer. Proposal carried Nem ausus con.
6. Light Bulb Report - Ardwulf, our Light Bulb Committee Chair, reported that blown light bulbs have been down by 7% since Eileen started cutting the electric off every night at 9.30. Eileen said that this was a great environmental achievement, and was also preserving the mountain of 100W incandescent bulbs that she picked up cheap before their sale was banned. Ardwulf reported that the bulb in the downstairs male toilet has been needing replacement for 6 months, while the Light Bulb Committee have discussed whether it should be a 40W or 60W. Since the committee couldn't decide, he wondered if the Mooting could rule on the matter. Eileen pointed out that under para 642 sub-section 4a, it was the Lightbulb Committee's job to decide where bulbs should be replaced, and which power should be appropriate. She told Ardwul that the Committee would have to knuckle down at their May meeting, and try to get a resolution with Capital Expenditure request and justification to the June Budget Committee, to be approved at the July Moot. She suggested that Ardwulf get a bit of a move on, as by the time of the July Moot the nights will be drawing in, and it will soon be Christmas.
7. Mission and Outreach - We all felt a bit shy this year.
8. Social Activities - With 45 Bingo Nights, 61 Quizzes, 12 Ceilidhs, 31 Pizza Nights, the weekly Druidic Zumba, the three-monthly Revue and the weekly shopping trips to Milton Keynes, Bedford, London and Peterborough, we've not been as busy socially in previous years. Eileen suggested that we could use the spare time that's been created to spend more time in prayer. Everyone looked at her "gone out", and indoor football has now been introduced to mop up some of the spare time - at least for the physically active.
9. Children's Work - Eileen said they weren't trying hard enough. The under-12s "play" shoe factory, in particular, was well below production targets. It was pointed out that "Children's work" really meant work with children. Eileen said Charlii was still dressing up as Shelly the Friendly Chicken - what more could be wanted?
10. Election of the new Moot - Eileen pointed out that the maximum size of the monthly Moot is set at 10. With the Archdruid, Executive Arch-Assistant Druid (Hnaef), Arch-Assistant Executive Druid (Daphne Hnaef), Trainee Druid (Charlii), Chief Scientist (Young Keith), Treasurer (Burton), Children's Rep (Charlii), Fundraising Committee Chair (Burton), Outreach Administrator (Hnaef) and Disciplinary Officer (Hnaef), all ten places are occupied by ex officio committee members. It's a bit rough, remarked Eileen, but that's democracy.
11. Any Other Business - Chalybert asked why Eileen's preaching isn't as dynamic as her predecessors, her pastoral visiting less diligent and her vision less visionary. Eileen pointed out that this was because, she being the founder of the Beaker Folk, her predecessor is a figment of the imagination and as such wonderful. Indeed, reflected Eileen, one has to wonder if the virtues of all previous leaders of churches are also figments of the imagination.
12. Closing prayers - The meeting finished with holding-hands-in-a-circle-and-saying-a-blessing-while-looking-at-everyone-else. Except for Marston who's not running away from that part of his personality, but it does make him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Showing posts with label Moot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moot. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Moot live feed request
There's been demands once again that we make the full-moon Moot meetings available via a live feed into the Room of Viewing, so that interested Beaker Folk can see what's going on.
I think the idea is flawed for a couple of reasons - not least that if these people were so interested in what goes on at Moot, they could join the Moot. We're not exactly overrun come the Hustingsmoot each year. In fact, you'd think Beaker Folk had no hands, so swiftly do they all sit on them when the call for candidates goes up.
But I've agreed we will produce edited highlights. But for reasons of people not thinking we're idiots and trouble makers, we'll be removing any of the following:
A) Comments about how we did things in Archdruid Moomin's day. As if something merely happening a long time ago made it better.
B) Back-biting.
C) Anyone arguing that we tried something in the past and it didn't work.
D) Anyone saying the children are our future. When they're quite clearly also our present.
E) Anyone arguing against our involvement in Social Media on the basis of something they read in the Daily Mail. Or heard from their friend Alice who heard of someone advertising a party on Facebook and 800 people turned up and stole the house.
F) Settling personal scores.
G) Any more than the first ten minutes of a discussion about what rating a replacement light bulb should be.
H) Anything ill-informed, or informed only by prejudice.
I) Anything where the speaker refers to "people" thinking something, where "people" clearly means the speaker.
I reckon when we put out the edited highlights next week, they should come in nice and snappy. Round about ten minutes. And if we're really lucky, someone might even mention God worship or mission.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Modern Dress in Leading Worship
I'm sorry, the Mini Moot was rather abruptly terminated. And there won't be any official minutes as I threw the laptop at Burton. So a few notes instead.
I mean, what is it with these nerdie types? They go around being all boring and apparently unimaginative. And then the proposal "That this Community requests the use of Modern Worship in leading Worship" came up.
Burton's argument is that the Beaker Folk are getting out of touch with modernity. Sure, we no longer wear the animal skins of our forebears, reasons Burton. But the leadership are still clad in chunky cableknit sweaters, safety boots and hi-viz vests. That's so out of date, says Burton - anyone would think we lived in a country where people still had outdated things like jobs in the fishing, building or distribution industry. What we want, taking a leaf out of Badminton's book, is something more modern - more glamorous.
Burton suggested a frogman's outfit, a cowboy suit, and - for the all-age worship - a giant squirrel and a rabbit costume. I mean. I know I got annoyed. Apart from the thought of standing at the front of the Moot House, as a quarter of a group looking like a cross between Wind in the Willows and the Village People. How many times do I have to tell him? It's frog-person and herdsmanager.
I mean, what is it with these nerdie types? They go around being all boring and apparently unimaginative. And then the proposal "That this Community requests the use of Modern Worship in leading Worship" came up.
Burton's argument is that the Beaker Folk are getting out of touch with modernity. Sure, we no longer wear the animal skins of our forebears, reasons Burton. But the leadership are still clad in chunky cableknit sweaters, safety boots and hi-viz vests. That's so out of date, says Burton - anyone would think we lived in a country where people still had outdated things like jobs in the fishing, building or distribution industry. What we want, taking a leaf out of Badminton's book, is something more modern - more glamorous.
Burton suggested a frogman's outfit, a cowboy suit, and - for the all-age worship - a giant squirrel and a rabbit costume. I mean. I know I got annoyed. Apart from the thought of standing at the front of the Moot House, as a quarter of a group looking like a cross between Wind in the Willows and the Village People. How many times do I have to tell him? It's frog-person and herdsmanager.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Minutes of the Meeting of the Moot (May 2011)
The meeting started with the lighting of a tea light.
1. Apologies: Marston was very sorry.
2. Matters arising from the last Moot: Nobody had actually done anything about any of them.
3. Discussion of the discovery of proven Anglicans in the Beaker Community: We discovered a minute dating back to 1934, in which a discussion had been held that concluded, after 56 sub-committees had been formed and a series of papers had been issued, that life was a rum old thing and we'd better have a bit of a think. Today's Moot endorsed this decision and suspended any further discussion until we'd had a bit of a think.
4. The light bulb in the Doily Shed: The lightbulb in the Doily Shed has failed. Marston proposed we bought a new one. Hnaef pointed out that the old one was a 60W incandescent bulb, and so we needed to replace it with a 17W energy-saving bulb. Glouria stated that she hated the new-style bulbs - she reckoned the mercury vapour interfered with the amalgam in her fillings. Eileen sympathised, although she said that she'd had the amalgam fillings removed and replaced with something less toxic, like Princess Diana did. Stacey Bushes commented that she missed Princess Diana, and it had been quite a sad day when we all watched over the A421 bridge to see the procession. Burton then reminded the Moot that the bridge Stacey was referring to was no longer the A421, due to the road improvement schemes, and we should correct the record. Hnaef asked what all this had to do with the lightbulb. Eileen asked what light-bulb was Hnaef whittering on about, we were talking about Princess Diana.
5. Mission: The Moot agreed this was a good idea.
6. Evangelism: Postponed on account of the threatened Rapture.
7. Finance: Eileen stated there wasn't enough, and in the light of the threatened Rapture could all Beaker Folk please leave their worldly goods to her today. Hnaef asked whether that would be enough to buy a new light bulb? Eileen asked why - did we need a new light bulb?
8. Children's work: We've now been told that children aren't really allowed to work. We will have to amend Community policies accordingly, and may have to hire a proper chimney sweep. This may also put a dent in the doily production, but then the doily business has not been great since the light bulb failed.
9. Ecumenism: Eileen asked was everybody mad? After the last debacle with the Guinea Pig Folk of Stewartby she was refusing to talk to anybody of any faith group. Although she admitted that as a result, her policy of only having conversations with atheists was getting her down. As the conversations mostly consisted of bright ideas on clustering indexes.
10. Trip to the Doily Shed: this had to be abandoned after three minutes of blundering around in the dark. Eileen asked why nobody had thought of buying a light bulb.
Meeting Closed with the snuffing out of a Tea Light.
1. Apologies: Marston was very sorry.
2. Matters arising from the last Moot: Nobody had actually done anything about any of them.
3. Discussion of the discovery of proven Anglicans in the Beaker Community: We discovered a minute dating back to 1934, in which a discussion had been held that concluded, after 56 sub-committees had been formed and a series of papers had been issued, that life was a rum old thing and we'd better have a bit of a think. Today's Moot endorsed this decision and suspended any further discussion until we'd had a bit of a think.
4. The light bulb in the Doily Shed: The lightbulb in the Doily Shed has failed. Marston proposed we bought a new one. Hnaef pointed out that the old one was a 60W incandescent bulb, and so we needed to replace it with a 17W energy-saving bulb. Glouria stated that she hated the new-style bulbs - she reckoned the mercury vapour interfered with the amalgam in her fillings. Eileen sympathised, although she said that she'd had the amalgam fillings removed and replaced with something less toxic, like Princess Diana did. Stacey Bushes commented that she missed Princess Diana, and it had been quite a sad day when we all watched over the A421 bridge to see the procession. Burton then reminded the Moot that the bridge Stacey was referring to was no longer the A421, due to the road improvement schemes, and we should correct the record. Hnaef asked what all this had to do with the lightbulb. Eileen asked what light-bulb was Hnaef whittering on about, we were talking about Princess Diana.
5. Mission: The Moot agreed this was a good idea.
6. Evangelism: Postponed on account of the threatened Rapture.
7. Finance: Eileen stated there wasn't enough, and in the light of the threatened Rapture could all Beaker Folk please leave their worldly goods to her today. Hnaef asked whether that would be enough to buy a new light bulb? Eileen asked why - did we need a new light bulb?
8. Children's work: We've now been told that children aren't really allowed to work. We will have to amend Community policies accordingly, and may have to hire a proper chimney sweep. This may also put a dent in the doily production, but then the doily business has not been great since the light bulb failed.
9. Ecumenism: Eileen asked was everybody mad? After the last debacle with the Guinea Pig Folk of Stewartby she was refusing to talk to anybody of any faith group. Although she admitted that as a result, her policy of only having conversations with atheists was getting her down. As the conversations mostly consisted of bright ideas on clustering indexes.
10. Trip to the Doily Shed: this had to be abandoned after three minutes of blundering around in the dark. Eileen asked why nobody had thought of buying a light bulb.
Meeting Closed with the snuffing out of a Tea Light.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Minutes of the Meeting of the Moot
Hunter's Moon, 2010
Opening
The Tea Light was lit at 17:30.
Minutes of the last meeting
Ozkar claimed out that the minutes of the last Moot seemed to be different to what had actually been discussed. Specifically, wherever the Archdruid had been actioned to do something, it had somehow not been mentioned in the minutes, while Ozkar and a number of others had, according to the minutes, agreed to do the ditch-clearing this weekend.
A. Eileen asked if Ozkar was having trouble with his memory, and why he wasn't outside with the spade right now with the other members of the ditch-clearing posse. She had even specially named it a "posse" to make it sound like more fun. Ozkar replied that his memory was fine. Eileen remarked that Ozkar wasn't from round here, was he. Ozkar suddenly remembered that he should be busy clearing ditches, and left the meeting.
Naming of the Moon
Today being the full moon after Harvest Moon, Geldwell brought forward the proposal that the "Hunter's Moon" was not a terribly - well, nice - name for this moon in this modern day and age. Maybe it was a little outdated, and could be renamed the "Happy Moon", or the "Mushrooming Moon". Eileen asked if Geldwell had been on the mushrooms herself, and reminded Geldwell that New Labour wasn't in power anymore. Luzty, from the Fertility Folk, remarked that he quite liked the term "Rutting Moon" for the full moon. Eileen said that what Luzty called the moon was entirely up to him and his friends, but it was not the official name, handed down for generations.
Church Fate
All agreed that the fate of the Church was to hang on in quiet desperation until they all died of old age or fell apart in a giant squabble.
Church Fete
Re-introducing the agenda item with the correct spelling this time, Lohengrin said it had been nice of the Church to invite us to the fete, and what a shame the community had been temporarily closed at the time. Firgal recalled that last year's fete had been rather good, but Millvale said no, that was the year before, when the vicar put his head in the stocks. Firgal said Millvale was thinking of the chuchwarden, and that was 2007. This went on for some time.
Ecumenical Relations
Radclive said that he had an aunt who went to the Methodists in the morning and Anglican evensong at night, and was she therefore an ecumenical relation? Eileen informed him that he was an idiot. Egil said he also had a female relative who was a Methodist, but he couldn't remember if she were a 2nd or 3rd cousin. This led to a long and rambling debate in which many people commented on relatives of various denominations, to no particular purpose.
Approving Druidism
Eileen had been to another meeting of Approving Druidism. She is still unsure what exactly they are meant to be approving, but that they hate illiberalism. She thinks that wearing nice clothes and being kind may be quite important to the movement, but doesn't know why.
Anglican Societies
It was agreed that, although we are Beaker Folk, it would be nice to join the Society of Cardinal Cranmer. It would show solidarity with random Anglican brethren at this time of great debate and division, and also give us something to strop out of when we didn't agree with something.
Charitable Status
Aardwulf suggested that, now some druidic movements were being given charitable status, perhaps the Beaker Folk should consider it. Burton informed the meeting that Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley (Cayman Islands) is ineligible to be a charity but has nonetheless achieved a reasonably cost-effective form of tax avoidance.
Any other business
Dreardrie said that it was getting very dark in the evening, and could we put some Xmas lights up.
Closure
The Tea Light was blown out at 20.14. Archdruid Eileen remarked that it felt much later.
Opening
The Tea Light was lit at 17:30.
Minutes of the last meeting
Ozkar claimed out that the minutes of the last Moot seemed to be different to what had actually been discussed. Specifically, wherever the Archdruid had been actioned to do something, it had somehow not been mentioned in the minutes, while Ozkar and a number of others had, according to the minutes, agreed to do the ditch-clearing this weekend.
A. Eileen asked if Ozkar was having trouble with his memory, and why he wasn't outside with the spade right now with the other members of the ditch-clearing posse. She had even specially named it a "posse" to make it sound like more fun. Ozkar replied that his memory was fine. Eileen remarked that Ozkar wasn't from round here, was he. Ozkar suddenly remembered that he should be busy clearing ditches, and left the meeting.
Naming of the Moon
Today being the full moon after Harvest Moon, Geldwell brought forward the proposal that the "Hunter's Moon" was not a terribly - well, nice - name for this moon in this modern day and age. Maybe it was a little outdated, and could be renamed the "Happy Moon", or the "Mushrooming Moon". Eileen asked if Geldwell had been on the mushrooms herself, and reminded Geldwell that New Labour wasn't in power anymore. Luzty, from the Fertility Folk, remarked that he quite liked the term "Rutting Moon" for the full moon. Eileen said that what Luzty called the moon was entirely up to him and his friends, but it was not the official name, handed down for generations.
Church Fate
All agreed that the fate of the Church was to hang on in quiet desperation until they all died of old age or fell apart in a giant squabble.
Church Fete
Re-introducing the agenda item with the correct spelling this time, Lohengrin said it had been nice of the Church to invite us to the fete, and what a shame the community had been temporarily closed at the time. Firgal recalled that last year's fete had been rather good, but Millvale said no, that was the year before, when the vicar put his head in the stocks. Firgal said Millvale was thinking of the chuchwarden, and that was 2007. This went on for some time.
Ecumenical Relations
Radclive said that he had an aunt who went to the Methodists in the morning and Anglican evensong at night, and was she therefore an ecumenical relation? Eileen informed him that he was an idiot. Egil said he also had a female relative who was a Methodist, but he couldn't remember if she were a 2nd or 3rd cousin. This led to a long and rambling debate in which many people commented on relatives of various denominations, to no particular purpose.
Approving Druidism
Eileen had been to another meeting of Approving Druidism. She is still unsure what exactly they are meant to be approving, but that they hate illiberalism. She thinks that wearing nice clothes and being kind may be quite important to the movement, but doesn't know why.
Anglican Societies
It was agreed that, although we are Beaker Folk, it would be nice to join the Society of Cardinal Cranmer. It would show solidarity with random Anglican brethren at this time of great debate and division, and also give us something to strop out of when we didn't agree with something.
Charitable Status
Aardwulf suggested that, now some druidic movements were being given charitable status, perhaps the Beaker Folk should consider it. Burton informed the meeting that Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley (Cayman Islands) is ineligible to be a charity but has nonetheless achieved a reasonably cost-effective form of tax avoidance.
Any other business
Dreardrie said that it was getting very dark in the evening, and could we put some Xmas lights up.
Closure
The Tea Light was blown out at 20.14. Archdruid Eileen remarked that it felt much later.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Let's Face the Music and Liturgical Dance (V) - Full Moon Moonstomp
At last a dance we can all join in!
The Moonstomp is perfect for all who wear steel-toe-capped boots as liturgical dress.
With the Ultra Violent Light that we have had fitted into the ceiling of the Moot Hall alongside the other, more liturgically conventional, spots and fresnels, we can look forwards to this evening's Full Moon celebrations being exceptionally enlivening. Since I'm a bit sick of Lent already, all Beaker Folk are entitled for this evening to wear the Hi Viz of their choice. I look forward to the green, yellow, red and violet of the Hi Viz flashing and fluorescing. A sight worth seeing indeed.
The Moot will be held at 10pm sharp. As you know, Beaker Theopsychology holds that the Full Moon is always the best time for doing any kind of business, as our creative juices will be flowing most juicily and the spiritual pathways are completely clear. There are no properly peer-reviewed studies, but in tests we conducted ourselves, Beaker Theopsycchology is 25% more effective than homoepathy and 17% less secretive than Anthropogenic Global Warming studies.
We had a good time this morning with Moomins. Moomins is always one of my favourite services - solemn, yet with a hint of Finnish mythology. The "Moonificat" is always a lovely canticle, and the "Moon Dimittis", with its call upon the Moon to be safe as it wanes once again, is guaranteed to bring a lump to the throat.
In summary the programme for the rest of today is:
6pm - Moonstruck
7pm - Moonstomp
8pm - Moongazing
10 pm - Moot
12 midnight - Barking at the Moon
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Burton's first Moot
Dear Readers, how could one describe one's joy at one's first Moot? This first evening of the full moon (which one of the Extreeme Primitive Fertility Folk described as the "Tupping Moon", whatever that may mean) I was invited to the Moot, or - as the Beaker People say - "drawn Moot" to receive my Beaker Name. Along with Arthur and Maud Beesley, I went and stood before Archdruid Eileen - resplendent in her fake vegetarian roe deer horns - to be named. Arthur was very keen on being called Cymbeline, but Eileen thought this a bit Shakespearian, and called him Gruntothrix. Likewise Maud wanted to be called Boadicea. However the Archdruid pointed out that this was a nasty Roman transliteration and, history being written by the victors, gave her the name "Orville". I'm not sure if this was a traditional Beaker name, but she put up with it.
For myself, Eileen seemed quite taken with my given name anyway - "it sounds like a small village with a very large bypass in Oxfordshire", she remarked - and so I retain the name of Burton. It's distinctly Angle, rather than Beaker, but - do you know what - I think I may grow to like it.
For myself, Eileen seemed quite taken with my given name anyway - "it sounds like a small village with a very large bypass in Oxfordshire", she remarked - and so I retain the name of Burton. It's distinctly Angle, rather than Beaker, but - do you know what - I think I may grow to like it.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)