This event is not until December and is also listed on our calendar and forums, but I wanted to make sure to get your attention for a couple of reasons.  First, I want this event to be a success.  Also, it is going to take a little (and I mean minimal) involvement from everyone before the big day, so I needed to get the word out there.   

Please join us at the Kinship house on Saturday, Decemeber 5th from 9 pm until whenever!  We are hopeful that with the release of Siege of Mirkwood that some of our members that have fallen a bit inactive will be inclined to return to Middle Earth.  For this reason, we must celebrate everyone's homecoming!

In addition to getting the old gang back together and enjoying one another's company, we will also jam out as only Oracles can!  There will of course be spirits for the dwarves and pipeweed for the hobbits.

What would an OGW party be without some sort of contest and what would a homecoming be without the homecoming court?!  You guessed it, we will be crowning our very own homecoming king and queen.  Please nominate yourself or others by messaging Ceradwen in game or here on the website.   Let's keep nominations gender specific to our toons (e.g., only female toons can be nominated for the queen).  

About a week prior to our homecoming party, I will post two polls on the website.  One poll to vote for the queen and another poll to vote for the king.  The polls will include the names of those who have been nominated for king or queen by the kinship members.  Both the winning king and queen will receive prize packages including a crown and flowers.  We also have a special prize for the member of the homecoming court (male or female) with the most votes:  30 days of free LOTRO game time courtesy of Airiak (we will provide you with a code that you can apply to the account of your choosing).   

So, please, get me your nominations for homecoming king and queen by November 25th and join us when you can on Saturday night, December 5th, after 9 pm eastern.  After the crowning of the king and queen, those who want to, can team up for new adventures.   

I would like announce to our present members, as well as to potential members, that we are currently welcoming new members to join the OGW.  We still believe in recruiting the person, not the player, but it cannot be denied that certain classes and levels would be quite welcome. 

It is no secret to those of you who have been joining us for our Radiance Runs, that we always seem to be lacking a tank. For this reason, I would really like to see us find a couple high level (58+ to be able to participate in Radiance Runs) guardians to join us.  High level captains, champions, wardens, burglars and loremasters would also add some much needed diversity within our kinship. So, please be on the lookout for potential members and also be sure to make the new faces you will be seeing soon feel at home.

Also, due to real life time constraints on several of our Cauns (officers) I would like to promote 2 members to Caun status.  As promised in a recent kin newsletter, here is a little more information about what being a Caun in OGW entails. 

One of the first things I usually hear when bringing up the topic of caun promotions, is concern about the level of responsibility required for the position.  In all honesty, people that get promoted to Caun status in OGW pretty much do what they always did, just with more recognition for the contributions they make to the kinship.  Cauns may find they are asked a few more questions than usual or contacted by those interested in joining the kinship more often than as a regular member.  The level of responsibility taken is always up to the Caun. 

There is also no one way to be a Caun.  Just as each member of OGW brings their own uniqueness, our Cauns add diversity to the kinship's leadership.  We can really get creative with what a Caun choses to make his or her focus. 

Here are just a few examples of the roles a Caun may play:

Recruitment/Headhunter Caun - Rather self explanatory, but much needed position to be filled.   Would help recruit new members via announcements in the various LOTRO forums, through meeting people along their way in the game and occasional in-game announcements.  This person would have to appreciate quality over quantity.

Welcome Wagon - Such cauns would help new members find their way in the kinship.  For example, they could send a message to them upon joining with important kinship details and be a "go to" person for any questions they might have about the kinship. 

Class Caun - This caun would specialize in passing on information usefull to his or her class.  Would be a "go to" person for questions other classes might have about the role that class plays in fellowships.  These are just a few examples.  I think there is a lot of potential for this position!

Book Club Caun - Would host an OGW book club once a week or some other regular basis.

Instance Coordinator Caun - This caun could focus on getting groups together for various, non-book related instances.  This is a position that could be further categorized by level or area (e.g., Carn Dum/Urugarth Coordinator or Radiance Runs). 

Raid Leader Caun - The position is rather self explanatory, but much needed.  If you have the patience and experience it takes to lead our kinship through Middle Earth's more challenging encounters, your leadership would be much appreciated. 

Crafting Caun - Could specialize in coordinating and distributing craft materials as one of Cera's alts once did.

Recipe Caun - Could specialize in coordinating and distributing recipes as one of Cera's alts once did.

Roleplay and/or Lore Caun - Could help enlighten kinship members on the meaning of various aspects of the game as they relate to the lore. Another possibility is to hold roleplay events for the kinship or kinship sponsored events for a larger audience. 

PVP Caun - Coordinate battles in the Moors.

Social Event/Party Planning  - This is a crew that loves to party, so the more help I can get planning them, the better!

Next Generation Caun - Not really sure what to call this idea, but wanted something with a little more spice than "Newbie Guide" or "Lower Level Caun".  Basically, this would be a great role for  all  you altaholics who love to roll new toons and experience the earlier content.  Your knowledge and enjoyment of the earlier parts of the game could really benefit new, lower level members.  

News Reporter Caun - This Caun would be responsible for gathering and reporting the news to be disseminated on the website or via in game kinship mail. 

So, there you have it.  Some of the various roles one can play as a Caun.  I am sure this list is not exhaustive.  I have tried to fulfill all of these roles myself in the past (with the exception of being a PVP Caun) and learned that I could not do it alone.  Others, who used to just be basic kin members, stepped up to take a position as an OGW Caun.  I am most grateful for their assistance and am welcoming yours. 

If you would like to apply for a Caun position, please visit the section in the forum dedicated to Caun application information.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have about the position or  the application process. Also feel free to contact other Cauns to see if I break out a whip or not upon one's promotion to caun. 

Can it be that almost all of the leaves have fallen from the trees, leaving them stark and bare?  Is the Harvestmath really over?  Indeed, fall is fading fast.

Although it has been more quiet than usual in these parts, fall was not without its share of excitement for OGW.  First, we started off the fall season with one of Arielun's fabulous parties.  She organized a great fishing contest for all to enjoy.  Eryngium supplied the poles with clever titles given to each one. 

We also announced our newly promoted officer at that time, Tahlspar (and his minstrel brother, Caeldrim).  He will be returning in December with great plans for us as our instance/raid leader.  Archborn, who served as an officer in another world in which he knew Ceradwen and Zaleri, was also promoted to Caun this fall, but with slightly less pomp and circumstance.  His promotion is not without importance though.  We are delighted to have him in this role.

Throughout the fall season, Valenso, Archborn, Merria and Zarmond kept the OGW Book Club alive and well on Friday nights.  A new OGW tradition was also born this fall, the Saturday night midnight run.  

There is no denying though, that this fall, outside demands pulled many of us aside from our Middle Earth journeys.  A new adventure, as I am sure you have all heard (i.e., one involving Mirkwood) is coming to us soon.  OGW will be ready to face the challenge with new friends and old.  Stay tuned for more details on how we plan to face these new challenges and celebrate the return of old faces.

In closing, here are a few pictures of us at the Fishing Contest.  As usual, I forgot to take pictures until the end when more than half of the folks had left, hehe.  (Someone remind me at our next party to take the pictures early! :))