organization is
run by‘ a Board

Barony   g
of Directors,

continued from p.  whose

President, Treasurer, and Secretary are all
elected. Reigning monarchs and dowager
(past) monarchs are also on the Board.
There are general membership meetings
once a month where the business of the
Barony is discussed and voting is done. ,
The monthly meetings of the Board of
Directors are open to all members. We are
now in the process of applying for our
501(c)3 non-profit status.

The Barony of All Vermont is a
unique group even within the Court
System. Vermont is one of the few realms
that has a drag king as a monarch. We also
are one of the few who will, as of ‘August,
have a straight woman as a monarch. As
with Civil Unions, Vermont is always a
step ahead! ' -

I am often asked — and sometimes
I ask myself — why we do what we do. We
receive no personal profit, we have to pay
for all of our own things, and, in some
instances, we put in long hours of work.
The answer is two-fold. First, there is the
good feeling that we get from helping oth-

V ers. All that is required of the organization

benefiting from a fund-raising event is that
they send representatives from their organ-
ization to the fundraiser. We have actually
had organizations refuse our help because
they think there is some hidden catch!
There is no catch — this is what we do.
The second part of the answer to
“why” is something that has to be experi-
enced first-hand to really understand: the
sense of family within the Court System.
There is a great opportunity to travel in
this organization. Every court has a
“Coronation’_’ or “Adomment” each year,

_ the biggest event of the year - ours is this

month (see our ad or check the Calendar
for the date, time and location). People
travel from all over the country and
Canada to attend these events. Think of it
as a costume ball.

v But perhaps the real question of
“why?” is “what does it feel like to
become ‘Baron Kristoff’?”

Kristoff and I, for the most part,
are one and the same. Kristoff has a much
darker side to him than I do. When I am in
Kristoff “mode” I feel much more power-
ful and in control.

._.,Kristoff has evolved and changed
in the years of his existence. He started out
a much milder personality but the heavier
side has grown and matured over the

years. He is truly my alter-ego in many
respects. We are both outgoing, energetic,
we like people, leather, motorcycles, and
love to have fun. Kristoff continues
beyond that and loves leather, hard rock
music (Rob Zombie type),.is into the more
“wicked” side of things (not evil, but very
dark, ominous stuff), and is sometimes
very intimidating. If he were his own per-
son in reality he would be a Leather
Master.

I “become” Kristoff when I am in

‘that role. It is a most exhilarating experi-

ence sometimes! When Kristoff is the
Monarch, he is very regal and a total gen-
tleman (more my own personality).
Kristoff does things I wouldn’t do and I do

- things Kristoff wouldn't do. It is actually a

very interesting study in psychology. Many
of the drag queens also experience much
the same effect between their drag selves

and boy selves. .

A Coronation or Adomment is the
last party of the reigning monarchs before
they step down and a new monarch is ,
crowned. It is a celebration of a successful
reign and a grand welcome for the new
monarchs. After attending a few of these

_ - events you get to know many of the people

and develop friendships. It really is like
having a very huge family. There are spats,
cliques, loves, and all the rest that goes
with family. But in spite of the spats, there
is the love and caring.

There are people in the Court sys-
tem all across this country, who, if needed,
would drop what they are doing and come
to help. If someone is sick, there are phone
calls and emails from all over. If there is a
birthday, or a celebration of any kind, there
are good wishes flooding in. It is incredi-
ble. I have met people I would never other-

 

wise have had the opportunity to meet. I
have been to places I never would have
gone to. This is the payment for all the
hard work and dedication to this /organiza-
tion. No amount of money could pay for
what we all get in return.

We are always looking for new
members. We welcome all. It is a great
opportunity to be yourself and express who

, you are — or who you wish you could be.

Most of our money is raised by doing drag

_ shows. Participation in these shows is up

to the individual.

' Not everyone in our group per-
forms or is on stage. We need people to do
many things that do not involve perform- ’
ing or being -in the public eye. We also
raise money by doing raffles, yard sales,
and food drives, among other fund—raising
activities. We need people who are cre-
ative, have imagination, are a little offbeat,
and just want ‘to have fun. If you are inter-
ested in joining us or have questions please
email the Barony at baronyofallver-

Vmont@yahoo.com.

I have had the honor of being the
reigning Baron for the past tv:/l<)_yy(e‘alrs;f
name started out simply as" rgstoff. Ithas ’
now grown as other people in‘ the court
system have honored me by giving me
their names. I cherish every name. It repre-
sents what this organization is all about:
family, love, friendship, and a sense of

, community, of being part of a much larger

picture. I would not give up a second of

i any of this.

_ I will be stepping down on the
weekend of August 8-10 in Burlington. It
is my last party as a reigning monarch. I
invite all of you to come and celebrate
with me! Come and meet many of my
friends from the U.S. and Canada. See A
some really awesome drag and have an
evening you won’t soon forget! For infor-
mation about Adomment IV and other
upcoming events, please check out our
web page at www.ge0cities.com/greenmt-
silhouettes. V

KristoflRaim0nd0 Reeves Sousa Fugett
Della Notte shares an existence with Kris
Rowley and they live in Brookfield, VT
with their “kids ” (three dogs and a cat).