Fayma Callahan

Hurricane, I feel that I must interject here, The Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion is most certainly a part of Pirates in Paradise. It is a separate event, and as such has something different to offer folks. We are doing the period correct, living history aspect of piracy from the Buccaneers to the Wreckers. Please do not say that we are not a part of PiP. That offended me. That being said, there is going to be a shuttle from downtown to the Truman waterfront then over to the Fort. It will repeat the cycle throughout the day and will stop running around 10 pm or so. I have not confirmed the exact timelines, as I am waiting to see if there is a sponsor location for the downtown aspect, since Pirate's Soul has moved out of town. If there is a need for an airport pickup, I have folks ready, willing and able for most times to pick up or drop off, for the duration of PiP, not just during the Fort Taylor Pyrate invasion. Pirates don't let pirates take expensive cabs in Key West when it can be helped. Please feel free to contact me for arrangements. The Friends of Fort Taylor and the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion fully support the use of our hotel sponsor. It is a great hotel, and they are giving a good deal. Hurricane, would you please pm me with full information, so that I can get that to some of our "hotel" folks that may need it? It would be greatly appreciated.

This year's Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion is being run by the Friends of Fort Taylor themselves. There is NO contract with anyone to run this festival. There is NO ONE being paid to run the event. The Friends are a non-profit organization, and this is one of our fundraisers to Save Our Fort. There are several groups that have stepped up to assist the Friends with this event and they are HELPING me and the Friends to make this event run smoothly and to make this event fun and safe for everyone. It is with my eternal gratitude that I am letting everyone know that the ArchAngel Crewe, the Mercury Crewe, the Sacred Heart Crewe, the Valhalla Pirates, the Captains of the Devil's Triangle, Pirates Magazine, Diosa and Crewe, and all the others including vendors that have called to assist will be pressed into service doing various aspects of this festival. Each group has VOLUNTEERED to be a part of our family reunion this year. There will be specific assignments that these folks will have to make this event successful. I will post a roster of contacts for various things,so that everyone will know who to talk to. I am one single person, but with the assistance of these fine folks, WE can have a festival. I COULD NOT do this alone, no one could. All I want is my pyrate family to come home again for a great fesitval, happy and healthy, and SAFE. If there are any questions or concerns, PLEASE, PLEASE call or email me, so that there are no misunderstandings. The Friends of Fort Taylor and I cannot wait to see our Fort filled with all of you!! Thank you all for your support!! Fair Winds and Full Holds, Momma Ratsey

Ahoy All~ Here is the link to the photos from the Santa Maria event. Thanks so much to all who participated. Poppa enjoyed himself, and made it home safely, but very tired. He was glad to see so many of the family there. I wish I could have been there, it looks like everyone had a lot of fun! http://picasaweb.google.com/jamesacallahan100 Enjoy!! With Love to All, Momma and Poppa Ratsey

Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion 2010 Changes in the Wind 1. The Friends of Fort Taylor will be running the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion this year. I have been asked to be the Event Coordinator on their behalf and will be the person in charge of this year's event. There will be some very familiar faces to help me accomplish creating this festival and I will have a list of these folks and their duties shortly. On behalf of the Friends of Fort Taylor, we wish to thank the Bone Island Buccaneers for their hard work and efforts in past events, but the Friends must take the festival back without a third party contractor, to stay in compliance with the State Park regulations as a non-profit organization. 2. The dates of the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion are December 3-5. Pirates in Paradise will run from November 27-December 5. Set up will be Thursday, December 2nd beginning at 8:00 am. Teardown will be by the close of the park Monday, December 6th. Special arrangements will need to be made for early and later arrivals. Please contact me directly, so that we can work things out. 3. All camping will take place in the Fort this year. There will not be a beach encampment. This decision will allow us to present a more cohesive festival with living history demonstrations and vendors all in one location for the paying public. The ultimate goal of the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion has always been to present a historically accurate event to the public. This year’s event will focus on a period correct time-line approach. We will not be limited to just portraying the Golden Age but piracy from the Buccaneer era all the way through the early 19th Century and Florida's Pirate history as well. All groups will be required to present demonstrations from their chosen era. 4. We will be allowed only 100 participants to CAMP this year. Due to the size of some of our encampments in the past, we will all need to work on making our footprints count, so that everyone will be comfortable. Anyone who is not physically sleeping at the Fort, is not included in this number, and we may have unlimited participants each day. These folks MUST still have a registration on file and check into the Fort, so that they can receive their passes for entry to the park. There will be two types of participants, as we have always had, but they will be designated by different passes for admission this year. Deadline for registration is Monday, November 1st. 5. Due to the space limitations, we will only have a select group of vendors inside the fort, most of them will be returning vendors, but all will be period. We have been working to relocate the non-period vendors to a new venue on Truman Waterfront, adjacent to the Fort, to make it a larger component in the overall Pirates in Paradise Festival, and also to relocate some of the events to make it easier to attend events from the Fort. There will be more information specifically for vendors as soon as I have some confirmations from the Truman Annex. Anyone who has vended in the past at the Fort will be given preference to keeping their booth space inside the Fort. Please email me with questions or concerns. 6. All funds from the Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion will be going to the Friends of Fort Taylor, to aid in the restoration and preservation of the Fort. Any donations from auctions or meals are also going to the Friends. The Friends are paying the costs to have us at the Fort, so there are no fees for re-enactors to participate. The end of Festival Dinner will be a donation request, to offset the cost of the meal and to donate to the Friends. We have received a grant for advertising for the festival this year, so we will be putting together the marketing materials to "spread the word", so that the public will be aware of the festival. This has been a tough thing to accomplish in the past, so hopefully these funds from the TDC will allow for better advertising. 7. I am negotiating the return of the "Buccaneer Bus", that will run from 10am-10pm between downtown Key West and the Waterfront and Fort areas. There will be several stops to allow both re-enactors and visitors to catch a ride to and from events and locations. I am hopeful that this will increase our traffic and make the crowds larger for the trial and the battles. Transportation was cited as an issue last year without the bus. This will be provided as a service to re-enactors that have their Fort pass at no charge. Patrons may or may not have a nominal fee, depending on the level of sponsorship the bus/trolley company is willing to provide. 8. Chris Liddle, Owner of Pirate Tours of Key West has signed on as a partner to the Pirates in Paradise Festival. He does several historical pirate tours of Key West each night, citing all the rich history that the island has to offer. He ends each night with a Rum Tasting at the Rum Barrel, and there is always a lively discussion of all things piratical there. He has committed to help bring a deeper visibility to the historical aspects of piracy in the Keys and welcomes all re-enactors for his tours. We are working together to have promotional tours during the week of Pirates in Paradise, to bring attention to our presence and encourage the public to visit the Fort and the Truman Waterfront. More information to come. 9. There will be lots more information in the next few weeks, including the registration process and encampment information, as well as the rules and regulations that we have all come to expect with Black Powder Demonstrations. Please, please, please be PATIENT with me as I am in uncharted waters with this event. I welcome all input and ideas to make this the most successful pirate event in the United States. With our Pyrate Family, our PiP Family, we can do great things! Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns: Fayma Callahan a.k.a. Momma Ratsey (812) 290-6056 Email: faymacallahan@aol.com Fair Winds and Full Holds,

Dear Pirate Family, It is my pleasure to let you all know that Poppa Ratsey will be at the Santa Maria event!! Michael, Please assist him in finding a place to lay his head, and Kate watch over him for me, since I will not be able to attend. He can be there as soon as you need him and will plan on staying the weekend, taking LOTS of photos for ye. Please also let us know if there is anything we can do to help with your advertisements or Thank You Posters for your sponsors. Poppa says he will do anything he can to support ye all! PM or email me with particulars and I hope ye all have a fyne time! With Love, Momma Ratsey

Greetings to all, I apologize for the delay in this response, but I had to get OFFICIAL word from the Park and the Friends of Fort Taylor before I posted ANYTHING. I am sure that you can all appreciate the fact that I will ONLY post when I am SURE of what I am posting. THERE WILL BE A FORT TAYLOR PYRATE INVASION AT THE FORT AS PART OF PIP. REPEAT: THERE WILL BE A FORT TAYLOR PYRATE INVASION AT THE FORT AS PART OF PIP. There will be some changes from last year, and I will announce things as they become more clear. For now, the BIB contract has been cancelled, as there is a conflict of interest for a Citizen's Support Organization (CSO), which is what the 501c3 non-profit Friends organization is called. The State of Florida has very specific rules and guidelines for contracts with the CSO's, and we must comply. The event will go on, but not under the same contract. This is the OFFICIAL word from both the Park and the Friends. More information will follow. I thank everyone for the patience while we work out the details, and appreciate Spike and the BIB for all of their hard work and efforts over the last few years. Please stop the panic, we will get things worked out, and I pledge to all of my pirate family, that we are very well represented on the board. Fair Winds and Full Holds, Fayma and the Friends of Fort Taylor, Inc.

2- Jaded Jetty 8- No Rum Charlie's Father (First Year here with Sarah and Charlie) 18- Paul (Friend of Jamaica Rose and Michael Lampe) 20- Don Maitz 22- Scott Brewer (St. Augustine Pirate Festival) 23- Erasmi Brewer (St. Augustine Pirate Festival) 24- Blackwolf (Pirates of the Treasured Coast) 25- Luna (Pirates of the Treasured Coast) 29- Kip (Park Staff) 35- Crudbeard 47- Jezzy (Sacred Heart Crewe) 48 Jamaica Rose 51- Braze That's all I could add. Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2010!

Drum Roll Please~ After many hours, days and weeks.... The Callahan Photos are UP! Huzzah!! Poppa finished them, and these are the first batch, so there may be additions to the folders. They are posted on webshots, user name is jamesacallahan100 Here be the link, enjoy! With Love, Momma and Poppa Ratsey http://community.webshots.com/user/jamesacallahan100

Huzzah Patrick!! I hope you get my name...I SOOO want a Patrick Hand Original (including the bragging rights, please)! I can't wait to see who I get this year. It was so fun last year!

Belated best wishes fyne sir, cannot wait to see ye at PiP! Enjoy some rum on our crewe!

If ye don't mind a couch or inflatable mattress on the floor, we'd be happy to make a space for ye Patrick. BUT...we are hosing ye off in the yard first... actually, we have an outdoor shower fer just such an occasion...then ye can make it to the "real" bathroom. All kidding aside, we can make a space and also run you to the airport as needed. Can't wait to see ye! Momma and Poppa Ratsey

Ahoy folks, I will be meeting with David (Park Manager) tonight, and will pose the question regarding the "green seal" issues. I told him I could not find any down here, and was hopeful that the mainland folks would be more able to do so. Never fear, we can look at you products and if they "don't pass muster", and we have found that Kimberly Clark manufactures a body wash that meets his standard, and we will have several gallons of it available for use. Thanks to all who have helped to stay on top of these things!! Ack...gotta find that Florida Park Decoder Ring.... Thanks, Fayma

Just for the "official" word regarding this thread: Camp set ups begin on Wednesday, as that is the date that the Park has started our "volunteer" status. Gate opens around 7am with staff present. I will be on-site, so if you arrive earlier than that, please call me and I can make appropriate arrangements. If anyone has already made plans to be in the Fort Tuesday, please email me at: faymacallahan@aol.com so that I can arrange a place for you. No one will be turned "out in the cold". I apologize for the confusion, and things with the Park are often difficult to decode. Now, where's that decoder ring...dang... gotta find that... See you all soon! Fair Winds and Full Holds, Fayma

Glad to have you aboard Mate! Look me up when ye sail into port, we'll be happy to assist in your photography needs. My contact info is in the PiP Poop Deck for your convenience. Fair Winds and Full Holds, Fayma

Ok, folks, you can all settle down. I will post a listing of the registrations that have been received. If you have not mailed it yet, please do so, so that the count for the Park Service will be as accurate as possible. It will just make my life easier if I have the forms ahead of time. The deadline of November 1 was designed to assist in a timely paper trail for this. I am not going to EVER exclude someone who's registration was received prior to the event. We are tight on space, but not so tight that we cannot work around the USPS. I have already compiled the list so far, and will be reconciling it with the Roll Call prior to posting. Don't worry, and try not to panic, believe it or not, in only a few weeks, we will be at PiP!! Everything is going as smoothly as can be expected in a large group event, and there will be places for everyone. Gotta Run...Phone again...more pyrates to help...Hurry PiP...I need a HUG!!

I am so in!! I will PM my new address! Thanks for doing this, it was such a blast last year!

MadPete- We have received your registration, and ye be on the list mate! The information for the packets is at the top of this post, available for download now. We will have information packets at the event when you check in. These packets will have your "passes" both for the event and for any vehicle that you may have. If you need any further information prior to the event, please do not hesitate to contact me at (812)290-6056 or via email at: faymacallahan@aol.com We are looking foreward to seeing everyone! This is going to be the best PiP yet!! Thanks, Fayma

Good information Bo, I will look into that. I also have some sources here in FL that may be able to assist. I'll post with any information that I receive.

Master Sully!!!!! HUZZAH!!! Can't wait to see you at PiP again!!

Harry has confirmed that the link on his site is now active, and the reenactor forms are available there. www.forttaylor.org Thanks, Fayma

Just for the record, I apologize. All the information had not been put out, and it was my responsibility to do so. I asked for something that I thought was a common request with the footprints to get a jump on the mapping. I did not realize that it was not known as to why I asked for it. Sterling was the messenger, so don't shoot him...at least until PiP...the pyrate hunter that he is... Please pm or email or call me if there are any concerns. And again, my most humble apologies to all concerned. Fayma

Well, I guess for those that don't know, I'll start with how my role in PIP came about. I now live in Key West, having relocated a month ago to take a job here. So, I jumped into the meetings at the Fort and have been asked by Spike and the BIB to help with all the coordination for the event. Tony is still in Indiana, pending a GE layoff, so he will be able to handle some of the helping to get things down to PIP from our area. If there are any problems, questions, concerns or issues, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me. There is no "Inner Circle" that we are all not a part of. The only things that were done, were done on my behalf, and at my request, were the posts asking for information and planning. We are ALL open to anything, especially ideas, that will make this the best PIP yet. 1- Reenactor Forms- Same format as last year, but we do not as of yet have a fax number to send them to, so please follow the mailing instructions. I have asked Stynky to help me post them here for download as well as on Harry's site. I believe he should have it up. Harry's site to pick up form: forttaylor.org then go to the Fort Taylor Pyrate Festival link and it is at the bottom. 2- Vendor Forms- Email Spike directly for these, he is handling all the vendors this year: spikekeywest@yahoo.com They are also ready for use. Copies of both forms will also be provided in every welcome packet, but it will save a lot of time if we have them by November 1, 2009. If you need to wait until the event to fill it out, let me know via email so I can at least have your name at the gate to enter. 3- Meals and Provisions- There will be a separate thread for this, but quite a number are provided this year. If there isn't a designated provider for a specific meal, then they will be considered "on your own". Just something to be aware of in planning. 4- Fires and Braziers- There are only going to be 5 total fires allowed. This is the same number it has always been. We may have as many braziers as we want, and can use the ones that are in the encampment as well. We are trying to set the encampment up so that access to a fire will be easy. The fires are: 1-Fort, 2-Mercury/Hide, 3-BIB, 4-Archangel, 5-Buccaneer Camp/Hurricane's Crewe. We put the buccaneer camp and Hurricanes fires together, so that the Boucan Demo can have a front row placement, and so that there was a spread out of the fire placements. These are set up as "common fires" and anyone may use them for cooking, or bring a brazier for their own individual use. 5- Firewood/charcoal- Please bring your own firewood for fires if possible. The fort will not be providing it this year. Since the pines are still standing, their source of wood has depleated and must be used for the volunteers that live at the fort. PLEASE DO NOT BRING BAYWOOD. It is the only restriction that I have been given regarding this. If there is anyone who needs to have wood brought for them (flying in etc.), please let me know as Tony will be driving from Cincinnati area, and will be able to haul some from there. If you want to do the charcoal for the braziers or park "grills" that would also work fine. 6-Black Powder Rules- The packet is exactly the same as last year, and will be in the welcome packets. All shooters must sign the form at the back of the packet before or at the first safety meeting. I will also have Stynky "sticky" all the forms in one place for everyone. 7- Shipping to PiP- The fort will accept packages ONLY the week of the festival, and I am not sure who is in charge of receiving them anymore. That duty (used to be Harry), has been reassigned almost daily. I strongly suggest that anyone wanting to ship, send their packages directly to my home. I am willing to transport them to the Fort at an appropriate time. I recommend either USPS or UPS, as they both have "store fronts" here for return shipping. Email me for the address, and we can work out details individually. 8- Showers- After a lengthy discussion as to how to manage hot showers for participants, we have finally reached an accord. Callenish is providing the "set up" but there were many issues as to the "grey water", and the solution was a compromise. It has been asked that we use "Green Products", so that we can just drain straight to ground. David was very specific on which products "qualified". They must have a specific logo, which will also be in the pinned items. But the website that he used to locate these products is: www.greenseal.org Look for the "checkmark". If we find that there is too much trouble finding products, let us know. We have discussed purchasing the "correct" soaps and just providing them, but were unsure if this was really an issue for those not living on the "island" as materials on the mainland are easier to come by. 9- Duty Roster- We have asked for help in doing some of the chores this year. There are now several things that are being asked of us, so that we are doing our part as park volunteers. It is how we are "paying" our way to free accommadations in Key West, so I hope you will all understand that the BIB and myself can't do all these things. Lily has made a spreadsheet showing the needs with slots to sign up for a certain duty for a certain day. We are not asking anyone to "work" their whole vacation, but many hands will make light work. Small price really, to wake up with the ocean view, I'd say. If there is anything that we want to handle as a group that is not on the list, please let us know, and we can add it. This is the sign up for the gate duty etc. See other thread. 10- Safety/Medical- If there are people that are Nurses, Paramedics, EMT's etc. that are interested in being camp medics, please email me, I would like to have a list of qualified people, so that if there are any medical needs, that people know who to go to. I think most crewes have at least one among them. The official "first aid" station will be at the information booth in the fort, but I have materials to make several first aid kits, so we may want to have them with these people, at the encampment as well. 11- Water and Gatorade will be provided. If anyone would like to have the gatorade at their camp, it will be a mix type, so it can be placed into a round drink cooler. We have asked that the Hide have these drink coolers for the overall group at the encampment, and I will have them at the fort at the information booth. If anyone has these drink coolers and wants gatorade, just let me know. 12- Footprints- Keep them coming!! I am building an overall map of the encampment with Jack Roberts. Hopefully it will be a really neat addition to the thread, and will also allow us to print it for those who are not on the pub. 13- Safety Officers- If each crewe wants to designate a safety officer, that would be great. Each area of where we will be firing will have an overall safety officer, but there is nothing more important than SAFETY. If you would like to volunteer to be on the safety officer listing for the areas, please let me know. 14- Demos- This has it's own thread, and it's off to a wonderful start! There are so many topics that are great for the living history, and this is an area that David is VERY interested in seeing. Keep up the great work there! 15- Musicians/Performers/Random Acts- Bawdy Be will be acting as the "Entertainment Director" for the grounds and the pub stage. If anyone wants to play/sing, let me know and I will get her your contact information. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to play has a chance to be on stage. Long Post, but I think that's it for the moment. Only 74 more days until we can all be together again...we really miss our family and cannot wait for this reunion! The 10th anniversary will be a really special year! Fair Winds and Full Holds, Fayma

This is going to be the main place for me to put things into, answer questions and give information. The most important item of business is : Links to important forms/maps etc.: Black Powder Safety Rules http://pyracy.com/pub_gallery/2009pip/blackpowdersafety.pdf Green Seal Image http://pyracy.com/pub_gallery/2009pip/greenseal.jpg Fort Taylor Overview Map http://pyracy.com/pub_gallery/2009pip/mapoverview1056x880.jpg Pirates In Paradise Registration 2009 http://pyracy.com/pub_gallery/2009pip/pipregform2009.pdf Contact Information: Fayma Callahan- 812-290-6056, email: faymacallahan@aol.com or pm me here Iron Nigel, QM of BIB- 305-731-4610, email: ironquartermaster@gmail.com Spike, Captain of BIB- 305-295-9195, email: spikekeywest@yahoo.com I will update this top section as needed with important information, now on with the show!