Portland Flag Association 1 ISSN 2474-1787

Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 80 February 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rating Flag Designs

Rating Flag Designs 1 In this issue we present the work on “Design expressiveness”, January 2020 Flutterings 2 of a young Russian vexillologist “Color perfection”, “Symbolic Alfred Znamierowski 1940–2019 5 who has developed an extensive perfection”, and extending the Portland’s Flag — a Russian View 6 methodology to rate the designs K-Scale to add “expressiveness” 8 Roundup of flags (see p. 6). as a sixth factor. Mystery Flag 9 What’s in a Word? | Flag for 2020 9 Nikita Dudko (a VT reader for Each drills more deeply, exploring 10 Coats of Arms of Irish Counties several years), of Seversk, in sub-components of each concept. The Flag Quiz 11 Tomskaya Oblast, has sent an While some of the ratings are Portland Flag Miscellany 12 Next Meeting 12 example of his work in the form of based on objective measures, many his rating of the flag of Portland. rely on a subjective assessment. www.portlandflag.org Although that may be criticized Since the publications of Good Flag, as reflecting personal opinion, in Bad Flag, several in our field have practice it may be mitigated by attempted to create objective asking a number of people to

measures of flag designs—possibly engage in the ratings. the first being what Mason Kaye called the “K-Scale”, which award- Vexillology and vexillography are ed 0, 1, or 2 points based on the richer for Nikita’s work. While extent a flag followed each of the part of flag design will always five GFBF principles. The result, evade systematic analysis—due to a score from 0 to 10, matched the historical, cultural, aesthetic, and 0–10 scale used in NAVA’s city artistic considerations—kudos to and state/provincial flag design all who are exploring the quantita- surveys, facilitating quantitative tive edges of flag design. comparisons (see Raven 8, “Good Flag, Bad Flag and the Great We find it interesting and affirming NAVA Flag Survey of 2001” and that Mr. Dudko’s calculated com- Raven 12, “The American City Flag posite rating of 8.2 for the Portland Survey of 2004”.) flag (expressed on a 0–10 scale), closely parallels the result of the A wise nation encourages the development and use of symbols Mr. Dudko has built on that work, 2004 NAVA survey, 8.38. of sovereignty, community, family developing five new scales focused life, and individual achievement.

— Canadian Heraldic Authority If you wish to compliment the editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted Kaye at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother.

2 The Vexilloid Tabloid January 2020 Flutterings You Need to Know In our January meeting, hosted by Mike Hale at his new home, 11 PFA members enjoyed three hours of flags and conversation. In his role as host, Mike moderated the discussion.

Michael Orelove reminded us that Oregon’s 160th birthday will be 14 February and gave out little Oregon flags (see p. 8). He also brought a U.S. flag to be retired.

Host Mike Hale explains the flags adorning the great wall of the art studio in his new home in Beaverton.

Max Liberman sought loans of Mike Hale displayed some treas- flags for an Arab Cultural Festival ures from his stepfather (and flag in February—it currently needs store founder) Elmer’s collecting Michael Orelove shows a U.S. flag Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan, and led a tour of his art studio with destined for ceremonial disposal. and Jordan. He is involved with its great wall festooned with the Arab Studies area of Portland flags—among them one of the first State University, tutoring in Arabic 24 Antarctica flags flown over the among other engagements. White Continent in 2002 by Ted Kaye (complete with the certificate validating its provenance).

Scott Mainwaring introduced a document from the Russian Heral- dic Council giving in extensive detail (20,000+ words) its rules and regulations regarding municipal symbols (including flags), congrat- ulated the effort to create flags for Cincinnati’s neighborhoods (perhaps the first-ever such effort since Portland’s), and described the intricacy of Iranian armed forces Max Liberman points out the finer Scott Mainwaring shows Iranian flags flags and religious banners. distinctions of Middle Eastern flags. of current interest.

February 2020 Portland Flag Association 3

Fred Paltridge shares recent Jessie Spillers discusses the Alice Paul Oregonian clippings. flag of U.S. women’s suffrage. Fred Paltridge brought Oregonian clippings with photos depicting an Jessie Spillers commented on the Iranian funeral replete with flags centennial of Women’s Suffrage in and mourning banners. the U.S. and the impending ratifi- cation of the ERA by Virginia. John Niggley brought a flag advancing workplace safety from David Koski commented exten- David Koski contemplates recent flags a one-time vendor, Air Products, sively on the adoption of flags by adopted by Scottish counties. and showed a World Flag he’d Scottish counties, especially how recently acquired in a shop on many favor the Nordic cross rather David Ferriday found himself N. Mississippi Avenue. than the Scottish saltire. intrigued by the NAVA 28 flag exhibited by Mike (representing the annual meeting hosted in Portland in 1994 which gave birth to the PFA).

David Ferriday muses on the NAVA 28 flag (created by PFA John Niggley shows the World Flag (developed by sometime PFA members Founder Harry Oswald). John and Paul Carroll) he’d found recently in a Portland store, while Max Liberman looks on. Continued on next page

4 The Vexilloid Tabloid

Patrick Genna explains the Kanak flag of Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Patrick Genna provided a handout on the flag of New Caledonia, described how it has flown along- side the French tricolor since 2010, Ted Kaye unfurls a replica of the 1503 Spanish naval flag of the Expeditions to and showed one he had bought the Indies, with the quartered arms of Castile and Leon. on-line, part of his quest to acquire interesting and intriguing flags.

Ted Kaye brought his usual clip- pings, shared the latest VT Flag Quiz, and displayed several flags, including the Alice Paul suffrage banner and replicas of those possi- bly used by Spanish explorers on the Pacific Coast (made by Elmer’s Flag & Banner for an Oregon Historical Society exhibition 25 years ago). He shared the 1983 masterwork Banderas de España, by José Luis Calvo Pérez and Luis Grávalos González, in which all of the replica flags appear.

Our next meeting will be hosted by Patrick Genna on 12 March in the community room at his residence in N.E. Portland. The PFA flag was delivered to him, to display as the next host. Mike Hale shows a very expensively-manufactured classic U.S. flag. February 2020 Portland Flag Association 5 Alfred Znamierowski 1940–2019

By Roman Klimeš been General Consul of the Republic Prague, Czech Republic of Poland in Bratislava and then in Czechoslovakia. With deep pain in our hearts, we announce that on October 23, 2019, I am very proud of that Alfred Zna- at about 1:00 a.m., nowadays the best mierowski was a friend of mine and vexillologist in the world, Alfred that I was able to provide him a lot of Znamierowski, died at the age of 79 illustrations and other materials (e.g. in Prague, the Czech Republic. Apart Law texts from the Collection of from the vexillology, he was one of Laws, actually all countries of the the world leading heraldists and world). Unfortunately, the latest book sphragists. He also worked in the he worked on has not been finished field of politics and culture; he was (Flags, Coats of Arms ,and Seals of also a journalist. Alfred Znamierowski the United States of America and its individual states and territories). In Alfred Znamierowski was born on 21 the early evening just before his death, June 1940 in the then-General Gov- flags. He began to work with Ameri- we were collecting materials for that ernment of Warsaw. His views and can vexillologist Dr. Whitney Smith book from my archive. However thinking were not formed by his com- and contribute articles to various vex- there was so much and we decided to munist father but by his grandfather illological journals. (He had written finish it following day. Unfortunately, Czeslaw Znamierowski, a Polish jurist, for many Polish magazines before). it was not possible because Alfred had sociologist, and professor of philoso- died at the night before. phy at the University of Poznan. I personally corresponded with him since about 1983, and we first met in Alfred Znamierowski had been mar- Alfred Znamierowski studied geogra- 1990 after the fall of the communist ried five times (all his wives were phy at Warsaw University. In 1965 regimes in Central and Eastern Eu- Polish) and he was just preparing for he was given the opportunity to go to rope in summer of 1990 with another the sixth marriage. He had an only Italy and then to France, where in well-known Polish vexillologist An- son, Christian, who lives in the United 1966 he gained the status of political drzej Beblowski. As a representative States in Virginia, not far from Wash- refugee. Next he moved to Munich, of Polish emigration in the USA, Al- ington, D.C. Bavaria, where he started to work as fred Znamierowski had contact with an redactor of Polish section of Radio Alfred was Fellow of the Federation U.S. president Ronald Reagan several of the International Federation of Free Europe. There he also made a times. friend with a Czech singer and song- Vexillological Associations (FIAV) writer Karel Kryl. Although Karel He advocated a hard line against com- and received the Vexillon (which is Kryl came from Ostrava and spoke munism and socialism, but on the oth- such a vexillological Nobel Prize). He very good Polish, he was not a native er hand he was a democrat and a hu- was also a member of the Polish He- speaker so Alfred Znamierowski cor- manist. raldic and Vexillological Board in the rected and translated some of his song In 1995, he was the main organizer of office of President of Poland. lyrics. Thanks to him Karel Kryl re- the International Vexillology Congress Alfred holds two very high honors— leased one long-play record in Polish. in Warsaw, the first such event in the on 15 June 2007 he was awarded the Eastern Europe (where before 1989 During the work and stay in the Fed- Golden Cross of Merit and 28 July countries had been under the influ- 2016 was awarded the Officer’s Cross eral Republic of Germany Alfred Zna- ence of the Soviet Union). mierowski cooperated with Dr. of the Order of Polish Revival. Ottfried Neubecker, who was, as Al- He wrote over twenty books on vexil- The Republic of Poland transported fred declared, his mentor of heraldry lology, heraldry, and sphragistics in Alfred’s mortal remains to Poland and and vexillology. After 12 years work- Polish and English, many of which organized a state sepulture. He was ing in the Radio Free Europe, he were translated into many world lan- buried in a family tomb at Powązki moved to the United States where he guages. He also published books con- Cemetery in Warsaw. worked for 11 years for the govern- cerning global and Polish politics. He ment radio Voice of America. Before spoke about 10 languages. Apart With his death the last vexillological that, he had established the Flag De- from Polish, English, German, giant (Ottfried Neubecker, William G. sign Center in San Diego, California, French, and Italian, his Czech was Crampton, and Whitney Smith) left where he designed and produced quite good because his father had for eternity.

6 The Vexilloid Tabloid Rating the Portland Flag’s Design — a Russian View Портленд (Орегон, Соединённые Штаты Америки)

By Nikita Dudko Portland (Oregon, USA) Below is the result of the evalua- tion of the flag of your city of Civil and official city flag. Portland. The evaluation was car- Officially adopted on September 4, ried out on six scales. The K-Scale 2002. First adopted in 1969. is a scale that Ted and Mason Kaye Proportions: 3:5. developed. All other scales were developed by me, except for the 1. Simplicity of design: 69.375/100 (67% of the maximum possible value) extended K-Scale (I added one 2. Design expressiveness: 19/22 (86% of the maximum possible value) criterion—artistic expressiveness— 3. Color perfection: 17/20 (85% of the maximum possible value) to the original scale). 4. Symbolic perfection: 88.75/100 (89% of maximum possible value) 5. K-Scale: 8/10 (80% of maximum possible value) I welcome anyone to contact me 6. K-Scale (extended): 10/12 (83% of maximum possible value) at [email protected] with questions about these scales and Total aggregated result (percent of the maximum possible value): 82/100 methods of assessment.

I believe that new knowledge and [Editors note: Mr. Dudko is a vex- The following six charts present techniques in vexillology should illologist in Russia. The Russian- the scoring underlying the compo- spread and vexillologists should language version of his evaluation site rating of 82/100 presented share meaningful information. is presented via Google translate. above.]

Continued on next page February 2020 Portland Flag Association 7

8 The Vexilloid Tabloid Roundup Leaving-the-EU Portland Burgees

Nicknames Following our “Burgees of the Port- land Area” in VT#63, we add the burgees of local Power Squadrons.

The U.S. Power Squadron, known as “America’s Boating Club”, works to improve maritime safety and enjoya- bility through classes in seaman- ship, navigation, and other related subjects. Its 45,000 are organized into 450 squadrons across the coun- try—three in the Portland area.

Somebody at Alaska Airlines has a distinct sense of regional humor. On the emergency procedures card observed on a recent flight, the instructions about leaving luggage Beaverton Squadron, USPS behind when evacuating depict a “small personal item” bearing a tiny but unmistakable Cascadia flag. Source: Katie Meyers

Portland Squadron, USPS

Michael Orelove reminds all Oregonians to celebrate our state’s 160th birthday Fort Vancouver Squadron, this month—on a date that’s easy to remember. WA–FORT15, USPS

February 2020 Portland Flag Association 9 Mystery Flag What’s in a Word? A Flag for 2020

By Michael Orelove I recently received an email which included the word vexillophilist. I was not familiar with the word so I Googled it. Google sent me to vexillophile. One word led me An inquiry recently arrived from to another. the UK: Vexillology—the study of flags. By David Koski I have a picture of a Buffalo Airways (an Vexillophilist—someone who has This is the 2020 flag design which American airline) a fondness or love of flags. I made on January 1st and posted Boeing 707 airliner taken to the Designing Flags Facebook Vexillographer—a person who in London in June 1984. page. I wrote there: designs flags. Above the cockpit “As a way to wish all of you flag windows are three flags: Vexillological—of or pertaining aficionados a happy new year, I the USA flag, the flag to vexillology. decided to design a flag for the year of Texas, plus one that now upon us. It contains 20 pips I can’t identify. Vexillologist—one who studies by the hoist representing centuries flags. and 20 by the fly representing It is yellow background years. with a red sun with wavy Vexillophile—a person who col- rays and what looks like lects and displays flags. A person “The colors are intended to suggest a face in the middle of the who studies flags and their history. a greening in the world which I sun. The trailing edge Vexillize—to make a flag; to sew hope will commence this year and of the flag is cut inwards or print a flag; to design a flag. continue into the future. Any simi- in a “V” shape. larity to the colors of the Universi- Vexillarious—of or pertaining to ty of Oregon (playing in the Rose I am hoping you can help. flags. Bowl today) is purely coincidental.” Many thanks. Vexillarius—a standard-bearer [This is not the first such effort— Readers? Please contact under the Roman Empire. PFA members David Koski and [email protected] with Scott Mainwaring have created your ideas. Vexillary—one of the oldest class flags for prior years. See VT#74 of veterans in the Roman army “Roman Numeral Flags for Years” serving under a special banner. and VT#56 “Member Designs: There are many more including Flags for the Year 2016”.] vexillation, vexillator, vexillatry, vexillolatry, vexilliferous, and vexilloid.

Spurred by the U.S. presidential offer I will end with vexillomania and to buy Greenland, reader (and occa- sional VT quizmaster) Bill Neckrock vexillomaniac. You can guess of Rochester Hills, Michigan, their definitions. memorialized the event with flags.

10 The Vexilloid Tabloid

February 2020 Portland Flag Association 11 What’s that Flag? What Was that Flag? Answers to the last quiz

By Bard & Benjamin Cosman By Tony Burton Name these flags and identify the These flags represent symbols of “Country Game” theme connect- the Chinese zodiac (Happy Year of ing them. Beginning letter: B; the Rat!). Congrats to solvers Bard ending letter: S. Cosman, John Cartledge, Bill Neckrock, and Mike Thomas. Answers in the next issue...

Martinique [folkloric] (Snake)

Twente, Netherlands (Horse) Wales (Dragon)

Federated Malay States 1895–1946 / Union of Malaya 1946–48 (Tiger)

Wallonia, Belgium (Rooster)

Graubünden, Switzerland (Ibex / Mountain Goat) Moldavia [in Romania] (Ox)

12 The Vexilloid Tabloid Portland Flag Miscellany

PFA member and multi-media artist I partnered with Elmer’s for a couple Brittany Vega works here in Port- pieces, so I’m especially proud to land. Her art explores the political have kept my resources local and in and cultural intersections of an the flag family. PFA: please consider American identity. this an invitation to the reception!”

She uses the symbolism and associa- tions of charged political objects as a means to investigate the fusion of the self and the participation one plays in their own American-ness.

Brittany (b. 1990, Bradenton, Fla.) New Portland police chief Jami Resch received her BFA from Memphis stands with Mayor Ted Wheeler in her College of Art and earned her MFA When the Flyend Frays first press conference in January, 2020. from the Pacific Northwest College Brittany Vega, 2019 Behind her stand the flags of of Art. She has exhibited regionally the U.S., Oregon, and Portland. and nationally, and has led multiple American Hex, an exhibition featuring [OPB photo] curatorial projects. Brittany Vega & Christine Miller Reception: Saturday, Feb. 1, 6–9 PM A Portland flag She reports “I have been working On view through March 14. “collar charm” (very long nights) towards an art FullerRosen Gallery https:// show opening here in Portland and 2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 106 frannybgood.com/ flag lovers may find it worthwhile. Portland, OR 97202 collections/oregon/ https://fullerrosen.com/Current products/portland-flag

March Meeting

The next meeting of the Portland Flag Association will be at 7 PM, Thursday, 12 March, in the com- munity room at the residence of Patrick Genna, 1865 N.E. Davis St., Portland, OR 97232.

See the map at right.

We look forward to seeing those of you who have missed recent meetings and engaging in provoca- tive flag-related discussion. Newcomers are welcome!

If you can’t get to the meeting, perhaps you can give the editor something to share with readers. The Vexilloid Tabloid , founded in 1999 by the late John Hood, is published bi-monthly by and for the Portland Flag Association—Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Find back issues at www.portlandflag.org.

February 2020