[Ansteorra] NMS and Newcomer Activities

[Liz Wilson]

The NMS doesn't bother me much because since we are a family of four, any activity seems to always cost us a lot and the SCA is one of the more reasonable activities we can do (have you taken a family of four to the movies lately?  Even a matinee??).  I know that when we first joined the SCA, we realized that unless we were going to LOTS of events, paying a few NMS charges to attend a few events a year, even for two adults, was cheaper than having a family membership for the year (there is not an NMS for the kids as far as I know).   So I think the NMS actually discourages membership of families who will take the cheapest route every time and just pay the family max at most events (especially if they have more than 2 kids). It presumably makes more money for the Corporate office in the long run to have the NMS regardless.

Now that we are going to more events as a family, of course, and now that I'm Steppes MOC,  it makes more sense for us to have the family membership and in fact it's required that I at least have one, but I am assuming that the cost of membership is why a lot of people who don't want to be officers play for years without a membership and pay the NMS--it's simply cheaper as long as they are only going to a few local events.

One way to attract more newcomers even if they must pay a higher NMS in the future might be to try to have some sort of newcomer-focused activity at each event.  Some examples:  a newcomer luncheon (soup and bread or stew would be fine), a newcomer tea or meet and greet, a newcomer class on garb or personas, a newcomer class on court etiquette and awards, a silent or not so silent auction for garb and other useful items (everyone might enjoy that, like the raffles), a "newcomer pavilion" so that there was a place for newcomers to sit, etc.  Obviously some people, in particular the Hospitaler but also others, could be asked specifically to show the newcomers around or make certain that they are aware of these activities that are being held specifically for them.  Also, more novice competitions would be another useful thing at events that would encourage newcomer involvement:  novice cooking competitions or other A & S competitions, or even novice fighting/rapier/archery competitions.  "Novice" could be defined as 5 years or less, 2 years or less, or even 1 year or less of participation and could also be open to people who have played longer than that but are novices at these particular art forms or activities.  And of course loaner gear needs to ALWAYS be available at events if you want to encourage newcomer participation in fighting, rapier or archery.  Some of these ideas, such as luncheons or teas, could cost money but could be paid for from a Hospitaler's budget--other things that could be done would only take time or donations or involvement from others but not necessarily money.  I see children's activities as a way to encourage newcomers who have young families to come to events, because there is a place where they can leave their children for at least part of the day while they try to get to know people.  And if the kids have a good time they will want the parents to bring them again. 

 I know my kids have been begging us to go to Gulf War, so we are going to give it a try.  They are also begging us to take them to Pennsic--don't know about whether or not we can swing this any time soon, but it's got to be less than Disney World!  They wouldn't be begging us if they weren't having fun, and we wouldn't be at as many things if they weren't enjoying themselves, because we have limited places to leave them for the day, much less the weekend. Lots of parents are in the same boat.  Kids do grow up eventually, and some even become productive SCA members or come back to it later in life.  Just my two cents.

Christianna