SCA's NEXT GENERATION

[dennis grace]

Hi there. Aquilanne here.

Gwenllian wrote:
>I would also be interested in hearing what other groups do to get newcomers
>involved. Do you have formal activities like classes, revels, or newcomers'
>households, or is it all done on an informal one-on-one basis?

Well, I'll tell you what you do. You preach the need for newcomers, for an
attitude of openess, friendliness, and active welcome. You repeat it over
and over, and make an example of practicing what you preach. You push and
you push until that attitude is pervasive enough that at least half the
barony identifies with it and they, in turn, promulgate this same attitude.
You don't _even_ consider poopoo-ing *anyone's* complaint (or even casual
remark) regarding a less-than-enthusiastic welcome. You learn, and you
teach, that new folk are precious and necessary.

At every fighter practice, demo, event, or any other kind of public event,
you should have a notepad & extra local newsletters. Once the newcomer has
been properly greeted with great enthusiasm, you offer her a newsletter,
pointing out the list of officer names and phone numbers, and explain what
each title means--maybe even as an excuse to pronounce some names and words
that the average person doesn't get exposed to too often. That tiny bit of
knowlege can go a long way towards giving a new person a modicom of the
comfort of familiarity that we as a species find so reassuring. Next, you
get their name and phone number and some of their interests on your official
"newcomers phone list." That's right. You maintain a phone list of folks who
have shown interest and call them to invite them to things based on what the
next *local* event is, and what the newcomer's interests are.  You emphasize
the ease of going to an event by making sure the Hospitaller has a good
selection loaner garb, and I don't mean any old hand-me down that comes down
the pike (though nice hand-me-downs are always good). The Hospitaller's
office should possess a selection of simple, attractive, size-adjustable
garb as well as a few *decent* sets of loaner feast gear. Remember, we're
trying to make a *good* impression on them, not treat them like poor
cousins. The Baron and Baroness should make extra effort to greet new folk.
An open, friendly gesture by someone in a brass hat can go a long way
towards preventing brass-hat-ophobia. Sometimes we forget that many of us
have some level of problem with authority figures. We want to prevent that here.

When a newcomer actually shows up at an event, the first thing you do is
show them how *genuinely* thrilled you are that they showed up. See what
they're interested in. If they seem to be hitting it off and conversing and
mingling, great. If they look a little lost, sometimes giving them a minor
job (like helping someone set their table and then have the someone help the
newcomer set their table) can keep them occupied and get them meeting people. 

Everything I've mentioned above can be done by anyone with a
better-than-monosyllabic vocabulary and the ability to contort their face
into a reasonable facsimile of a sincere smile.

I never went to a "newcomer's revel" or "newcomer's class." I wouldn't want
to go to a segregated event like that. If every one else is having fun doing
this thing, then I want to see what this *thing* is. (It would probably be
advantageous to develop, and hold on a regular basis, a "newcomer's class"
where *members* learn how to more effectively greet and welcome newcomers.)
In both the shire where I started playing SCA and the shire that became the
Barony I went on to eventually have the honor of being Baroness, I was
welcomed with open arms and enthusiasm. Some may like the idea of a
"newcomer's something-or-other," but nothing is a substitute for an open,
honest welcome. Hell, I would have liked the same myself when I moved here
four years ago. Nobody wants to play where they don't feel welcome.

Aquilanne