SCA's NEXT GENERATION

Dottie Elliott macdj at onr.com
Sun Jun 15 23:36:43 PDT 1997


Scott White 6/15/97 6:48 PM

>Can't tell you the number of times I've seen new people appear on the
>sidelines at practice for a week or two, stand there by themselves, then
>disappear. Finally I started talking to them myself, even before I felt
>like I had been in this club long enough to serve as a representative.
>Somebody had to do something.

Milord, it is EVERYONE's responsibility to talk to newcomers. Not just 
some unnamed persons or one of the officers or whatever.  The officers 
may be quite willing and just not notice the newcomers because they are 
doing business or doing at fighter practice what they are there for - to 
practice - or they may not even be at the practice or whatever. 

It seems to me its a case of "ITS NOT MY JOB". I hear time and again that 
folks say "Get the hospitaler and tell her theres some person sitting 
over there that no one knows".  Well, why?  If you notice the new person, 
say hi, ask what they are interested in and then point (or better yet) 
take them to whomever can best help them.

It has ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE I HAVE LIVED, been the standard practice in the 
SCA that if a job isn't getting done (ie folks need new armor or new garb 
or whatever) then the person that sees the problem, solves the problem or 
at least finds someone to solve the problem. Let me REMIND you that this 
is a VOLUNTEER organization and EVERYONE should be volunteering!  VIVAT 
for helping those new folks get armor. You and Chuck saw a problem and 
solved it. However, you sound as if you didn't think you should have had 
to do it. Well who should have done it? You saw the problem, you enjoyed 
fixing the problem, you have made new friends and you have done a 
wonderful service as well. You should be proud of that.

I don't disagree with the fact that newcomers are treated poorly (let me 
just say non-figthers are treated even worse!).   However, all I hear is 
a lot of folks telling me its not their job or they are too busy. I have 
had this discussion many times over the last couple of years.

In any case, as the new Seneschal of Bryn Gwlad, I know that its always a 
problem to get newcomers involved.  In fact, after talking to a number of 
people over the last couple of weeks, I have decided to gather a group of 
interested persons (anyone that wants to explore and participate in 
setting up methods (monthly/weekly meetings, classes, mass transit to 
events, workshops, whatever) to meet, greet and introduce newcomers to 
our Group.  I will announce the time and place of the first discussion at 
our meeting Monday night and then put it on the Bryn Gwlad mail list. If 
you are interested, please join in.  The more input we have the better 
our plans will be.





Baroness Clarissa di Firenze
Seneschal, Barony of Bryn Gwlad, Kingdom of Ansteorra




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