ANST - Memberships

[Randy and Noreen]

   I have been watching this discussion over membership go on for a while 
and thought I would remain quiet. Then I decided, that by allowing a bad 
idea grow I am not holding up my duty as a member in the SCA. If I see 
soemthing which I feel is wrong, or will harm the "Dream" then I am honor 
bound to speak up.
   I personally resent the concept of pay to play. People do pay to play at 
events. They pay to get in, they pay for feast, they buy merchant goods, 
they pay for the gas to get there and thier garb, etc. For some this is a 
heavy investment, especially for the young. Anything we do to increase 
their expense will just provide another hardship upon them. To some who 
begin playing, this is a lot of money. To those who are barely getting by 
on thier budgets, they can afford little. For a family beginning to play 
this is a large investment. To increase gate costs, to do anything at all 
to make new comers to feel less welcome is against what we are about.
   It is my hope that "WE" meaning the SCA, never get so twisted in our 
concerns for money, that we do not remember where we came from originally 
and what the goals are. To seek out new people to play and while we 
encourage membership we do so by example. We should always strive to do 
this by making the new people feel they have a stake in the "Dream" and 
wanting to support it by membership. Not by alienating people.
   To often in the last few years, I have heard from new comers how some 
ignore them, how some are so busy playing the game they don't have time to 
help or advise. I don't want to see more done to cause people to feel 
unwelcome.
   I would rather help cover the costs to get people in and interested 
enough to allow them to decide to pay for their memebrship then try to 
twist their arms. We get too much of that thought pattern in the "real" 
world.
   I seriously doubt my words will have any effects on many, especially 
those who make the decisions, but I know that if I remain quiet then I am 
wrong for not having expressed my opinion. All it takes for evil to win is 
for a good person to stand by and do nothing.
   For myself and my Clan, I know we will always seek to help those who are 
starting out. To help them gain an understanding of what the "game" is 
about and make them want to be a full member of the SCA. We will not do 
this by twisting their arms or making them feel less then the full members, 
but by showing them hospitality, respect and understanding. I know others 
besides us also have this attitude and will help us continue on this 
tradition.
    I love this Kingdom and the people who took time and effort to show me 
what the SCA is really about. I think I owe it to them to pass on that 
legacy. I think all of us need to work on making the Kingdom grow through 
positive means. There is enough negativity in this world as it is, we do 
not need to allow it to grow in the SCA.

    Lord Randall Hawkwood,
    Clan Firefall

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 13:46:14 -0600
From: Kathy Elliott <kelliott at sjgs.org>
Subject: RE: ANST - membership

Many organizations (especially non-profits) offer financial assistance
to those in need.

Would it be possible to set up some sort of kingdom financial aid fund
to help pay membership costs for deserving individuals?  There would
have to be some sort of confidential application process to receive
assistance, and those who wished to donate funds could add $5 extra to
their own membership, raise funds through a silent auction, etc.

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