[Ansteorra] recruitment

[Ld.blackmoon]

greetings

ok, I admit it I'm an old fart.
some background :
I was 1st introduced to the sca by a friend in trimaris in 1980 / 81, moved 
back to ansteorra in 1982 , found the sca at a sci - fi convention the very 
day I came back,played for 10 years, moved to calontir, but due to low 
income and no transportation I rarely got to play for that 10 years, moved 
back to ansteorra, where I have been an officer of some kind for the past 10 
years ( sometimes double offices ; )
now some opinions ; )
when I started in the sca, it was common in northern ansteorra, for 
experienced players to invite newbie's to activities , both local and at 
large.
that personal invite to a " revel " ( actually took 3 tries before I went ) 
got me doing more than just sitting on my motor cycle and watching the " 
idiots hitting each other with sticks" and the " pretty girls in funny 
dresses, sitting around chatting, and sewing"
( ok , some of it was needle point , but back then it was all " sewing " )
anyway , I don't know how common it was , but I was lucky enough to have a 
pair of experienced players decide that broke or not I needed to go to an 
event, so they invited me along to vatavia's valor tourney, provided 
transportation, food, drink,site and feast fees. needless to say after that 
event I was hooked .they continued to provide what ever I couldn't afford at 
events and I began bartering my labor for those items, so it was common to 
see me loading and unloading their trailer and car, setting up their camp 
site ( as well as others , since helping people who had just arrived set up 
camp was both common, and I was told a great way to meet people ),anyway , 
the point is that the experienced people took the time , energy and expense 
to " personally " invite me to things , introduced me to commoner and king 
alike ( yes even the grumpy chuck " before coffee"  innman, who became your 
majesty after coffee ( when he put his hat on ; )
very much like the " mentoring " being suggested in these posts.
but as the sca has gotten more and more " authentic" more and more people 
seem to be acting " in period " where strangers were to be suspected and 
kept at a distance until they had proven themselves to be trustworthy , and 
not a threat to the group.
and as always money is an issue as well, memberships have more than doubled, 
same for site fees,feast fees, etc. and now there is the added expense for 
newbie's of the " non member sur charge " .  I would suggest that for those 
who can afford to travel to war, or even travel all over the kingdom, that 
perhaps they could afford to "patron " a newbie. ( pay the nms for a 1st or 
2nd event newbie ) .
also perhaps, the people that always have extra space in their vehicle ( car 
, truck, trailer, bus, whatever ) could invite known newbie's to come along 
to an event, having a dependable ride , or not having to pay much for gas, 
or even just knowing that they would know someone at the event may be the 
all it takes to get them to go , have a good time and want to go again.
and my final rant for this post........ manners........
when I started , it was considered rude to pass anyone without at least 
giving a slight bow of the head, preferably along with a " milord, or a 
milady " even if you didn't know it was duke sir every other  king you were 
calling milord, it was a polite acknowledgement.
it was also an opening to speak further with them if you chose ( 
milady....head bow.... may I bother you to ask about your cloak ?  etc . ) 
yet now it is rare to see such behavior, from newbie to uber duke, everyone 
seems to be in a hurry, with no time for manners, or even ( not so common ) 
courtesy....when I started, if an able bodied male let a lady carry anything 
that even looked like it was heavy or cumbersome , the male was looked at as 
a lout, and a lay about ( crude and lazy ) but I now see ladies loading 
their trucks, setting up and tearing down their own camps, carrying large 
baskets , pulling heavy wagons, etc, and young men, and fighters ( whom one 
would suspect were able bodied ) constantly ignore , walk right by, or even 
sit and watch as the ladies do the heavy lifting etc.   so I must ask ??? 
how much of " the dream " are people trying to teach ?? we push for exactly 
period clothing, camps, gear, and sometimes attitude, and yet, treating a 
lady like a lady, showing manners,and grace are ignored, forgotten,or never 
taught .

my thought is that as long as we continue to " forget " our manners,we will 
continue to lessen " the dream " and make the sca much more modern like , no 
matter how " authentic " we may be in dress, or camp ........

Be Safe , Be Happy, Have Fun .
Arthur
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Suzanne" <hsetrinity at aol.com>
To: <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] recruitment


>
>
>
> Greetings, Ansteorra!
>
> I would like to thank Her Grace Duchess Willow for her excellent comments 
> and ideas. I agree that each and every member should be thinking about how 
> we can help to foster newcomers, and perhaps people who have been playing 
> with us for a few years, and help them to transition into our beloved 
> Society.
>
> One of the ways that we can achieve this transition is to mentor people 
> who are either new, new to our Kingdom, or even new to our respective 
> groups. Each and every Barony, Shire, Canton, Stronghold, and Crown 
> Province in Ansteorra has its own unique subculture, but we are all 
> Ansteorra. Look back to your beginning days in the Society and think about 
> what kind of questions you may have had, or what kind of help you may have 
> needed/desired.
>
> Reach out to people and show them how much fun we have.   Above all, allow 
> them to get involved. Most people don't want to sit and watch you run an 
> event, or waterbear, or cook, or fight... they want to participate. Let 
> them help...allow them to volunteer. Allow them to hold a deputy office so 
> that they can understand the requirements.
>
> Remember...., the newcomer that you help today, the fighter that you help 
> to get to events, the artisan that you teach, the waterbearer that you 
> thank with a small piece of largesse..in a few years may be "Your 
> Majesty."   Share the Dream  with them now.
>
>
> Your servant,
>
> Suzanne Beraud
> Kingdom Hospitaler
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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