[Ansteorra] ideas was Presentation at Round Table

[Sonja Crocker]

When I first played in the SCA (in 1989) I was 17. I was given my first
garb and feast gear. A friend took me to my first event and paid my way. I
was hooked. I went to fighter practice every week but never saw the
fighters. They were in the gym. Everyone else hung out in the rec room and
talked about past events and upcoming activities. I loved it. I would watch
people work with looms or sing or dance. Then I went to college. I found
the SCA again and attended dance classes and became an officer.
Later I got married and had kids and moved. I had a baby and found the SCA
again. I wanted to introduce my family to a wonderful organization. We
attended an event and a revel. All I saw was fighting. Everyone begged my
husband (6 ft 4 and strength to match) to be a fighter. He has a bad knee
and would rather wire weave. It was hard for people to believe. He was
convinced to give it a try but he didn't like it.
At night, there were too many drunks singing bawdy tales. We don't drink
and I did not want my children anywhere near that. So we left - for years.
My teen daughter heard me talk about it one evening and asked if we could
go check it out. So we came back by attending our first Gulf Wars. It was
so fun. We have been every year since.
The problem now is money. Events are way to expensive for a family of four
to go to. We either cannot afford it or our van breaks down (again). So we
attend only one or two events a year.

Anyway... I have seen so many male newcomers leave because they were
pressured into fighting. Not all guys like that. I think we, as a populace,
need to find out where a newcomer's passion lies. What does s/he do in the
mundane world? Can we find an equivalent in the SCA? Also, send that person
to get outfitted with garb and feast gear. Help them out any way possible.
And this isn't just for the adults. My daughter came into the SCA and was
pushed into boffer. That was all there was for kids. As an MoC I am tryng
to come up with alternate programs for kids.
I also think that technology could really help us as an organization.
Outside of an event we could have online classes. I have created an online
warranting class for all MoCs to take. I know many people are broke or they
just can't make it to Round Table (like me). So I did this to help them
out. We introduce people to the SCA where they are - online. Then we entice
them to come out and play for real. If I had a ride or the money I would.

Anyway...That is just my two cents, for what it's worth.

Cait
 On Jan 29, 2013 11:39 PM, "kajira camber" <kajiracamber at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree with Armand in that the participation and recruitment of the SCA is
> a serious, yet difficult to answer, situation.
>
> In my point of view, I do not know of this 'pagentry' that Duchess Willow
> is eluding to.
>
> I have been in the SCA for a little over 15 years and have only seen court
> dancing at a handful of events, don't think I have ever seen a site
> decorated in such fashion, and don't recall almost all of the 'enchanting'
> moments described in the earlier email.  Yet, even without these items, I
> have found my home in the SCA.
>
> To me, it is the friendship and family and the fun of the events that have
> kept me coming back and spending all of my extra (and not so extra) income
> in order to participate in a manner that I like.
>
> Personally, I prefer the lack of handkissing and flirting (innocent or
> not) of the women toward the men.  This is primarily based on the number
> of, erm...uh...separations that have occurred after some of these
> 'innocent' moments.  (and I believe most everyone knows how I feel if you
> flirt with Rabbit...)
>
> Also, I agree with Armand that the aging population has changed what is
> important to those involved.  It is no longer focused 'for the party'
> (which, as I recall, was not at all PG), and is more focused on life.
> There are still young groups that are only here for the party...I remember
> that phase and hope that, when they grow out of it, they will join us on
> the front lines and bring their energy with them.
>
> A big kick to our population and the 'younger and more energetic' crowd is,
> as His Majesty said, the immediate satisfaction you get out of MMORPGs
> (online role playing games).  Once those people play enough and realize
> that they are getting nothing out of video/computer games and want to do
> something IRL (in real life) we need to be there for them.
>
> A big kick to our events/population is many-fold IMO (in my opinion)--
> 1-The aging population- The SCA population is made up of many who have
> gotten to the point of 'I have done my time for the SCA, now time for the
> new members to do what is needed'.  But the issue is that there are no new
> members...so the required things are getting done by a handful of people
> every time and causing the B&Bs to have to beg for event and feast
> stewards...or hope that other people will show up for the work day...or
> whatever the item is that needs to be taken care of.  And those few
> people who do everything that is needed for the Barony/group run out of
> energy and aren't able to do those 'fun to add' things.
> 2-Money.  (dang it...)  Because of the aging group, there are more
> important things to spend money on then booze and SCA, as it was 10, 20, or
> 30 years ago.  A larger percentage of the population is going to
> their children's 'non-SCA' functions, or having sick children, or ailing
> parents, financial issues or whatever the situation is, but it impacts
> their participation abilities.
> 3-Recruitment.  Again, this is affected by us not having enough of the
> appropriate aged crew to recruit the younger crowd and it is a downward
> spiral (the younger 'new' crew is too busy having to do what is above in #1
> to even think about trying to add in recruitment).  Even knowing this, we
> still put an inappropriate demographic out there to attempt to pull in new
> members.  A group of middle aged adults (even late 20/early 30 year olds)
> isn't the appropriate age group of people to try and recruit the typical
> energetic early 20 year old.  Sorry, but if some of the people that we have
> talking to people to try and get them interested had talked to me when I
> first started (when I was 18), I would've walked away thinking it was full
> of middle aged pervs.
> 4-Recognition-As Arthur stated, we all need to make a better effort to
> submit/recognize those that have done the work or improved in the arts or
> what have you.  I have heard through many reigns regarding the lack of
> award recommendations and this is an important piece of being part of a
> volunteer organization.  Heck, look at how much apps and online mini-games
> (i.e. Farmville, Hero World, Bejeweled, Angry Birds, etc)  pull people back
> to keep playing simply based on simple 'electronic' awards/badges!  It
> doesn't even have to be an 'award' from Their Majesties.  A simple thank
> you goes far and it lets them know that their service or skill improvement
> has been recognized by others.
>
> I personally recognize that I am not outgoing enough to those I do not
> know.  I am going to make a conscious effort to start conversations and get
> to know our knew members better.  I prefer to be the listener, but my
> position requires me to do opposite.  That is one place I know I can work
> to help retain new members.
>
> And (this isn't directed at Duchess Willow, who we see teaching classes and
> trying to make newcomers feel comfortable) if you find yourself wondering
> 'why ___ doesn't happen anymore' or 'why can't we do ____ anymore'...please
> take the time to reflect on your own participation.  When was the last time
> that you hosted a '____ making party' for your group...or was an event
> steward...or sat gate...or held a local office...  You may feel like you
> have 'done your time', but this is 'all of our time' and if we all put in a
> small amount of energy, the amount it will cause in return will be AWESOME!
>
> Sorry for the length...in a rambling moment...better stop now or I will
> have 10 items on my list (started out with 2, lol)
>
> Kajira Camber
> Who is a proud Baroness of Wiesenfeuer--proud of her members that step in
> to get the job done and proud of those that have helped in the past to get
> us where we are.  We will do what needs to be done to help our Kingdom
> grow, but I don't think a 'Master of Revels' is the answer to this
> question.
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