[Ansteorra] ideas... long

Thu Jan 31 12:21:54 PST 2013

And the answer to everyone's question is: Yes we love Vigdis and her entire
family, they have been a great addition to our group, Ansteorra, and the
SCA . . . and . . . NO, you can't have them:-)

Vincenti

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 1:05 PM, Cynthia Teague <cmt1708 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm finding this conversation very interesting, and wanted to add my two
> cents.  My family and I started playing almost two years ago, and have
> really been enjoying ourselves.  I think our early experiences were key to
> this.  We were drawn in by the Medieval Fair in Norman, although it took
> several years for us to attend our first event.  At that event, we had the
> chance to participate in archery and thrown weapons, using loaner gear.  It
> was really great to get to *do* something, instead of just watching.  We
> liked it a lot and wanted to do it again, and were encouraged to come to
> our barony's archery practice.
>
> Our barony has been very welcoming, as have people from other regions.  But
> I think the key for us was that we immediately began attending archery
> practice almost every week.  We quickly got to know a small group of people
> through these practices, and then when we went to larger meetings or
> events, we saw familiar, friendly faces.  We also had a place to go and a
> purpose at events; the archery community has been very supportive and
> welcoming, even though we were not very good and have two young children (9
> and 11 now) who want to participate.
>
> I also began attending a weekly unofficial A&S night, where I got to know
> quite a few people.  I have been spinning for 20 years, so was able to
> offer something to the group as well as learn from them, and that helped me
> feel comfortable.
>
> Away from the archery range, events were a little bewildering for us.
> People were nice to us, but we felt sort of rootless.  I think it might be
> easier for a single person to find a place within the group, but because we
> were a family, we kept to ourselves a little, while also looking for a way
> to fit in.  It was easier for me, because of the A&S connections I had
> made, and because I had attended more populace meetings.  It's tricky
> trying to fit a new activity into an established family schedule, but we
> wanted to make it work.
>
> Now that we have been playing this long, it's different.  When we go to an
> event, we know what to expect, we know where we can help out, and we see a
> lot of friends.  But if we hadn't had weekly archery practices, I'm not
> sure whether we would have continued.  It's nice to have people be friendly
> at an event, but you need a way to fit in, to be a part of the group, and I
> think it's what happens outside of the events that makes that possible.  My
> kids just spent a Saturday afternoon making coifs, and I know that made
> them feel much more a part of the barony -- they've commented several times
> on how much they liked being part of the assembly line.
>
> My husband and I are also beginning to pursue combat archery -- again
> because of loaner gear.  We were given the chance at a Royal Huntsman
> tourney to try a sort of target combat archery, and loved it.  We began to
> talk about trying combat archery, but you need a bow, and armor -- what if
> we didn't like it?  Then earlier this month we went to a northern regional
> fighter practice, where we were provided with loaner gear and lots of
> help.  We had a fantastic time, and are now gathering gear, making
> crossbows, and getting ready to fight.  But it was the chance to try it out
> *without* committing ourselves to the activity that really got us hooked.
>
> I guess my takeaway from this would be:  get new people trying different
> activities as soon as possible, so that they can find an anchor point in
> the group.  Events are dessert, but the day-to-day activities of the barony
> are the main course.  Lots of our activities require specialized equipment
> -- having loaner gear at events is very helpful.  So is having a time that
> is *not* a tournament when people can try something out.  We've only been
> to a couple of events where there has been the opportunity to try heavy
> fighting, and I'm not sure I've seen any where newcomers were encouraged to
> try rapier (though I am usually at the archery range so maybe I am wrong
> and these opportunities are more common).  When I've brought an extra loom
> or spindle, I've usually ended up teaching someone.  Maybe if there were
> more "hey, you want to try?" moments at events, followed up by information
> on local practice/meeting times, more newcomers would find their niche and
> stay.
>
> (And as an aside -- I *loved* the live tweeting of the recent Crown
> Tourney.  We could not attend that day, but we pulled out knight and
> royalty figurines and made a chart of the results and talked about the
> fighters we knew and wondered about the ones we didn't.  I hope the
> tweeting didn't distract people at the event, but it made the event so much
> more real for us here at home -- and made me more eager to attend a Crown
> Tourney when we can.)
>
> In service --
>
> Vigdis of Namron
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 7:30 AM, David Brown <lddevin03 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Not to sound flippant... but money has a lot to do with putting on an
> > event, as well as man power. To limit a feast to X number of people is
> the
> > smartest way to go about not . Wasting food and money is not practical.
> > I am in the game form the people and the history, but if you take the
> time
> > to research that beautiful gown...then wear tennis shoes...then I just
> lost
> > the magic.
> >
> > David Brown
> >
> > There is no better therapy than a dogs love.
> >
> > Michelle Dodd <lygabrielerdb at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >Greetings, While trying to keep things looking as 'period' as I can
> > afford to Is something I strive for, it is not my main reason for being
> > here. I'm here for a love of history and a love of learning new things &
> > most of the people are pretty cool too, once you get to know them.
> > >I think also that the welcoming needs to begin on event websites &
> emails
> > & any announcements. Make your event warm & welcoming like a hug.
> > >I was at an event, not too long ago, that was at a smaller venue. The
> > announcement read as if, if you weren't staying for feast, which had to
> be
> > prepaid & there were only a limited space for, then you may as well
> leave.
> > Feeling that attitude just from the website, I almost didn't go at all. I
> > did go. Feast was excellent, but the site was Very crowded.
> > >This is SO the Wrong impression we want to give to people. If the venue
> > isn't big enough then find a bigger one. Make sure that there is room for
> > all who Might come. If the 'regular' people don't feel welcome, they
> > certainly aren't going to want to bring new people to your event.
> > >
> > >Gabriele
> > >
> > >> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:54:16 -0800
> > >> From: lemonslee at prodigy.net
> > >> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
> > >> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] ideas... long
> > >>
> > >> Greetings,
> > >> I think at times we all are guilty of it.  But at times like feasts,
> > etc., it would be nice if maybe we all just slow down some and make sure
> > people have a group to sit with, etc., especially if it is a new person.
>  I
> > went to a smallish event once as a newbie where I didn't know a single
> > person and left after a few minutes because I was just stared at and
> nobody
> > was welcoming at all.  They probably had no idea that they terrified me,
> > but I admit I've never attended that group's events, or the barony that
> it
> > is close to.
> > >> And I know of others who have similar experiences.  I don't want
> people
> > to be Pollyanna's, but a little warmer welcoming would be nice.
> > >> Curstaidh
> > >>
> > >> --- On Wed, 1/30/13, Ld.blackmoon <ld.blackmoon at cox.net> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> From: Ld.blackmoon <ld.blackmoon at cox.net>
> > >> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] ideas... long
> > >> To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
> >
> > >> Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 8:08 PM
> > >>
> > >> greetings
> > >>
> > >> I think I will have to agree with you on this point .
> > >> even I am guilty of this, at a recent event I actually got to meet a
> > marshal I have only spoken to online for years , but in my constant rush
> to
> > be " helping " I didn't take but a few distracted moments to speak with
> him
> > in person , even though he's a great guy , and will probably be my
> > successor in office, I was " too busy " to stop and give him my full
> > attention at the time . : (  ( which I didn't realize until after the
> event
> > )  so not only was I very rude ( unintentional ) but I also now owe this
> > person a rather large apology , and maybe even a bottle of good mead by a
> > camp fire  :  (
> > >> at the time I was more focused on making sure I was doing everything I
> > could to help with a successful event, and failed to consider how my
> > actions and distractions might appear to someone else : (
> > >> I'm thinking maybe I should slow down a little and go back to smelling
> > the roses sometimes instead of " always working " : /
> > >>
> > >> Be Safe , Be Happy, Have Fun .
> > >> Arthur
> > >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Lemons" <
> lemonslee at prodigy.net>
> > >> To: " Inc.Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA" <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
> > >> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 7:24 PM
> > >> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] ideas... long
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Greetings!
> > >> Having read many of the posts, one thought came to mind. I agree that
> > trying to cover up the mundane and being more "period" are great ideas,
> but
> > I think it's the attitude of what the SCA was that I miss. I don't see as
> > much of the welcoming attitude, the openness and kindness, as I used to
> in
> > '93. It's that attitude I miss.
> > >> And it could just be me thinking there's a problem in that area. And
> it
> > could be that people are so tired and overworked that the attitude can't
> be
> > maintained.
> > >> I dunno, just my 2 cents.
> > >> Curstaidh
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -----
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