[Ansteorra] ideas... long

Joanne Murphy joannemurphy111 at gmail.com
Thu Jan 31 12:58:30 PST 2013


Rats!
Joanna the Spinner

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Doug Copley <doug.copley at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> -----
> > > >> No virus found in this message.
> > > >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > > >> Version: 2013.0.2890 / Virus Database: 2637/6024 - Release Date:
> > > 01/10/13
> > > >> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> > > >>
> > > >>
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