[Bryn-gwlad] Newcomers (was Re: Upcoming Demo)

[Dennis Grace]

Salut cozyns,

Lyonel sai.

Thank you, Susan, for taking this opportunity to broach the difficult 
subject of greeting newcomers. As some of the responses have suggested, this 
has long been a problem area for this Barony, which is rather ironic 
considering how friendly and welcoming Austin is in general.

Let's begin with Susan's implied question: is anyone in charge of greeting 
newcomers?

Strictly speaking, as the "Guiding Hand, An Introduction to the SCA and the 
Kingdom of Ansteorra" 
(http://hospitaler.ansteorra.org/GuidingHand/guidhan2.htm#A%20GUIDING%20HAND) 
states: "The HOSPITALER is responsible for welcoming new members and 
introducing them to the Society's activities and customs."

Furthermore, in accordance with SCA Corpora and Ansteorran kingdom the local 
seneschal is responsible for the governance of the local officers and of 
local events. Ansteorran kingdom law also places some of the responsibility 
on the Baron's shoulders in giving him the responsibilities to

>>>
Ensure, for the Crown, the well-being and contentment of their barony
and of their subjects.

Ensure, for the Crown, the efficacy of the officers of the barony.
<<<

All in all, then, by the book, at every event (including the PiP), the 
hospitaler should be actively attempting to locate and assist newcomers. The 
seneschal and Baron should be doing all they can to ensure that this is 
taking place--up to and including taking on some of the meet-and-greet 
chores. I can tell you from long experience that this kind of effort only 
works if the hospitaler and seneschal and Baron spend a lot of time just 
finding and greeting the new folk. With a large group and with the kind of 
flux we often see at PiP, this is difficult work. You have to be diligent, 
and you have to have a good memory for faces.

Before anyone starts criticizing the hospitaler or tsking at the seneschal 
or kvetching about the Baron, I can also tell you that "by the book" just 
doesn't cut it. Not alone. It's just not enough. Persistent recruitment is 
vital to the life of any group in the SCA. As such, it's a concern we all 
must share. Members of a barony who openly or tacitly assume the attitude 
that they only need concern themselves with the SCA members they know, 
endanger that barony's future.

Some of the members of this barony understand the importance of this issue 
and go out of their way to speak to newcomers and offer assistance. I've 
seen it. I commend it.

As for anyone who has ever

- deliberately ignored newcomers at PiP

- refused to help a newcomer because you're not the hospitaler and it's not 
your job

- responded to a question from a newcomer with an answer like, "Oh, the 
hospitaler is around here somewhere. You need to talk to him."

we-e-e-ll-ll, let's just say you're doing it wrong. I understand that it's 
difficult to step away from the practice field to greet every newcomer who 
comes along, but not everyone at PiP is fighting.

I know it's difficult to break away from friends to address strangers, but 
you can do it.
I know that some of you think you just can't talk to strangers, but you can. 
Everyone you know outside of your immediate family was a stranger at one 
time.
I know that some of you don't feel that you've been around long enough to be 
really helpful, but you can at least tell them why *you're* there.
I know that some folks just want to steep themselves in persona concerns, 
but amicability and largesse and hospitality are elements of courtliness.
And, yes, I know that people who live in glass houses et cetera, and I'll 
use this opportunity to make an effort to be more open to spotting and 
greeting the new folks. In fact, I'll go one step further: if you see some 
newcomers at PiP, and I'm not in the middle of a fight, call me over. I'll 
be happy to greet them with you.

However you prefer to handle it, when you see new faces at PiP, make the 
effort to greet them. The newcomers are usually easy to spot: they're the 
one's with that confused look in their eyes. If it turns out they're regular 
SCA players, then you've just met someone you missed before.

lo vostre por vos servir
Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace
_________________________________
Micel yfel deth se unwritere.
		--AElfric of York




>From: "Susan" <SCLARK935 at AUSTIN.RR.COM>
>Reply-To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: <myfanwy at pug.net>,"Barony of Bryn Gwlad" 
><bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] Upcoming Demo - Pirates of the 
>Caribbean.Pleaseread, I need input.
>Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 09:05:27 -0500
>
>I'm going to speak up here, and realize that this may make me very
>unwelcome; but I would like to make a comment. I'm an ex-SCAer, considering
>returning to the SCA after many years of inactivity.  Unfortunately, when
>I've gone out to the PiP meetings, I'm been pretty much ignored, with a few
>outstanding exceptions who came up to speak to me.  If there is anyone in
>charge of greeting newcomers, that person has never approached me.  If I 
>was
>a total newcomer, I probably would not have gone back for a 2nd time.  As 
>it
>it, I am seriously debating whether or not the SCA holds any place for me.
>I do apologize if I have offended anyone, but maybe this is why the SCA is
>losing members.
>
>Susan
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Myfanwy ferch Eifion" <myfanwy at pug.net>
>To: "'Barony of Bryn Gwlad'" <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 3:49 PM
>Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] Upcoming Demo - Pirates of the Caribbean.
>Pleaseread, I need input.
>
>
> > O.k, I've looked at all the comments, thought about this opportunity, 
>and
> > here is what I have to say about it:
> >
> > Bryn Gwlad has lost around 50 members in the last year.  Some of the
> > members
> > have left due to other life concerns, some left because they never fully
> > found there place in our society, and some left because it wasn't the
> > right
> > organization for them at the right time.
> >
> > This losing of members, although sad to see some go, is only a big deal
> > because we haven't had new members to replace their ranks.  There is a
> > normal ebb and flow in membership.  Our numbers should have remained the
> > same, if we had been doing what we need to be doing.
> >
> > Our barony *needs* to gain new members.  Where do we find like minded
> > people?  At places where we like to go ourselves.  How many of us are
> > excited about the new Pirates of the Carribean movie?  How many of *us*
> > are
> > planning on going to see the movie?  If there is an interest from our
> > ranks
> > of this movie, probably there are people who are seeing the movie that
> > will
> > be interested in what we do.
> >
> > In other words, we need to go out and there and have a good time.  Let
> > people see how much fun we are.  If we are fun, then they'll want to 
>come
> > play.
> >
> > Now, all this being said.  We can only do this if there are people
> > dedicated
> > to the purpose.
> >
> > So, putting my mouth where my foot is:  Isabelica, I can not stay out 
>very
> > late.  However, if there is something I can do to help with this, and I
> > can
> > leave about 10:30, I'll be there to help.
> >
> > In service,
> > Myfanwy
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Bryn-gwlad mailing list
> > Bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org
> > http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/bryn-gwlad-ansteorra.org
>
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