[Bryn-gwlad] 'scuse me while I get on this soapbox

[robert segrest]

There used to be a Christian movement called the
United Society of Believers in Christ's Second
Appearing, but known to most as the Shakers or Shaking
Quakers.  The were an offshoot of the Society of
Friends (Quakers).  The most unorthodox bit of
doctrine that they practiced was absolute celibacy. 
In the late 18th and early 19th century they were
reasonably successful, reaching a peak membership of
6000 members (If that sounds small to you, just try
convincing 6000 people to never have sex). 
Unfortunately, for them at least, most people choose a
religious faith by being born in it.  Since Shakers
didn't have sex, they didn't have babies.  As of the
1920's there were only about a dozen Shakers left, and
they have maintained about that number, through
conversion, ever since.

The point of this pedantic anecdote is that groups
that do not successfully build membership, die.  What
we have to offer is more attractive to most people
than what the Shakers were offering, but if we in the
SCA do not actively seek new members, we will become a
meaningless footnote in historical recreation.  I do
not think we need to be worried about where we are
going to be in ten years, I think we need to be DEEPLY
CONCERNED about where we are RIGHT NOW.  It is
shocking to me how much of the leadership of the SCA,
and most of its subgroups, is the same leadership it
had 10 years ago.  The word for things that don't
change is 'dead', and this organization means too much
to me, for me to be at all sanguine about attending
its funereal.  Not to be provacative, but if we have
people who can't stand to see change occur, then we
probably need to evaluate the cost/benefit situation
of those peoples continued membership.

My unscientific guess would be that the average
chivalric fighter today is in his or her mid-thirties.
 If this trend continues, we will find ourselves
recreating the actions of those late period knights
who still wanted to fight in mounted, armored
tournaments after warfare had become an affair for
footsoldiers with firearms.

I will step down now.  Obviously this is an issue I
feel strongly about.  When I hear someone wonder if we
really ought to be looking for new, young members my
eyes kind of roll back in my head, and the world gets
red and fuzzy.  Hope I didn't offend.

Laszlo

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