[Bryn-gwlad] people labels (was: Ideas about newcomers from...anewcomer)

[Robin Craig]

Well, when I joined I CERTAINLY called people by the wrong titles and  
such and everyone was always very forgiving.   One thing we can do to  
try to avoid the below situations is to perhaps offer some beginner  
level classes  (just 2 or 3) spaced out in the day at our own  
Baronial events.   That way there are some scheduled activities  
geared towards newcomers where they can meet people. Some of the  
classes already put together by the newcomer's household would be  
perfect... like "Lets talk about costumes / beginning tunic"   or  
"What to expect at court and what do all these titles mean?" or even  
"History of the SCA - How did this get started?"  If we post the  
class location and time at gate and whoever has volunteered to teach  
waits for 15 min and there is no show, then it is no big deal, but by  
offering this at Baronial events we may even catch some folks from  
out of Barony but still new to SCA and then we are helping the  
Kingdom as well as our Barony.

-Robin

PS - Once I have gotten more used to having my little one at events,  
I would be willing to host one or two of these classes.

On Jul 8, 2006, at 12:55 PM, Ariana Delbar wrote:

> Just a note from someone else who was a newcomer & has drifted  
> away, but still lurks on the list. :)
>
> I have to tell you that honestly, navigating my way around PiP  
> wasn't too difficult because it was mostly out-of-character and if  
> I couldn't break into a conversation circle (which is very  
> difficult for me), I could at least watch the fighters practice so  
> I didn't feel like an idiot standing in the corner with no one to  
> talk to.
>
> What terrified me was the events. I went to one of them, worked  
> gate for a while which kept me occupied, and then was turned loose  
> to fend for me own. Baron Thomas did come speak to me, but he  
> couldn't entertain me for the entire event and pretty soon I was  
> back to wall-flowering. I think that is when I really started to  
> stop participating - since my husband is not interested in  
> attending things with me, I had no "security blanket" so to speak.  
> If no one spoke to me and I was too shy to approach all of the  
> little groups of people who all knew each other & were already  
> involved in conversation or games, then I was doomed to an evening  
> talking to the wall. And let me get it straight that I am SURE all  
> groups would have been very friendly and welcoming if I'd been  
> brave enough to approach, but for someone who is new to the SCA &  
> shy, the idea is frightening!
>
> My favorite idea I have seen on this thread so far has been the  
> "adopt a newcomer" one. I think if I had had a household that had  
> adopted me and was making sure I could navigate through an event,  
> or even just one person that was mentoring me and I was allowed to  
> follow them around all evening to see what a fully-integrated  
> SCAdian did at the events and had someone introducing me around  
> rather than having to introduce myself around, I would have felt a  
> lot better.
>
> Obviously from reading some of the posts not everyone wants to  
> devote time to handholding for newcomers because it is certainly a  
> job in and of itself & probably distracting. But if there are those  
> who would, I know from my point of view, it would have made a world  
> of difference. :) You guys are an intimidating group to just throw  
> oneself into head over heels, especially for someone who is shy AND  
> also afraid of messing up (as in, calling someone by the wrong  
> title, wandering into the middle of court, etc). :)
>
>
> Just some input from a lurker. :) If you all start some sort of  
> mentorship program, please let me know!
>
> -Ariana
> who used to be Eve
>
>
>> From: Coblaith Mhuimhneach <Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
>> Reply-To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>> To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>> Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] people labels (was: Ideas about newcomers  
>> from...anewcomer)
>> Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 20:05:57 -0500
>>
>> Sean wrote:
>>> Perhaps a simple cloth shield with the colors and Halberd of Bryn- 
>>> Gwald could be offered to "Newbies" so that others would know  
>>> they were...new. Once these individuals had a clue about what was  
>>> going on, something I am still working on, they could turn in  
>>> these shield for other individuals to use.
>>
>> I answered
>>> Something like this had occurred to me. But I wonder how many  
>>> newcomers would be comfortable with it.. . .I have also thought  
>>> that it might be helpful if officers and guild principals wore  
>>> some sort of insignia at Populace in the Park.. . .Similarly,  
>>> members of the populace who were willing to be general  
>>> "ambassadors" on any given night could wear the Barony's badge or  
>>> green-and-gold bands or something. Then all the folks at the  
>>> Hospitaler's table would have to do to is point them out and  
>>> explain what they mean (or hail somebody who'd chosen to put one  
>>> on, depending on the circumstances).. . .I, as a newcomer, wasn't  
>>> unwilling to go up to people and say, "Hi," but I was reluctant  
>>> to "horn in on" conversations and harass people who were busy  
>>> doing other things, and it often looks as though EVERYBODY at PiP  
>>> is busy.  If there had been people wearing, "Harass me, please!"  
>>> labels, I would've been more comfortable approaching them.
>>
>> Robin asked:
>>> How about a nice, normal nametag?
>>
>> You mean for the newcomers, the officers and guild principals, the  
>> "ambassadors", or all three?
>>
>> I have four problems with nametags:
>>
>> (1)  You have to get pretty close and be looking at the individual  
>> face-to-face (well. . .face-to-chest) even to see one.  I think  
>> the likelihood of someone scanning the crowd noticing a 4-inch- 
>> wide armband with trailing ends (or something similar) is much  
>> higher, especially when we're all gathered in little groups  
>> chatting (as we often are).
>>
>> (2)  You have to be even closer to read them.  So, if you said,  
>> "Look for Coblaith,", and the newcomer relied on nametags, she'd  
>> have to roam around the crowd poking her face in between  
>> conversing members of the populace until she saw the right bosom  
>> (assuming you either mispronounce my name or spell it for her, so  
>> she can recognize it when she does see it).  If, on the other  
>> hand, you said, "Look for the Chronicer; she's got black and white  
>> feathers on her armband," she could, again, just scan the crowd.   
>> I know which I'd prefer to do.
>>
>> (3)  They're pretty much single-use.  Even the little plastic  
>> pockets on strings aren't exactly sturdy.  Re-usable "labels" make  
>> more sense, ecologically and economically.
>>
>> (4)  They pretty much define "obtrusively modern".  So, if we're  
>> treating Populace in the Park as an SCA event (either in general,  
>> as ???? and ???? have suggested, or on a specific occassion, as  
>> when we have a tiny tourney), they won't fit.
>>
>>
>> Aurelia's said:
>>> Instead of asking newcomers to call attention to themselves with  
>>> badges, why not give the badges to those who might be willing to  
>>> become mentors. Just a button that says "Ask Me Questions!" would  
>>> do, and then those who are new would know who to approach.
>>>
>>> I'd be comfortable wearing a button that says "Ask Me About  
>>> Costumes!" Or, "Ask Me About Roman Personas!"
>>
>> I think that'd be great. . .even those of us who aren't exactly  
>> new anymore might benefit.  There's information on the interests  
>> of some of the residents of the Barony in the Participants'  
>> Registry, but I'm still surprised on a regular basis by the things  
>> my fellows can do.
>>
>> Actually, my initial idea about the "ambassador" armbands was that  
>> they might indicate their bearers' areas of expertise or interest,  
>> but I couldn't think of an easy way to incorporate that.  "Ask me"  
>> buttons sound promising.
>>
>>
>> I think I'll run up a sample Chronicler's "label" or two before  
>> the business meeting, so we can start discussing some concrete  
>> possibilities.  Anybody else want to work up their ideas?
>>
>>
>>
>> Coblaith Mhuimhneach
>> Barony of Bryn Gwlad
>> <mailto:Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
>
>
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