[Elfsea] Moot Tonight -- Fighter Practice Discussion

[Morgan Buchanan]

Might I suggest a compromise.  :)  The reality is this:  Fighter practice is
FIRST for the fighters.  It must be.  We (the SCA in general) must serve our
current members excellently before we can concern ourselves with
recruitment.  Without that ideal in mind, our turnover rate will be
unforgiveable.  A well attended fighter practice in a lower traffic area
will likely recruit more people than will a poorly attended fighter practice
in an EXCELLENT traffic area.  25 people in armour and garb seen by 10
people look like a group and will be approached by someone who's interested.
  2 people in armour seen by 1000 people look like nut-balls hitting each
other with sticks and won't be approached by anyone!  hehehe...  That being
said, I think if you have 2 sites that are reasonabley close, you should
consider being willing to walk a bit farther for water or a bathroom if you
have higher traffic, for example.

Yours in service,
Morgan


From: "Richard Threlkeld" <rjt at softwareinnovation.com>
Reply-To: elfsea at ansteorra.org
To: <elfsea at ansteorra.org>
Subject: RE: [Elfsea] Moot Tonight -- Fighter Practice Discussion
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:13:11 -0500

I can understand your viewpoint, but I disagree with it. Based on how we
have actually gotten the majority of our members, I think looking at
recruitment possibilities is very important.

Caelin

 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: elfsea-admin at ansteorra.org [mailto:elfsea-admin at ansteorra.org]On
 > Behalf Of Glen Wilkerson
 > Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 12:43 PM
 > To: elfsea at ansteorra.org
 > Subject: Re: [Elfsea] Moot Tonight -- Fighter Practice Discussion
 >
 >
 > I have only this to add to the discussion.  Fighter practice is for us.
 >
 > I have never been entirely comfortable with the idea of "recruiting" -
 > mostly for the same reasons I don't like it when the Jehovah's Witnesses
 > knock on the door and proselytize at me.  My philosophy is, if people are
 > interested they'll find us.  And while it's a good idea for hospitalers
to
 > be at practice in case someone does stop and ask questions while
 > driving or
 > walking by, I believe that effort should be reserved for demos
 > where we put
 > ourselves in the public eye for that purpose.
 >
 > But fighter practice is for us - those who fight and those who come to
 > watch.  A new fighter practice site should not be chosen based on
 > "demographics" or how visible we are.  The only criteria for a new site
 > should be; a reasonably central location, good ground (and big enough for
 > melees and archery if possible), available water, and clean privies, and
 > while it's not absolutely necessary, shade, and benches or picnic
 > tables to
 > sit down at wouldn't hurt.
 >
 > Alaric


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