[Namron] Helping Newbs WAS The Black Death

[Chass Brown]

Hmm I know a certain x-N.R. Hospitaler who would argue with that. She told 
us repeatedly that if we saw someone new or who acted like they didn't know 
much/anything jump in introduce ourselves personally and take them under our 
wing. I did so... not like Hospitaler has much to do lol other than monthly 
paperwork and organize demos off and on. That leaves alot of time to welcome 
new peeps let alone if they have a deputy. I love inspiring the dream in 
others. That's why I talk the sca to all my friends and those who I come 
across. I have sent 4 people to N.K. as newbies in the last 3 months and 2 
to Namron, as well as added 4 more to our household here. I even went out of 
my way to help those wishing to pay to play get the paperwork to send in and 
helped the fill it out. That's how I know exactly how many sustaining 
members are in my local area (give or take 3 people). And as Hospitaler I 
held sewing classes once a week (except on event weeks) and helped them make 
their first garb/tunics and dresses and such (which I made sure was always 
announced at populace meetings). We all can help out if you see someone who 
looks new and you dont know them... introduce yourselves.

Chass of Rundel of Ansteorra aka of the SCA aka
Charinthalis Del Sans of the portable Chariot
Honorable Recruiter of the House of the Red Shark (Have you seen my Belaying 
Pin??)
Maison Du Corsaire Rouge
Muddeler of Mead, Ailment of Ale, Whiner of wine.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "aethelstan" <aethelstan at cox.net>
To: "Barony of Namron" <namron at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Namron] Re: The Black Death


> it's called a hospitaler....
>
> Now, before anyone tries to find a scapegoat, or starts to point fingers,
> let me say that no *ONE* person can help a new member to our game. There 
> has
> almost always been a hospitaler in office, in this barony. That person
> almost always gets up at pop meetings and says who they are, and what 
> their
> position is about.
>
> Sometimes a new person will seek this officer out. Sometimes they won't.
>
> It is not incumbent upon the hospitaler to track down every single new
> member and walk them about by the hand for the first year. It *is* their 
> job
> to provide access to information for those folks who wish to find it.
>
> I would greatly caution anyone from being critical of any office/officer
> until you have personally held that office. Even then, if any of you think
> that you can do better in a given position, please feel free to become 
> their
> deputy and help them out. After they have served their time in office, you
> can then take the office yourself and see what it takes to make that
> position run smoothly. NONE of the offices in the barony are as easy as 
> they
> might or might not appear. The folks that are in those offices are trying
> their best to help out the barony, and they deserve our thanks.
>
> As for finding ones' niche........that is up to the new person themselves 
> in
> most cases.
> Having a mentor (see previous posts) to work with can help ease someone 
> into
> the pool without just throwing them in and telling them to sink or swim.
> However, from personal experience, it usually takes someone several years 
> to
> find out exactaly where they fit into the scope of things. The first 
> several
> years are spent just trying to figure everything out, and sampling all the
> different aspects that the society has to offer. It can be a wonderful 
> time,
> or it can be a very rough and trying time.
>
> Everyone of us, myself included, should be a "hospitaler" when it comes to
> helping newer folks into the game. So please, the next time you're at pop,
> or at an event, and someone looks lost or overwhelmed, take a few minutes 
> to
> visit with them. You never know, you might just start a lifelong 
> friendship.
>
> Master Aethelstan