[Steppes] Sunday fighter practice

[Michael Smith]

Moving it so that it's more convenient for people who haven't been showing
up is an example of a bad reason to move it in either time or location.

Leaving it where it is just because it's convenient for the people who have
been showing up is almost as bad a reason to leave it.  For example, the
current location is terrific for me, but I care not one whit if I have to
drive another 15 miles to a practice that's better for the fighters of the
Barony.

There are questions that must be answered.

Is the fighter practice first and foremost for the fighters or are the
fighters only an equal consideration as the non-fighters who wish to attend
FP as a social activity?  Why is this? (regardless of which way you believe)

One way to look at it is that FP should consider the fighters first and
foremost.  Other activities do not consider the fighters.  That's not a
negative statement.  What I mean is, nobody says, "We need to make sure the
ZZZ guild meets at a time and location that's good in case the fighters want
to show up and beat on each other."

Another way to look at it is that the FP is the single most visible activity
that we have in the SCA.  It's our largest rock of recruitment of unknowns.
I believe SCA recruitment is largest from word of mouth (SCA member's
mundane friends and acquaintenances) and second largest perhaps from
targeted demos such as Highland Games or Scottish Festival or RenFests.  But
in terms of walk-by recruitment, fighter practice is where it's at.  Not as
many people stop by a group of oddly dressed individuals who are sewing and
weaving in a park, for example.  Because of this, I can understand that a
Barony's non-fighting populace may feel a larger sense of ownership of the
FP than other non-whatever activity individuals feel for those activities in
which they do not participate.

These are of course just my opinions, but I hope it's something everyone
thinks about.  This promises to be an interesting discussion for our Barony.
  But if we're not willing to discuss it honestly (citing our reasoning for
our opinions) I believe we will not have a very good discourse.  :)

A well attended and active fighter practice, regardless of time and
location, will do much more for our fair Barony than will a poor practice in
the "best" of locations.

My opinion, I will admit, is fighter-centric.  If what we do increases the
number of fighters at practice, it increases the quality of practice to me.
If it does not, it's no improvement to me.  8 fighters and 3 SCA socializers
to me is better than 6 fighters and 30 SCA socializers.  This is my opinion.

Yours in Service,
Lord Morgan Buchanan


From: Jason Hitt <cutter07 at yahoo.com>
Reply-To: steppes at ansteorra.org
To: steppes at ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Steppes] Sunday fighter practice
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 18:25:57 -0700 (PDT)

Perhaps naming the "wrong" and "right" reasons would
help. Also thinking of the people who don't come for
good reasons rather then fighters that come already
might help raise particpation overall.
Later would probably help with heat, easier traffic,
and scheduling for most people. Just some suggestions
from a newbie.

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