[MR] garb, events and newcomers

[chagankhulan at clan-whitewing.org]

 Greetings all,

    In the past few years Bright hills has come to grips with the issue of
Gold Key (Loaner grb) and in response to the suggestion below I
thought I'd tell folks about it in case other groups might want to do
something similar.
    Several years ago Baroness Roana di Laci gathered a small group of
friends together and we formed The Worshipful Company of St. Matthias.
 Our purpose was two-fold. We designated ourselves as the Chatelaine's
backup troops. We took the current collection of loaner garb in hand
and sorted and pitched and repaired and replaced things, such that we
did and still do have a good, clean, presentable collection and enough
variety to fit almost anyone.  We also try to be a welcoming committee
at practices and non-event gathering to introduce new comers to SCA
cutoms and practices.  One thing we let then know about is the Gold
Key.  This allows them to plan ahead, reserve some garb for events,
etc.  We also try to have a small collection of garb on hand for
"walk-ins" at events.  We've never turned anyone away but we do
explain the custom of garb at events and that usually settles the
issue.  We are the 'source book' for the new folks in the absence of
our Chatelaine and it has worked well. Nobody goes away hungry or
naked! It is a bit much to ask of any one single person to take on all
the things a Chatelaine would like to do and this group of 'back up
folks'has helped considerably.  Something we've been working on and
should have available soon, is a book of local resources - shops,
outlets, even on-line resources for all sorts of things SCA folks
might need or want.  This book will be made available at our practices
and events and possibly will be posted on the Baronial web site.
    IF we expect the SCA to continue and to grow then we must work with
the newcomers.

In Service and in Friendship, I remain,

Chagan Khulan
Bright Hills


 Greetings from your friendly neighborhood Kingdom Chatelaine!
>
(Significant snippage)

> If you really care about making sure people wear garb at events so that
> the mood isn't spoiled, my suggestion to you would be to offer some
> assistance to your local chatelaine with the loaner garb.  Offer to go
> through your group's supply and make sure it is worthy of offering to a
> guest.  If there isn't enough garb in enough variety, offer to help stock
> the chest -- either by making it or taking up a collection.  Offer to be a
> Silver Key deputy who handles loaner garb for the local chatelaine at
> events.
>
> In Service,
> Luce Antony Venus
> Chatelaine, Atlantia
>
>
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