[MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread

[Aimee Kratts]

Dulcy,

You are on the mark about newcomers not feeling welcome. I tried 4 times to join over a span of 15 years. 

I remember the first two events very clearly where I showed up in period garb and no one spoke to me. For someone who is very shy, this is really heartbreaking. The first event was a 12th Night in Northern Virginia. The second event was an outdoor event at a church in Herndon.

And I also remember the two people who finally welcomed me in, Evan & Enequy.

The key for me was to get involved in an activity. That was where I turned the corner. When I'm doing a task with people, it's not so hard to get to start chatting. Evan got me involved in heraldry and Enequy introduced me to the scribal arts and archery. If it wasn't for these two guys, I probably would have given up. (IMHO, the SCA should give AWARDS to people who are good with newcomers. That sort of thing isn't recognized nearly enough and it's what we need to keep the organization vital...but that's a whole other conversation.)

So, every time I hear someone express even the smallest desire to learn more about the SCA, I encourage them to participate in something, anything, in order to connect with people and make friends. 

You know, I don't remember ever reading an article in any SCA newsletter or publication aimed at newcomers that says, in essence, "Get involved! That's how you'll make friends." Maybe we should write those kinds of articles, or at least post a blurb on the baronial websites. Getting involved seems like commons sense at this point but back in my 20s and new to the area, it wasn't so obvious.

Amie


> From: paintedwheel at hotmail.com
> To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:20:36 +0000
> Subject: Re: [MR] Your suggestions please
> 
<snip>

> Second thing that brought me back was the way I was treated. People thirty years ago made sure newcomers had a great time and felt welcome. I realize we have all sorts of things set up for that nowdays that we didn't have back then. They don't seem to be as effective as good old fashioned social inclusion. I hear over and over and over "Well, we tried to get involved years ago, and everyone was so cliquish and it was hard to connect so we just gave up." I heard it once again from a good friend a WoW (btw, Charlotte...my friend and his wife are now involved locally because of you guys. He says you all are very cool and very welcoming, so great job. Thanks for taking care of my friends.)
>  
> I wish I had a nickle for every time I have heard that newcomers did not feel welcome. And it makes me sad, because I know most of the locals around here are not like that. They are great folks. So I don't get it.