[MR] Newcomer Discussion....

[Jack Black of Flint]

Ahoy the tavern-

**chuckling as he hears the groans a'ready**

I'd have to make a rough assessment that many on this list know who I am, so I 
won't go into all of that.  Many of you who know me well, also know that the 
Chatelaine's office and how we as an organization treat newcomers, is my biggest 
passion....

That said, I'm dropping my two doubloons into this conversation....

Folks, the biggest way that we can improve retention, and recruitment of new 
comers is to remember what it was like when we were new.  My first event was a 
Toy Tourney in the Midrealm, and I noted that someone had left their wallet on a 
table, unattended.  That wallet sat all day, untouched, until setting up for 
feast, when the hall steward asked after the owner, who then claimed it.

I was shocked, awed, and thrilled to find a group of people, who had that much 
honor in this day and age.

I was treated poorly by the first group I got involved with, and went to another 
group, where I was welcomed.  I've seen it in both Kingdoms I have lived in, 
where the "established" members of a group either treat newcomers as intruders, 
or just totally ignore them until they go away.

Yes, things like eating feast by candlelight are great, and add to the ambiance, 
but as has been pointed out, not always possible... I have noticed a trend the 
last several feasts I have been to where the Hall Staff has worked diligently to 
cover modern lights ((if they are reachable)) to improve that Ambiance.  And I 
for one would like to thank those people, because that is a lot of work.

Yes, as I like to say all the time, THIS IS A GAME, and we are supposed to be 
having fun.  But let's NOT FORGET our new comers, and forget that they don't see 
the fun when walking in, they have to be SHOWN what makes everything we do fun. 

As has been said, get them involved, show them what is available in your local 
group, and **GASP** TALK to them and find out what THEY might be interested 
in!!!!!!  They may not be interested in something that your local group does 
well, but maybe the next group to the west of you does.  Take the effort to get 
them in touch with someone who DOES what THEY are interested in.

I had a newcomer at an event a few months ago, was the young lady's first event. 
 She walked in, very shy, and the first thing that was done was the gentle in 
our group who was working on Glass Beads sat her down, and within five minutes, 
she was making her first Bead.  The look on the girl's face was worth the price 
of site that day, she loved it.  And has been hooked on the SCA.

Something I have seen in the past that had been suggested, as a way to improve 
the "Medieval Feel" of events, is encourage folks to go more in depth into 
personas.  I know there are many in the SCA that have a name and device, and 
know nothing else about the time period that they got the name from.  And before 
folks get angry with me, let me say, THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT..... IT'S A 
GAME, play however much you want.  But there had been a suggestion long ago to 
put "enchanted grounds" at all events, where everyone in that area HAS to be in 
persona.  We'd even challenge each other to see how long we could talk about our 
lives as our persona before we got stumped.

I personally enjoy thinkin about the things that I in persona would have been 
eating, or the garb I should be wearing.... As I do more research, I'm going to 
slowly begin wearing more appropriate garb for my time period, because that is 
my choice, and the way that I want to improve the medieval feel.

Painted Wheel is another GREAT example of the feel. ((Yes, Dulcy, I'm throwing 
you guys under your vardo for a second **laughs**))  I don't know how many of 
the folks who were at WoW got to go by the Painted Wheel encampment on Saturday 
night.  I stood outside with another newcomer talking quietly while listening to 
them play for several minutes.  He thought that they were the coolest thing he 
had ever seen.

Just walking about the site on Saturday evening, as folks were hanging around 
their fires, talking, and drumming, and having a good time, THAT is the medieval 
feel that I personally love the most about the SCA.  Being able to look up in 
the sky, and see nothing but stars above the tops of pavilions is what brings 
the dream alive to me....

Sorry for the long post, but wanted to share my thoughts...

In closing, I'm going to paraphrase an ad campaign.... "How do YOU play SCA????
 Until the next,
Yours in service,


Lord Jack Black of Flint
((AKA: BlackJack))
Captain and Master of "The Raptor" 
Chirurgeon, Canton of St. Georges
Chatelaine, Barony of Nottinghill Coill 
Brute for Hire