[MR] census conclusions

[Penny Haller]

Greetings to the tavern
I stuggled with whether to respond here or not but I will share with our experience since my family are amoung the newish sort of folks (approx 3yrs) in hope it may be of some small help. We come from horseshows (about 30 years) as well as martial arts and 4H, so we've been around. We came because my son who was 15 at that point liked archery and history and we saw a flyer at the local library. We went to a weekly meeting and my son was immediately hooked on heavy fighting. I was given an informal mentor (greatful thanks always to Rhianna and Gorm) who always checked in with me to see if I needed help, gave me garb and even came to our first event even though had no plans of going herself. Were there bad experiences? Of course, like with any group, there are donkeys but if you have support within the group they are only a marginal irritation, We were lucky to have joined a barony that just seems to automatically envelop and incorporate  newcomers
 and include them and foster them along. I believe that assigning a mentor to every new person/family for phone calls and emails and someone to share questions and and concerns will help in retention. I don't believe that Peers and their behavior are the deciding factor if someone stays or not, it's the relationships they are able to form within their own group which give them the roots to discover how the SCA works for them,(or not)
 
all my best always
Penny