[MR] census conclusions

[Beau Meredith]

Hello (MR)

   Here are a few observations from reviewing the data in the census or"my 2 cents worth". 

    The first thing that i can conclude with certainty is that we are in fact rapidly declining in membership. This is best illustrated by graf Q7 (how long have you been a participant). The greatest percentage of members are in the 20-29 year bracket, 21%. Everything 5 years or less is a flat 4%. That is an abysmal number, when you factor in the "how you got into the sca?" with 51% responding told by a friend, the numbers of years 1-4 should make up the bulk of membership numbers. This trend clearly indicates that we are not for whatever reasons succeeding in recruitment and retention. Now let's look at the reasons sited by those who have left.Q4 why did you stop participating? 55% number 1 answer real life takes priority. Well I think we can all understand that and there is little the sca can do to change that, however the 2nd highest reason given 36% bad experiences=0Awith people in the sca, 3rd highest 35% burn out, more work than fun, 5th highest
 27% issues with local group and 6th highest 22% did not feel appreciated for effort given and 8th 20% did not feel welcomed. one can not view these stats without seeing a glaring truth about the culture of the current SCA. The group has become hostile to newcomers and the bar has been raised to an almost unattainable level for most newcomers. I have noticed that today most peers feel that they can "rest on their laurels" and put much of the work off on the newcomers because they have "earned" the right to be served. When i joined all the peers I knew felt that the greater the rank the greater the responsibility to the SCA and especially the newcomer. Today many peers feel that they have "ownership" of the SCA. Many only try to increase their own house's and not the SCA as a whole. Some have even created their own reputations that follow them from Kingdom to Kingdom because their bad behavior on and off the field has been epic. When someone new comes
 along and they see those who hold high office behave in a manner that is off putting to them they are much more likely to quit the SCA than to bring issue to the things that are turning them off to the SCA. The numbers bear this out,keep in mind that the survey only represents those who bothered to fill it out. For every negative response given you can bet that it represents 3 more who did not bother to 
fill out the survey. Currently our crowns are more concerned with how visible their tin hats are than the overall enjoyment of the SCA experience to the newcomer. They may soon find themselves wearing them for no one but each other if the trend continues.
 

 Solutions, 
   
   first thing that comes to mind,as a figher,is to keep all fighter practices in a public place and not a private homes. This is not to say that one shouldn't have one at your house but that a canton or shire, barony ect. should have a regular practice in a public venue where no one can take "ownership" of that official function. Let's face it not every one is going to get along and that is fine, but if there is a place of neutral ground where people can meet for practice it solves many of the problems of personal conflicts. Also being visible is the SCA's greatest recruitment tool. Fighting creates a spectacle that people remember and if it is regular mundanes will come to watch and ask questions.

     Second thing,

     newcomers need know that they do not have to scrape and bow to someone because they are "outranked".One of my people had a knight grab hold of him and try to force him to bow to the king as he passed, had this individual been a newcomer I am sure that would have been his last event. Not only was that act completely out of line for the SCA it was a crime we call assault. I give respect to those who have earned it,and wining a crown tourney or two does not necessarily make you worthy of respect as a person. Your actions and deeds show the quality of your charter therefore the amount of respect that you receive. A newcomer should not feel that they will be punished for not addressing a peer with the correct term of address.  

    Third,
      those who are in charge need to do their best to give recognition those who are new even if it is merely asking "are you having a good time?", "Is there anything I can help you with?" awards are not the only ways to let people know that you are concerned about them.  
   Forth,

      we should take a look at how high the bar of achievement has been raised over the years. Many times far more is expected of the newcomers that was of those who hold belts and other peerages from years ago. Many people work for years without recognition because they are not in the "right" household. Perhaps that is because they have not been recommended but that is where the leadership comes in by seeking out those who have gone unnoticed and thanking them for all of the membership with an award. 

    In conclusion we need to do a much better job of helping newcomers live out their "rock
n roll fantasy" with in the SCA if we hope to grow and even survive. When I was in service we were told repeatedly when abroad that we are all ambassadors of the US and we should conduct ourselves accordingly. This lesson can be taken to heart by all members from the highest rank to the lowest, ask yourself at the next event "Am I being a good ambassador for the SCA?". 

Thank you for reading
Beau