[Ponte Alto] Building the Baronial Army and Recruitment. (long)
Mary Bowles
mariatheresapontoon at yahoo.com
Thu Apr 26 07:28:07 PDT 2007
Hi All,
I'm going to put my 2 cent worth in at this point. I think everyone has made excellent points, but words are cheap. I've been fighting for 14 years and collecting and distributing armor and patterns for half that time. I am not a mind reader, if I don't know someone needs something I can't help them out. I'm always willing to steer people in the direction of stuff, help them to become knowledgable about gear, and pretty much integrate and train them, because the more people on the field, the more I have to play with. I talk to every new person I see, but, even I haven't heard Mark say, "So I want to fight, got any loaner gear or extra bits I can have?" My only requirement in lending stuff out is that they stop by my place and pick it up. Why? Cause I have crates of the stuff waiting to be reconditioned, and I can't just haul it around to every practice. Duncan has loaner armor but the people currently being trained have it on temp-permanent loan. So yes we need new
armor, but who do we build it to? How big or small?
A suggestion would be to have an armor making day/event/picnic and each fighter build a suit fitted to them, and then either donate it to the baroinal armory or give there old suit to the armory. That way we have all different body-sizes and types.
I suggest this because, I don't have spare money to commit to sevearl suits of armor. And after so many years of begging for armor from other fighters, training and recruiting the first thing I learned was that if you really want to fight, you will follow up on fighting/armoring and not just stand around the side lines 'wishing' to fight. A certain amount of commitment is needed on the part of the new person before those at practice commit time, money, and energy to their training. I'm not say that people who just stand there and watch and want to do it are going to be ignored, but there is a certain amount of drive seen in those that actually want to put on armor that gets other excited about training them. And to, practices are a place for the fighters to focus on their own fight.
Perhaps a "fighter getting started person" is needed for those that show up and express interest in fighting. A person that talks to the new people, shows them moves, and helps them build there first set of armor. This person would not fight at pratice, but be their to talk to those that show up, and exclusively focus on new people. Cosimo, Strikar and Duncan fit this bill mostly, but maybe we need a formalized position?
So i guess what I'm saying is this. You want armor, come get it. You want to train and not just stand around with hands in pockets commenting on the pretty girls fighting. Step up and ask for training. I, and others like me are always willing to put time and effort into those that want to fight or ask for training. However, I am not going to hold hands and baby a reluctant fighter onto the field just to have them walk away with well over $1000 in equipment. They have to want it, and they have to persue it. This is an expensive hobbie and 60% of those that step on the field, try on the loaner gear ,and get hit, really hit, for the first time, and walk away from this sport. How do you justify the time expense and disappointment after all that? You don't. It happens and you move on.
As for recruitment. It should be actively persued. That's why we have a Deputy of Demo's. It is up to that person to recruit and retain people for our club. That is not to say someone as dynamic as Will is to be ignored. No, not by a long shot. When you have someone this dynamic you recruit, encouage, and keep engaged this type of individual. They are the ones that will make this group grow in a healthy manner. Anyone is worth recruiting at any time. Everyone should recruit individuals, but it is an unspoken rule in the Society that those you recruite are your responsibility.
So that's it for my 2 cents. I hope I addressed some if not all of the issues. As to Mark not having armor, send me a list of the armor items you have and I'll try and dig out some things for you to use at Sunday practice.
Pax,
Lady Marie-Therese Normand
Commander, Wildcards
Fighter Chic
guylestran at aol.com wrote:
Mark,
All good points. I seem to forget lessons I've learned. I bought a set of Dark Victory Armor for the group when I was in Japan, and another person Lord Phelan Perchased 2 sets. We then added Ashcroft Baker Helms with adjustable padding. While I would not advise anyone to purchase Dark Victory Armor, it is good for loaner armor. While it is protective it is ugly and uncompforable enough that people go on to their first set of starter armor.
I would be willing to pay half for a set of Baronial Loaner Armor that we can bring to practice. I don't remember what size you are but I have some legs at hime I would be willing to lend you if you need them. Ruth already has my extra chest armor.
My main concern was getting the bodies needed to make our Baronial Levy to the Atlantian Army the best in the Kingdom. But you have the logical next step. What do we do with them once we have them.
By building the Baronial Forces I am also talking about the logiistics part also. It is really a team effort. It takes Archers, Polemen, Shields, Commanders, Water bearers, Standard Bearers and all of the like.
Really more of a family supporting each other so everyone can be included in the fun and we raise and fall as a Barony.
Sir Guy
"Knighthood Is Only The Beginning."
-----Original Message-----
From: markdcostner at yahoo.com
To: ponte-alto at atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Ponte Alto] Building the Baronial Army and Recruitment.
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Please let me give you my recent perspective on joining the local chapter of the SCA. After reading your and Lord Will's e-mail I think you might find my thoughts helpful.
I have been trying to join for a while now. It has been a good experience so far, particularly the coaching I have received from Strykheart and Cosmo. I am motivated to be involved but my participation has been limited by lack of armor. I don't want to spend twice so I need to choose my armor purchases wisely. I cannot choose wisely without experience. I cannot get meaningful experience without fighting. Reading Bellatrix is a great start, but I need to get into the pit and start really learning. To this, I need to drop lots of money on armor I do not intend to keep or I need to borrow gear. Thus far, I have not identified heavy gear to use. I admit I have only asked a few people, but the system in place does not make it easy for a new guy to chat up strangers and ask if they have any left over greaves they are no longer using.
More directly, I have a string of ideas that leads to a conclusion. Many will not be news, just the path to the conclusion.
Let me put them in order, as they pertain to Heavy Fighting. (Light is a bit easier)
Advertising is good. Brings new people.
New people have only once to get a good impression.
A good impression helps them come back.
You have a few sessions before people need to get into the game.
Full armor is expensive and hard to come by, most starters cannot afford it. Many potential joins will leave that this point. This is an avoidable loss.
Loaner Armor is very, very good.
If you have new people showing up when loaner armor is available, you are good.
(I saw this in Michigan. Barony of Andelcrag, Canton of Rimsholt. Jointed pickle barrels for all noobs, returned at the end of the day.)
If you have average people showing up in greater numbers than you have gear to loan, many will leave.
Those that leave because there was not enough loaner armor are lost and no longer candidates. They were recruited at the wrong time.
Recruiting the right people at the wrong time is counter productive.
It would be better to have them come when there is loaner armor available. Retention is improved if you recruited the right people at the right time.
Conclusion: recruitment is very good, but do not exceed your ability to integrate them into the game.
Marine Corps training tells me not to complain unless I have a solution in mind. My solution, we get a small group of laborers and a couple of knowledgeable armor benders and make a number of full sets of jointed plastic armor, factory style. You tell me just how many sets of plastic pickle barrel armor 6 people and one trained riveter can make in an afternoon. Call it an armor quilting bee.
The plastic armor has two other advantages. First, it allows an instant measure of the combatants skill. There is a rough scale of plastic and time in combat. You know to take it easy on the plastic ones and that they should be open for teaching.
Advantage number two, most people want to get out of it. They will spend the coin more readily to upgrade. If the loaner armor is overly nice, you may never get it back. (In my short time I have already seen this. I assume it is commonplace)
I am afraid I don't have a good suggestion on the helms but I hear that almost everyone has upgraded from a starter helm to a more advanced helm. Are those cast-offs available for loaners? Has anyone asked? I also can't help but notice that there is a long list of people that no longer come. That is under used gear. On the other hand, asking retired fighters if they are really really done with that armor is a good way to get them back to the field. Time may have healed the disillusionment of the past.
Just a few thoughts from someone trying hard to join, but spend his money and time wisely. Take it for what it is worth. Maybe nothing. Over to you.
Mark Costner
Persona to be determined ......
guylestran at aol.com wrote:
An SCA member who will be moving to the Fort Mead Aree came up with this plan try try and get enough people to fill two triads. Well really 4 people since he and his wife are fighting.
I wonder if we have done this sort of research into Ponte Alto and takn a more organized aspect to recruitment. I noticed there was a comic book thing in Tysons Cornor every monthor so. Is this the sort of thing we want to get the word out at.
What kind of ideas do we have. Is there anyplce around Goerge Mason (thought I would think they are going into finals) where we could practice in where people could see us. While our park is well estabished it doesn't seem to help our numbers.
What sort of ideas does everyone have?
Do we have any sort of flyers we could give out during the practice on Sunday?
Sir Guy
see below Lord Will's plan.
<<We would recruit for the Baron’s Bunch, AFTER the additional three sets of armour are done and ready to be put on people. We won't recruit until we're ready to put people actually in the Baron's Bunch loaner armour. The draw would be that newbies can just step right into the armour and fight with us at the triad practices as a "test drive".
We’d advertise at the seven movie theaters and ten comic book shops to capitalize on the romanticism of fighting.
We’d advertise at the gyms to focus on the exercise of fighting.
We’d advertise at the malls and schools to get the masses. Possibly a demo would even be good. I could work it with the schools for the historical aspect and the malls for the "mass-draw" aspect of free advertising ("Come watch the fight!").
We’d advertise at the police forces to get people who are trained in shield wall tactics, but might not get a chance to use them as much as they’d like. This would also be our in with the local government. If someone complains about us the police we have in the triads can say we’re OK and we’re training for riot control sort of.
We’d advertise at the archery range to see if we can get combat archers. I know that people don’t like combat archers, but it would be so we can focus on the combined arms concept of warfare. Maybe we could even get some siege engine people out of it.
Within a 10 mile radius there are:
Movie Theaters (7):
Muvico Egyptian 24 - 7000 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD (443) 755-8992
Cinema Depot LLC, 8955 Henkels Ln, Annapolis Jct, MD, (301) 604-0894
Pasadena Theatre Co Inc 8377 Jumpers Hole Rd, Millersville, MD (410) 975-0200
Jumpers Cinemas 8120 Jumpers Hole Rd, Pasadena, MD (410) 768-9999
Movies At Marley Station 7900 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 760-3300
U A Marley Station 8 7900 Governor Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 760-3300
Stagefront Tickets Inc 14502 Greenview Drive, Laurel, MD (800) 250-2525
Gyms (10)
Premier Fitness 1103 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD (410) 672-1888
Curves 1215 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD (410) 305-1370
Odenton Barber Tanning & Ftnss 1141 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD (410) 674-6801
Transformations Fitness-Women 2288 Blue Water Blvd, Odenton, MD (410) 674-7403 Bee Fit for Life, 129 Hidden Hill circle, Odentom, MD (410) 674-5647
Severn Valley Tennis Club 740 State Route 3 S, Gambrills, MD (410) 923-2100
Lady of America Fitness Center 2664 Chapel Lake Dr, Gambrills, MD (410) 451-0077
Boxing Xtreme & Fitness 1131 Benfield Blvd # M-Q, Millersville, MD (410) 729-3900
SK Divers 502 Fanleaf Ct, Severn, MD (301) 440-0135
Severna Park Racquetball Club 8514 Veterans Hwy, Millersville, MD (410) 987-0980
Comic Book Shops (10)
Empyre Comics Inc 330 Hospital Dr, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 761-8224
America's Heroes 300 Crain Hwy S, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 761-9797
Twilight Zone Comics The 18 Crain Hwy N, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 766-0480
Games & Comics & Stuff 7476 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 863-7410
Alliance Comics 6820 Race Track Rd # 101, Bowie, MD (301) 352-4322
Comic Classics 365 Main St, Laurel, MD (301) 490-9811
Comics To Astonish 9400 Snowden River Pkwy # 112, Columbia, MD (410) 381-2732
Fudds Rabbithole of Ceramics 8519 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD (410) 437-2191
Elmer J Banister Jr 8519 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD (410) 437-5542
Fudds Rabbit Hole 8519 Fort Smallwood Rd # A, Pasadena, MD (410) 437-5542
Malls (2)
Severna Park Mall 555 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD (410) 647-9106
Laurel Centre Mall Management 14828 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD (301) 953-3300
Colleges (3)
University of MD College Park Zimborski Ave, Odenton, MD (410) 674-7012
Anne Arundel Community College 8601 Zimborski Ave, Ft George Meade, MD (410) 672-3554
Strayer University 1520 Jabez Run, Millersville, MD (410) 923-2212
Maryland Institute of Justice 8424 Veterans Hwy # 3, Millersville, MD (410) 987-6665
Police Forces (4)
Anne Arundel County Police 8495 Veterans Hwy, Millersville, MD (410) 222-8050
Directorate of Emergency Services Law Enforcement Division 8042 Leslie Rd, Fort George G Meade, MD (410) 672-4212
Crofton Police Dept 1576 Crofton Pkwy, Crofton, MD (410) 721-2301
Maryland State Police: Glen Burnie Barrack P 6800 Aviation Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD (410) 761-5130
Archery (1)
Bay Country Archery 5 Light Street Ave, Pasadena, MD (410) 647-7595 >>
"Knighthood Is Only The Beginning."
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