How to get Involved
It is on the local and Kingdom levels that most of the really neat stuff occurs in the SCA. It is literally the people next door that keep this organization alive and thriving. It is almost certain, that if you choose to be SCAdian, you will find yourself busily involved in one aspect or another of keeping your local group growing. Whether you want to be a champion fencer or an office holder, or even just really good at one or two periods arts or sciences, you might eventually have an integral place in your local group by simply doing what you love. Sitting on the sidelines is fun every once and while, but knowing that you can contribute in your own unique way, is part of what our dream of being chivalrous is all about. So, where does one begin in getting know their local group or Kingdom and finding their niche?
Newcomer's Meetings
First things first, start attending newcomers meeting. Newcomers meetings
provide a place to jump off from into the local group. These meetings
provide information about SCA customs, life, interests, up-coming events,
networking, and are just plain fun for kicking back with new friends and
chatting about a new hobby. Check with your local chatelaine to find out
when and where the next local newcomer's meetings will be held. If you
don't know what local chapter you belong to, use the zip
code search to find out!
Local activities and practices
Every local group has something going on during the week, which is free
for anyone to attend. Things like martial combat practices, guild (special
interest clubs) meetings and projects workshops, and classes can be found
near you on a regular basis. If you can't make a regular meeting, perhaps
you could contact a local member for private instruction. Many times people
like to go to these regular activities just for the social interaction,
and not necessarily for the topic for which the gathering is intended.
For instance, in my Barony, heavy fighting practice is the most well-attended
activity, even though less than half the people who attend actually fight.
Email Groups
Many local chapters have email groups to help all members stay in touch
and to post information. Some chapters keep their group calender well
updated with the chapter's activity schedule. Many of these calenders
also automatically send out reminders for calender entries to all members
of the email group. It is an easy way to stay informed. These are invaluable
tools for getting involved in the local SCAdain scene. Don't be afraid
to jump in and ask questions!! This is also a good place to find out if
other members would like to carpool to events or local practices or get
directions.
Events
Keep abreast of up-coming local events. An "event" is a, usually
weekend or day-long gathering, where a local chapter rents a hall, campgound,
or conference center, for all SCA people to come together and enjoy certain
types of activities, like: classes, martial combat competitions, arts
and science competition or displays, feasts, Royal courts, and much more.
These events are open for all to enjoy, but, unlike weekly activities
and practices, everyone must pay at the door to get in, and if you like,
eat feast. If you become a paid
member of the SCA, Inc. you will receive a newletter, the AEstel,
listing all the events in your Kingdom and discount to all official SCA
events. You might even consider volunteering to help out at an event by
helping in the kitchen, being a server for feast, to helping set-up or
break-down event equipment, or even sitting a shift at the troll (check-in)
or information boothes. Ask your friendly local Chatelaine or autocrat
(person or team running an event on behalf of a local group) for help
in volunteering at events.
Learning More
Have an interest you would to research; A topic you would like to pursue?
You can attend a "schola" event, which is an event dedicated
to classes. Even if there isn't a class about something you directly want
to research, these events are also wonderful for meeting people who are
active in SCA-related research and teaching, and you never know who you
will meet in the chair next to you! The internet can be a wonderful research
tool as well. Just be sure to check that your sources are accurate, rather
than one person's opinion! If you're not sure, then that could also be
an opening to a great conversation with a more established member!
This article was created by Fru Ellisif of Endless Hills. Last updated 7/19/07