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Going to Pennsic this year?
You are invited to attend our Knowne World Newcomer's Social!
Read more...
Newcomer Resources for Getting 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?
Keep informed and entertained with our newsletter just for Newcomers,
entitled "In Glorias AEthelmearc"
The AEthelmearc Newcomers newsletter archive
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.
Newletters
If you become a paid
member of the SCA, Inc. you will receive a subscription to the
Kingdom newsletter. The AEstel, our newsletter, lists all the events
in our Kingdom. Many local groups have newsletters as well, and
some of those are free! Contact your local Chronicler to see if
you could sign up your local newsletter. Local newsletters have
local officer contact information, official event, practice, and
activity listings for the local group, and articles. If you are
a new merchant to the SCA, you can even take out advertisements
or sponsorships in our newsletters.
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 would like, to eat feast. 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. If you become a paid
member of the SCA, Inc. you will receive a discount to all official
SCA events, including Pennsic.
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 the Endless Hills, and is used here with full permission.
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