Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich and Lady Morwenna Westerne :
The Baron and Baroness are like the host and hostess of an extremely
large party. It's not their job to entertain all of the guests, rather
they should have a good idea of who has similar interests or styles, and
connect those people. If the Baron and Baroness see someone they do not
know, they should introduce themselves and find out something about that
guest. If they see someone who is not having a good time, they should
do what they can to change that
As heads of the barony, we need to be regal without being intimidating,
and friendly without being 'clique-ish'. Those aren't easy things to
do, but we have given these aspects, and others, a great deal of
thought, and I believe that we are up to the task.
The 'recruiting' aspect of this is covered above. We believe the Baron
and Baroness have a responsibility to "make" newcomers -- by assisting
with demos, answering questions from the public at events, and -- when
necessary -- being the voice of the barony in newspapers, on television,
etc.
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Master Justin du Coeur :
Only in degree, rather than kind, I'd say. That is, everyone
collectively shares the responsibility to try to help out the newcomers
and make them feel comfortable in whatever space is appropriate for
them. That's true of the B/B as well, but with a somewhat greater duty
to try and make folks feel welcome when they're just starting out.
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Lord Diego Mundoz and Lady Godith Anyon :
Yes, definitely.
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Newcomers are important to the life of the Barony. While they
are still new and enthusiastic, they remind older members (who may
have gotten jaded) just why they got into this in the first place,
and inspire them to stay active.
Newcomers are also an often-unappreciated pool of labor -- it
is not very glamorous, but somebody has to sweep the floors and chop
vegetables, and it is often the new folks who end up doing this. It
should not have to be said how important this is, but in case
someone has missed this, let's say it again: even the most rank
beginner can, and often does, make a valuable contribution to our
events.
Finally, today's newcomers are tomorrow's officers, autocrats,
and Laurels. It is incumbent on everyone to make new people welcome
and help them get started. It is wise for an old-timer to forge
friendships with new people. The old-timer benefits from the
newcomer's enthusiasm, and the newcomer benefits from the
old-timer's experience.
The Baron and Baroness have a similar duty to newcomers that
they do to borough folk. They must lead by example, and make time
for newcomers instead of just hanging out with all their old friends.
Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux :
Master Seamus Donn :
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :
Kali and I have also discussed the idea of the
baronial coronet setting aside a half hour or so at
each event to meet newcomers and visitors, discuss
Carolingia with them, and point out people that the
newcomers or visitors may wish to talk to about
specific activities. This would give newcomers an
opportunity to meet and talk to the baronial
coronet(s) as well as get some valuable information,
without putting as much pressure on the newcomer as an
introduction in court might.
Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :
Seigneur Jehan du Lac :
One of the ideas I have which would probably affect the boroughs
particularly is the concept of having baronial "pages." These would be
chosen from the talented and promising newer people, perhaps with one or
two years experience, who would be interested in getting involved in
more baronial level projects. They would serve for a year or two. I like
to use period models for things (one of the ways that the study of
history pays off is that you can steal lots of good ideas :)). And one
of the models that I think is useful is that of the lordly household.
One of its many useful characteristics is that of patronage. People
would serve in such a household (usually only for part of a year),
learning skills, making connections, and being groomed for future
positions in return for helping the household to run and increasing the
lord's magnificence by the size of his following :). I think this is an
idea that could be adapted for modern use, and that would give A&S and
service-oriented people a chance to participate in the pagentry. The
purpose would not be to have an elite or exclusive group, but to have a
rather fluid and open "household" to encourage and mentor people as they
grow.
I would apply the same concept to a baronial guard, which would be drawn
from the "up-and-coming" people in all the martial arts (heavy list,
fencing, archery, thrown weapons). They would serve for a year or two as
well. They would add to the pagentry of courts and the like, and also
get the opportunity to expand their focus in the Society a little beyond
their martial activity.
Master John McGuire :
The Baron/Baroness are the figureheads of the Barony, they have to be
visible, look resonable and always act in a welcoming and courteous
manner. They have to encourage all of the arts, all of the services, all
of the marial activities and all of the new people who come in not knowing
about any of them.
Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :
The Baron and Baroness are the representation of the Barony. If they
are openly welcoming, then others will follow. I was particularly
honored, at one event I attended as the provost of Southebanke, when
the current baroness requested I introduce her to all of the new
people I had brought with me to the event. Our current Baron and
Baronness have been exemplary in their attitudes and example set in
the welcoming of new people, and also in recognition of the role and
character of the buroughs. They have set a high standard in making
everyone feel welcome, and embracing newcomers, whether they enter
through the buroughs, move from another kingdom, are brought by
friends, or find us at a demo. The first Mayday they verbally
recognised the graduating seniors who were moving on, moved me to
tears.
I believe that the biggest duty of the Baron and Baroness iis to
newcomers. For all the reasons already described, newcomers are vital
to the Society. To encourage and retain newcomers, we have to make The
Society vital to them. It must be a welcoming and encouraging
environment. Although we do, indeed, have an official "welcome wagon",
a touch of the personal from the titular head can be an essential part
of the welcome. As with the boroughfolk, if the "heads of state" are
approachable, the whole Barony is seen as approachable.If the Baron
and Baroness have gone out of their way to be introduced to each new
person, then those new people will feel much more comfortable about
approaching them later.
Back to the top.
I feel the baronial coronet has the duty to be
welcoming and helpful to newcomers at least in the
same way that all baronial members should be helpful:
help newcomers and visitors find congenial activities,
people, and information. The baronial coronet has the
particular responsibility of embodying the welcoming
aspect of Carolingia in person for newcomers.
Yes I do, which I alluded to in my answer to (1). As I said, the Coronet
represents the Carolingia, not just to the Crown and to the rest of the
kingdom, but above all to itself, and hence to newcomers. It is to be
expected that the Baron/Baroness take an active role in introducing them to
the SCA. Gwendolyn and I have talked about reserving an explicit half hour
at every baronial event specifically to meet with newcomers, to give them
some sense of the context of the event, to tell them some of what will be
going on that day, to point out (and if possible introduce) some of the
people who will be especially involved - things like that, to help them
feel a part of the barony all the sooner.
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Yes, and this is one of the many ways that I feel that Johanna and Aquel
will be a tough act for anyone to follow. They have done a wonderful
job of making new people feel welcome. I would hope to follow in their
footsteps in that regard. I believe that the baron/baroness is in a
unique position to seek out new people at events, make them feel
welcome, and be a resource to them.
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The Baron/Baroness are one of the few imediately recognizable members of
the Barony. The crowns tend to give you away... As such you are often
one of the first persons that new people are shown and introduced to. It
is your duty to be welcoming and encouraging to everyone. You should
introduce them to the heads of the Guilds or groups that they might be
interested in. You have to make youself/yourselves available at events
and between events to answer questions and provide support as needed.
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Absolutely - the Baron and Baroness are ambassadors. It's rather like
good managment, where you have to work both up (to your boss, aka the
royalty) and down (to the group you represent). Feeling connected to
the Baron/ess can help people feel connected to the barony. It's awful
being a new person and wandering around without anyone to talk to,
perhaps not fully understanding everything you're seeing. Some people
join in a borough, which helps a lot with providing a support system
and information, but even that can't cover everything. Many other
people don't become active through the boroughs and therefore lack
even that support at the beginning. Unless there's a welcoming
atmosphere, interested people may not come back. Having "important"
people like the Baron/ess personally greeting them can make newcomers
understand they're important too.
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