To Join or Not To Join

[hsifeng]

The investigation begins: I know that several folks who are readers of this journal are also current/former members of the SCA. I have been on a number of ‘SCA’ involved lists (including the GermanRenCostume list) for years – and have been impressed by the level of research and dedication I find in some of the folks involved there.

 

So the question is: What are the benefits of joining?

 

I am very interested in medieval/Early Modern crafts and I suspect I would be able to get a good amount of interaction/input/craft buddy time as a SCA member. I understand that membership ‘requirements’ (participation and whatnot) are pretty much at-your-own-pace. I am pretty darn sure that I can reenact my German persona there.

 

The hitch is this: I have done ‘RenFaire’ for years and am not in love with the whole ‘anachronism’ thing. Obviously there is a wide range of accuracy involved in SCA groups (as there is with RenFaire).

 

So - Is the balance worth it?

 

If I am interested, step two would be getting hubby to show up and not snark at the weapons folks: He can be very personable, but I don’t know how he’ll feel about the rules interpretations vs. historical texts on fighting. Anyone have a fighter husband/S.O. who could hand down some thought on this?

Comments

[sstormwatch.livejournal.com]

Talk to Meg. She's a fighter, and so is her husband Cedric (who is also newly Knighted, and hence a Noble, after 10 years of working for it - this is a high honor in the SCA, btw, not the "knight whoever for a gig thing, and sometimes it means something" that often happens at faire (at least in the noble groups I am involved with). You may remember Cedric, as he used to do faire with the Cliff Basset's group Azure Cross, and I think he helped develop the CIRGA rules on combat when he was with Cliff's group - as I remember him at Hanford meetings when those were being discussed. Cedric *will* strongly recommend SCA over Faire, as he is a big convert, just a headsup on that.

The local fighters do combat practice on Friday evenings, at the park on Marks south of Shaw. I think it is Rotary park, the one with the skateboard ramps, starting around 6pm or so, I think. I've yet to go, but you can both go, talk to the lords and ladies who are involved, some of the women just go to chat & knit, while other women are in full armor practicing.

Is the balance worth it? Only you can decide. I suggest you give it a try for awhile at the very least. You can go to the events *you* want to attend, go to Baronial Council Meetings (BCM) where you can meet the local people, and find out what's going on, and just socialize a bit with people. I think you and Lady Kaolin will get along well, as she's the big crafter in our Barony (and she loves to share her knowledge). Cedric does armor smithing, as do a couple of other guys. There are upcoming events, which you can attend a day if you want. One is Treasure Chest, at Kearney Park at the end of April. It is the same weekend as Visalia, and sadly CostumeCon (which I will be attending). You could do one day at one event, and do the other day at the other event if you want.

And you may also want to join the local Baronial yahoo group. Most of the info will be on this mailing list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baronyofnordwache/
Feel free to join up, and listen in for a bit. The people there have been very willing to answer questions you have, and are a bit of a laid back, whacky group.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the observations on what is going on locally and for the heads up on the local fight practice and Barony contact site. I will join up at the Yahoo group and check things out. In the meantime, I will keep picking Meg’s brains and try to get hubby to go out for a day at the Kearny Park event.

*hugs*

[eponia2001.livejournal.com]

Do you mean Lyons Park on Emerson and Marks?

[sstormwatch.livejournal.com]

Yes, that may be the park name. They just call it "the park" anymore, so I don't remember it by name.

They also meet at Letterman Park in Clovis sometime during the week. The other skateboard park, with the water tower. I should have that name right, as I once lived/worked next door at Dry Creek Meadows (apt. manager). I don't remember what night they practice. They also meet in Lemoore sometimes, for the south valley crew.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I will give him the heads up in case he is interested in checking it out.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the name honey!