Title: Volunteer-art
Subject: "Volunteers in the SCA" by Mistress Jane Beaumont.
Author: Edited by Mark S. Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: volunteer, SCA, how-to, officier, help, service

Volunteer-art - 1/3/11

"Volunteers in the SCA" by Mistress Jane Beaumont.

NOTE: See also the files: Y-Join-th-SCA-art, List-Heraldry-art, Teach-in-SCA-art, Chatelaine-art, waterbearing-art, Bng-an-Officer-art, Grup-Historan-art.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium. 

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author or translator.

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,
Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous
stefan at florilegium.org
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Volunteers in the SCA
by Mistress Jane Beaumont
 
The SCA is a voluntary organization that is fun and if you are not careful it will teach you something.  You say, you are just here to have fun, not volunteer or learn anything.  Well I think, if you are going to close yourself off from the underlying structure of the SCA, you might not have much fun.

Volunteers are the life blood of the Society.  Without them, there would not be…anything.  Volunteers run fighter practices, locate a venues, do the paperwork, bring water and loaner gear and instruct those who wish to learn the Martial Arts.

There must be volunteers before there are events.  Again someone must research and secure a venue, insure staff and place bids.  Then they communicate with other volunteers to populate a schedule and arrange for any special facilities needed.  The staff, ie. volunteers, plan the logistics of their area of command, be it feastcrat (breakfast, lunch, feast) or field marshal (heavy, light, melee). And there are hundreds of other tasks that require volunteers, that make events happen before you can just have fun.

Every event, every A&S night, every war, meeting, tourney, list, class, shire, barony and board meeting REQUIREs volunteers.  So go have fun, volunteer, it is fun.  Meet new people, make friends, discover new interests and learn new skills.  Start small, pick up some trash instead of stepping over it.  Offer to help carry a box someone is struggling with. I have a personal motto – To be served, you must serve.

Chivalry is at the core of our game and Chivalry is defined as qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.  These are qualities that go along with being a volunteer; a person who renders aid, performs a service or assumes an obligation of his own free will without consideration.  So you can just have fun, but you should consider why are you here, what did you want to get out of the SCA.

There is no fun to be had without volunteers.  If everyone works a little, no one has to work a lot.  So lend a hand, offer to assist, have fun. VOLUNTEER!!!
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Copyright 2010 by Jane Malley. <beaumont at netdoor.com>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited.  Addresses change, but a reasonable attempt should be made to ensure that the author is notified of the publication and if possible receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.

<the end>

Edited by Mark S. Harris	Volunteer-art	 of