SCA - The Next Generation.

.....Crown Council today had a number of interesting things that made it worthwhile to attend. I'll be mentally digesting it for a while. But it was especially interesting to note that there was a theme to a handful of discussions and announcements today. Well, several different themes actually, but one that permeated a number of conversation on which I'm thinking right now is growing the next generation of those who are going to serve the Society and Kingdom as the worker bees.

.....There are a couple of Bugs Bunny cartoons where Bugs is in outer space and he comes across a gum ball machine for martians. You put in your coins and a pellet pops out of the dispenser. You line up your pellets, squirt some water on them, and presto, a big tall martian pops up, ready to do your bidding. Wouldn't it be nice if, say, I decided that I wanted to do a September Crown and needed a couple of hundred volunteers, I could go to the local store, pop some coinage in the gum ball machine and out pops my volunteers? Would be nice. :-)

.....Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way. Furthermore, a number of people pointed out to me today the fact that there seems to be a certain amount of apathy in the Kingdom right now and that the overall volunteer base isn't what it used to be. It seems the same people are doing the same jobs over and over again and new blood isn't coming in to replace them.

.....I'm not sure that this is entirely true in Dragon's Laire. We seem to be an anomaly. But the examples that were pointed out to me from surrounding branches seemed to be rather logical. The accompanying explanation for this was based on the population explosion that happened a handful of years ago. A large influx of people started playing in the SCA and there weren't enough established players available to help guide them properly into how the volunteer system actually works. That 'pay to play' is very real. Maybe not in a monetary sense. But in the sense that the game we play is as real and as complex as the amount of work we put into it.

.....I can see that actually. In a roundabout sort of way. Old time players create 'magic' through their hard work. But there aren't enough of them to teach this 'magic' to the next generation. So as the old time players eventually take a break or burn out there is an increasing number of younger players who, not understanding how the 'magic' is created, sit there like baby birds in a nest, with their beaks open and cawing for that next meal. But there is no mama bird to feed them that meal anymore and the baby bird was not taught how to go and get that meal. It's something of a vicious cycle. And, of course, this is a simplistic explanation for something that is actually a bit more complex.

.....So, theme of the day part two. At several different times, different people emphasized that we needed to basically grow the next generation of leaders and doers now. Those of us who have been around awhile or are considered as 'doers' are supposed to take people under our wing and teach them the joys of being a leader or of doing thing in support of the Kingdom and Society.

.....So, now, the crux of my meandering thoughts here. What is the best way to make this happen? I suppose that the most obvious is to just be a good example of busy player, without getting burnt out if at all possible. Maybe teaching dedicated classes in the Barony? At Ithra? Rally the local troops through specific acts or calls to action? Challenge those in the local groups to do something that may be outside their specific comfort zone?

.....I keep wondering if I shouldn't be taking on a protege so as to help this process. But this brings on a whole new level of angst. Sometimes it seems that Pelicans take on a protege with the eventual goal of ensuring that they become Pelicans themselves. The real goal should be to take on proteges so that they learn from you how to become the leaders and 'doers' of the next generation. It seems that that these two goals should be one and the same. But often they become two separate goals. I wrestle a lot with this. Part of me would like to take on a Protege, but to do it right requires a lot of work and dedication. I would hate to take on something like that knowing how busy I am right now. But the Kingdom is in real need of new people to lead things and do things. It's a quandary.

.....I'll have to really think about what I need to do for my part on this. Lots of stuff to ponder. But it feels a little like maybe I'm actually growing up as a Pelican, at least a little bit. :-)

.....Time for bed before I nod off and hurt my keyboard with my head. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.