Service Matters in the SCA

If you're in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), you've probably noticed the focus on service. The group is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit, educational organization. It can only keep going if people step up and serve - to be one of the hundreds of officers needed, to run events, to teach, to clean, to serve food... Everything is done by a volunteer and there are as many ways to contribute as there are stars in the sky. We need each and every one.

There is an entire Peerage dedicated to service. Pelicans are equal to Knights (awarded for heavy combat participants) or Laurels (awarded for mastery of the arts) - and now the Order of Defense (rapier fighters). Yet there is a shocking lack of guidance out there for service-related positions, such as officer roles, or activities, such as running events. At least that I've seen.

Now that I've been in the SCA for, *cough cough*, let me just say "MmmBop" number of years, I thought I'd document some of my learnings, guides I've written, and other observations. I could work with someone already running a blog about it. Color me surprised when I couldn't find any blogs dedicated to service in the SCA - even though we would cease to exist without these actions. 

I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but you can't say the same about any other aspect of the Society. If we didn't have heavy fighting, we could go on as a historical research group. If we didn't have historical research, it could go back to the earlier days (yes, even earlier than "MmmBop") where it focused on tournaments/fighting. Neither of those things could occur without volunteers to organize.

So, why aren't people blogging about it? Why aren't there more guides out there, even though we've been doing this for longer than I've been alive? There are no events dedicated to service. No tournaments or fairs. Yes, it's not as easy to structure - but it's not impossible. So, why hasn't anyone? Or, why don't I know about it if they have? (I do need to get out there more, that's true. But, hey, that's why I'm writing this - to learn!)

I don't know. I'm just a gal who can't help raising her hand and committing random acts of service. I leave those structural questions to the bigwigs. Or, big hats. Big circlets? 

What I can do is put some stuff out there that I've learned. I've written up some things that might be helpful, to someone, somewhere. Or at least serve as a place to start. And a way to spotlight this, dare I say, neglected aspect of our group. 

And I bet I'll learn some things. A LOT of things - because if I've had this thought, I'm sure others have as well. I'd love to hear about your guides, your service-related events, or tournaments, or recognitions.

By getting it out there, maybe we can all learn from each other.