Newcomers Information

This is a place to start if you are feeling overwhelmed. This is not a comprehensive compendium of SCA related facts, nor is it intended to be. This should give you a good starting point to learn more about who we are and what we do. Click on the links provided below or simply scroll down to learn more. Really the best thing is to get with a current member of the group and start asking questions. If you have additional questions or can think of things I should add to this page then please email me and let me know.

In Service,
Sir Morgan Buchanan

What is the SCA?
Where are your meetings?
What do the officers do?
Do I have to be a member to play?
Do I have to wear a costume?

What is the SCA?¹

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The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Society) is a nonprofit educational organization devoted to study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Most of its activities take place in the context of a social structure adapted from the forms of the European Middle Ages, which allows participants to take a first-hand look at various aspects of the life, culture and technology of the times under study.

As a living history group, the Society provides an environment in which members can recreate various aspects of the culture and technology of the period, as well as doing more traditional historical research. We sponsor events such as tournaments and feasts where members dress in clothing styles worn in the middle Ages and Renaissance, and participate in activities based on the civil and martial skills of the period. These activities recreate aspects of the life and culture of the landed nobility in Europe prior to 1600 CE. The dress, pastimes, and above all the chivalric ideals of the period serve to unify our events and activities.

For Society members, most of the world, and all of the centuries prior to the 17^th , can serve as a source for personal research. However, the further you go from the core of Medieval and Renaissance Europe, the less the environment we offer will resemble what someone of your time and country would find natural or homelike. For example, you can be an Asian or African guest at a European court, but you cannot expect others to share your special interests - like any long-term visitor in a foreign land, you are the one who will have to adapt to the customs you find around you. Since members have free choice of what areas they will explore, it follows that Society branches cannot decide to specialize in a specific time and place, since that would make it hard for members there to pursue their own interests in other times and places. The Society has active branches in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. This "Known World" is divided into Kingdoms. Each Kingdom has a King and Queen selected by tournament combat, in which each entrant seeks the Crown both for him or herself and for a chosen consort. Some of the Kingdoms include Principalities ruled by Princes and Princesses also chosen by combat. These regional organizations are responsible for the smaller branches based in individual towns, cities or counties.

The SCA was incorporated in the United States in 1968, but counts its years from the first tournament - actually a medieval-theme party with no thought of starting an ongoing club - held on May 1^st , 1966. The corporation maintains a central membership registry, publishes a quarterly magazine, Tournaments Illuminated, and provides mailing lists for the monthly regional newsletters published by the Kingdoms for all subscribing members. It also sets overall standards for safety and organizational structure, within which each Kingdom works as an independent unit.

Welcome to the Current Middle Ages!

¹	This section is taken from the April 2001 version of the SCA Organizational Handbook.

Where are your meetings?

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There are several different gatherings that we have. We do try and schedule a monthly populace meeting. This is what you might consider more of a traditional meeting type. We discuss any business that is going on in the Canton. The officers report what is going on and news gets disseminated. We can also discuss events and go over any information the group feels needs to be discussed.

We also have more specialized meetings and practices. This would include all our guild meetings as well as fighter and archery practice. The are generally more specialized gatherings to work on a specific aspect of the SCA. It could be practicing or learning more about heavy fighting, shooting archery, or working on a specific art or craft. This can include anything from calligraphy to wood working to Brewing.

Finally we have events (generally on the weekends) where people from all over the kingdom gather to have events to recreate the middle ages. This is really what we are all about. Everything else is just leading up to and preparation for these events.

You should be able to look at the calendar and see some times and places for some of the more local activities. Also you are not limited to your own on group's activities, feel free to go to activities in any group. All are open to whoever is interested. If you do not see an activity you are interested in then ask around and someone else is probably interested also.

What do the officers do?

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The officers are the people who volunteer there time to handle the required business that has to be done to keep the organization running. They handle all reporting requirements to keep the groups status as a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Here is a basic description of some of the offices and what they do. For a more complete description you should read the SCA governing documents. These can be found at http://www.sca.org. For the Lindenwood's officer listing please see the contacts page.

Seneschal	This is basically the president of the organization. The seneschal handles all legal matters and is the only real legal representative of the group. For other members to run events, etc, they need to be a warranted deputy to the groups seneschal. If a given office is not filled then the burden of that office would fall to the seneschal.
Exchequer	This is the treasurer of the group. They keep the financial records for the group and handle all monetary transactions.
Herald	This officer works with the group members in helping them come up with names that a person may have used in the time period of the SCA and create unique devices to identify themselves in the SCA. They are in charge of the heraldic activity of the group.
Hospitaler	The hospitaler coordinates the welcoming and preliminary education of new members and other interested persons.
Arts & Sciences Minister	The Minister of Arts and Sciences is in charge of coordinating the arts and sciences activities within their group. This includes the scheduling of any required classes and overseeing the guilds the group has active.
Chronicler	This officer is in charge of any publications (electronic or print) of a group.
Marshals	The marshals are safety officers in charge of overseeing the marshal activities within a group. The local marshals generally can include a Knight Marshal (oversees heavy fighting), Archery Marshal, Rapier Marshal (oversees any fencing activity) and an Equestrian Marshal. It is their duty to arrange and necessary practices and make sure the participants follow the rules and maintain a safe environment.
Chirurgeon	The chirurgeon provided any necessary first aid at events. They would also report on any injuries if they happen.

Do I have to be a member to play?

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The answer to this is absolutely not. You are more than welcome to participate in meetings and events regardless. Non-members are required to sign a site waiver at events, but membership is not an entry requirement. There are benefits of being a paid member (including receipt of the kingdom newsletter) so people are encouraged. Further if you are interested in being an officer then you are required to be a member. Come out and have fun and see if you like the organization. Then you can decide if you are interested in becoming a paid member.

Do I have to wear a costume?

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The short answer is it depends. Most meeting are garb optional which means you can come dressed in period clothing if you would like. Sometimes period garb is encouraged, but that does not make it mandatory. You just may have to ask yourself the question of do you want to be the only one at the meeting not wearng period clothing.

Events are really a different story. You are asked that if you are coming to events you make an attempt at period garb. We are trying to recreate the middle ages and blue jeans and a T-shirt can be glaringly modern. There is enough modern conveniences, etc that we try to ignore or hide at most events that it is polite that people not add to it. Generally there is loner garb available or plenty of people who will help make garb that there is no reason not to wear garb to events. If you need assistance contact the hospitaler and they can either help you directly or get you in touch with someone who can.