Date: Fri, 11 Mar 1994 09:49:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: DCROSS@bentley.edu
Subject: A Plot to keep our burough "members"
Sender: DCROSS@bentley.edu
To: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
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A brilliant idea just struck me (well, I think it is...).  It would insure the
influx of new blood through the buroughs (and elsewhere, for that matter),
foster relations between old, middle and new timers, and allow those that are
new to the Society be able to play without the financial threat from Milpitas. 
The rewards of the arrangement outlined below are tremendous to both old and
new, and Carolingia.

It goes like this (all definitions are loose):
1) Interested newcomers are identified by the fact that they have participated
throughout their "trial period" and WANT to continue, but can't afford to do
so.
2) Intersted "old times" (defined here as paid members) would "adopt" a
newcomer and pay for membership at whatever level they see fit for the
newcomer.  The newcomer would in turn perform services, agreed to in advance,
for the term of the membership.  The membership could be renewed or not, the
usual year and a day thing we do now for demoiselles, (wo)men at arms,
equiries, aprentices, etc.
3) The service agreements could range from help at events (setting up
personal effects, washing personal feast gear, child care, etc.) to the
sponsor's "donating" his/her sponsoree to help in the kitchen, at gate, in the
lists, etc.)  The services should be limited to the context of SCA activities. 
I can't stress enough that the terms be mutually acceptable,
arranged at the convenience of both parties, and have some upward limits (some
number of events/hours per membership term).  I don't want to create an
underclass!

If this is the difference between loosing valuable Carolingians and not,
I'll support this type of program.  While the thought of sending more money to
Milpitas may be distasteful to some, I believe the local benefits will outweigh
the objections.  If pay-to-play goes into effect, and we want to remain within
the SCA, Inc., we may want to examine and perhaps refine the general idea of
"adopting" newcomers so that we can maintain the barony as a bright, shiney
center for Society activities.
To the Greater Glory of Carolingia!
-Elayne