SCAphoneline-msg - 6/5/00
Comments on SCA chapters having phone listings.
NOTE: See also the files: newcomers-msg, recruitment-msg, fundraising-msg,
SCA-meetings-msg, SCA-land-msg, households-msg.
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NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that
I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some
messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium.
These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with
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Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: Lord Stefan li Rous
RSVE60 at email.sps.mot.com stefan at florilegium.org
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From: JCASE at TUFTS.BITNET
Date: 24 May 91 17:03:00 GMT
Organization: The Internet
Greetings unto the Rialto from Lord Taran of Windy Hill.
Let me introduce another of my hats in this fair Barony of Carolingia. For
the last 8-10 years, I have been answering the Barony's telephone. We here
call the job the Hotline (although I recently made a bid to be referred to as
the Oracle) and though the position is an unofficial one, it often gets treated
as official. What I am is the supposed holder of all the most up-to-date info
on who is master of what guild, when fighter practice is or isn't, what the
list-mistress' NEW address and phone are, and even who just had what kind of
baby. I imagine most groups have such a person, Carolingia just makes it more
official (unofficially).
What I also do a lot of is provide information to prospective members and to
transplanted members. A phenomenon I have noted here in this city-of-
innumerable-colleges-and-universities, is that young folks come here to school,
find the SCA on their campuses, get interested, and when they go home for
vacations, tell their friends about us. Since the one thing they definitely
remember about the SCA is my number, presto, more calls. I have been called
from every kingdom in the Knowne Worlde, and have happily provided basic SCA
info to callers from both Berkeley and Milpitas, CA. (grin). In this I work
as a deputy to the Baronial Chatelaine (which we call the Magistra, we have a
different office called the chatelaine, both offices predate the advent of
Kingdom Chatelaines) although for several years my lady wife and I shared that
office as well.
About three years ago, after listening to much discussion on the problems of
people not being able to find the SCA, I did some research into how to get the
SCA listed. It was not possible to put an association's name as a second
listing on a residential account, and I was not willing to change my
residential service to accomodate such a listing. I therefore investigated the
cost and advantages of a business line. While I do not remember all the
startup costs, which included several one-time fees and a fairly sizable
deposit which has since been refunded, my fading memory hints at $50 in fees
and $200 deposit. The monthly bill currently waiting transfer to the exchequer
is for $18.07. Not a lot. For this Carolingia gets a white pages listing, a
yellow pages listing under 'Associations', and the ability of anyone to find
'The Society for Creative Anachronism' here in Boston through either those
publications or through directory assistance. Also, the Barony has an
answering machine for exclusively SCA use, and I don't have to make the hard
choice of whether to make callers wonder whether they really have gotten the
SCA line when they hear my machine, or force my mundane friends and business
callers to listen to information on SCA events. An extreme advantage to me, by
the way.
But has it worked, especially in attracting prospective members and transferees
from other SCA groups. The answer is unequivocally yes. I average about 20
calls a month from such people. More and more are coming in from people who
are finding our listing in either the yellow pages or the white pages. Two
examples come to mind. The first, a man with a degree in medieval studies and
a ten year old daughter EXTREMELY interested in things medieval, had heard of
the SCA at a Renaissance demo in the Southwest, and had 'looked us up in the
book.' Within three days, he and his daughter found me at a recent event here,
and I actually got to meet a caller. The other example is a salesman in the
Chicago area who was doing some sort of canvassing in the Boston yellow pages,
became interested as a historical re-enactment buff, and called. He will get
a copy of 'Forward into the Past' and a contact name and number in Chicago.
The idea DOES work. It requires a long-term financial commitment on the part
of the sponsoring group (18.07 * 12 = $216.84/year), and the committment of the
person who volunteers his/her time to be the one to answer the phone. It also
means an increase in junk mail, more calls from sellers of goods and services,
(who wishes this week to be the long-distance carrier for an office that
doesn't make long-distance calls), and other assorted annoyances that come
with a more establishes status. The the availability and FINDABILITY of the
SCA is increased tremendously. And the increase in service to the local group
is also enhanced. Those who can't remember the number of the knight marshal,
or even the number of the newsletter editor, or who don't happen to have their
phone list (we call it the Liber Carolingiae, or just liber) can always
remember NO M'LORD. I keep THREE! libers, and update them as well. Also, if
for some reason down the road, I should tire of this (unofficial) office, the
line is easily transferred to the new holder (don't worry, Koby, I have no
such plans)
Indeed, having this line is so official that I frequently have to correct the
seeming impression that I am THE offices of the SCA. It's quite clear that
this line is the SCA IN BOSTON.
I seriouly urge any group that can make the commitment to give this a try.
Verbosely yours,
-Taran
-TWH
******************************************************Lord Taran of Windy Hill, CDS John H. Case
Barony of Carolingia 87 Moreland St.
Kingdom of the East Somerville, MA 02145-1441
JCASE at tufts.bitnet
******************************************************
From: sbloch at euclid.ucsd.edu (Steve Bloch)
Date: 28 May 91 05:53:25 GMT
Organization: Mathematics at UCSD
JCASE at TUFTS.BITNET (Lord Taran of Windy Hill) writes:
>Let me introduce another of my hats in this fair Barony of Carolingia. For
>the last 8-10 years, I have been answering the Barony's telephone.
>[goes on to describe the job, the phone line, etc.]
The Barony of Calafia has had a phone for some years, listed in the
White Pages as "Calafia Barony of". It's connected to an answering
machine on a second line in Baron Talanque's house. I don't know how
much traffic he gets on it, but enough that the Council keeps funding
it. I'll ask him sometime whether perhaps they should use the some-
what more "accessible" listing "Society for Creative Anachronism".
--
Stephen Bloch
Joshua ibn-Eleazar ha-Shalib
>sca>Caid>Calafia>St.Artemas
sbloch at math.ucsd.edu
To: bryn-gwlad at Ansteorra.ORG
From: gerrod at msgroup.com (Liz Allen)
Subject: Re: BG - XL
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 12:39:31 -0500
<Snip>
>One ongoing gripe, though ...
>
>How many folks do you suppose were intrigued by this article & unable to
>get in touch with us?
>Bet a few folks called the writer & asked, but I bet a few more tried
>something like, oh, looking in the PHONE BOOK (don't laugh, I've heard it
>almost a dozen times from new people).
>
>We should really think seriously about the barony funding an answering
>machine on a second line in someone's home, and then getting a basic
>listing in the phone directory. The recording could state basic info about
>the local group and then soak up messages from folks interested in a
>callback. The number could be printed on handouts and would remain fixed
>through officer changes, etc. Think of it as the baronial receptionist ...
>
>(Shoot, now that I live in Austin, I'll volunteer to host the number if
>necessary ...)
>
>Gnith
><swhite at cimedia.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
When I was in the Stargate area (10 some odd years agao) we had such a convenience.
It really works and all you need do is put a block on it for long distance #'s if that is a concern.
Gerrod
Liz Allen, ECA
gerrod at msgroup.com
From: Kathri at aol.com
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 08:28:10 EDT
Subject: Re: ANST - Ad
To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
For a while, several years ago, Stargate had a phone number. A member of our
barony worked for Southwestern Bell, so we experimented. She arranged for
the number at employee rates, had it ring at her home, provided an answering
machine, and monitored the calls received.
We didn't get enough calls to justify the time and effort, much less the
expense.
Kathri, Stargate
<the end>