Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Explore the requirements and opportunities for forming a new group by enrolling as a subscribing member and attending events near you. Talk to officials of existing groups to get a feel for what is required of an active SCA organization. Read their official documents to get a feel for the language and requirements. Entry level groups for the SCA are households, shires or cantons.
Decide what kind of group you wish to be. A household is part of a shire -- usually a group of friends who hang out together and have similar interests -- and almost no paperwork is required. A canton is similar to a shire, but remains part of an established barony; it is easier to start than a shire because it will have support from the parent entity. A shire is usually smaller than a barony but answers directly to a kingdom, thus needing quite a bit more paperwork than a canton, and has to take more responsibility for getting established.
Contact your kingdom seneshal to request an official application. You will need to have five paid members, and it is a good idea to have at least 10 group members. Read the directions and requirements in the application carefully. Elect at least three officers: a seneschal, an arms master and a master of arts will do the job. Until you are officially recognized, you cannot have a treasurer or exchequer office.
Create by-laws for your branch organization, modeled on the application requirements and examples from other shires, cantons or households. Be sure to include goals, broad descriptions of activities and instruments for introducing new goals or activities. Design a coat-of-arms that meets SCA heraldic standards.
Send off your application. Hold meetings and practices within your local group, and participate in events held by your parent group. When your application comes back for revision, make the changes in a timely manner and send it back again for further consideration. Repeat until your charter is deemed acceptable.