Chatelaine

Badge of the office

Overview

The Chatelaine is the Recruiting and Retention Officer for the Kingdom of the Outlands. The office focuses on welcoming newcomers, supporting their first steps in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), and helping them connect with their local communities.

The Chatelaine builds the present and future of the Society by creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue with newcomers. The office works to help new participants understand the SCA, find activities that interest them, and feel included in the community.

The office of the Chatelaine was formerly known as the Office of the Hospitaller. It is unknown exactly when or why this change occurred.

Current Chatelaines

Area	Officer
Kingdom Chatelaine	Shîrîn Al-Sasan
Northern Deputy	Kára Snæbjórn
Windkeep	Kára Snæbjörndáttir
Unser Hafen	Gilbertus de Messina
Caer Galen	Kokechin Q'oa
Caerthe	Elizabeth Winter
Dragonsspine	Robert Hunteman
Aarquelle	Feilan Ulfsdottir
Draca Mor	Sigriðr Flossadóttir
Rio de las Animas	Vacant
Fontaine dans Sable	Alamanda de la Roca
Drygestan	Vacant
al-Barran	Madeleine Lernould de Fleury and Lady Arwen
Nahrun Kabirun	Vacant
Citadel of the Southern Pass	Vacant

This list is current as of 11-6-2025

Kingdom Chatelaines

Officer	Years Served
Shîrîn Al-Sasan	???-Present
Kseniya Mikhailovna Morskaya	1996

Recruitment

Recruitment in the Outlands emphasizes non-aggressive, inclusive practices. The Chatelaine promotes:

Welcoming spaces: Online and in-person environments that clearly signal openness, inclusivity, and respect.

Education rather than pressure: Providing information about the SCA and its activities so newcomers can make decisions at their own pace.

Genuine connection: Taking time to learn about newcomers’ interests and goals to help them find their place in the Society.

Opportunities for involvement: Highlighting ways to participate, such as volunteering, attending meetings, or trying hands-on activities.

Collaboration: Focusing on collective growth rather than competition for numbers.

Transparency: Being clear about expectations and responsibilities of membership.

Celebrating diversity: Valuing a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

These practices support long-term engagement and help create a vibrant, inclusive community.

Demos

Local chapter demonstrations are a major recruitment and retention tool. They introduce the public to SCA activities, provide newcomers with a first point of contact, and distribute informational handouts.

The Chatelaine plays an essential role in demo planning and approval:

Understanding newcomer needs: The Chatelaine ensures demos address common questions and concerns of people new to the SCA.

Coordination: Working with event staff and local officers to align demos with recruitment and retention goals.

Resource support: Providing materials, guidance, and best practices for presenting the SCA clearly and effectively.

Involving the Chatelaine in demo decisions ensures that public presentations are welcoming, accurate, and supportive of newcomer growth.

Resources

• Outlands Chatelaine's page
• Outland's Chatelaine's Handbook
• Society Chatelaine's page