[Ansteorra-announce] [Announcements] Corpora Update - Grammar, Spelling and Format Corrections
Leslie Luther-Fulton
janefalada at hotmail.com
Wed Jan 5 06:20:12 PST 2011
As
a part of our ongoing review of the governing documents, the Board of Directors
wishes to make the following changes to Corpora, the By-Laws and Corporate
Policies. The proposed changes are solely to correct grammar, spelling errors
and to address formatting issues. You can also find the proposed changes posted
at http://sca.org/BOD/announcements/ .
Deadline for comments from the membership regarding this subject is no later
than April 1, 2011.
Please send comments to: SCA Inc. Box 360789 Milpitas CA, 95036, or email
comments at sca.org. When emailing to comments at sca.org please remember that this
address does not accept attachments for security reasons. Please place all
comments in the body of your message.
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A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM
Current:
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.
Proposed:
The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Society) is a nonprofit (or
not-for-profit) 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.
Current:
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 1st, 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.
Proposed:
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 1st, 1966. The corporation maintains a
central membership registry, publishes a quarterly magazine, Tournaments
Illuminated, publishes a periodical, The Compleat Anachronist 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.
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GLOSSARY
Current:
• SCA, Inc. or SCA: The Society for
Creative Anachronism, Inc., a California not-for-profit corporation
Proposed:
• SCA, Inc. or SCA: The Society for
Creative Anachronism, Inc., a California nonprofit (or not-for-profit)
corporation
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Corpora
I. GENERAL
C. Role of the Board
Current:
If the Board finds it necessary to intervene in branch affairs to protect the
SCA‘s legal standing, its action will be directed as nearly as possible at the
individuals responsible for the lapse. The Board will move against a branch as
a whole only if repeated failures prove it incapable of locating and
maintaining reliable officers.
Proposed:
If the Board finds it necessary to intervene in branch affairs to protect the
SCA‘s legal standing, its action will be directed as nearly as possible at the
individuals responsible for the lapse. The Board will move against a branch as
a whole only if repeated failures prove it incapable of locating and
maintaining reliable officers to be determined and defined on a case-by-case
basis.
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Corpora
II. EVENTS
A. Society Events Defined
Current:
The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities
whereby participants can display the results of their researches into the
culture and technology of the period in an environment which evokes the
atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It
also refers to educational activities involving either one-time classes or
ongoing Society university organizations, and meetings where participants share
skills or discuss the business of the group. All Society events must be
sponsored by branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of the
sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the members of that branch, and
conducted according to Society rules.
Proposed:
The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities
whereby participants can display the results of their researches into the
culture and technology of the period in an environment which evokes the
atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It
also refers to educational activities involving either one-time classes or
ongoing Society university organizations, and meetings where participants share
skills or discuss the business of the group. All Society events must be
sponsored by official branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of
the sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the members of that branch, and
conducted according to Society rules.
B. Requirements for Participants at Society events
Current:
Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at
pre-17th century clothing, conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies
with any other requirements (such as site fees or waivers) which may be
imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the requirement to wear
pre-17th century dress may be waived. All participants are expected to behave
as ladies or gentlemen.
Proposed:
Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at
pre-17th century clothing, conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies
with any other requirements (including but not limited to site fees, or waivers)
which may be imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the
requirement to wear pre-17th century dress may be waived. All participants are
expected to behave as ladies or gentlemen.
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Corpora
III. BRANCHES
C. Branch Designations
Current:
Lateral changes in branch designation (such as between barony and province or
between shire and college) must be submitted to the Society Seneschal for
review and approval, to provide an outside confirmation that the needs of the
membership will be served by the change.
Proposed:
Lateral changes in branch designation (such as between barony and province or
between shire and college) must be submitted to the Society Seneschal for
review and approval, in order to provide an outside confirmation that the needs
of the membership will be served by the change.
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Corpora
III. BRANCHES
D. Establishment and Advancement
Current:
2. The Society permits very broad
participation by people who are not members as defined in the By-Laws. However
no part of the Society can be required to solicit or heed their views regarding
branch status, or any other situation where the opinion of the populace is to
be consulted. Law, custom, or actual practice may allow consultation with
nonmembers, but it cannot be required.
Proposed:
2. The Society permits very broad
participation by people who are not members as defined in the By-Laws. However
no part of the Society can be required to solicit or heed non-member views
regarding branch status, or any other situation where the opinion of the
populace is to be consulted. Law, custom, or actual practice may allow
consultation with nonmembers, but it cannot be required.
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Corpora
IV. ROYALTY
C. Duties
Current:
8. Royalty, acting with and through
the officers of the realm, administer the lands and branches which comprise the
realm. Royalty consult the officers of the realm in matters concerning the
officers’ areas of responsibility, and monitor the performance of their
officers to the extent necessary to confirm that they are performing essential
duties. They sign such internal documents as are necessary for the conduct of
the realm.
Proposed:
8. Royalty, acting with and through
the officers of the realm, administer the lands and branches which comprise the
realm. Royalty consult the officers of the realm in matters concerning the
officers’ areas of responsibility, and monitor the performance of their
officers to the extent necessary to confirm that they are performing essential
duties. They sign such internal documents as are necessary for the conduct of business
within the realm.
Current:
10. The Royal Heirs and Royalty must
maintain their memberships until their term as Royalty is over. Should anyone
serving as a Royal Heir, or as Royalty, be found in violation of the membership
requirements, that individual’s term ends as of the date of the membership
lapse. Provisions of Kingdom Law dealing with the situation are in force. The
individual shall not receive any recognition for having temporarily held the
status of Royal Heirs or Royalty.
Proposed:
10. The Royal Heirs and Royalty must
maintain their memberships until their term as Royalty is over. Should anyone
serving as a Royal Heir, or as Royalty, be found in violation of the membership
requirements, that individual’s term ends as of the date of the membership
lapse. Provisions for dealing with the situation are addressed in Kingdom Law
within each individual kingdom. The individual shall not receive any
recognition for having temporarily held the status of Royal Heirs or Royalty.
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Corpora
IV. ROYALTY
F. Kingdom and Principality Law
Current:
3. If a new law of the realm
conflicts with an existing provision, the latter must be explicitly repealed.
Any law declared null and void because of a conflict must be explicitly
repealed. Laws that are repealed must be proclaimed and published in the same
manner as it the original law.
Proposed:
3. If a new law of the realm
conflicts with an existing provision, the latter must be explicitly repealed.
Any law declared null and void because of a conflict must be explicitly
repealed. Laws that are repealed must be proclaimed and published in the same manner
as the original law.
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Corpora
VI. SOCIETY OFFICERS
A. General
1. Responsibilities
Current:
• Reporting to the Board quarterly,
with copies to the Society Seneschal, regarding the status and activities of
the kingdoms in the areas of their concern, and also submitting annual
summaries of this information. Failure to submit these reports is tantamount to
resignation, which may be accepted at the pleasure of the Board.
Proposed:
• Reporting to the Board quarterly,
with copies to the Society Seneschal, regarding the status and activities of
the kingdoms in the areas of their responsibility, and also submitting annual
summaries of this information. Failure to submit these reports is tantamount to
resignation, which may be accepted at the pleasure of the Board.
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Corpora
VI. SOCIETY OFFICERS
C. Laurel Sovereign of Arms and The College of Arms
3. Heraldic Administration
Change designation of points from a. b. c. d. to 1. 2. 3. 4.
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Corpora
VIII. PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES
A. Patents of Arms
4. Patent Orders
Change designation of points from a. b. c. d. e. to 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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Corpora
VIII. PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES
A. Patents of Arms
4. Patent Orders
a. The Chivalry:
Current:
• To bestow the Accolade of
Knighthood upon a candidate for the Order of Knighthood, as the sole right as
Sovereign or acting directly for the Sovereign, for only a Knight can create a
Knight.
Proposed:
• To bestow the Accolade of
Knighthood upon a candidate for the Order of Knighthood, by sole right as both
Sovereign and knight, or acting directly for a Sovereign who is not a knight.
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Corpora
X. Sanctions
E. Reservations
2. Sanctions upon Individuals for Actions taken as Coronet
Current:
When the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and
custom, the normal recourse should be to in-kingdom mediation and then to a
Court of Chivalry. If the Board upholds the judgment of such a Court, the
affected parties may be subject to loss of any honors and privileges deriving
from their reign, and nullification of any official acts dating back to the
incident which led to the invocation of the Court.
Proposed:
When the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and
custom, the normal recourse should be to mediation within the kingdom and then
to a Court of Chivalry. If the Board upholds the judgment of such a Court, the
affected parties may be subject to loss of any honors and privileges deriving
from their reign, and nullification of any official acts dating back to the
incident which led to the invocation of the Court.
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Corpora
APPENDIX A: SUGGESTED CHANNELS FOR COMPLAINT AND APPEAL
Current:
The Society is devoted to courtesy, trustworthiness and personal
responsibility, and it sometimes seems that these ideals should be enough to
permit members to work smoothly together. After all, virtually everyone agrees
it is desirable to foster the Society’s goals of encouraging research and
recreation in its chosen period and to promote the welfare and prosperity of
the organization and the education and enjoyment of everyone in it. Unfortunately,
tensions and disputes develop anyway.
Proposed:
The Society is devoted to courtesy, trustworthiness and personal
responsibility, and it sometimes seems that these ideals should be enough to
permit members to work smoothly together. After all, virtually everyone agrees
it is desirable to foster the Society’s goals of encouraging research and
recreation in its chosen period and to promote the welfare and prosperity of
the organization and the education and enjoyment of everyone in it. Unfortunately,
tensions and disputes can develop.
Procedures
Current:
3. Write to the person you’re having
difficulty with. Describe the way you feel you’re being damaged, without
indulging in insults or threats. Ask for the action you feel would set things
right, and indicate how long you feel you can wait for a reply before making
further distribution of the complaint. Keep a copy of the letter, but do not
send it to anyone but the addressee at this time. The written word is often
more effective than the spoken word, so there’s a good chance that this letter,
or a series of direct letters and replies, will eventually lead you to a
solution. As long as you feel you’re making progress either in understanding or
in getting you way, do not go on to step 3.
Proposed:
3. Write to the person you’re having
difficulty with. Describe the way you feel you’re being damaged, without
indulging in insults or threats. Ask for the action you feel would set things
right, and indicate how long you feel you can wait for a reply before making
further distribution of the complaint. Keep a copy of the letter, but do not
send it to anyone but the addressee at this time. The written word is often
more effective than the spoken word, so there’s a good chance that this letter,
or a series of direct letters and replies, will eventually lead you to a
solution. As long as you feel you’re making progress either in understanding or
in getting you way, do not go on to step 4.
Current:
4. Write a more formal letter to the
other party. Outline any new points you may have thought of and refer to your
previous correspondence. Send a copy to the officer in charge of the area in
question, or to the royalty or royal representative nearest the level where you
have a dispute. Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to send
copies of the letters you’ve already written or received on the matter with the
copy of the current letter you send to the superior; if you are doing so, be
sure to mention it in your letter. (It is very important to proceed openly as
you pursue your complaint; things are tense enough already without adding a
new–and justified–charge of sneakiness to the general dispute!) Again, set a
reasonable time for a reply, and consider it carefully when it arrives. As with
step 2, continue at this level as long as it looks like there’s any progress.
Proposed:
4. Write a more formal letter to the
other party. Outline any new points you may have thought of and refer to your
previous correspondence. Send a copy to the officer in charge of the area in
question, or to the royalty or royal representative nearest the level where you
have a dispute. Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to send
copies of the letters you’ve already written or received on the matter with the
copy of the current letter you send to the superior; if you are doing so, be
sure to mention it in your letter. (It is very important to proceed openly as
you pursue your complaint; things are tense enough already without adding a
new–and justified–charge of sneakiness to the general dispute!) Again, set a
reasonable time for a reply, and consider it carefully when it arrives. As with
step 3, continue at this level as long as it looks like there’s any progress.
Current:
5. Write directly to the officer in
charge of the area in question, with copies to the subject of the dispute, the
next higher officer, and the appropriate royalty or royal representative, if
any. Explain how you feel you’re being mistreated, and ask for specific help.
Include the entire previous correspondence; if you have not already shared it
with the officer–and mention the enclosures in the text. Evaluate the reply or
replies before you decide to go forward.
Proposed:
5. Write directly to the officer in
charge of the area in question, the next higher officer and the appropriate
royalty or royal representative, if any, with copies to the subject of the
dispute. Explain how you feel you’re being mistreated, and ask for specific
help. Include the entire previous correspondence; if you have not already
shared it with the officer–and mention the enclosures in the text. Evaluate the
reply or replies before you decide to go forward.
Current:
6. Repeat step 4, moving up the
organization and including everyone you’ve involved on your copy list. Follow
you correspondents’ advice as to whether or not anyone else at or below their
level needs to be consulted. Eventually, you run out of levels.
Proposed:
6. Repeat step 5, moving up the
organization and including everyone you’ve involved on your copy list. Follow
you correspondents’ advice as to whether or not anyone else at or below their
level needs to be consulted. Eventually, you run out of levels.
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By-Laws
V. MEMBERS
C. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
2. Privileges of Members
Current:
General Privileges of Members and Non-members. Every member of the SCA is
eligible for office and advancement within the SCA, subject to the requirements
for such office or such advancement, and to the provisions established above.
However, while a group or institution may obtain a membership in order to
obtain the newsletters and/or increase its support of the SCA, such membership
does not convey the privileges of membership to persons associated with that
group or institution. Employment by the SCA as staff, as a contractual agent of
the SCA, or as a paid consultant to the SCA does not require membership in the
SCA.
a. Eligibility for Office. Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members
and must have immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area
provided by a subscribing membership at their residence. (Alternate access
arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis for people with post office
boxes and for International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies
designated as successors to officers subject to this provision, or assigned
independent administrative duties. Deputies who only assist with specific tasks
are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.
Proposed:
1. General Privileges of Members and
Non-members.
Every member of the SCA is eligible for office and advancement within the SCA,
subject to the requirements for such office or such advancement, and to the
provisions established above. However, while a group or institution may obtain
a membership in order to obtain the newsletters and/or increase its support of
the SCA, such membership does not convey the privileges of membership to
persons associated with that group or institution. Employment by the SCA as
staff, as a contractual agent of the SCA, or as a paid consultant to the SCA
does not require membership in the SCA.
2. Eligibility for Office.
Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members and must have immediate
access to the corporate newsletter for their area provided by a subscribing
membership at their residence. (Alternate access arrangements may be made on a
case-by-case basis for people with post office boxes and for International
Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as successors to
officers subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative
duties. Deputies who only assist with specific tasks are exempt from the
newsletter access requirement.
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By-Laws
VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
F. Vacancies and Removal
1. Dismissal of a Director
Current:
a. Impeachment. A Director can be impeached by a letter signed by three (3)
Directors, or by a petition signed by a majority of the Corporate Officers or
1,000 of the current advisory members. Additional procedures for petitions of
impeachment arising out of the medieval structure of the SCA are defined in
Corpora.
b. Removal. The removal of a Director shall be considered by the Board at its
next regular meeting after an impeachment is filed, or at a special election
meeting called as provided in VI.I, except that there must be at least ten (10)
days notice in writing to all Directors. If the next regular meeting is more
than forty-five (45) days from the time of receipt of a petition of
impeachment, a special election meeting shall be called.
Proposed:
1. Impeachment.
A Director can be impeached by a letter signed by three (3) Directors, or by a
petition signed by a majority of the Corporate Officers or 1,000 of the current
advisory members. Additional procedures for petitions of impeachment arising
out of the medieval structure of the SCA are defined in Corpora.
2. Removal.
The removal of a Director shall be considered by the Board at its next regular
meeting after an impeachment is filed, or at a special election meeting called
as provided in VI.I, except that there must be at least ten (10) days notice in
writing to all Directors. If the next regular meeting is more than forty-five
(45) days from the time of receipt of a petition of impeachment, a special
election meeting shall be called.
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Corporate Policies
I. MEMBERSHIP TYPES
B. Non-Statutory Members
Current:
5. Institutional Membership allows a
library or school to subscribe to Tournaments Illuminated and Compleat
Anachronist without acquiring the regional newsletter, and without any of the
other privileges of membership. The Board reserves the right to determine
whether or not a given organization qualifies for this membership type.
Proposed:
5. Institutional Membership allows a
library or school to subscribe to Tournaments Illuminated and The Compleat Anachronist
without acquiring the regional newsletter, and without any of the other
privileges of membership. The Board reserves the right to determine whether or
not a given organization qualifies for this membership type.
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Corporate Policies
VI. WAIVERS - PROCEDURES
Renumber as:
1. Anyone attending any event
sponsored by a branch of the SCA Inc. who is not able to present a valid SCA
Inc. waiver card must execute a waiver as follows:
a. All
US Branches: must execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of
Directors at each such event, practice or function
b. All
non-US Branches
i. must
execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of Directors at each such
event, practice or function, or
ii. must
use a country-specific waiver that has been approved by the US Board of
Directors, or
iii. must
submit to the US Board of Directors a letter of legal opinion stating that the
waiver requirement is not necessary in that particular country.
2. The text of all waivers must be
the language approved by the Board of Directors for waiver usage, subject to
individual modern jurisdictional requirements. Such alternative texts must be
approved by the Board of Directors prior to usage. Roster style waivers are
acceptable providing that the full text of the waiver language is included.
3. An event, for the purposes of this
section only, is defined as any recreation function announced in either the
branch, Kingdom, or Principality newsletter. Business meetings, demos, guild
meetings, dance practices, or planning sessions are specifically excluded from
these provisions. Combat or Fighter practices are not excluded and waivers must
be collected from those actively participating in the combat related activities
at such practices.
4. Any function at which combat
related activities will occur fall under the auspices of this waiver policy,
regardless of what other activities may be occurring at the function. If there
is a doubt about whether a specific function falls under this policy, the
Kingdom Seneschal is directly empowered by the Board to make that determination
and report same in their next regularly scheduled report.
5. The local Seneschal, or other
officer in charge of any function at which waivers will be required, is
responsible for ensuring that a copy of that Kingdom‘s Law and the current
Organizational Handbook are available at that function.
6. Each Kingdom shall have a single
responsible officer ("Waiver Secretary") as a deputy to the Kingdom
Seneschal to ensure that all required waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets are
collected and safely stored within a reasonable time after each event. The
Waiver Secretary shall ensure that waivers for each event can be located and
provided to the appropriate officials in the event a specific waiver is
required.
7. Each Kingdom shall store all
original executed waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets, or legally accepted
facsimiles, in such a manner that a responsible party can easily retrieve any
needed waiver.
Local groups need not maintain copies of these records. Kingdoms shall maintain
the adult waivers for seven years and the minor waivers for 20 years.
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Corporate Policies
IX. POLICY ON FIRST AID AT EVENTS
Current:
While organized first aid services are desirable at events, the Society and its
branches may not be placed in the position of promising to provide these
services. Therefore, while branches are encouraged to have qualified volunteer
first aid personnel available, they are specifically prohibited from requiring
the presence of a medical officer at events, and from in any way implying that
the Society’s sponsorship of an event depends upon the presence of organized
first aid services.
Proposed:
While organized first aid services are desirable at events, the Society and its
branches may not be placed in the position of promising to provide these
services. Therefore, while branches are encouraged to have qualified volunteer
first aid personnel available, they are specifically prohibited from requiring
the presence of a medical or first aid officer at events, and from in any way
implying that the Society’s sponsorship of an event depends upon the presence
of organized first aid services.
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Corporate Policies
XIV. POLICY ON LAND USE / REAL ESTATE
Current:
c. It is constructed in a manner that
makes its portability to another site questionable or unfeasible.
Proposed:
c. It is constructed in a manner that
makes its portability to another site questionable or not feasible.
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Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036
You may also email comments at lists.sca.org.
This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.
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