[Ravensfort] Fw: [Ansteorra-announce] [Announcements] Corpora Update - Grammar, Spelling and Format Corrections

Wed Jan 5 10:11:35 PST 2011

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Leslie Luther-Fulton 
To: sca Announcements 
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 8:20 AM
Subject: [Ansteorra-announce] [Announcements] Corpora Update - Grammar,Spelling and Format Corrections

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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