[Western] Administrative Sanction for AmaRyah

[estarkey at camalott.com]

This is my reply to a letter from the Ansteorra Kingdom Seneschal and the 
Kingdom Treasurer.  I do not consider this to be a private matter.

ryah


Dear Mr. Bainter,

    Email is indeed the best way to get in touch with me.  I check it a lot 
more often than I check my mailbox.  When I did pick up my mail, your letter 
had already been returned by the post office.

    In reply to the list of "infractions" that led up to a decision of 
Administrative Sanction, I reply the following:


1.  Removal from office as Mendersham's Exchequer in 2003 for failure to 
maintain complete and accurate reporting

Please check your records.   Mendersham's treasurer in 2003 was not removed 
from office.   I was not removed as treasurer in 2003, as I was not the 
treasurer of the group at that time. I personally have never been removed 
from any SCA office.   The first time I have ever been treasurer of an SCA 
group began Jan 2006. Ben Findley was the treasurer from 2004 to 2006, 
Dallas Mathews was the treasurer from 2002 to 2004.

2.  * Co-mingling of personal and SCA funds in the form of the gate funds 
which included directly removing funds without proper process.
.  This statement is untrue.  I did not mingle personal and SCA funds in the 
form of gate funds, and  I have not ever removed funds without proper 
process.  You have no proof that I did so.  Please provide written or 
verifible proof that I mingled personal and SCA funds or retract this 
statement. Hearsay statements do not count.

3.  Reporting funds incorrectly on report forms including returned money and 
fees as income.
  This was one incident, and the first time that I had a returned check.  At 
that time, I recorded the funds on the form exactly as the treasurer before 
me had recorded returned money and fees from a bounced check.  This item was 
discovered by the Kingdom treasurer at the audit in January 2008 on the 4th 
quarter report, and I was told at the time it was a minor thing.  It had 
been on both the 2d quarterly report and the 3d quarterly report.

4.  Incomplete financial committee with one member with an expired 
membership. Membership was not expired, although I did have difficulty 
getting a copy of the current membership card and sending it up channels.

5. Incomplete signature card without anyone outside of the group on the 
card.
   I sent signature cards for this account up through the chain of command 
twice.  I do not see how it is my fault that the Kingdom Exchequer of that 
time was not doing her job by completing the process, and making sure that 
they are on the signature card.

6.  Not following proper procedure to escalate issues within the structure 
of the SCA, Inc. when items were not being properly addressed.
  I was told to transfer the shire's funds.  I requested and recieved the 
proper authorization as per the Society Exchequer's Handbook for Branches, 
and promptly transfered the funds.

7.  Displayed a lack of understanding of the policies that were violated 
and in at least one case how you had violated the policy.

What I truly understand is that you wish to punish me for standing up and 
saying you are wrong to dissolve Mendersham, for saying that you had no 
valid reason to do so, and for repeatedly asking for specific instances that 
would justify your actions under Corpora, Kingdom Law, and the official 
handbooks.  There are no funds missing from Mendersham, and the funds were 
not mishandled.

What you need to truly understand is that I will bring civil suit against 
Richard Bainter and Celeste Shelton personally and as officers of the 
Society for Creative Anachronism for defamation of character should this 
administrative sanction be imposed.

Elaine Starkey







----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Master Phelim Gervase called Pug" <seneschal at ansteorra.org>
To: <estarkey at camalott.com>
Cc: <seneschal at ansteorra.org>; "'Saundra Kingdom Exchequer'" 
<exchequer at ansteorra.org>; <Crown at ansteorra.org>; <coronet at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 8:57 PM
Subject: Administrative sanction


> We attempted to have this delivered via the normal channels and the letter
> was not picked up after 4 attempts by the US Postal service to deliver.
> Since it was not picked up I am sending it via email instead.
>
>
>
> In Service,
>
> Master Phelim Gervase called Pug
>
> Kingdom Seneschal - Ansteorra
>
>
>
>
>
> June 24, 2008
>
>
>
>
>
> Ama Ryah hap Illys de Visclo c/o
>
> Elaine Starkey
>
> 843 CR 170
>
> Trent, TX  79561
>
>
>
> Richard Bainter                                                  Celeste
> Shelton
>
> 2100 Ringtail Ridge                                           2112 Fall
> Creek Drive
>
> Austin, TX 78746                                               Leander, TX
> 78641
>
> 512-329-6908
> 512-259-2369
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Madam:
>
>
>
>   After reviewing different paperwork and a meeting with you at the April
> 2008 Board Meeting, it has been decided that you should have an
> Administrative Sanction levied against you because of your actions while
> holding administrative office for SCA, Inc. The incidents that led up to
> this decision include:
>
>
>
> * Removal from office as Mendersham's Exchequer in 2003 for failure to
> maintain complete and accurate reporting
> * After re-appointment to office after several years out of office,
> there were continued office related problems
> * Co-mingling of personal and SCA funds in the form of the gate funds
> which included directly removing funds without proper process
> * Reporting funds incorrectly on report forms including returned money
> and fees as income
> * Incomplete financial committee with one member with an expired
> membership
> * Incomplete signature card without anyone outside of the group on the
> card
> * Not following proper procedure to escalate issues within the
> structure of the SCA, Inc. when items were not being properly addressed
> * Displayed a lack of understanding of the policies that were violated
> and in at least one case how you had violated the policy
>
>
>
>  Because of these reoccurring mistakes and lack of understanding within 
> the
> offices you have held and a basic lack of understanding of Society and
> Kingdom policies, we are levying the following:
>
>
>
> Elaine Starkey, known in the Society as Baroness Ama Ryah hap Illys de
> Visclo, shall never be allowed to hold the offices of Seneschal or 
> Exchequer
> or to be a deputy of either office. In addition Ms. Starkey shall never be
> in a position that allows her access to or control of disbursement of SCA
> funds to include, but not be limited to, financial committee member, 
> account
> signatory, and gate cashier.
>
>
>
>  This decision has been discussed with the Society Seneschal in order to
> ensure that it is appropriate for the infractions and within the scope of
> responsibility of our offices.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Richard Bainter                                                  Celeste
> Shelton
>
> Master Phelim Gervase called Pug                     Mistress Saundra of
> Loch Raeburn
>
> Kingdom Seneschal - Ansteorra                        Kingdom Exchequer -
> Ansteorra
>