[Moo] FW: [Announcements] President's Report of the October 2004 Meeting

[Lisa Mitchell]

FYI
----------
From: "Baron, Meg" <Meg.Baron at experian.com>
Reply-To: comments at sca.org
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 09:42:50 -0600
To: <announcements at sca.org>
Subject: [Announcements] President's Report of the October 2004 Meeting

PRESIDENT'S REPORT OF THE FOURTH QUARTER 2004
SCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Greetings:

This is the President's report of the actions taken at the SCA, Inc.'s most
recent Board of Directors meeting, held October 23, 2004, in Dallas, Texas
(Kingdom of Ansteorra). This material may be freely distributed, and those
receiving it are strongly encouraged to share this information with the
general populace. Permission is hereby granted to reprint all, or part, of
this report in Kingdom, Principality, and local newsletters. It is requested
that the source of the information be identified as "from the President's
Report of the October 2004 Board meeting" and that, as far as possible,
exact quotes be used. Please note that this report is NOT the official
Minutes of the Board meeting. In case of any discrepancy between this
document and the approved Minutes, the Minutes are binding. Any inaccuracies
in reporting contained herein are my own.

Subscriptions to the Board Minutes are available from the SCA Inc. A
subscription includes this report in addition to the Minutes approved at the
meeting. Past approved Minutes are also available on the SCA website
(www.sca.org). 

The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on January 22, 2005, in
Portland, Oregon. The deadline for submission of agenda items is January 1,
2005.

Respectfully submitted,

Meg Baron
President, SCA Inc.

------------------------------------
Branch Status Changes

1. The Board took note of the following new branches:

Canton of Silverhart ( Kootenai, Shoshone, and Benewah Counties, ID)
Shire of Myrtleholt  (Josephine Country, OR)
Canton of Nordholt  (Linn County, OR)
Canton of Salesberie Glen (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and Iredell
Counties, NC) 
Canton of Bull Pytt (Grand Island, NE)
Shire of Avienture (Lubeck, Wismar, Kiel and Schleswig, Germany)

2. The Board took note of the following routine changes in status:

Shire of Hindscroft (Davidson, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and Stokes
Counties, NC) to Canton of the Barony of Sacred Stone
Canton of Cum an Iolair (Johnson County, KS) to Shire
Barony of Wurm Wald (Champaign, IL) to Shire
Principality of Northshield (WI, MN, ND, SD, Manitoba, West half of UP of
MI, NW Ontario) to Kingdom


Old Business

A. Proposed revision to Corporate Policies I.B.2.

Commentary was requested from the membership on the following proposed
change to the Corporate Policies of the SCA Inc.

Corporate Policies I.B.2 currently reads:

"International Membership conveys the privileges of Section I.B.1. This
membership type is available only to mailing addresses outside the United
States or Australia. This type of membership is considered a subscribing
membership."

This is now incorrect, as International membership is now no longer
available in Finland or New Zealand, in addition to Australia, as these
countries have separate corporations and affiliations. More countries will
probably incorporate separately in the future. Therefore, the following
change was proposed:

"International Membership conveys the privileges of Section I.B.1. This
membership type is available only in locations outside the United States
which are part of the SCA, Inc., and not subject to an affiliate
corporation. This type of membership is considered a subscribing
membership."

The Board approved this change to Corporate Policies.

B. Proposed revision to Corpora IX.A.5.

The Board requested commentary from the membership concerning a proposed
change to Corpora IX.A.5., which currently reads:
 
"No person who has not attained his or her sixteenth (16th) birthday may be
authorized in armored combat or the marshaling of armored combat. No person
who has not attained his or her fourteenth (14th) birthday may be authorized
for any form of Society combat-related activity...."
 
The Society Seneschal recommended that this be addressed by changing the
wording to read "...No person who has not attained his or her fourteenth
(14th) birthday may be authorized for any form of Society Adult
combat-related activity."
 
Adding the word "Adult" removes potential confusion with youth combat
activities.

After discussion and by consensus, Chairman Moore ruled that this item be
remanded to the January 2005 quarterly meeting.

C. Training travel budget for Chief Information Architect office transfer

The Board approved an increase of $500.00 in the 2004 budget to permit
travel for training for the incoming Chief Information Architect.


New Business

A. Review of the Statement of Financial Position

The Board reviewed and accepted the Statement of Financial Position as
presented by the SCA, Inc.'s accountants.

B. Proposal for change to By-Laws VI.E.2.

By-Laws VI.E.2. currently reads as follows:

"Directors' terms shall be staggered so that one term ends each six months.
Under ordinary circumstances, Directors shall serve fourteen quarters,
dating from the meeting at which they are elected. A Director's term begins
immediately upon election and acceptance."

This does not reflect current practice. The following revision is proposed:

"Directors' terms shall be staggered so that one term ends each six months.
Under ordinary circumstances, Directors shall serve fourteen quarters."

The Board ruled that this item be placed before the membership for comment.
Commentary shall be due no later than February 1, 2005.

C. Gleann Abhann Kingdom advancement petition

The Board approved the petition of the Principality of Gleann Abhann to
advance to Kingdom status, effective upon the successful completion of a
Crown List and Coronation of the victors.

D. 2005 Budget

This was remanded to the January 2005 quarterly meeting.

E. New Zealand property transfer

The question of turning ownership of funds held by Society branches in New
Zealand over to SCA-New Zealand, the SCA, Inc.'s affiliate Corporation in
that country, was referred to legal counsel.

F. Warrant form revision

Proposed revisions of the SCA warrant forms were referred to the Deputy
Society Seneschal for Risk Management for review.

G. Policy on coinage and currency

This item, which concerns using coins made by SCA artisans as cash tokens at
events, was referred to the SCA Legal Committee.


Officers' Reports - action items and policy decisions (note: officers not
mentioned here had no action items or policy decisions to present for Board
review)

President

The President's term of office ends at the conclusion of the July 2005 Board
meeting, and she requested that the Board begin the call for applications
for this position now, in order to provide adequate time for selection and
training. The Board ordered this done, with an application deadline of March
15, 2005.

Society Seneschal

The Society Seneschal was asked whether or not an autocrat was a de facto
deputy to the branch seneschal, as they held sway over contracts and modern
era affairs.  His interpretation is that, as the branch seneschal is
delegating authority reserved to his or her office (per the Kingdom
Seneschal's Handbook) they (autocrats) are in fact deputies of that office.
The Board upheld this policy interpretation.

The Society Seneschal interpreted Corporate Policies VIII, Policy on
Alcohol, to imply the prohibition of using SCA resources, events and
officers to facilitate the sale of Alcohol.  Therefore, wineries may not
advertise, sell, demonstrate or distribute their goods at SCA events and
functions, nor promote the same through SCA official publications. The Board
upheld this policy interpretation.

The Society Seneschal presented a proposed policy on Known World and Society
Anniversary Events for the Board's approval. The Board asked the Society
Seneschal to make revisions and to bring this item back to the Board at its
next meeting.

The Society Seneschal presented a proposed Media Relations policy for the
Board's approval. The Board returned this policy to the Society Seneschal
for further work.

Society Exchequer

The Society Exchequer requested that the project of getting the Society
Exchequer's Web page up and running be expedited. The Board directed the
Chief Information Architect to do this.

The Society Exchequer presented a proposed Board Resolution policy for the
Board's approval. The purpose of this policy is to facilitate doing business
with banks under the USA Patriot Act. The Board referred this item to the
SCA Legal Committee for review.

The Society Exchequer requested a change to the Board of Directors Policies
ad Procedures Manual requiring Society Exchequer review of the financial
portion of any application for Society office which has a separate bank
account and office exchequer. The Board took no action on this item.

The Society Exchequer requested a ruling on what to do with records that are
older than the seven-year retention period. The Board referred this question
to the SCA Legal Committee.

A revised financial policy for the Kingdom of Meridies was approved.

Society Chronicler

The Society Chronicler requested assistance in locating a Copyright deputy.
The question was referred to the SCA Legal Committee.

The Society Chronicler ruled that advertisements for the sale of alcoholic
beverages were not permitted in SC publications. The Board upheld this
policy interpretation.

The Society Chronicler ruled that copyright rules regarding obtaining
permission to publish applied to publishing messages sent to electronic
mailing lists in Society newsletters. The Board upheld this policy
interpretation. 

Laurel Sovereign of Arms

The Laurel Sovereign of Arms presented a change to the policies of her
office regarding due dates for Letter of Intent packets. The Board returned
this item to Laurel for comment from the College of Arms.

Society Marshal

The Society Marshal ruled that the Universal Shot Standard is now in force
for acknowledgement of heavy combat missile blows. The Board upheld this
policy.

The Society Marshal's ruled that the Caid Unarmored Combat program is a form
of boffer, and therefore unregulated by his office. The Board upheld this
ruling, and stated that this activity is not regulated at the Corporate
level.

The Society Marshal ruled that the "Plate is Proof" standard for combat
archery may be used as a scenario modifier only. The Board upheld this
ruling.

The Society Marshal banned the use of bungee cords for crossbow power. The
Board upheld this ruling.

The Society Marshal ruled that half-gauntlets shall be allowed as minimum
hand armor for missile combat troops. The Board ruled that this matter falls
within the authority of the Marshallate, and no Board action is required.
  
Society Chirurgeon General

The Chirurgeon General interpreted Section III.9, paragraph 2, of the
Chirurgeon's handbook to include the Chirurgeon General in the definition of
"a duly-delegated administrative superior in the Chirurgeonate (e.g., a
Chirurgeon-in-Charge at an Interkingdom event)."  The Board upheld this
interpretation.

The Chirurgeon General presented the following proposed change to Section
III.9, paragraph 2, of the Chirurgeon's handbook (added language in
italics): "Any Chirurgeon who is available and willing to provide first aid
at an event can not be prohibited from doing so by anyone other than the
Chirurgeon General, the Kingdom Chirurgeon, or a duly-delegated
administrative superior in the Chirurgeonate (e.g., a Chirurgeon-in-Charge
at an Interkingdom event)." The Board returned this policy change for
clarification.

Grand Council

The Council continues to work on revision of its charter.

Legal Committee

In the Third Quarter of 2004, the Legal Committee continued work on its
compilation of a list of states that require the notarization of minor
medical authorizations, as well as its work on the preparation of minor
equestrian waiver forms.  The Committee clarified that the equestrian waiver
forms and signage guides submitted to the Board of Directors last Quarter
applies only to adults, and are valid only in the United States.  The
Committee discussed liability and possible SCA policy issues regarding
individual groups' practice of holding potlucks and feasts, and concluded
that, due to the wide variance in local laws, the only feasible SCA policy
regarding this issue is that the SCA may want to issue a statement to the
effect that all groups must comply with their own state and local laws
pertaining to food service.


Executive Session

Revocation and Denial of Membership - John Dyer

Chairman Moore ordered this item remanded to the January 2005 meeting.

Absolute Banishment/ Revocation and Denial of Membership - Wyman Taylor

Motion by Jason Williams to uphold the absolute banishment of Wyman Taylor
(Wyman) imposed by Wernhaus and Lailianne, King and Queen of Meridies, on
July 17, 2004. Seconded by Gary Raine. In favor: Jeff Brown, Dena Cady, Gary
Raine, Lis Schraer, Jason Williams. Opposed: none. Motion carried.

Motion by Jason Williams to revoke and deny the membership of Wyman Taylor
(Wyman) of the Kingdom of Meridies, effective October 23, 2004 through
December 31, 2005. Further, at the end of this period, any combat
authorization must be performed under the direct supervision of the Earl
Marshal of the kingdom in which he resides. Seconded by Jeff Brown. In
favor: Jeff Brown, Dena Cady, Gary Raine, Lis Schraer, Jason Williams.
Opposed: none. Motion carried.

Absolute Banishment - Abrahm Polasky

Motion by Lis Schraer to uphold the absolute banishment of Abrahm Polasky
(Ulfheddin Thrainsson) imposed by Cuan and Paidraigin, King and Queen of
Atlantia, on July 17, 2004, and that the Society Seneschal be directed to
begin an investigation into a possible revocation and denial of membership.
Seconded by Dena Cady. In favor: Jeff Brown, Dena Cady, Gary Raine, Lis
Schraer, Jason Williams. Opposed: none. Motion carried.

Absolute Banishment - Anthony Tamboury

Motion by Dena Cady to uphold the absolute banishment of Anthony Tamboury
(Anton Polander) imposed by Jade and Eliana, King and Queen of the West, on
August 28, 2004, and that the Society Seneschal be directed to continue his
investigation into a possible revocation and denial of membership. Seconded
by Gary Raine. In favor: Dena Cady, Gary Raine, Lis Schraer, Jason Williams