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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
announcements-bounces@lists.sca.org
[mailto:announcements-bounces@lists.sca.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Jason Williams<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, April 19, 2006
11:49 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> announcements@lists.sca.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Announcements] Q2 2006
Chairman's Letter</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Q2 2006 Chairman’s Letter to the Membership – Myths and
Questions<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Over its 40 years of existence, a number of misconceptions have managed
to work their way into the SCA’s mythology. While some baffle the mind to
think how they might have evolved, others have more understandable origins.
Among the more persistent are the ones surrounding the Corporation, its
composition and operations. What follows are clarifications aimed at dispelling
prevalent myths and the answers to some of the most common questions. I hope
you find these of interest and value.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Myths<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>The Board recycles the same people
over and over again.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>While it is true that some Directors go on to become Corporate
officers, or vice versa, the number of “retreads” is surprisingly
low. As of this writing, there have been 84 Director terms since the inception
of the SCA’s Board of Directors. Only 10 people have served more than one
full term as a Director. Out of those 10, one served three full terms, three
served two full terms, five served one full and one partial term (to replace a
Director who had to step down early), and one served two partial terms. Also,
of the 74 people serving as Directors, only seven went on to become Corporate
officers, and of those seven only one served more than one term as a Director.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Part of the reason there have been repeat Directors is twofold. In some
instances, a sitting Director left before the end of their term. Normally, when
a new Director is chosen, that person has at least a quarter to get up to speed
and become familiar with policies, procedures and current issues. When someone
leaves early, that seat needs to be filled immediately, so it is better to fill
it with someone who is ready to go, such as a former Director. The second
reason is simpler: some individuals enjoy serving the SCA, and may throw their
hats into the nominee pool more than once.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>The Board and Corporate officers are
the same people.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The SCA’s Board of Directors consists of seven individuals.
Currently, there are five senior Corporate officers (not Board members) who
report to the Board, and therefore do not have the same decision-making
authority. In the past, it was routine for Directors to also hold a Corporate
officer position such as that of Treasurer or President. Today, this is no
longer the practice, though the Chairman of the Board could hold the
President’s position, this would only happen in an extreme case (and the
Chairman would have to be utterly insane to want to do both jobs, anyway). This
may account for the perception that the Board and Corporate officers are one
and the same.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Board members are paid.</span></font></i>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Not a penny – they are all volunteers. Aside from five salaried
and hourly staff members at the Corporate office, the only other officers who
receive any monetary compensation are the Society Seneschal, Society Exchequer,
Executive Assistant, the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>TI’s</span></i>
art director and editor, and the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Compleat
Anachronist’s</span></i> editor. And those remunerations are token
gestures at best. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>The SCA’s membership is
dwindling.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Membership in the SCA remains at all-time highs, and through all of
2005, there were more than 32,000 paid members. This figure does not take into
account the membership of the affiliate Corporations in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Finland</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region> and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>All the Directors always vote the
same way.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Board is composed of some of the Known World’s most forceful
personalities. It’s hard enough for us to agree on what kind of pizza to
order, let alone come to a consensus on issues with serious ethical
considerations. It is true that some issues do draw unanimous votes from the
Board, but certainly not all. Just taking sanctions as an example, since 1996,
the Board has had to vote on 238 motions (some individuals received multiple
sanctions). Of those, there were 28 occasions where the voting was not unanimous;
mostly because of casting a dissenting vote, though there were a couple
abstentions, as well. That is more than a 10-percent dissent rate. There were
also scores of motions where a Director recused themselves (a recusal is when a
board member removes themselves from discussion and voting). This usually
occurs when a Board member lives in the same Kingdom as the individual named in
the motion, or knows the individual well enough that impartiality might be
difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>You can only get on the Board if you
know someone already on the Board.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Since I have been on the Board, there was only one time that a majority
of the other Directors was even <i><span style='font-style:italic'>familiar</span></i>
with a nominee being considered. Sometimes, one or two of us will have
previously met a candidate, but more often than not, none of the Board members
knows the nominees beyond possibly name recognition. That is why input from the
membership is so important to us. We rely on the commentary we receive when
selecting new Directors. So, this is my opportunity to remind everyone reading
this column to send us your comments. If you have thoughts on one or more of
the nominees on the list, please send them to us. Your thoughts are invaluable.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Common Questions<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>How are Directors elected?</span></font></i>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>As a general rule, a new Director is chosen every six months at the
meeting prior to the one in which a Board member is due to step down.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In the weeks prior to voting, each Director reviews the list of
nominees kept by the Board’s recruitment ombudsman. Unlike the list you
may see published on the SCA’s web site, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Tournaments
Illuminated</span></i> or your Kingdom newsletter, the Board keeps a master
list that also contains the commentary sent to the Board regarding all the
nominees, that only the Directors ever see – never the Corporate or
Society Officers. It is worth noting that after a Director is elected, his or
her name and commentary are purged from the list, ensuring that members’
comments remain confidential. The Board also keeps a business résumé and an SCA
résumé that each nominee is asked to send in.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Each Director goes through the list, carefully reading the commentary
and résumés, and selects those candidates they feel best fit the current needs
of the Board. There are several reasons why a nominee might get passed over
– sometimes it’s because of the comments sent in by the membership;
other times the Board may be in need of specific professional or SCA
experience, such as a financial background or time in the marshallate.
Additionally, the Board likes to avoid having more than one person from a
particular Kingdom on at the same time. This is not a hard and fast rule,
merely a preference (there have been times when we have had two concurrent
Board members from the same Kingdom, but they are rare instances).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>When the Directors have each shared their short lists of candidates,
the Chairman asks the senior Corporate Officers and some Society Officers for
their thoughts. Some Board members will also make discreet, private inquiries
to gather more information prior to the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>At the meeting where the actual voting is to take place, each Director
shares their opinion on the candidates. Since the vote for selecting a new
Director must be unanimous, there is usually much discussion on the merits of
those under consideration before a vote is taken. Just because a nominee does
not get voted on at one meeting does not preclude them from ever being voted in
again. A nominee is not removed from the list unless their nomination expires,
they request their own removal or they are elected to the Board.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>There are circumstances where the selection of a Board member does not
occur on the six-month schedule. This usually happens when a Director ends
their term early because of resignation or removal. In such cases, an emergency
conference call may be called to fill the seat immediately. In order to
function, the Board need not continuously have all seven of its seats filled,
but it is best to operate with a full slate of Directors as much of the time as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Why have so many more sanctions been
handed down from the Board recently, and why would a person be sanctioned?<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>While it does seem as though there are an increasing number of
sanctions of SCA members and participants, here are some insights to put it in
perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The SCA has reached an all-time high of 32,000+ paid members, with an
estimated equal number of non-member participants. So, with a swell in members
and other participants, it is logical to expect an increase in the number of
sanctions that have to be imposed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In recent years, our membership, especially the officer corps at the
local and Kingdom levels, has become much better trained and educated in their
use of the SCA’s Governing Documents. The resultant improved
understanding of grievance and sanctions procedures means that those tools are
being used more often now. It is likely that proportionally, there were just as
many issues years ago as today, it’s just that people were not as aware
of the tools available to them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Today’s membership is less tolerant of those who transgress
modern laws or the SCA’s Governing Documents, or who endanger the Society
in some way. Members are more likely to hold each other accountable than in
years past. While specifics as to the nature of recent offenses can’t be
shared, we can say that it takes more than mild mistakes to warrant a sanction.
The most common reasons include: malfeasance, sexual misconduct, assault and
repeated disregard for the SCA's rules.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Also, bear in mind that almost all sanctions originate at the Kingdom
level, not Corporate. The Board does not go looking for sanctions to hand out,
and usually only gets involved if requested. Speaking for myself, it is the
single most distasteful part of my job as a Director, and I would just as soon
not have to do it. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact we have to contend with.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Board is always studying ways to help its membership along and
steer clear of behavior and activities that may land them in trouble. Above, I
said the SCA’s officer corps is better educated in how to begin the
sanctions process. I also believe it is better educated in how to help folks
avoid problems. The Society Seneschal has gone to great lengths to make sure
officers understand that sanctions are only a last resort, after all other attempts
to help have been exhausted.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Rumor, misperception and SCA-urban myth will never go away entirely.
It’s only natural that some of it will continue. But a few can have
counterproductive effects or be downright destructive, making the need for verification
of extreme assertions that much more important.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Have you got a myth you would like dispelled or a question you’d
like answered? Send an e-mail to chairman@sca.org and I’ll do my best to
answer.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Jason Williams – Chairman, SCA Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>(Duke John ap Gwyndaf, KSCA, OL)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Q3 ’06: inside the Corporate Office<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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