The Isles Circle of Fence, Proposed Charter v1.2

The Circle shall be an equal association of rapier fighters, dedicated to the improvement of their own, and their comrades skills, and to the advancement of period fencing in the Shire of the Isles and the Kingdom of Caid. Members are encouraged to pursue higher weapons authorizations, marshal, and scholar ratings.

Membership

The Isles Circle of Fence shall be composed of equal members who gain their status by Playing the Prize against their peers.

Privileges of Membership:

can style oneself as a member of the Circle
can wear the token of the Circle
can vote on issues raised before the Circle
can be an officer of the Circle
can represent the Circle in melees

Prerequisites to Play the Prize:

2/3 of present members do not object to the candidate
candidate must be authorized to fence in Caid
candidate must be a Rapier Marshal or Marshal in Training
candidate must have his(1) own legal armor and mask
candidate must have his own primary weapon
candidate must schedule the Prizefight at least a week in advance, for an Isles practice or a nearby event

Requirements 2-6 may be waived by 2/3 of the members of the Circle in attendance. The intent is that the candidate be an active fencer with a mostly complete set of gear, and the prize be a demonstration against the present members.

Playing the Prize:

The candidate will demonstrate skill-at-arms with single rapier, offensive and defensive secondaries, against all circle members in attendance, then answer challenges from others in attendance.(2)

The purpose is to give the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate his skills and chivalry against his new peers, not win X number of bouts. As such, the trial is "passed" unless the candidate is not satisfied with his own performance and wishes to try again.

It was traditional among the London Masters of Defense to provide refreshments when playing one's prize. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to provide food for their challengers.

Initial Membership:

It will take some time for all potential candidates to meet the above requirements and play their prizes. Until four months have elapsed since the acceptance of this charter, and the Circle has four members, all functions of the Circle, except wearing its token, are open to all interested residents of Isles.

Leaving the Circle:

Any member of the Circle, may leave the Circle at any time, by announcing his intentions verbally or in writing. It is hoped that a reason would be given to help pre-empt the same cause in the future.
With very good cause, and after discussion with the member in question, a 3/4 vote of the Circle may remove a member.
The Circle, and its members, shall treat ex-members with the same dignity and respect as those who aspire to membership.

Officers

Officers are necessary to accomplish certain affairs of the Circle. However, such hierarchy undermines the equal nature of a circle, and should be limited to specific needs of the group. Titles are chosen to be as humble as possible, and exact duties will be designated by the Circle.

Offices shall be created by a 2/3 vote of the Circle, and designate the duties of the office. Contested offices are subject to a majority vote, and a term of one year. Any officer may be recalled, or any office dissolved, by a 2/3 vote of the Circle.

Suggested Offices:

Usher:: Schedules practices, looks after required paperwork (i.e. quarterly reports to kingdom, waivers, broken blade reports), schedules and announces prize-fights
Scribe:: Maintains Circle census & mailing list, solicits and collects votes on matters before the circle.
Porter(s):: Collects, hauls around, and maintains loaner gear
Clerk:: Maintains, collects, and distributes any money the Circle ever has need for, as for presentations, loaner gear, etc.

Bylaws

The Circle will be democratic, and all decisions will be subject to vote. Each member shall have one vote, to be tallied by the Scribe, and collected over a long enough period to allow everyone a chance to vote, or until the enough pro or con votes clinch the outcome.

The following decisions require a simple majority among those voting:

Electing an officer for a contested office
Overruling the decision of an officer
Deciding whether the Circle will participate in an event
Spending money not attained by collection from members
Other binary decisions not discussed below

The following decisions require a 2/3 majority among those voting: Creation, specification, or dissolution of an office, recall of an officer.

Waiving a requirement for playing the prize.
Refusing to allow a candidate to play the prize.
Spending money attained by collection from members

Expelling a member requires a 3/4 majority among the entire Circle:

Relationship with the Shire of Isles

Although the Circle is (unless otherwise designated by the Shire) simply an association of like-minded shire members, it is understandable that we may take up a position of leadership in Shire rapier activities, either by holding Shire offices (i.e. Territorial Rapier Marshal), or by containing among our number many of the Isles fencers. Therefore:

all public practices will be open to the populace
members who also hold Shire offices shall first consider their duties to the shire, even if their decisions are detrimental to the Circle.
officers of the Circle shall not suggest to outsiders that they have authority in Shire matters

Very Small Notes:

To prevent carpal tunnel, /she is omitted from wherever it belongs. Besides, this was the period approach to gender-neutrals.
As required by Society law, any of these challenges may be refused by either party, without offering an explanation, but it is hoped that the Circle will remain congenial enough that this expedient will never be necessary.

Isles Circle of Fence

Last Updated 11/24/07 by Todde mac Donnell.