From: schuldy@bedford.progress.COM (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Hand-kissing; Poor Autocrats; Books; Feast Terms
Date: 14 Apr 92 12:59:56 GMT
Organization: The Internet

Justin wrote:

  A'isha suggests that it would be difficult for a relatively poor gentle
  to autocrat a "large" event (where "large" is defined as being advertised
  in a Kingdom newsletter -- nothing large about that). I have to disagree
  here, at least somewhat. It is probably bad for someone poor to handle a
  *really* large event (ie, a 12th Night or something like that), because
  the phone bills involved could be quite large. For a normal event, however,
  (and *all* real events ought to be listed in the Kingdom newsletter),

Well, he said ought.  Corpora only requires that SCA events be listed in a local
newsletter (Yes, I can cite chapter and verse).  It allows for local Kingdoms
to make for stronger laws.  In the East Kingdom (where Justin and I live),
the law (well policy-with-force-of-law) is to require Kingdom Newsletter
advertising.

I have all of this documented in exhaustive detail for the East, as part of
an email discussion I had a few weeks ago.  I've included the documentation
below my signature, so skip it unless you are really dedicated.

	Tibor
---------
Here is the results of some research I've done, which demonstrate
that you must send an event announcement to Pikestaff to hold a
Kingdom Event.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Why East Kingdom Events must be published in Pikestaff.

I quote herein, from Corpora Revision 3, October 1989 and Pikestaff
Law and Policy Issue XXVI, copyright 1991.

Appendix A of Corpora cites the precedence of law in the Society. In
the first paragraph of that section, it cites "the absolute precedence
of law issued by civil authorities over any of its [SCA Inc's] rules."

There are no civil laws that I'm aware of, that care about what makes
an SCA event official.

Again, from Appendix A:
Within the society, in decending order of precedence, the rules are:
	The By-Laws of the Society
	The Corpora of the Society
	The Governing and Policy Decisions of the Society
	Kingdom Law (within the Kingdom which enacts it)
	Decision of the Crown (within Kingdom, and for the current reign)
	Principality Law (within the Kingdom and Principality which enact it)
	Decision of The Coronet (within the Principality for the current reign)

The list officially ends there, noting that "... organizational charters
have no force whatsoever."

The By-Laws discuss meetings of the Board of Directors of the Society,
only, and do not apply here.

Here is what Corpora says about events. Especially note the last
several lines.  Section II.A:
  The term "Society event" refers to tournaments, feasts and other
  activities whereby participants can display the results of their
  researches into period culture and technology in an environment
  which evokes the atmosphere of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
  It also refers to educational activities involving either one-time
  classes or ongoing 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 and
  publicized at least to the membership of that branch, and
  conducted according to Society rules.

However, Corpora Section V.1.h mandates that Kingdom's create their
own body of Kingdom Law.  In Governing and Policy Decision #2, you
can read about that:
  Corpora serves as a framework for the structure of the medieval
  organization of the Society.  Kingdoms may follow custom or make
  law in areas where Corpora is silent, as long as they remain
  consistent with the general approach embodied herein.  They may
  also impose additional rules and requirements for branches, offices,
  and awards within their jurisdiction, but may not reduce or waive
  any requirement specified in Corpora.  (Note: This policy applies
  only to Corpora, and conveys no authorization to modify provisions
  of the By-Laws.)  (See By-Laws XIII).

By-Laws XIII deals with the BOD's right to create and modify Corpora
and the Governing and Policy Decisions.

I think I've demonstrated 2 things above.  One, it's not Corpora that
requires publication in Pikestaff (the local newsletter would do).
Two, East Kingdom Law is permitted to be more stringent than the
Corporation law (It is, I'll get to that).

The Laws of the East Kingdom, contain, as a first item I.A:
  "Only those laws listed here along with the By-Laws and Corpora of
  the Society for Creative Anachonism, Inc. are in effect on the
  East Kingdom"

Part V.A.1.a lists the Kingdom Seneschal as a Great Officer of State.

Section V (Concerning Kingdom Officers) contains V.B.1.f which gives
powers to the Kingdom Seneschal, and others, to control their office:
  "Officers of State have the authority to make policy for the
  discharge of their offices and their subordinates duties within
  the limits of their offices. All such rules and regulations shall
  be printed in Pikestaff at least once per year."

The duties of the Seneschal are in V.C.1:
  "Seneschal"
  a. Acts as advisor in the legal and governmental activities of the
     Sovereign, Consort and citizens of the Kingdom.
  b. Acts as the chief co-ordinating officer of the Kingdom in fulfilling
     the reporting function to the Steward and the Board of Directors.
  c. Is responsible for the Lesser office of Archivist with regards to
     the files in their possesion.
  d. Is responsible for the Lesser Office of Chatelaine.
  e. Is responsible for the Lesser Office of Chancellor Minor."

This "governmental" activities places the Seneschal in a position to
create policy over events.  Certainly, none of the other positions even
come close to that authority.  The section on Duties and Powers of the
Crown (Part II) does not even begin to delegate this authority to the
them.  In fact, they have little specific authority required of them.

Part VII describes events, and lists those events that are to be
considered Kingdom Events.  Most of our events are not Kingdom Events,
so none of that section applies.  However, it is amusing to note the
publication requirements for Kingdom Evens, as listed: none.

So, East Kingdom Law does not require notification either, but it does
allow the Seneschal to publish policies that apply, as part of the
administration of the office.  Part II of "The Policies of the Seneschal"
discusses events.  II.1.D states that:
  "All branches must establish and make known to their members the
   procedure for sponsoring and scheduling of local events."
I believe that the handout from Kobiyashi (local Seneschal) states that
events must be in Pikestaff, and that filling out those forms constitutes
our local sponsoring and scheduling.  However, even if it doesn't mention
publication, there is more.

Part II.1.E states "All event announcements must appear in Pikestaff
no later than the month in which the events will occur, and conform to
the requirements of the Chronicler's Office."

This implies that event announcements are part of a branch event being
official, given that it is one item in a list of requirements. Perhaps
it could be worded more forcefully, but there it is.

Further on, in the section on the duties of the local seneschal, it
get's even clearer: IV.7.M "... You should see to it that your branch
has a procedure for planning and sponsoring its events and activities,
and that the necessary event information is sent to Pikestaff on time."

Is the Chronicler allowed to control Pikestaff?  Well, the same section
that lists the Seneschal as a Great Officer of State (V.A.1) lists
the Kingdom Chronicler as point V.A.1.e, and the responsibilities
of the Chronicler are enumerated in V.C.5.b where it says:
  "Is the editor of, or supervises the editor of, the Kingdom newsletter
  Pikestaff, and is responsible for publishing all required announcements,
  notices of official events, Kingdom Law, and the like."

So, what are the requirements of the Chroniclers Office, that were
referenced above in the Seneschals Policy (II.1.E)?  Section B.1
says: "All events held in the East Kingdom should be announced at least
once in Pikestaff".

There you have it.  A clear instruction that events must be announced
in Pikestaff, and a trail of responsibility that starts at the top,
and comes all the way down.  To be an official event, you must publish
in Pikestaff.