The Rules and Policies of The Barony of Blackstone Mountain

It is the desire of the populace of the Barony of Blackstone Mountain to codify its traditions for territory, behavior, and requirements of office. The People of the Barony do hereby ordain and establish these Rules and Policies, subject to the approval of the Kingdom Seneschal and at the pleasure of Their Majesty. These rules and policies are subject only to the populace who make their primary residence within the Barony's geographic boundaries. It shall be understood that these Rules and Policies are implemented subject to Federal, State, and Local Laws, and The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. Order of Precedence of Law stated in Corpora.

I. Policy Changes.

A. Only an officer of the Barony, Kingdom, or the Society for Creative Anachronism may call for a change in the baronial policies. B. Proposed changes must be announced at the regular baronial meeting. C. Vote on said changes will take place at the following regular baronial meeting. D. Voting is covered under Article III, Section E.

II. Officers.

A. Requirements.

1. Baronial offices are as defined by Corpora and Kingdom Law and policy. 2. Baron and Baroness are special offices and are not subject to policies contained under Article II. 3. Additional offices may be created by a majority vote of the baronial officers. 4. Additional offices are subject to Kingdom approval. 5. All officers must be residents of the Barony of Blackstone Mountain. 6. All officers must maintain a subscribing membership to the Society for Creative Anachronism membership for their entire term of office.

B. Responsibilities of Officers.

1. Officer’s responsibilities shall be those outlined in Corpora and Kingdom Law and policy. 2. Additional responsibilities.

a. Seneschal, or an appointed representative, shall hold Baronial meetings at least once a month, except in August. b. Seneschal, or an appointed representative, shall hold baronial meetings at a site and time to be announced no later than the previous baronial meeting. c. Additional Seneschal’s responsibilities are covered under Article VI, and IX. d. The knight marshal must hold at least one Baronial practice a month. e. Meeting attendance.

i. All officers are required to attend at least seven meetings per calendar year. ii. All officers are required to send a representative with a written report to all missed meetings. iii. Officers who miss meetings, without sending a representative with a written report, are subject to being removed from their office by a majority vote of officers at the following meeting. iv. Removal is subject to approval by kingdom superior if applicable.

f. Each officer is responsible for the promotion of activities inherent to their office and requirements set upon them by their kingdom superiors.

C. Deputies.

1. Any office required by Kingdom Law is required to have a deputy. 2. All other officers are encouraged to have a deputy. 3. An officer may appoint a deputy who meets the requirements listed herein. 4. Deputies are to be knowledgeable in the responsibilities of the office and prepared to assume these responsibilities at any time. 5. Should an officer resign, or become unable to perform the required duties, the deputy shall take over the office until the original officer can resume or until the regular election date.

D. Term of Officers.

1. Term of office shall be for 24 months. 2. No officer may run for more than two consecutive terms.

E. Succession of Officers.

1. Officer resignation/removal.

a. If the office has a deputy then see Article II, Section C, Paragraph 5. b. If there is no deputy the Seneschal must appoint a volunteer to hold the office until the regular election date or until the original officer can resume. c. Kingdom superiors may remove any baronial officer. d. Kingdom superiors may veto any baronial officer.

2. Officer election procedure is outlined under Article VIII, Section A. 3. Whenever an office changes hands it is the responsibility of the outgoing officer to transfer all files and Baronial property relating to the office to the successor, or to the Seneschal, at or before the next business meeting and to notify the kingdom superior of the change in office.

III. Business Meetings.

A. Meetings shall be held within the greater Charleston area unless two third of the officers vote to move said meeting at the previous month’s meeting. B. Meeting date, and time is covered under Article II, Section B, Paragraph 2, Subsection a & b. C. Officer attendance is covered under Article II, Section B, Paragraph 2, Subsection e. D. The location, date, and time of the meeting must be published in baronial newsletter. E. Voting procedures.

1. Unless otherwise stated herein decisions are made by a consensus of the people attending a baronial meeting. 2. Any Baronial member may call for a vote. 3. To vote you must be at least 14 years of age, and be able to provide proof of age. 4. A plurality of the votes cast decides the issue. 5. Absentee votes, signed by the member, are acceptable if accompanied by proof of membership. 6. Proxy votes or unsigned absentee votes are not acceptable. 7. Simple issues may be settled by a show of hands unless objected to by someone in attendance.

F. All business meetings shall be open to all comers. G. The rights of the Seneschal.

1. The Baronial Seneschal, or a representative, shall preside over a baronial meeting. 2. The Baronial Seneschal, or a representative, has the sole right to call a halt to a debate when it becomes heated or personal.

H. Business may be performed at a meeting only in the presence of a majority of the baronial officers.

IV. Publication.

A. The barony will have a newsletter for the dissemination of news and other information of interest to the barony. B. The Baronial newsletter shall be known as The Banner. C. The construction, editing, publishing, and distribution of The Banner shall be the responsibility of the Baronial Chronicler. D. The Baronial chronicler shall follow the guidelines set forth by their Kingdom counterpart. E. All fees for The Banner are to be handled solely by the Exchequer. F. A courtesy copy of The Banner will be sent to their majesties, kingdom seneschal and kingdom chronicler with each publication. G. Every April these policies will be published in The Banner in their entirety.

V. Finances.

A. Expenditures.

1. Expenditures of \\$50.00 or less must be authorized jointly by the Baronial Seneschal and Exchequer. 2. Expenditures of over \\$50.00 must be approved by a majority of the baronial officers. 3. All expenditures must be reported at the following baronial meeting. 4. Events.

a. Officers will not approve expenditures for proposed events unless they are presented with a written event bid. b. All funds from events must be turned over to the Baronial Exchequer or Baronial Seneschal. c. Funds from the event must be turned over no later than 5:00 p.m. of the day after the end of the event unless a later date is prearranged. d. Event reports are due no later than 30 days following the event as per kingdom exchequer policy.

B. Reimbursements.

1. Reimbursements require a receipt or copy of the original invoice. 2. All reimbursements of  $50.00 or less must be authorized jointly by the Baronial Seneschal and Exchequer. 3. All reimbursements of over $50.00 must be approved by a majority of the baronial officers. 4. All reimbursements must be reported at the following baronial meeting.

C. Signatures.

1. All Baronial checks will require two signatures. 2. People to be on signature card.

a. The Seneschal shall be on the signature card. b. The Exchequer shall be on the signature card. c. The Kingdom Exchequer shall be on the signature card. d. A third officer of the barony, selected jointly by the Seneschal and Exchequer, who does not reside with either the Seneschal or Exchequer, shall be on the signature card.

VI. Events.

A. Bids submission.

1. All bids for baronial events must be submitted for approval at a baronial meeting. 2. The deadline for submissions will be set by the Seneschal and will be no later than three months before said event. 3. The Seneschal must call for prospective autocrats to submit a bid for annual baronial events no later than four months before the event date. 4. The choosing, and acceptance, of an event bid will be decided by a vote as outlined under Article III, Section E. 5. Bid Content.

a. The bid must be presented in writing. b. The bid must contain, at a minimum, the name of the autocrat, a site, a budget, and a break-even analysis.

B. Event finances and reporting are covered under Article V.

VII. Awards.

A. There shall be baronial orders that may be given at the discretion of Their Excellency. B. The Baronial orders shall all be equal in precedence. C. Their Excellency may create additional orders at any time. D. Adding an order to these policies does not require a vote. E. Orders.

1. Order of the Sable Anvil

a. This order is given for excellence in the arts and sciences. b. Companions of this order may display its badge as registered by the College of Arms: Fieldless a rose proper atop anvil sable.

2. Order of the Onyx

a. This order is given for excellence in service to the barony. b. Companions of this order may display its badge as registered by the College of Arms: (when passed)

3. Order of the Sable Bear

a. This order is given for excellence in the martial arts. b. Companions of this order may display its badge as registered by the College of Arms: Fieldless a bear rampant countoury sable.

VIII. Election Procedures.

A. Officer Elections.

1. Dates of elections.

a. The officer voting process will be at the May meeting. b. On even numbered years Seneschal, Herald, Minister of the Lists, and Knight Marshal shall be voted upon. c. On odd numbered years Exchequer, Chirurgeon, Chatelaine, and Chronicler shall be voted upon. d. Any additional offices shall be voted upon on even numbered years.

2. Officers will be voted upon by secret ballot. 3. The officers not being voted on in the election will count the ballots, individually. 4. To vote you must be able to present proof of paid membership to the Society for Creative Anachronism in the form of a membership card, proof of membership embossed with the Society for Creative Anachronism seal, or the mailing label from the kingdom newsletter. 5. To vote you must be at least 14 years of age, and be able to provide proof of age. 6. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast will hold the office. 7. All other voting procedures are covered under Article III, Section E.

B. Baronial Elections.

1. Baronial election will determine the next titular head of the Barony. 2. The Baronial seneschal oversees baronial elections. 3. The Baronial seneschal may not be a candidate in the baronial election. 4. The Baronial election ballot will also include a poll to determine group status.

a. Remain a Barony. b. Become a Province. c. Dissolve into shires. d. Dissolve completely.

5. To vote you must be able to present proof of paid membership to the Society for Creative Anachronism in the form of a membership card, proof of membership embossed with the Society for Creative Anachronism seal, or the mailing label from the kingdom newsletter. 6. To vote you must be at least 14 years of age, and be able to provide proof of age. 7. The deadline will be clearly printed on the ballot and announced at the meeting prior to the mailing. 8. Mailing labels will be obtained from the Office of the Registrar in Milpitas, CA. 9. It is the responsibility of each member to ensure that his or her current address is correctly listed with the Office of the Registry. 10. Obtaining a ballot.

a. The Baronial polling/election will be a mailed poll requiring a mailed return to the Kingdom Seneschal, or appointed representative, postmarked by the deadline stated on the printed ballot. b. It is the responsibility of the individual to contact the Baronial Seneschal no later than seven days before the deadline if they did not receive a ballot. c. If the individual does not want their second ballot mailed they must arrange to pick it up at the Seneschal’s convenience. d. A third ballot will not be issued.

11. All polls must be delivered via U.S. mail. 12. No poll will be accepted by hand delivery. 13. Counting of the votes.

a. The ballots will remain sealed until the meeting. b. The polls will be counted at the regularly scheduled baronial meeting following the ballot deadline. c. The status poll will be counted first followed by the baronial poll. d. The Kingdom Seneschal, or appointed representative, the current Baron and/or Baroness, and the Baronial Seneschal will count the votes. e. If any of the above are candidates in the election then a replacement shall be selected by a majority vote of the Baronial officers.

14. The candidate(s) receiving a plurality of the votes cast will hold the office. 15. The Baronial polling/election must be completed six months before the end of the current Barons/Baroness term.

IX. Baron and/or Baroness of Blackstone Mountain

A. Rights.

1. This position is subject to the residency requirements for officers set forth in Corpora and Kingdom Law and policy and shall serve at the pleasure of the Crown. 2. To give Baronial awards as outlined under Article VII. 3. To display the arms of the barony as registered with the College of Arms. 4. To delegate the carrying of the baronial arms. 5. To appoint a baronial guard who will serve at their Excellencies pleasure.

B. Selection.

1. The Baronial Seneschal will announce the availability of the office of Baron & Baroness twelve months prior to the end of the term. 2. The Baronial Seneschal will announce the availability of the office of Baron & Baroness at a regularly scheduled baronial meeting. 3. The availability of the office of Baron & Baroness shall be published in the baronial newsletter. 4. The Baronial Seneschal will ask for letters or intent from those gentles that wish to become Baron or Baroness. 5. Letters will contain:

a. SCAdian Name(s) b. Mundane Name(s) c. Address d. Telephone number e. The candidate’s reason to run. f. A brief synopsis of what the candidate(s) do and have accomplished. g. Proof of current paid Society for Creative Anachronism membership.

6. The letters of intent must be submitted to the Baronial Seneschal within one month of the published announcement. 7. The Baronial Seneschal will be responsible for sending copies of each candidate’s letter of intent to the Crown and the Kingdom Seneschal. 8. The letters of intent shall be published in The Banner. 9. The ballots will be mailed no later than two months after the letters of intent have been published in The Banner. 10. The election process is covered under Article VIII, Section B. 11. Upon completion of the election, a petition must be prepared by the Baronial Seneschal requesting investiture of the elected candidates that shall be sent to crown, and to the Kingdom Seneschal. 12. Any candidate for Baron or Baroness must be at least twenty-one years of age by the date of the baronial investiture.

C. Investiture.

1. Preferred investiture date is Saturday at Blackstone Raid. 2. Investiture date may be rescheduled at the convenience of the Baron/Baroness elect and the Crown.

D. Tenure.

1. The term of office shall be three years beginning the date of investiture by the Crown. 2. No one may run for more than two consecutive terms.

E. Resignation/Succession.

1. The Baron, or Baroness, has the right to resign at any time. 2. When resignation leaves the Barony without a titular head.

a. Intent to resign must be announced at a baronial meeting. b. A written letter of resignation must be submitted to the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal, and Baronial Seneschal. c. All Baronial regalia must be turned over to the Baronial Seneschal, or an appointed representative. d. The Crown may choose to appoint a Vicar to manage their lands until a new a new election and investiture are completed.