Printer-friendly copy
Top (IC) - Guild Forums Rangers Guild topic #10070
View in linear mode

Subject: "Ranger Revised Charter " Previous topic | Next topic
sylvannaMon Jul-15-13 03:50 AM
Charter member
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
"Ranger Revised Charter "
Mon Jul-15-13 04:38 AM by sylvanna

          

Greetings Rangers!

As you are all aware, there has been some controversy lately regarding election rules and our charter. After much discussion, the guild officers have come to a decision regarding the election rules and charter. The changes will only affect the election rules, as per Guild Ops request/requirement, to reflect the overall lower number of Rangers roaming the Realm.

We have taken into consideration your voiced express dislike of forced charter change, so we are limiting these changes to specifically comply with GuildOps request only. If the guild as a whole would like further changes, that can be addressed separately via a Ranger Council, as we have historically done things.

Also, as stated previously, in the interest of fairness, we will be re-holding the June GM elections, and be holding them according to the new Charter Rules. Elections will begin on the 15th, and will be posted separately.

The charter will be posted below this announcement. We hope to make this a smooth transition. The changes are minor in the grand scheme of things, and in the best interest of the Guild as a whole. Thanks so much for your cooperation and understanding!

Simply...Sylvanna, Rangers GM

------------------------------------------------
Rangers' Guild Charter



The Rangers Code:

Rangers share a special existence and must maintain a balance within themselves. The Forest accepts all classes of beings and encourages diversity in experience, skills and knowledge. Our quest for knowledge is so strong, we do not judge those who think or act differently. Like our ancestors we retreat to the forests to learn new ways, not condemn or judge those who may think differently. We all walk different paths and must respect that all paths may lead to the same destination of truth.

The community as a whole is neutral, which means we accept all philosophies within our ranks without judging. As long as one is committed to the protection of the forests and the pursuit of knowledge, commitment to evil or good is irrelevant. We are open-minded and seek to learn from all people so that we may grow in our own prowess.

Rangers are the shining example of resourcefulness and self-sufficiency. We work well with others but prefer solitude, for our power lies within us and the knowledge we obtain. We set the highest standards for all to follow and admire, for we ruthlessly face challenges without hesitation or cowardice. We believe there is nothing we cannot gain or achieve. We are a responsible and sensible group; we are conscientious and courteous. We defy tyranny and conquer our enemies with voracity and swiftness. We strive for balance in our many skills. Though we are compassionate, we do not suffer fools for we are industrious and ambitious. We are explorers and quick to learn other arts because we believe information is power.

Rangers must keep the exact entrance to the Guild a secret. Only those willing to protect the forest from those who would retake this land, the trolls, are to be given hints in finding our fabled tree. They must find it on their own; so that we can be sure they have the ability to survive the rigors that we nearly succumbed to so long ago.

Although we are usually solitary, it is necessary that we help each other as much as possible. The strong sense of individuality is tempered by the overriding loyalty to the community. One cannot protect the forest alone, the community working as a whole must be united against the enemies of the forest. Therefore for the community that defines what you are and teaches you the way you live and survive comes first.

Remember that since we are a community and we depend on each and every individual to make the community successful, we must help the fledgling Rangers to succeed. Individuality is important as one must be able to depend on their own council, but if you do not sponsor and assist the newer members to also be able to do this, in just a few generations, the Ranger community will have lost the battle. Keep in mind however, that assistance must be merited and earned. Teach the younger to fish, don't fish for them. More importantly, cheating will not be tolerated, as cheating is not in character for the roleplay of a Ranger in any way.

The community is paramount to the survival of the forest, which is the reason the community was even created in the first place. Even though Rangers are autonomous in their individuality the leaders of the community still hold some authority. This is the authority over the community as a whole, and without some form of leadership the community would perish as each initiative taken would not be coordinated with any other, and things would be in conflict and eventually fall apart. In this light, the Ranger understands the importance of respecting authority of the community, and respecting the authority of the powers that be--the Immortals and Heroes of the land. Likewise, all those in positions of authority realize and accept their responsibility to the forest. They acknowledge that all voices are equally important and all opinions must be carefully weighed in the pursuit of balance and fairness. The lines of communication shall always remain open and every Ranger has the right to voice their opinions, thoughts or ideas to any Guild Officer or the Guild Heroes.

The original community of Rangers was not an official Guild, but with Roachmill's acceptance as a Guildmaster the leaders of the community and Roachmill appealed to the council of Guilds and were soon accepted as an official Guild of Terris. The attitude of the Guild is still the attitude of the community, regardless of its official status.

Mission Statement:
The Rangers are a family of self-sufficient individuals committed to exploring the realm, protecting the forests, and forging their own paths. Rangers are the pioneers of the realm, standing at the forefront of the battle for new frontiers. Rangers utilize their training in tactics both individual and community based to: master new situations, solve problems, and help the community survive in the harsh world of Terris.

The Community:
The community is a conglomeration of Ranger ego, individuality, and self- reliance. This at times may seem to be a paradox, but the very existence of the community requires the solidarity and semi-autonomy of the individual Ranger. Every Ranger is equal in the eyes of the forest and all have a voice which needs to be heard. As a family, no one Ranger is better than any other. Any Ranger who wishes to become involved in the nourishing of the forest is invited to do so. Each Guild Officer organizes and maintains a program which is always in need of fresh faces and new ideas..

Leadership:
Guild Master/Mistress (GM)
The GM is the leader of the Guild and upholds the ideals, values, and codes of the Guild. The GM is viewed as the example for all to follow and maintains the highest standards. The GM is responsible, wary, understanding, objective and fair. Although the GM is a political figure, the GM will not possess the qualities that a traditional politician has for the GM is a Ranger in mind, spirit, and ideals like any other.

1. The GM is responsible for making decisions concerning the physical maintenance and development of the Guild after consultation with the Guild Patrons
2. Is responsible for keeping track of the Guild locker and the treasury and tracking experience tithed by member.
3. Has the duty to hold fair and impartial elections. Advance notice will be given to the Guild in the event staff support is not available, and announce when the elections will occur.
4. Has the ability to settle disputes among members within the Guild and is expected to judge with fairness, objectivity, and discernment
5. Has the ability in settling disputes concerning the Guild and in it’s best interest, with full Guild power
6. Speaks for the Guild and all of its members and is directly responsible for addressing and resolving disputes or issues outside of the Guild
7. Is responsible for defending and protecting members to the best of his or her ability
8. Has a duty to provide guidance and advice to members when possible
9. Has the discretion to award or sell members items from the Guild locker
10. Has the discretion to set Guild titles and the requirements of earning them
11. Has the discretion to summon members into the Guild,
12. Has the obligation and duty not to use the position for personal gain
13. Has the responsibility and duty of setting the example for the whole Guild
14. Has the duty to keep members well informed of decisions in the name of the Guild through posts on the message boards, meetings, or announcements
15. Has the duty to hear comments, suggestions, and complaints of members to the best of the GM's ability and has the power to make decisions if necessary

Guild Lieutenant(s) (GLs)
The Guild Lieutenants are held to the descriptions listed from #7-15 at all times and, conservatively, #1-6 in the absence of the GM. They provide additional leadership to the Guild and have some powers invested in them for the benefit of the Guild. These individuals must consult and report all actions taken on the behalf of the Guild to the GM immediately and consult with him or her on a regular basis. Additionally each GL is entrusted with additional responsibilities depending on the program they oversee. The programs are managed by the GL with the assistance of the GM and Rangers.

Guild Lieutenant Descriptions

Guild Scribe:
The Guild Scribe acts as the Historian of the Guild, ensuring that all of our history is passed down to future generations of Rangers. This position shall focus on keeping the oral tradition of history alive. This Guild Officer will work to present Historical and Personal Tales to the guild and keep track of history as it happens, ensuring it is a fair and accurate representation, even if that means occasionally including conflicting perspectives of the same occurrence. Automated record keeping on the message boards is not tracked by the Scribe.

Mentor's GL:
The Mentor's GL is responsible for running the Mentorship Program and enforcing the Program guidelines. These GLs are responsible for recruiting new Mentors, ensuring they are properly trained, welcoming new Rangers and providing them an opportunity to receive a mentor if desired. They will also assist newcomers in conflicts, represent their voice in Guild Officer meetings, and provide instruction relevant to their development and growth. They set examples for all to follow and are key to helping all Rangers discover their True Ranger spirit. The Mentor's GLs must be extremely organized in order to maintain a database containing information on every mentor and student to ensure both parties are progressing well.

The Huntmaster/Mistress:
This individual will be primarily responsible for scheduling and overseeing the running of regularly held guild wide hunts. He/she will appoint others to help conduct the hunts and ensure that the hunters are able to conduct the hunts in an appropriate manner. Guild hunts are not to be held so that people may get specific kills; they are roleplay exercises, opportunities to explore new areas, work on hunting tactics and earn Guildtithe and gold for the Guild. The Huntmaster/Mistress will ensure that a wide variety of hunts are held so that Rangers of all levels can participate, learn and have fun.

Events GL:
Overseeing the Task Force this GL will ensure fundraisers, social events and games that are conducted on a weekly basis. Events shall be posted regularly. This GL coordinates activities for all Rangers regardless of experience. Activities should be geared towards enhancing roleplay, the spirit of community and increasing the amount of relaxation time each Ranger has when not hunting. The events are varied and require someone extremely creative and organized to run them. This individual must also work well with his or her team, driving them to become more active, more successful, constantly striving for innovation and finding new paths within the Guild.

Elections:
Guild Officers (GO) include the Guild Master/Mistress (GM) and three Guild Lieutenant (GL) positions. Alternating GM and GL elections will be held every 6 RL months. A full GL election will always take place in March and September. The GM election will always take place in June and December. There are two exceptions to this:
1. Vacancy. If a GO position is vacated mid-term, it will be filled by appointment to meet the needs of the Guild. Appointees will be nominated and voted on by the Patron, Hero and remaining GOs.
a) Vacancies will be filled by appointment as soon as possible after notice is given, or replacement directed.
b) Any appointed GO position filled midterm will be up for election at the next scheduled election for that office, regardless of duration held.
2. Vote of Confidence. 5 registered members petition the Patron for a vote of no confidence because they are displeased with a particular officer. If the grievences are found to be valid, this will result in a mid-term election taking place for that position only. The officer being petitioned against may run in this election. In this case, the newly elected GO(s) (as per number 1 above) will retain office until the next scheduled election for that particular office, regardless of duration held.
3. Non-availability of Staff Support. Should administrative staff be unavailable the Guild must be flexible to push the elections to a later date. This also means the next elected Guild Officers may not hold office an entire six month term. The GM is responsible to inform the guild members of the schedule change prior to elections.

During elections, a nomination period is initially held. Guild members will be given two weeks advance notice of the upcoming election. The nomination and voting periods will each last one week.
To be placed on the ballot, you must meet the following candidacy requirements:
.
1. Any Ranger who wishes to run in any election, and meets all the other eligibility requirements, may run by posting their intent on the nomination thread.
2. You must commit to a minimum of 25 hours per month of in game time and work on any additional projects pertinent to the project. Failure to keep up with these duties for a period of one month will result in a verbal warning from the GM. If the issues are not resolved then the GM and the divinities may dismiss you at their discretion (the same applies for the GM, but at a higher level). An exception to this is if you are going on vacation or having computer difficulties and inform the GM of the situation, but even then if you are unable to meet your duties for more than 3 months you will need to be replaced, though are welcome to run again.
3. You are expected to post appropriately in a respectful manner.
4. You must be willing to work on any of the Guild programs and to be switched amongst the programs as needed to meet the goals and needs of the Guild.

Eligibility Requirements pertain to the entire election process and affect you and any related personas. These include the following:
1. You must be a Ranger in good standing.
2. You must be free from staff warnings and/or probation. Such warnings include, but are not limited to major punishments from divinities such as voice removals, banishment and removal of land levels and/or guild levels. If you are unsure please seek out the Guild Hero/ine or Patron.
3. You must be a registered player in the Rangers' Guild.
4. You must not be a Baron or Guild Officer in another guild.
5. You must not be seeking office in a barony or other guild.
6. You may not campaign using gshouts.

Nomination requirements:

1. You may make only one post to announce your request, intent and position on issues.
2. Ranger GLs may run for the office of GM without putting their own position up for election.
3. You must have at least 24 hours of Game Time to nominate or vote in Ranger Elections.
4. The e-mail address for your ballot must match the one listed on your character. To set or change your email in game, please type newemail youremailaddress.

Voting Rules:
1. Votes are based on membership. Only one vote per OOC. If you have 6 Rangers in the guild, only one of them may vote.
2. Candidates may VOTE for themselves.
3. The ballot must be sent as requested and received by the deadline.
4. For GLs: Each Ranger may vote for 3 nominated Ranger of their choice. The top three Rangers with the highest number of total votes will be our new officers. For GM: Each Ranger may vote for 1 registered Ranger of their choice. The Ranger with the most votes will be the new GM.

Non-compliance with any of the above requirements will result in disqualification. Any valid dispute must be presented to the Guild Patron. All decisions regarding eligibility and/or disqualification will be made by majority vote from the Patron, Hero and the GOs that are not running for office.

Right to Petition:
Rangers have the right to voice concerns regarding the administration of the Guild in an appropriate manner without threat, snide or degrading remarks, or repercussion from said administration. Along with this right comes the requirement to offer respectful solutions. Every effort must be made to remedy the situation by consulting with the Guild Officers and Hero/Patron.

Petitions may be filed by 5 registered members of the Guild in the event of discrepancies or violations in the administration of the Guild and this Charter - which cannot be resolved by the GO’s. The petition must state the problem, a discussion of the situation, and recommended solution(s). This petition must be sent to the Guild Hero, Patron, and Guildops for review and remedy.

  

Printer-friendly copy | Top

Replies to this topic

erawanMon Jul-15-13 06:07 AM
Charter member
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#1. "RE: Ranger Revised Charter "
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Just wondering since the changes were not addressed individually, is there anything else other than:

The requirement of number of nominations has been removed. (Used to be 3, now only need one nomination to be placed on the ballot.)

The requirement not to be able to nominate oneself has been removed.

The maximum number of nominations has been removed. (The change from 3 means that one person could nominate 5 or more separate Rangers).

Vote of Confidence changed from 15 to 5.

Right to Petition changed from 15 to 5.


I don't agree with the maximum number change to basically unlimited or self nomination. Other than that - fine, fine, and fine.

I'm thinking there could have been a better solution, in my opinion. However the leaders are doing what they have been elected to do.

  

Printer-friendly copy | Top

dasfuchsMon Jul-15-13 05:35 PM
Member since Feb 14th 2004
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#2. "RE: Ranger Revised Charter "
In response to Reply # 0
Mon Jul-15-13 05:53 PM by dasfuchs

          

Changes to the wording of the Charter are listed in red, and assurances from the GM are in blue. I've broken it down into the simplest form I can:

Self nominations for elections are now allowed, no others required.

Petition to change the Charter requires
five registered members, and Sylvanna stated just above the document that, "If the guild as a whole would like further changes, that can be addressed separately via a Ranger Council, as we have historically done things."

A Vote of No Confidence requires the signatures of five registered members--with the proviso that the Patron find the concern listed to be a valid one. This additional safety net now keeps people from being able to oust the GM for idiotic reasons such as not shouting enough in the color purple. While this takes some of the power away from the Guild as a whole, it is an attempt to keep things "fair," I assume. While a "valid" reason was implied (and understood, one would hope) that caveat was not included in the Charter originally.


http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/dasfuchs/DasSiggy.jpg

Darkened Dasfuchs, Beloved
Peer of Woodtop
Ranger of Deori

  

Printer-friendly copy | Top

    
sylvannaMon Jul-15-13 06:25 PM
Charter member
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#3. "RE: Ranger Revised Charter "
In response to Reply # 2


          

The election process is indeed now 'self-nominaton'. You may nominate yourself, no other nomination is required.

Really, what this means is that any Ranger that otherwise meets all the requirements to run just needs to post their intent to be placed on the ballot.

Whether or not there are other ways or beter ways this could have been done is obviously debatable. But the bottom line is, GuildOps informed us that this change was mandatory, that 'no change' was not an option. Since we had nothing to debate, really nothing to vote on, we did this as a one time Patron-and-Guild Officers change, as per GuildOps directive. We did have a thorough discussion about this, and all came to an agreement about the end product.

If anyone else wants any further changes, they can request a Ranger Council, and it will be handled as we have always handled things in the past. And before anyone gets the brilliant idea to have a council to undo the changes that were just done, that is not an option

Many thanks to Das for making this much easier to read.

Regards,
Sylvanna, Rangers GM

  

Printer-friendly copy | Top

        
marigMon Jul-15-13 09:17 PM
Charter member
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#4. "RE: Ranger Revised Charter "
In response to Reply # 3


          

And in practical terms it doesn't really change a thing because it means the candidates that no one takes seriously simply won't get any votes in the election rather than failing to get the needed number of nominations.

There simply aren't enough Rangers active and interested in the job of GM or GL to split the field the way there were a decade ago.

-Marig

  

Printer-friendly copy | Top

Top (IC) - Guild Forums Rangers Guild topic #10070 Previous topic | Next topic
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.27
Copyright 1997-2003 DCScripts.com