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-==The Constitution of Regia Anglorum==
+#Redirect [[Officers:The Code of Law]]
-i. This Constitution shall set down the rights of each of the members of
-Regia Anglorum
-ii. All members of Regia Anglorum are equally bound to comply with it,
-and with the other Regulations of Regia Anglorum. The Constitution
-and Regulations shall together be referred to as the ‘Code of Law’
-(CoL)
-iii. Within the CoL the use of pronouns of the third person shall be
-deemed to be generic of both number and gender.
-iv. Notes within the CoL are part of and have the authority of the CoL.
-v. The CoL shall be subject to review and reform by the High Witan of
-Regia Anglorum.
-===1. The Title===
-i. The Society, an Unincorporated Association, shall be called ‘Regia
-Anglorum’, and is hereafter referred to as ‘Regia’ or ‘the Society’ in this
-document
-ii. The Title of the Society shall not indicate a geographical area
-===2. Aims and Objectives===
-i. Regia shall be a non-religious, non-political and non-profit-making
-organisation
-ii. It shall recreate the society of the British Isles and their near neighbours in
-the period c. 950-1066 AD as authentically as practicable
-iii. It shall enable these recreations to inform, educate and entertain the
-general public.
-===3. The Government of the Society===
-i. Regia shall be governed by a committee (hereafter referred to as the
-‘High Witan’), made up of a delegate from each recognised local group
-within the Society, and the Society Officers elected by the High Witan
-(See R2 below).
-ii. Each local group within Regia shall be governed by a committee, made
-up of the chosen leader of that group, and such officers appointed by
-the group (see C5B below).
-iii. In the event of the winding up of the Society, the Society may sell or
-dispose of the whole or any part of the Society’s assets for such
-consideration as the Society may think fit.
-iv. In the event of the winding up of the Society, any assets remaining
-after the settlement of all debts of the Society will be deemed the
-common property of all members of the Society.
-===4. Membership of the Society===
-ii. Persons can only apply to join Regia through a local group, and are
-initially affiliated to the group through which they applied to join Regia
-(see R7iv below). Members can transfer their affiliation to another
-group.
-iii. Applications for membership may be made by any eligible person
-iv. Registered drug addicts are not eligible for membership of the Society.
-v. A member of the Society who is convicted of a criminal offence that is
-triable only by indictment or an either way offence, which is triable by
-either indictment or summarily, shall have their suitability for
-membership reviewed. Members who are in any doubt should consult
-their Group Leader or the Lawspeaker for advice. A member who is
-found to have concealed such information may have their membership
-revoked.
-a). Any review carried out under the above shall take place within 60
-days of the conviction or of the time when the conviction came to the
-attention of the Society
-b) Any such review shall be conducted according to the principles of
-Natural Justice and will be governed by sections 4A of the Constitution
-and 6 of the Regulations of the Society
-v. An applicant for membership of the Society who has been convicted of
-an offence as detailed in C4iv above shall only be admitted to
-membership at the discretion of his local Group Leader, who shall take
-the advice of the Society in each individual case. Any applicant who is
-found to have knowingly concealed such information at the time of
-application shall have their membership immediately revoked
-vi. Persons expelled from Regia Anglorum are not eligible to rejoin
-vii. Persons whose membership of the Society has lapsed (see C4Cii
-below) can only rejoin Regia by application to the group from which
-they lapsed. The Society reserves the right, expressed through the
-relevant local group, to refuse such application without explanation. If
-their membership has lapsed for more than 12 months then they must
-make a fresh application to join Regia through the group that operates
-in their area
-viii. All applications for membership must be sponsored by a Full Member
-of the local group to which the applicant will be affiliated. The
-sponsoring member is responsible for the conduct of the applicant at
-public events during his probationary period. This period comes to an
-end at the next public event attended by the new member after the
-committee of the group decides to confirm the membership of the new
-member (see C4Aii below) and shall be publicly marked.
-ix. Regia reserves the right to refuse membership to any applicant.
-x. Regia reserves the right to immediately expel from a public event any
-member who, whether by action or inaction, brings the Society into
-disrepute. Further punitive action may be taken by the member’s group
-or by the High Witan (see C4A and R6 below)
-xi. Regia reserves the right, expressed through the High Witan, to
-examine any behaviour, action or inaction occurring within the Society.
-xii. All Regia members, of whatever type, are bound by the Code of Law
-===4A. Probationary Membership===
-i. All applications for membership must be made on the Society’s current
-membership form. This must be completed according to the
-requirements of the Membership Officer and forwarded to him on
-completion with the capitation fee within 14 days. In addition to this, the
-local group shall inform the Society Membership Officer of the identity
-of any new member upon their recruitment.
-ii. Every new member of Regia joins for a probationary period. This shall
-last for a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve months, but within
-these limits shall be completed at the end of the sixth full day of
-costumed attendance at a Society event.
-iii. During this period, the Group (or the Society, through the High Witan)
-has the power to dismiss that person. In such cases, the membership fee
-shall be returned, kit and equipment issued, lent or purchased at cost from
-group stores must be handed back and a refund given by the group for the
-amount spent on such equipment according to condition. The decision of
-the Group (or the High Witan) allows of no appeal.
-iv. The Lawspeaker and MO shall be informed of the names of persons
-expelled by local groups under the above rule.
-v. Probationary periods may be extended by agreement of the local group
-and the member concerned
-vi. Once a member has been formally accepted, he can only be
-dismissed through a disciplinary hearing. Such hearings may only be held
-before:
-a) The Officers of the local group. In this case the member has the right
-to have the matter heard before an assembly of at least 67% of the
-local group.
-b) The HW, whether at its Business Meetings or at a meeting specially
-convened for the purpose.
-vii. Such disciplinary hearings must be held under R6 below
-===4B. Types of Membership===
-i. Full Membership. Any eligible person of the age of eighteen years or
-above may apply for Full Membership of Regia through the local group
-that operates in his area. A successful applicant may then fully
-participate in the activities and government of the Society and the local
-group of which he is a member. All Full members are eligible for
-consideration for Society or group office.
-ii. Associate Membership. Any eligible person of the age of eighteen
-years or above may apply for Associate Membership of Regia through the
-local group that operates in his area. Associate Membership is intended for
-those who wish to pursue academic or personal research. Associate
-Members may not participate in public events, nor in the government of the
-Society. Associate Members are ineligible for Society or group office.
-Associate members may become Full Members at any time, on payment of
-the difference in fees.
-iii. Junior Membership. . Any eligible person of the age of sixteen to
-eighteen years may apply for Junior Membership of Regia through the local
-group that operates in his area. A successful applicant may participate in any
-activity deemed suitable by his group leader. Junior members will be in the
-legal care and protection of their group leader at Regia events, unless
-one or more of their parents or legal guardians are present
-iv. Combatant Junior Membership A Junior member may apply to
-engage in combat after his sixteenth birthday with the permission of his group
-leader and his legal guardian(s). Such permission must be given in writing
-after the legal guardian(s) have attended at least one Society or local group
-training session. A combatant Junior Member at a Regia event must have
-satisfied the Society Training Officer that he is capable of and competent in
-combat. He must carry a black shield to indicate his status
-v. No Junior Member shall participate in the government of the Society.
-Junior Members are ineligible for Society or group office.
-vi. Family Membership. Children below the age of sixteen years of full
-adult members of the Society are eligible for Family Membership of Regia
-through the local group that operates in their area. A membership form must
-be completed by or for them and lodged with the Society Membership Officer.
-Parents, legal guardians or persons acting in loco parentis are entirely
-responsible for the safety and good conduct of the child, and that the child is
-dressed and equipped in the authentic costume of Regia’s period.
-vii. Temporary Membership. Any eligible person may apply for
-Temporary Membership of Regia through the local group that operates in his
-area. Temporary Membership of the Society is available to those who are not
-certain that they wish to become a Member of the Society, but wish to
-experience Regia’s activities. The regulations covering the relevant type of
-membership shall apply in each case.
-a. Temporary Membership is only available for two Society events and any
-local training event within a two month period by filling in the
-appropriate form and paying the relevant fee. The form and fee shall be
-sent to the MO by the local GL seven days in advance of the first event
-the Temporary Member is to participate in
-b. All Temporary Members must comply with the Code of Law and be
-mentored by the group they have joined.
-c. Each Temporary Member can only attend further events in that
-membership year by becoming a Full Member
-d. The GL must inform the MO, and all relevant Society Officers about the
-Temporary Member before that member’s participation in an event.
-e. Temporary Members who successfully apply for Full Membership within
-fourteen days of the expiration of the two month period shall only pay
-the outstanding balance due.
-f. Lapsed Members of Regia are not automatically eligible for Temporary
-Membership and may attend a Regia event only with the permission of
-the leader of their former local group, who is solely responsible for their
-conduct throughout the event.
-g. A Temporary Full Member’s children may accompany the Temporary
-Member at an event with the GL’s consent. The provisions above shall
-apply (particularly d and e)
-.
-===4C. Membership Fees===
-i. Membership Fees fall due annually on the 1st of October. Fees must
-be paid to the local group by the 31st October; and to the Society’s
-Membership Officer by 15th November.
-ii. If a Member’s fees have not been paid by the 31st October, then that
-membership shall be deemed to have lapsed. Lapsed Members lose
-all rights, ranks, and officerships (both at group and Society level). A
-local group may not use the votes of Lapsed Members at the High
-Witan.
-iii. Lapsed Members may only rejoin the Society through application to the
-local group from which they lapsed. The Society reserves the right,
-expressed through the relevant local group, to refuse such application
-without explanation. The local group shall inform the Society
-Membership Officer of the identity of any renewing lapsed member
-upon their approval, and send their Capitation Fee within 14 days.
-iv. Lapsed Members who have rejoined the Society may have their group
-ranks, privileges and officerships reinstated at the discretion of the
-relevant group.
-v. After a period of 12 months a lapsed member must make a fresh
-application to join the society through his local group.
-===4D. Capitation Fees===
-i. A proportion of the Membership Fee (the Capitation Fee) is sent,
-through the Group Treasurer, directly to the Society Membership
-Officer.
-ii. The Capitation Fee for each type of Membership is decided by the
-High Witan, and shall be subject to review and change by the High
-Witan or those persons appointed by the High Witan to undertake such
-a review.
-iii. Changes to Capitation Fees shall be notified to the Society’s members
-by direct mailing, in such a form as may be thought suitable by the
-High Witan.
-iv. Persons applying to join the Society after 1st August will pay the whole
-annual fee, but this shall be deemed to cover their Membership Fee for
-the following year.
-v. Each local group within Regia shall pay the Capitation Fee for a new
-member to the Society Membership Officer within fourteen days of
-receipt of that member’s Membership Fee and Membership Form.
-vi. Membership of the Society shall commence from the date of
-completion of the Membership Form, and of payment of the
-Membership Fee. A local group may only utilise the vote of a member
-in the government of the Society after the Capitation Fee has been
-received by the Society Membership Officer.
-vii. Membership may be terminated by written resignation addressed to the
-local group leader. A copy must be sent to the Society Membership
-Officer.
-viii. Membership may be terminated as the result of disciplinary action.
-ix. A local group shall immediately cease to exist if it has not paid any Full
-Capitation Fees to the Society Membership Officer by 15th November
-unless the High Witan grants an extension.
-===5. National Structure===
-i. Any reference to land is an administrative format within the Society and
-has no actual or legal bearing on ‘real property’
-ii. Land not within the management of a local group is deemed to be at
-the disposal of the Society.
-iii. Local groups shall hold sole rights of recruitment in the areas granted
-to them under the Code of Law. These areas shall be primarily based
-on the shire boundaries indicated in the Domesday Survey of 1086,
-which Survey shall take precedence over later documents.
-iv. Other documents from the period may be researched where the
-Domesday Survey does not cover the area in question.
-v. Disputes over land shall be settled by the Lawspeaker, but parties to a
-dispute will have access to the High Witan.
-vi. More than one local group may exist within a shire.
-A. Land Grants and Formation of Groups
-i. Any Full Member of Regia, or person seeking Full Membership, who
-lives in an area not already granted to a local group may apply to the
-Society , through the Eolder and the Lawspeaker, to set up a new
-group in that area.
-ii. If accepted, a Grant of Land from the Society to the new group shall be
-drawn up by the Lawspeaker. No group may be set up without a Grant
-of Land.
-iii. All new groups will be attached for purposes of mentorship to the
-nearest Established Group (the Mentor Group)
-iv. At the request of either party, mentorship may be taken up by another
-Established Group, who may be geographically more remote, but
-closer in background and interest to the new group.
-v. The Mentor Group will be responsible for the new group’s standards of
-authenticity and for generally assisting them in all aspects of the life of
-the Society.
-vi. The new group leader shall attend High Witans as of right, but must
-take the advice of his Mentor Group leader into account when voting.
-At no time may a Mentor Group use or include votes from groups
-under its mentorship at the High Witan.
-vii. A period of mentorship is ended by vote of the High Witan on
-application from the new group. A period of six months is envisaged as
-a guideline, which may be extended at the discretion of the High Witan.
-viii. Any Full Member of the Society, resident in land already granted to a
-local group, may, with the consent of the existing Group Leader, apply
-to set up a new group. Application for a Grant of Land shall be made to
-the Eolder and the Lawspeaker.
-ix. In all normal circumstances, the boundaries of a Grant of Land applied
-for under 5Aviii above shall be drawn up by the group leader who
-already administers the land.
-x. Proposed Grants of Land shall in all circumstances be drawn up in
-formal terms, giving exact geographical boundaries.
-xi. Proposed Grants of Land shall be dated, and submitted to the
-Lawspeaker in triplicate for ratification. Copies of the proposed Grant
-of Land shall be sent by the Lawspeaker to the Eolder, the Society
-Membership Officer and anyone else who may be reasonably held to
-have an interest within seven days of receipt of the proposal.
-xii. If no objection is lodged within thirty days of the Lawspeaker’s receipt
-of the proposal, the Lawspeaker shall proclaim the ratification of the
-Land Grant. He shall inform the Publications Officer and all those
-whom he has previously informed of the proposal.
-xiii. An area for recruiting and administration shall be formed by the Grant
-of Land, All Grants of Land are of equal status and will survive the
-administrators responsible for their inception.
-xiv. Grants of Land shall revert to the grantor, whether the Society (under
-Aii) or the former local group (under 5Aviii) if they fall vacant.
-xv. An area shall fall vacant, and the local group cease to exist, if there are
-fewer than three paid-up Full Members of the group resident within it
-both on 31st October and on the 1st May immediately following.
-xvi. The HW may move to decide that a local group shall cease to exist,
-and its grant of land fall vacant, if, in the space of a calendar year, it
-has failed to be represented in sufficient numbers at a sufficient
-number of Major Events without good cause. The HW shall take
-account of attendance at local or area events, and at Training
-Weekends and other activities not open to the public, in determining
-whether a group is inactive or not. This regulation shall not apply to
-overseas-based groups.
-xvii. All other alterations to group boundaries must be notified to the High
-Witan, through the Lawspeaker. They shall be ratified using the
-procedures above.
-xviii. A group is recognised on the payment of its third Full Capitation Fee to
-Regia. No new group may receive a Grant of Land if it has fewer than
-three members at the time.
-xix. A group is deemed Established when it has ten paid-up adult
-Members. Such Groups may act as Mentor Groups (provided they are
-themselves out of mentorship) and may create their own regulations for
-their own activities and affairs. Such regulations must not contravene
-the Code of Law, nor lower the standards of the Society as laid down
-by the High Witan and the Society Officers.
-xx. A group with thirty-six adult Members may apply to the High Witan to
-be accorded the status of an Eorldom, and its leader to be accorded
-the status of an Eorl at a public ceremony if it be his wish.
-xxi. An Eorldom’s status shall revert to that of an Established Group if its
-strength falls below thirty-six adult members at any time outside the
-renewals period and it still does not have thirty-six adult members at
-any time before 15th November in the following year.
-xxii. A local group shall accurately reflect the peoples found in the group’s
-area within Regia’s period.
-B. Management of Groups
-i. All local groups are branches of the Society, and are bound by the Code of
-Law. All members of local groups are members of the Society, and are
-bound by the Code of Law.
-ii. The local group shall administer and enforce the Code of Law within its
-area. Whilst the method by which this is carried out is to be decided by the
-local group, the following points must be adhered to
-iii. Each local group must have a group leader and a treasurer, these two
-posts must not be held by the same individual.
-iv. Each local group must have a bank or building society account, in the
-name of the group.
-v. Each group must have an Authenticity Officer, and a Training Officer if the
-group has any combatant members. These posts may be held by any
-member of the group.
-vi. The group leader is responsible for the administration and enforcement of
-the Code of Law in the group and the area of the group’s Grant of Land.
-The Society, through the Membership Officer, shall be informed of the
-identity and contact details of the group leader.
-vii.The treasurer is primarily and solely responsible for the administration of
-the group’s accounts. The Society Treasurer must be informed of the
-identity of the group treasurer.
-viii.The group leader and treasurer shall be jointly responsible for the
-administration of the group’s bank or building society account.
-ix. The Training Officer is responsible for military training within the group. The
-Society Training Officer shall be informed of the identity of the group
-Training Officer.
-x. The Authenticity Officer is responsible for all aspects of authenticity in the
-group. The Society Authenticity Officer shall be informed of the identity of
-the group authenticity officer.
-xi. The sphere of authority of the above posts in the group shall mirror the
-authority of the relevant Society Officer in the Society, as set down in the
-Code of Law.
-xii.The local group and relevant Society Officer shall share responsibility for
-the development of local group officers, and shall jointly ensure that such
-individuals are aware of current Society policies and best practice within
-each officer’s area of responsibility
-===6: Safety and Liability===
-i. Without infringing upon the legal rights of the individual, every member shall
-at all times ensure that they hold themselves safe and without harm in any
-situation whilst about the occasions of Regia Anglorum. In so doing they shall
-at all times ensure that the safety of the general public is held paramount and
-each member shall act with sober and considered care.
-ii. In respect of members’ liability, the Society, its officers and/or members
-cannot be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage occurring to any
-member or their property. In particular, it is the business of each and every
-member to investigate, research and understand the specific risks that they
-may encounter in re-enactment and to decide in cold and sober judgement
-whether or not they wish to involve themselves in the taking of such risks.
-Anyone taking part in any of the activities arranged by the Society will be
-deemed as having taken such a decision by their attendance and
-participation.
-iii. All members are required to avail themselves of training sessions held by
-the Society or its local groups. Persons failing to do so will take upon
-themselves a greater responsibility for the care of themselves and others.
-iv. Whilst the duly appointed officers of Regia Anglorum will at all times
-behave in a manner appropriate to their position, no particular liability shall
-attach to such officers. Even though they may act in the manner of
-"professionals", they are amateur volunteers and are specifically excluded
-from any greater liability than may exist in civil law and apply to every
-"ordinary" member of the Society.
-v. No financial responsibility for any action or inaction of the Society or its
-members, servants or agents shall attach itself to any office within the Society
-or any incumbent of such an office, PROVIDED THAT the officer has acted in
-a prudent and proper fashion within the confines of the civil law and the
-Constitution and Regulations of the Society.
-vi. In respect of Product Liability, any event, show, performance, private
-function or training session shall be deemed to be the work of amateur
-volunteers who will do their best to arrange the business of the day, operating
-within the Constitution and Regulations of the Society. Whilst acting in such a
-manner as may be found safe and appropriate to the event, show,
-performance, private function or training session, no particular liability shall
-attach to the officers of the Society other than may exist in Law and apply to
-every "ordinary" member of Regia Anglorum.
-vii. Each member is expected to make their own arrangements to insure
-themselves against any injury, loss or damage howsoever caused.
-===7. Limited Companies===
-i. Where the Society comes into possession of land, then that
-ownership shall be controlled by the creation of a non-trading
-Company Limited by Guarantee to hold the title to the land on
-behalf of Regia Anglorum
-ii. The HW shall appoint a Director and a Company Secretary to form
-the Board of such a company. They shall hold in joint name the
-single share in the Company.
-iii. Their authority to dispose of the share or title shall be limited to the
-specific written authority emanating from a resolution of an
-assembled HW.
-iv. Such a resolution may only be passed by an assembled HW if it is
-supported by the votes of three quarters of the local groups of
-Regia Anglorum, representing at least three quarters of the total
-number of Full Members of the Society.
-v. The Director and Company Secretary shall not have the power to
-amend the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Limited
-Company. These shall be defined initially by an assembled HW,
-and then only amended by a resolution passed under iv. above.
-<br>
-Here ends the Constitution of Regia Anglorum. It forms the first volume of Version 6 of the Code of Law, issued by the High Witan at Birmingham on 30/01/1999, and variously amended by the High Witan Martin Williams, Lawspeaker<br>
-pp Oswiu Eadulfing, iurisdictor <br.
-==THE REGULATIONS of REGIA ANGLORUM==
-Any reference to Weapons, Wargear, Arms or Armour shall specifically refer
-to the theatrical props that the members of the society may use in the course
-of the historical re-creations that they undertake whilst about the business of
-the society.
-. The High Witan
-i. The governing body of Regia Anglorum shall be a committee (the High
-Witan or HW), comprised of a delegate (normally the group leader)
-from each recognised local group and the Society Officers elected by
-the High Witan (see 2 below).
-ii. The High Witan shall have one scheduled meeting in a year, at the end
-of the display season. This shall be arranged by the Eolder and held
-before December 1st. It shall be termed the High Witan Business
-Meeting (HWBM) and shall be of extended format. The costs of hiring
-a meeting place and a proportion of the transport costs incurred in
-attending by the members of the HW shall be met by the Society.
-Food and accommodation costs shall be met by the Society only for
-the members of the HW. Attendance at the HWBM is a mandatory
-duty for all Society Officers and local groups. Costs incurred at other
-meetings of the HW may be met by the Society, at the discretion of
-the Society Treasurer. Other meetings may be called by the Eolder
-from time to time. The Eolder shall call for agenda items, ensuring
-that the completed agenda shall be sent to the members of the HW
-not less than ten days before the meeting date.
-iii. Whilst items for the agenda may be transmitted to the Eolder in any
-written medium, a final version must be sent by post to arrive by the
-due date. Manifestos for elections shall not run to more than 2 sides
-of A4 at 10 point Times New Roman
-iv. The High Witan shall have a quorum when 51% of the membership is
-represented by local group delegates. Once a quorum is established,
-it remains until the meeting is concluded.
-v. The High Witan shall have the power to appoint and dismiss the
-Society Officers, according to the processes laid down in the Code of
-Law.
-vi. Each local group delegate shall hold a vote, equal in value to the
-number of paid-up, Full members of the group. This vote may be
-divided by the delegate. All votes shall be taken using this
-proportional method except on decisions concerning a Point of Order,
-where each group delegate shall hold one vote, and a show of hands
-shall decide the issue. Points of Order must be in the form of a
-question to the Chair, asking for clarification on a point relevant to the
-current discussion, and relating to the CoL or Custom and Practice of
-the Society.
-vii. Society Officers hold no vote of themselves, but only as members of
-their local group.
-viii. A group must be represented by one of its members for its vote to be
-counted. However, the Society recognises that on rare occasions no
-delegate may be found, and so for one assembled HW in any
-calendar year a local group may notify the HW of its vote by post,
-under the following rules.
-. The Notification shall be physically in the hands of the Chair of the
-HW before the commencement of the meeting. It is the duty of the
-local group to ensure this.
-. The notification shall contain only the vote of the group's membership
-(whether for, against, or abstain) on each item of the Agenda, and no
-other comment or correspondence. The group may split its vote as if it
-were represented by a delegate.
-. The Notification shall be held by the Chair of the HW and the relevant
-part revealed to the meeting as each vote takes place.
-. The Chair of the HW shall have the power to declare any or all parts
-of the Notification to be null and void if the proposal voted on by the
-HW differs materially from that on the Agenda. In this instance an
-abstention shall be counted.
-ix. The Society Membership Officer shall notify the HW of the voting
-strength of the groups present at the start of the meeting. The
-membership figures for each group shall be taken at a date seven
-days before the date of the HW.
-x. Decisions of the HW have the force of the Code of Law. Changes to
-the Code of Law necessitated by a motion at a HW shall be
-presented to the HW at the meeting next after the motion.
-xi. Amendments to the Code of Law shall be made only by a HW. They
-must be moved in formal and exact terms. Amendments to the Code
-of Law must be notified to the members of the Society within fourteen
-days of passage by the HW.
-xii. Amendments to the Code of Law shall take effect on the forty-second
-day after passage by the HW.
-xiii. A member of the HW may object to a change in the Code of Law.
-Objection shall be notified in writing to the Eolder, Lawspeaker and
-Publications Officer within twenty-eight days of passage by the HW
-xiv. The next HW after the objection is received shall discuss the objection
-and the change to the Code of Law as its first item of business. The
-final form of the amendment shall be immediately binding on passage
-by the HW. Any further objection must be raised as a fresh proposal
-at a future HW.
-xv. A HW shall not be scheduled within thirteen days of the previous HW,
-although meetings may at need be adjourned to the following day.
-xvi. All motions placed before a HW must be proposed by a member of the
-HW, and seconded by a local group leader. Where two thirds of a
-local group’s members wish to raise an issue before the HW and their
-group leader will not, they may do so provided such a motion is
-sponsored by a Society Officer. On that matter alone, the members
-concerned shall send a separate delegate to the HW. Items for
-general discussion (which may not reach a specific conclusion) may
-be proposed by any member of the HW.
-xvii. All motions to do with the responsibilities or competence of a Society
-Officer must be discussed by the Proposer and the Officer concerned
-before the agenda is published. Any agenda item which has not been
-so discussed will be struck out of the agenda. Any motion which
-would involve the HW in a personal dispute will not be included on the
-agenda.
-xviii. Other regulations for the conduct of meetings of the HW shall be
-decided by the Eolder, in consultation with the Chair of the HW.
-A. Emergency High Witans
-i. An Emergency High Witan may be requested by any member of the
-HW. Requests, containing the grounds for summoning such a
-meeting, must be submitted to the Eolder and the Chair of the HW in
-writing, unless exceptional circumstances pertain. Within seven days
-of receipt, the Eolder must circulate written notification of the request
-to the members of the HW by post to their last known address.
-Requestors of Emergency HWs must follow the regulations in 1
-above regarding proposals to the HW (particularly R1xvii)
-ii. On receipt of the notification, the members of the HW shall
-immediately notify the Eolder as to whether the circumstances of the
-situation are, in their opinion, sufficiently exceptional so as to require
-an immediate meeting of the HW.
-iii. Unless two thirds of the Society Officers or a body of group leaders
-representing two thirds of the Society’s membership are of the opinion
-that the circumstances are exceptional, the Emergency HW will be
-held at the next Regia Major Event. Otherwise, the Eolder shall
-organise a meeting of the HW at a suitably central location (or at the
-location of a Society Training Weekend or Area Event) at the earliest
-practicable date.
-iv. Decisions of an Emergency HW have equal status with those of a
-scheduled HW as detailed in 1 above.
-B. Postal and Telephonic Votes.
-i. On the rare occasions where it becomes necessary to consult the HW
-on a more immediate basis than achievable by 1A above, an opinion
-may be obtained by circulating a written document to or, if necessary,
-by telephonic communication with the group leaders of at least two
-thirds of the society’s membership.
-ii. Whilst such an opinion shall be immediately binding on the Society, the
-next meeting of the HW shall discuss the matter, formally ratifying or
-rescinding the decision of the postal or telephonic vote.
-iii. Any member of the HW may instigate and conduct a postal or
-telephonic vote, provided that he has the support of enough voting
-members of the HW to represent 20% of the Society, and has informed
-the Eolder, the Treasurer, the Lawspeaker and the Chair of the HW of
-the instigation of the process and of the Question to be put to the HW.
-The regulations for proposals to HWs (particularly R1xvii) must be
-adhered to.
-iv. The Eolder, the Treasurer and the Lawspeaker may instigate and
-conduct a postal or telephonic vote at their discretion, provided that
-they all agree upon such a course.
-v. The document bearing the Question shall be printed or typed. It shall
-set out the facts of the case so far as is known. It must be numbered in
-a recognisable sequence and bear its posting date upon it. It must not
-bear any other correspondence or information. Special care must be
-taken to present facts in as clear and neutral way as possible. Whilst it
-may not be possible for the instigator of the Vote to call upon the
-assistance of others in the preparation of the document, nevertheless a
-high standard of care and presentation is expected. The Question shall
-not be put in terms of a proposal as this could be construed as leading
-opinion. Neither shall it contain the names of sympathetic or
-antipathetic persons, as this too could be considered as persuasive.
-vi. Before instigating the process of the Vote, the instigator shall make
-every attempt to contact the Society Membership Officer, who will let
-him know the voting strengths of each group in the Society.
-vii. For a Postal Vote, a numbered (see iv above) photocopy of the
-document plus an envelope bearing the identical number as the
-document and a first class letter post stamp and the name and address
-of the instigator shall be sent to the last known postal address of every
-voting member of the HW by first class post. All documents must be
-posted at the same time. Proof of posting should be obtained where
-possible. Society Officers (where not themselves voting members of
-the HW) should be sent unnumbered copies of the document for their
-information.
-viii. It is the duty of all voting members of the HW to respond by return of
-post if possible and certainly within four days of receipt. Response
-shall be made only in the numbered envelope provided. There must be
-no other inclusion. Groups which fail to respond shall have their votes
-recorded as uncast
-ix. The instigator of the Vote shall tally the votes of the members of the
-HW immediately upon receipt and shall inform the Eolder, the
-Treasurer, the Lawspeaker, the Chair of the HW and the Publications
-Officer of the result of the vote within ten days of the despatch of the
-voting papers. He shall retain the numbered envelopes and their
-contents for production at the next meeting of the HW. The result shall
-be circulated to all members of the HW via the Officers mentioned
-above.
-x. In the case of a telephone vote, a document bearing the Question (and
-fulfilling the relevant requirements of R1Biv above) shall be sent by the
-instigator to the Eolder, the Treasurer, the Lawspeaker and the Chair
-of the HW in sealed envelopes, countersigned by the instigator across
-the flap. The envelope must not bear any other correspondence or
-information. The Officers above shall safely hold the envelopes
-unopened against a possible later dispute regarding the wording of the
-document.
-xi. The instigator shall telephone every group leader in turn. He shall
-make every effort to contact all of the group leaders during the time
-available to him, which shall include the hours from 1130 to 2330 on
-one weekday (Mon.-Fri.). If the emergency has taken place at a
-weekend, then a telephone vote may only take place if the Society has
-no Major Event that weekend. The group leaders of at least 67% of the
-membership must be contacted, else the vote will be declared null and
-void.
-xii. When the instigator makes contact with a group leader, it is his duty to
-behave with complete propriety.
-a) He shall not discuss any other matter but the one in hand.
-b) He shall not lead opinion or attempt to persuade.
-c) He shall not reveal his own or the stated opinion of any other
-member of the Society.
-d) He shall read back verbatim the stated opinion given to him by that
-group leader.
-e) He shall ask formally if there is anything that the group leader
-wishes to add, change or take away.
-xiii. When the instigator is in possession of the votes of the Society’s
-membership, he shall immediately inform the Eolder, the Treasurer,
-the Lawspeaker and the Chair of the HW of the result by telephone in
-the first instance and confirm immediately in writing thereafter (by
-post). If a further decision is required at that stage as to what action
-shall actually take place, the instigator shall seek the advice of the
-Officers above.
-xiv. No proxy voting is allowed in either postal or telephonic votes.
-xv. Whilst the result of postal or telephone votes shall be immediately
-binding, the next meeting of the HW shall formally discuss the matter
-as the first order of business, ratifying or rescinding the earlier decision
-for the minutes of that meeting.
-. The Society Officers
-i. The Society Officers of the Society shall have the executive power of
-decision within their several areas of responsibility as laid down below.
-ii. The Society Officers shall receive no financial reward or other
-pecuniary advantage for their services and their appointment is
-therefore honorary. Officers may claim from the Society such properly
-incurred expenses as the Society Treasurer and the HW shall deem
-appropriate.
-iii. No person acting in the capacity of an officer of the society shall be
-required or expected to place themselves at legal or financial risk as a
-result of their proper activities on behalf of the society.
-iv. The society will indemnify its officers and members against any and all
-legal and financial risks in respect of their honorary positions within the
-society so long as those risks were properly incurred within their brief
-as published in the current code of law or as amended by any
-assembled High Witan.
-v. Such indemnity shall be covered by the means of an insurance policy
-that will be undertaken and annually maintained by the society.
-vi. No officer or member of the society shall be indemnified either by the
-society or any indemnity insurance policy that the society has
-undertaken in respect of legal and financial indemnity if they are
-proven to have acted illegally, recklessly, in breach of the rules of the
-society or in ultra vires.
-vii. The Society Officers shall make every effort to avoid alienating any
-member of the Society by hasty or ill-considered statements or actions.
-It is the duty of a Society Officer to behave in a rational and ethical way
-at all times.
-viii. A decision of a Society Officer on a matter within his area of
-responsibility may only be overturned by the vote of a quorate HW.
-Decisions of a HW relating to the area of responsibility of a Society
-Officer shall be followed by that officer with speed and goodwill.
-ix. It is equally the duty of the members of the Society to follow the
-policies, rulings and instructions of the Society Officers with speed and
-goodwill. Disputes shall be dealt with privately and after the event in
-the first instance.
-x. All Society Officers, in addition to any other duty laid upon them by this
-Code of Law, shall attend at least half of the meetings of the HW held
-in any one calendar year. The HW has the right to open nominations
-for any Society Office where the Officer has failed to so attend.
-xi. At the end of December of any year, all Society Officers shall submit
-an official report of their actions and results, and forecast their
-progress for the coming year. The Report must be solely relevant to
-the area of responsibility of the Officer as laid down in this CoL.
-Reports shall be typed or printed on not more than two sides of A4,
-single spaced and displayed in not less than 10-point Times New
-Roman. Reports must be submitted for publication and circulation as
-an official document to the Society, by whatever procedure be in force
-at the time. The Reports shall be collated under the order of the list of
-Society Officers in R2B below, and circulated to every member of the
-Society by direct mail to his last known postal address, in advance of
-the HWBM.
-xii. Every Society Officer shall keep an up to date record of his activities
-within his area of responsibility. Where possible these should be
-prepared using an IBM PC-compatible computer, so that the exchange
-of information may be facilitated. During the use of computer-based
-information systems, the user shall be conscious of the provisions of
-the Data Protection Act. Electronic files should be able to be circulated
-in ASCII format, and Hard Copies be made available to the HW as a
-matter of course.
-xiii. Society Officers must be elected at a meeting of the HW, under the
-procedure laid down in R2A below.
-A. Society Officership Elections
-i. Society Officers are elected by the HW for a term of three years, with
-the exception of the Treasurer and the Eolder, who are elected for a
-term of five years. Appointments will commence upon the date of the
-HW that makes the appointment, and conclude at the assembled HW
-at the expiry of the term of office.
-ii. The HW alone has the authority to appoint and dismiss officers of the
-Society.
-iii. The appointment of Society Officers shall take place at a scheduled
-meeting of the HW, or at one specifically called for the purpose.
-Elections shall appear on the agenda for the meeting. Elections shall
-not be held by means of a postal or telephonic vote.
-iv. An Officership may fall vacant by means of the resignation of the
-Officer from his post or from the Society, the lapsing of the Officers
-Membership (under C4Cii), by the dismissal of an Officer by the HW,
-or by the expiry of an Officer’s term of office. The HW may also call
-upon the membership to submit applications for a post whilst an
-incumbent Officer still holds that position. In such a case, the
-incumbent shall have the right to re-apply. The HW shall not accept or
-consider applications at any other time.
-v. Upon any of the conditions of iv above being fulfilled, the HW shall
-issue a Notice of Invitation to the Society in order that applications may
-appear in the Agenda of the next scheduled HW.
-vi. The Notice shall be sent by the Eolder unless the HW directs
-otherwise. At need (particularly if the Eoldership be vacant) the
-Lawspeaker or the Chair of the HW shall send the Notice.
-vii. The Notice shall invite Full, Adult paid-up members of the Society to
-apply for the post(s) indicated in the Notice. The HW may decide to
-specify further required qualifications for any specific Officership.
-viii. Those members who wish their candidacy to be considered must
-respond to the Notice by the date laid down in the Notice by means of
-submitting a Manifesto in accordance with R1iii above
-ix. A candidacy must be sponsored by the candidate’s Group Leader, or
-by 67% of the members of his local group, and by another voting
-member of the HW. A candidacy may not be sponsored, however, by a
-group bound by active ties of Mentorship to the candidate’s group.
-x. Manifestos shall be distributed to the members of the HW with the
-agenda of the HW which elects the Officer
-xi. Candidates must attend the HW that hears their application and be
-prepared to answer such questions as the meeting may put to them.
-xii. Where a HW is not scheduled to occur within 60 days of the post
-falling vacant, or if the agenda for a scheduled HW is already in
-preparation when a post falls vacant, the HW may appoint an officer
-pro tempore. An officer pro tempore shall be appointed where the HW
-is obliged to appoint an Officer under the relevant section of R2B.
-xiii. Where the HW is not in session, the Eolder in full consultation with the
-Society Officers, may appoint an officer pro tempore.
-B. The Officers and their Areas of
-Responsibility
-i. The HW shall elect an Eolder.
-a) The Eolder must attend at least half of the Society’s Major Events
-in any one year. He shall not also hold the position of Treasurer
-b) The Eolder will act as the Society’s sole Business Manager and it
-shall be his special responsibility to seek paid work for the Society.
-He shall have the power to decide with which events the Society
-shall involve itself and the amounts of payments, fees and
-expenses and/or non-monetary remuneration it shall receive in
-respect of such work.
-c) He shall not benefit financially from his activities as Eolder
-undertaken on behalf of the Society in any way that is not shared by
-other members of the Society.
-d) He shall not bear any financial risk or burden incurred in the
-performance of his activities on behalf of the Society that is not
-wholly shared by all members of the Society and the Society will
-indemnify him against such risks.
-e) He shall have the power to decide that up to three Major Events in
-any one twelve month period shall be Charity Events, performed for
-no tangible reward.
-f) He shall liase with the local group leaders and others on an ongoing
-basis to gauge the opinion of the general membership as to the
-type of work that the Society shall do.
-g) He shall work closely with the Treasurer to ensure that the Society
-is properly funded from events, film-work and other business
-enterprises. At the discretion of the Society Treasurer, the Eolder
-may operate a cheque book on his single signature from The
-Society’s Operating Account. (see iii below)
-h) The Eolder shall act as Society Organiser, having a general
-overview of the Society’s organisation and structure. In this regard,
-he shall have a wide ranging brief aimed at initiating, maintaining
-and forwarding the Society’s best interests. He shall constantly
-seek to be well informed about how these aims can be best
-achieved. In uncontentious and day-to-day matters he shall speak
-for the HW in particular and the Society in general.
-i) He shall have many of the duties of a General Secretary to the HW
-and the Society. These shall include:-
-) He shall be responsible for the publication of a Society
-Newsletter. This is intended to be published four times a
-year, on or around the Quarter Days, which a subcontracted
-printer will send by first-class post to each
-member’s last known postal address as available in the
-records of the Society Membership Officer. The Eolder’s
-responsibility in this regard will be deemed to be fulfilled
-once the master hard copy of each edition has been
-posted to the printer.
-) He shall be responsible for the publication and distribution of the
-Society’s official papers, such as Officer’s Reports, papers
-relating to the Election of Society Officers, the Agendas and
-Minutes of meetings of the HW, details of events and other such
-papers as from time to time may be necessary. Such papers
-may be published in the Society Newsletter, but at his
-discretion, the Eolder may from time to time distribute papers to
-the members of the HW alone.
-) The Eolder’s responsibility for the publication and promulgation
-of such papers will be deemed to be fulfilled once the members
-of the HW have been circulated with such papers.
-) The financial responsibility for production, distribution, stationery
-and postage shall be that of the Society.
-j) In association with the Lawspeaker and the HW, the Eolder
-shall have a shared responsibility for writing the CoL. Whilst he shall do
-his utmost to ensure that the CoL is written and applied for the greater
-good of the Society and its members, he shall have no responsibility
-for its interpretation.
-ii. The HW shall elect a Lawspeaker.
-a) The Lawspeaker shall maintain and uphold the CoL. He shall
-ensure that if the CoL is capable of two or more interpretations, that
-the greater good of the Society and its members is held safe and
-paramount.
-b) He shall share a responsibility with the Eolder and the HW for the
-writing of the CoL. He shall do his utmost to ensure that the CoL is
-written and applied for the greater good of the Society and its
-members. He shall have the duty of interpretation of the CoL.
-c) He shall advise the Society on the laws and customs pertaining to
-the Society’s area and period of interest (see C2ii above)
-d) He shall administer the Land Grant system of the Society, working
-with the MO and the Eolder where it should be necessary, under C5
-above. The day-to-day operation of this system may be shared with
-another Officer if the Lawspeaker sees fit.
-iii. The HW shall elect a Treasurer.
-a) The Treasurer shall attend at least half of the Society’s Major
-Events in any one year. He shall not also hold the position of
-Eolder.
-b) He shall not benefit financially from his activities as Treasurer
-undertaken on behalf of the Society in any way that is not shared by
-other members of the Society.
-c) He shall not bear any financial risk or burden incurred in the
-performance of his activities on behalf of the Society that is not
-wholly shared by all members of the Society and the Society will
-indemnify him against such risks.
-d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the overall control of all
-financial affairs of the Society. He shall at all times, as far as is
-practicable, be in a position to advise the HW upon the current and
-projected state of the Society’s finances.
-e) He shall have the right of access to all financial and business
-interests of the Society, and must be consulted before any financial
-commitment is made.
-f) He shall be responsible for the accurate keeping of books of
-common record and account, and maintaining a proper record of
-the Society’s financial affairs and transactions.
-g) He shall prepare a balance sheet and statements of Income and
-Expenditure annually, based on a financial year ending on 30th
-September, which shall be presented to the next HWBM.
-h) He shall be responsible for the proper disbursement of the
-Society’s funds at Events. He shall define and implement
-procedures regarding the payment of fuel or other expenses and
-shall have the final say regarding payment of these monies.
-i) He shall work closely with the Eolder to ensure that the Society’s
-business is conducted on a sound footing.
-j) He may permit the Eolder to draw upon the Operating Account,
-using a cheque book on the Eolder’s single signature.
-k) Any member or members of the Society who involve the Society in
-expenditure which has not been sanctioned in advance by the
-Treasurer shall be held personally responsible and shall be
-required to reimburse the Society in full for such expenditure.
-iv. The HW shall elect an Authenticity Officer (AO)
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-b) He shall be responsible for the overview of the authentic portrayal
-of the life and times of the people who lived in and visited the
-Islands of Britain in the Society’s general period of interest. He shall
-at all times ensure that a balance of portrayal is achieved so as not
-to make exceptional examples from the period the norm.
-c) He shall make it his concern to augment the Society’s corporate
-knowledge regarding the visual appearance of the peoples of these
-Islands and their near neighbours in Northern Europe and thus
-maintain and constantly improve the Society’s image at events.
-d) He shall be responsible for encouraging and advising other Society
-Officers who may have a particular interest and the membership in
-general regarding all aspects of authenticity of dress, weapons,
-armour and other equipment, behaviour and attitude.
-e) He shall be prepared to enforce his decisions if it should become
-necessary at events. He shall have the power of veto over any
-matter regarding authenticity.
-f) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including himself)
-shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the Society,
-unless agreed otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate their
-activities, and report back to the HW upon them from time to time.
-v. The HW shall elect a Living History Co-ordinator (LHC)
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year
-b) He shall have an overview of all domestic and industrial activities
-that take place within the Society that have a practical or academic
-application to the Living History Exhibit (LHE)
-c) He shall initiate, co-ordinate and apply academic and practical
-research into the arts and crafts of these Islands and their near
-neighbours in Northern Europe in the Society’s period of interest.
-d) He shall have final responsibility for the image presented by the
-LHE and for ensuring, as far as is possible, the authentic portrayal
-of life at public displays involving the LHE. All members of the
-Society shall fall under his jurisdiction (within the CoL) whilst they
-are within the bounds of the LHE. He shall work closely with the AO
-in this regard, and may amend but not lessen the force of the
-rulings of the AO in these matters.
-e) He shall instigate and maintain systems for the smooth running of
-the LHE. He may appoint Craft Co-ordinators to advise on matters
-related to any particular activity.
-f) He shall organise, in consultation with the Eolder, Training
-Weekends or similar events where the members of the Society may
-gain intensive skill training.
-g) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including himself)
-shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the Society,
-unless agreed otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate their
-activities, and report back to the HW upon them from time to time.
-vi. The HW shall elect a Military Training Officer (MTO).
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-b) He shall oversee the training of the Society’s members who wish to
-take part in combat and other military displays within the Society.
-He shall therefore be responsible, insofar as it may be practical and
-reasonable, for the safety in use of the weapons that the Society’s
-members may employ in such displays
-c) He shall instigate and maintain a policy appertaining to the use of
-weapons. This shall be published and circulated to at least the
-members of the HW at the Society’s expense. Changes, additions
-and other modifications shall be circulated from time to time.
-d) He shall instigate, maintain and oversee a formalised system of
-training throughout the Society that will enable a member to acquire
-and progress in such weapon skills as their length of experience,
-mode of dress and rank shall allow at any particular time.
-e) He shall instigate and maintain a policy appertaining to the use of
-weapons. This shall be published and circulated to at least the
-members of the HW at the Society’s expense. Changes, additions
-and other modifications shall be circulated from time to time. He
-shall derive testing procedures that are aimed at ensuring the
-greatest safety of members participating in military displays, insofar
-as that may be possible.
-f) He shall regularly liaise with local group training officers (see C5Bix)
-with the aim of ensuring consistent training methods throughout the
-Society.
-g) He shall arrange training sessions at Society Events and, working
-with the Eolder, organise Training Weekends and other similar
-events where the members of the Society may gain intensive skill
-training.
-h) He may arbitrate in disputes that may arise from the use of
-weapons at events under the aegis of the Society. He shall share
-this responsibility equally with the MAA.
-i) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including himself)
-shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the Society,
-unless agreed otherwise by the HW. Outwith this limit, he may
-make such provision for overseas-based groups as he sees fit. He
-shall co-ordinate their activities, and report back to the HW upon
-them from time to time.
-vii. The HW shall elect a Master at Arms (MAA)
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-b) He shall be responsible for ensuring the safety in construction and
-authenticity in outward form of wargear that the Society’s members
-may employ in military displays at Society events. All members of
-the Society shall fall under his jurisdiction (within the CoL) whilst
-they are within the bounds of the military display area. He shall
-work closely with the AO in this regard, and may amend but not
-lessen the force of the rulings of the AO in these matters.
-c) He shall instigate and maintain a policy appertaining to the use of
-weapons. This shall be published and circulated to at least the
-members of the HW at the Society’s expense. Changes, additions
-and other modifications shall be circulated from time to time.
-d) He shall instigate, maintain and oversee a formalised system of
-visual inspection of the members of the Society and their weapons
-in advance of any military display, aimed at ensuring the safety of
-members so involved, insofar as that may be reasonable and
-practical.
-e) He shall liaise with local group leaders and training officers with the
-aim of ensuring consistent weapon quality and preparedness
-throughout the Society.
-f) He may arbitrate in disputes that may arise from the use of
-weapons at events under the aegis of the Society. He shall share
-this responsibility equally with the MTO
-g) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including himself)
-shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the Society,
-unless agreed otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate their
-activities, and report back to the HW upon them from time to time.
-viii. The HW shall elect a Membership Officer (MO)
-a) He shall instigate and maintain a record of all the Society’s
-members. He shall have sole responsibility for governing access to
-such records, and shall issue regulations on this matter in
-accordance with current legislation
-b) . He shall collect subscriptions and promptly issue Membership
-Documents
-c) He shall pay collected subscriptions into a bank account stipulated
-by the Treasurer and shall maintain a record of such transactions to
-a standard required by the Treasurer.
-d) He shall maintain an accurate figure of the membership strength of
-each local group in the Society. He shall make these figures
-available to the HW at the opening of each of its meetings.
-e) He shall work closely with the Lawspeaker in the operation of the
-Land Grant system of the Society, and shall maintain a back-up
-record of all documents relating to it. He shall inform the
-Lawspeaker if an area falls vacant under C5Axv or C4Dix above.
-f) He shall bring to the attention of the HW, through the Eolder and
-Lawspeaker, any membership application that he has reason to
-believe may be inappropriate or in breach of the CoL.
-ix. The HW shall elect a Chair (CHW)
-a) He shall attend at least 50% of the meetings of the HW in any one
-year.
-b) He shall have sole responsibility for calling meetings of the HW to
-order and maintaining order throughout the meeting.
-c) He shall have sole responsibility for recognising members of the
-HW who wish to contribute to discussions.
-d) He must neither express nor contribute opinion nor raise questions
-during meetings of the HW, but may respond to any Points of Order
-raised during the meeting.
-e) He must give immediate attention to any Points of Order by
-suspending the current discussion until the Point is resolved. He
-must directly respond to the Point and then recommence the
-current discussion by recognising the next speaker.
-f) He may adjourn a meeting, but for no longer than 24 hours.
-g) He shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie in voting by local
-group delegates.
-h) He shall have the sole responsibility for the closure of the meeting.
-i) He or the HW may appoint another person to sit as Chair pro
-tempore for a meeting or part of a meeting if it is judged by the
-voting members of the HW that he has (or may be construed as
-having) a vested interest in the matter under discussion.
-x. The HW may elect a Communications Officer (CO)
-a) He shall have a general oversight of the Society’s electronic and
-paper communications.
-b) He shall coordinate all aspects of the Society's communications and,
-where necessary and appropriate, assist the authors, editors and
-coordinators in their roles.
-i) Chronicle - The Society Journal
-ii) Clamavi - The Society Newsletter
-iii) The website
-iv) Internal mailing lists
-v) Internal web based fora
-vi) Policy Documents and Officer's Regulations
-vii) Other documents produced by the society - including the
-Handbook
-c) He shall maintain a library of documents produced within the
-Society. Members of the Society shall be able to request copies of
-documents from the library.
-d) He shall maintain the house style of internal communications and
-their method of delivery.
-e) He shall work closely with the Press and Media Officer on the
-website and external publications to maintain a consistent house style.
-They shall ensure that information is shared between these two
-spheres.
-f) When text or images are to be made available by a member or an
-officer of Regia Anglorum to the membership or the public, the
-Communications Officer shall have the right of first sight of any
-document. Where required by issues of plagiarism, copyright,
-accuracy, libel, obscenity or other legal issues, he shall be jointly
-responsible with the Press and Media Officer for the editing of text and
-images. Where matters of size, pace, readability, presentation, or other
-matters of content, are involved, he shall act where necessary in an
-advisory capacity. The author shall have the right of last choice in this
-respect.
-g) He shall act as a clearing house and archivist for documents or
-information that require communication to the Society unless otherwise
-specified by the High Witan.
-h) He shall advise and assist the society, and its officers, on technical
-matters that fall within his jurisdiction.
-xi. The HW may elect a Publicity Officer (PO)
-a. He shall have a broad responsibility for publicity both between the
-Society and its clients and internally in order to both raise public
-awareness of events and at local level to attract new members.
-b. He shall strive to raise the public profile of the society and seek new
-opportunities .
-c. He shall make it his particular concern to work closely with the Eolder
-in order to provide a prospective client with a range of publicity options.
-d. He shall procure professional design services where required and
-produce and promote a range of products for use at both Society and
-local level.
-e. He may provide a ‘Publicity Presence’ at selected shows, incorporating
-literature, membership contacts and corporate hospitality.
-f. He shall provide related support and services for the benefit of Regia
-Anglorum, it’s officers, group leaders and membership.
-g. He shall not alter or re-interpret the image or standing of the society
-nor create original information without High Witan consultation
-xii.The HW may elect a Sponsorship Officer (SO)
-a) He shall actively seek sponsorship for such items, events and
-projects as the HW may direct. He shall liase with the Eolder in this
-matter.
-b) He shall instigate and maintain contacts and good relations with
-actual and potential sponsors.
-xiii. The HW may elect a Maritime Officer (MarO)
-a) He shall have responsibility for all non-fiscal matters
-appertaining to the ship replicas that the Society shall own or have
-in its keeping from time to time.
-b) He shall ensure that the vessels are maintained in a good state
-of repair and shall liaise with the Eolder and Treasurer in this regard
-as may be necessary and reasonable.
-c) He shall maintain a record of those involved in the maritime
-aspect of the Society’s activities, and those with relevant marine or
-nautical qualifications or experience.
-d) He shall arrange training sessions at Society Events where
-practical and, working with the Eolder, organise Training Weekends
-and other similar events where the members of the Society may
-gain intensive skill training.
-e) He shall have an overview of all maritime matters within the
-Society. He shall promote the maritime aspect of the Society’s
-activities.
-f) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including himself)
-shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the Society, unless agreed
-otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate their activities, and report back to
-the HW upon them from time to time.
-xiv. The HW may elect an Ecclesiastical Officer. (EcclO).
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-b) He shall initiate and correlate research into the Church in these
-Islands in the Society’s Period of Interest.
-c) He shall promote the ecclesiastical aspect of the Society’s
-activities. He shall control the Ecclesiastical Rank system of the
-Society, in consultation with the local group leaders of members of
-the Society involved in this aspect.
-d) He shall ensure that the bounds of good taste and authenticity
-are not exceeded by the words or actions of any religious ceremony
-or display at a Society Event, or by the actions or words of himself
-or those responsible to him. He shall ensure that all religious
-ceremonies performed as part of the public displays of the Society
-are verifiable from primary sources from the Society’s Period of
-Interest. He shall advise the AO, MAA and LHC in this regard.
-e) He shall call, organise and attend meetings of all those involved
-in the ecclesiastical aspect of the Society’s displays. These
-meetings, known as Synods, may be attended by all those with an
-interest in this aspect, whether they hold ecclesiastical rank within
-the Society or not.
-f) He shall promulgate policy and regulations regarding the
-ecclesiastical aspect of the Society’s activities. This shall be
-distributed to at least the members of the HW.
-g) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including
-himself) shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the
-Society, unless agreed otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate
-their activities, and report back to the HW upon them from time to
-time.
-xv. The HW may elect a Missiles Officer (MiO)
-a) He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-b) He shall oversee the training of the Society’s members who wish
-to take part in combat and other missile displays within the Society.
-He shall therefore be responsible, insofar as it may be practical and
-reasonable, for the safety in use of the missile weapons that the
-Society’s members may employ in such displays
-c) He shall instigate and maintain a policy appertaining to the use
-and construction of missile weapons. This shall be published and
-circulated to at least the members of the HW at the Society’s
-expense. Changes, additions and other modifications shall be
-circulated from time to time.
-d) He shall instigate, maintain and oversee a formalised system of
-training throughout the Society that will enable a member to acquire
-and progress in such missile weapon skills
-e) He shall instigate and maintain testing procedures that are
-aimed at ensuring the greatest safety of members participating in
-missile displays, insofar as that may be possible.
-f) He shall regularly liaise with the AO, MAA, MTO and local group
-training officers (see C5Bix) with the aim of ensuring consistent
-training methods throughout the Society.
-g) He shall arrange training sessions at Society Events and at
-Training Weekends and other similar events where the members of
-the Society may gain intensive skill training. He shall work with the
-Eolder and MTO in this regard.
-h) He may appoint deputies, the number of which (including
-himself) shall not exceed 1.5% of the total membership of the
-Society, unless agreed otherwise by the HW. He shall co-ordinate
-their activities, and report back to the HW upon them from time to
-time.
-xvi. The HW may elect a First Aid Coordinator (FAC)
-a) He shall maintain a list of all members of the Society who are
-qualified and willing to serve as First Aiders at the Society’s events.
-b) He shall ensure that adequate First Aid cover is provided for all
-Society Major Events, where sufficient notice of an event has been
-given.
-c) He shall institute and maintain a record of injuries sustained by
-members of the Society
-d) He shall ensure that First Aid equipment held by the Society be
-maintained in a state of readiness. He shall ensure that Society First
-Aiders are reimbursed for personal expenditure of First Aid
-equipment (through the Society Treasurer)
-e) He shall generate specific policies regarding the provision and
-practice of First Aid within the Society.
-xvii. The HW may elect a Merchandising Officer (MeO)
-a. He shall attend at least half of the Society’s major events in any
-one year.
-.
-b. He shall manage the Society’s Merchandising Unit, and shall
-ensure that a trading stall is operated at Society Major Events as
-often as is practicable.
-c. He shall control the Society’s Merchandising Account, and shall
-return details of all transactions and levels of stock etc. to the
-Treasurer on a monthly basis. He shall agree an annual budget with
-the Treasurer for the purchase of stock and the running expenses
-of the Unit. Any profits of the Unit shall be paid back to the
-Society’s general funds on an annual basis.
-d. He shall produce a business plan annually as part of his Officer’s
-Report, and shall review this regularly.
-e. He may not make any payment relating to the purchase of stock
-from his personal accounts. In this regard attention is particularly
-drawn to R2iii above.
-f. In conjunction with the Eolder, he shall ensure that any relevant
-licences required to trade at an event are obtained by the Society.
-g. He shall give his active consent before any goods destined for the
-Merchandising Unit are purchased by the Society
-xviii The HW may elect a Wychurst Project Coordinator (WPC)
-a. He will be a proven member of the society with experience in
-managing Regia members at events, training weekends or in other
-situations.
-b. He must be prepared to be proactive in organizing and planning the
-project, both in current detail and forward planning.
-c. He must expect to attend and work at 75% of working weekends at
-the site.
-d. He will identify and encourage Regia volunteers to the project and
-provide assistance and advice to them in acquiring skills and
-materials as necessary.
-e. He will delegate appropriate persons to tasks and provide other
-persons to support them as necessary.
-f. He will work to promote the project both within the society and
-externally, providing frequent reports to the society at appropriate
-stages.
-g. He will work with the Eolder in seeking work and funding for the
-society, where this involves the project, and will assist in organising
-events and filming on the site where appropriate.
-C. Advisory Councils
-i. Society Officers may, at their discretion, gather around them a number
-of advisors.
-ii. These advisors must include any Deputies they may appoint under the
-CoL
-iii. These advisors must be seen to represent the whole membership of
-the Society, with particular regard to geographical distribution.
-iv. Whilst such Councils may assist Society Officers in formulating and
-promoting policies and rulings, their decisions are purely advisory, and
-are not binding on either the Officer or the HW.
-D. Co-opted Officers
-i. The HW may co-opt any Full, Adult Member of the Society to fulfil a
-specific role.
-ii. Such Officers must be co-opted by a vote at a meeting of the HW,
-which shall also determine the terms of reference and duration of such
-a position.
-iii. Co-opted Officers shall have the authority and duties of Society
-Officers within their brief.
-iv. Their posts shall be reviewed annually in any case.
-v. The HW may decide to promote the Co-opted Office to a Society
-Office. In this case R2A shall immediately apply, and an open election
-held.
-. Displays
-i. A Society Major Event is one deemed to be so by the Eolder or the HW. In
-general terms the parameters are as follows:
-a. The event is one that requires a large input from the membership
-b. The event is one which large numbers of the membership may be
-expected to attend, working from previous experience.
-c. The event is one that earns a fee of or in excess of £1000.
-ii. The membership shall be aware that the Society obtains the principal part
-of its income from public events. The majority of these events are Major
-Events, which pay the Society high fees. Major Events are the single best
-way of ensuring the future growth and success of the Society.
-iii. Major Events shall at all times take precedence over public events
-organised at local group or regional level, Training Weekends and
-banquets and similar social events. Such local events and Training
-Weekends shall only be booked after liaison with the Eolder, in order to fall
-under the aegis of the Society with regard to Public Liability Insurance etc.
-iv. Information regarding Major Events shall be made available to the
-membership as far in advance as is practical. Announcements or detailed
-information shall be sent out either in a mailing to the members of the HW
-or by means of the Society Newsletter. The Eolder shall have the
-responsibility of ensuring that full details of an Event are sent to at least the
-members of the HW no less than two weeks in advance of the Event.
-v. Where such details are not sent out in a general mailing such as a Society
-Newsletter, it is the responsibility of the local group leaders to disseminate
-the information to the members of their groups.
-vi. Leaders of local groups are required to inform the Eolder of the number of
-their members likely to attend an event at least seven days prior to its
-commencement.
-vii. Other work undertaken by Regia, such as film-work, week-long events and
-so forth may allow the Society to pay its members’ expenses, provide food
-etc. All such payments are intended to cover out of pocket expenses and
-are not to be considered as pay within the context of tax or NI. The Society
-reserves the right to claim a percentage of any fee charged by the Society
-for its members’ services to a third party, which percentage shall be
-abstracted at source.
-viii. A ‘Hosting Fee’ will normally be paid to local groups who are hosts to
-Regia for a Major Event. This is to reimburse the local group for its efforts
-in on-site management, pre and post-event activity (e.g. erection of
-signage etc.) and other matters. The amount is to cover the group’s
-inconvenience, any costs shall be claimed back through the Treasurer in
-the usual way. The fee shall be paid to the hosting group within seven days
-of the closure of the event. The amount shall be fixed by the HW from time
-to time.
-ix. Further regulations for Events may be produced by the Eolder, in
-consultation with the LHC, MAA, MTO and Treasurer, where relevant.
-A. Booking Major Events
-i. No Society Event of any kind shall be discussed, booked or any kind of
-agreement (written or verbal) entered into or considered, nor any fee
-discussed by any person acting or purporting to act as an agent of the
-Society without the prior knowledge and written agreement of the Eolder.
-ii. Information that may lead to the booking of Society Events of any kind shall
-be referred to the Eolder with all speed, as shall all enquiries from clients,
-prospective or otherwise.
-iii. Wherever possible, but at his discretion, the Eolder shall involve the local
-group leadership in discussions with prospective clients for Society events
-that fall within the Land Grant of that local group. The intention is that all
-can be seen to be ‘above board’ and that the local group can gain first
-hand knowledge of the kind of agreement entered into.
-B. Event Infrastructure
-i. A meeting (the Morning Meeting) shall be held at 1000hrs (or one hour
-before public opening, if earlier) on each day of an event. All Society
-Officers (and any of their Deputies) present at the event shall attend, along
-with a delegate from each local group attending. The LHC, MAA and MTO
-shall ensure that ‘wic leaders’ and ‘army commanders’ shall also attend if
-they be neither Officers nor group leaders. The location of the meeting
-shall be at a central part of the display area.
-ii. An Officer of the Day (O/d) shall be appointed at the beginning of the
-event. In general the leader of the local group (or a nearby group where
-there is no local group covering the event site) shall be appointed.
-a. He shall have an overview of the event and work closely with the Eolder,
-LHC and MTO to ensure its smooth running.
-b. He shall have a general responsibility for the Third Millennium Campsite
-(TMC), its organisation and placement. He shall expect the co-operation
-of the members of the Society with regard to the placement of tents and
-vehicles, and the maintenance of necessary access to all parts of the
-TMC.
-c. He shall be responsible for tidying the TMC, ensuring that toilet facilities
-are functioning, ensuring the timetable of the day is widely known and
-generally dealing with such matters as shall need his attention through
-the day. He shall have authority over the areas of the LHE and military
-display areas outside the hours of public display, and shall ensure that
-they are clear of dangerous or noxious items or substances before the
-commencement of the public display each day. He shall expect the cooperation
-of the members of the Society in this regard.
-d. He shall remain entirely sober during the hours of his responsibility.
-e. He shall have the authority of a Society Officer during the hours of his
-responsibility.
-f. With the consent of the Morning Meeting, the position of the O/d may be
-rotated among several persons throughout the event. However the
-identity of the O/d shall be known at all times.
-iii. The Morning Meeting shall also approve the appointment of a Site Safety
-Officer (SSO), on the same lines as that of the O/d. No-one shall hold both
-positions simultaneously.
-a. He shall have an overview of all aspects of site safety, on the display
-areas and the TMC. He shall be available during his hours of
-responsibility and shall be entirely sober during them. He shall deal
-expeditiously with all matters as shall require his attention.
-b. He shall have responsibility for First Aid provision at the event as the
-Society’s Appointed Person. He shall be made aware of the identity of
-all members of the Society present at the event who are known to the
-Society as First Aiders. He shall liaise with the FAC and external First
-Aid organisations if any be present.
-c. He shall have the authority of a Society Officer during his hours of
-responsibility.
-iv. The O/d and SSO shall make it their joint and several business to
-ascertain the locations of:
-a. The nearest doctor’s surgery its telephone number and the number of
-the local Out-of-Hours GP service.
-b. The nearest late opening pharmacy
-c. The nearest hospitals with a 24-hr Accident and Emergency Unit, and
-the nature of other local NHS hospitals (e.g. Minor Injury Units etc.)
-d. The nearest working public telephone with a 24-hr. 999 facility.
-They shall either know and be able to drive the route to these facilities
-themselves, or obtain the services of a car driver who does.
-v. The O/d shall also ascertain the location, nature, opening hours, telephone
-numbers etc. of local food outlets and public houses. He shall make this
-information available to the attendant membership.
-vi. The O/d, together with the local group leader shall ensure that ready
-supplies of potable water, sand and firewood, and sanitation facilities are
-available on their arrival on site, even if the Eolder has physically checked
-that such supplies and facilities will be available whilst arranging the event.
-If necessary they shall take steps to acquire such, and shall receive
-necessary remuneration from the Treasurer.
-vii. The local group leader (or nearest neighbouring group leader), shall, on
-receipt of no less than seven days written notice, arrange the transport of
-members to and from the nearest railway station and/or bus station to the
-site, if necessary.
-viii. A record of those members of the Society attending any Society Event
-shall be kept at that event and retained by the MO.
-C. The Responsibilities of the Membership
-i. It is the duty of the individual member, guided primarily by the leadership of
-his local group, and then by the relevant Society Officers (and their
-Deputies) to ensure that any items of clothing and/or equipment intended
-for public display at any Event are:
-a. safe in their construction and use (under the relevant regulations of
-the Society Officers) and
-b. authentic for the display, bearing in mind the location and published
-dateline (if any) for the Event.
-ii. It is the duty of the AO and MAA to inform the membership of the details of
-general and wargear authenticity for Events, and they shall maintain strict
-control over this aspect of the Society’s function. The member shall bear in
-mind that, after safety, standards of authenticity are the prime and abiding
-interest of the whole Society.
-iii. Members of the Society shall not consume alcohol during the hours of
-public display of an Event, and shall be sober at any time when they
-appear in public during those hours. Members of the Society shall not
-consume tobacco products during the hours of public display of an Event
-when appearing in public and in such costume as shall connect them with
-the Society. Detailed regulation of this matter shall be in the hands of the
-O/d, MTO and LHC at Major Events.
-iv. The repeated use of foul or blasphemous language by a member of the
-Society in such contexts as may connect him with the Society, particularly
-when in the hearing of a minor or minors, the general public, or the Client
-or the Client’s agent or representative may be dealt with by means of
-immediate removal of the member from the display areas, followed by such
-action as a quorate Emergency HW shall determine. Such an EHW may be
-immediately convened.
-v. No member of the Society shall take or willingly expose himself to any form
-of non-medically prescribed drug, nor any compound that could be
-construed as such at any time when attendant at an Event, nor in any
-context that may in any way or at any time connect him with the Society,
-upon risk of immediate removal of the member from the Event, suspension
-of membership, and such action as a subsequent HW shall determine.
-Such a HW may be immediately convened.
-vi. No member of the Society shall wilfully disregard an instruction given to
-him by a relevant Society Officer (or person holding due authority at an
-Event) on a matter of health and safety, upon risk of immediate removal of
-the member from the Event, suspension of membership, and such action
-as a subsequent HW shall determine. Such a HW may be immediately
-convened.
-. Financial Procedures
-i. The Society Treasurer shall issue detailed regulations, pro-formis etc.
-regarding financial matters from time to time.
-ii. All claims made upon the Society by the membership regarding payments
-of fuel expenses for attendance at displays, where such payments have
-been announced in advance by the Eolder. shall be made on the relevant
-pro-forma and be accompanied by VAT receipts for the amount claimed.
-Local groups shall submit claims for their members, and payments shall be
-made by cheque to the local group, except in exceptional circumstances
-A. Group Projects
-i. Any Established Group of the Society has the right to make a request to
-the HW (through the Treasurer) for grants in cash or kind to forward group
-projects. Decisions on such matters shall be made by an assembled HW.
-ii. A feasibility study must be prepared and presented to the HW. It shall be
-accompanied by an estimate of the amounts of money required at any
-stage, and an estimate of completed costs. Where materials or outside
-labour are required, three estimates from different sources shall be
-submitted
-iii. The local group leader shall generally be held accountable for the
-overview and accurate accounting of granted materials and money, and
-the final production of the project. The HW may appoint another person in
-his place if it sees fit. This accountability shall extend to MODERN law.
-iv. Reports of project progress shall appear in each issue of the Society
-Newsletter published during the duration of the project.
-v. No project shall last more than twelve months unless decided otherwise by
-the HWBM.
-vi. If a project is not completed within the stated time, any remaining monies
-and materials shall come under the management of the Society with
-immediate effect.
-: Safety
-i. The Society's policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working
-conditions, equipment and systems of work for all our members and to
-provide such information, training and supervision as they may need for
-this purpose
-ii. The allocation of duties for safety matters and particular arrangements
-are contained in ‘Safety: Everybody's Business’ available upon request
-from the Society, and within this CoL (see R3 above). The membership of
-the Society shall remain familiar with the provisions of these documents.
-iii. The Society shall maintain an insurance policy in relation to Third Party
-Risks and Employer's Liability
-iv. The Society shall keep its safety policies up-to date, by means of regular
-reviews by the HW and/or relevant Society Officers
-v. All public displays of the Society, whether of a military nature or not, shall
-be secured from public access by means of such rope barriers as shall
-be appropriate to the display.
-A. Health Considerations
-i. The Society respectfully submits that those suffering from HIV or other
-blood-borne infections consider their involvement with an activity where
-edged tools and weapons play a major part
-ii. All members of the Society shall ensure that they have all their relevant
-inoculations up to date.
-iii. All members of the Society shall institute and maintain such personal
-hygiene procedures as may be practicable when attendant at a display.
-Procedures regarding the cleanliness of food preparation and
-consumption areas and equipment shall be instituted and maintained by
-individuals and local groups.
-iv. A member taking a medicine (whether medically prescribed or not)
-which could cause drowsiness shall not engage in a military display, nor
-use edged tools on the LHE.
-B. Safety of Equipment
-i. It is the personal duty of every member of the Society to ensure that any
-item of equipment which they own or use is safe in its construction and
-method of usage. When in doubt, the relevant Society Officer shall be
-consulted.
-ii. Weapons and tools shall be kept free from rust, rot, cracks, burrs or other
-defects in their material construction.
-iii. No weapon shall be deliberately thrust into the ground at any time. Where
-a weapon is accidentally put into the ground, it shall be immediately
-removed and cleaned before further use.
-: Justice and Discipline
-i. All procedures involving matters under this section shall conform to the
-principles of C4A above.
-ii. Where a meeting under C4A is to be held to examine the behaviour,
-competence, actions or inactions of a member or members of the Society,
-the member or members concerned must be informed of its location and
-nature at least seven days beforehand, whether by post to their last
-known address, or by hand, with the witness of either an officer of the
-local group (for hearings at local level), or a Society Officer (for hearings
-before the High Witan). This section does not apply to meetings of the
-HW called under R3C.
-iii. The Lawspeaker must likewise be informed in advance of any such
-meeting, and shall make himself freely available to the parties to advise
-them of their rights and duties.
-iv. The member or members concerned are not obliged to attend the
-meeting. They may ask a Senior Member of the Society to speak for them
-at the meeting. There is no duty laid upon any such member to accept the
-request.
-v. Where a vote is taken either party may request that it be taken by secret
-ballot.
-vi. The proceedings of the meeting must be minuted and signed as a true
-record by both parties. Copies of minutes and relevant documentation of
-all hearings held under these regulations resulting in action under R6B
-below must be held under seal by the Lawspeaker and the local group
-leader of the member or members concerned.
-vii. Once a member or members have been cleared of any matter brought
-against them by either the local group or the HW, the matter may not be
-raised again nor appealed under 6A below. A hearing before the HW shall
-not be supplemented by action at local level, nor vice versa.
-viii. If a member resigns his membership in the period between being
-informed of a hearing and the date of that hearing, the details of the
-matter shall be forwarded to the Lawspeaker, who shall hold them under
-seal and inform the MO of the name of the member concerned. Such
-persons may not rejoin the society without consent of the HW, who shall
-examine the matter before giving their consent.
-ix. The Lawspeaker may issue further regulations on this matter from time to
-time.
-A: Appeals
-i. Decisions of local groups under C4A may not be appealed. The
-Lawspeaker shall refer the matter to the HW for re-examination if, in his
-opinion, the procedure undertaken by the group contravenes the CoL. If so,
-he shall notify the Chair of the HW, the Eolder and the parties involved
-within seven days of his receipt of the documents regarding the matter and
-shall not entertain any canvassing on the subject.
-ii. Decisions of the HW (except under R3C or above) may be appealed to the
-next quorate assembly of the HW, where the matter shall be re-examined.
-No further appeal shall take place.
-B: Available Penalties
-i. Expulsion from the Society. The MO shall be informed by the
-Lawspeaker of the names of expelled individuals after any appeal under
-R6A above shall have taken place. Expelled members are not eligible to
-rejoin the Society. Where a local group has expelled a member from the
-Society, the Lawspeaker shall refer the matter to the HW for ratification.
-The member or members concerned shall be suspended from all office
-and activity within their group and the Society until the decision of the HW
-is made known. The HW shall treat such a referral as a request for an
-Emergency HW and shall act as under R1A above. If the HW fails to ratify
-the expulsion, the procedure under R6Bii shall immediately apply.
-ii. Expulsion from the Local Group. Members shall be suspended from all
-office and activity within their group and the Society immediately after any
-appeal under R6A above shall have taken place. The MO shall be informed
-by the Lawspeaker of the identities of members so affected. Such
-members must make a successful application to join another local group in
-order to re-activate their membership. No concealment of the grounds of
-expulsion shall be made, and the record of the hearing shall be made
-available by the Lawspeaker to GLs to whom application is made if they so
-desire. If no successful application is made within six weeks of the
-expulsion, no further application may be made, and the member or
-members concerned shall no longer be eligible for membership of the
-Society.
-iii. Loss of Officership (Motions of No-Confidence). Officers of a local group
-may be stripped of their offices by the local group. The HW may strip a
-Society or Co-opted Officer of his post. In the case of Society Officers, an
-election under R2 above shall be instigated as laid down. Group Offices
-shall be filled according to that group’s regulations.
-iv. Formal Censure of an Officer. An officer may be censured by his
-appointing body. Notice of such censure shall appear in the Minutes of that
-body, together with instructions (if any) as to his future actions.
-v. Re-election of an Officer. An officer may have his post put up for reelection
-by his appointing body. An officer is at liberty to stand for reelection,
-if he wishes.
-vi. Degradation. Local groups may demote their members from Earned
-Ranks and Group Honorary Ranks (see R8 below). Society Honorary
-Ranks may be removed by the HW. Earned Rank may be regained
-according to the regulations of the local group and R8.
-vii. Public Rebuke. At local group level this consists of either a notice being
-placed in the group’s newsletter (if any), or a statement being read by the
-group leader at the next local event held by the group. At Society level, a
-notice may be placed in the Society Newsletter, or a statement read by the
-Lawspeaker at the next Society Event he may be present at. Such notices
-and statements shall restrict themselves to the established facts of the
-matter and the decision of the body before which the hearing was held.
-viii. Re-Training. A member may lose the right to bear or use a weapon or
-use a LHE skill for a period of time. In this instance he must also follow the
-regulations of the relevant Society Officer before regaining the use of that
-weapon or skill.
-ix. Disbarment . A member may be disbarred from attending public events or
-group meetings for a period of time.
-: The Local Group
-i. No regulation made by the Society regarding its relationship with local
-groups, or regarding the relationship of local groups with each other shall
-contravene C5.
-ii. Each local group is operated on a quasi-independent basis within the
-Society.
-iii. All members of the Society must be members of a local group.
-iv. Applicants for membership of the Society must apply through their local
-group, where one holds the Land Grant over their place of residence. Any
-group may recruit in land held by the Society as a whole. A group may
-permit an individual to join the Society through another group, but the
-active consent of both group leaders involved is required. A local group is
-not required to inform members of other groups resident within its Land
-Grant of local group meetings and events, although they are generally
-encouraged to do so.
-v. In addition to any sanction agreed by the HW under C5Axvi, the MO may
-refer applicants to another appropriate local group.
-vi. The MO shall be empowered to refer applicants to another local group if
-the local group that covers the applicant’s residence has not responded to
-the applicant’s initial query within a reasonable time. The MO shall make
-one attempt to pursue the query with the local group before referring to
-another local group.
-vii. The local group leader may be held responsible by the HW for his group’s
-actions.
-viii. Whilst local groups may make agreements between themselves, they
-shall not expect the Society to be bound by, or to intervene to uphold or
-enforce such agreements, particularly if they fall outside the scope of the
-CoL.
-ix. The Lawspeaker and Eolder shall issue detailed guidance on the practice
-of these Regulations where necessary.
-A: Transference of Membership
-i. Whilst any paid-up adult member of the Society may transfer his
-membership to any other local group, the Society does not encourage this
-practice unless the member has moved his place of residence into another
-group’s Land Grant.
-ii. If a member wishes to transfer to another group, he must inform the MO,
-providing written proof that:-
-a) He has informed his existing group leader of his intention to
-transfer.
-b) He has the consent of his new group leader for the transfer to be
-made
-c) He has sent both GLs and the MO copies of these documents.
-B: Group Management
-i. Local groups shall be run by the local group leader (GL), and a council of
-the group’s officers (particularly those required under C5) and such other
-Full, Adult, Paid-up members of the group as he may deem suitable.
-ii. Local groups may choose their GL, officers and council in any way they
-deem suitable.
-iii. The Society regards the local group council as advisory to the GL. The GL
-must pay due regard to the advice of his council. The GL shall hold a
-casting vote in addition to his own at council meetings.
-iv. The group council should meet at least monthly, unless prevented by
-exceptional circumstances. Local group officers shall attend at least half of
-such meetings in a calendar year. The GL has the power to dismiss group
-officers who fail to do so.
-v. Local groups shall hold a General Meeting each year, preferably on or
-around the 21st December. The location, date and time of such a meeting
-shall be circulated to the whole membership of the group at least thirty
-days in advance. Members of the Society shall regard attendance at their
-group’s General Meeting as mandatory.
-vi. Local groups shall meet regularly throughout the year. The GL is
-responsible for ensuring that combatant members of his group attend
-‘battle-practice’, whether at Society or local events, or specifically
-organised on a local or regional basis. Such ‘battle-practice’ must fall within
-the Regulations produced by the MTO. The GL has the power to debar
-combatant members of the group from participation in military displays at a
-local or Society event if, in his opinion, that member has undergone
-insufficient training in advance of an event, or is unfit to take the field
-vii. The GL has the power to invite observers to any group meeting. Other
-group members may invite observers with the GL’s permission. Observers
-may not speak at meetings unless called upon, and shall be made aware
-of this before the start of the meeting.
-C Local Events.
-i. A local group may organise events only within its own Land Grant or in land
-held by the Society as a whole. They shall be of a nature to fall outside any
-or all of the parameters of Major Events as set down in R3 above. A group
-may permit a display to be organised on its land by another group, but the
-active consent of both group leaders involved is required.
-ii. The Society may delegate the running of an event to the local group, or to
-the groups in an area (an Area Show). In such cases, at the discretion of
-the Treasurer, some or all of the benefits normally accruing to the Society
-as a whole may be used primarily in the interest of the local group(s)
-participating in such an event.
-iii. Local event organisation shall follow that laid down in R3 as closely as
-possible. All participants in a local event must be members in good
-standing according to the requirements of C4 and C4B above.
-iv. It is a duty of the GL to inform the Eolder of a local event as far in advance
-as possible. Local events must be notified to the Eolder if they are to fall
-under the aegis of the Society with regard to insurance etc. GLs shall
-ensure that local events do not clash with events organised by the Society
-as a whole as far as is practical.
-: Rank
-i. No member of the Society shall expect undue deference or precedence
-over another because of any rank or title he may have been awarded at
-any time. A rank may only be used at a display by a member if he is attired
-in costume, wargear and/or equipment appropriate to it. The AO is
-empowered to make rulings regarding disputes in this area.
-ii. No rank or title awarded by a body within the Society shall have any
-relevance outside the Society or its activities.
-iii. No rank or title awarded by the Society shall be regarded as hereditary.
-iv. Where a specific title is accorded to a rank in these Regulations, that rank
-shall also be assumed to include all titles of equivalent ranks in the other
-communities within the Society’s area and period of interest.
-v. Awards of ranks may be revoked by the awarding body under the
-processes of R6 above.
-A: Earned Rank
-i. Probationary Members hold the lowest rank in the Society, and shall fulfil
-functions appropriate to unfree peasants in the society’s Period on the
-LHE, and the least well-equipped spearmen in the combat display area.
-The membership is reminded, however, that abusive behaviour towards
-another member of the Society is unlawful.
-ii. After the acceptance of the Probationary Member by his local group (under
-C4A), he becomes an Established Member, and should be regarded as
-being of the free peasantry or townspeople. This rank includes a wide
-variety of socio-economic classes and strata, and progress through these
-shall be according to the regulations of the local group, providing that
-suitable progress is made in the appearance and skill level of the member.
-iii. Progress to the rank of Senior Member is not automatic. A candidate must
-be able to demonstrate that he is able to adequately mentor new members
-of the Society, and act as a source of knowledge on any or all matters to
-do with the Society’s Period. Therefore, he must sit an unseen written test
-of his knowledge of the period, which shall not fall below a minimum
-standard set by the AO, who shall be sent a copy of each test before it is
-sat by the candidate. Senior Members shall hold a position akin to that of
-the nobility in the Society’s period. Suitable titles etc shall be granted to
-Senior Members by their local group, which shall not fall outside the
-boundaries of that group’s Grant of Land. The Society recommends that at
-least a year’s experience of the Society is necessary before considering
-candidacy for Senior Membership. Where strata within local nobility existed
-in the Society’s Period, progress within them shall be according to the local
-group’s regulations.
-iv. Where a group requires a separate military hierarchy, its structure shall be
-decided by the group as a whole. Quality of equipment, skill level and
-experience shall determine the speed of progression within such
-structures.
-B: Group Honorary Rank
-i. The leader of a local group shall be accorded the rank of a Senior Member
-as of right. However, where he has not passed the examination set down in
-R8Aiii above, he should aim to pass it at the earliest opportunity. This may
-be set in the first instance by that group’s Mentor Group, if necessary.
-ii. The leader of an Established Group shall be accorded the position of the
-royal representative in that group’s area. He may be elevated to his
-position in a public ceremony, at which the Eolder, Lawspeaker or CHW
-may preside.
-C: Society Honorary Rank
-i. The HW may choose to honour members of the Society for service over
-time to the Society, or for specific acts of valour or outstanding
-achievements in research and display. This shall be done by a vote at an
-assembly of the HW.
-ii. The HW may make a Vote of Thanks to any individual or group within the
-Society, to take such form as shall be appropriate in each case.
-iii. Where a member has served the Society well and at a high level over
-many years, the HW may accord him the rank of Eorl (or in highly
-exceptional circumstances, Æþeling). The rank of Eorl is also permitted to
-the current group leaders of those groups currently holding Eorldom status
-under C5. Promotion to Eorl or Æþeling must be marked by a public
-ceremony before the Eolder.
-iv. The Society may, by vote of the HWBM or by referendum of the whole
-membership, elect one individual at any one time to hold its titular
-headship. Such a person shall be accorded the title of King. Kingship shall
-be renewed every three years.
-v. The title of Archbishop may only be granted by the HW, to one individual
-whose active service to the Society’s ecclesiastical displays has been
-exceptional and prolonged. All other progression within the ecclesiastical
-structure of the Society shall be governed by the EcclO.
-vi. The title of Staller may only be granted by the HW, to one individual
-whose active service to the Society’s military displays has been exceptional
-and prolonged. All other progression within the military structure of the
-Society shall be governed at group level under R8Aiv above.
-vii. The title of Discthegn may only be granted by the HW, to one individual
-whose active service to the Society’s LH displays has been exceptional
-and prolonged.
-viii. Society Honorary Rank confers no benefit regarding a vote or right of
-audience at the HW.
-Here end the Regulations of Regia Anglorum, the second volume of Version 6
-of the Code of Law, passed by vote of the High Witan January 2000, and as
-variously amended by the High Witan at Birmingham.
-Martin Williams, Lawspeaker
-pp
-Oswiu Eadulfing iurisdictor

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