Smoking Rocks

Baronial By Laws
(as approved September 29, 2007)
Sections in red are still under consideration

The By Laws of the Barony of Smoking Rocks are hereby established in accordance with the governing documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and the Kingdom of the East and will not contravene any provisions in those documents nor in the Baronial Charter of Smoking Rocks and those documents will supersede any provision within these By Laws if a conflict arises.

I.                    Barony Membership

A. Anyone who participates at events and business meetings of the Barony on a regular basis has the right to speak and be heard at a business meeting.

B. However, in order to have a vote at a business meeting a person must also have a paid SCA Membership of any level.

 

II.                 Events and Autocrats

A. The decision to host an event is made by the Barony at a business meeting and approved by the seneschal.

B. The Autocrat is chosen in the same manner.

C. Autocrats are expected to attend Barony meetings to report on event planning.

D. Autocrats must file a financial report with Barony and regional treasurers within 30 days of the event.

E. All Barony members are expected to assist at Barony events whenever possible.


 

III.               Demos

A. The Contact person is responsible for arranging the logistics of a demo and keeping Barony members informed.

B. The decision to participate in a demo should be made by the Barony at a business meeting. However, if time is short, the approval of the seneschal and relevant officers will suffice.

 

IV.              Baronial Awards

A. The Order of the Leviathan is given for outstanding service and dedication by residents of the Barony over a long period of time and with the promise of continuing service in the future. The badge of the Order of the Leviathan (subject to approval by the College of Arms) will be “Argent, a spermwhale naiant sable.” and the token will be a medallion emblazoned with said badge.

B. The Order of the Quadrant is given to those residents within the Barony who have distinguished themselves by their long-term efforts in Arts & Sciences. The token of the Order of the Quadrant will be a miniature model of a quadrant or (pending approval of the College of Arms) a medallion emblazoned with “(Fieldless,) a quadrant Or.”

C. The Order of the Companions of the Rock award is given to recognize superior performance and dedication in the Arts of War by residents of the Barony. The Arts of War include heavy weapons, rapier or archery as well as any new forms, which may be approved by the East Kingdom. The token of the Companions of the Rock will be a piece of native stone pendant from a ribbon.

D. The Order of the Concord is given for outstanding service and friendship by non-residents of the Barony over a long period of time and with the promise of continuing service in the future. The token of this award will be a piece of lodestone (magnetite) pendant from a ribbon.

E. *Children’s Award* held over for definition by the charter of the baronial Page’s School.

F: Further awards may be instituted by the Baron/ess as he/she sees fit, subject to approval by the College of Arms.

 

V. Protector of Smoking Rocks

A. A tournament for the purpose of determining the baronial champion of arms will be held once a year at the Baronial Birthday event. If the Birthday event is not held, said tournament will take place at the next baronial event after April 1. The winner of the tournament will bear the title "Protector of Smoking Rocks," hereafter referred to as "Protector," and will be addressed as "Lord (or Lady) Protector of Smoking Rocks."

B. The nature of the tournament is to be decided by the Baronial Knight Marshall.

C. The tournament is open exclusively to residents of Smoking Rocks.

D. The Protector will  present the armed forces of the Barony when called on by the Crown, promote all tournaments/events within the barony to others in the Kingdom and assist the Baronial Knight Marshall in organizing the next Champion’s Tournament if requested to do so, by the Marshall. If the Protector is unable to fulfill his or her duties, they will fall to the Baron and/or Baroness or their designated appointee.

 VI.    Archery Champion of the Barony of Smoking Rocks

A. The archery champion for the Barony of Smoking Rocks will be determined by a one day competition which has been approved by the Captain of Archers. The competition will be given sometime during the summer months, between May 1^st and Sept 30.

            B. The winner of the tournament will be known as “Arch Forester of Smoking Rocks”, and will attend Baronial court when possible. He/she will also lead the archers in times of war if he/she is able to attend. If unable to attend he/she will consult with the Captain of Archers to choose an archery war leader to act in his/her stead.

            C. The next year’s tournament will be organized and run by the current champion. He or she cannot compete in that tournament. The champion will attempt to provide a tournament which tests the all round skills of the archers including: timed ends versus static shoots and long and short distance shooting.

D. The Arch Forester position is only open to residents of Smoking Rocks.

VII.    Champion of Fence

A. A tournament will be held once a year at the Baronial Birthday event, or at the next baronial event after April 1 if there is no Birthday event held that year for the purpose of determining the baronial fencing champion who will bear the title “Champion of Fence of Smoking Rocks.”

B. The nature of the tournament is to be decided by the Baronial Marshall of Fence.

C. The tournament is open exclusively to residents of Smoking Rocks.

D. The Duties of the Champion of Fence will include promoting appreciation of the art of fencing within Smoking Rocks. He or she will also have the responsibility of assisting in the organization of the next Fencing Champion’s Tournament. If the Champion of Fence is unable to fulfill his or her duties, they will fall to the Baron and/or Baroness or their designated appointee.

VIII.     Arts & Sciences Champion

            A. An Arts and Sciences competition featuring a wide range of categories will be held once a year at the Baronial Birthday event or at the next baronial event after April 1 if there is no Birthday event held that year.  The purpose of this competition will be to select a baronial champion who will bear the title “Arts & Sciences Champion of Smoking Rocks.”

B. The nature of the competition is to be decided by the Baronial Minister of Arts & Sciences (MoAS).

C. The competition itself may be open to all attendees, and there may be prizes winnable by any entrant, but the title of  Arts and Sciences Champion is open exclusively to residents of Smoking Rocks.

D. The Duties of the Arts & Sciences Champion will include standing as a fine example to the rest of the barony. The Arts and Sciences Champion is also highly encouraged to assist the Baronial MoAS in the running of the next championship.

IX.      Warden of the Southern Reach

A. When sufficient interest is shown, the barony will host a contest of the musical arts. The contest may or may not be themed, but period music and/or period style performance will be preferred.

B. The winner of that contest as decided by a written poll of the audience will hold the title of Warden of the Southern Reach for the period of one year or until the next such contest, whichever comes first.

C. It is traditional for this contest to be held at the Birthday event, but at the discretion of the Baron/ess may be held at any other official baronial event.

D. It will be the duty of the Warden of the Southern Reach to protect and administer all baronial activities on the islands mundanely known as Noman’s Land and Cuttyhunk.

E. If at any time the office of Warden of the Southern Reach should be vacant for any reason the title will default back to the  Sheriff of Smoking Rocks who will hold it in trust until such time as a new Warden is proclaimed.

 

X.            Additional Group Officers - those not otherwise defined in EK law or Corpora

A. The Captain of Archers sets and enforces safety standards for archery in accordance with the requirements of the Kingdom and SCA, Inc. He or she is also required to report as required by the Regional Lieutenant of Archers and the Baronial Marshal concerning the growth and current state of affairs of archery in the barony.

B. The Captain of Siege Engines sets and enforces safety standards for combat siege weaponry and its use in accordance with the requirements of the Kingdom and SCA, Inc. He or she is also required to report as required by the Regional Siege Marshal  and the Baronial Marshal concerning the growth and current state of affairs of siege craft in the barony.

C. The Lymner is the person in charge of the Smoking Rocks Scribal School. He or she is responsible for the organization of, course of instruction and record-keeping for the school. The Lymner will report to the Baronial Seneschal and the Baronial Minister of Arts and Sciences

D. The Head of the Pages’ School (aka Headmaster or Headmistress) is in charge of the Smoking Rocks Pages' School. He or she is responsible for the organization of, the course of instruction and record-keeping for the school. As per Kingdom Law, the Head of the Pages’ School will report to the Baronial Seneschal.

 

XI.    Guilds and Schools

A. A Guild consists of a group of gentles who have come together to develop some art, skill, or area of study. While not required, a Guild may apply to become a Baronial Guild via the following process.

 1.    A charter must be presented to the Baron/ess for review. This charter must state the purpose for which the Guild was founded, and set forth the internal organization of the Guild.

2.   At their discretion, the Baron/ess may choose to sign the charter, thereby declaring the Guild to be a Baronial Guild.

3.  The Guildmaster/Guildmistress, or another gentle designated by the Guild, must then report as required by the Minister of Arts and Sciences.

4.  If a Baronial Guild fails to report as required, the Baronial Minister of Arts and Sciences may request that the Baron/ess revoke their status as a Baronial Guild.

  B. A School consists of a group of gentles who have come together to develop a wide variety of arts, skills, or areas of
             study. While not required a School may apply to become a Baronial School via the following process

1. The designator school may be replaced by any other acceptable equivalent that does not conflict with precedents set by the SCA College of Arms

2.    A charter must be presented to the Baron/ess for review. This charter must state the purpose for which the School was founded, and set forth the internal organization of the School.

3.   At their discretion, the Baron/ess may choose to sign the charter, thereby declaring the School to be a Baronial School.

4.  The Headmaster/Headmistress, or another gentle designated by the School, must then report as required by the Minister of Arts and Sciences.

5.  If a Baronial School fails to report as required, the Baronial Minister of Arts and Sciences may request that the Baron/ess revoke their status as a Baronial School.

 

XII.         Rules Committee

A. There will exist a committee composed of three to five members of the Barony to whom will fall the responsibility of drafting additions and changes to the Baronial Charter and By Laws.

B. New members of the Committee will be chosen by existing members subject to ratification by the baronial seneschal.

C. The Rules Committee can, when desired, delegate the drafting of additions and changes to others who, in the opinion of the committee, are better qualified to handle the subject matter at hand.


 

XIII.              Emendation

A. The articles of this document may be emended by the vote of the membership at a business meeting, provided that at least seventy-five percent of the voting members present approve.

B. Votes on minor emendations may be taken at any business meeting, but if the Chairperson or at least thirty-three percent of the members present deem the matter to be important enough then it can only be decided after all members have been given sufficient time to consider the proposed emendation and to have the opportunity to cast their votes.

C. Under no circumstances may an important emendation be made with less than one month’s notice.