Charter

	Charter for the Shire of Meadowmarsh 25 February 2003

1.	Shire Activities

1.1	General Meeting
1.1.1	The General Meeting will be held from 19:30 to 21:00 on the 1st Tuesday of every month at a location determined by the Seneshal.
1.1.2	Officer reports at the General Meeting are recommended to be limited to 2 minutes.

1.2	Arts & Sciences Meeting
1.2.1	The Arts & Sciences Meeting will be held from 19:30 to 21:00 on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at a location determined by the Minister of Arts & Sciences.

1.3	Business Meeting
1.3.1	The Business Meeting will be held from 19:30 to 21:30 on the last Tuesday of every month (except December) at a location determined by the Seneschal.
1.3.2.	Everyone who wants to help run the Shire is invited to the Business Meeting. Officers, Deputies, & Autocrats for upcoming Events are highly recommended to attend.

1.4	Heavy Fighter Practice
1.4.1	Heavy Fighter Practice will be held from 19:30 to 21:00 every Thursday at a location determined by the Knight Marshal.

1.5	Fencing Practice
1.5.1	Fencing Practice will be held from 16:00 to 18:00 every Saturday at a location determined by the Fencing Marshal.

1.6	Archery Practice
1.6.1	Archery Practice will be held at a time and location determined by the Archery Marshal.

1.7	There will be no smoking at any Shire Activity, except from a sufficient distance from the main activity that the other members aren't affected.

2.	Shire Officers

2.1	The Shire recognizes no difference between "Greater" or "Lesser" Officers. All Officers are considered equal.
	The Officers of the Shire are: Archery Marshal Chancellor of the Exchequer Chatelaine Chirugeon Chronicler Fencing Marshal Herald Hospitaller Knight Marshal Minister of Arts and Sciences Seneschal

2.2	All Officers and their Deputies must be paying members of the SCA.

2.3	Officer Elections
2.3.1	Officers are chosen on a volunteer basis. If more than one person wants a specific Office, then the Seneschal will work with those volunteers to find the best solution (preference will be given to the former Deputy for the Office - that's one reason for having a Deputy, to teach them how to do the job). If no solution can be found, then a vote will be conducted at the General Meeting. An Officer must first be approved by the members of the Shire, and then by the appropriate Kingdom Officer before he or she is considered Official.
2.3.2	Officer term limits are 2 years. Officers may hold two consecutive terms, but must be voted on even if there is no other willing candidate. It is recommended that no one hold two consecutive terms if there is another willing and capable volunteer. No one shall hold an Office more than 2 consecutive terms, except under extenuating circumstances (i.e. There are no capable volunteers for the job).
2.3.3	Once in office, an Officer cannot be suspended or removed from office by the Shire for the duration of his/her term. He/she may only be removed through recommendation to the Crown or the appropriate Kingdom Officer.

2.4	Deputies
2.4.1	Each Officer may choose to have one or more Deputies; who they are and how many is entirely up to the individual Officer.

3.	Shire Decisions

3.1	A quorum is required to make Decisions for the Shire. A simple majority of the Officers (or their Deputies) including the Seneschal or the Deputy Seneschal must be present to make a quorum. A telephone contact counts towards the quorum.
3.2	All Decisions must happen at either the General or Business meeting. An emergency meeting can be called, but must be announced on the Meadowmarsh Mailing List. Each paying member of the Shire at the meeting gets one vote. The paying members may vote to allow non-paying members and visitors to vote (this is recommended, but not required). Decisions are made by a simple majority.
3.3	All money related Decisions for purchases using Shire funds require the Seneschal, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and one other Officer. For amounts over 25 Euros, a quorum is required. In extenuating circumstances (i.e. Event related) the Autocrat, Seneschal, and Chancellor of the Exchequer may make expenditure decisions.
3.4	With Decisions that directly effect an Office, either the Officer or Deputy for that Office should be present. If the Officer or Deputy are not present, then the Officer has the right to bring up again the issue for voting at another meeting - if reasonable.

4.	Shire Property

4.1	The Shire bank account has two signees - Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Seneschal. The two Officers may not be in the same family.
4.2	The Seneschal and the Hospitaller will keep a record of all Shire property/ loaner gear.
4.3	Anyone wanting to borrow Shire property must clear it through the Seneschal or the Deputy Seneschal (preferably at the General or Business meeting) and sign for it.

5.	Shire Members

5.1	The Shire as whole is not obliged to commemorate any significant event in the lives of its members. For example passing the hat for birthdays, weddings, etc.