New SCA Ltd Board Members

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

Unto the populace of Lochac, greetings.

After consideration and commentary, the Board of SCA Ltd (the corporate body in Australia) welcomes two new Board Members for the next three years, commencing at the AGM on Friday, 3 April 2015. The new members of the Board are:

  • Ray Gleeson from NSW, known in the Society as Don Gomez de Crecy from Rowany
  • David Beresford from TAS, known in the Society as THL David de Derlington from Ynys Fawr

These appointments bring the Board to six members, which is still shy of the preferred number. The Board now has a member each from QLD, VIC, TAS and WA as well as two from NSW. While prospective Board members are still welcome from any State or Territory except NSW (due to the constitutional limit of two from any State), we would particularly like to receive nominations from SA or ACT.

More Board Members means less work per Board Member, and this makes it easier for everyone. If you have some experience in the SCA, particularly royal peers and former landed B&Bs, seneschals or reeves (although that is NOT a requirement), and you would be willing to help behind the scenes for a three year term – please email me.

Additionally, the majority of the Board will be in attendance at Rowany Festival and would like to see many members at the AGM. All are welcome.

In service of the Society, always.

Sorle Maknicoll
mka Jeff Nicholson
Secretary, SCA Ltd

SCA Ltd 2015 Annual General Meeting

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

Greetings from the Board,

The Society for Creative Anachronism Ltd Board of Directors wishes to advise that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on Friday 3 April 2015 in the Great Hall at Rowany Festival, commencing at 9 am.

With this notice, please find the draft minutes for the 2014 AGM, as well as the Agenda and Proxy Form (updated 18 Feb 2015) for the 2015 AGM and the proposed constitutional amendments (updated 18 Feb 2015) that will be voted on at the meeting. Printed copies of the Financial Report will be made available at the AGM.

We hope to see as many of you at the meeting as possible.

Jeff Nicholson
Secretary, SCA Ltd.

Victorian Control of Weapons Restrictions

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

Urgent advice to all Victorian participants and those planning to travel to the State of Victoria

Due to changes in the Victorian Control of Weapons Act 1990, effective immediately, a restriction has been placed on members of SCA Ltd in Victoria, who are new members since the 5th of June 2014, these members must not handle or acquire metal weapons, including swords, dress swords, rapier, flails, maces or throwing blades. This does not include rattan weapons.

New members who reside in Victoria and intend to handle or acquire such weapons must complete a Statutory Declaration stating that they are not a prohibited person under the Victorian Control of Weapons Act 1990. This is a requirement of the Victorian State Government.

The restriction for new members will be lifted once they receive a confirmation of receipt of declaration or permit via email from the Registrar.

This will eventually affect all members of SCA Ltd, who live in or plan to travel to Victoria. These members will also need to send a Statutory Declaration to the Registrar, although members prior to the 5th of June 2014 are not currently restricted from acquiring, using or carrying metal weapons, including swords, rapiers, flails, maces or throwing blades in Victoria during the phase-in period. This includes those in Royal or Baronial Households who may be required to handle ceremonial weapons.

The Statutory Declaration and Application form for this exemption can be found at https://sca.org.au/board/documents/policy/weapons, and needs to have details completed and to be signed and witnessed, as per the attachment to the document. The application form and declaration (Pages 1 & 2) must be posted to the SCA Ltd Registrar.

Overseas members who intend to undertake travel in Victoria in the near future, please contact the Secretary for further information relating to this issue.

Donna Page
Chair, SCA Ltd

New SCA Ltd Board Member

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

Unto the populace of Lochac, greetings.

After consideration and commentary, the Board of SCA Ltd (the corporate body in Australia) welcomes Michele Le Bas, known as THL Yvonne de Plumetot as a Board Member for the next three years. This appointment brings the Board to five members, which is still two shy of the preferred number.

The Board is still looking for new Board Members. More Board Members means less work per Board Member, and this makes it easier for everyone. If you have some experience in the SCA, particularly royal peers and former landed B&Bs, seneschals or reeves (although that is NOT a requirement), and you would be willing to help behind the scenes for a three year term – please email me.

In service of the Dream, always.

Sorle Maknicoll
mka Jeff Nicholson
Secretary, SCA Ltd

Definition of an Event (a clarification)

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

It has come to the attention of the Board of Directors of SCA Ltd (Australia), that there is still a lot of debate around what an “event” actually is. Event is a word that is commonly used within the SCA and incorporates any Activity that is sanctioned under the society guidelines.  An event is any activity in which you demonstrate participation in pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance re-enactment within the auspices of the SCA.  Any educational activity, meeting, tournament, practice or feast is an event – garbed or not. Indemnities need to be signed, or membership cards sighted, and insurance levies for non-members paid. Kingdom levies, however, are only paid on garbed events such as Camping Events, Tournaments, Revels and Feasts.

Below is the definition as stated in Corpora.

ORGANIZATIONAL HANDBOOK Including Corpora, the By-Laws, Corporate Policies, and the Articles of Incorporation – Revised January 18, 2014

A. Society Events Defined The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities whereby participants can display the results of their researches into the culture and technology of the period in an environment which evokes the atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It also refers to educational activities involving either one-time classes or ongoing Society university organizations, and meetings where participants share skills or discuss the business of the group.

All Society events must be sponsored by official branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of the sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the members of that branch, and conducted according to Society rules.

B. Requirements for Participants at Society Events Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at pre-17th century clothing,conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies with any other requirements (including but not limited to site fees or waivers) which may be imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the requirement to wear pre-17th century dress may be waived. All participants are expected to behave as ladies or gentlemen

If you have any queries regarding this definition please feel free to contact the Board via the Secretary or contact the Kingdom Seneschal.

In Service

Board of Directors
SCA Ltd (Australia)

 

2014/15 Insurance Renewal

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

UPDATE! SCA Ltd’s insurance certificates of currency are now available from the SCA Ltd website’s Insurance page. Please note that while there are two certificates the policy is actually the same, including association insurance, public liability and property insurance and equine insurance (just some people want to see “equine” or “equestrian” mentioned on the certificate for related activities).

If you have any questions regarding our insurance, please contact the Secretary.

In service,

Sorle Maknicoll
Secretary, SCA Ltd

Changes to the SCA Ltd Board

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

Greetings from the SCA Ltd Board.

Apologies for the length of this missive, but the details are important.

Although it has only been little over a month since Rowany Festival, there have been some changes to the Board that we would like to make the membership aware of.

Laurence Cooke, known as Paidin MacLorkan (from Polit), has unexpectedly had to resigned as Secretary and as a Board Member. The Board is sorry to lose him, thanks him for his service to SCA Ltd, and wishes him well.

The necessity of having a Secretary has meant that the Board has had to appoint a new Secretary under section 27.4.1 of the SCA Ltd Constitution. After some discussion it was agreed that Jeff Nicholson, known as Sorle Maknicoll (also from Polit), would step down as Chair and take up the position of Secretary.

As a consequence of this Donna Page, known as Gabriella Borromei (from Stegby), has moved from Deputy Chair to Chair. Tiffany Brown, known as Teffania de Tuckerton (from Kraé Glas), has been appointed as Deputy Chair.

Due to the number of changes, the Board has decided to ask the membership to confirm these appointments at an Extraordinary General Meeting rather than wait for the next AGM as set out in section 27.4.2 of the SCA Ltd Constitution.

The following message will appear in June Pegasus. It was sent while I was still Chair, hence the anachronistic sign-off. Further details will be posted to the Board website.

From the Board of SCA Ltd

Let it be known to the Members of SCA Ltd that an Extraordinary General Meeting is called for Sunday, 6 July 2014 at 3:00pm (or after the closing Court of Midwinter Coronation). This meeting will take place at Ainslie Scout Hall, Corner of Hassall and Ebden streets, Ainslie ACT (the venue for Day 2 of Midwinter Coronation).

This EGM is called in response to the resignation of an Executive Member of the Board of SCA Ltd. Section 27.4.1 of the Constitution states “If the position of Chair, Deputy Chair, Treasurer or Secretary becomes vacant outside of an AGM, the Board Members may appoint another Board Member to the vacated position.” Thus, the Board have elected Board Members to act in new roles, pending confirmation by the Membership.

The other business at the meeting will be the Treasurer’s presentation of the report from SCA Ltd’s Auditors.

The Agenda for the EGM is as follows: 1. Welcome 2. Confirmation of the appointment of new Executive Officers 3. Update on the Treasurers’ Financial Statements 4. Closing Remarks

Details of Proxy information will be available 21 days before the meeting (on or before 15 June 2014) as per section 13.3.3 of the Constitution.

Jeff Nicholson,
Chair, SCA Ltd.

The Board is also looking for new Board Members. More Board Members means less work per Board Member, and this makes it easier for everyone. If you have some experience in the SCA, particularly royal peers and former landed B&Bs, seneschals or reeves (although that is NOT a requirement), and you would be willing to help behind the scenes for a three year term – please email me.

In service of the Dream, always.

Sorle Maknicoll
mka Jeff Nicholson
Secretary, SCA Ltd

Meet the Board at Rowany festival

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

This week at Rowany festival, we will hold our AGM at 9am Friday in the Great Hall. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

As well as our AGM, we welcome you to meet us in a less formal situation. We’ll be is the Meeting Pavilion at 5pm on Sunday to have a more informal talk about what the board does.

SCA Ltd/SCA NZ Bullying and Harassment Policy Annoucement

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

To the members and participants of SCA Ltd Australia and SCANZ Inc New Zealand,

The Australian Board and the New Zealand Committee have developed a joint bullying and harassment policy for our respective members and participants.

There have been, and continue to be, a rise in complaints of bullying and harassment in the kingdom. In response to this, and the feedback that Australia’s policy wasn’t comprehensive enough, and that New Zealand didn’t have a policy addressing B&H at all, the Board, Committee and Kingdom Seneschal have discussed at length the importance of having a policy as soon as possible, and what options we had available to us to provide this to our members and participants. A thorough discussion was had about the potential to launch the policy as a pilot vs sending out the policy for consultation.

After comprehensive discussions and considerations, we have decided to move forward with a 90-day PILOT for the Bullying & Harassment Policy.

We are aware that going live with a policy (even as a pilot) is not standard procedure. Under ordinary circumstances we would not go forward with a policy until we have requested and considered feedback. Unfortunately, we have an urgent need for a new policy.

We have agreed overall that our primary responsibility as the governing bodies in this instance is to go live with the pilot. The pilot helps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our members and participants, with immediate effect. Providing you with the support and protection of a policy, and providing our officers with a process that is clear and comprehensive, was deemed to be vital enough to go forward with this variation from the norm so that the policy could be in place for Rowany Festival.

In light of this, the Board and Committee have made the following joint decisions:

  1. The Bullying & Harassment Policy will come into effect immediately as a PILOT for 90 days
  2. Feedback is requested on the content of the policy over this 90-day period
  3. Feedback is also requested on how the policy works in practice over the 90-day period
  4. At the end of the 90-day period, the feedback will be collated and reviewed by the SCA with a view to improving the policy where it is beneficial to do so based on the feedback. We will also provide an anonymised recap to the members of the feedback received and our responses.

Please send feedback on the policy to: feedback@sca.org.nz – The SCANZ Chair will be undertaking the process of collation and coordination of the responses to the feedback on behalf of both SCANZ and SCA Ltd.

The Bullying & Harassment Policy will be available at http://sca.org.nz/documents or https://sca.org.au/board/documents/policy. Please allow an hour or so for the policy to appear.

The Board and Committee would like to assure the membership that this is a one-off, no precedent action taken in response to an urgent and pressing need. We would also like to thank you all in advance for your cooperation and feedback.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Brown, SCA Ltd Chair

Melissa Muckart, SCA NZ Chair

 

Nomination of Caregiver

SCA Ltd (Australia) Posted on by

If you are not attending an SCA Ltd event that you wish to allow your minor child to attend, you will be required to appoint a Nominated Caregiver for the event. To fulfil SCA Ltd’s requirements, you will need to formerly appoint an adult (18+ years of age) who fully understands the responsibilities of the role of guardian. This person is the Nominated Caregiver.

At all times, the safety and behaviour of the minor remains the responsibility of the Legal Guardian. If the minor requires medical treatment, contact with the Legal Guardian will always be attempted. If there is a Nominated Caregiver, and the Legal Guardian cannot be reached, that person may be asked to make a decision. If the Legal Guardian or Nominated Caregiver leaves the event, the minor must accompany them.

A copy of a completed Nominated Caregiver Form and minor indemnity (which can be found on our Membership page) will need to be provided to the constable at each event, and a copy carried by the minor at each event.  A new Nominated Caregiver form will need to be signed for each event. Indemnities are required to be signed by members annually. Non-members are required to sign indemnities each time they attend an official SCA Ltd function.

Without the required paperwork, the minor will not be allowed to attend the event.

For further information please contact your local group constable (where available) or group seneschal.

All those attending SCA Ltd events are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct. Those who work with children in the SCA are required to follow the Child Protection policy which can be found, along with all other SCA Ltd policies and procedures.

This information, and more, is given in the Letter to Parents that comes with the Nomination of Caregiver form.