The Folklaw of the Barony of Ben Dunfirth

Article 1 – Membership

1. Any person has the right to become a member of Ben Dunfirth. Persons do not have to be paid members of the Society for Creative Anachronism to participate in the activities of the Barony.
2. The names of the membership are maintained as a function of the Office of the Seneschal. It is the responsibility of the Seneschal to keep the list of members up to date.
3. Any person may at any time petition the Seneschal to have their name added or removed from the list of members.
4. It is the responsibility of the individual members to ensure that the information in the possession of the Seneschal is correct.
5. No member of Ben Dunfirth may maintain membership in any other territorial group(s) within the Society for Creative Anachronism. A member of Ben Dunfirth may participate in as many groups as they wish, but for the purpose of maintaining an accurate membership list they may only hold membership in Ben Dunfirth.
6. The membership list may not be disseminated to any outside agents or agencies. The membership list may however be requested and utilized for official reasons within the Society for Creative Anachronism.
7. Any member of the Barony may participate in any group meeting, event, demo, fight practice, competition, or official gathering.

Article 2 - Succession of Baronial Thrones   (Royal Assent - 04Nov2010)

Qualifications for the Baronial Seat:

1. Be a member of the Barony of Ben Dunfirth.
2. Be acceptable to the crown of Ealdormere.
3. Be an international or family member in good standing of the SCA.
4. Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
5. Be nominated as a candidate within the span of 30 days after the current Baron and Baroness announce their intention to step down.
6. Meet the requirements as set out by Corpora and Kingdom Law.

Participation of the Members of the Barony:

1. Members of the Barony shall participate in the selection of the Baron and Baroness through a formal poll. This Poll in no way binds the Crown, who retains sole control over the appointment of individuals to the Baronial Seats.
2. Only those individuals who are on the current membership rolls of the Barony may participate in the poll. The membership list is kept up to date as a function of the office of Seneschal.
3. Voting will be done by E-mail as well as secret ballot.
4. The E-mail voting window shall consist of at least 7 days and no longer than 30 days. E-mail votes should be addressed to the Seneschal and the Pursuivant to ensure the vote was received.
5. At the end of the E-mail voting period there shall be one evening of secret ballot voting held at the next regular business meeting.
6. The votes shall be counted by the Seneschal and the Pursuivant, and the raw numbers will be presented to the Crown to assist them in their decision making process.

Order of Events:

1. Approximately 6 months before the current Baron and Baroness intend to retire; they shall announce this intent to retire in a court. This shall initiate the selection policy.
2. The membership list of Ben Dunfirth will be immediately frozen at the time of the announcement; no new members will be added to the voting list after this time.
3. All prospective candidates have 30 days from this announcement to be nominated. One may either be nominated at a regular business meeting or may declare their nomination in an email to the Seneschal and Pursuivant. Members may self-nominate or be nominated by others.
4. At the end of this nomination period, the list of potential candidates will be sent to the Crown and Kingdom Seneschal for their approval.
5. Upon receiving the decision of the Crown, the candidates will be notified of their acceptance or refusal and the list of accepted candidates will be announced at the next business meeting.
6. Over the next 30 days after the accepted candidates are announced, all candidates must attend at least one regularly scheduled business meeting or one all candidates meeting for the members to ask them questions. Any who do not present themselves at least once forfeit their place on the Baronial Poll.
7. At the end of this 30 day campaign period, the period of electronic polling shall commence for no less than 7 days and no longer than 30. The length of this period will be decided by consensus of the Seneschal and Pursuivant based on current circumstances.
8. At the end of the electronic polling period, 1 regular business meeting shall be held with a secret ballot poll.
9. The Baronial Seneschal and Pursuivant shall prepare the ballots for the poll in accordance with Corpora and Kingdom Law.
10. On the day of the count, if the Baronial Seneschal or Pursuivant cannot be in attendance then they may appoint a deputy to perform their duties.
11. If the Baronial Seneschal or Pursuivant intends to run for the Baronial Seats they must first resign their posts as they hold a position of crucial importance in the election process.
12. When all secret ballots are in, the Seneschal and Pursuivant, or their appointed deputies, shall count the ballots and add the totals to that of the electronic ballots.
13. That evening the Seneschal shall send the raw data of the poll to the sitting Royalty to assist them in their decision on who will succeed the thrones of Ben Dunfirth. The seneschal shall also forward this email to the Pursuivant, to ensure there are no irregularities.
14. Once the decision is made by the Royalty, those selected shall ascend the thrones of Ben Dunfirth at the next event held in the barony.

Article 3 – Selection of Baronial Officers

1. The incumbent of an office will give notice of resignation in writing to the Seneschal. In the case of the Seneschal resigning, notice in writing will be given to the Pursuivant.
2. Notice of the vacancy of an office will be announced at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the membership.

Nomination and Elections:

1. Nomination to select a successor will be opened at the meeting at which a vacancy is announced.
2. Any member of the Barony may stand for the nomination to any office, so long as they meet the requirements.
3. Nomination may be made by the nominee, or any person(s) in favour of the nominee.
4. Nominations may be either verbal or written. Written nominations must be submitted to the Seneschal or the Pursuivant.
5. Nominees must explicitly accept the nomination, either verbally or in writing, for the nomination to be valid. Written acceptances must be submitted to the Seneschal or the Pursuivant.
6. Nominations shall remain open for a minimum of two (2) regularly scheduled business meetings of the membership, including the first week. At any time on or after the third meeting at the discretion of the Seneschal, nominations may be closed and the names of the nominees made known to the membership.
7. In such a case as there is only one (1) nominee for a position, that person shall be acclaimed as elected to that position.
8. Prior to the actual vote taking place, each candidate will be allowed to make a speech before the assembled membership, should the candidate(s) so desire. Likewise, any member of the assembled membership may ask such questions f the candidate(s) as are pertinent to the election procedure. The speeches and questions can continue for a length of time as determined by the Seneschal.

Article 4 – Duties of Officers

1. The first duty of any Officer is to contact their Kingdom Superior.
2. The second duty of any Officer is to contact the Baronial Chronicler and Webmaster.
3. Further duties are outlined in the respective Officer’s handbooks.
4. It is recommended that all Officers have at least one Deputy.
5. It is the sole prerogative of an officer to appoint their deputies.
6. The membership may make requests of the officers, such specific duties as they would like to have carried out.

Article 5 – Meetings

1. Meetings of the membership shall take place on a regular basis, the dates, times and places of such to be decided by the membership.
2. Any member(s) may petition the Seneschal to hold a special meeting of the membership.
3. There will be at least three (3) days notice given prior to a special meeting of the membership being held.
4. The Seneschal, or their appointed representative, shall call, be present at, and preside over all meetings of the membership.
5. The Seneschal, or their appointed representative, shall make notice of all meetings known to the membership as widely as possible, as is within their power.
6. Any and all persons are welcome to attend all meetings of the group.
7. Any person may put before the membership any SCA-related topic for discussion.
8. Any person may speak on any SCA-related topic brought before the people.

Article 6 – Voting Procedures

1. The membership reserves to itself the sole right to decide on the following matters:
• The recommendations of Officers to the group or to the superior officer.
• The selection of any special officer(s) elected for specific time periods or limited purposes.
• Decisions to hold any event, demo or other gathering which may require the participation of the membership.
• Decisions to move any meeting, gathering or practice to different locations, times or days.
• Decisions to use or display the device of the group, other than such as are reserved to the Baron and/or Baroness, or Officers of the group.
• Changes to these folklaws.
2. Only members of the group have the right to vote on proposals brought before the membership.
3. For any decision, voting will be by show of hands or secret ballot. Voting by show of hands is the standard procedure, voting by secret ballot must be requested by only one member for it to be necessary.
4. A simple majority of the membership present at a meeting is required for a motion to pass.
5. The Pursuivant, or their appointed representative, will refrain from voting, except in the case of a tie vote, where it would be their responsibility to cast the deciding vote.
6. The Pursuivant, or their appointed representative, shall be responsible for the distribution, collection, and tabulation of all secret ballot votes. The Seneschal, or their appointed representative, shall witness the tabulation.
7. Once the Pursuivant, or their appointed representative, have tabulated the vote, they shall make known to the membership only the fact of the decision rendered; all records of tabulation, including ballots and any other instrument, will be destroyed at the earliest convenience.

Article 7 – Finances

1. We acknowledge that Society and Kingdom financial policies supercede Baronial policies.
2. The third local signatory for our Baronial Account will be chosen by and agreed upon by the Baronial Exchequer and Baronial Seneschal, from the Baronial greater officers.
3. Greater Officers are allowed a stipend of $20 per annum. Additional expenditures will be voted on by the Baronial Financial Committee.
4. All other expenses must be approved in advance by the Baronial Financial Committee. Receipts of transactions are to be submitted within 15 days of the purchase to the Baronial Exchequer or his/her designate.
5. All events held by the Barony must have detailed budgets, voted on by the Baronial Financial Committee.
6. The Baronial Financial Committee consists of the Baron and Baroness (one or both or their designate),the Baronial Seneschal (or his/her designate), and the Baronial Exchequer (or his/her designate), and the members of the populace of the Barony in attendance at any given business meeting. If proper notice has been given in accordance with Kingdom Policy, Quorum will consist of any four of the Baron and Baroness and all Greater Officers of the Barony.
7. A motion, a second, and a majority vote, by hand count or ballot, shall constitute approval by the Baronial Financial Committee.
8. Should any signatory of the Baronial Account find any expenditure unconscionable and refuse to release Baronial funds, the matter shall be put to the Kingdom for mediation.
9. Any deviation from this financial policy will be reported to the Kingdom Exchequer.

Article 8 – Rights and Responsibilities of the Baron and/or Baroness of Ben Dunfirth

As Detailed by Corpora:

1. The basic duties of the Baron and/or Baroness are ceremonial in nature in reflecting the royal presence in the barony. The Crown may assign additional duties and responsibilities, according to the laws and customs of the kingdom.
2. Territorial Barons and/or Baronesses are responsible to the Crown and (if the barony is within a principality) to the Coronet. The Baron and/or Baroness shall work with the baronial officers as circumstances dictate, and shall keep these officers informed as necessary for the efficient performance of their duties and effective liaison within the barony.
3. The privileges, duties, and rights, ceremonial and otherwise, of the office of territorial Baron and/or Baroness are established by the laws and customs of the kingdom, and shall include the right to make such awards as the Crown (or the Coronet, if applicable) shall specifically delegate, and to establish and present non-armigerous awards specific to the barony.
4. A territorial Baron or Baroness may hold any other Society office for which he or she is fitted and qualified, save only those of Baronial Seneschal and Baronial Exchequer, but must not allow the duties and responsibilities of such office and the office of Baron or Baroness to conflict.

As Detailed by Kingdom Law:

1. Each barony must have a written baronial selection procedure that has been approved by the Crown. Subsequent changes to this procedure must be presented by the Baron and/or Baroness in conjunction with the Baronial Seneschal and have the approval of the Crown. The Kingdom Seneschal shall sign the procedure to ensure its legality.
2. All Territorial Barons and/or Baronesses must swear fealty to the Crown upon Their investiture. Should a Territorial Baron and/or Baroness have a reason that they cannot swear fealty (e.g.religious reasons) they may petition the Crown to make an equivalent agreement upon their investiture. This agreement must be renewed with each Crown.
3. Territorial Barons and Baronesses, once titled, shall serve an initial term not to exceed five years. The duration of subsequent terms must be defined before re-appointment and must not exceed five years.
4. All Territorial Barons and Baronesses must be subjects of the Barony. Should one or both take up residence outside the territory in such a manner as to preclude their active participation in the Barony,he/she (or both) shall resign their title.
5. In the event of an extended, but temporary, absence of the Baron and/or Baroness, they may, with the approval of the Crown, appoint a Vicar to fulfill their duties until their return.
6. Territorial Barons and Baronesses will make every reasonable effort to attend sessions of the Council of Barons.
7. All officer appointments are at the pleasure of the Crown. It shall be the right and responsibility of the Territorial Baron and/or Baroness to be active in the process of selecting Baronial Officers.