The Official By-Laws

I: Rules
II: Governing Laws
III: Definition of Authority
IV: Officers
V: Council Members
VI: Sub-officers
VII: Subdivisions
VIII: Admissions Procedures
IX: Closing

I: Rules

1. All members are required to attend a minimum of one official activity per month. Members will be provided with a calendar of events, including but not limited to:

a. The general members meetings
b. Subdivisions meetings
c. Group training sessions
d. Group hunting sessions
e. Fund raising events
f. Recruiting events

2. All members are required to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings to ensure threats are made aware of.

3. All members will maintain a code of good conduct befitting the mannerism of an Apostle during day to day behavior.

4. Members of the Apostles will refrain from non-consensual combat.

5. Consensual combat may be practiced for training, defense, and charity or fund raising events. Excessive practice of consensual combat strains the people and resources of Elanthia and should be kept to a minimum.

6. The Order will tolerate no acts of the following.

a. Grave robbing
b. Unjustified murder
c. Treason
d. Harassment of citizens.
e. Practice of Necromancy.

7. Members must attend the monthly meeting or notify an officer or council member in writing if they cannot attend.

Back To Top

II: Governing Laws

1: Loss of Membership

Members of the Order of the Apostles are members for life. However, the following exceptions can result in loss of membership in the Order.

a. Repeated failure to attended activities without proper notification.
b. Breaking of the aforementioned rules.
c. Voluntary resignation.

**note** If a member is found guilty of the above, they will receive three written warnings after which the council reserves the right to repeal membership by a vote of the majority.

2: Meetings Etiquette

Once a meeting is called to order, all actions and talking should be stopped. Whispers are permissible. Only those acknowledged by the person in charge of the meeting should be speaking. Raise your hand and wait to be called on. All items that produce excessive distraction (noise, movement) must be removed.

3: Council Meetings

The Order is required to hold an official council meeting every two weeks per order of the provincial government. Times for these meetings will be decided amongst the council members and the times will then be posted to members of the order. Meetings will begin with a call to order by the Speaker or assigned representative, after which will follow petitions from the Vice Speaker, Treasurer, Council members, Subdivisions, and finally Members, in that order. Immediately following the reading of petitions, all non-council members must vacate the council area to allow for discussion and voting by the council.

A council meeting will be declared official when convened in the council chambers with at least a majority of its members present. Council meetings will be held in private, excluding even the officers of the Order from participating once an official meeting has begun. Council votes will be secret with the members of the voting council kept from knowing the individual votes of its members. Motions to be voted on in the council may be brought forth by any council member. All motions put forward on the floor of the council chamber will be announced in the room directly outside the door of the council chamber. All voting results will be announced in the same manner.


4: General Meetings

A general meeting will be called twice per month. Attendance at one monthly meeting will be mandatory for all members. If a member can not attend he or she must notify an officer or council member in writing. Any issues of importance are to be submitted for the agenda three days prior to the meeting to the Speaker or Vice Speaker. Issues submitted after this time period will be carried over to the following month. The meeting will begin with an opening speech, followed by introduction of new members. Next will be a discussion of the issues on the agenda for that meeting, followed by addresses from the sub-divisions (optional) and a short open forum at the end of the meeting. Open forums are not guaranteed, they will only be held if time permits.


5: Voting

Council votes will be secret. There are only three possible votes: yes, no, or abstain. A majority of yes votes means the motion is carried. A majority of no votes means the motion failed. If there is no majority vote there is a declared NO VOTE situation. A majority is defined as more than half of the convened council.

Back To Top

III: Definition of Authority

Three officers and a voting body, otherwise known as the Council, govern the Order. The appointed leaders of the Order of Apostles will be responsible for the day to day governing of the order, in terms of ensuring members meet their required responsibilities and seeing that regulations of the Provincial Administrator of Orders are met in full. The Order governs upon the opinions of the entire Order, represented by a Speaker, Vice Speaker, Treasure and Ruling Council. These members will he held to the highest possible standards of the Apostles.

Back To Top

IV: Officers

All of the officer positions are appointed by their predecessor, and ratified by the council by majority vote. The council may in some instances refuse the appointment of the nominated successor. If such a case occurs they will convene and appoint an officer based on majority rule. If an officer is removed by vote of the council, that position shall be voted upon by the council and a successor appointed by majority vote.

1: Speaker

The Speaker's position is obtained through nomination and appointment of a predecessor. The speaker of the Order is the person who deals one on one with the Administrator of Orders. The Speaker speaks for the Order and has the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Order when dealing with the Administrator of Orders. When a Council of the Orders is held with the Provincial Administrator of Orders, or other government officials, the Speaker of the Order will be the individual who attends, representing his or her Order.

The Speaker has sole authority to negotiate treaties with other entities, which must then be approved by the council. This includes but is not limited to, all declarations of war, cease fires, allegiances etc.

The Speaker may present motions to the council at his/her discretion. The Speaker may at his discretion call an emergency meeting of the council.

During states of war the Speaker is responsible for organizing the efforts of the Apostles.

The Speaker is the officer of the Order that presides over official swearing in ceremonies of new members, officers, and council members.

In the event a council cannot convene enough of a majority to fill its seats, the Speaker of the Order will appoint members until a majority of the seats have been filled.

In certain situations it may become necessary to take a vote of "No Confidence" against the Speaker and remove him or her from the position. If this occurs, the Council will appoint a majority-approved Speaker. Otherwise there are no term limits on the Speaker's office, the Speaker position is held for life or until the Speaker resigns or is voted out of office or become inactive for a period of 6 months.


2: Vice Speaker

The Vice Speaker's position is obtained through nomination and appointment of a predecessor. The office of Vice Speaker will be considered the second point of contact for the Provincial Administrator of Orders in the event the Speaker cannot be contacted. The Vice Speaker will be the individual who attends provincial Councils of the Orders when the Speaker is not available.

During states of war the Vice Speaker is directly responsible for organizing the combat efforts of the Apostles. During times of non-conflict the Vice Speaker works primarily as a recruiter and personal relations specialist.

It is the Vice Speaker's responsibility to understand the Charter, Bylaws, and possible amendments. It is the duty of the Vice Speaker to support the Speaker in helping with the organization of the order.

In certain situations it may become necessary to take a vote of "No Confidence" against the Vice Speaker and remove him or her from the position. If this occurs, the Council and Speaker will meet to appoint a new Vice Speaker. Otherwise there are no term limits on the Vice Speaker's office, the Vice Speaker position is held for life or until the Vice Speaker resigns or is voted out of Office or become inactive for a period of 6 months.


3: Treasurer

The Treasurer's position is obtained through nomination and appointment of a predecessor. There are no term limits on the Treasurer's office, the Treasurer position is held for life or until the Treasurer resigns or is voted out of office.

The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that all debts incurred by the Apostles are paid in a timely manner, including but not limited to all land/building leases, entertainment expenses, and other sundries. The Treasurer will have full access to all financial information concerning the Order. It is the responsibility of the office of Treasurer to keep the Speaker, Vice Speaker, and the Council, informed regarding financial matters. Not limited to but including financial default, building funds, and additional chapter house funding. The Treasurer may transfer money between funds, but at no time shall the Treasurer withdraw the Order's money into hard currency. The Treasurer will keep books pertaining to dues owed, and outstanding loans. The Treasurer is responsible for reporting members who have remained delinquent in their payments for more than 3 months and recommending punishments up to and including dismissal from the apostles.

In certain situations it may become necessary to take a vote of "No Confidence" against the Treasurer and remove him or her from the position. If this occurs, the Council, Vice Speaker, and Speaker will meet to appoint a new Treasurer or become inactive for a period of 6 months.

Back To Top

V: Council Members

The Council shall consist of 5-10 seats, which are filled, based on membership numbers and qualified applicants. It shall be considered the governing body of the Order. At least 5 Council seats must be filled at all times.

No officer of the Order may sit on the Council while they hold office. The vacating council member may recommend their replacement for the Council but such replacement must be approved by a majority of remaining council members. Otherwise a qualified applicant may be chosen and voted on by remaining council members.

Any Council member voted into office will immediately vacate his or her seat, with the option of being able to recommend his or her replacement.

In the event that a council member has missed 4 consecutive council meetings, without written consent from the Officers, the remaining council members may choose to vote that seat vacant, and vote in a replacement member.

It is the responsibility of the council to allow the Speaker, Vice Speaker, and Treasurer to submit reports and motions to the council regarding official Apostle business.

Counselors will have the authority and responsibility of voting in the Officers of the Order. The Council will have the authority and responsibility of voting in new members or voting out existing members.

The Council will have the authority to amend the Charter and by-laws with a majority vote.

The Council and Officers have the authority to set required monthly tasks and are responsible for the planning and formation of events; the purpose of which is to recruit new members, foster good will or raise revenue to offset dues.

The Council will have the authority and responsibility of setting the dues the members are required to pay.

In certain situations it may become necessary to take a vote of "No Confidence" against a Counselor and remove him or her from the position. If this occurs, the remaining Council and Officers will meet to appoint a new council member.

There are no term limits on the Counselors, a council position is held for life or until the Counselor in question resigns or is voted out of office. In the event a council member cannot be contacted, and has missed four consecutive council meetings, the remaining council may vote that council member's seat vacant, and vote in a replacement member.

Back To Top

VI: Sub-officers

Council members and officers have the option to form distinct subdivisions within the Apostles. Subdivisions are approved by council vote. After the formation of subdivision, officers and counselors may appoint Sub-officers to help develop and carry out the subdivision's functions. Sub-officers are governed by and subject to the same rules and guide lines set for council members.

Back To Top

VII: Subdivisions

Subdivisions are formed for the purpose of expanding the influences and prestige of the Apostles. Each subdivision is given a name suited to the nature of its existence.

The Wolfpack as a subdivision of the Apostles is responsible for inter-provincial diplomatic and public relations, as well as the bulk of new member recruitment. Specific duties of the Wolfpack members may include recruitment eventing, interviews for new recruits, and attendance at ally organization events.

The Champions as a subdivision of the Apostles are responsible for training members in the arts of warfare, developing combat strategies, and hosting group hunts and other combat events. Specific duties of the Champions may include working with ally organizations to achieve combat-related goals, and hosting events for internal combat training and strategy development.

The Artificiers as a subdivision of the Apostles are responsible for providing members with training in trades and arts, collecting and processing information, and focusing on both practical and scholarly pursuits. Specific duties of Artificiers may include compiling historic or intelligence information, recruiting and hosting guest lectures, and maintaining the records of the Order.

The Attendants as a subdivision of the Apostles are responsible for tactical support to all combat troops during times of conflict and working to provide continued service to the community in times of peace. Specific duties of Attendants may include development of triage-specific strategies with ally organizations, herb collection, and triage duties during invasions, wars and Order events.

Back To Top