Article I—Stewards of the Maiden
The name of this organization shall be the Stewards of the Maiden. The organization may also refer to itself as "Stewards."
Article II—Purpose
Our purpose is to protect those who are vulnerable, heal those who are wounded, and release those who are suffering. In the name of the Goddess Kandetreath, all those who take our pledge swear to achieve this purpose.
Article III—Membership
Section 1: Membership Statement
(a) Membership is open to all who seek to serve the Maiden, but the past must be released.
(b) The Stewards will not discriminate against any otherwise qualified individual on the basis of who they are, wht they look like, where they come from, or what they can do. All who seek to serve the Maiden are welcome.
(c) The Stewards will not initiate or participate in any form of violence that is not for the express purpose of defense or healing.
(d) Membership dues will be handled in accordance with the individual's ability.
Section 2: Recruitment
Recruitment shall take place throughout the year and membership is open at all times.
Section 3: Revocation of Membership
(a) Membership may be revoked without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, or violations of any pro visions of the Constitution.
(b) The member will be notified in writing of the possible revocation at least 72 hours prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the Stewards in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal.
Section 4: Appeal Process
(a) Any person whose membership is revoked will have seven (7) calendar days to appeal the revocation. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Blessed, the Circle of Knights, and the Whisper (if applicable), and must include any relevant information that has not already been presented.
(b) The Blessed will then hold a meeting with the Circle of the Knights. The composition of this meeting must follow the quorum outlined in Article VII Section 1b.
(c) The appeal will then be given an answer at the next general meeting or in seven (7) calendar days, whichever occurs first.
Section 5: Member Decorum
(a) All members of the Stewards of the Maiden are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting of the Stewards. This includes but is not limited to:
- Defend those who cannot defend themselves
- Act swiftly, but not rashly
- Stand against injustice
- Heal those who are wounded
- If nothing more can be done, put them to sleep to ease their suffering
- Be polite and civil even when you are met with hostility
- Honor the Lady Kandetreath however is fitting for you
Article IV—Knights and Higher Rank
Section 1: Eligibility
All knights of the Stewards of the Maiden shall be members of the organization for at least three (3) years, have performed no less than four (4) feats of sacrifice and/or care, and assisted in the education of one (1) year’s maidens.
All eligible for the title of Blessed or Whisper shall have been knights for four (4) years, have performed no less than ten (10) feats of sacrifice and/or care, and assisted in the education of three (3) years’ maidens.
Section 2: Titles and Duties
(a) The higher ranks of this organization shall include the Blessed, at least three (3) Senior Knights, at most one (1) Whisper, and a Treasurer.
(b) No knight will be permitted to hold more than one position.
(c) All knights shall retain voting rights, however, the Blessed shall only vote in the case of a tie.
(d) Any knight may become the Blessed, however the Goddess Herself must approve of them.
(e)The Blessed shall:
- Supervise and direct the activities of the Stewards.
- Make decisions on where the Stewards should be deployed to.
- Decide where resources ought to be allocated.
- Preside over all meetings and call all meetings to order.
- Be one of three signers on important documents.
- Coordinate all conferences.
- Ensure all knights are performing their duties as defined in this Constitution.
- Assign special projects to knights and the Whisper.
(f) Any Senior Knights shall:
- Assist the Blessed in their duties.
- Share the Blessed's responsibilities in their absence.
- Keep accurate records of all meetings.
- Plan and be responsible for all deployments and trainings of the Stewards.
- Perform an audit of all financial transactions of the Stewards twice a year at the equinoxes.
- Supervise the distribution of resources.
- Lead the Stewards of the Maiden in the event of mass casualty alongside the Blessed.
- Manage the Whisper's duties if no Whisper is currently appointed.
- Be one of three signers on important documents.
- Assist in special projects as assigned by the Blessed.
(g) The Whisper (if any is appointed) shall:
- Focus primarily on the training and education necessary to one day succed the Blessed.
- Maintain an accurate list of members.
- Lead the Stewards of the Maiden in the event of mass casualty alongside the Blessed and the Circle of Knights.
- Lead funerary rites.
- Spend no less than 20 hours per cycle of the moon performing the duties of the maiden and/or steward rank to maintain connection with the Stewards.
- Assist in special projects as assigned by the Blessed.
(h) The Treasurer shall:
- Keep an accurate account of all funds received and expended.
- Be one of three signers on financial documents.
- Be responsible for recording dues and notifying members who are delinquent in their service.
- Provide financial records sufficient to allow the Senior Knights to perform audits.
- Assist in special projects as assigned by the Blessed.
Article V—Selection of Knights
Section 1: Eligibility to Earn Knighthood
Only active members who meet the requirements stated in Article IV, Section 1 are eligible to earn knighthood/
Section 2: Nomination and Knighting
(a) The nomination of knights shall occur at the first meeting held in the new spiritual year after Day's Night.
(b) Any eligible member (as defined in Article III, Section 1) present may nominate someone for knighthood by verbally nominating the individual during this procedure. However, the nominee must be considered an eligible knight member (as defined in Article IV, Section 1).
(c)Members must be present at the meeting to nominate someone or receive nomination.
Section 3: Knighting Process
(a) The knighting of potential knights shall occur at the second meeting held in the new
spiritual year after Day’s Night.
(b) The nominated candidates will be given a chance to address the Stewards to discuss their qualifications and reasons why they should be selected.
(c) Once each candidate has had the opportunity to speak, all members of the Circle of the Knights (as defined in Article VII Section 1b) present will have the opportunity to vote.
(d) A priesten from the Church of the Purple Rose will tabulate all votes to ensure impartiality. They shall then announce the new round of knights with a simple majority of votes cast by eligible members.
(e) After announcing the new round of knights the Blessed shall ask if any eligible members contest the count. If no eligible member contests the count the new round of knights shall be knighted under the next full moon.
(f) If an eligible member contests the count the priesten and the Blessed will recount all votes.
(g) In the event of a tie, the Blessed shall cast the deciding vote for knighthood.
Section 4: Selection of Blessed or Whisper
(a) The Blessed or Whisper shall only be chosen by the Lady Kandetreath when they meet the requirements outlined in Article IV, Section 1.
(b) Lady Kandetreath may select a Blessed or Whisper from someone outside the qualified members to immediately replace the current Blessed or Whisper at any time provided they have ascended to the rank of steward at the time of selection.
(b)(1)If they have not, their education and training will be completed then upon their ascension to the rank of steward they will also assume the title the Goddess Herself deemed them worthy of.
Section 5: Term of Rank
(a) The rank of Blessed is a lifelong position unless the Goddess Herself deems otherwise.
(b) The rank of Whisper is held until it is time for them to assume the rank of Blessed or the Lady Kandetreath deems otherwise.
(c) Newly made knights shall join the ranks of the Circle of Knights immediately after the knighting ceremony at the next full moon from the announcement of their acceptance. Knighthood is a lifelong rank unless the Goddess Herself deems otherwise, this constitution is violated, or it becomes necessary for them to retire.
Article VI—High Rank Vacanies
Section 1: Removal of Knights
(a) Any knight may be stripped of knighthood upon proof of this constitution’s violation and a 2/3 majority vote of eligible members OR the Lady Kandetreath personally strips them of knighthood.
(b) The knight will be notified in writing of the possible termination or removal at least 72 hours prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal.
Section 2: Resignation
(a) Knights no longer wishing to serve must submit their resignation to the Blessed at least two (2) weeks in advance.
(b) Prior to the knight’s final day they shall provide all documents relating to the organization and brief their replacement of current projects in their care.
Section 3: Filling Vacant Knight Positions
(a) In the event a knight is removed or resigns, AND the Circle of Knights falls below the minimum three (3) senior knight and four (4) general knight composition outlined in Article VII, Section 1b, the nomination process as stated in Article V, Section 2 will take place at the next scheduled meeting.
(b) The nomination process will take place as stated in Article V Section 3 at the next scheduled meeting following nomination.
Section 4: Replacing the Blessed
(a) In the event the Blessed is brought home to the Maiden of Death before the Lady Kandetreath makes her selection of a new Blessed AND there is no current Whisper, the Circle of Knights may select a replacement from their ranks who meets the requirements outlined in Article IV, Section 1. Their continuation in this position is dependent on the Queen of Shadows approving them.
Article VII—Voting and Parliamentary Procedures
Section 1: Quorum
(a) The quorum required to conduct full organization business is fifty (50) percent plus one (1) of the organization’s officers and active members.
(b) The quorum required to conduct Circle of Knights meetings is three (3) senior knights, four (4) general knights, and the Blessed.
(b)(1) In the event that the Blessed is unable to make it, the Whisper may replace them OR two (2) more senior knights may take the Blessed’s place.
Section 2: Voting
Active voting membership will be limited to all members who are active and in good standing.
Section 3: Parliamentary Procedures
All meetings, unless otherwise noted by the Blessed, shall be conducted under the moon’s light.
Article VIII—Patron Deity
Section 1: Role
(a) Our patron Goddess Kandetreath is known by many names including but not limited to: Lady Kandetreath, the Goddess, Maiden of Death, and Queen of Shadows.
(b) The Patron Deity shall serve as the highest rank in the organization with complete veto power and the ability to interfere as they see fit.
(c) The Patron Deity shall not participate in the organization beyond what they and the organization have deemed to be reasonable.
(d) The Stewards of the Maiden and the Goddess of Death and Shadows Kandetreath have agreed that the Maiden of Death shall only participate in the selection of Blessed and Whisper unless the Goddess Herself deems necessary to intervene.
Article IX—Finances
Section 1: Membership Dues
(a) Membership dues will be due in the form of no less than eighty (80) hours of work put in each turn of the moon.
(b) Membership dues will be recorded at each full moon. Any interested party wishing to join the group may have reduced dues for the first moon cycle of membership in accordance with their abilities.
(c) As stated in Article III, Section 1, exceptions to the amount of dues will be made in accordance with an individual’s abilities.
Section 2: Spending Organization’s Money
(a) For the protection of the organization and its knights it is required that two authorized signatures sign all monetary transactions.
(b) Only the Blessed and the Treasurer can be signers on the organization’s account.
(c) Organizational funds may be spent on items including but not limited to magical components, food, lodging, transportation, and relief for afflicted settlements. All transactions must be lawful within the eyes of the law.
Section 3: Dissolution of Organization
In the event that the organization ceases to exist, any funds remaining in the organization’s account shall be donated to the Church of the Purple Rose.
Article X—Amendments
(a) Amendments to the constitution must be proposed in writing to the Blessed.
(b) The amendment must then be presented to the organization during a scheduled meeting and should include a full explanation and/or rationale for the amendment.
(c) The amendment must be voted on at the next scheduled meeting.
(d) The amendment shall not take effect until approved by a 2/3 majority vote of eligible members of the full organization.
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