[MR] (no subject)

[David W. James]

>In the game we play, the Crown - King and Queen - word is law.



	No, it isn't.  There is a strong tradition to that effect in 
SOME kingdoms, but not in anything like all.  It wasn't true in 
period (ask John Lackland...) and it isn't true in the SCA.  Even in 
kingdoms where there is a tradition that the King's Word is Law, 
well, as the saying goes, "I'm sorry your Majesty, I just can't seem 
to find a shovel..."


>  If you have a problem with something the BoD does, how does it get
>fixed? Its the same problem as we have with Congress being able to vote
>themselves a raise, however, there are checks on Congress... what 
>are the checks
>on the BoD?
>
>Drea


	The same checks as on any Board of Directors of a mundane 
corporation; the laws the the land and the incorporated by-laws of 
the corporation.  Add to that withholding financial support and, 
since our Directors are required to be members, peer pressure on the 
Society side.

	This latter can be a two edged sword: in 1994 there were 
people who made life miserable for one of the two directors who voted 
AGAINST required membership (but then voted to change the governing 
documents after the fact) to the point that she resigned from the 
Board.  Mind you, the harassment was over required membership, not 
her vote against it.  But she was tarred with the same brush as those 
who supported it.  She might have been a force for sanity in the 
following months, but she wasn't there...  Because of 'pressure' from 
the membership (in quotes as I recall her reporting that this 
included threats and harassing telephone calls, which I think goes 
beyond any legitimate expression of opinion.)

	Sitting on the Board is not easy, to judge from the drained 
look I've seen on directors faces during and after meetings.  Some 
directors find consideration of banishment and R&D some of the worst 
work the Board has to do.  That was why the Board asked the GC to 
look at that part of the governing documents over a year ago, and 
asked the membership for comment 
(http://www.sca.org/BOD/announcements/, open for comment through 
4/01/02, along with others)  You *have* made your comments, yes?  If 
not, please take the time to do so.  People love to complain about 
decisions that the Board makes, but requests for comments by the 
Board are remarkable if they get as many as a few dozen comments. 
Sometimes they get none.   That is our fault.

Kwellend-Njal
-- 
David W. James			vnendNOSPAM at adelphia.net
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   "Ignorance is the mother of adventure." Hagar the Horrible