1. Positions and Responsibilities

 

1st Chair

1. Shall preside over the Caste and Council.
2. Shall hold a caste meeting at least once every month
3. Shall form committees to look into caste issues
4. Shall make no unilateral decisions without first consulting the Council
5. Shall notify council members of caste meetings*
6. Is subject to the same guidelines as any other scribe.

2nd Chair

1. Shall preside over the Caste and Council in the absence of the 1st Chair
2. Shall work with the 1st Chair keeping the caste informed on internal matters
3. Shall stand on all committees and report back to the 1st Chair
4. Oversees assignments and duties of the scribes in appointed positions.
5. Shall preside over the Caste training.  (ie arranging classes and assignments should they be needed)
6. Shall keep minutes of all Caste meetings*
6. Is subject to the same guidelines as any other scribe.

3rd Chair

1. Is responsible for handling Caste applications
2. Shall notify the council of applicants who have completed the requirements
3. Shall inform applicants of their status during the application process in a timely manner
4. Shall notify new members of their acceptance and see that the names are added to the roster
5. Is responsible for all notifications to the Caste Members*
6. Shall keep an accurate mailstring*
6. Is subject to the same guidelines as any other scribe.

Caste Clerk
At the discretion of Council, these responsibilities may be distributed among the Council Members.*

1. Shall be appointed by a unanimous vote of the Council
2. Is responsible for all notifications to the Caste Members
3. Shall notify council members of caste meetings
4. Shall keep an accurate mailstring
5. Shall keep minutes of all Caste meetings
6. Shall not vote on council matters
7. Is subject to the same guidelines as any other scribe.

*Amended 5/24 per Caste Council

All meetings and correspondence, votes, ballots and such records are not open to public release.  All those on the council are expected to honor such restriction. Should the caste need to be informed of a decision,  it will be brought before the council and upon full agreement the clerk will be allowed to release agreed information. Any judgment being made on a Caste members are held in confidence unless the judgment affects a members Caste status.

At such time the details of said decision will not be released. The caste will be informed of the decision only. Those wishing details will be referred to the scribe in question, so that said scribe can control how much of their personal business is public knowledge.

Any discussion on said matters will always be held with respect both IC and OOC, whether dealing with a council member or a caste member. Any issues of disrespect on either level will result a warning. A second incident will result in removal from your position.

2. Voting System

Qualifications for Caste Office
 
1. Candidate must have been a member of the ABCS for at least 3 mun months
2. Candidate must be actively tending to the duties of the caste whether in an appointed caste position or a position within his/her house or city.
3. Candidate must be ready, willing, and able to take on ALL responsibilities of the particular position for which they are nominated.
4. Candidate may not be Delete/Restore

1. A scroll will be sent to all scribes requesting nominations for Caste positions, followed by the voting ballot.
2. All nominees must submit a letter of documentation stating their qualifications for office along with the acceptance of the nomination.
3. Nominees for all positions must be a registered member of  ABCS for at least 90 days. The following positions will be voted in by caste members:
1st Chair 2nd Chair 3rd Chair
4. When elected, he/she shall serve 6 months, after which the voting process begins again
5.  If a Scribe is not reelected, he/she must provide the newly elected scribe with all important documents within a 2 week period. A time extension may be requested in writing.
6. No one mun or character may have more than one position on the council
7. An election committee will be formed to handle the ballot. No nominated scribe may participate in the ballot count.

3. Positions Requiring Appointments

To be announced

4. The Removal of Scribes from Position

a.

Applies to all caste members as well as leaders.

  • Enslavement

  • Failure to fulfill responsibilities
b. In the case of the 1st Chair, the 2nd Chair will temporarily assume the position of 1st Chair until the voting process commences.

5. The Appointment of Titles

Titles, such as (Historian, Mapmaker, etc.) shall be appointed by the 1st or 2nd Chair.  The candidate must provide the leaders off his/her accomplishments, including educational background.

6. Registration

a. Scribes are generally born into the Caste
b. A registration application is required for ABCS.
c. Applicants may choose a registered scribe as a mentor though it is not required. The mentor will answer any questions and help with his/her training.
d. All applicants must sign the Guidelines and submit that signed copy along with the application to all members of the current Council
e. The Council will review and comment on the candidate's application before he/she is accepted.
f.

Once accepted, a welcome scroll will be sent to him/her. If the application is rejected, the applicant will resume further educational training, thus giving the applicant the title of "Apprentice". He/she will have the opportunity to reapply after two weeks of training.
g. If an applicant is raising caste, he/she must present a letter of approval and reccommendation from the Ubar or Administrator of his/her Home Stone. The ABCS has the right to decline the applicant.
h. An applicant must be 18 for full acceptance into the caste registry
At the age of 16, a scribe may begin an apprenticeship under the supervision of a mentor.  An apprentice has no vote or say in caste matters.  ~ added as per council vote  10/5/06

7. Caste Training

The applicant will be given scrolls to read while in the application process concerning protocol and procedures.
At this time, the applicant will be given a list of specialized fields they may consider after joining the caste.

8. Seal

a.  All legal documents must have the either the ABCS seal or the City Seal or the document will not be valid.
b. Anyone using the ABCS Seal on forged documents will be subject to dismissal from any positions held..

9. Modification of Legal Documents

a.  It is unlawful for any person, free or slave and including registered ABCS Scribes , to falsify, forge or manipulate legal documents or forms without the approval of either the 1st or 2nd Chair of the ABCS. Such an act is punishable at the discretion of the current Council
b. All documents that require modification must be approved by the 1st or 2nd Chair and must have "modified version" written on the top of the document along with the ABCS Seal.

10. Legal Documents Requiring the ABCS Seal or Seal of the City Homestone

Joining contracts, birth records, adoption papers, joining dissolution, deeds, manumission papers, writs of enslavement, death certificates, trade agreements, and wills.

11. Slave Scribes

a. Slaves are not members of the Caste of Scribes, regardless of whether at one time he or she was a member prior to his or her enslavement. The Caste will not recognize the slave as a scribe.
b. Any free person outside the Caste of Scribes can assign a slave to scribe duties with limited responsibilities.  This is his or her personal choice. The slave will not have access to any legal documents

Limited Responsibilities:  record keeping, accounting, business reports
c. Slave scribes are forbidden to handle legal documents, such an act will be punishable at the discretion of the owner.
d. Slave scribes are forbidden to falsify or manipulate any legal document, such an act will be punishable at the discretion of the owner.

OOC Guidelines

1. Registered Scribes holding positions cannot have a delete/restore SN.
2. Proctoring is an OOC responsibility and should not be blended with IC role-play. Anyone can proctor
3. If your mun cannot fulfill the responsibilities of your scribe duties, it would be in good taste not to accept a high position or a position that requires frequent updating to web sites.
4. Delete/Restore characters are allowed with the stipulation that they designate an active member of caste who will see that mail is forwarded and that they are notified of any upcoming events.
5. Delete/Restore characters must notify the Caste Chairs and Caste Clerk of their status

ABCS Website

1. In order to promote continuity and an efficient website, scribes with a proficiency in web design and graphics will be assigned to specific portions of the website as needed.  These assignments are without regard to any other posts the individual scribe may hold.
2. All information, graphics and design on this site are the express property of the ABCS.

All Applicants
Please copy and paste the following to an email
and submit with your application to the ABCS

I have read, understood, and acknowledged
The Guidelines for the Accredited Blue Caste of Scribes:

Signature:
Date: