Brackish Bay By-Laws

As with the basic premise of the Dagorhir Game Rules System, common sense supersedes perceived loopholes in these Bylaws.

Some language has been changed towards a nautical theme of the group. They will be a guide at the end of this document.

Brackish Bay Leadership: Leadership shall consist of the following governing bodies:

1. Brackish Bay Admiralty
   1. Captain
   2. First Mate
   3. Quartermaster
   4. Purser
   5. Bo’sun
2. Brackish Bay Fleet consisting of Skippers; Helmsman

Responsibilities and Meetings

1. The Admiralty shall ensure that all new or modified combat rules approved by the Chapter Council or Ragnarok War Council are adopted by Dagorhir Brackish Bay.
2. May create or eliminate Advisor positions and assign individuals to those positions by a ⅗ vote. . Advisors may only present ideas to The Admiralty and will not be allowed to vote.
3. Decide and approve Brackish Bay expenditures.
4. Act as the court of appeals in the event of disciplinary action. The affected party may appeal the disciplinary decision of The Fleet to The Admiralty, who will act as “court of appeals.”
5. The Admiralty shall meet a minimum of once every three months; additional meetings may be added as business dictates.
6. Any member of The Admiralty may convene an emergency meeting should the need arise.
7. In order for a quorum to exist and for The Admiralty to legally take any action, at least three (3)  of The Admiralty Officers must be in attendance (either in person or virtually).  Any Admiralty Officer unable to attend a session may send a proxy representative in their place. However, the substitute may only present ideas and take notes for the elected official. The substitute is not allowed to vote.
8. Admiralty motions pass with a minimum of 3 votes in favor.

Admiralty Officer Roles and Responsibilities

Captain

1. Delegating responsibility and the forming of activity committees.
2. Public liaison with local officials
3. Liaison with local reenactment and wargaming organizations, including serving as a representative to other Dagorhir groups, including the Chapter Council and Ragnarok War Council.
4. Promoting awareness of Dagorhir as an organization in the Tri-County/SoMD Territory.
5. Prepare agendas for board meetings, and to hold regular board meetings.

First Mate

1. Represent the Captain in their absence.
2. Advertising and recruitment efforts on behalf of the Dagorhir Brackish Bay. This may include Facebook groups, creating events for advertising on social media (in collaboration with the Quartermaster), Discord, in-person functions/events.

3.  Maintenance of Dagorhir Brackish Bay copyrights, service marks, trademarks, and other registration of Intellectual Property (e.g. banners, trademarks, branding, etc.)

Quartermaster

1. Serves as chairperson of the Brackish Bay Fleet
2. Setting Fleet meeting agendas.
3. Running/planning each officially sponsored activity for the organization’s membership. Quartermaster may appoint the following Officials:
   1. Head Weapons Checker(s)
   2. Head Garb Checker(s)
   3. Head Armor Checker(s)
   4. Event Sponsor(s)
   5. Head Herald(s) (i.e., referees)
   6. Review and determination of legitimate Active Unit status.
   7. Final interpretation of the Bylaws of Brackish Bay.
4. Submit an event schedule for the following calendar year in writing to the Brackish Bay Fleet no later than September 30th.

Purser

1. Maintenance of the organization’s membership and attendance records.
2. Taking minutes of The Admiralty and Fleet meetings (written or recorded)
3. Publication and distribution of minutes, rule changes, special announcements, and any other necessary public communications.
4. Collect waivers, money, and keep attendance for event check-in.
5. Maintenance of treasury bookkeeping (money in, money out)
6. Present the organization’s membership and financial records for open inspection at all Admiralty and Brackish Bay Fleet meetings.

7. Disbursements of Funds, including but not limited to:
   1. Purchase of any materials needed for organizational activities.
   2. Funds for publishing and purchase of special items may be advanced to the organization members on occasion, but these members are responsible for providing a valid receipt and any change to the Purser. Any member purchasing supplies for the organization with private funds must produce a valid receipt to be reimbursed up to $50. Purchases over $50 must receive pre-approval by The Fleet.
   3. Shall provide a written report of income and expenditures to the Board and the Brackish Bay Fleet on request.
   4. Liaison with any governmental body concerned with the collection of fees.
8. Filing of tax information with appropriate government organizations.
9. Maintenance of Dagorhir Brackish Bay corporate and/or non-profit status.

Bosun

1. Uphold the Dagorhir Code of Conduct at all Brackish Bay events
2. Bosun will be acting Sergeant at Arms during Fleet meetings.
3. Report potential investigations to the Dagorhir National Arbiter and the individual under investigation
4. Maintain the safety of participants at Brackish Bay events (on and off the field), to include removing individuals who are not in compliance with Dagorhir Code of Conduct and Brackish Bay Bylaws.
5. Receive, document, and present violations of the Dagorhir code of conduct to The Fleet and Admiralty
6. Issue warnings, suspensions and bans to affected Brackish Bay members in writing
7. Report member suspension and bans to national arbiter in the event Fleet voting

Admiralty Eligibility Requirements

1. At the time of nomination, the candidate must have participated in 6+ Dagorhir Related events in the last calendar year of any Dagorhir-related event (Subject to change to “Brackish Bay events” after the first full year of Brackish Bay’s existence).
2. Any candidate running for The Admiralty must undergo a criminal case search of publicly available legal databases.
   1. These criminal case searches are to be conducted by the currently serving First-Mate, at the expense of the candidate. The results of this search will be shared with The Admiralty prior to the election for the purposes of determining if the candidate is fit for the office.
   2. Specifications of these results will remain confidential unless the results show criminal activity.
   3. Background checks are to be completed no later than September 30th.
3. Potential Admiralty members must claim Brackish Bay as their “home Dagorhir chapter” prior to being considered for an elected position
4. Holding office or having a voting position in a competing padded weapon combat organization (i.e. Belegarth, Darkon, Hearthlight, etc.) represents a conflict of interest with Brackish Bay. A Dagorhir participant with a conflict of interests may not hold elected office in the Dagorhir Brackish Bay Chapter and may not serve on the Brackish Bay Fleet.

Current Admiralty Officers MAY choose to ignore this clause on a case-by-case basis. A candidate who holds office or voting position in a competing padded weapon combat organization  in question must have The Admiralty simple majority and The Fleet super majority to run for the desired position. Definitions of Simple-majority and Super-majority are found at the end of this document.

5. Any candidate running for the position of Captain must submit a business plan in writing to the Brackish Bay Fleet no later than September 30th. This business plan should cover a period of not less than two years, beginning January 1^st of their term and should be revised and updated every year. Business plans shall address both strategic goals and specific actions to achieve those goals.

Admiralty Elections and Terms of Office

1. Elections for The Admiralty, by The Fleet, shall be held annually in October for the following calendar year.
2. Admiralty Officer’s elected term is one year, beginning on January 1st.
3. Any candidate who runs unopposed shall assume office beginning on January 1st.
4. No individual may serve on more than one governing body or hold more than one elected position in any given term.
5. Once elected, Admiralty Officers should remain with Brackish Bay as their “home Dagorhir chapter” for the duration of their term and must maintain the minimum participation requirements throughout their tenure.

Removal of Elected Admiralty Officers

1. Once elected, if a candidate fails to attend at least half of the scheduled Brackish Bay Events or fails to complete required tasks for the betterment/expectations of the Realm, it is up to the discretion of the Brackish Bay Fleet to call for removal.
   1. Call for removal must be brought to The Fleet for a vote of ¾ majority
   2. The individual in question shall be given time to speak to The Fleet before the vote is cast.
2. Leadership may step down from a position for any reason. Individuals resigning from their position should announce to the public of Brackish Bay that there will be a vacancy in Leadership requiring a replacement prior to leaving the position (if able).

The Fleet consists of two representatives from each active unit in the organization of Brackish Bay. These representatives shall be known as Skippers.

Fleet Responsibilities

1. The Fleet shall actively pursue enforcement of the Dagorhir and Brackish Bay rules on the field of play and ensure that events are adequately staffed (i.e., the Representatives will ensure that their Units will provide Heralds and other event staff as needed).
2. The Fleet shall meet and discuss possible solutions to any problems with game activities.
3. The Fleet will ratify the dates and locations of events that are proposed by the Quartermaster. The Fleet will receive a copy of the schedule from the Quartermaster once it is finalized online, or given paper copies (when requested).
4. The Fleet shall be responsible for the creation and review of Brackish Bay Bylaws.
5. The Fleet may override an Admiralty veto with a super-majority of votes present.
6. The Fleet shall nominate candidates for all positions on The Admiralty. The Skippers in the Fleet shall vote for these offices: Captain, First Mate, Quartermaster, Purser, Bosun. An individual may nominate themself for an Admiralty Officer position but must have a second from the Fleet to be considered a candidate.
7. The Brackish Bay Fleet must approve or deny any membership fees, dues, bids for reimbursement or charges of $50 or more, or change in cost of publications that are proposed by the Purser.
8. The Brackish Bay Fleet will be responsible for the vote on any needed disciplinary action. The affected party may appeal the disciplinary decision of The Fleet to The Admiralty, who will act as “court of appeals.”  The Fleet may veto the decision of The Admiralty with ¾ majority.
9.  The Brackish Bay Fleet is responsible for electing a representative to serve in Chapter Council and Ragnarok War Council meetings along-side the Captain. This elected position will be known as Helmsman.

Skipper Appointment and Active Unit Status

1. Skippers are to be chosen as the voice of their units at Brackish Bay Fleet by the units they represent.
2. Unit shall be defined as: two individuals, with a name and a symbol for the unit, and a designated contact. The unit contact’s information should be communicated to the Purser. 
3. Active unit is defined as two members of the same unit participating at least 1 event in the last completed quarter under that unit banner.  Participants do not have to attend the same event, but it is encouraged.

4. Quarters are defined as:

        Quarter 1- January, February, March

        Quarter 2- April, May, June

        Quarter 3- July, August, September

        Quarter 4- October, November, December

5. To be considered as participating in a Brackish Bay event, an individual must sign in with the Purser (or Purser delegate) with battle name, legal name, unit name, and realm name and have a current safety waiver on file.

Fleet Meetings

1. The Brackish Bay Fleet shall meet at minimum once a quarter.
2. Members of The Fleet may call an emergency meeting if there is a matter of safety or risk involved.
3. The Quartermaster will chair all Fleet meetings to ensure order, and will only vote in order to break a tie. The Quartermaster will not vote otherwise.
4. In the absence of the Quartermaster, a replacement will be elected by a simple-majority vote of The Fleet to chair the meeting.  The elected replacement may not vote or act as a tiebreaker for the meeting.
5. Quorum requires the attendance of at least two-thirds of the active units’ Skippers. Only a Fleet meeting quorum requirements may vote and legitimately act.
6. Each active unit will be able to cast two votes, even if one Skipper is absent.
7. A motion with a simple majority of votes passes.

Per the guidance in the Dagorhir Handbook and the Manual of Arms, Dagorhir Brackish Bay reserves the right to eject or exclude individuals from our Dagorhir events for the following reasons:

1. Violating local, county, state, or federal laws that impact Dagorhir or Dagorhir events, including but not limited to violations that endanger the safety of Dagorhir members, spectators, or bystanders; violations of intellectual property rights; destruction of property, etc.
2. Endangering the safety of persons or property, including actions demonstrating intent to cause actual injuries or harm on the Dagorhir battlefield.
3. Endangering Dagorhir’s ability to use land or equipment.
4. Abusive language or other behavior unbecoming of a Dagorhir member (applying a “reasonable person” standard).
5. Disobeying the Dagorhir-related requests and instructions of those in charge of events.
6. Felonious or other than felonious acts that indicate a member is a danger to Dagorhir and its members and that have resulted in a chapter ban.

Article I. Purpose

Section 1.01: The purpose of this addendum is to protect the members of Dagorhir by creating a disciplinary process.

Section 1.02: Rule 0 of the Dagorhir Manual of Arms (MOA) applies here as well—loopholes are not to be considered.

Article II. Disciplinary Actions

Section 2.01 Expectations:

1. Disciplinary actions are intended to protect the membership of Dagorhir.

2. Issuing a Warning, Suspension or Ban is not to be taken as a claim that an individual is guilty of a criminal offense, nor must a prosecutable offense occur prior to disciplinary action being taken.

Section 2.02 Type:

1. Warning – A cautionary admonition issued by the Brackish Bay War Council through the Bosun to a Brackish Bay member for lesser transgressions, where there is no reasonable concern for the safety of the membership (e.g., consistently failing to follow game rules, demonstrating unsuitable social behaviors, etc.).

2. This Warning should be issued in writing, with language agreed upon by the Brackish Bay War Council. It should be delivered by the Bosun in hard copy and electronically, with a courtesy copy to the Brackish Bay War Council representatives.

3. Suspension – A temporary revocation of an individual’s privilege to attend and/or participate in Dagorhir Brackish Bay events. Suspensions may be up to two years in duration, and may be Local or Game-Wide.

4. Suspensions are for lesser misconduct, where there is no strong concern for the safety of the membership (e.g., an isolated act of minor vandalism, or consistent disregard of Warnings as detailed above).

5. The duration of the Suspension should be proportional to the alleged misconduct.

6. The term of Suspensions can never be applied retroactively—a player must be Suspended from participation for some reasonable time from the decision date.

7. Ban – A permanent revocation of an individual’s privilege to attend and/or participate in Dagorhir Brackish Bay events. This may include a report to the national Dagorhir Battle Game Association’s Arbiter.

8. Bans are indicated where there is a strong concern for the safety of the membership, and that is unlikely to resolve. This category includes but is not limited to sexual offenses and other violent crimes, and/or gross violations of the Dagorhir Code of Conduct.

9. A player receiving multiple Suspensions for the same or similar conduct should also be considered for a Ban.

1. Should an individual need to be removed from a Brackish Bay event for violating the Dagorhir Code of Conduct, the Bo’sun is to report to one other member of The Admiralty and the unit’s Point of Contact with the name of the individual and rule broken before removing the individual. The Bosun is expected to document the events as they occurred and present this for the record to The Admiralty and The Fleet.
2. Complaints of misconduct will be reported to the Bosun by any member of Brackish Bay.
3. Bosun must inform the individual in question of investigations against them as soon as possible and with relevant information (the date, the time, the Brackish Bay event the incident took place, and the rule broken from the Dagorhir Code of Conduct or noted in these bylaws). Bosun is not required to give the name of the complainant for their safety unless the complainant has given consent.
4. Resulting disciplinary action (severity and length of punishment) should be equitable with the rule broken for the Dagorhir Code of Conduct or in these bylaws. Length and severity of the disciplinary action are to be decided on by The Fleet after the individual has been given a chance to address the allegations.  Any disciplinary action must have a minimum simple majority of The Fleet’s votes.
5. In the event of a ‘Warning,’ the Bosun will provide a written warning  to the individual.
6. Should an individual be suspended/banned from Brackish Bay, the Bosun is to report them to the national arbiter to be added to the “Ban/Suspension List”, as well as a written verdict to the individual.

1. Any member of Brackish Bay may propose amendments to these bylaws to The Fleet.

2. The proposed amendments must be submitted to the Brackish Bay Fleet and the Brackish Bay Admiralty in writing. Amendments will be reviewed and voted on at the next subsequent meeting, unless the proposed amendment is that of an immediate safety issue, wherein it will be evaluated and voted on at the meeting during which it was presented.

3. For a proposed amendment to pass, you must have approval from the Brackish Bay Fleet by a super-majority vote AND The Admiralty by a unanimous vote.

4. Should a proposed amendment not pass, modifications may be made to the proposal and presented to The Fleet and Admiralty as a new amendment at subsequent meetings.

Language Guide to Brackish Bay:

Captain = President

First Mate = Vice-President

Quartermaster = Magistrate

Purser= Secretary/Treasurer

Bosun = Arbiter

Fleet = War Council

Admiralty = Board of Directors

Skippers = Unit Representatives for Brackish Bay War Council

Helmsman = Realm Representative for Dagorhir National Chapter Council

Simple-Majority Standard: 51% or more of the votes present

Super-Majority Standard: 75% or more of votes present