[Officers] Draft - Baronial vote update

[Barbara Segal]

Looks good to me.  
 
I would recommend that a message with only question #3 (on non-Wyewood participants) be sent at the same time to local lists and Steps-Announce.  I would make the subject line of the e-mail something that will make sure the people who need to open it, will.  That is, if a subject is just "Wyewood polling," those people who don't play with us may delete without reading.  Something like "Read if you live in Wyewood borders, but play elsewhere" and make that message as short as possible.
 
Thanks for drafting this!
 
In Service,
 
Esclarmonde



Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:34:22 -0700
From: jpfafman at yahoo.com
To: officers at wyewood.org
Subject: [Officers] Draft - Baronial vote update





Officers:

Below is the proposed draft to the populace on the upcoming Baronial poll.  I would ask each of you to take time to review the Q&A for content and sensibility.  I have endeavored to hit all the necessary points and provide the needed information.  As this is a draft document, I would ask that it be kept to this list rather than the main list until such peer review deems it ready.  

I would ask that any comments be provided in advance of the Revel.  

Thanks for your time on this,

Constantine







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Greetings unto the Shire of Wyewood:

Much discussion has there been about renewing our bid to becoming a Barony.  The time quickly approaches that each man, woman, and child shall be asked to step up and give voice to their preference on the matter.  The Kingdom Seneschal, Baron James Llewellyn ap Gruffydd, indicates that an on-line polling will soon be available for the populace to make their opinions known.  


Question & Answer:


Q: I live outside the zip codes that belong to the Shire of Wyewood, yet I play within and identify myself as a citizen of Wyewood.  Will I still be able to poll?
A: No.  Those citizens living outside branch boundaries are unable to participate in the on-line poll, per Kingdom and Corporate policy.  HOWEVER, as there are a number of the populace that does fall into this category, I encourage each and every one of you to write in person to the Kingdom Seneschal to express your position.  In your submission letter, please include:

Modern Name
SCA number and expiration
SCA name
Your position on the topic
Why you identify yourself with Wyewood

Understand that due to the volume of emails our Kingdom Seneschal receives, he may not be able to personally respond.  You are certainly welcome to include more than a yes/no to the topic, but remember that as with anyone reading large volumes of mail that brief and to the point often wins the day.  The Kingdom Seneschal may be contacted at: seneschal at antir.sca.org


Q: Will my position on the matter be published, or otherwise be made available for others to review?
A: No.  Your ballot in the poll is between you and the Kingdom Seneschal and those others pertinent to the process (e.g. Their Royal Majesties).  Officers of the branch (including the Seneschal) and the populace do not have access to the ballots.

Q: I am too new to the branch to decide; I live in Wyewood but play elsewhere (e.g. Madrone, Blatha an Oir, Kingdom level); I just don't care: Should I still vote?
A: YES!  Their are two hurdles for us to clear in order to be considered for Baronial status: First - 51% of the populace within our borders MUST respond to the poll.  As of the second quarter ended June 30th, Wyewood claims 160 citizens.  We must hear from at least 82 people.  My belief is that we can and should have numbers far above that threshold.  Second - after clearing the first hurdle, we must garner 75% positive response for Kingdom to grant approval.  

If you wish to abstain on the decision, that is your right to do so.  However, do not equate an abstention with a vote not sent.  Kingdom has no way to distinguish between voter apathy from abstentions.  If you are going to abstain, please indicate that on your ballot.  I would encourage you to write about why you are abstaining.  Voter apathy is the scourge of this process.  I am tasking every citizen within Wyewood to go out and talk to and encourage each other to respond to the poll.  Of particular importance are those citizens not on our list, because they participate elsewhere.  They may not know of the poll or have a preferred outcome.  We still need those ballots.

Q: I am the parent of a minor that is a paid member of the SCA.  Is the minor entitled to a vote?
A: Yes.  SCA policy is to count ballots from each card-carrying member regardless of age.

Q: My SCA membership is presently expired, but I still play all the time.  Will I be able to case a ballot?
A: No.  SCA policy dictates that current membership in the organization must be maintained in order to vote on the matter.  You may go here to update your membership: https://membership.sca.org/

IMPORTANT: Your membership is with the Society; the update of records between Society and Kingdom is not instantaneous and can take 2-3 weeks.  If you renew and immediately take the poll, your record will likely NOT be accepted by Kingdom.  Therefore, if this issue is important to you, please do not delay in updating your membership!

Q: Are we voting for a Baron and Baroness at this time?
A: No.  Should Wyewood be granted Baronial status by Kingdom, we will hold a second poll to select representatives.



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