Dog Faction Guild Charter

Version 1.2

It is expected that all members of the Guild treat each other with respect.

We like to keep an open and playful guild chat, but we also need to keep people from being offended. Most talk is tolerated, and often encouraged ;), but if taken to excess can, and will, cause problems. We have an adult guild, and with that you have been duly warned that adult conversation happens often in guild chat – if this offends you then this is not the right guild for you. Also, please refrain from discussions on religion, as that makes people uncomfortable the fastest.

Cooperation is something we encourage, and is the reason for being in a guild. It is not expected higher level characters give up too much time to help out the lower level characters, however, help is always appreciated and reciprocated.

Current raiding and partying etiquette will be posted on the forums.

Loot rules must be established before the group gets involved in the coming adventure. Please discuss the matter extensively beforehand if there is the intention to use a “non-standard” system.

Loot rules for official guild raids are posted on the forums.

Members are expected not to pick unnecessary fights with people from outside the Guild. However, should the behavior of an external person in a party/raid be utterly intolerable (e.g. ninja-looting, verbal abuse), all members are encouraged to stick together, and, if appropriate, to warn the Guild as a whole against these persons.

On a guild raid, all resources belong to the guild and should be collected at the end to place in the guilds custody for distribution.

We are all human and we will, at some point, disagree with each other. All arguments should be handled discretely. This means no spamming guild with insults, accusations etc.

All arguments should be taking to private channels (email, PM's, whispers tells, etc) as soon as possible.

If a problem can not be resolved please bring it to the attention of the appropriate GM or Officers as soon as possible.
 

Under no circumstances are arguments to be carried on using the Forums. This causes more problems between Members and makes the Guild look bad. The same rule applies on IRC, Ventrilo or Teamspeak or any other place where the disagreement can be heard or viewed publicly.
 
The GM and officers have the final word in any dispute between Members.

Sanctions

We are not a guild that wants to police its members. We hope to use this section only rarely, but any breach can be reported to the Guild Master and/or Officers who will deal with the matter.

The Officers are responsible for deciding how to deal with Members who break Charter rules.

Officers have complete freedom of action and can warn, fine (as reparations, in case of breaches related to money or items), demote or remove Members as they see fit.

Immediate removal from the Guild will only occur in the gravest of circumstances.

If possible, the breaches should be discussed by several Officers before the more severe measures of demotion or removal are taken.

Breaches by initiates will face a lower level of tolerance than those of full members; they may be removed without consultation if their actions make clear they don’t share the general guild spirit.

If problems are related to an item, the class of an item (rare, epic) will be taken into account.

The Guild Officers have the right to use their judgment concerning anything that is not covered in the Guild Charter.

1. Powers and Authority:

The Guildmaster has final authority to make and approve all Guild decisions, with the exception that a unanimous vote of all Officers (not just a quorum) can veto the Guildmaster's decisions.

There is also the exception that any decisions made or approved by the Guildmaster may not contradict the provisions in this charter.

The Guildmaster has the authority to create or rescind rules and guidelines as deemed necessary to administer guild business. Such rules and guidelines may cover, but are not limited to, the subjects of guild property, member conduct, and guild organization. Such rules and guidelines may not contradict the provisions in this charter.

2. Terms:

The Guildmaster serves terms of 6 months. Terms for Guildmaster are:

Sept 1 - Feb 28/29

The regular Guildmaster elections will begin and conclude in the months prior to the new term month, which by current term dates are February and August .

The Guildmaster may call elections at any time for Guildmaster; however, the period from the called election to the next scheduled election will be counted as one term, even if significantly shorter than 6 months.

1. Powers and Authority:

The Officers are the advisory board to the Guildmaster. 

Their duty is to advise the Guildmaster on all matters concerning Dog Faction in the appropriate game/universe.

They, as a group, have the authority to veto any decisions made by the Guildmaster, as long as this veto is unanimous, and the veto is done in a timely manner.

They, as a group, in a unanimous decision, have the power to remove the current residing GM and hold elections.

Upon the unannounced absence of the Guildmaster for more than one month, any Officer may call for elections.

2. Terms:

Officers are chosen by the Guildmaster

The Guildmaster chooses the Officers. The Officer positions carry though GM elections and overlap the Guildmaster terms by 2 months. This over-lapping term methodology affords stability and reduces the possibility of hostile guild takeovers.

An Officer can resign from their post at any time, but with a stipulation that they are required to present a minimum of one week notification of said intent.

1. The first moist towelette holder

2. Redvulture, the originator of Dog Faction guild, is the Founder for life, what can we say, he got there first. (Sorry Suli!) The Founder is a permanent non-elected member of all of Gaming Leadership. The founder also retains a permanent Officer position on all games/universes.

3. The responsibility of the Founder is to ensure the continued existence of Dog Faction independent of any one game or in game dynamics and segregation.

4. It is also the responsibility of the Founder (or such appointed person) to maintain the virtual presence of Dog Faction, to include, but no limited to such things as website and domain name.  The founder may appoint the person to maintain such virtual presences.

5. If the Founder decides at any time that they are unable or unwilling to participate as Founder, and makes that decision known to the Guildmaster and Officers, the post of Founder will be replaced by another individual and some appropriate Regent title will be created. 

6. The Founder Clause

Founder powers trump all.

For example, a Founder can remove anyone at anytime from the Dog Faction, regardless of rank or time served, to also include, but not limited to, Guildmasters and Officers.

Founder can also veto any decisions made by the Officers or Guildmaster and implement their own.

Each period will last a minimum of 7 days.

Nominations will be accepted by Dog Faction forum post on guild member restricted forums, and only full members may be nominated (not any probationary rank such as Maggot). If two different Dog Faction members nominate another member, that member becomes eligible to run for office. A member may nominate themselves to office.

Once nominations have determined who is running for what posts, the voting Officials must notify the general membership by posting the successful nominations on the Dog Faction Internet Site. The voting period begins immediately after the nomination period ends. Votes will be accepted for at least 7 days by forum post, as well as any other means the voting Officials are willing to accept and remain open.

At the end of that week, votes will be totaled and the top vote getter(s) will be offered the position(s) until all the posts have been filled. In the case where there is a tie for the Guildmaster, the Officers vote on who gets the position. In case of a tie in that vote, the current Guildmaster casts the deciding vote.