The Felding Constitution for 2000-2001

If you have any questions about this Constitution, email Lilias.

Article 1: Name

The Felding Medieval Society

Article 2: Purpose

We, the Felding Medieval Society, wish to introduce members of the Wellesley College community to the beauty and grace of the Middle Ages (approximately 500 C.E. to 1650 C.E.) by recreating various aspects of that period's culture, including (but not limited to) medieval art, dance, costume, food, professions, and diverse crafts.

Article 3: Honor Code

The Felding Medieval Society shall adhere to the tenets and principles of the Wellesley College Honor Code in all activities. Membership is open to all students regardless of race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or financial status.

Article 4: Membership

Section 1: General membership is open to all students who have paid their activity fee, as well as all Wellesley faculty and staff.


Section 2: Membership selection shall not discriminate based on race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or financial status.


Section 3: Financial aid will be made available to members in need. The distribution of aid shall be decided in conference with the Provost (president), the Exchequer (treasurer), and the member in question.


Section 4: Any person shall be put on the Society's mailing list who:


1. has attended at least one meeting of the Felding Medieval Society, or
2. has indicated through email or by adding his/her name to an existing list a desire to receive continuing information about the Society.


Section 5: If a member of the Society indicates a desire to no longer receive continuing information about the Society, he/she will be dropped from the Felding mailing list.


Section 6: Voting membership is restricted to those who have met the following conditions:


I. Attended at least one meeting in the semester in which the member proposes to vote.
II. Attended at least one other meeting or event sponsored by the Felding Medieval Society, including but not limited to events under the auspices of the Society for Creative Anachronism. (The Felding Medieval Society is not legally affiliated with the S.C.A. Inc.)


Section 7: If an existing voting member misses three meetings in an academic year, her voting membership will be revoked. To regain her voting membership, she must go through the stipulated procedures.

The Felding Medieval Society is governed by:

I. A president, called the Provost
II. A treasurer, called the Exchequer

In circumstances where other offices are called for, these positions shall also be elected:

III. A secretary, called the Chronicler
IV. A vice-president, called the Steward
V. An on-campus event-supervisor, called the Autocrat

Section I: the Provost

The Provost will coordinate and preside over all meetings. The Provost has the power to resolve 50-50 deadlocks in voting. She is required to attend the Grand Council of Carolingia once a month and report to the other members of the Society on what transpired there. If no Autocrat is elected, she and any other willing members of Felding will organize at least one event on campus during the academic year. If no Steward is elected, she will also fill the duties of the Steward. Any member of the Society is eligible of the position of Provost except the Exchequer.


Section II: The Exchequer

The Exchequer is the chief administrator of all organizational funds. She is the liaison with SOFC. The exchequer may make purchases under $10 at her discretion. She must consult with the other elected officers for purchases from $10 to $50. Any purchases over $50 must be approved by a majority of other members in voting. All bills incurred by the Society will be paid by the Exchequer immediately without consulting the other members of the Society. Any member of the Society is eligible to be the Exchequer except for the Provost.


Section III: the Chronicler

The Chronicler is responsible for recording minutes of all of the meetings and making these minutes available to the other members of the Society. Her responsibilities also include keeping track of those members qualified to vote. She is also required to keep the Felding History up to date and ensure that a copy of this history is available to future members through whatever means she deems appropriate. Any member of the Society is eligible for the position of Chronicler.


Section IV: the Steward

The Steward is the liaison between the members of the Felding Medieval Society and all off-campus organizations. She is also the Provost's delegate if the Provost is unable to attend an event or meeting. She is in charge of the Felding loaner garb, equipment, and feast gear, and she is required to make sure that these materials are stored and available for use when necessary; she is responsible for organizing or designating a substitute to organize all off-campus events, including transportation to and from events, and proper attire for such events. Any member of the Society is eligible for the position of Steward.


Section V: the Autocrat

The Autocrat is required to coordinate at least one Event (demos are not included in this category) on campus during the academic year. The traditional event is held sometime in late September or early October and is called 'Falling Leaves', but this event is mutable. The Autocrat steps down from her position after she has successfully completed all duties required by the Event she is organizing. Any member of the Society is eligible for the position of Autocrat.


Section Va: Additional Event Autocrats


In addition to our traditional event, Falling Leaves, individual members may wish to run other events on campus throughout the year. They need not be specifically elected as Autocrat in order to do this. Instead, if a member wishes to run an additional event, she must present her proposed event to the Society at a meeting at least three months in advance. The proposal must then win a simple majority vote among the eligible members of the Society in order to be held.

The Felding Medieval Society will meet formally once a month, and informally for dinner once a week. All meetings are open to every member of the Wellesley College community. Further, at least one open meeting shall be publicized every semester. Executive meetings of the Society's officers will be called as needed. The Society will periodically sponsor medieval events and exhibitions and will arrange transportation (whenever possible) for members interested in attending similar gatherings elsewhere.

Section I: Quorum for transaction of regular business is a simple majority of voting members.


Section II: Quorum for any constitutional business and election of all officers is 3/4 of voting members.

Section I: Officers must be elected by 2/3 of the stipulated quorum.


Section II: Changes and amendments to the constitution must be approved by 2/3 of the stipulated quorum.


Section III: All other business must be approved by a simple majority of the stipulated quorum.


Section IV: The Provost will not take part in the regular voting; her vote is reserved for the breaking of a 50-50 deadlock.

The Felding Medieval Society is financed by S.O.F.C. grants. In addition to S.O.F.C. funding, fund-raisers will be held according to S.O.F.C. legislation, and thus adhere to S.O.F.C. legislation.

Section I: The term of all elected positions is one year. Elections for the various positions will be held as follows:

a. Provost: End of the academic year
b. Exchequer: End of the academic year
c. Chronicler: End of the academic year.
d. Steward: End of the academic year.
e. Autocrat: After all business of the main event of the Society has been concluded.


Section II: All candidates must be voting members who have attended at least one meeting of the Felding Medieval Society and at least one medieval event.


Section III: In the event that any officer's position should become vacant, the responsibilities of the post will fall to the remaining officers until someone is elected to fill that post for the remainder of that term of office, or until the previous occupant is able to return to claim it.

This constitution shall become valid when:

I. It is adopted by a 2/3 vote of the stipulated constitutional quorum.
II. A copy has been signed by the head of this organization and the Vice President of College Government and filed in the College Government Office and in the office of the President.
III. It is approved by Senate.


---

Last updated: October 5, 2001
Expires: September 30th, 2002
Return to the Felding Main Page.
Page maintained by Lilias de Cheryngton.