Probate and Membership Process

Probate and Membership Process

A) Becoming Deor-Fuidir (Probate-ship)

1) To become a member a person must first go through a probationary period. It is expected that the applicant will have attended a few events and at least one meeting as a guest before seeking probationary status. There is no age restriction for probates. Any group of people may be considered as one or individually for clan membership.

2) A person wishing to become a member must obtain sponsorship from an existing member. The sponsor will move for a vote at a clan meeting (not an event) and upon a 2/3 approval of the clan, the clan will ask the following to the applicant:

"Will you socialize, work toward the goals of the clan and enjoy camp life in a reasonably pleasant and harmonious manner, with your primary loyalty firmly set towards the good of the group?"

Upon an affirmative response from the applicant they shall be elevated to Deor-fuidir (a.k.a. Probate) status.

3) Any probate whose sponsor becomes a Soer-Fuidir must seek a new sponsor.

4) Prior to a sponsor calling for a membership vote, a probate must be 18 years of age or older and fulfill all the following requirements as outlined in sections B through I. With exception to the Persona Story, the tasks need not be completed in any particular order. A checklist of all requirements is available for convenience.

5) The sponsor and probate should highlight all progress made at each clan meeting during the time set aside for "Probate Review" making mention of the supervising members involved. This will demonstrate commitment, teach new ideas or reinforce existing ideas, and let the meeting minutes serve as an additional backup record should a lost checklist need to be reconstructed.

B) Required Reading

1) The deor-fuidir must read and should understand the laws of the clan.

2) The Tuatha de Bhriain is a medieval re-creation group. Members assume a persona of someone living during the time period we represent. In order to have an informed opinion of the time period and culture the deor-fuidir should have a working knowledge of 5th century AD Celtic Ireland in the areas of history, archeology (tools and art style), and mythology. Read one book from each category:

General Celtic Culture:

• "The World of the Celts" by Simon James
• "The story of the Irish Race" by Seamus McManus
  (ch. 1 -20, 22, 24, 27, 31-35)

Irish Dark Ages:

• "Early Irish Law" by Fergus Kelly (ch. 1-9)
• "A Social History of Ancient Ireland: Manners, Customs, and Domestic Life of the Ancient Irish" by P. W. Joyce (ch. 2, 3, 5-9) (supplementaly, ch. 4 is recommended for fighters and ch. 10 for Christian personas)

Mythology:

• "Gods and Fighting Men" by Lady Gregory
• "The Tain: Translated from the Irish Epic Tain Bo Cuailgne" by T. Kinsella
• "Tales of the Elders of Ireland: Acallam Na Senorach" by Anne Dooley
• "Red Branch" by Morgan Llywellyn
• "Finn McCool" by Morgan Llywellyn

C) Persona

After all the required reading has been completed, the deor-fuidir must develop and portray a realistic and probable persona and name suitable to 5th century AD Ireland and document it (i.e. who they are, what they do, and their relationship to the clan). The persona story must be approved by the clan File (poet). Any member without an approved personae story is accountable for its creation and recitation.

D) Attendance

Deor-fuidirs must faithfully attend 3 events and four meetings prior to their membership vote, with the understanding that such attendance is expected of full members. However, the length of their probationary period may extend as long as a sponsor deems fit. Attending Pennsic is NOT a requirement but DOES count as attending an event.

E) Handbook Tasks

1)The handbook task serve to introduce the probate to the necessary chores of running the group, as a vehicle for members to get to know the probate in question, and evaluate how well they will work in the group environment toward clan goals. The deor-fuidir must have completed or significantly assisted in the completion of the following tasks and should be performed as specified in the Clan Handbook:

Water Hookup, Water Hookup Break Down, Shower Hookup, Shower Hookup Break Down, Water Heater Set Up, Water Heater Break Down, Fire Pit Set Up, Fire Pit Break Down, Firewood, Fire Starting / Tending, Keg and Jockey Box Set Up, Keg and Jockey Break Down, Coolers and Ice Set Up, Coolers and Ice Break down, Grill Set Up, Grill Break Down, Spit Set Up, Spit Break Down, Great Table Set Up, Sheet Wall Set Up, Sheet Wall Break Down, Day Board, Cooking Dinner Main Course, Cooking Dinner Side Dish, The Dishes, Re-season Cast Iron Pot, Torch Set Up, Garbage Detail, Town Run, Last Person on Site, Imbolc Hall Clean Up. (A checklist is provided separately for convenience).

2) In jobs that have both a set up and break down component, the deor-fuidir must do both for proper credit. Under normal circumstances, repeating tasks would not be grounds to exempt the deor-fuidir from other tasks.

3) Since some jobs are traditionally Pennsic related, liberal interpretation and creativity may be required. For instance, a doer fuidir could be encouraged to set up a gate (or the shower etc.) to enhance local events and satisfy the requirements.

4) Tasks must be completed under the supervision of a member. The supervising member need not be the sponsor; in fact, the probate should endeavor to work with as many different members as possible. A checklist with only a few names repeated as supervising members will most likely be received poorly.

5) A supervising member is within rights to refuse signing off on the check list and recommend the task be repeated on any chore the deor-fuidir's assistance was lacking in any way or if they exhibited a poor attitude.

6) Sponsors are encouraged to make motion for a "freebie" check off the list when the deor-fuidir does something not specified on the list but is of particular benefit to the group. The freebie should not be applied to any reading.

7) Should a deor-fuidir be physically unable to perform a task, the sponsor can apply for an exemption, however, since assisting in a task is acceptable for credit, such exemptions should be applied for and granted sparingly.

F) Clan Projects

1) Deor-fuidirs are to contribute significantly to two sponsor approved projects that provide for the common good of the clan with the understanding that such participation is expected of members.

2) The projects are intentionally non-specific as they could be anything from helping out on trailer day or consistently entertaining the clan by building armor and fighting, learning a period instrument and performing, or doing something more academic such as a historical topic or craft presentation etc.

G) Required Equipment

1) The deor-fuidir must obtain all the equipment of the "Ocaire" as described by clan law, that being: A set of period style garb of wool or linen. (Tunic, trews, bog dress, Léine) , Period feast gear: bowl, trencher, or plate of wood or clay, Eating utensils of iron, bronze, or silver, A period drinking vessel (horn, wood, clay) and a Torc. Note: A Period Tent is a bonus item that will increase your honor price status as a probate (Bóthach Status). You will be expected to get a tent eventually as a member. (Items are also listed on the checklist for convenience).

H) Clan Vote of Approval and Review Process

1)When a probate has completed all requirements and their sponsor believes that it is time to elevate their probate for membership, the sponsor shall inform the Clan of their intent to invoke the "Probate Review" process one meeting prior during the "Probate Review" segment of the meeting.

1. Only the sponsor or their delegate can invoke a Probate Review. No one else may force a vote.

2) Any member who will not be able to attend the meeting of an intended "Probate Review" is entitled to send a written proxy vote either in support or against the membership bid should the vote be called. Any member not in attendance and failing to send a written proxy will be presumed to support the probate's membership bid. In accordance with existing clan law, proxies must likewise give cause and reason for their support or lack thereof.

3) During the "Probate Review" portion of a meeting, if a review is initiated; all probates will be sent from the meeting for the duration of the discussion. The members shall discuss the merits of the probate in question and give opinions as to the acceptability of the probate's membership bid in light of their demonstrated ablity and willingness to work toward the goals of the clan, enjoy re-enactment and camp life, and generally socialize in a pleasant and harmonious manner with their primary loyalty firmly set towards the good of the group.

4) During a Probate Review discussion the sponsor has the following options:

1. If the sponsor deems there is insufficient support for the membership bid, the sponsor may end the debate without a calling for the First Review Vote and privately reconsider pursuing the probate's membership bid.
2. If the sponsor deems there is sufficient support (i.e. ¾ majority or greater approval) the sponsor may make the following motion to invoke the First Review Vote:

"I move that (probate "x") be approved for full voting membership of the Tuatha de Bhriain and initiated at the appropriate event." (i.e. Samhain, Beltaine, Imbolc, Lughnasad/Pennsic).

5) Should the First Review Vote pass by a ¾ majority the membership consideration shall be automatically tabled for a Second Review in six months time (i.e. the planning meeting after the next two events) and not before then. The Second Review is governed in the same manner of the First Review in regards to prior notification, delegation, proxies, discussion, etc. however the sponsor MUST motion for the membership vote.

6) Should the Second Review Vote pass by a ¾ majority the membership consideration shall be automatically tabled for a Third and Final Review in six months time (i.e. the planning meeting after the next two events) and not before then. The Third and Final Review is governed in the same manner of the First Review in regards to prior notification, delegation, proxies, discussion, etc. however the sponsor MUST motion for the membership vote.

7) Should the Third and Final Review Vote pass by ¾ majority, or if the First or Second Review Votes pass unanimously, the probate will be deemed a "member elect" and will be bestowed full membership rights at a ceremony at the following event upon the recitation of the "Oath of a Kinsman"

8) Should any Review motion fail to obtain a minimum ¾ majority, the membership bid is defeated. It is the discretion of the sponsor and probate as to whether to continue sponsorship and probate-ship respectively. Should they elect to continue, the process may be re-invoked anew at a future time of their choosing.

I) The Oath of a Kinsman

1) The oath shall be administered in ceremony by the Ard Druid and recited by the member elect before the assembled clan (preferably with bodhran accompaniment).

2) The Member Elect shall Recite:

"I _______ swear before our Gods and all assembled:

To obey the laws of the clan and to defer to its leaders, To assist my clan folk and contribute to the clan good by all reasonable means, To settle grievance by clan law and to fulfill in deed that which I set before me.

May the earth split and consume me
May the sky fall and crush upon me
May the seas rise and swallow me."

3) Upon completion of the Oath, the deor-fuidir is elevated to "Aurrad" (a.k.a. full member) status with whatever honor price they are entitled to.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship

1) Sponsors are completely accountable for the actions of their probates and are responsible for making sure their probates integrate adequately, abide by the laws and customs we follow, and are generally respectful of the atmosphere we strive for. It is a sponsor's duty to see that their probate complete all required tasks to the best of their ability to meet or exceed clan standards and to render assistance in any manner informationally, soically, or taskwise that a probate may be in need of.

Members List for 2008

As of Winter Solstice, 2007 this is the list of members. Only members in good standing, as indicated with (*) below may vote at meetings and will count towards Quorum after Imbolc, 2008.

* Colin
* Faellon
* Fiachra
* Vollund
* Guthrum
* Foinnuala
* Comyn
* Sabha
* Eberwulf
* Brogan
* Aonghus
Valerian
Momus

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