Clan Sharks

Shark Clan Constitution

I. The Elders
The Elders' Voting Procedures

II. The Leader

III. The Sharks from the Depths
The "first among equals" of the Sharks from the Depths
Sharks from the Depths' Voting Procedures

IV. The Clan Shark Registrar

V. The Web Master

VI. Shallow Water Sharks

VII. Remoras

VIII. Rights and Responsibilities of All Clan Members

IX. Policies
Promotion Policy
Demotion Policy
Policy on Dual Membership
Naming and "Fin" Policy
Most Popular Game Selection Policy

X.  Procedures
Remora Voting Procedure
Withdrawal of Sponsorship Procedure
Promotion of a SWS within a New Game Initiative

XI.  New Game Initiatives (NGIs)


I. The Elders

The Mission of the Elders is the protection and promotion of the Shark Clan's ethos of fun and fair Gaming play.

 
  • The Elders are the supreme governing body of Clan Sharks.
  • The Elders shall have the power to reverse any policy or decision arrived at by a lower level of Sharks that the Elders believe violates the Clan's mission.
  • The Elders shall be the final arbiters of any dispute that cannot resolved at a lower level . In effect, the Elders are the "Supreme Court" of the Clan.
  • The Elders may create any policy that it feels necessary to comply with the Clan's Mission. Such a policy is binding on all Clan members without delay. All policies must be made known to Clan members soon after they are made.
  • The Elders shall have the power to determine and carry out removal and punishment of a Shark.
  • The Elders shall have the power to approve those promoted into its ranks in accordance with the Promotion Policy.
  • The rights, responsibilities, and Missions of lower levels of sharks accrue to the Elders when necessary.
  • The Elders shall, when possible, take into consideration the views of the Sharks from the Depths when making decisions.
  • The Elders shall have final say on the Clan's enemies or allies.
  • Any Elder has the right to raise an issue for a vote either among the Elders or the Sharks from the Depths.
  • All powers not expressly given to lower levels are reserved to the Elders to dispense or retain as they see fit.
    •
  • Any Elder may create a New Game Initiative.


 Elders' Voting Procedures

  • Decisions of the Elders shall be arrived at according to vote.
  • A decision of the Elders is made when 75% of the voting Elders agree on an issue before them.
  • A vote shall be conducted at a meeting of the Elders when possible. If a meeting is not possible, then voting shall be conducted by email.
  • If a vote is conducted by email, Elders shall have three days within which to cast their vote.
  • All voting shall be conducted by open balloting.
  • If an Elder does not come to a scheduled meeting within one-half hour of its scheduled time or does not vote by email within three days, then his or her vote shall be considered an abstention.
  • A minimum of 50% of valid votes of the Elders shall approve a decision, if one of those valid votes is cast by the Leader. Otherwise to approve a decision, the percentage of valid votes of any of the Elders shall be 75%.


II. The Leader

The Mission of the Leader is to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the Clan.

  • The Leader of the Clan is an Elder, but the "first among equals" of the Elders, and he or she shall have a vote in their decisions.
  • The Leader is chosen by a 75% majority vote of the Elders.
  • The Leader shall have the right to determine demotion of any Clan member in accordance with the Demotion Policy.
  • The Leader shall call and conduct meetings of the Elders, carry out email voting (when appropriate), and announce the results of decisions to all Clan members.
  • Any decision of the Leader can be overridden by a 75% majority vote of the Elders and a 75% majority of the Sharks from the Depths.
  • A Leader can be removed by unanimous agreement of the Elders (besides the Leader) and the Sharks from the Depths.
  • The Leader shall represent the Clan in negotiations with other Clans, or designate a representative in his or her stead.
  • The Leader shall be the primary contact person in relations with outside individuals, Clans and organizations, or designate a representative in his or her stead.
  • The Leader shall have the power to raise issues needed for action among either the Elders or Sharks from the Depths in accordance with the Missions of each.
  • In the case when only three valid votes are cast in a issue before the Elders, and two of the Elders are split, the Leader's vote shall be deciding.
  • The Leader shall have the right to declare war or peace on another clan. His or her decision in this regard is reviewed by the Elders, who may override it.
  • The Leader shall keep the Elders and Sharks from the Depths informed of issues facing the Clan either by calling a meeting or sending email.
  • The Leader may appoint a replacement in his or her stead for a maximum of two weeks subject to agreement from the Elders.
  • In no case shall the Leader remain in office after disappearing for more than two weeks with no explanation to the Elders. A Leader may be absent for no more than one month if the Elders accept his or her excuse for such absence. In case the above two conditions are violated, the Elders shall elect a new Leader.
  • The Leader may appoint Clan members to perform various tasks in keeping with the Leader's mission.
  • The Leader's term of office is 3 months. There shall be no limit to the number of terms a Leader may remain in office, but the Elders shall approve the Leader's stay after each 3-month term.
  • The Leader shall have the power to promote a Clan member one level up from his or her current level. The promotion may be rejected by a 75% majority of the promoted member's new peers.
  • The Leader shall have the power to call a re-vote of any issue passed. Such a call for a re-vote can be made only once for an issue before the Clan.


III. Sharks from the Depths

The Mission of the Sharks from the Depths is to effect the Clan's ethos of fun and fair Gaming play.

  • The Sharks from the Depths are arbiters of disputes and advisors to the Elders.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall have the power to grant or deny membership in the Clan and shall have the right to promote new members up to and including into its ranks in accordance with the Promotion Policy.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall hear and decide accusations of cheating or violation of Clan rules, and shall suggest appropriate action to the Elders.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall arrange for training of any Clan member who requests it.
  • The Sharks from the Depths, if requested by the Leader or the Elders, shall arrange for tournaments, competitions, and wars with other clans and shall arrange for Clan representation in such contests.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall when necessary raise issues of concern to the Elders and the Leader that are not within the purview of the rights and responsibilities of the Sharks from the Depths.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall hear and decide disputes among lower levels of the Clan.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall vote in certain issues related to leadership and overriding the decisions of the Leader when appropriate.
  • The decisions of the Sharks from the Depths are binding for all Clan members if not overturned by the Elders after two weeks.
  • The rights, responsibilities and Missions of lower levels of sharks accrue to the Sharks from the Depths when necessary.
  • There shall be among the Sharks from the Depths a "first among equals".
  • The Sharks from the Depths, if requested by the Leader or the Elders, shall arrange for tournaments, competitions, and wars with other clans and shall arrange for Clan representation in such contests. If any SftD does not have the time or ability to host an effective tournament he may decline by notifying First or Elder requesting the tournament.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall when necessary raise issues of concern to the Elders and the Leader that are not within the purview of the rights and responsibilities of the Sharks from the Depths.
    •
  • Any Shark from the Depths may create a New Game Initiative.


 Sharks from the Depths' Voting Procedures

 

  • The rules for voting among the Sharks from the Depths shall be the same as those for the Elders.
  • If the number of votes among the Sharks from the Depths is not enough to make a valid decision, then Elders shall have the right to participate so that the requisite number of votes is met.
  • The "first among equals" shall conduct voting for the Sharks from the Depths and shall announce the decisions of the Sharks from the Depths to all Clan members.


 The "First among equals" of the Sharks from the Depths

 

  • The "first among equals" is the main point of contact between the Sharks from the Depths and the Leader and carries out the Leader's requests.
  • The "first among equals" shall conduct voting for the Sharks from the Depths in accordance with the Sharks from the Depths' Voting Procedures.
  • The "first among equals" shall be appointed by the Leader within two weeks of the latter's taking office.
  • The Sharks from the Depths shall have the power to reject the Leader's choice of "first among equals."
  • The "first among equals" shall be excused from his duties at the discretion of the Leader.
  • The "first among equals" shall encourage all Sharks to participate in Clan events.
  • The "first among equals" shall work closely to the CSR and WM to insure the timeliness and accuracy of information communicated throughout the Clan.
  • The "first among equals" shall have power analogous to the Leader in regards to voting on issues before the Sharks from the Depths.
  • The "first among equals" shall, when informed by the CSR, contact inactive SWS' or SftD's and inform them of their demotion or ejection from the Clan.
  • The "first among equals" may promote a SWS to SftD if 1) the SWS has a genuine interest in becoming a SftD, 2) if the SWS has been participating regularly in clan activities and 3) there is NO negative SftD feedback.
  • The "First among equals" shall assist in the determination of the most popular games of the members of Clan Sharks in accordance with the "Most Popular Game" Selection Policy.


    • IV. The Clan Shark Registrar

     The Clan Shark Registrar ( or CSR ) shall have the following responsibilities as they relate to new members (Remoras):

  • The CSR shall receive all new clan applications. If the application comes from someone other than a Shark member, the CSR shall inform the person who submitted the application that only Shark members (sponsors) can submit applications. If the person claims to have a sponsor, the CSR shall contact the sponsor and verify that he/she has indeed agreed to sponsor the person in question.
  • After one week's time, the CSR shall remind a sponsor that he/she should get feedback on his/her sponsoree from the other members to make sure there are no problems.
  • Three days before it is time to call a vote on a Remora, the CSR shall call for feedback on the Remora. The CSR shall request feedback from all of the SWSs , SFTD'S and the Elders.  Voting shall be conducted.  For more detail on this procedure, review CS' voting procedure.
  • Whenever a Remora is rejected by the clan, the CSR shall keep the person's name and Kali Serial Number under a separate heading entitled, "Rejected Persons". The Clan Shark Registrar shall note the date of and the reason for the rejection.

    • The Clan Shark Registrar shall have the following responsibilities as they relate to SWS':

  • The CSR shall inform the Leader / FIRST when a SWS is eligible for promotion to SftD one week prior to the SWS' eligibility.
  • The CSR shall note all promotions and demotions and the dates these promotions and demotions occur in the roster.
  • The CSR shall send a copy of the roster to the Web Master, once a month, for the purpose of keeping the web site updated.

    The Clan Shark Registrar shall also track activity of the SftD's and SWS' when requested and report these findings to the First for purposes of promotions or demotions.

     

    V. The Web Master

    The Clan Shark Web Master ( or WM ) shall have the following responsibilities:

  • Maintain and update the Clan Shark's official web site in a timely manner, including adding worthy news items.

  • The WM shall use a Web editor approved by the Elders.

  • All content and additions shall be approved by the Elders.

    •  

    VI. Shallow Water Sharks

    The Mission of the Shallow Water Sharks is to engage in fun and fair Gaming play.

     

  • Shallow Water Sharks are the Clan's first level of members.
  • Shallow Water Sharks shall help create a fun playing environment for Clan members, Remoras and visitors.
  • Shallow Water Sharks shall notify a Shark from the Depths if any Clan member or potential member violates Clan policies.
  • If a dispute arises among Shallow Water Sharks, they shall bring it to the attention of the Sharks from the Depths for settlement.


VII. Remoras

The Mission of the Remora is to do his or her best to become a member of Clan Sharks.

 

  • Remoras are potential Clan members.
  • A Remora's admittance into the Clan will be determined not by gaming ability, but primarily by attitude and by how well he or she upholds the Clan's ethos of fun and fair Gaming play.
  • While Remoras are not bound by Clan rules or policies, their admittance into the Clan will be determined in no small part by how well they follow the Clan's rules that govern all members.
  • A Remora must agree to adhere at all times to Clan rules before being accepted as a member.


VIII. Rights and Responsibilities of all Shark memebers

Each member of Clan Sharks has the right to:

 

  • Participate in Clan tournaments, competitions, and wars with other clans.
  • Sponsor potential new Clan members (Remoras).
  • Participate in discussions and be aware of issues that affect the Clan.
  • Be informed of changes and additions to Clan policies.
  • Have training if requested.

Each member of Clan Sharks shall never:

 

  • Harass or intimidate any players (not just Clan members).
  • Whine about being beaten or boast about your victories.
      This simply means that if you win games, you do not make the other players feel badly by proclaiming that you are better than they. Light banter/kidding around is fine, but not repeated boasting. Conversely, if you lose, you do not make excuses, indicating that something was wrong with your equipment or that you suffered from lag, etc. If something is wrong with your game (be it something wrong with your joystick or that you are lagging), note the problem early and quit the game. If you decide to continue playing, do not take anything away from the person/people that beat you.
  • Continue to fire when someone calls "hold" or move if someone calls "freeze".
      Try not kill someone that is not moving. Killing of a player that is not moving (because they have called "hold" or "freeze", may be typing, or may be looking at the map) is cheap and cowardly. We realize that mistakes happen and that frequently, one reacts before they realize their opponent is not moving. This is okay; however, if someone is obviously not moving and you kill them anyway, you risk being kicked from the game and having your behavior reviewed by the Sharks from the Depths should this happen frequently.
  • Cheat. Cheating is grounds for permanent dismissal from the clan. In addition, if you are caught cheating, your Kali license may be revoked, preventing you from playing any further multiplayer games on Kali.
      The only exception to this rule is if everyone in the game is aware that the game is a cheat game. If anyone joins the cheat game, it is the cheater's responsibility to inform the newcomer that the game is a cheat game. Failure to do so will result in permanent dismissal from the clan.
  • Fight against Clan Sharks in a war with another clan. If Clan Sharks is at war with a clan to which a Clan member belongs too, he or she shall sit out the hostilities, fighting neither for nor against either side.
  • Blatantly violate Kali's Player Guidelines.


IX. Policies

Promotion Policy

     

  • Elders - Minimum of six months as a Sharks from the Depths, after which time an Elder may sponsor him or her for inclusion into the ranks of Elders. The period of sponsorship shall be two weeks. Admission is granted upon approval by the current Elders.
  • Sharks from the Depths - Admission to the Sharks from Depths is reserved for those Shallow Water Sharks that display a great attitude and wish to have a voice in formulating Clan policies. Membership is based on the following criteria:

     

    1. Minimum of two months as a Shallow Water Shark.
    2. A great, fun, and fair attitude.
    3. Regular participation in Clan activities (i.e., Gaming with the Clan, attending tourneys, etc.).
    4. A mature personality.
    5. A demonstrated interest in making contributions to the clan.
    6. Enough time to participate in clan meetings and discussions.

       

Once these criteria have been met, a Shallow Water Shark is eligible to become a Shark from the Depths. A Shallow Water Shark must be invited to join the ranks of the Sharks from the Depths, however. An invititation is normally issued by the Leader or the "First" (although any SftD or Elder may invite a Shallow Water Shark to join the ranks of the SftD) when they believe the Shallow Water Shark is ready for the responsibilities associated with the rank of SftD. Once the Shallow Water Shark has accepted the invitation to join the SftD, the sponsoring Elder or SftD requests that a vote be called by the "First". A Shallow Water Shark becomes a SftD after he/she has been voted into that rank by the existing SftD.

 

  • Shallow Water Sharks - Minimum of two weeks as a Remora and sponsored by a current Shark Clan member. Inclusion into the ranks of Shallow Water Sharks is granted upon approval of a majority of the Sharks from the Depths with whom the Remora has played. An absolute minimum of three positive votes is required for admission.
  • Remora - Sponsorship by an existing Clan member.

Demotion Policy

     

  • A Clan member shall be demoted one rank for every month they are inactive. If there is a reason why someone can't make it on in a month, they must speak with the Leader of the clan. The Leader shall determine if that person should be reinstated at their original rank. If that person is reinstated, they must fly with the clan for a two-week period before retaining ALL rights associated with that rank. During this period, they shall retain a maximum of one fin.
  • If a Shark requests to be demoted, he/she may be fully and immediately reinstated to their original rank as long as they have been inactive for no more than one month. If they have been inactive for longer than a month, they may request to be fully reinstated after a two-week period.
  • A Clan member may also be demoted for violating the rules of the clan.

Policy on Dual-Membership

    Only two people from a given clan can join Clan Sharks. The highest rank such individuals can achieve is a Shark from the Depths. Exceptions to this require unanimous approval of the Elders.

Naming and "Fin" Policy

     

  • Elders shall have two leading and tailing "fins" (i.e., ^^) around their names (e.g., ^^Hammerhead^^). All Sharks are encouraged to take on a name that relates to the Shark species, and of Elders, this is STRONGLY encouraged. Having the leaders of Clan Sharks adopt names that relate to the Shark species helps to increase the visibility of Clan Sharks and enhance its cohesiveness.
  • Sharks from the Depths - All Sharks from the Depths shall have a leading and trailing fin ('^') around their names.
  • The First of the Sharks from the Depths shall have an extra fin in the front of his/her name.
  • The CSR and WM shall retain their rank unless promoted.
  • Shallow Water Sharks - All Shallow Water Sharks shall have a fin ('^') in front of their names.
  • Remoras - Remoras shall be distinguished by a leading [r] in front of their names. This, however, is not a requirement.

Most Popular Game Selection Policy

 

  • Every six months, the First shall request that the SWSs and SftDs specify their three favorite games. The 5 most popular games shall be given to the Leader. The Leader shall forward the list to the Elders and request that each Elder select his/her favorite three games from this list of five. The three most popular games shall then become the three games of CS for the next six months.

 

X. Procedures

Remora Voting Procedure

     

  • Three days before it is time to call a vote on a Remora, the CSR shall call for feedback on the Remora. The CSR shall request feedback from all of the SWSs , SFTD'S and the Elders.
  • If there are any reasons the CSR should not call for a vote on a candidate, the First shall inform the CSR of this fact. This shall be done when the CSR calls for feedback on a candidate.
  • The CSR shall call for a vote on a Remora and shall tabulate the results. Once all results have been received (or three days have passed), the CSR shall email the tabulated results to the First for review.
  • If the Remora has been become a Shark, the First shall announce this fact to the entire clan.  If, however, the Remora was not voted into the clan, the First shall inform the Remora and the Remora's sponsor.

Withdrawal of Sponsorship Procedure

 

    A Shark may withdraw sponsorship of a Remora for "unsharklike conduct." To withdraw sponsorship, the sponsoring Shark must explain the reasons for the withdrawal to the First of the Sharks from the Depths. After approval from the First of the Sharks from the Depths, the sponsor shall explain the reasons for the withdrawal of sponsorship to the Remora.

Promotion of a SWS within a New Game Initiative

 

  • When a SWS exclusively associated with a NGI is eligible for the rank of SftD, the CSR shall inform the First of this fact. The First shall confer with the NGI Leader, who will be determine whether the SWS is deserving of the rank (how this is determined is left up to the discretion of the NGI Leader). If the NGI Leader believes the SWS should be promoted, he shall be promoted without a vote of the SftDs.

 

XI.  New Game Initiatives (NGIs)

  • Definition

      A New Game Initiative (NGI) is an initiative to introduce Clan  Sharks' members to a new game and also to introduce players of other games to Clan Sharks. It consists of a group of people within Clan Sharks who play a game that is not adequately represented among the SftDs and thus cannot advance in rank through normal means (by approval of the SftDs).

  • Creating a NGI

      A NGI may be created by any Elder or SftD by attaining approval of the Elders.  An Elder or SftD interested in creating an NGI should contact the Leader.  Once approval for the NGI has been granted, the NGI shall exist until there are six SftDs who play the "game," at which time the NGI shall be dissolved. When an Elder or SftD creates a NGI, he/she becomes the NGI Leader.

  • Duties of the NGI Leader

      The NGI Leader is responsible for maintaining order within the NGI.  The NGI Leader can:

      • Promote Remoras exclusively associated with the NGI to the rank of SWS once the Remora has met all of the membership criterion. The SftDs do not have to vote on Remoras who are part of a NGI but shall be copied by the NGI Leader on all issues relating to promotion of members within the clan.

      • The Leader of the NGI shall, however, make every effort to keep in touch with the other members of the NGI concerning the Remora's attitude BEFORE promoting the Remora to SWS.

      • Demote players exclusively associated with the NGI only after conferring and attaining permission from the Clan Leader.

      • Promote SWSes exclusively associated with the NGI to the rank of SftD once the SWS has met all of the criterion for the rank of SftD.  The NGI Leader shall do this in accordance with the "Promotion of a SWS within an New Game Initiative" policy outlined above.
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