[Proposal] Administrative Bylaw updates, part 4 [General Consensus]

I realize these are becoming a habit for folks to glance at and move on, but there are two significant, yet necessary changes including in this batch - one about player notification on Votes and one on the process on how punishments are determined. Neither changes the current practices, but both spell out how the process works. Having this information in the bylaws makes it easier for everyone (players and volunteers) be able to figure out how things work.

 

I, Danielle Frink, as the Head Coordinator, propose the following changes and updates to the Administrative Bylaws. Each change will have the separate rationale for it following the proposed changes.  

 

Revise Administrative Bylaw 3.D.

Currently reads:

3.       Proposals and Voting Procedures

D.      Player Base Notification

                                                               i.      Rules, organizational, and/or game mechanics proposals shall be posted in their entirety on the public OWBN web site for review by the OWBN player base.

1.       This shall be done by an AHC within twenty-four (24) hours of the vote opening.

2.       The Head Coordinator may also indicate additional locations that proposals may be posted.

                                                             ii.      Any vote results, including comments posted on the online Vote Management System, that relate to a rules, organizational, and/or game mechanics proposal shall be posted in its entirety on the public OWBN web site for review by the OWBN player base.

1.       This shall be done by an AHC within twenty-four (24) hours of the vote opening.

2.       The Head Coordinator may also indicate additional locations that proposals may be posted.

                                                           iii.      If there should be any question on the appropriateness of players viewing the proposal, the Head Coordinator shall have final adjudicating authority on the posting of said proposal. The HC may call, if necessary, for an immediate vote from Council to clarify whether the proposal should be publicly posted. Such a call for an immediate vote on this subject will place said proposal on hold until the vote is finalized.

1.       Should any proposal inappropriate for players to see in totality include any change, addition, or exemption to the OWBN Bylaws, it must include a Summary Sheet at the end of the proposal or as a separate document. This Summary will include only the changes to the Bylaws including but not limited to R&U classifications or reclassifications, bylaw exemptions, and/or additions to existing bylaws. This Summary will be available for player review.

Change to:

3.       Proposals and Voting Procedures

D.      Player Base Notification

                                                               i.      All public votes are available for review by players on the OWBN website when the vote opens. Public votes include, but are not limited to:

1.       Bylaw changes

2.       Genre Packets

3.       Coordinator Elections

4.       Admissions: Location/general information

5.       Code of Conduct updates

6.       Territory claims

7.       Other proposals deemed public by the Head Coordinator

                                                             ii.      All private votes will not be shareable with the player base. Private votes include, but are not limited to:

1.       Plot proposals

2.       Disciplinary proposals

3.       R&U submissions

4.       Character resurrections

5.       Admissions: Plots/character info

6.       Other proposals deemed private by the Head Coordinator

                                                           iii.      Public proposals may be shared by Council Members to their players through any means they choose, including social media, email or in-person announcements.

                                                           iv.      The Head Coordinator has final authority over whether a proposal is considered public or private. If they feel it is necessary, the Head Coordinator can call for an immediate vote by Council to determine whether a proposal is public or private. Said proposal will be placed on hold until the Council vote on its nature is concluded.

                                                             v.      Should any private proposal include changes to the bylaws, changes to R&U classifications, bylaw exemptions, or other information that is publicly shareable, it must include a Summary Sheet. The Summary Sheet will only detail any information that may be shared with the player base – only this Summary may be shared with the player base.

 

Reasoning: The current bylaws do not accurately represent how votes and proposals are shared with players. This revision reflects current processes, and also specifies which types of votes may and may not be shared with players.

 

Change Administrative Bylaw 6.A.i.

Currently reads:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

A.      Board of Inquiry

                                                               i.      Council shall preside over any disciplinary case that involves more than one chronicle and/or an elected Coordinator, or breach of the OWbN Bylaws by a member chronicle, should any involved bring it to Council through a proposal.

Change to:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

A.      Board of Inquiry

                                                               i.      Council shall preside over any disciplinary case that could result in an OWbN-wide punishment that is proposed as a Disciplinary Action.

 

Reasoning: Language change to reflect the actual process that has been in use for several years at least. Current phrasing focuses on Chronicles being the subject of a Council-voted Disciplinary Action, rather than an individual.

 

Change Administrative Bylaw 6.B.ii.2

Currently Reads:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

B.      Issuing a OWBN Disciplinary Action

                                                             ii.      The individual member to be issued with an OWBN Disciplinary Action must be sent notification at the same time the Proposal is made to council, via email, or any other acceptable means of notification, and that must be documented within the Proposal and done so by the person Proposing the Disciplinary Action.

2.       The Individual Member has the right to defend themselves via their Council Member during the Discussion Period which is normally 7 days unless extended by the Head Coordinator. If the Individual choose to not have their own Council Member defend them and be their connection to the Discussion of the Proposal, the individual may choose another Council Member or a member of the Executive Team to come forth and act in their defense. The Head Coordinator may extend this period of discussion for any reason, up to twenty-one (21) days by to a total of twenty-eight (28) days from the beginning of the discussion period. Any further extension requires a council vote. The voting period shall not begin until the discussion period has passed.

 

Change to:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

B.      Issuing a OWBN Disciplinary Action

                                                             ii.      The individual member to be issued with an OWBN Disciplinary Action must be sent notification at the same time the proposal is made to Council, via email, or any other acceptable means of notification, and that must be documented within the proposal and done so by the person proposing the Disciplinary Action.

2.       The individual member has the right to defend themselves to Council by either any Council Member who is willing to do so or a member of the Executive Team.

3.       The discussion period for a disciplinary action is normally seven (7) days. The Head Coordinator may extend this discussion for any reason, for up to twenty-one (21) additional days, up to a maximum discussion period of twenty-eight (28) days. Any further extension requires a Council vote. The voting period for the disciplinary action shall not begin until the discussion period has concluded.

 

Reasoning: The language in this section is convoluted currently, and covers two separate issues – who may represent the individual and how long the discussion period can last. Separating those two items makes it slightly easier to read.

 

Change to Administrative Bylaw 6.B.vi.

Currently reads:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

B.      Issuing a OWBN Disciplinary Action

                                                           vi.      The vote for a disciplinary proposal will only determine the “guilt” or “innocence” of the party charged. If the majority of Council determines that an individual is to receive punishment, an immediate new vote is opened, lasting for seven days, with choices of all possible OWbN punishments applicable to the situation, as enumerated in the by-laws. The results are to be determined by a top-down ladder style vote. CMs may vote for one option, with the understanding that they agree to accepting any lesser options (not including abstaining). Whichever punishment is determined to have the majority shall be applied to the guilty party.

Change to:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

D.      Issuing a OWBN Disciplinary Action

                                                           vi.      The vote for a Disciplinary Action will only determine the “guilt” or the “innocence” of the individual member accused. If the majority of Council determines that the individual is “guilty,” a second vote opens, lasting seven (7) days to determine the punishment to be levied against them.

                                                          vii.      The punishment vote will offer all OWBN Disciplinary Actions that apply to the individual and the situation, in accordance with the bylaws. A Council Member may vote for only one option, with the understanding that they agree to any lesser punishment as an alternative to their choice. The result of the punishment vote will be determined by counting votes from the most severe option down through each lower punishment until a majority has been achieved.

                                                        viii.      The punishment options are ranked as below, with the first option being the most severe.

1.       Permanent Ban

2.       Indefinite Ban/3 Strikes

3.       Temporary Ban

4.       2 Strikes

5.       1 Strike

6.       Probation

7.       Censure

8.       Condemnation

 

Reasoning: As there is often confusion on how punishment votes are tallied, this section needs to spell out that process more clearly. Giving the list, in order of severity, will provide an immediate location for people to refer to when tabulating results.

 

Change Administrative Bylaw 6.G.i.

Currently reads:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

G.      Archiving

                                                               i.      The elected Archivist will compile and maintain a record of all members given OWBN Disciplinary actions and the restrictions, conditions and durations in effect at the time they were issued.

1.       This list will be available to any ST, Council Member, or Coordinator within OWBN.

2.       They may ask the Archivist for the list of players, or may inquire after a particular member in that regard.

Change to:

6.       Disciplinary Policy

G.      Archiving

                                                               i.      All OWBN Disciplinary Actions must be logged in the Disciplinary Action Report by a member of the Executive Team at the conclusion of the punishment vote.

1.       The Disciplinary Action Report is available to all STs, Council Members, and Coordinators via their Vineyard Dashboard.

Reasoning: This change reflects the standard practice for the past several years, and also removes mention of “the elected Archivist” which is not a position in the org anymore (Archivists are appointed now).