K*S Squads

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K*S Squad Proposal written by Tia
Proposed: June 11, 2006
Final Amendment by Senate on June 29, 2006
Archived onto the website by JOPAM on July 5, 2006
Edited by JOPAM on July 4, 2006

[Introduction] [Purpose] [Squad Leaders] [Senate Circle] [Overview]
All words in Red were changes made by the Senate to the Original Proposal

In the past, several attempts have been made to define the primary function of the squads within the guild. During that time, attempts were made to mandate membership....and then not mandate. Attempts were made to mandate the amount of activity....and then not mandate. The position of squad commander was born a few years ago, in an attempt to better organize the units, but without any hard and fast rules, that didn't work out either. The fly by the seat of your pants mentality hasn't really worked out for us, so I am proposing a more organized formation of the squads in an effort to help make them work a little more efficiently.

As we are playing an open-ended game, we have to make sure that we, as a guild, remain open minded enough to make changes from time to time to keep people's interest, and to make things new and fresh again.

This proposal is designed to present the guild with a new way to organize and use the squads to the guild's advantage. This is, by no means, intended to be the final word, just a point of view.

Within the guild, we currently have no formal smaller groups within the larger group, and the new members are left to seek out their own connection to this brotherhood. As a new member, I am finding that to be quite a difficult task. Although I had a mentor when I arrived, when the mentoring period ended, I was on my own to seek, discover and find. Many things have changed in the game and in the guild since I was once here many years ago, and I am finding that it is not quite as easy as I had anticipated, to get back into the swing of things. I know the usual ways to find people and to find activities, that hasn't been my problem. My problem has been that although I see one or 2 people on icq each night, or 3 or 4 in ventrillo, the numbers that I'm seeing on the "guild roster" in game are much larger...10 or so people are logging in every day, and somehow we're all missing each other. I know that it is not realistic to assume that we will all be in game at the same time each day, but I am going to assume that everyone who joined the guild, did so because they were tired of playing alone. (I know I was).

In the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation, and wanting to be a part of something bigger than a solo act, I'm proposing the following.
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I propose that we reinstate the squad system, by reinstating 2 squads, and adding more as interest dictates. In my recent discussions with some of the members of the guild, it has been proposed that it would be in the best interest of the guild NOT to reinstate the 4 former squads, but to wipe the slate clean and start the squads over, as if they hadn't existed in the past. Amendment made by the Senate: The Squad Leader is able to say if they want their squad to be based off of a previous squad.

The new purpose of the squads is to provide a fun, active place within the guild for its members to make friends, have fun and keep active. The purpose of the guild is to give the squads a place to exist. They aren't intended to take any of the "glory" from the guild or any of the loyalty from the guild or its GM. The squads are NOT intended to replace the guild in any way, just a means to make a little more activity, and make it a little easier to get to know people.

The guild has voted that squad membership should not be mandatory, but they have shown an interest in changing the mentoring system a little, to have the new members spend a weeks time with each squad instead of 2 weeks time with one mentor. I think that this is a very valid idea that warrants some further discussion, but ultimately, that decision will have to be presented to Mercury and be made by him. (As the Senator over Recruiting).

The poll also showed that the guild is in favor of removing the locks on the squad forums, so that everyone is able to access the forums.Amendment made by the Senate: The "locks" (formally known as password protection) will be left up to the each squad. This does NOT mean that any and everyone should feel compelled to post in forums that don't belong to their squad! I believe that some decorum is called for here, and that people should behave with a fair amount of respect in the squad forums. They aren't being opened up as a free for all, they are being opened up so that everyone can see what's going on, which squads are doing what, and who's active and doing the things that you like to do. Since membership is going to be based on recruiting by the squad leaders, this will be a tool for them to advertise their events and show other people how much fun they are having with bear masks, colors, or just simply how nice their members are!

I'm not proposing any hard and fast rules for the squad, except that they are active. The rest is completely up to the squad leaders!
Here are a few things that the guild decided by vote:

The GM should not be allowed to join a squad, and this includes his squires.
The squads SHOULD help out the guild by collecting resources and supplies.
And they SHOULD be in competition with each other.

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As each squad would start off with a ZERO membership base, it would be the responsibility of each squad leader to begin recruitment efforts to raise the number of K*S members that are in his or her squad.

The squad leader position would no longer a "fluff" position. As it is now up to the squad leader to get and maintain the membership in his/her squad. If that means planning hunts, having squad meetings, planning squad or guild events to keep your people happy, then that's what its going to take. You will personally be responsible for your "constituents". If they have problems or need help, then you are the first line of defense. Don't just send your members to the Senate....go for or with them! Help to get this machine that we call K*S running smoothly again! You are taking on the responsibility, as an elected officer of the guild, to help problem solve, resolve issues and keep your group active and running.

THIS IS NOW A SERIOUS POSITION TO HOLD THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE AN ONGOING EFFORT! IF YOU ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES REQUIRED, THEN PLEASE DON'T RUN!

The guild voted on what they believe a good "term" for the squad leader position would be, and it ended in a 3-way tie. The final majority votes were: 3 Months, 6 Months and 1 Year. I believe that this decision should be the first major decision made by the Senator over the Squad Circle. The guild also voted that this should NOT be a maximum term, so the squad leaders would be able to continue to run again at the end of each term, until someone runs against them and wins.

So the moral of the story is, if you plan to run for squad leader, make a plan before you run! Inactivity is no longer an option. Be prepared to host parties, hunts, events, tournaments, ceremonies, squad meetings, etc. 2 weeks should not pass that there isn't something going on in your squad. What that might be, is completely up to you!

I also propose, that anyone who runs for squad leader should NOT currently hold another position of leadership in the guild. This is going to be a demanding job, and I believe that it would be best done if they weren't being spread too thin. Elections for the squad leader positions should be held just like any other positions in the guild. Anyone interested in running should make their "plan" and put their name in the hat to run. They should be prepared to campaign, and tell us all why we should vote for them! As there is not a Senator over the Squads at present, maybe we could talk Hunter into running the voting, as he does for the Senate, currently!
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It is my proposal that a new Senate Circle be added for the Squads. This person would be overseeing the squads, help them keep on track, be their liaison to the rest of the Senate. Amendment by the Senate: The Squad Circle is not being added. Instead, it will be replacing the "Multi-Guild Circle".

In the past, the guild has had some issues with people taking elected positions, and then fading out. This is totally understandable! Things come up in real life, work gets hectic or you get burned out. Up to this point, there has been no mechanism in place to deal with this issue, and the squads have fallen out because their leaders aren't leading.

I would like to see the Senate Circle have the power to terminate a squad leader's term if his/her squad becomes inactive for 30 days. I propose that on the 31st day, the full Senate be given the opportunity to vote on the removal of the leader. All squad leader "forced" terminations would be voted on by the entire Senate. Vote would be brought to the forums on the 31st day of inactivity and the Senate would have 5 days to poll on the termination. Upon termination, the squad would have 7 days to hold elections for a new leader.

I believe that with all of this out in the open, there will be much less chance of inactivity amongst the leadership. If people know going in what is being expected, and what will happen if the abandon their post, I think that they will be much more likely to turn over the reigns to someone else if they are going to be out of the game for an extended period of time.
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The purpose of the squad system is to make an attempt to get everyone involved and to give everyone more opportunities to get to know their fellow guildmates. The squad leader position is to be used as a means to give everyone a chance to be a leader/officer of the guild. The squad leaders are elected officers who are to be responsible for their members with the Senate, the other Squads and the GM.

The squads are meant to be a safe place to have a little friendly competition, and if the squad that you join isn't "doing it for you", then by all means....switch to one that's active and fun and going places!!
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