Kingdom Althing Minutes 05/11/2014

[BlackBart]

Kingdom Althing Minutes 05/11/2014 at NightGlade
Opened by Baron Squire Uther Retheu Ironfist, King of the Golden Plains at 5:29pm

Old Business,
Motion to close the current facebook page, and re-open the previous facebook group instead, and discuss proper archiving of official business.
Discussion:
Point made that facebook communications give you active notifications for any posts made in groups that you follow, whereas forum attendance is low, and you only know if something has been posted there by browsing the forums manually. Speaker felt facebook would be better for announcements and general notifications because of this.

Counter point was made that anything posted will showup to all people in their friends list, and that it can take to long to dig through non-related facebook posts to get to the specific posts you are looking for.

Was pointed out that many players only use mobile phones for access, and that facebook is easier to use on these devices for them than browsing a forum.

Was pointed out that the previous stated issue of digging through unrelated, non-amtgard posts can be easily worked around by going to the group page, where you will only see posts made there, and that if you are following that group, you will receive notifications of posts made in it.

Next person just stated that they felt facebook is better for announcements and discussions, were the forums were best suited for archiving and official records. Was pointed out that trying to find older posts in facebook can be difficult.

It was felt that kingdom communications had died off severely when we closed the group page. Was suggested we use forums for posting anything official that needs to be accessible at a later time, such as althing minutes, quals results, tourney results etc.., and use facebook for general communications.

Several comments made on the importance of archiving. Was pointed out that for items posted on the forums it would be easy enough to post a link to them on facebook as well. Was also pointed out that some items are better documented in text/doc files, so you can keep a current list. Leading to the next point.

Was proposed that we keep a single master list of dues paid for life members either on the kingdom page, the forums, or both. It was pointed out that it would be better serve the players, since dues paid for life is in some ways really a kingdom level item. So when players transfer to new fields their status would be documented, and not get lost as easily.

It was also suggested that we should encourage (but cannot require) that local groups keep an active document with regular dues paid members on their local facebook pages.

Discussion closed.

Voted to close the facebook page, re-open the facebook group, the group would be used for announcements and discussions as previous, official records to recorded on the forums for archiving purposes (althing minutes, qual and tourney results, and any other official records), with links to these posted on the kingdom page, and a master list for dues paid for life members to be created and maintained on the facebook group page, with archived copies in the forum.

In favor: 8
Opposed: 0
Abstained: 1

Motion carries.

Results on initiative to look through the corpora to remove references to "Kingdom" from the corpora.

Was found that this would not be practical to do, as some areas the distinction is required to maintain clarity. And to attempt to remove it would require a major re-write. Was brought up that this is an attempt to close loopholes in which it could be argued that the corpora is referring to kingdom and not local rules. (To remove grey areas and ambiguities in the corpora such as monarchy responsiblity as requirements, and ladder awards etc.)

Was pointed out that any all encompassing verbiage should be included at the beginning of the corpora.

Several solutions discussed to be put on the docket for the July althing.
1. Add a blanket statement to the corpora that the term kingdom in the document does not exclude local monarchs from the rules layed out in the corpora as a whole.

2. Possibly changing the wording to specifically list when a rule applies to the kingdom as a whole, including local groups, or the kingdom level items in specific (such as kingdom level awards). Several suggestion along this line was discussed such as using terms such as Kingdom-Inclusive, and Kingdom-Exclusive. Or making a statement near the beginning of the corpora defining to different terms to be used throughout the corpora to differentiate between the two.

Was pointed out that there was a previous motion carried to drop ladder award verbiage from the corpora, since it is covered in rules of play. Also was pointed out that the current corpora is out of date.

Item tabled until July althing.

New business:
No new business proposed.

Announcements:
Uther is serking.
Announced Burning Skies park in Odessa.
Dragon attacks throughout the Kingdom, NightGlade repelled a dragon this day, details to be announced.
Calendar of events for upcoming dragon attacks in May.
17th, Midland
18th, Hobbs
25th, Odessa
31st, at Kingdom mid-reign
Kingdom mid-reign, May 31st will be held in Lamesa. Will be the final dragon battle, game effected by outcome of previous dragon battles. Other games are planned as well.
Hamburger and hotdog feast, $2 feast fee. Sir Hern is still looking for some volunteers to bring a grill.

Althing closed at 5:56pm.

[Gequinn]

I'd like to point out that in addition to it being easier to access Facebook - or at least get instant updates - on a mobile device, you can just as easily get the Tapatalk app and use it for the forums. It offers push notifications just like Facebook does. Hell, it's all I use anymore. It instantly tells you when you've received a PM or when a post has been made to a topic or forum you have followed.

[BlackBart]

I can't find the like button here.

[Gequinn]

The like button? Pfft.


Banged out from my mobile device.