ARTICLE VIII: SPONSORED CHAPTERS
Section 1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. The Kingdom may sponsor other Amtgard chapters, making them a part of Westmarch, with a majority vote Kingdom Althing.
a. Only sponsored chapters considered “Core Chapters” may vote in Kingdom-wide elections.
b. No chapter farther than 250 miles from Gilroy, CA may be considered a Core Chapter.
c. Any chapter less than or equal to 250 miles from Gilroy, CA which is not a Core Chapter may petition the Kingdom to become one.
i. All Chapters petitioning for Core status must obtain a “Pass” or better on two consecutive audits for the Kingdom to consider the application.
ii. All chapters petitioning Core status much be the status of Barony or greater.
2. All subsidiary chapters are bound by the Amtgard Rules of Play, the Westmarch Corpora where it applies to running groups smaller than a kingdom, and the contract signed with Westmarch.
3. For the purposes of determining attendance in a sponsored chapter, a land size is determined by the six-month average of unique members who attend each month. The Kingdom Prime Minister is required to audit each core land’s records to ensure a member is only counted once inside the Kingdom each week.
Section 2. AUDITS
1. The Kingdom may audit any sponsored chapter at any time to ensure the smooth operation of the sponsored chapter.
2. The Kingdom Board of Directors shall conduct regular audits of all lands every six (6) months.
a. All chapters must provide the following requirements:
i. Copies of attendance sheets for the past six (6) months.
ii. Proof of advertising their chapter, such as a flyer for a demo.
iii. Copies of financial records and ledger for the past six (6) months.
iv. Copies of bank statements, if applicable.
v. Meet attendance requirements.
b. Principalities, Duchies and Baronies must submit:
i. A list of current officers.
ii. A list of current dues-paid members.
iii. The results of most recent crown qualifications.
iv. The most recent crown election results.
3. Audits will be given ratings by the Board of Directors.
a. A land submitting all required items will earn an “excellent” rating.
b. A land missing one (1) required item but provides everything else earns a “pass” rating.
c. A land missing more than one (1) required item will earn a “failed” rating.
d. If the Kingdom Board of Directors fails to post the results of the audit within one (1) month of the deadline all lands automatically receive “excellent” ratings.
e. If a chapter’s audit is not received by the date set forth by the WM-BoD it will be considered an automatic rating of “fail”.
4. All groups must maintain minimum attendance requirements equal to 75% of the numbers they needed to become their current size.
5. Promotion and demotion themselves are not automatic, but require approval of the Kingdom Althing and Kingdom Monarch.
a. If a sponsored chapter passes two (2) consecutive regular audits with “excellent” ratings as well as meets the requirements for the proposed status promotion, they will automatically be brought to the Westmarch Althing vote for promotion consideration.
b. If a sponsored group fails two (2) consecutive regular audits they will be automatically brought before the Westmarch Althing vote for demotion consideration.
Section 3. SHIRE
1. A Shire must have the following:
a. Maintain an average monthly unique member attendance of five (5) members
b. Have signed a contract on file with Westmarch
c. Have a contract on file with Amtgard, Inc, and
d. Meet at least once every other week
e. Have held elections every six (6) months, per this corpora
f. Have the offices of Monarch and Prime Minister filled, at minimum
2. The Monarch of a Shire is called a Sheriff.
a. A Sheriff may award first and second levels of any order.
b. A Sheriff may not award any titles, knighthoods, or masterhoods.
Section 4. BARONY
1. A Barony must have the following:
a. Maintain an average monthly unique member attendance of twenty (20) members
b. Have signed a contract on file with Westmarch, for at least one (1) year
c. Have a contract on file with Amtgard, Inc.
d. Meet at least once a week
e. Have held elections every six (6) months, as per this corpora
f. Must have the offices of Monarch, Prime Minister, and Champion, at minimum.
2. The Monarch of a Barony is called a Baron.
a. A Baron may award first through fifth levels of any order.
b. A Baron may not award any titles, knighthoods or masterhoods.
Section 5. DUCHY
1. A Duchy must have the following:
a. Maintain an average monthly unique member attendance of forty (40) members
b. Have signed a contract on file with Westmarch, for at least two (2) years
c. Have a contract on file with Amtgard, Inc.
d. Have been a Barony for at least two (2) years
e. Have held elections every six (6) months, as per this corpora
f. Meet at least once a week.
g. Must have the offices of Monarch, Regent , Prime Minister, and Champion filled, at minimum.
2. The Monarch of a Duchy is called a Duke.
a. A Duke may award first through eighth levels of any order.
b. A Duke may award the title of Lord or Lady once per reign.
c. A Duke may award masterhood in the fighting classes.
d. A Duke may not award any other titles or masterhoods.
e. A Duke may not award knighthood.
Section 6. PRINCIPALITY
1. A Principality must have the following:
a. Maintain an average monthly unique member attendance of sixty (60) members
b. Have signed a contract on file with Westmarch, for at least three (3) years if a single chapter is the Principality
c. Have been a Duchy for at least two (2) years
d. Have held elections every six (6) months, as per this corpora
e. Have a contract with Amtgard, Inc.
f. Meet at least once a week.
g. Operate as a non-profit group, have State and Federal non-profit tax identification number, if possible
h. Have an active Board of Directors as per this Corpora
i. Maintain a Post Office box
j. Have at least one (1) sponsored chapter
k. Must have all offices of the Monarchy filled, and the GMR position.
2. The Monarch of a Principality is called a Prince.
a. A Prince may award any first through tenth levels of any order.
b. A Prince may award the titles of Lord, Baronet, and Baron.
c. A Prince may award masterhood in the fighting guilds.
d. A Prince may not award any other titles or masterhoods.
e. A Prince may not award knighthood.