Posted by Daniel Lerner in Question for the Candidates - ship speeds (and procedures)
I have some questions for tickets about (potential) issues with how we determine the speeds of our various ships.

1) What is your understanding of the rules or policies about how a ship changes its posting speed?

Its managed under Fleet Structure and Command which is the FCOMM section. I have always applied this as straight forward under this edict. If a ship wants to change the speed of the RP area then they must get Fcomm approval. I have seen the discussion before though I cannot remember what ship. It came down to the fact that the crew was very small, dedicated and wanted a slower speed and the CO agreed. I cannot remember the outcome but it was discussed in public so it had to have been on Command at some point.

2) What is your understanding of the rules or policies about whether a ship can choose to refuse to accept new members?

Not very well after researching this it appears. I know that if a new member joins the Academy they cannot join a mainstream ship until graduation. So if a new member in the Academy emails a CO and ask to join then obviously the ship can refuse to accept that new member. I know under FCOMM that if a ship does not have a DH in a department or that DH is AWOL then you cannot place a new member there as well. I don’t know but could imagine that if a ship is full under the FCOMM rules then it makes sense that they could refuse a new member. The thing here is that your saying CHOOSE to REFUSE so I’m trying to imagine or locate where they can just outright refuse new members.
The only time I remember this is when a new member, years ago, did not go though the Academy, and wanted to join with their first and only character an Alt RPG. The CO said it was not possible and it made its way to Command or on a Fleet discussion. I do not remember all the specifics but that was the gist. They could not join and I think the resolution was they created a second character and followed the standing rule.

3) Do you see any potential issues with the current status quo regarding ship speeds and ships that accept new members? (Note that I have used the word ‘potential’ intentionally.)

I know your saying potential issue here but frankly I do not. I have been on ships with different speeds and right now I am on Oed with a 5 day posting limit. I have not heard of a general problem and do not remember any. Usually this comes up in individual issues that involve time restrictions of an individual. As in my above examples the accepting of new members issues seems to be very isolated and deals with individuals and not a general policy issue. I looked for the answer in every possible document STF has available and simply could not find a policy that really covered all aspects of this question. Obviously I’m open to improving the site anywhere we can but I just do not see this as a priority issue at this time. Though you really kicked us good with the question and I thank you for the challenge.

4) If you could make any changes to the status quo, what would they be? What additional information would you seek as President and who would you ask for that information?

Well first I’m going to ask people like Krys and Jen because of their institutional knowledge of STF. Probably Joe P as well because he just knows stuff and his Presidential experience. In cases like this I am more interested in the history of how these things came up and what was done when they did. Its easier to work on a problem if we know the institutional background and avoid repeating the same arguments and mistakes. As currently stated I would not change the status quo for now unless we can find a better way of doing it. Based on these questions and the answers coming from them I think that would be a big job and take some time to get right wit a lot of input from many people.

5) Regardless of your answers to #3 and #4, assume for this question that you do want to make changes to both (a) the rules and policies for how a ship changes its speed and (b) the rules and polices for whether a ship can refuse to accept new members. What is the procedure to go about changing those rules and policies you identified in your answers to #1 and #2?

Well this issue could hypothetically cross over many different bylaws, mandates, precedents etc.. However for the procedure to start it then I would say I, with help, would need to determine if were talking about a Bill or an edict. Changing something that effects membership would seem to me to fall under modifying existing legislations ie..Bylaws. So this is the procedure:

Bills
A Bill is an amendment to any Bylaw or the implementation of a new Bylaw.
Any change determined necessary to a Bylaw must be issued by the sitting President or acting President as a Bill. This will be presented as a section/paragraph reference and the proposed amendment to that section. Any Bill must first be presented as a proposition to the Membership within Command for discussion. When a Bill is readied for issuance, it must be posted within the STF Command Ship under the topic “Office Of The President”. Each bill must contain the Bill number, issuing authorities name, the date of issuance and their capacity as either President or acting President.
Once a Bill is issued, the Librarian is required to make the amendments to the Bylaw within the Library. The Bill will be archived in its issued format for reference.

If not then it falls here:
Edicts

An Edict is a presidential tool for managing the club in its day to day operation and includes any action not defined as either a Bill or a Bylaw.
In order for an Edict to be legal, it must be posted within the STF Command Ship under the topic “Office Of The President”. Each Edict must contain the Edict number, issuing authorities name, the date of issuance and their capacity as either President or Acting President.
Edicts may not include more than a single topic base. For example, multiple promotions may be issued within a single edict, but promotions and establishments of new role play areas may not be included within a single edict. Multiple disciplinary actions may be issued within a single edict, but not disciplinary actions and promotions.

This is hard because part of this question is about ship speeds which we know there is a procedure for up to the Fcomm involved. However the part on New Members being restricted in joining a ship is more open to discussion and vague at this time. Well at least to us poor souls known as candidates. So I would look at the existing areas where it is mentioned and look to issue a Bill.

That’s my answer and I’m sticking to it. Thanks Daniel for the good question.

Sidney