Edict #2
“Back, and to the left… back, and to the left… back, and to the left.”
I’m sure it’s nothing new for a President to be unhappy about having to issue “this sort of Edict” in their first week, yet considering the frequency with which it happens, it seems a fact of Presidential life.
Two days ago, President Jen Herr issued an Edict to promote Captain Sidney Parker to the rank of Fleet Captain. However, by the time much reaction to the Edict had come in, I was the President. The question was whether the Edict should be considered valid based on interpretation of the following statement from Member Order and Organization (MOO), under “Promotions Limits”:
“Beyond the rank of Captain, no member may be promoted more than once in any eight month period. Members may only be promoted in this manner to the next highest rank as outlined in the Chain Of Command.”
A look at the immediately-preceding section, “Promotions Guidelines,” shows the exact language “beyond the rank of Captain” used in a context that includes promotions to the group of ranks from Fleet Captain up to Admiral. Therefore, I feel that a promotion to Fleet Captain is a “promotion beyond the rank of Captain” and is subject to the limits established in “Promotions Limits.”
As a result, given Sidney Parker’s promotion to Captain on December 18, 2009, his further promotion to Fleet Captain on August 1, 2010 was not within the aforementioned guidelines. My own interpretation of the Bylaw, combined with the opinions of Vice President Jack Dipper and the EGO council, leave me with a single course of action.
Edict Herr #39 is hereby rendered null and void.
For information, Sidney Parker’s member rank is Captain, as per Edict Herr #4. He will become eligible for promotion on August 18, 2010.
Fleet Admiral Anthony “Cerberus” Martin
STF President
August 3, 2010