Armored Combat:Handbook updates

Handbook updates

Overview

These rules are designed to ensure updates and synchronization of Society and kingdom handbooks within reasonable timelines, minimize effort and duplication, and allow for local kingdom customization.

Applicable policies

1. Changes to the Society Marshal's Handbooks must be approved by the Board of SCA Inc. as the handbooks are Society Officer Policies under Corpora.
2. As per Corpora, kingdoms are allowed to define additional requirements, standards, conventions, marshals, or types of authorization (such as weapons forms) as they deem necessary.
   1. Kingdoms are not allowed to reduce or disregard the requirements and standards delineated in the Society Marshal's Handbooks without a variance from the Society Marshal that is approved by the Board of SCA Inc.
   2. All kingdom additions and changes must be submitted to the Society Marshal or the appropriate Deputy Society Marshal to check for conflict.

Wiki instances and access

1. The handbooks contain content that is and needs to continue to be consistent between all disciplines. Editing of this global content is restricted to the Society Marshal and their Deputies.
2. SCA Inc. kingdoms will have edit access to their kingdom-specific pages and sections. The Kingdom Earl Marshal must designate people to receive editing access.
3. Affiliates can have separate wiki instances to ensure handbooks and changes are approved according to the processes required by their governing body, and meet the requirements of local real-world laws. The Kingdom Earl Marshal must designate people who receive editing access.
4. Alternatively, kingdoms may submit changes to the Society Marshal's office or designated deputy for kingdom changes if they do not wish to edit it themselves.

SCA Inc. (United States) process

1. Updates to the Society Marshal's Handbooks should be submitted to the Kingdom Earl Marshals at least one month before submission to the Board.
2. Updates to the Society Marshal's Handbooks must be submitted by the Society Marshal to the Board of SCA Inc. for approval.
3. Once approved, the following changes are effective immediately:
   • Increases in requirements and standards
   • Removal or prohibition of weapons/armor/equipment
4. Once approved, the following changes are phased in and automatically effective in 60 days:
   • Reductions/removal of requirements or standards
   • Changes to conventions
   • The 60-day window provides kingdoms the opportunity to evaluate and update any related kingdom-specific rules. Kingdoms may opt to adopt the changes immediately.
5. Updates to the official Society Marshal's Handbooks and the SCA Inc. Wiki(s) will be done automatically based on the above criteria. Longer timelines may be granted by the Society Marshal.
6. Kingdom-specific content will not be changed automatically, but should be reviewed by the kingdom for potential changes or compliance.

Affiliate / Country-specific provisions and process

1. Updates to the Society Marshal's Handbooks must be discussed with affiliates before submission to the Board of Directors. This is to support and be in compliance with Society rules and operating agreements. For situational awareness, these may include:
   1. The Kingdom Earl Marshal must ensure that their governing body has opportunity to provide feedback.
   2. The Board of Directors must confirm that the affiliate has been consulted before approving any updates to Society Officer policies.
2. If a provision of the Society Marshal's Handbooks proves inapplicable in the affiliate's territory due to differences between local and U.S. law, the affiliate's governing body must bring that provision to the attention of the Board of SCA Inc. so that an exception can be duly noted or a change to the handbooks made, as appropriate.
3. If the change or addition negatively impacts the culture or societal norms of the affiliate(s), or is significantly impractical to implement, the affiliate can make a request to SCA Inc. that implementation be deferred. The request should be made to the Society Marshal and the affiliate's ombudsman.
   1. SCA Inc. must not unreasonably withhold a deferral. A deferral will be valid from the date that SCA Inc. receives the request from the affiliate until the final outcome is determined, after a good faith discussion between the parties.
   2. After a good faith discussion between the parties, SCA Inc. must publish a final determination as to whether or not the changes are required to be enacted by the kingdom in the affiliate(s) jurisdiction.
   3. Affiliates must update or modify their kingdom handbooks according to the determination, following their rules and procedures.