I don't think there will be time for a further SMF update before we move to Discourse, but once we do, there will likely be a running thread for news and updates.

Again, it was not necessary to create a fresh account. I will delete the old one then.

Edit: Deleted the old account and merged it into the new one.

Non neceßevás creatar ün profil noveu - eu put simplămint modificar-te acest. 

The Chancery acknowledges the same, effective after the closure of Clark business for this month.



Sir Lüc da Schir, UrB
Secretary of State

Quote from: King Txec on October 13, 2026, 11:05:02 AM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on October 10, 2026, 07:03:38 PM@Sir Lüc

Might you be willing to clarify for King Txec and Miestra as you have added the title to my profile,  I think? That is why I stated I am the Opposition Leader. I think it has to do with the current No votes. Crement voted for the government, ahem, which is certainly not matching with my vote (mentioning that obvious fact for those desperate to tie us politically at the hip.)

Thanks. One issue with reading the latest posts is we don't see the sidebar which lists each person's position.

-Txec R

Yes, sorry, this went unannounced but I remarked elsewhere I had only marked Crement Itravilatx as "provisional LOTO" prior to the Clark beginning because of his standing as the leader of the largest party not in Government. Once he and Garth Spencer both voted Üc, Tzaracomprada became "official LOTO" by virtue of holding 7 "Non" seats vs Muhammad Yasir's 3 "Non" seats.

If I may return to the main topic, I strongly suggest the Society add to its bylaws some provisions dealing with lapsing membership for non-contributing members. Especially since a large amount of those non-contributing members did not even produce a single piece of scholarly work when joining the Royal Society, let alone since then. Quoting the Seneschal in 2020(!):

QuoteAnyway, from what I can see, very few of the members of the Royal Society have been measuring up to the requirements of their positions.  Fellows and Senior Fellows (including the President) are expected to deliver annual lectures to the Society that pertain to their scholarly interest.  I can name perhaps one or two Fellows who have done this in any reasonable form.  Fellows are also expected to produce a twice-yearly symposium, but I am not aware of one.

I also strongly suggest that the ridiculous and self-aggrandizing post-nominal "vote" be stricken off the face of the Earth.

Nobody else returned the poll since my last message, so it indeed seems like we're going with that time and date.

Heh, I actually do use QGIS for work though! I even taught a lab module for an undergrad course about natural hazards using QGIS last year, and this semester as well (though we might switch to ArcGIS instead - gonna have to settle on that pretty soon)

That's so neat, congrats! If you want to tweak the basemap further, I suggest the plugin NextGIS QuickMapServices for a bunch of alternative OpenStreetMap styles and many more providers. QuickOSM is also a plugin I use to grab objects off OSM, if you want to actually edit the individual geometries.

Some new places to display could be Clark's Print Shop/Graphics and Gay House, and I'm sure there's more!

Looks like we have 7/7 available on Sunday 25 at 21-22 CEST / 3-4 PM TDT! (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20261025T200000&p1=157&p2=158)

Do those who haven't answered the poll yet think they could attend? Particularly interested in opposition representatives since they have the right to deliver an address after the Speech from the Throne.

Quote from: Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir on October 07, 2026, 04:58:19 PMI will say, I do have anxiety about such things so I won't be able to join in this (this is a long term thing, and have mentioned a few times over the years)

But I hope it goes well, and if needed I can send a prepared remark to be read out by someone at the event

That's totally fine. If you (and anyone else) would still like to assist, you are welcome to join with no mic and no camera!

Quote from: Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir on October 07, 2026, 04:59:33 PM

Quote from: Sir Lüc on October 07, 2026, 12:43:55 PMBy precedent, nominations will remain open until a week from me calling for them, so a little less than two days for any other nomination!

I believe our precedent here is 2 weeks based on our constitution  and how things have been run before

I am going off of this: https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?msg=10998 - one week for nominations, then two for voting.

By precedent, nominations will remain open until a week from me calling for them, so a little less than two days for any other nomination!

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on October 02, 2026, 11:46:19 AM

Quote from: Sir Lüc on October 02, 2026, 10:44:38 AM[...]

1/2) As I understand it, the Lexhatx doesn't allow the Cosă to set its own rules like it does the Senäts (Lexh.H.3.1), so these rules would not be strictly binding.

This is absolutely true, but I suspect we're in "the law doesn't explicitly allow something, so it must mean it disallows it" territory. These rules basically only govern how an informal session operates and entirely operate within the limits of existing legislation, for example when dealing with bills, or when saying the Túischac'h maintains order. By comparison, the Senate rules are completely different and much more consequential; for example, they precisely set the terms of office of senators, which is something the Cosă doesn't need, since an MC gains their seat when they're appointed and (normally) loses it on Dissolution.

QuoteI hesitate to add these rules to the Lexhatx directly because internal processes really shouldn't be a matter of national legislation in the first place.

Fully agreed.

Quote3/4) To the surprise of perhaps no one, these rules I worked out together with AD last term are heavily based on how associations in Germany usually govern themselves, and under this framework, all the points I mentioned are in fact points of order. The idea is that an agenda is set beforehand, and everything that interrupts or distracts from the agenda is a point of order, and the chair adjourns the session once the agenda has run its course. My choice of inspiration doesn't imply that German associations have a better internal structure than the House of Commons, it was moreso a framework that was already familiar to me and easy to adapt to our circumstances here, and I wouldn't mind changing them in the direction of the Commons if there's enthusiasm for it.

That's fine, it's just odd that we'd choose a framework specific to Germany over something more international. And I'm saying that while also firmly believing we shouldn't parrot what any specific legislature does; my "a motion is not a point of order" objection is more grounded in an English dictionary definition and in common procedure, tbh.

Quote5) That would be nice, but you can't really force MCs to be more proactive than they have to be. That's something I've been struggling with during my two terms as Túischac'h at all times.

I fully get what you're saying, as a four-terms-and-a-bit Túischac'h and Mençei - but I'm sure nudging the Seneschal to move to adjourn when we're done is not an unreasonable expectation.

Sure

Quote from: King Txec on October 06, 2026, 05:03:03 PMHere's a crazy idea and one that hasn't been considered. There is ONE person who is always a member of the Ziu. Me. I'm sure this won't be politically palatable, but as I am the only member of the Ziu who is by definition apolitical, I could be helping out in this regard. I know the SoS is also apolitical, but he isn't a member of the Ziu by law. Just throwing out my two bence. Feel free to tell me to go back and sit down on my somewhat battered throne.

-Txec R

My qualm here would be that the King is not an easily politically accountable figure. Meaning: a SoS acting as Túischac'h going rogue is (relatively easily) checked by existing provisions that can remove them from office; a King acting as Túischac'h by virtue of sitting as Crown-in-Parliament would, hypothetically, not be as easy to rein in were they to go rogue. And sure, the present incumbent is exceedingly unlikely to pose this issue... but our laws should be written to last a century, when who knows who will be holding those powers.

But, were you to perform those functions on an appointed basis, rather than ex officio in your capacity as King, I don't think anyone would have any reason to object. Besides, you already do something similar as Deputy Clerk of Courts. So my half-baked counterproposal is:

1. The Chancery is, effectively, the "permanent support staff" of the Cosă in particular and the Ziu in general - so I think it's fine to let the Chancery keep the thing running when the lights are off between GEs.

2. If that were the case, my idea/intention would be to appoint King Txec as Deputy Secretary of State, specifically for the Ziu "department" within the Chancery and with an appropriately fancy title, and delegate to him in turn the powers given to the Chancery in the gap between terms. This could also entail stuff like taking roll call votes in informal sessions, were I unable to attend or were I doubled up as moderator, like in this session.

3. It would be cool if future SoSes would likewise continue this new tradition, and conversely, if Txec or a successor was to temporarily need to take time off, this manner of appointment would have enough flexibility to temporarily replace the "Deputy SoS for the Ziu" as necessary, without additional legislation or hassle.

• Of course, if a significant number of crucial attendees cannot make it, there's provisions in place to hold a textual state opening here.
• Once more, while I don't think it's worthwhile to vote on the Clark, I would encourage people to think about reserving some time for face-to-face debate on their own Hoppered bills, which I think would be more productive and helpful.
• Also, once this is settled, I would already like to start planning the November Informal Joint Session -- it's Budget month and I would really like to afford the Government and MinFin a proper chance at presenting it.

Azul,

seeing as there are now presiding officers in place for both Houses of the Ziu, and in my capacity as Deputy Túischac'h, I would like to belatedly kick off preparations for the State Opening of the Ziu.

Unlike the First Clark of the previous term, most MZs have voted already and the slate consists of nonbinding resolutions only, so I would rather start thinking about a November Joint Session now, and leave the State Opening to be strictly about the swearing-in and connected formalities, and (I strongly suggest) some time to debate Hoppered bills face-to-face. This also means we don't strictly need to hold this before the Clark is over.

I have created the following link to track attendance: https://www.when2meet.com/?39113703-8hwkS

Paging ministers, major party leaders & King & Mençei for their availability:

@Baron Alexandreu Davinescu @Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be @xpb @Françal I. Lux @Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP @Danihel Txechescu @þerxh Sant-Enogat @Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir @King Txec @Crement Itravilatx @Breneir Tzaracomprada @Garth Spencer

That makes it exactly 101 seats voting for @Moinul Moin , who I conclude is therefore duly elected as Túischac'h for the 63rd Cosă pursuant to Lexh.H.4.4.3. Congratulations!




Sir Lüc da Schir
Secretar d'Estat / Secretary of State

For the record, should both the Túischac'h and Mençei be unable to moderate over an informal session, I would be fine with deputising since I need to be present anyway.