Azul Riley,

I just noticed you are an ordained minister. I'm curious if that ordination came from a more recognized religious group or some other venue. I myself am also an ordained minister and obtained such through a recognized religious group many years ago after I completed a two-year degree in theology.

I hope this is not taken as disingenuous, as I am genuinely curious. I always thought I wanted to be a priest, but by the time I started discernment in my early 20s, my vocation shifted. I would love for the Kingdom to pursue some form of religious organization. We've had them in the past but they are essentially dead at this point in time. Something non-denominational would be ideal as we have many different religious traditions among our citizens, including our former king being a Deacon of the Orthodox Church.

One of my proudest moments as an ordained minister was when I assisted in the baptism by water of several people in the Jordan river in Israel. That was a spectacular moment in my life. What about you?

-Txec R

D:na President @Tierçéu Rôibeardescù , please let us know if we can assist you at all.  We'd be happy to work on things like wiki pages, help supply some graphics or information, or whatever else might be helpful.

Azul Madam President,

I would like to see incorporated in the proposed Charter who the decision-makers are (unless I missed that). Also, we could outline which officers we want such as President, Scribe, etc. Just my initial thoughts.

-Txec R

I'm not even sure how to answer this!  I've done a lot of things in Talossa over the last twenty years!

For now, I'll just say that I have the honour of serving as the head of the government as Seneschal.

As "responsible ministry" for the Royal Society, the Ministry of Culture is happy to endorse these rules and regulations.

@Tierçéu Rôibeardescù What are you doing? You've not responded to my posts, public or private, and now you are issuing a formal document declaring membership criteria concerning harassment. When did this become necessary?

Listen, if you are delaying consideration of my application due to the social boycott I have pleaded that you just let me know. I will stop enquiring about my application. But we need not concoct special rules to invalidate my application which is what I fear is happening here.

Quote from: xpb on Today at 08:38:08 AMencouragement should be made everyone to vote in public.

Sorry, I'm not sure I understood this. Are you saying that you think public voting should be the preferred option?

Charter of the Royal Society for the Advancement of Knowledge

Article I — Establishment and Purpose

1. The Royal Society for the Advancement of Knowledge, hereafter referred to as "the Society", is a royal institution of the Kingdom of Talossa established under the Science Rules! Act during the 48th Cosa. As Talossa's principal academic body, the Society coordinates, supports, and recognises scholarly efforts throughout the kingdom, providing an institutional framework for the advancement of knowledge.
2. The Society exists to conduct and promote research and academic study in all areas of human endeavour.
3. The Society shall provide educational opportunities and recognise achievement in academic studies, research, and other scholarly accomplishments.
4. The Society shall encourage the production, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of Talossa and the wider public.
5. The Society shall maintain a public record of its scholarly activities and the contributions of its Fellows.

Article II — Ranks of Fellowship

1. The Society shall maintain three ranks of membership:
a. Associate Fellow;
2. b. Fellow;
3. c. Senior Fellow, representing the highest level of Fellowship within the Society.
4. Associate Fellowship shall have no minimum formal educational requirement.
5. Fellowship shall require, at minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent qualification.
6. Senior Fellowship shall require, at minimum, a two-year college degree or equivalent qualification.
7. The Society may consider as 'equivalent' those educational or professional qualifications, and instances of demonstrated scholarly achievement, that provide evidence of comparable knowledge, skills, or academic attainment to the minimum requirements specified for each rank, as determined by the Society, except where otherwise provided under this Charter.
8. The Society shall determine the requirements for admission to each rank, subject to applicable Talossan law and any binding provisions governing the Society.
9. Admission to a particular rank shall recognise the applicant's qualifications, scholarly contribution, and satisfaction of the applicable membership criteria.

Article III — General Membership Standards

1. Applicants shall exhibit a genuine interest in the progress of knowledge as well as a motivation to contribute to the Society's educational and scholarly purposes.
2. Membership decisions shall consider the quality and integrity of an applicant's work, their relevant qualifications, and their willingness to maintain the standards of the Society.
3. Academic merit and membership eligibility shall be assessed as distinct matters. The quality of a submitted essay or research paper does not, by itself, guarantee admission.
4. The Society may decline an application where the applicant does not satisfy the applicable membership requirements or where substantiated conduct gives reasonable grounds to conclude that admission would be incompatible with the Society's purposes.
5. Disagreement, criticism, unpopularity, or the expression of controversial opinions shall not, in isolation, constitute grounds for refusal.
6. Decisions shall be made in good faith, consistently with this Charter and any applicable law.

Article IV — Scholarly Contribution and Public Record

1. As a condition of admission, each applicant shall demonstrate a scholarly contribution to the public record of Talossa through publication on the Talossa Wiki.
2. The publication requirement may be fulfilled through either:
a. Publication of the essay, research paper, or other scholarly work submitted as part of the membership application; or
3. b. Delivery of a scholarly lecture, in keeping with the Society's established traditions, followed by publication of the lecture text, transcript, or a suitable written account of its substance on the Talossa Wiki.
4. The contribution shall be relevant to the advancement of knowledge. It must demonstrate methodologically sound research, employing appropriate research design, data collection, and methods of analysis suited to the topic and discipline. The work should engage analytically with relevant sources and apply rigorous reasoning. Scholarly care shall include accurate citation of sources, clear distinction between original thought and existing scholarship, and observance of accepted standards of academic integrity.
5. Where appropriate to the subject and type of work, the contribution needs to acknowledge its sources and distinguish original analysis from the work of others.
6. The Society shall determine whether a proposed contribution satisfies the scholarly requirements of this Article.
7. Submission of an essay or delivery of a lecture does not automatically guarantee admission. The Society shall assess the contribution separately from the applicant's other eligibility requirements.
8. Publication is intended to establish a publicly accessible record of the Society's scholarly activities. All publications shall remain subject to applicable Talossa Wiki policies, licensing requirements, and editorial procedures.
9. The publication requirement shall ordinarily be completed before admission is finalised. If the requirement is not met at the time of application, the Society may grant provisional admission, provided that the applicant completes the publication within a specified period not exceeding six months from the date of provisional admission.
10. In exceptional circumstances, the Society may extend this period; authorised decision-makers must approve such exceptions, and the Society must formally record the reasons in its records.
11. The authorised decision-makers shall approve any exception and record the reasons.

Article V — Standards of Conduct and Institutional Integrity

1. Fellows and applicants shall be expected to engage with the Society and its officers in a manner consistent with scholarly integrity, civility, and respect for others.
2. In assessing eligibility, the Society may consider substantiated conduct that materially conflicts with its purposes or interferes with its ability to fulfil its functions.
3. Relevant conduct may include:
a. Harassment, intimidation, or targeted abuse;
4. b. Persistent disruptive behaviour that materially interferes with the Society's activities;
5. c. Deliberate misrepresentation of qualifications, research, or the work of others;
6. d. Repeated refusal to comply with reasonable and applicable Society procedures;
7. e. Other substantiated conduct demonstrably incompatible with the Society's scholarly purposes.
8. The Society may consider relevant findings or formal censures issued by recognised Talossan institutions. Those findings shall be considered in accordance with their actual wording, scope, and status.
9. The Society shall not treat a political resolution or expression of opinion as establishing consequences beyond those actually provided by that resolution or applicable law.
10. The Society shall consider relevant evidence fairly and shall not rely solely on rumour, personal dislike, or unsupported allegations.
11. No provision of this Article shall be interpreted as prohibiting legitimate scholarly disagreement, criticism of the Society, or good-faith participation in Talossan public life.

Article VI — Applications and Decisions

1. The President of the Society or another officer authorised to act on their behalf shall consider applications.
2. The Society may request supporting evidence of educational qualifications, scholarly experience, or the genuineness and sources of submitted work.
3. The Society may accept applications, defer them pending further information, or decline them.
4. Where at least two authorised decision-makers shall consider practicable, contested or sensitive applications.
5. The Society may consult the Minister of Culture or other appropriate Talossan officials on questions concerning its institutional responsibilities or applicable law.
6. Any decision-maker with a material personal conflict of interest shall disclose that conflict and, where appropriate, refrain from participating in the decision.
7. The Society shall maintain a confidential record of the reasons for contested membership decisions.
8. A refusal of membership does not necessarily imply that the applicant's scholarly work lacks merit.

Article VII — Notification and Reconsideration

1. Applicants shall be notified of the outcome of their application.
2. The Society may provide a concise explanation of a refusal, taking account of confidentiality and the rights of other persons.
3. An applicant may request reconsideration on the grounds of:
a. A material procedural error;
4. b. Relevant new evidence;
5. c. A demonstrable misapplication of the Society's membership criteria.
6. Where practicable, reconsideration shall be undertaken by a decision-maker who was not exclusively responsible for the prior decision.
7. A request for reconsideration does not automatically entitle an applicant to membership.

Article VIII — Responsibilities of Fellows

1. Fellows are encouraged to aid in the advancement of knowledge through research, publication, lectures, educational activities, or other scholarly work.
2. The Society may maintain a public register of Fellows and their intellectual work on the Talossa Wiki.
3. Fellows shall be responsible for making sure that their published contributions are appropriately attributed and comply with applicable publication rules.
4. The Society may recognise outstanding scholarly contributions by advancing Fellows to higher ranks, in accordance with the established criteria for each rank. Advancement shall be based on a formal assessment process, which may include a review of the Fellow's scholarly achievements, contributions to the public record, and sustained compliance with the standards of conduct and academic integrity set forth by the Society. Authorised decision-makers shall make decisions regarding advancement and document them in the Society's official records.
5. Admission to Fellowship shall not exempt any member from the Society's standards of conduct or applicable Talossan law.

Article IX — Amendments and Legal Authority

1. This Charter shall operate subject to the laws of the Kingdom of Talossa and any binding provisions of the legislation establishing or governing the Society.
2. Amendments may be made only through a procedure authorised by applicable law and the Society's existing governance arrangements.
3. Amendments shall be recorded and made available to Fellows.
4. New or amended membership criteria shall ordinarily apply prospectively. Existing applications shall be assessed under the rules properly applicable to them, unless a lawful transitional provision provides otherwise.
5. Nothing in this Charter shall authorise the Society to disregard superior Talossan law or to exercise powers not conferred upon it.

Alright! Alright! My Shepherds are repping Florencia very well.

Quote from: Wyatt Thurel on Today at 08:44:36 AMDear members of Talossa,

As a fairly new prospective citizen of Talossa, im trying to get to know the community a little better and what everyones roles are inside of Talossa. If you could spare a moment to reply to this forum, i'd love to hear more about yourself and what part you play in Talossa.

Azul Wyatt! I have been a citizen for two years now and I'm currently the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Symbols of Nationhood within the Ministry of Culture; what that means is that I will basically create stuff like new ID card designs or, what I have been doing, make road signs for our little but great kingdom. I have previously served as the Deputy Minister of STUFF in 2024.