Creating a society/order?

[Sir Edward]

so who's making the round table for all of the equal knights to sit around? and where should we store it?

Well, if you'll hurry up and build a great hall, we could put it there.

[Sir James A]

I am more partial to Order of Modern Chivalry, as ties into the forums here and I like the name better, but since the domain has been purchased, it's moot now anyway.

Sir Edward, if you want help with some of the CSS, HTML or graphics work, let me know and I will see what I can do. Depending on where it's hosted (and the tech available) I may be able to make something to allow each member to have a profile that they can update with pictures, bio, location, etc. ColdFusion/MSSQL is a cakewalk for me, and I have hosting space available with that in place already if you want me to host it (you retain domain name control and ownership, of course).

In regards to powerleveling/knighting:

* Perhaps we could have people enter as a squire, and have them eligible to be knighted only if they have assembled their "kit" (with the 5/10 foot rule in mind, whether soft kit or hard kit). I think the knighting ceremony should be done while they are wearing their kit, though of course subject to change based on the knight conferring. We could also take photos to post on the website, if we can find a good location that won't look too out of place. Which reminds me to post another thread...

* I think a very flat membership with only 3 levels would be best; Knight Commander, Knights, and Squires. In the event the Knight Commander has schedule conflicts and is unable to fulfill his duties, he should, at that time, appoint a KC pro-tem, to fill his spot until he is able to return. That way, there is no worrying of Seneschal, Marshal, or any other "offices", and we keep as flat of a membership structure as we can. Which, I think is part of the goal for forming this new society?

* In the event that we acquire a larger, more spread out membership, we could form rules for it at that time. Something along the lines of "At least 5 members in a local group", a "Regional KC" for that group (answerable to the Master KC (or relevant traditional term for that position). "Remote" membership outside of the local groups would be fine, but they would not be able to hold a position higher than Knight. That's another bridge for another time.

* For membership time frame for knighting, it should just be a piece of the whole picture; some members may do more in 2 months of membership than others do in 12 months. I think a group vote of Yay/Nay/Neutral could be held among the existing knights for the candidate's readiness.

[Sir Matthew]

James, I think you bring up some very good points there. I also think it is pretty much along the lines of what we are all thinking, you just made a better point of it. I agree that we definitely need to set things up so that there is room for us to adapt to changes in geography and membership down the road.

Brian, I understand the symbology of the gold guilded spurs and I suppose I really should get a pair that way, but for whatever reason I personally find silver more appealling. I just don't care for gold or yellow color. Maybe I'm just odd that way, certainly wouldn't be the first time I've been called wierd  .

[Sir Edward]

I am more partial to Order of Modern Chivalry, as ties into the forums here and I like the name better, but since the domain has been purchased, it's moot now anyway.

Sir Edward, if you want help with some of the CSS, HTML or graphics work, let me know and I will see what I can do. Depending on where it's hosted (and the tech available) I may be able to make something to allow each member to have a profile that they can update with pictures, bio, location, etc. ColdFusion/MSSQL is a cakewalk for me, and I have hosting space available with that in place already if you want me to host it (you retain domain name control and ownership, of course).

I'm not married to the title, and we can always change it. It just seemed that there was a good consensus forming behind it. I paid for one year on the domain registrations, so it's not like there's a lot of money involved so far either. Either way, this will at least get us started and we can work on a website/tools.

I think we're thinking along the same lines for the website here. I'd love to have photos, and a membership roster with heraldry and the like. A voting tool would be very useful, though we can always use the forum's voting capability too (I assume, since I haven't checked it out yet).

Assuming I continue hosting it, my server is running linux and I have mySQL and PHP available on the back-end. I do my coding in Perl. I'm not exactly a CSS guru, and I do most of my HTML in HTML 1.1 or thereabouts (yes, it's evil, I still format pages with tables! But I'm gradually getting better)

The hosting costs me nothing on my end. I have a virtual server that I used for all of my websites, and I'm only using about 50% of the available disk and about 4% of the monthly bandwidth for everything else I host.

So I guess we'll just need to decide who's hosting it, and coding it, and what technologies we're using, all as one big decision. I'm willing to hand it off if you'd like to take a stab at it. There are parts I'd like to retain access to, like the bylaws page I'm working on. We can always have some split hosting too if we use different subdomains.

[Sir Edward]

BTW, I've added some more starter pages. Right now the membership roster page is just stubbed in with some simplistic info. If I've left anyone out, just chime in here.

http://orderofthemarshal.org/roster.html

I left the "sir" portions as they appear on our forum names, but started everyone listed as Initiates. We'll have to decide how to handle this part. Some of us have been knights for quite some time, but obviously the order itself is starting from scratch. Also some of us know each other better than others... not to mention there aren't any Order knights yet with which to grab three to give you a ceremony until we knight someone. Chicken and the egg, if you will.

Thoughts?

[Sir Edward]

Also, I found this link to useful site on Marshal history.  http://www.williammarshal.com/intro.html  The entry for 1164 on the "William Marshal Timeline" page really illustrates the kind of man we have chosen to emulate.

Yeah, that entry is very good. The whole site is pretty informative. Between that and the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal) you can get a nice quick overview of the relevant history and his life overall. He must really have had an amazing life. He took part in some very interesting history, and played a central role. And he was still kicking butt on the battlefield at an age of 75!

[Sir Edward]

I left the "sir" portions as they appear on our forum names, but started everyone listed as Initiates. We'll have to decide how to handle this part. Some of us have been knights for quite some time, but obviously the order itself is starting from scratch. Also some of us know each other better than others... not to mention there aren't any Order knights yet with which to grab three to give you a ceremony until we knight someone. Chicken and the egg, if you will.

Thoughts?

I thought about this a little more, and I have some possible ideas. I'm still open to other suggestions too. Here's what I thought of:

• We make everyone on the list Honorary Knights, and define that as knights who have not received the accolade from the Order (think of it like knights who have come from other orders). It could permit them to participate in accolades, but not vote (the latter part being important I think if we ever use "honorary" status for more people down the line). Folks would be free to remain in this state as long as they want/need before getting the accolade as per the rules.
  
  
• We could start off by knighting just a few to get the minimum three for an accolade going, and let everyone else follow the normal path via the rules. I was thinking if we go this route, I'd grab Brian, Wolf, and Paladin since I know them through faire/elsewhere, have seen their kits, and believe them to be men of honor. That would be 4 of us, letting us each have the minimum of 3 for an accolade. We knight each other, and the ball is rolling.
  
  
• And the third idea is more like the first, except instead of giving the rank to everyone on the list, instead use the honor-system. Anyone who feels like they're a knight already could email me a brief description of why, and a photo of their kit, and then I'd update their status. Then everyone else would still be an Initiate until they follow the normal path.
  
  

Thoughts?

[Sir Brian]

Those are some truly grand ideas Ed, I think all three methods could be utilized.

We make everyone on the list Honorary Knights, and define that as knights who have not received the accolade from the Order (think of it like knights who have come from other orders). It could permit them to participate in accolades, but not vote (the latter part being important I think if we ever use "honorary" status for more people down the line). Folks would be free to remain in this state as long as they want/need before getting the accolade as per the rules.

1.)  I think all our current participating members on the forum (in any discussion no matter how often) should be offered this status. Members who have joined yet not made a single post or haven't posted in X amount of months could be entered as an initiate or honorary squire.

We could start off by knighting just a few to get the minimum three for an accolade going, and let everyone else follow the normal path via the rules. I was thinking if we go this route, I'd grab Brian, Wolf, and Paladin since I know them through faire/elsewhere, have seen their kits, and believe them to be men of honor. That would be 4 of us, letting us each have the minimum of 3 for an accolade. We knight each other, and the ball is rolling.

2.) We could do this easily enough if for no other purpose than to fulfill the requirements of those members seeking to make the transition from honorary to voting status knights. - I would be most honored to accept such a station you are proposing although the expediency of us living in close proximity to those you've nominated is convenient as well! 
- I would suggest another name to add to that potential initial listing is Sir Andrew. A most honorable knight and man of impeccable integrity.

And the third idea is more like the first, except instead of giving the rank to everyone on the list, instead use the honor-system. Anyone who feels like they're a knight already could email me a brief description of why, and a photo of their kit, and then I'd update their status. Then everyone else would still be an Initiate until they follow the normal path.

3.) I believe this method would work out the best for those members who live far away but are already well established knights in their own right. There will hopefully be more wishing to join our order as time goes by.

[Sir Patrick]

The page looks amazing, Sir Edward!  Whatever we end up calling ourselves, it's an honor to be listed in such fine company!

[SirNathanQ]

Awesome! I am flattered to be considered in the company of such noble knights, even if I did but my head in this discussion!
And I support the initial knighting of those 3 and us going the normal route.
But all the ideas are good, this is really falling together well! 

[Sir Patrick]

I also agree with your choices for the first knights, Sir Edward.  You four gentlemen are, without a doubt, the very heart of this forum.

[Sir Wolf]

coolness.

wondering if it to be wise to added a virtue that each of the knight holds. ie: sir brian: honor, sir charles (the wolf): strength, sir edward: truth, sir paladin: valor etc etc (not saying those are their strengths or highest virtues etc, still be neat

[Sir William]

Wow, I'm gone one day and look at what's occurred.  I think it is safe to say we're all of a similar mind w/regards to our new Order; love the roster page Sir Edward, it is a nice way of telling those of us who haven't done so to come up with our own coat of arms so that we might post them up as well.  Really no reason why I don't have one, pure laziness but this is just the impetus I need.

Still love 'Order of the Marshal' for our name, just thought I'd put that out there.  I'm really honored to be among the Founding Four as it were, and I'm excited at the prospect of this Order becoming a reality.  All my life I've dreamed of being a part of something like this, you know?

I like Sir Wolf's idea too, that each of us could espouse a single knightly virtue (well, we espouse them all, but each would have a specific virtue associated with them principally) - but that could lead to 'classes' so to speak.  For instance, we'll take Sir Edward's truth, and let's say there are a number of knights who would choose this as their primary virtue and x number of initiates sign up; what I'm thinking is we could end up with different 'jousting teams' as it were...is that necessarily a bad thing?  Could be...depends on how its handled.  I think as knights, we're all competitive in nature in some way, shape or form...so long as it remains friendly, you know, no 'that Valor group over there are a bunch of silly wankers' type of commentary being tossed about.  Just my thoughts on it.

[Sir Gerard de Rodes]

This is shaping up really nicely.
A massive pat on the back to Sir Ed, and all of you who have took the bull by the horns and had an active part in formulating the back bone.

G

[Sir William]

...took the bull by the horns...

I'm sorry, this brought the movie Dodgeball to mind; you know the painting White Goodman's got in his office with him holding the bull back by the horns?  He says "...yea, that's a metaphor...but it actually did happen."  LOL

Sorry, just sprang to mind.

Back on topic, this is great, just plain great so far.