ဠClan By-Laws

We, the members of ဠClan, in order to form a more perfect gaming clan, establish justice for members and non members, provide for enjoyment, promote healthy values, and secure our posterity, do ordain and establish these, the By-Laws for the ဠClan.

These By-Laws lay out the rules and regulations for the governance of the clan. Interpretation of these By-Laws will be up to Management. In the case that circumstances arise outside of the scope of these By-Laws, Management will make any decisions needed regarding said situation with or without modification to these By-Laws, as they deem fit.

ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION

The name of the organization shall be ßellicus Çognatus Clan, hereafter referred to as ßÇ Clan.

The ranking system of the organization shall be held in military style plus a Council (For details see Article X – Ranking Structure). Higher ranking officers will hold authority over any officers of lower rank. All decisions of the clan will be made by Management (Ranks of 2nd Lt and above) and the structural integrity of the clan will be the duty of the Council (a quorum of senior Management members). The direction that ßÇ Clan heads and what it evolves into is the decision of all of Management. All decisions regarding the clan and how it governs itself will be made by Management.

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ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

The following are the purposes for which this organization has been organized:

1. Prime Directive:
   The primary directive of the ဠClan and all of its members is to have fun playing games.
2. Secondary Directive:
   The secondary directive of the ဠClan and all of its members is to NEVER allow intra-clan politics or bureaucracies affect the Primary Directive.
3. Tertiary Directive:
   The tertiary directive of the ဠClan and all of its members is to maintain the integrity of the clan and never allow it to fall due to acts of poor judgment by the Council, Management or ANY member for ANY reason.

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ARTICLE III - SIZE AND DIRECTION

ဠClan is to never limit the number of its members. Our growth and stability is determined by our members and interest in the clan.

The direction that ဠClan heads and what it evolves into is the decision of all of Management.

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ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the ဠClan shall be open to all who pass tryouts as set forth by the Management of the clan.

All ဠclan members are required to login to the forums at least once every 45 days. Members will be moved to an inactive status when they have not logged into the forums for 45 consecutive days, Management will send a PM and email that member of such actions. A member of the clan may be automatically removed from the clan if the member has been inactive for 6 months or more. In the case of extenuating circumstances, Management simply asks that the member contact Management and let them know.

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ARTICLE V - REGULAR CLAN MEETINGS

The monthly membership meeting of this organization shall be held on the FIRST Saturday at 7:00PM PST of each and every month except if such day be a holiday, then and in that case, the Management shall change the date but it shall not be more than one week from the date fixed by these By-Laws.

The Secretary shall post, for every member to review, on the clan forums in this organization a notice telling the time and place of such monthly meetings or the modified date of such meetings if necessary. Also to be posted after such meetings will be the items discussed and all information that was given to any members.

Regular meetings of this clan shall be held on the clans Teamspeak server.

Special meetings of this organization may be called by Management or the Council when any of them deems it in the best interest of the clan. Notices of such meeting shall be posted on the forums and be emailed to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least 5 days before the scheduled date set for such special meeting. Such notice shall state the reasons that such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted at such meeting and by whom it was called. No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meeting.

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ARTICLE VI - MANAGEMENT

Management will consist of all members of the clan of the rank of 2nd Lieutenant or higher. Management meetings of this organization shall be held on the clans Teamspeak server on a weekly basis every Monday at 6:00PM PST. The presence of not less than 50% percent of the Management team shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to begin conducting the business of this organization and must maintain a presence equal to or above 35% during such a meeting (except where the percentage must be higher as laid out by these bylaws). A lesser percentage MAY adjourn the meeting or remainder of the meeting for a period of not more than 1 week from the date scheduled by these By-Laws and the secretary shall cause a notice of this scheduled meeting to be sent to all those members, or posted on the forums, who were not present at the meeting originally called. This adjournment of the meeting is optional and to be decided by the members present. In the case of insufficient attendance, discussions can still be made among Management, but all decisions must be put into the forums in the form of a poll in so that all non attending Management members may have representation.

Special Management meetings of this organization may be called by only Management or the Council when any of them deems it for the best interest of the clan. Notices of such meeting shall be posted on the forums and be posted on the forums at least 3 days before the scheduled date set for such special meeting. Such notice shall state the reasons that such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted at such meeting and by whom it was called. No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meeting.

Members of management are expected to participate in management activities. If a member becomes too busy with extra-clan activities to be able to participate they are expected to notify management for a possible change in rank.

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ARTICLE VII - COUNCIL

The Council is a small body of trusted Management members that have the ability to make quick, needed decisions to maintain the stability or security of the clan. The Council can make a decision regarding any aspect of the clan, but will NEVER do any more than the MINIMUM that is necessary to restore stability or security of the clan itself until the Management of the clan can convene and deal with the situation. All decisions made by the Council must be unanimous among council members.

The council will only make comprehensive decisions when the Management of the clan is in a deadlock situation (to be determined by the Council or by the request of Management). Any decisions forced to be made by the Council will be swift and will always favor the decision that maintains the structural integrity of the clan itself. The council can be overridden, if needed, per Article VIII - VOTING, where the Management of the clan can always reverse a decision made by the council by sufficient vote.

Additions to the Council MUST be nominated by someone in Management and brought up publicly during a management meeting for input, however the final decision is to be determined by current Council members only by unanimous vote. Removal of any Council members is to be determined by a unanimous vote by all other Council members.

Council Members put this symbol © behind their name on Teamspeak.

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ARTICLE VIII - VOTING

During any normal proceeding of the clan, unless otherwise stated in these By-Laws, a majority vote (over 50%) will determine the outcome of anything put to a vote in Management.

A decision made by the Council may be overturned by Management, but in such a Management vote, a percentage of not less than 75% must be present to constitute a quorum and for a decision to be made against the Council’s decisions a minimum vote of 95% from the Management quorum is required. The Council members themselves may NOT participate in any Management vote in which the Councils decisions are possibly being overturned.

Changes to these bylaws can be made by Management ONLY. The presence of not less than 90% of the Management team shall constitute a quorum, and shall be necessary to conduct the business of By-Law changing. In the lack of a 90% presence of management, the votes shall be put to a poll on the ဠClan forums for a period not to exceed 10 days to gain the votes of 90% of management. To add anything into the bylaws will require a minimum passing vote of 65% or higher. To change anything within these bylaws will require a minimum passing vote of 75% or higher. To remove anything within these bylaws will require a minimum passing vote of 90% or higher.

At all meetings, except for the election of to the Council, all votes shall be by voice. For nomination of any Council members, electronic ballots shall be provided and there shall appear a place on such ballot that indicates the person who cast such ballot so that a recount can be made if ever needed; anonymity will be maintained whenever possible. Final decision on new Council members will be determined by the current Council only.

In any important vote proceedings (deemed so by the Council or Management) an inspector of election shall be used. An Inspector of election shall be the highest ranking member available with no direct connection to the vote.

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ARTICLE IX - DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

Disciplinary actions are an integral part of maintaining the internal structural integrity of the clan itself.

If charges are to be brought against a member, the first vote shall be for demotion of rank, so shall the second. The third shall be for the member’s removal from the clan. If proven sufficiently severe (Management is to decide how severe the infraction is) see instructions below.

There exist 3 general levels of infractions within the clan that Management will categorize: Minor, Intermediate, and Major. All levels of infractions must be handled by Management within 7 days of the matter being brought before them.

• Minor Infractions - To be determined by Management
  Explanation of actions to Management, discussion with Management.
  --Example of infraction : Using a swear word on the forums.
• Intermediary Level Infraction - To be determined by Management
  Single or Multiple level Demotion
  --Example of infraction : Abusing RCON (banning players without warnings or logging) - Demotion to next lower rank.
• Major Infractions - To be determined by Management
  multiple level demotion, removal from clan.
  --Example of infraction : Applying to and joining another clan that plays any game that ßÇ has an extension in while a member of ßÇ.

The Management of the clan may entertain charges against anyone in the clan. A member of any rank may be removed from the clan when sufficient cause exists for such removal. Removal MUST be at first via a removal probation for a term of no longer than 7 days and no shorter than 24 hours. A member may be represented by a fellow clan-member of anyone of their choosing within the clan upon any removal hearing, which MUST occur within the temporary removal time period of between 24 hours and 7 days. A member will be contacted about the removal and will be expected to coordinate with Management for the hearing. If the member does not contact Management within 6 days, the members hearing may be dismissed at the discretion of Management(therefore making the removal from the clan permanent). If a hearing is NOT held within 7 days, and the member has contacted management, then the probationary period will be considered over and the members permissions will be replaced to their original state. All of Management will vote immediately (or within 24 hours) after the removal hearing to determine the permanency of the removal. In order to remove a member from the clan, a minimum of 2/3 of Management must be present and the vote must be 70% or more to remove a member. In the case of a dead lock situation or a lack of speediness of Management (to either hold a hearing or vote on the removal) the Council may step in within 24 hours and by their own vote determine the permanency of any removal. All decisions by the Council must be unanimous among all Council members.

Disciplinary actions are handled by Management, however investigations into violations of rules or guidelines by clan members is handled by Internal Affairs [IA]. IA does not conduct investigations on their own, only a Management decision or Council member decision can decide an issue to be brought to IA for investigation. Investigative procedures are internal to IA, however a few general guidelines must be followed:

1. A review of the accused members records (OD, personnel records, etc...)
2. Conduct Witness Interviews
3. Conduct Accuser Interview
4. Accused witness interviews (with representation if desired)
5. Give a copy of all evidence to the accused at the end of their interview
6. Compile investigative report for Management review (including evidence).

The accused member may pick one member (maximum) for representation within the clan, if they desire. This person can be anyone of any rank that is not directly involved in the investigation or the incident. The purpose of representation is to allow the accused member access to someone to help them if needed in interpretation of the By-Laws and review of any evidence. After the report is submitted to Management, Management will decide that one of three things is true: the accused is guilty, the accused is innocent, or that further investigation needed. If guilt is decided then punishment will be decided too. During an ongoing investigation, evidence is ONLY available to IA members or the accused (and their representation) AFTER step 4 has been reached. Evidence is not available to the rest of Management until the submission of the investigative report. In the case of of further investigation being requested by Management, all NEW evidence will follow these same guidelines.

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ARTICLE X - RANKING STRUCTURE

The Council Members - The Council is a small body of trusted Management members that have the ability to make quick, needed decisions to maintain the stability or security of the clan. The Council is open to all opinions, from Generals on down to recruits. The Council members can be nominated by anyone in Management, but the current Council members will actually make the final decision on having a new Council member.

Chain of Command - This clan is based on fun, but we do need discipline and respect, therefore we use a military-style chain of command. If you have any questions, please submit them to the rank above you, or go to your XO or CO for an answer, the question WILL get to the top no matter what. You can get promoted (see Article XI), recommended for promotions (see Article XI), or demoted in ဠClan(see Article IX).

Management - From the 2nd Lieutenant on up, they will deal with everything in the clan: Members, Extensions, Forums, and Game/Voice Servers, etc. The Council will only become involved if the Management cannot resolve an issue, or the Management asks for help. This will be rare, but the Council is there to maintain stability. Management will consist of all members 2nd Lieutenants on up.

The Sub Ranks - They consist of Recruiters, Ambassadors, Game Admin Trainers (GAT), System Management (IT), Secretary, Accounting, Internal Affairs (IA) - the police, and many more. For more information, see the Subrank area of this article. These are special ranks that Sergeant's and up can earn. Management will make the final decision of approval of a subrank for any member except for Extension Sub-Commander. You can have a maximum of 3 Sub-ranks without special management approval.

Any member ever demoted MORE THAN ONCE can never reach above 2nd Lieutenant.

Rank Abbreviations - In Teamspeak, your main rank will be before your name and connected with an underscore.

Here are all the Main Rank Abbreviations:
Council Members: Put © behind your name.

Management Level Ranks

General (GEN) - O10 - With only one General, this is the highest ranking member with the ဠClan. A General's input to the Council is very important. General's need a clear and sensible line of communication with the clan and the Council. General's oversee everything; Extensions, Members, forums etc. They are expected to be active in multiple extensions within the clan and are expected to maintain at least 2 Management level Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks

Lieutenant General (LTG) - O9 - With only one or very few Lieutenant Generals, this is the next to highest ranking member with the ဠClan. A Lieutenant General provides assistance and can act in place of the General in the case of absence. Lieutenant General's have a clear line of communication with the clan and are active in Management. Lieutenant General must be, or have been, involved with the Management of at least 3 extensions by way of Extension Commander or Sub Commander. Lieutenant Generals aid in overseeing everything; Extensions, Members, forums etc. They are expected to be active in multiple extensions within the clan and are expected to maintain at least 2 Management level Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks

Major General (MG) - O8 - A Major General is a member of Senior Management. Major General help serve as a knowledge base for all Extension Commanders. Respect for this rank is very high among all members. Major General must be, or have been, an Extension Commander for at least two extensions. Major Generals work with Brigadier Generals in the Command of all Platoons as a whole and assign members into Platoons. Major Generals, along with Brigadier Generals, assign CO's and XO's into groups that work together and oversee the performance of all Commanding Officers. Majors Generals are also responsible for performing the SRE testing for the ranks of O2 through O4. Major General are active in more than one extension of the clan. Major General are expected to maintain at least 2 Management level Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks

Brigadier General (BG) - O7 - A Brigadier General is a member of Senior Management. Brigadier Generals must be, or have been, an Extension Commander for at least one extension. Brigadier Generals work with Major Generals in the Command of all Platoons as a whole and assign members into Platoons. Brigadier Generals, along with Major Generals, assign CO's and XO's into groups that work together and oversee the performance of all Commanding Officers. Brigadier Generals are also responsible for performing the SRE testing for the ranks of O2 through O4. Brigadier Generals are active in more than one extension of the clan and play regularly. Brigadier Generals are expected to maintain at least 2 Management level Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Management level Sub-Ranks

Colonel (COL) - O6 - A Colonel is a member of Senior Management. Respect for this rank is very high among all members. Colonels help serve as a knowledge base for Extension Commanders. Colonels must be, or have been, an Extension Commander for at least one extension. Colonels are experts in every aspect of the infrastructure of the clan, they are a knowledge base for all members. Colonels are active in more than one extension of the clan and play regularly. Colonels are expected to maintain at least 2 Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Sub-Ranks

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) - O5 - A Lieutenant Colonel is the first rank in Senior Management. This is the minimum rank to be considered for the IT or Accounting Sub-Ranks. Lieutenant Colonels not only deal with internal affairs of the clan, but technical aspects as well. Demonstration of knowledge of the infrastructure of the clan and the desire to see it succeed has been shown. With few Lt Colonels within the clan, respect for this rank is high among all members. Lt Colonels are expected to maintain at least 2 Sub-Ranks.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Two Sub-Ranks
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: Two Sub-Ranks

Major (MAJ) - O4 - You have attained the highest rank that is possible through the ဠPromotion system. The rank of Major is one of respect, from everyone in the clan. You demonstrate your dedication to the clan through your donation of time in helping to maintain it, this is also the minimum rank to be eligible to be an Exam Engineer or Promotion Review Board. Majors are expected to maintain two Sub-Ranks, one of which will be that of Applicant Director [AD], the other is
Exam Engineer [EE]. Becoming a Documentation Engineer or Exam Engineer will help you learn and understand the infrastructure and inner workings of the clan. Advancement beyond this rank is the sole discretion of Management based on need.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [AD], Promotion Score >= 860
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [AD], [EE]

Captain (CPT) - O3 - Upon earning this rank, you have been viewed by Management as a strong leader of the members of the clan. You are now of the minimum rank to be an Extension Commander, and becoming an Extension Commander is one of the primary ways Management gives a recommendation for a new Captain. Captains are noted leaders and respected by lower members within the clan. Your experience and leadership traits are shown throughout your dealings with other clan members and other clans. Captains are expected to maintain at least 2 Sub-Ranks, one of which will be that of Applicant Director [AD].
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [AD], [CO] at some point, Promotion Score >= 850
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [AD], [???]

1st Lieutenant (1LT) - O2 - Once you have earned this rank you have shown everyone else in Management that you are serious about what happens in the clan. You are watched closely at this rank, any progression past this point usually includes areas of crucial responsibilities or notable leadership position within the clan, such as an Extension Commander [EC] position. At the time of promotion, your recommendation will come from Management itself.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [GAT], [XO] at some point, Promotion Score >= 850
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

2nd Lieutenant (2LT) - O1 - You impress Management and you have shown you are not only loyal to the clan, but wish to contribute something to the direction the clan is headed. Your responsibilities in administration of the clan will increase by becoming a moderator on the forums. You are still required to carry the Sub-Rank of Game Admin Trainer [GAT]. 2nd Lieutenant's are expected to attend the weekly Management meetings where we discuss things about the clan and the direction it is headed and your opinions will be voiced. You will also now be required to vote on all current Management voting subjects, and will remain current on Management issues. The importance of your opinion is now very well known throughout the clan.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [GAT], Promotion Score >= 840
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [GAT]

Advanced Member Level Ranks

Sergeant Major (SGM) - E9 - This is one of the most important ranks in the ဠClan. Your involvement in the clan up to this point will be reviewed as your next promotion is into Management, and your leadership abilities will be called upon. You have reached the highest of the enlisted ranks and you are viewed upon with respect by everyone in the clan. If available, consider the Sub-Rank of Extension Sub-Commander [ec] to hone your leadership abilities, you will continue the Sub-Ranks of Game Admin Trainer [GAT] and Recruiter [RC] while in this rank. Become an expert in the By Laws, everything Management does will be based on them. You will now be invited to attend the weekly Management meetings (except on sensitive subjects), and even though you will not be participating in any voting, your opinion will be valued. To add to your responsibilities, you are now an administrator on TeamSpeak.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [GAT], [RC], Promotion Score >= 840
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [GAT], [RC]

Master Sergeant (MSG) - E8 - Having attained this rank you have become very involved with the clan. With many members below you, you will find yourself becoming a resource of information for lower ranks. Among your responsibilities you have pursued and earned the Sub-Rank of Game Admin Trainer [GAT] and you are now training others in proper RCON use. To advance to this rank means that you are headed for Management and want to help lead the clan, the respect your clan mates show you has been earned. If available, consider pursuing the Sub-Rank of Extension Sub-Commander [ec] to hone your leadership abilities.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [GAT], [RC], Promotion Score >= 825
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [GAT], [RC]

Sergeant First Class (SFC) - E7 - You have now reached the middle of the Sergeant ranks. Management will be watching your progression more closely now. You are continuing to build your leadership abilities and command respect from those below you. You have proven advanced RCON abilities in multiple extensions and decision making abilities in complicated situations. You have also proven a comprehensive understanding of the By Laws. You now must continue to maintain the Sub-Rank of Recruiter [RC], your Commanding Officer will take note of the members you recruit. Continue your education in RCON in other extensions. If available, consider pursuing the Sub-Rank of Extension Sub-Commander [ec] to hone your leadership abilities.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: [RC], Promotion Score >= 825, Passing an additional extension RCON test.
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: [RC]

Sergeant (SGT) - E5 - Advancement to the rank of Sergeant is a milestone with the ဠClan. To advance to this rank you have shown a thorough knowledge of RCON commands and when to use them; your training with a GAT has paid off. You have continued to show your knowledge of the ranking structure and the By Laws by exam. Along with the privilege of being an admin in our gaming servers, comes the responsibility of using it correctly and setting an example for the lower ranks. Attaining this rank also provides the opportunity to take on a number of Sub-Ranks, which are weighed in for promotions, so consider them carefully. You are now viewed with respect from the lower ranking members, you will now need to, more than ever, follow our own rules and set an example for everyone below you to follow.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Promotion Score >= 800, Passing one extension RCON test.
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Member Ranks

Corporal (CPL) - E4 - This is one of the more important ranks in our clan. You have become involved in the clan and, though you have not yet been assigned additional responsibilities, you have probably assumed some on your own. You will next be considered for an Advanced Members rank, prepare well. ဠlooks for maturity in its Corporals. You have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the ranking structure within the clan, a knowledge of the ဠBy Laws, and you have shown that you desire to progress to higher ranks. It is suggested that you begin learning RCON commands in the private servers of the games you play, beyond this rank an understanding of RCON is very important. You have garnered recognition for this rank, wear it proud!
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Promotion Score >= 790, 8 weeks in clan
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Private First Class (PFC) - E3 - You have demonstrated your abilities and are gaining recognition with your fellow clan members. We give this rank to people who show us that they want to become more involved in the clan. The perks may be the same, but the respect is starting to build. Demonstration of your clan knowledge will be required to progress beyond the rank of PFC by way of exam. Your advancements past PFC will have a major responsibility shifted to you; applications for advancements, and any required testing, must all be completed before applying for the promotion. It is suggested that you now learn the promotion system and how promotions are calculated. Recommendations from your Commanding Officer will be very useful from here on out, so continue to impress us all.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: 5 weeks in clan, no negative reviews in personnel records
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Private Second Class (PSC) - E2 - Your willingness to participate in the clan has been noted. With this step you need to continue honing your skills and helping fellow clan members. Your participation within the clans extensions is recognized by your fellow clan mates as well as Management. Accepting additional responsibilities and helping your clan mates is encouraged. Feel free to volunteer ideas for activities for the clan; creativity is applauded. Keep up the good work! As with your previous rank, to progress further into the ranks, you will need to apply for a promotion.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: 3 weeks in clan, no negative reviews in personnel records
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Private (PVT) - E1 - You've shown you belong in the clan. You are beginning to get used to the ways that things are done at ßÇ. You have been playing alongside your new clan members and are getting to know how the inner workings of the clan function. You will have more chances now to play in official matches. From this point forward; to proceed to more ranks you need to become more involved with the clan. When you run into a problem, ask your superiors, and help out your fellow members. Now that you are a private, to progress further into the ranks, you will need to apply for a promotion. You will be assigned to a Platoon by a Brigadier or Major General.
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: 1 week in clan, no negative reviews in personnel records
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Recruit (REC) - E0 - You are a newly christened member of the clan! Management looked over your skills as well as your attitude prior and during the tryout and you made it! The benefits of being a recruit are the ability to see the clan forums and being able to wear our clan tags. You also get the benefit of coming to clan wide events (Such as meetings and scrims/matches) and practices. We watch our recruits very closely, we are looking to make sure you are able to get situated into the clan comfortably and having fun in your new clan. Welcome to the clan!
REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RANK: Pass a Management approved tryout process in one clan extension
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THIS RANK: None

Retired (RET) - You have made it to management and you no longer desire to hold any responsibilities within the clan. You have contributed time and effort to the clan and we extend to you the normal rights of a ု member as well as Game Admin Privileges. Moving to this rank is the decision of the member, but it is permanent; no one can come out of retirement. To retire someone must have reached at least a management rank. This rank does not have any requirements for maintaining any certain activity level within the clan and will never be automatically removed or moved to MIA.

Inactive Member - This is rank for when a member feels real life issues have become taxing enough that they cannot remain in a voting status, for Management or other member. While inactive as long as they can visit the forums by any means at least once every 30 days. They may retain their current rank access, and level of access to the forums based on that rank. All sub ranks would have to be removed and access to those specific areas could be removed. Going inactive is saying I truly hope to be able to return to full status as soon as life circumstances allows. Not required to remove their tags, just all the sub ranks from voice servers. Inactive members can return to their previous rank pending Management approval.

Missing In Action (MIA) - A member of the clan who is no longer active within the clan usually due to real life. ဠdefines an active member as someone who is active on the forums within the past 45 Days. Members within the MIA rank still have normal access to our forums and when they return to play can return to their previous rank pending Management approval.

Others

Civilians - Friends of the clan or anyone else not currently a member of ဠClan. Any civilians wishing to address the clan as a whole, its Management, or the Council MUST first go through a clan ambassador.

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Subranks

Extension Commander [EC] - To be a Extension Commander you must be Captain or higher, You are in charge of your respected Extension. An Extension Commander cannot be an Extension Commander in any other Extension. An Extension Commander cannot be Sub Commander in any extensions without special approval of management.

Extension Sub-Commander [ec] - The Extension Commanders will pick their Sub-Commanders (any member of rank Sergeant or higher). Your job is to help the Extension Commander in their respected Extension. An Extension Sub Commander cannot be an Extension Commander or Sub Commander in more than one extensions without special approval of management.

Executive Officer [XO] - A person who assists a Commanding Officer in all duties. An XO can only be of ranks 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, or Captain. XO's will be assigned to a Platoon by a General. In most cases there will be a single XO per Platoon, however, if needed, the General may assign multiple XO's to a Platoon, or an XO to multiple Platoons. In the case of the absence of a Commanding Officer, an Executive Officer can provide all the same functions, including promotion recommendations. XO's also assist in SRE testing for ranks E3 through E9 with their CO.

Commanding Officer [CO] - A person who is in charge of a group of members and provides them with a direct communications link into management. A Commanding Officer can only be of the rank 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, or Captain, and is in charge of a Platoon, which is assigned by a General. Platoons in ဠconsist of 10-15 troops under the Commanding Officer, from ranks E1-E9. Duties consist of maintaining communication with your troops, providing mediation between members of any platoon, providing recommendations to your troops at their time of promotion, providing a solid leadership role to all platoons. CO's are also responsible for performing the SRE testing, which they can share with there XO, for all ranks below them.

System Management [IT] - These are the people who deal with our servers/website/forums/Teamspeak, etc... To be in Systems Management you must be of rank Leiutenant Colonel or higher with approval of not only of Management but the Council and all current IT members as well.

Junior System Management [it] - These are the people who help [IT]'s deal with our servers/website/forums/Teamspeak, etc... They are provided limited access to computer and server resources to aid in the administration and running of those servers and/or clan resources. To be in Junior Systems Management you must be of rank Sergeant or higher with approval of Management and current [IT] members.

Accounting [AC] - A Person who is in charge of the Clans money and deals with donations and monetary issues. To be in Accounting you must be of rank Lt. Colonel or higher with approval of not only of Management but the Council as well.

Promotion Review Board [PRB] - A group of 5 senior management members that convene on a monthly basis to review and calculate promotion eligibility of all members that have applied for a promotion from ranks E3-O1. A PRB reviews all stipulations and follows the Promotion System as laid out in Article XI. The number of PRB's within the clan will be decided by Management, based on need. To be in a PRB you must be of rank Major or higher with approval of not only of Management but the Council as well.

Secretary [SEC] - A Person who takes notes during meetings and posts meeting minutes. To be a Secretary you must be of the rank 2nd Lieutenant or higher.

Internal Affairs [IA] - Our Police Officers, they are basically our mediators of conflicts between members. To be in IA, a member requires approval of not only of Management but the Council as well. To be in Internal Affairs you must of the rank 2nd Lieutenant or above.

Applicant Director [AD] - These are scouts who actively recruit for new members. Applicant Directors handle the relations between applicants and the clan management, including creation of threads in applicant discussion subforum, posting of clan polls regarding approval of applicants directly following the weekly management meetings, archiving of completed polls, scheduling of tryouts, and any follow up communications that may be needed if the applicant fails the tryout. To be an Applicant Director you must of the rank 2nd Lieutenant or above with the approval of Management.

Recruiter [RC] - These are scouts who actively recruit for new members. Recruiters are also in charge of helping to train applicants to the clan that may not have had the necessary skills to pass a first tryout. To be Recruiter you must be of rank Sergeant or higher with the approval of Management.

Exam Engineer [EE] - A person that maintains the promotion CKE exams within current compliance of the By Laws. Also maintains the question bank for the SRE oral exams. To be a EE you must be of rank Major or higher with approval of not only of Management but the Council as well.

Ambassadors [AMB] - These members are responsible for maintaining and interfacing relations with other clans, organizations , and/or individuals outside of the clan that we may encounter. On a normal basis he/she should foster good relations by inviting clans to play on our servers, just as an example. However there are times when events have caused damage to our relations with other clans which only a very mature level headed person should handle. He/she must have a solid understanding of our bylaws and the philosophy behind them. Communications with other organizations to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings should only be conducted by these spokes persons. They will also only take on issues assigned by management, reporting back to management the status of each incident. Only ranks of 2nd Lieutenant and higher are eligible to be an Ambassador with the approval of Management.

Game Admin Trainers [GAT] - People who train new people who are granted game server admin rights. To be Game Admin Trainer you must be of rank Sergeant or higher with the approval of Management and must pass two GAT tests for two different games with a passing score of 90% or higher on each.

Distinguished Member [DM] - Respected members who have done a lot for the clan. They are usually too busy and do not play often. This sub-rank can be given to ANY rank member. To be in DM, a member requires approval of not only of Management but the Council as well.

Recruit Buddy - Someone of the rank PFC or Corporal that volunteers to help our a new recruit until they are promoted to the rank of Private. The Recruit Buddy will introduce the Recruit to members of all ranks and answer any basic questions that the Recruit has. Volunteers are made in the applicant discussion thread, one is chosen by the management member attending the tryout. A Positive PRR record is added to the Recruit Buddy's personal record.

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ARTICLE XI - ဠCLAN PROMOTION SYSTEM

Promotions within the ranks of ဠclan will be based on meeting certain criteria. The possible criteria that will be evaluated is as follows: Performance Rating Reports (PRR), Skill Rating Exam (SRE), Clan Knowledge Exam (CKE), Time In Rank (TIR), Time In Clan (TIC), Decorations and Awards (DaA), and a Management voted HOLD. The first 6 of these criteria are used based upon a 1000 point rating system. Each of the individual criteria have a certain number of points available for scoring, and when they are all added together become a 1000 point maximum scoring system. Each promotion to each rank may have a different score requirement, generally increasing as the ranks go higher.

The promotions will be scored and decided by a group of management referred to as the Promotion Review Board. The board will convene once a month to decide promotions. Members with a rank of E0 will be automatically progressed after one week by management on a weekly basis assuming no negative Personnel record entries exist; all other ranks, through O3, will need to apply for a promotion. Promotions for ranks E1 through E3 will apply or promotions on a weekly basis and will be evaluated by Management during a standard Management meeting. Promotions to ranks E4 through O4 will be evaluated once a month by the Promotion Review Board. Applications for ranks E1 through E3 must be submitted by midnight on Friday night on a weekly basis. Applications for each rank E4-O4 must be submitted by the midnight 3rd Friday of the Month. If any testing is required, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it is done in advance and it must be completed BEFORE submitting an application for promotion. Testing will be given for all applicants from E3 to O3. Ranks past O4 are the sole discretion of management based on need. In addition to these requirements, the Promotion Review Board will also consider any forced obligations upon certain ranks as laid out in the By-Laws for that rank and any preceding rank.

Special Ranks are reserved for members that choose to go down a level to reduce their work load or for other special circumstances where a full regression to the previous rank would not be appropriate.

Performance Rating Reports (PRR) - PRR's will be based on the personnel records which are records that Management maintains on each member of the clan. These records are for management members to put in both good and bad things about the member. Not all personnel records will be used for point calculation, instead each report will be assigned a value between 0 and 10 (0 being bad, 10 good). The past 10 reports maximum will be taken into consideration for each promotion.

Skill Rating Exam (SRE) - SRE's are 15-40 question oral exams based on the information that is needed to carry the rank that the member is applying for.

Clan Knowledge Exam (CKE) - CKE's are 50 Questions web based exams based upon information about the clan itself. These tests will encompass the By-Laws, Rank Structure, Server rules, etc...

Time In Rank (TIR) - TIR is based upon the time lines laid out by management as the average time a member will take in the clan to reach a given rank. This is NOT the minimum time needed, but is used for point calculation.  This is for ANY time served at that rank, even time served before a demotion or reinstatement.

Time In Clan (TIC) - TIC is based upon the time lines laid out by management as the average time a member will take at a given rank. This is NOT the minimum time needed, but is used for point calculation. This is for ANY time served in the clan, even time served before a demotion or reinstatement.

Decorations and Awards (DaA) - DaA's are a combination of awards the member has received and subranks that the member carries. Both of these received merits show a level of dedication of time to the clan.

HOLD - A management voted HOLD may be called upon, usually by IA, to be entered into the personnel records of a particular member. If a HOLD request is made to management it must be put to a poll on the forums and must receive a 60% or higher passing vote of 90% of the management members, or over a period of 7 days. If a HOLD is placed in the record of a member, then the member will not be eligible for promotion within that promotion cycle.

Ranks and Promotion Related Requirements

*NOTE - 1 Week is defined as 168 Hours!

Promotions Calculations

Calculations for promotions follow a rigorous formulaic layout. Below is a table that shows the weighting system used with each of the criteria for a final score. Note that the system used to arrive at each of the weighing criteria are different and the final score is simply the sum of all criteria results.

Calculation of the CKE and SRE are simply based on a percentage system on how many questions were answered correctly by exam versus the number of questions total. The DaA has a structure for extra points, see table below. The TIR and TIC are calculated from their goal, 260 for TIR and 60 for TIC, calculation of this number will be TIR/TIC point amount plus/minus 30 points for each additional week/week short, respectively. Cut off scores after the second decimal place. Do not use the third decimal place to round. computation of points for TIR and TIC: Count 4 days or more as 1 Week and drop periods of 3 days or less.

The PRR Reports are taken with each report added by each management member in their personnel records. Each report will be assigned a value between 0 and 10 (0 being bad, 10 good). The past 10 reports maximum will be taken into consideration for each promotion. Records that contain only positive reports and a C.O. recommendation will be automatically scored as 10. When a record contains both positive and negative or does not contain a C.O. recommendation entry then the positive reports will be scored on a 0 to 10 scale. When a record contains both positive and negative or does not contain a C.O. recommendation entry then the positive reports will be scored on a 0 to 10 scale. Each will be rated and listed in order from newest to oldest, for example it may be : 8, 3, 4, 9, 9, 5, 2, 2, 9, 1; these would correspond to PRR1, PRR2, PRR3, PRR4, PRR5, PRR6, PRR7, PRR8, PRR9, and PRR10 in the table below. Time-weighting factor (TW factor) begins with 50 for the most recent report and decreases in increments of 5 for each report being used (50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, & 5). If less than 10 PRR Reports are taken from the personnel records, then the UNused lines for step 1 and 2 are to be deleted (the entire lines). Recommendations are given to the ranks of E3 through O4. A Commanding Officer gives the recommendation for ranks E3 through O2, for Ranks O3 and O4 Management will provide the recommendation. CO Recommendations will be viewed by the Promotion Review Board as a PRR Record of the rating of 10 for the most recent Personnel record (PRR1) and will simply bump the real PRR records down one each. Under extenuating circumstances, Personnel Record entries may be marked by Management to be ignored by the PRB.  In order for Management to mark an entry to be ignored, a poll must be posted for 7 days to all of Management with a minimum passing score of 75% of the voters.

If, under circumstances of extreme rank imbalances in the clan (as determined by Management), Management can determine other means of filling in upper ranks on a as needed basis. The methodology for this filling will not be set but will be up to Management given the situation, but these methods may include accelerated promotions, skipping of ranks, Management assigned promotions, etc... Any time this needs to be done, this must be done with the consent of the Council.

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ARTICLE XII - RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ဠCLAN

ALL Members of the clan must conduct themselves in what is generally considered a ဠmanner and treat each other with respect. Disrespect among clan members is considered a serious offense by the management. Disrespect among members of the clan will be dealt with by IA until management can come to a consensus on steps to be taken to resolve any issues and any disciplinary actions that may be taken. Clan members are also expected to treat guests in servers, game or voice, with respect as well and are expected to follow our rules and guidelines of the clan in representation of ဠto that guest.

When engaged in competition play representing the ဠClan, whether in match or scrimmage, ဠMembers are expected to have taken every possible measure to reduce in game lag. If a member has a high ping or is noticeably lagging in the game (as determined by ဠcommander of the match or scrim) then that member will NOT be playing to prevent representing the clan poorly. If such measures are taken and result in an insufficient number of ဠmembers to participate in the match or scrim, then ဠwill play with fewer members or will forfeit the match. This rule will stand for every extension within the clan.

Clan members in each extension are expected to wear their tags in game, if a member is not wearing tags they will not be afforded any special clan member considerations while in the server under alias. Any members with game server admin privileges MUST wear their tags to enforce our rules and/or admin the server in any way, except in special circumstances as laid out by management. Different games require the gaming tags to be written in different ways, the standard Tag is ု . If this is not possible in a particular game, then the Extension Commander of that extension must come up with a tag that is as close as possible and receive the permission of Management for it to be of standard use. Any member representing the clan in competition play, match or scrim, will always wear their BC tags.

Clan members will NOT, under any circumstances, purposely cause problems with or issues for another clan, regardless of ßÇ's relationship with the other clan (being good or bad). Issues caused with other clans are detrimental to the clans integrity, destroys the image of the ßÇ clan to the community at large, and opens us up to possible retaliation. Management considers such acts to be an Intermediary or Major infraction, and disciplinary actions will follow.

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ARTICLE XIII - RULES FOR MEMBERS WITH GAME ADMIN PRIVILEGES

ßÇ members with Game Admin Privileges may make space in a server for a fellow ßÇ members wearing tags only, they are expected to kick someone out that is scoring poorly or has a bad ping.  If space is made for a member that is not wearing clan tags, that person will be asked to put their tags on, otherwise they will be kicked from the server.

ဠmembers with Game Admin Privileges are to follow the general rule of giving rule-breakers 3 warnings before kicking or banning them. Three warnings are expected unless the rule violator acknowledges they are breaking the rule and continues such behavior. Game Admins are expected to kick first except in situations of severe infraction. When a Game Admin bans a user they are expected to do the following: always use a time based ban, always record the name of the person they banned, what their infraction was, and what server it occurred in. The log is to be added to the proper sub forum on the forums within 24 hours. Game Admins should use a time based ban up to 30 days at their discretion depending upon the severity of the infraction. Permanent bans will be decided by Management or Extension Commanders of the particular game affected. As a guideline (not a rule), permanent bans are only considered when a user has accumulated a record of 3 bannable offenses (as recorded on the banned players subforums). Any removal of permanent game bans are decided by Management.

ဠMembers with Moderator privileges on the forums are to never delete any post or thread, instead the post or thread must be moved to the "Moved Threads" thread. When a thread is moved, the member that moved it MUST send a pm on the forum to the user and let them know why the thread was removed from normal view; this is NOT optional. ဠForum moderators may edit swear words out of a users post only if the language filter did not catch it, the word used and its exact spelling must be reported to Systems Management so that it may be filtered automatically in the future. Hacking, cracking or other nefarious activities detected on any clan resources (other than in game) can result in a permanent ban by members carrying the IT subrank. Any removal of permanent IT resource bans are decided by Management.

To kick/ban for cheating a demo must be made of the hack or, in the case of a game without a built in recording feature, two or more admins must agree that the person is cheating. The kick/ban can be AT MAXIMUM, 1 hour in length and if decided by two admin's, the confirming admin must be the first reply to the thread. Admin's that prove to not be able to recognize cheats/hacks by making more than two incorrect kick/ban will need to make a post in the forums of no less than 10 valid and confirmed recordings in the same game of a proven cheater they have found in a public server; confirmation (or delegation thereof) of these cheater recordings will be made by the Extension Commander for the extension the game is in. Each subsequent time an admin proves them self unable to recognize cheats/hacks the number of recordings from public servers will be increased by 10 (i.e., your first time, you must post 10 recordings, the second time is 20, the third time is 30, and so on...) Until the recordings post is completed the admin will lose the ability to kick or ban for cheating, hacking or suspicious behavior in any clan server.

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ARTICLE XIV - EXTENSIONS

ဠClan in and of itself is a Gaming clan of no particular focused interest other than general fun and game play encompassing all of Online Gaming. Extensions within ဠclan are to allow members of the clan to come together and form a group that has a special interest in game play. The formation of extensions is the decision of Management. Management will decide if there is sufficient interest within the clan for the formation and will award the sub rank of Extension Commander to an Officer of rank Captain or higher who carries the interest within the Extension.

Organization of the Extension is mostly up to the Extension Commander, but a certain level of organization is expected, by Management, to be maintained. The Extension Commander is expected to assign the sub rank of Extension Sub Commander to a small group of members, of rank Sergeant or higher, in the extension to help him/her run and delegate responsibilities within the Extension. A minimum of two Sub Commanders are to be chosen within any extension. Further, the Extension Commander is expected to assign the title of Practice Manager to at least one Sub Commander. Management also expects weekly meetings to be held between the Extension Commander and their Sub Commanders; furthermore, notes from these meetings are to be posted on the forums for review by anyone unable to attend the meeting and for review by Management if ever needed. Each extension is to hold a regular practice schedule. Management would also like to recommend that the Extension Commander also assign the positions of Tactics Manager and Scrim/Match Manager to two Sub Commanders as well.

Extension Commanders are to develop a tryout process and procedure. The process is to be documented on the forums where anyone capable of participating in the tryout may read it. Tryout procedures and processes must be approved by Management and must be submitted for approval by Management within 2 weeks of the formation of an Extension. All changes to the tryout processes must also be approved by management.

Extensions are expected to govern themselves but Management of the clan is always available to help maintain structure within the Extension at the request of the Extension Commander or the Sub commanders. Extension Commanders OR Sub Commanders may feel free to address Management any time with any concerns or to ask for any help that may be needed in the governing of the Extension. Decisions regarding the map rotations, types of game play, and general aspects of the game servers for that extensions are to be decided by the Extension Commander for that extension after having taken a consensus of the affected clan members by poll on the forums. Changes on the server to maintain the integrity of the server, consistency with the clan rules or other global changes within a single game server can be made by an Extension Commander without such a consensus. Extensions Commanders are expected to maintain and update any changes to these servers according to the desires of the clan or maintaining consistency with our rules. If it is believed that the Extension Commander of a particular extension has not made changes according to the clans best interest, then management may decide proper administration of any affected game servers.

Most clan owned resources are used towards our official extensions however Management can decide, after taking a consensus from affected clan members, to setup a game server for a game that has significant interest within the clan. Managements desire in this is to hope that any server setup on clan resources in this way is towards the goal of developing an Extension for the clan in the future, but this is not a strict requirement.

Examples of extensions: Battlefield 2142 Extension - An extension of members that focus on playing Battlefield 2142 and its game play including, but not limited to, general and league game play. The Extension itself determines their own tactics and practice schedules and delegates responsibilities of trainers and such within themselves. Rules for any dedicated servers owned by ဠClan are to be a collaborative effort between that extension's Commander / Sub Commanders and the Management of the clan itself.

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ARTICLE XV - APPLICATIONS TO ဠCLAN AND TRYOUTS

Applications for membership or reinstatement into ဠClan will be made and must pend for a minimum of 1 week (a full 168 hours) for new applicants or a minimum of 1 week (a full 168 hours) for reinstatement applications before any consideration. Management will, at the next management meeting proceeding the conclusion of the waiting period, post a poll to the entire clan for everyone to vote on that applicant receiving a tryout. For an applicant tryout to be approved, the applicants poll must have at least 25% more of the active members of the clan voting 'yes' compared to the 'no' votes. The poll will be run for 7 days ONLY AFTER which time the poll results will be taken (this gives all clan members up to 1 week to reconsider and change their vote if needed). In the case that an applicant is denied a tryout for any reason, they may re-apply to the clan in 7 days and begin their 1 week waiting period again. Management may also, before approval or denial and in the case of extenuating circumstances, vote to place a HOLD on an applicant in which case the poll will be closed and the applicant will be eligible to re-apply in 7 days. Management can, if needed vote an EXTENSION to the poll to allow the poll to remain on the forums for an additional week. When an applicant applies for the clan the third time (and each subsequent time), if they fail to reach sufficient votes to be allowed a tryout, Management may lengthen the time beyond the 7 day minimum to which they must wait before re-applying which can include 30 days, 60 days, 6 months or never. If an applicant has been permanently banned on our servers, their application is permanently denied.

While we will kick and make room in servers for ßÇ, an applicant that is in the server already and on Teamspeak with the proper APPL_ tag will not be kicked out of a game server just to make room for a member.

Tryouts to become a member of ဠClan are to be decided by Management since the direction of the clan will evolve over time. Tryouts for any extension are to be run with a predetermined minimum and maximum number of members of the clan (dependent upon the extension) of the Rank of Sergeant First Class or higher and/or Extension Sub Commanders of that particular extension; at least one of these members must be in Management. An observer of rank Sergeant or higher may be allowed to observe the tryout if approved by the attending management member, bringing the maximum clan members allowed in a tryout to 4, the observer may not participate in the tryout process or voting at the end of the tryout. The primary purpose of ဠClan is to have fun, so the tryouts are to never be too strict on an individuals skill set, but should primarily be based on attitude, personality, and, of course, their sense of humor. In the case of reinstatement to the clan a tryout is not required, if sufficient votes have been received to approve the applicant for reinstatement then the member will be placed at the rank of Recruit.

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ARTICLE XVI - RULES WITHIN ဠGAMING/VOICE SERVERS

Disclaimer: ဠClan is NOT responsible for the conduct of non-members on the servers, but we do make every attempt to have everyone comply with our family friendly rules. When we started out the clan we decided that we wouldn't be to militant regarding common words that are technically swear words, we established some guidelines that we expect our members and guests to follow. We distinguish between normal mainstream swearing and what we define as vulgar or obscene.

The following are NOT allowed on our servers (EXCEPT THE NO RULES SERVER(s)):

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