As the web became an element of the SCA’s communications portfolio in the late 1990s, it was added to the bailiwick of the Chronicler’s office. Even as the early versions of the Webministry began to emerge, the Society Chronicler continued to set policy in this year.
In 2002, the Society Chronicler, Nika Dmitrieva doch’ Zvezdina, assembled a list of actions from Board meetings in the years from 1998 to 2002 that affected web communication and publishing, which was then circulated by the Corporate VP of Communications.
(My thanks to Magistra Nika for sharing this document online, which I have reformatted slightly to match the style used on this site.)
The following compilation contains all of the internet-related policies that have been formally approved by the Board of Directors of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. Each entry starts with the text of the approved policy, followed by the date of the Board meeting where the policy was upheld, and the line item of the board minutes where the item may be found. These policies will form the basis of the Electronic Publications Policy document that is currently being drafted.
Ross E. Wilkins
Vice President for Communications, SCA, Inc.
Advertising on SCA-recognized web sites:
Web sites recognized by the Society shall not display banner ads or other forms of advertising unless such ads are required as a condition of the hosting agreement by the site’s Internet Service Provider (ISP).
— Upheld April 18, 1998 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLE Society Chronicler)
Clarification of the status of Kingdom Webministers:
Kingdom Webministers will remain part of the Kingdom Chronicler’s staff and will report to the Electronic Publications Manager (EPM). Warrants for the Kingdom Webministers will be signed by the Crown and the EPM. In accordance with Corpora VLC.1, the office of Kingdom Webminister may be elevated to the status of a Great Office of State by the Crown in accordance with kingdom law and custom. Kingdom Webministers so elevated will no longer be considered part of the Kingdom Chronicler’s staff but will continue to report to the EPM.
— Upheld October l6, 1999 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG Vice President for Communications)
Replace section LD.1 of the Society Chronicler’s Policies with the following: D. Electronic Publications
1. Responsibility for Oversight
The Kingdom Chronicler shall: act as the recognizing authority for the Kingdom’s internet sites; be responsible for overseeing the kingdom-level internet site; maintain a roster of recognized group sites for the kingdom; monitor those sites for compliance with applicable SCA and Kingdom policies; and report on such to the Society Electronic Publications Manager. It is highly recommended that the Kingdom Chronicler appoint a deputy to handle these responsibilities. If a deputy is appointed, he shall report to both the Kingdom Chronicler, and the Society Electronic Publications manager.
— Upheld April 15, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG Vice President for Communications)
Accessibility of web sites:
As a non-profit educational organization, the Society for Creative Anachronism should be concerned that its electronic publications are as accessible to persons with disabilities as possible. This policy sets the minimum accessibility guidelines for SCA-recognized Internet sites.
The World Wide Web Consortium has released Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to persons with disabilities. The guidelines are intended for all web content developers (page authors and site designers) and are quoted below:
[Priority 1] – Conformance Level A
A web content developer must satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it impossible to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint is a basic requirement for some groups to be able to use web documents.
[Priority 2] – Conformance Level Double-A
A web content developer should satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing web documents.
[Priority 3] – Conformance Level Triple-A
A web content developer may address this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it somewhat difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will improve access to web documents.”
Using these guidelines, all corporate-sponsored Internet sites must comply with conformance level Double-A of the WCAG. Kingdom-level Internet sites must comply with conformance level A of the WCAG. Local group Internet sites are encouraged to be as accessible as possible to persons with disabilities, in accordance with applicable kingdom law. The recommended tool for evaluating a site and correcting incompatibilities can be found at . For further assistance contact the Electronic Publications Manager.
— Upheld April 15, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
Publication Permission for Personal Information:
Personal information will not be published on any SCA-recognized Internet site without first gaining permission from the individuals involved. Permission must be received in writing – email is acceptable. Permission to electronically publish the contact information of an individual is in effect until that same individual revokes permission.
For the purposes of this policy, personal information includes the following:
• Correlation of modern name to Society name
• Home or work address
• Phone numbers
• Personal email addressIt is permissible to list just a person’s Society name in connection with any office they hold without permission, i.e. – Group Seneschal, Lord Robert the Volunteer”; as well as “role” email addresses such as chronicler@sca.org
— Upheld April 15, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
— Clarification upheld July 22, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
— Clarification upheld January 20, 2002 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
Internet Site Recognition:
For an Internet site to be recognized by the Society for Creative Anachronism, it must represent an established branch of the Society and must have a warranted web minister responsible for its content. The Society for Creative Anachronism will not recognize Internet sites for households or guilds. Group officers with an Internet site for that office are responsible for ensuring that the site complies with Society guidelines.
— Upheld April 15, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
— Clarification upheld July 22, 2000 Quarterly Board Meeting (VLG.3 Electronic Publications Manager)
Photographs and Portrait-Style Artwork:
Web pages containing photographic images or portrait-style artwork must contain a clear and obvious means by which the subject(s) of the image may contact the web minister to request the removal of any image in which the subject(s) appear. Should the Web Minister receive such a removal request the image must be removed from the site, or the image must be modified in such a way as to render the subject unrecognizable. Such modification may only be made with the permission of the copyright holder. If such permission is not obtained, the image must be removed from the site.
— Upheld (as revised) February 24, 2002 Conference Call Meeting (ILB, remanded from 1-19-02 meeting, VLG.3)
Required Disclaimer for websites recognized by the 3CA:
All websites that are recognized by the SCA are required to display the following disclaimer and copyright statement. This statement should be displayed on the home page of the site, but may instead be displayed on a separate page provided that an obvious link to such a disclaimer page is provided on the home page.
This is the recognized website for the <group name> of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and is maintained by <Modern and/or SCA Name of web minister>. This site may contain electronic versions of the group’s governing documents. Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version.
Copyright © <Year> <group name>. The original contributors retain the copyright of certain portions of this site.
For information on using photographs, articles, or artwork from this website, please contact the web minister at <web minister’s email address>. They will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors.
— Upheld February 24, 2002 Conference Call Meeting (ILC, remanded from 1-19-02 meeting, VLG.3)