Membership

Associate Membership to the general populace of the Kingdom of Onondaga is open to any adult who wishes to share with us in the experience, objectives and vision of the Kingdom.

Associate members may become eligible for Active Membership having once completed one (1) year of service as defined below.

Active Members will receive a membership card denoting any applicable rank or title and as an Active Member in the Kingdom, the individual will also be eligible for consideration of further rank, title & membership to Court and Council as outlined in Article 4 of the bylaws.

All Associate and Active Members will receive the Official Award of the Realm, that being a 1.0”x 1.75” commemorative pin of the shield of Onondaga that should be displayed openly anywhere on the individuals character costume. Members of further rank & title will have additional tassels or ribbons in tincture color designating their status in the Kingdom.

As was customary during the medieval and renaissance periods, there was a ceremony for just about everything and the Kingdom of Onondaga is no different! The passing from Associate Membership to Active Membership status will include a brief membership indoctrination ceremony similar to that of the knighting ceremonies of ole.

The Procedures

•  Members of the general populace of the Kingdom of Onondaga will receive the official award of the Realm, that being a 1.0”x1.75” pin containing the crest of the Kingdom of Onondaga and should be displayed in plain view on any part of their character costume.

•  Associate Membership in the Kingdom is open to any minor child of an adult who is also a member or any other person who wishes to support the Realm without becoming an active member. Members of Court and of Royal Rank may be eligible to receive additional award according to Article 10.

•  Eligibility for Active Membership in the Kingdom will require a minimum of one (1) years service to the Kingdom after having first become an associate member . A “years service” is further defined as active participation – in character – at any festival, faire or other sponsored event attended by the Kingdom for a minimum of three (3) times in any one (1) calendar year. Single attendance at three (3) separate events or the combination of multiple attendances at a single event will constitute a year's service.

Example : Attendance for three (3) days in one season to the Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF), or one (1) day attendance to TRF, one day attendance to the Scarborough Festival (SRF) and one (1) day attendance to the Louisiana Renaissance Festival (LARF) including any combination to equal three (3) days of attendance in a single calendar year with Members of the Court of Onondaga.

•  Upon completion of attendance requirements, Associate Members may become eligible for Active Membership. Acceptance as an Active Member of the Kingdom means that the Member has demonstrated the willingness to actively participate in events as a Member of the Kingdom of Onondaga and shares a common interest in achieving the vision and stated objectives of the Kingdom.

•  Active Membership may be conferred upon eligible Associate Members by the Liege Lord. In the event the Liege Lord is unavailable, he may appoint a Member of Court to lead the Membership Indoctrination Ceremony of the eligible Associate Member.

Membership Indoctrination Ceremony:

•  Eligible Members will take a knee in front of the Liege Lord.

•  The Liege Lord will issue the following charge:

May ye always be loyal and true to thy brethren

Temper justice with mercy as God will judge thee

Speak with hesitation, listening with thine eyes and heart

Faithfully obey and defend thy Liege Lord

Acting honorably and with discretion always

•  The Liege Lord will then tap the member on first the right shoulder and then the left shoulder before announcing the member to rise as an Active Member of the Kingdom of Onondaga.

•  Upon completion of the Membership Indoctrination Ceremony, Active Members will receive a membership card designating their rank and title as applicable. Active Members also become eligible for consideration of appointment to the Court and Council of Onondaga.

•  Members of Court must be a current Active Members and may only be appointed by the by the Liege Lord.

•  All adult Active Members have the right and are encouraged to speak in meetings held by the Kingdom of Onondaga . All adult active members have the right to vote in said meetings. Minor children and associate members of the general populace may NOT vote in meetings.

•  All members are required to abide by the Rules of Conduct of the Kingdom of Onondaga as set forth in Article 9.

•  Membership in the Kingdom of Onondaga does not limit, and actually encourages membership in other like Organizations that share, maintain and profess the same objectives as stated in Article 3.

•  In the event of conflict between Organizations it is expected that the participants follow the above oath and trust that a right a just decision will be reached and the conflict be resolved.

•  If however, there is still difficulty in resolving any dispute the decision of the Liege Lord will become final as the Kingdom of Onondaga operates under the laws governing a feudal system for the sake of said conflict resolution.

•  The ruling of the Liege Lord will be made in the best interest of the integrity of the Kingdom of Onondaga first then of its members and as such is final and beyond contestation.

•  A member may be expelled from the Kingdom for any of the following:

•  A member may be expelled by a decree of the Liege Lord having been provided just cause by the Master at Arms, Royal Guard or any other Member of Court. “Just Cause” is further defined as any act, either actual or perceived that will cause harm or compromise the integrity of the Kingdom of Onondaga or any Member of the Realm .

•  Grounds to expel include violating any of the Rules of Conduct. Violation of Article 9 Rules 14 and 17 are grounds for immediate expulsion.

•  A Member may not be expelled on the sole basis of trivial grounds. Differences of opinion are considered trivial grounds. Being a Member of “loyal opposition” to the Liege Lord is trivial grounds.