Realm

What is a "Realm"?

Belegarth realms are simply locations where members can meet and practice their fighting skills. These chapters are located throughout the U.S., as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. A listing of all known realms can be found here. Also, refer to our compiled Map of the Realms for a better view.

Realm Requirements

Article 15: Realms

• 15.1. A Realm is a community or territory that has an active status in the BMCS.
• 15.2. An active realm in BMCS:
  • 15.2.1. Must have and maintain at least ten (10) active members.
    • 15.2.1.1. An active member is defined as a person who has signed a waiver and either attends practice once a month during the practice season and/or attends three inter-realm events in a calendar year.
    • 15.2.1.2. Minimum active membership shall not include members of another realm.
  • 15.2.2. Must register with the BMCS by contacting an Officer of BMCS.
  • 15.2.3. Must use the rules for combat based on those contained within the Book of War of the BMCS for any inter-realm event they run.
    • 15.2.3.1. Realms may have their own set of rules specific to their location.
    • 15.2.3.2. These rules may be used in place of the national BMCS rules at inter-realm events only if differences are posted for other attending realms to see at least one month prior to the event.
    • 15.2.3.3. Any event sponsored and funded by BMCS as a national event shall use the full national BMCS rules, without modification.
  • 15.2.4. Must not be within 20 miles of another BMCS realm. Alternatively, if the realm in question is within 20 miles of another BMCS realm, it must have at least ten (10) active members separate from the other realm.
  • 15.2.5. Must have a regularly scheduled practice at least once per month as space and weather permits.
  • 15.2.6. Must have a written constitution and/or bylaws, which shall not be inconsistent or conflict with these Bylaws. Each Realm's bylaws or constitution will be submitted to the WC for review prior to being granted speaking or voting status.
• 15.3. Becoming a Speaking Realm.
  • 15.3.1. Meet all the criteria from section 15.2 with the following exceptions or additions.
    • 15.3.1.1. Must submit their bylaws to the WC at the time of being nominated for speaking rights. Failure to do so invalidates their nomination.
    • 15.3.1.2. Must have been an active realm for a period of one calendar year before being nominated for speaking rights.
    • 15.3.1.3. An Officer of BMCS, and/or voting member of the WC must sponsor a new realm before they are granted a seat on the WC.
  • 15.3.2. Speaking realms are allowed two (2) representatives to the private WC Forum. They may voice their realm's opinions, but may not make motions, or vote, on any business.
• 15.4. Becoming a Voting Realm.
  • 15.4.1. Meet all the criteria from section 15.2 and 15.3 with the following exceptions or additions:
    • 15.4.1.1. The realm in question is sponsored by a currently voting realm.
    • 15.4.1.2. The realm in question has maintained speaking rights in good standing for one calendar year before being brought up for voting rights
    • 15.4.1.3. A WC vote of 2/3rds majority is needed to move a realm from speaking status to voting status.
• 15.5. Duties and responsibilities of a sponsor realm:
  • 15.5.1. Designate points of contacts for both the sponsor and sponsored realms.
  • 15.5.2. Exchange contact information including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email.
  • 15.5.3. Make an attempt to visit the sponsored realm's practice or event at least once every six months.
  • 15.5.4. Once this is done, the sponsorship needs to be addressed by the WC and a vote taken.
  • 15.5.5. A simple majority vote by WC is needed to give a realm speaking rights.
  • 15.5.6. Any voting realm may nominate any speaking realm for voting status as long as the requirements of 15.5 are met.
• 15.6 Duties of a Voting Realm
  • 15.6.1 Each Realm is only allowed one vote.
  • 15.6.2 Each Realm is allowed two (2) representatives to the private WC Forums.
  • 15.6.3 A voting realm is considered in attendance at all online votes so long as By-law 10.3.1 has been followed.
  • 15.6.4 Realms must always strive to be respondent.
    • 15.6.4.1 If a realm plans to abstain, they should respond as such.
  • 15.6.5 WC Representatives must contact the Vice President or Secretary as immediately with changes to their representation.
• 15.7. Removal of a Realm:
  • 15.7.1. All votes to remove voting rights for any reason require a 2/3rds majority vote by the WC.
    • 15.7.1.1. If for some reason a realm does not fulfill the requirements of section 15.2, 15.3, 15.5, or 15.6 the WC may remove the voting status of the realm in question.
    • 15.7.1.2. If a Realm knowingly violates local or federal law, the realm may lose voting rights by order of the WC.
    • 15.7.1.3. Voting rights may be removed if WC determines that a realm does not represent BMCS in a positive manner.
  • 15.7.2. If a realm is dissolved or states its wish to no longer be associated with the BMCS in writing, the realm will forfeit its voting and speaking rights.
  • 15.7.3. A realm may voluntarily choose to reduce its status from voting to speaking rights. To regain its voting rights, it must follow the procedures in sections 15.2, 15.3 and 15.5 of this article.
  • 15.7.4. A realm that does not respond to at least 50% of votes across four consecutive voting periods will be notified by a member of the Board of Directors regarding their low response rate. If the realm does not increase its response rate to above 50% across four consecutive voting periods within two voting periods of the BoD notification, that realm will automatically forfeit its voting rights. To regain its voting rights, it must follow the procedures in sections 15.2, 15.3 and 15.5 of this article.
    • 15.7.4.1 The election of officers will not be counted for the purposes of 15.7.4.

See also: Speaking Realms, Voting Realms, Non-Belegarth Realms