So, yes, it's true! we now have a formalized set of rules and guidelines laying out the structure of our organization. Rad, right? A big thanks to everyone in the community who helped shape this constitution, especially The Svelte Ms. Spelt and Lisa Slater who spearheaded the whole project.
Constitution of Vancouver Poetry SlamMission
The Vancouver Poetry Slam promotes the creation and sharing of poetry, encouraging the diversity, openness and accessibility of artistic expression and artistic community in Vancouver and beyond, promoting excellence through honourable competition and artistic development.
Membership
All Van Slam Family meetings are open to any and all members of the Vancouver Poetry Community. They are free to attend, listen and contribute their opinions to any discussion at hand. However, for the purposes of voting only those who have attended a minimum of 4 Vancouver Poetry Slams (either as an audience member, poet, or volunteer ) shall be entitled to cast a ballot during Van Slam Family meetings. For the purposes of voting, quorum is 6 members. Meetings will be announced a minimum of one week in advance, and will be posted on
www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
Officers
There are two officer positions for the Vancouver Slam Family – the International Slammaster and the National Slammaster. Both of these representatives are elected by the Vancouver Slam Family to serve two year terms, and must be elected with at least 50% of the vote. Run-off elections will be held as necessary.
The International Slammaster is responsible for conducting all Vancouver Poetry Slam business related to PSI or any of its tournaments, including attending the annual Slammasters meeting/s, registering the local venue, ensuring team members are PSI members, coordinaties with National Slammaster to schedule Win & You’re In bouts with other PSI-certified teams, and other duties as required. The International Slammaster is also responsible, in conjunction with the National Slammaster, for scheduling and publicizing quarterly Vancouver Slam Family meetings.
The National Slammaster is responsible for scheduling and paying features, scheduling playoffs to select representatives for tournaments, hosting shows and/or securing an alternate host, collecting and depositing the door revenue, and other duties as required to run Vancouver Poetry Slams. The National Slammaster is also responsible for keeping track of standings, publicizing events, and coordinating external promotional events. In conjunction with the International Slammaster, the National Slammaster will also schedule and publicize quarterly Vancouver Slam Family meetings.
Officers will act in the best interests of the Vancouver Poetry Slam, in accordance with the PSI Code of Honour. The Vancouver SlamFamily will approve an annual budget to be presented by the Slammasters. All expenditures that do not fall within this budget must be approved by the Slam Family.The Slam Family will also approve any significant changes in the format of the Vancouver Poetry Slam, such as rule changes and tournament structure changes.
The election of the International Slammaster will take place in September of odd years (2009, 2011, 2013, etc). The election of the National Slammaster will take place in April of even years (2008, 2010, 2012, etc). In the case of one of the officers stepping down before the completion of his or her term, an interim officer will be elected for the duration of the term. This interim officer would be eligible to run for a full term once a regular election came up.
Committees
The Rules Committee
The Vancouver Poetry Slam will maintain a standing rules committee of at least five members. The committee will be made up of regular Van Slam emcees, the Slammasters, and two members elected by the Slam Family. These members will be elected in January of odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, 2013, etc). The committee’s duties comprise-
1) Providing information and clarification on the rules to any and all members of the Vancouver Poetry Slam
2) Guiding discussion regarding potential changes to Van Slam’s format, outlining their implications and making recommendations to the Van Slam Family.
3) Acting in turns as the emcee for the Vancouver Poetry Slam and its attendant playoffs.
4) Emcees will rule on the rules at all regular-season (non-playoff) bouts they are officiating and are empowered to assign the relevant penalties in accordance with the rules on the night they are overseeing. The emcee’s rulings are final.
5) At all playoffs, the emcee and two members of the Rules Committee (previously designated by the Chair of the Rules Committee in conjunction with the Slammasters) will be the Protest Committee. Any alleged rule violation must be brought to the Protest Committee by the end of the playoff (before scores are announced). The Protest Committee will convene immediately after the bout will deliver a decision within an hour of the end of the playoff.
6) In the event of an alleged Code of Honour violation-
Within one week of the allegation being lodged, a minimum of three members of the rules committee will convene as a panel and hear from both sides in the dispute. Members of the rules committee who are stakeholders in the dispute will step down from the panel. The committee panel will then discuss the relevant issues at hand and bring a full report to the Van Slam Family and both slammasters and guide discussion and debate to a ruling that can be ratified by a 2/3rds majority. Penalties for an Honour Code violation can range from temporary suspension from Van Slam events, to suspension from playoff participation, to volunteer and community service. Those who are ruled against in the event of an Honour Code violation have two choices-abide by the ruling or cease to attend the Van Slam until the ruling is abided by. Any member of the rules committee who is found to be in violation of the honour code must step down from the committee for a period of not less than 1 year.
All other committees can be struck by vote of the Slam Family, to deal with issues that cannot be addressed within the confines of a Slam Family meeting and require broader community input than only the Slammasters. Committee chairs will report to the Slammasters on a regular basis, and will report to the Slam Family at each meeting.
Amending the Constitution
This constitution may be amended at any Vancouver Slam Family meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. One month's notice of motion shall be required except where all of the members present and voting agree to accept the motion from the floor.
Financial Management
A budget will be prepared outlining all expenses over the course of a year, including a specified discretionary spending amount for Slam Masters. It will be approved by the Slam Family. Additional expenditures will have to be approved by the Slam Family.
Code of HonourAs a participant in the Vancouver Poetry Slam, I agree:
1. To revel in an environment in which freedom of speech, self-determination, and pursuit of creative excellence are inalienable rights.
2. To participate in all VPS events in a way that encourages, illuminates and supports established standards of good sportsmanship. To refuse to allow the competitive challenge of the game to lead me to violence, interference, or direct threats. To allow all participants to pursue their craft peacefully and without censure, regardless of present associations or past personal history.
3. To comply with local, provincial and federal laws pertaining to individual civil rights and physical or sexual harassment.
4. To abide by competition rules as defined by Poetry Slam, Inc. and the Vancouver Poetry Slam, knowing that the consequences for breaking the rules exist and are upheld. Penalties will be determined by the severity of the infraction, and the ruling of the presiding emcee and, where applicable, the presiding protest committee.
5. To be a fair poet--one who in competition is fair and generous, one who in any connection has recourse to nothing illegitimate; a poet who in defeat demonstrates grace and in victory magnanimity
