The Constitution of the CSFA
We hereby found the Confederate States Fencing Association as a social group to
provide for the fencers and non-fencers alike a different atmosphere and
environment than one is accustomed to in a regular club. The organization is
founded upon the following principle articles.
Article I
Non Structured Organizaton
The CSFA is founded to be a non structured organization that does not reflect
the typical hierarchy associated with organized sporting or other groups. As
such every member within the CSFA is of equal importance with the exception
that the members of the Council described below.
Membership in the CSFA
is lifelong and can only be revoked by a written unanimous vote of all living
members. For the purpose of
arriving at decisions, there will be a meeting which contains at least all of
the Council members. The Council is the core membership group
of senior members which starts out as the founding membership. Persons cannot
be removed from the Council but if persons leave active participation
from the CSFA they will automatically be designated as Members at Large
and no longer members of the Council or regular membership. The Council can appoint new members to
the Council by unanimous vote. Decisions are made based upon a vote by the
membership; each members vote counts equally. Council members have the
right to VETO any decision. Decisions do not have to be unanimous; the exact
requirments needed to proceed are determined by the membership present at any
given meeting. Meetings can be held at any time an in any location.
There is never to be a division of membership where anyones voice is less
significant than any other persons voice.
Article II
Enjoy Life
Life is too short; enjoy it. Every event, function, meeting or other operation
related to the CSFA should be enjoyable and viewed by all with a certain
detachment and lack seriousness. Don't get angry or upset about any decisions
or events; it just is not worth it. We do not want anyone who cannot have a
good time. Fence, drink, dance, and be merry!
Article III
Honor
Honor is something that should be foremost in the minds of all CSFA members and
events associated with the organization. Truth, integrity and ones word should
be valued above all else and it is expected that all members behave in a manner
that reflects this. Costs and burdens of the organization are to be shared
equally across the entire participating membership but members have the option
of carrying more than thier weight to assist others. Debts are to be honored
and paid. A word given is a sacred bond and must not be broken. To act
dishonorably is one of the gravest offences a member can make as it goes
against the very founding principles of this organization.
Article IV
Costs
The CSFA is a nonprofit organization. We do not want to manage or aquire any
standing funds of any sort. Events and meetings should always be free to
attend whenever possible. Donation from members and other organizations are
gladly accepted. If fees are imposed on events it must only be such as
to defray the material costs incurred for putting on the event. No salaries or
expenses will be paid to anyone.
Article V
Tournaments
As one if it's primary missions, the CSFA is a social organization and to that
end strives to offer fencers competition and enjoyment outside of the standard
tournament format. To this end, the CSFA tries to hold regular tournaments for
the membership. These tournaments will be based upon the CSFA Rules of the
Duel and these rules are subject to modification by the membership between any tournaments. It is understood that the tournaments will introduce a certain
amount of jeopardy for all participants but each participant understands the
dangers involved and accepts responsibility for what happens to them.
Article VI
Currency
The CSFA can print its own currency which is not legal tender for any public
debts but is soley usable for private debts amoung membership of the CSFA and
those individuals who choose to accept the CSFA tender. The exchange rate will
be fixed at 10:1 US Dollars ($) to CSFA Dollars ($CS) where $0.10 (a dime) is
worth one $CS and $1 is worth $CS10 and so on. The currency printing will be
tightly controlled and issues will be numbered serially and designed in such a
way as to make duplication or counterfeiting difficult. Exchange is one way
only; from $ to $CS but not reverse. Tender can be awarded at events as prizes
or purchased from the CSFA Treasurer, who is a designated member of the
Council and is in charge of maintaining the currency deposit and
printing more issues. The CSFA is under no obligation to, nor will it, honor
any CSFA currency with the legal tender of any Soverign state and it is not the
intention of the CSFA to cause its tender to be mistaken or used in lieu of the
legal tender of any sovereign state.
CSFA currecy denominations will be based in appearance upon the US currency but
notes issued will be variations from US currency to such an extent as to
prevent accidental missinterpretation of CSFA currency for US currency. There
may be no references to the United States of America or the Federal Reserve
Bank on any of the CSFA issues. The images on the CSFA issues must be chosen
such that they reflect the spirit upon which the CSFA was founded and the
ideals of the current membership. Images for new notes must be approved by the
Council. Denominations are to be of the amounts $CS 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100,
1000 with notes for 1 and 20 issued first followed by 5, 10 and then the
remaining denominations in any order the treasurer sees fit.
© 1996, 1997 - The Confederates States Fencing Association
Back to the CSFA Home Page