":)
High Command NewsFlash 3/4/02

============== Community Meeting ===============

Community meetings are scheduled for the second Sunday of every month.
The next meeting will be Sunday, March 10th, That's this Sunday!

================= Uniforms Office ===============

Rebel Squadrons Uniform Officer, Kirvan "Apocalypse" Vax has resigned.
While it is unfortunate that Apoc felt it necessary to resign from this position, there have been some developments on

getting uniforms back online.

Originally when Apoc came on board a proposal was made for automating the Uniforms system using the Roster Database.
This original proposal came from then Second Lieutenant (Now Captain) Jae-Keito Gra. In researching this Jae-K and I found

it to be possible using the tools we have available on the server already.

The plan was to restructure the uniforms to have a uniform (no pun intended) system for locating medals and patches, to allow

for automation. Unfortunately difficulty in getting needed information for design templates and computer crashes on Apoc's

end severely hindered this.

Lieutenant General Remarda Jundun reiterated a suggestion for automation of the uniforms system and made an example page late

last week showing how it can be done. http://www.rebelsquadrons.org/rscd/xo_files/uniformtest.htm

Note that the last two images are actually php files which are generating the images.

This is the direction the RS Uniforms will be heading in the not too distant future. Any comments, questions, etc can be

directed through the Email HC form on the Roster Database.

================= Member Suggestions ============

From: Brigadier General Garrik "Face" Loran
Issue: Discrepancy in Bylaws
Status: Forwarded to HC and under debate

This issue is rather contested at the moment. Some believe that this problem is not in fact a problem, and that (For example)

a Fleet CO should not be allowed to promote at level 1. However many refute this claim and point out that, realistically,

the Fleet CO could have the person promoted by the Squad CO, and that therefore the Fleet CO should be able to promote at

all levels up to 3 (4 being reserved for the RSFC), since any other way involves extra "red tape." The proponents of these

revisions also point out that it probably would be more meaningful if the promotion comes from the Fleet CO if the reasons

are for fleet-level activity. They also hold that promotions granted for fleet level work should be awarded at the Fleet

level and so on.

As a refresher:

"Face pointed out some discrepancies in the RS Bylaws on promotions. Most markedly the bylaws state that only Squad COs can

promote at level 1, Wing COs at level 2, etc. This is not how the RS is currently operating. The roster database is      

programmed in the *intent* of these bylaws, such that level 1 ranks are awarded by the primary Squad CO, Wing CO, Fleet CO,

or RSFC provided the required time in rank has elapsed.

Those bylaw lines are as follows

4.3.1 Level 1 ranks are to be awarded only by the primary squadron CO. A member may skip one rank during a promotion cycle at

the discretion of the CO. This is to be used for those who advance quickly to positions of responsibility in the squadron.

Level 1 ranks are to be awarded for activity at the squadron level or above, at the discretion of the Squadron CO. Minimum

time in each rank is two weeks.

4.4.1 Level 2 ranks are to awarded only by the Wing CO in the primary Chain of Command. A member may not skip any rank at      

this level. Level 2 ranks are to be awarded for activity at the wing level or above, at the discretion of the Wing CO.      

Minimum time in each rank is one month.

4.5.1 Level 3 ranks are to awarded only by the Fleet CO in the primary Chain of Command. A member may not skip any rank at      

this level. Level 3 ranks are to be awarded for activity at the fleet level or above, at the discretion of the Fleet CO.      

Minimum time in each rank is 2 months.

4.6.1 Level 4 ranks are to awarded only by the RS F.C. or a member of High Command. A member may not skip any rank at this      

level. Level 4 ranks are to be awarded for activity at the club level, at the discretion of the FC. Minimum time in each rank

is 4 months.

Another possible discrepancy in 4.6.1 as you see above is that it doesn't clearly state that the RSFC must approve of level 4

promotions (through the roster database he/she awards them himself/herself) While this is the intent, the "discretion of

the FC" might be read by some to state Fleet CO, while it really means Fleet Commander. Fleet COs are referred to in the

bylaws as the Fleet Commanding Officer, the only "Fleet Commander" is the Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander. As the roster

database is programmed in the intent of the bylaws there may not be an immediate need to specify this (by replacing "FC"

with "R.S.F.C") but as the other issue is present with this (and the other three) clauses it might be prudent to "kill two

birds with one stone."


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Feel free to direct suggestions or concerns to HC via any of the following options.

1) Use the "Email HC" feature of the Roster Database: http://www.rebelsquadrons.org/roster/mail.php?type=hc
2) Email your Primary Fleet CO and ask them to forward your comments on.
3) Contact HC members on IRC or an Instant Messaging client like AOL or ICQ (both of which appear in roster profiles if      

supplied).
4) The new "Community Meetings" on IRC. They are currently being held on Sundays from 6-9PM EST (GMT -0500) in #outerrim

":)
Vice Admiral Shikkie Kaaran, RSXO