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| Determine if you are eligible to form a new branch: |
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| 2.A. |
Look at the geographic area: what are the desired borders? This must be a single, contiguous area grouped by
zip codes. Meaning that there can be no holes; all zip codes must touch each other. Create a map, so you can quickly show people the areas
that you are discussing. |
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| 2.B. |
Which other branches will be affected? Will you be requesting zip codes from another branch?
Are you too close to another active branch? You will need the input/permission from the branches that you are adjacent to, or affect.
This would be a good time to start speaking with them, if you have not already. You can check whether your zip codes are currently assigned
to a branch by searching the online database at http://www.sinister.net/SCAZips.htm.
Please note that with few exceptions no new branch will be approved within 50 miles or an hour's driving time of an established branch. |
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| 2.C. |
Do you have enough people to start a new branch? How many interested members do you have? Do you want to be a
Canton, Barony, Port, Stronghold, College, Shire or Province (among others)? The required numbers for each type of branch can be found in the
Society Organizational Handbook Section 3C but these are the minimum for sustaining membership. Will you be able to sustain that membership
once your branch is established? A branch's membership should not rely on one family or household. If that one group of people splits up or
leaves, will you still have the members you need?
Before activating a branch, we will require you to have more than the minimum so you will be able to make it through the
formation and growth periods and weather any loss of participants without falling below the minimum standards. Work on membership
development early in the process. Make sure you have contact information for your interested members, so you can get them paperwork when
needed. If your active participants include a lot of non-members, encourage them to join now.
Active non-members do not count towards your membership requirement. |
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| 2.D. |
Who is your sponsoring branch? Contact the seneschal of your sponsoring branch to get the approval for their
sponsorship. This may be your Barony, or in the case of a forming Shire, a neighboring Barony or Shire. Your sponsoring branch will assist
you with developing activities and will hold your treasury funds until you reach active status. |
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