The foundation plans going forward

Dragoons!

Soon it will be our anniversary, and of course the release of Guild Wars 2. These past few weeks there has been alot of inner workings being changed as I re-solidify this guild for release. The changes combined has already been some of the biggest changes in the history of this guild, but now I have some more to introduce. To clarify on what I mean by changes, I don't mean completely new ways, just building on the positives we have and making things clearer and easier to manage.

Right now what we have is good enough for our current size but going forward we have intentions to recruit, and lead forward into success in WvW. With that being said I would like to bring in some new things to handle it.

Rules and Warnings

Thankfully rule breaking is not a major issue currently within this guild, but with an increase in members I am less prone to bullshit. Although things have been this way for a while, each member must understand that guild peace is extremely important, and I will be cleaning up just how warnings are issued. I am changing the warning system to strikes. I am also going to be stricter, three strikes and you are gone, simple. Now for many members there maybe confusion as to what constitutes a strike. Missing one day on vent will not get you a strike, but missing continuous days will get you a strike. I will present a thread with all the new information a bit later.

As for the rules they are not inherently changing, but there is something that will be cleared up and added. Please note that this warning has absolutely nothing to do with current affairs, if anything the last violations were years ago, but this needs to be written:-

10. When a decision has been made, don't persist.
Sometimes decisions have to be made within this guild, whether they be about guild leadership problems, membership concerns, or simply ingame management. Although every decision is made with the right advice, and done with the best intentions at heart, every member should be aware that when a final decision has been made, then that's final. Anyone complaining, or arguing with a choice once a decision has been made will be given an immediate strike, furthermore any leader, regardless of rank, will be immediately stripped of their rank. There are ample oppotunities to give advice, and ways to handle concerns, complaining and bitching about them is not the way. Thankfully, this is a rarity within this guild.

Leadership and Management

It is with great pleasure to say that the leadership team we have today is the most stable and tranquil leadership team in the history of this guild. It is a great foundation for this guild, but at the same time I need to clarify my long term aims.

Going forward Captains will be greatly trusted due to the nature of our size increase. The bigger this guild will get (not in the hundreds), the more strong organization and communication will be required from Captains. As such although I have absolutely faith and only wish to write this for further leaders, I am here to say any Captain unable to handle a crew's duties will be removed. Captaincy is about overseeing, if it's too much call on a Lieutenant, if even then it's not working, then the crew will be disbanded. As well as this every week each Captain will be asked to report on his crew. This report can be extremely short, but basically the purpose is to make sure that everything is okay. This report will contain concerns, promotion prospects, and anything else the Captain, or Liuetenant reporting on his behalf may wish to say. This report will be given to me, and will happen on a Sunday, reports can be handed in a bit earlier if needed, but not too early. This report can be done vocally as well.

As well as this Captains will have a say with issues within their crew, but this has always been in place, just needs to be said once more. They will be trusted to handle issues within their crew with the advice of others, and of course make sure the crew is maintained. As well as this it will be imperative that Captain's take care of their new recruits, if they can't they shouldn't be Captains.

Captaincy is a position of responsibility and each Captain should be trusted to use their power for this particular purpose. Each member is equal and important, and if one wants to stay in this guild peacefully without the responsibility then they should not be Captain, and there is no harm in this. If however one does want to be a Captain, they understand the roles requirements. Thankfully this is not a concern of ours currently.

Liuetenants

With the removal of Sergeant the gap between XO and Knight has been increased. As such to help members be aware of their status within a crew and to gain enough inspiration we shall hold weekly Player of the Weeks for each crew, and for the overall guild for Knights only. This is to show that we do appreciate members who are not of leadership ranks, and to inspire members to work and do good things to earn promotions. As well as this on the 15th on every month will be an open evening when you can request some time with me to see where you're standing, and what things you need to work on to get promoted. Please note though that although this will be an official day of it, this is always in place and as such anytime, any day, any place you can talk to me and ask these things.

Additionally we are bringing back the Sergeant's Applications for Lieutenants, and actually instead of simply applying for the rank of Lieutenant, you now apply for a crew. The way the application will work is that the Captain recieving the application will call a meeting among other Captains, including a senior (Dorek or I), to sit and listen in. Once a discussion has taken place, the Captain will then make a decision as to whether he wants to have this recruit as an XO. Please bare in mind that if a senior rank says No, then regardless of the Captain's will, it will not happen. As well as this any decision can be overturned by myself at anytime. Although this sounds rather authoratarian, this has always been in place and every Captain knows this.

If you want to be a Lieutenant work for it, and don't cut corners. If you piss off one Captain, then applying to another wont solve the issues. Moreso than ever if a Captain's pissed off, so is all the rest.

Expanding on the evaluation evening for new recruits

For new recruits we have been doing simple evaluations. Now we are expanding this to a recruits gathering every five days. All recruits will be asked to attend, and will meet with anyone that wishes to come to discuss how they are doing and to of course ask questions about any parts of the guild they would like to know about. As well as this we will teach them certain things and help them to settle within the guild.

Community Events will be increasing

As the guild inevitably gets bigger we will be hosting community events every month to gather Dragoons and to do something as a whole guild. A good example of one of these events would be our Anniversary or the Olympics. Although a final list is yet to be drafted, we will come up with plenty of ideas to keep things interesting, varied, and fun for the Dragoons.

The community spirit of this guild is extremely important, expect more words on this soon.

Dealing with vent clutter

Let me make this clear, I want us all in the same channel constantly, that's the way it's always been and will continue to be. But, if we were to get to 30 size for example it's inevitable that vocal clashing may come about. Although every effort will be made to tolerate the noise, we will have to move people to other channels. This is not new, and was a practice back in MxO days common due to our size, but it will only be for the duration for the task that the group are doing, and will not be a place to hang as a seperate place. If you didn't want to hang in the main channel then the only choice is to leave the guild, not stay in another channel.

Creating a fair environment for all

Brotherhood, and membership is the most important elements of this guild, and although it may seem I am tightening up, this is required so that we can evolve. We want to make sure this excellent atmosphere is maintained and we will do this through positive elements not restrictive elements. This guild is for us all, and I want you to feel welcomed, appreciated and accepted. Yes issues arise but they can be handled and solved. Every member here, casual and hardcore are people I value as friends and care about, each and every one of you make this guild special and unique, I am honoured to be your leader, and I want to continue making this the best guild possible for us all.

Finally a thing that I am less tolerant off is new recruits. New recruits will now have a three strike policy also in which they will be informed of issues and strikes. These strikes come when I am unhappy, perhaps I don't like their attitude, or that they didn't come on vent. Once they have three they are gone. Any Captain can give these strikes, and members can report issues and concerns with potentials.

My weakness is acceptance of new recruits, I have amazing insticts but instead of just kicking I will give more chances. However the application process will be tighter and if I am not happy I will do my rejections there. As well as this if new recruits DON'T respond to targets set in evaluations they will be removed regardless of strikes.

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That's all... for now

TH