Canada at Midnight Membership
Handbook
White Wolf, World of Darkness, Vampire: Requiem, Werewolf: Forsaken, Mage: Awakening, Vampire: the
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of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. Werewolf the Apocalypse, Wraith the Oblivion, Changeling the Dreaming,
Werewolf the Wild West, Trinity, Mind’s Eye Theatre, Laws of the Night, The Long Night, Libre des Goules,
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trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. These products use the supernatural for settings, characters, and
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Reader discretion is advised. Additionally, the mention of or reference to any company or product in these
pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned
Credits:
This Handbook is the combined work of many people with assistance and input from hundreds of members
of Canada At Midnight, both in Canada, the US and abroad. Special thanks go also to those who contributed
to the Tome of Canada At Midnight or previous Membership Handbooks. The primary contributors to this
edition of the Membership Handbook include:
Written By: Indrani Mahadeo, Carl MacPherson, Leanne White, Robert Findlay, Richard Blais, Ewan
Johnstone, Joe Giammarco, Chris Duffield, David March, Jody Lemoine, Jamie Wilkinson, Phil Rickaby,
Hugh Montgomerie, Randy Lywood, Chris Murtagh
Edited By: Indrani Mahadeo
Translated by: ??
Layout and Typesetting by: Leanne White and Jody Lemoine
Contributions to Previous Editions by:
Steve Balfour, Deird’Re Brooks, Vanessa Brown, Matthew Burke, Roy Cabaniss, Jeff Carnegie, Wes
Contreras, Cathryn Emerson, Joe Franklin, Dan Fruchterman, Matt Gorsky, Jeff Harris, Jon Herrmann, Cathy
Jensen, Terri Jones-Wyatt, George Lemke, Wendy Misuinas, Ryan Passarelli, Adam Phelps, Shea Porr, Heidi
Preuss, Wade Racine, Matt Ragan, Ruth Roper, Dan Schmitt, Maria Seaton, Corey Segall, Corey Smith,
James Smith, Matt Smith, Craig Stockwell, Patricia Thorp, Dineh Torres, Jana Wright
A very special thanks to: White Wolf Publishing, Inc. for starting this whole thing in the first place.
Canada At Midnight is an Official White Wolf Fan Club and is sanctioned by White Wolf Publishing,
Inc.
Print Date: Dec 15th, 2005
Revision Dates: May 9th 2006, Jan 17th 2007, July 4th 2008, March 12th 2009, May 29th 2012, August 5,
2013, September 9, 2015, March 3, 2016, July 31, 2016,
Note:
As of the 2015 AGM all of our governing documents are to be translated into both official
languages. In case of any discrepancies between the French and English versions of the
documents the current original language version will be considered the correct one.
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Table of Contents
Forward
Section One:
P.3
Welcome to Canada At Midnight:
Who Are We and What Do We Do?
Section Two:
Our Organizational Structure:
From Local Domain to Global Conquest
Section Three:
P. 36
The Code of Conduct:
Your Responsibilities as a Member
Section Six:
P. 24
Membership Education:
How to Navigate the Bureaucracy
Section Five:
P. 11
Prestige:
How to Get it and What it Does for You
Section Four:
P. 4
P. 43
Conflict Resolution:
Playing Nicely in the Sandbox with Others
Conclusion
P. 52
P. 61
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Forward
Welcome to all of our members. I, along with many others, have enjoyed all the time and effort spent on this
project, to ensure that all aspects of our organization are available for your perusal in a single document. I
would like to give a huge thanks to everyone listed in the Credits for their assistance on this enormous task.
However, one thing I have come to realize in assembling this document is that many of us, myself included,
do not really take the time to read through the entire Membership Handbook and give it the serious thought
and consideration we sometimes should.
This has become apparent to me not only in my capacity as writer of this Handbook, but also in my time as
Vice National Coordinator. I have found so many of us get caught up in the rules that we forget what the
first rule of this shared past-time of ours is: Have FUN first! We often get so caught up in the “rules”, both
in-game and out-of-game, we forget they apply equally to everyone, from a first-time player to a six-year
veteran of the organization.
We forget that White Wolf tells us, as players and storytellers, sometimes you should just “chuck the rules.”
Now, we all know that we cannot do this, but we can exercise caution in using this book, and not see the
Constitution and Bylaws as set in stone. We can act in accordance with the Spirit of the Law, rather than the
Letter of the Law. None of our rules are immutable and unchangeable. They are, in the end, guidelines to
appropriate behaviour at Camarilla events that are “common sense, and promote interactive, adult
communication” between all of our members. Also, these guidelines do put in place sanctions for those who
are unable to behave appropriately.
As members of Canada At Midnight, we must be mindful of others and their thoughts, opinions, and feelings.
But we must also treat everyone with respect, and help all of our fellow “Cammies” in having fun at events.
That is the spirit of the words written here.
As characters in the Global Chronicle we must follow the rules set out for character creation, and be mindful
of the rules laid out for interaction, but we must also remember that White Wolf itself tells its storytellers that
the Story comes first, and the Rules come second; that the drama of the game is prominent over the numbers
and dots on the pages we all carry with us.
Overall, as members of this organization we have a responsibility to ourselves, and to every other member,
to promote the Spirit of the Organization both within and without, so that our Organization can continue to
flourish both in Canada, and throughout the world.
Leanne White
VNC Canada
December, 2005
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Section One
Welcome to Canada At Midnight: Who
Are We and What Do We Do?
Welcome to Canada At Midnight!
Welcome to Canada At Midnight, a national affiliate of the official White Wolf fan club! We are part of an
international gaming organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the fictional worlds created by White Wolf
Publishing. We support global shared chronicles set in White Wolf’s World of Darkness setting. We organize
and participate in a variety of social, community service and educational events ranging from a small handful
of people to over a thousand. We raise thousands of dollars for a variety of charitable causes, donate time
and blood to Canadian Blood Services, and work with charities in our local communities including food
banks, shelters, and a wide variety of other charities.
Canada At Midnight is one of the world’s largest organized role-playing organizations with thousands of
members across six continents. Our members create characters using the White Wolf gaming books
appropriate to the setting, then turn and portray those characters in locally hosted games as well as any of
hundreds of other games hosted around the world. Members can also portray their characters on the Internet
through numerous “in character” email lists, IRC, or by attending larger events on a regional, national or
international scale. Each year, Canada At Midnight hosts the Canadian Annual National Event (CAiNE) in a
selected city that brings hundreds of members together to play in the pinnacle event of the year.
Canada At Midnight Game
The focus of Canada At Midnight’s game is on the dramatic politics and relationships in the game settings
that we explore, and on the tragic struggles of the people and creatures that inhabit them. While the stories
we tell often have a violent aspect, this is peripheral to the primary themes of morality, choice and the slippery
slope into hopelessness and despair.
Canada At Midnight as a Social Club
While Canada At Midnight’s role-playing games are its most visible product, Canada At Midnight is also a
social club with a commitment to art, education and service. All members are encouraged to learn more about
the arts, especially the theatrical arts of acting, costuming, prop making, storytelling and scene setting through
decoration, light and sound. In addition to the arts that we support through the gaming aspects of the club,
we also sponsor and encourage our members’ interest in writing, sketching, painting, illustration,
photography, computer graphics, graphic design and other artistic pursuits. We publish a great deal of our
members’ works in the Epitaph, our quarterly fanzine, in regional and local newsletters and on our dozens of
websites (follow the links at http://camarilla.white-wolf.com/ to find other online resources). Our members’
work can also be found on display or even for sale at the various conventions and other events operated by
Canada At Midnight. The fanzine Epitaph is always looking for Canadian content.
Member Education and Leadership Training
Education is another focus of Canada At Midnight – not just the fascinating history lessons one can learn
while creating a character’s fictional background amongst the backdrop of actual events, but also skills such
as leadership development and acting. We sponsor panels and seminars about art, project coordination and
storytelling in addition to those focused on the games we play. Many members become administrators in their
local domains, taking advantage of Canada At Midnight’s leadership development resources and mentoring.
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Community Service
Canada At Midnight is proud to also be a strong supporter of charity and community service. Members have
contributed hundred of pints of blood, thousands of dollars and countless hours of service to a variety of
causes. Many of our domains support a local food bank, shelter, or children’s charity within their local
communities as well. Some ask why service work is so important in an organization such as ours. Quite
simply, our work to build the community in which we live also builds our own sense of community. Getting
together with fellow members to do a good deed builds friendships and a sense of connection between
members.
Our focus on arts, education and service contribute to the culture of Canada At Midnight, building bridges
between members worldwide. As a community of friends, we encourage members to be respectful of others,
to participate in all events responsibly and safely, and to support each other as we grow together and support
our creative interests.
How to Use this Handbook
We hope that your time with Canada At Midnight is fun, creative and rewarding. This handbook will serve
as your guide to participating in and contributing to the club at all levels from just starting as a member for
the first time through serving as a club officer. With that in mind, the book has been organized into sections:
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Section One is your introduction to Canada At Midnight, including all the information that a brand
new member needs to know to jump right in and begin having fun right away.
Section Two contains information on the Organizational Structure of Canada At Midnight, looking
at Domain, Regional, and National Structures, along with the offices within Canada At Midnight,
outlining what they do, how they do it, how they are elected and chosen, and providing guidelines
on how they can be successful.
Section Three focuses on Prestige, including what it is, how you get it, and the benefits that it grants
you.
Section Four outlines Membership Education and Ordeals.
Section Five is a reference for the Code of Conduct, and the expectations that each member agrees
to uphold when they join the organization
Section Six specifically discusses the Conflict Resolution policies of the club, such as instructions
on how to request a formal hearing for a dispute, or appeal an officer’s decision.
The Benefits of Membership
These are many benefits of being a member of Canada At Midnight. A few of the many are:
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A membership card that serves as your passport into the largest and most integrated White Wolf
gaming experience
The ability to register a character in any of the shared global chronicles operated by Canada At
Midnight
The option to attend thousands of members-only events across the globe including sanctioned games
as well as socials, barbeques, movie nights run by many domains.
Membership in your local domain, or organizational support from Canada At Midnight to start a
new group in your area if one does not yet exist.
Access to hundreds of email lists, IRC channels, websites, and other Internet tools such as Canada
At Midnight Resource Database (CRD).
Camarilla training to improve skills such as character development, acting, organizing charity
events, and leadership and management skills.
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How to Join
Canada At Midnight deals with a variety of mature subjects as we explore the tragedy of the human condition
through allegory and role-play. As such, all members are required to be at least 18 years of age, regardless of
emancipation. To join Canada At Midnight, just visit Canada At Midnight web site at http://www.camarilla.ca
and click on the link to get a new Camarilla membership or find the game nearest to you.
While we do offer free six month trial memberships, you will eventually pay a small annual membership fee
to White Wolf to gain full membership privileges. This can be done in several ways. You can:
• Pay Directly through any TD/Canada Trust in Canada. Once paid, keep the receipt from the bank,
and send the transaction number to your Domain Coordinator, the National Finance Coordinator,
and the National Coordinator
• Send a check or money order to the address provided upon contacting the current National Financial
Coordinator [email protected]
• By paying your local Domain Coordinator.
Internet access is required to complete the signup process on Canada At Midnight Resource Database (CRD),
but if you don’t have Internet access yourself, just ask an existing Camarilla member for help. A large network
of people to help out when needed is one of the many benefits of Camarilla membership!
Trial Memberships
Canada At Midnight offers Six Month Trial Membership to anyone interested in trying out the club. Trial
Members must still meet the membership requirements for Canada At Midnight, and enjoy the privileges of
playing in the Sanctioned Global Chronicle and gaining XP on their characters, gaining Prestige, as well as
attending many social gatherings and outings. For all intents and purposes, they are considered members.
However, because they are not full members, they cannot vote on matters in Domain Meetings or use the
Prestige that they have gained until such time as they become paid members.
Returning Members
If you were previously a member of Canada At Midnight and your membership has expired, you can rejoin
by following the same steps and then contact the Canadian National Coordinator at [email protected] to let
them know you are a returning member. This way you can keep the same characters; member class and other
benefits of membership that you earned while you were previously a member - just as if you had never left.
Non-member Participation
Non-members are welcome to participate in Camarilla events on a limited basis; however, there are
restrictions that apply to their participation:
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Non-members cannot participate in a Camarilla event if they are not eligible to be a member. In
other words, minors cannot participate, nor may those who have expelled from the organization.
Non-members may not play the same character in more than one domain. You can try it out locally
but you cannot travel to another city’s game.
The presiding storyteller at a game may rule that actions taken by a non-member’s character are
void if they disrupt play or damage the overall enjoyment of the game.
Non-members may not earn prestige.
Non-members may not portray characters with any member class enhancement.
Non-members may not portray any concept that requires the approval of any storyteller other than
a VST (Low Approval).
Non-members may not earn experience for their characters in the sanctioned chronicle. The
exception is for those who join after their first game. If a person comes and tries Canada At
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Midnight, and joins before the next game, then they may be granted experience for their first game
at their storyteller’s discretion.
Non-members may participate in the club’s events for a maximum of three months. After this time,
they must either join or no longer participate.
Non-members cannot join any official Camarilla e-mail list or forum.
Finding a Local Group
Upon joining Canada At Midnight, your first goal will likely be to locate any other Canadian Camarilla
members nearby and join a domain. If you do not already have contact with local members, your best resource
for this is the main Canadian Camarilla web site at www.camarilla.ca where you can search for a local
domain, or join a local email list that will help you find members in your area. You can also find email
addresses there for the various National Officers, any of who can help you in touch with other members in
your area.
If there are no members in your area, but you have Internet access, you can join the Northern Winds online
domain. This domain holds games online and gives those who are geographically isolated a way to join in
and participate fully in the club. With a bit of effort, you can also recruit other members in your area and
form a new domain – an especially rewarding experience. Details on how to form a new domain are located
in Section Two of this Handbook.
How to Get Started
If you have located a domain in your area, all you need to do is contact them to get involved right away. The
first activity that many members want to participate in is the global sanctioned chronicles. Canada At
Midnight encourages exploring the intriguing gothic-punk and romantically horrific atmosphere of the White
Wolf game worlds through role-play, fiction, poetry, and more. Just create a character using the appropriate
rules and submit the character to the appropriate Venue Storyteller. Once approved, you can play that
character anywhere in the world.
You are also encouraged to attend one of your local group’s social or charity events as soon as possible. This
is an excellent chance to get to know other members outside of the game environment. This not only helps
prevent misunderstandings that can always occur when a person’s character is all you see of them, but it also
helps you make new friends and really enjoy your time with us. If your local group does not have such an
event planned already, feel free to jump in feet-first and organize one!
Keep in mind that your participation in Canadian Camarilla activities is governed by Canada At Midnight’s
Code of Conduct (outlined in Section Six of this Handbook), which defines the general level of conduct that
the organization expects of all members. Canada At Midnight will not tolerate behavior that is illegal or
dangerous to yourself or to others.
More than anything, you will find that Canada At Midnight is a community. While role-playing, charity and
other events are the focus of our community, the true strength of Canada At Midnight lies in the bonds that
form between members. Whatever activities you decide to start with first, keep this in mind and always be
on the lookout for new friends. The game may be what brings new members into the club, but the people
they have met are the reason most often cited by those who stay members for years.
The Internet
Canada At Midnight makes extensive use of the Internet for a variety of functions within the organization.
While it is possible to participate in games, charity events, socials and almost every aspect of the club without
having any access to the Internet, that experience is enhanced greatly through the online tools that the club
provides. We can be found in many places:
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Main website: http://www.camarilla.ca/wordpress/ This is the best place to find contact information for
Canadian National Officers and Domain Locations and Officers.
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7360056973/
Mind’s Eye Society (our American counterpart): http://www.mindseyesociety.org/ This site can be useful for
information about upcoming events in the U.S. that members may wish to attend. In addition, members can
find links to information about the Cam Wiki, and the Global mailing lists.
Chronicle Wiki Project: http://wiki.mindseyesociety.org/index.php?title=Main_Page contains information
about Domains, Character Bios, etc.
Canadian Mailing Lists
The main mailing lists for Canada At Midnight can be found at http://lists.camarilla.ca/sympa
Members can participate in a variety of both in character and out-of-character chat rooms in IRC and email
lists. Online communities gather and discuss issues ranging from military life to parenting, all coming from
the unique perspective of individuals who share many of the same goals and values. Dozens of web sites
provide a plethora of information on a wide range of subjects related to the club, White Wolf products, or
general advice on gaming, costuming, role-playing and the like.
Once you have signed up with Sympa you will automatically be subscribed to the national announcements
list. You are strongly encouraged to join the ‘general’ and ‘nwod-general’ lists and your domain list. These
lists are used to distribute club-wide and nation-wide announcements on major events, leadership
opportunities, policy changes and other important information. The volume on these lists is very low,
generally with under a dozen messages per month, and should not be a burden to any email account. This list,
or any other, can be subscribed to by following the link mentioned above, and signing up as a user. Choose
the lists that you wish to join, and you will be added once you are approved by the moderator. InCharacter
lists may require you to answer some questions about your character and have your Storyteller involved in
the Approvals Process.
Mind’s Eye Society Member Portal
Canada At Midnight is partnered with Mind’s Eye Society (our American counterpart). As part of this, our
members have access to the Chronicle Wiki, Approvals Database, and Global e-mail lists. The MES Portal
can be found at:
http://portal.mindseyesociety.org/
In order to claim your CAM number, please use the following steps:
1) Go to http://portal.mindseyesociety.org
2) Click on My Membership -> Create Account http://i.imgur.com/fhEv96u.png
3) Fill in your information, and submit the form
4) You will now have a verification email in your email inbox. Click it.
5) You will now be back at the Portal. fill in your desired password, and submit.
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6) Login to the portal with your email address and the password you just selected.
7) Then, from the My Membership menu, choose Claim Your Camarilla
Number http://i.imgur.com/Uo2Skex.png
8) In the text box, fill in your number, and click Find My Membership.
9a) If you do not get a match, either you haven't been imported or there has been an error. Please contact your NC
(you can copy me).
9b) If you do get a match, you'll have the option to choose that number and get a verification email to the email
attached to that number.
10) Once you get that email, click the link to claim your member number. Once you've claimed your number, you
can get to the Approvals DB or the CRD by choosing them from the Legacy Tools menu.
If there are any problems with getting signed on to the Portal initially, please e-mail the National Coordinator
at [email protected] and they will work to ensure that you will be able to access the database.
One note for Canadian Members however—the Ordeals found in the CRD are the US ordeals and not ours!
If you are interested in writing the Canadian Ordeals, they can be found at http://www.camarilla.ca.
International Mailing Lists
Beyond the Canadian Mailing lists are the International Lists. Involvement in these lists takes your
involvement to a whole new level, as you enter the world of the Global Chronicle on a much larger scale than
simply playing in your domain games.
Joining the International Lists is as simple a process as joining the Canadian Lists, if not more so! To
subscribe to any lists, go to http://www.mindseyesociety.org/player-tools/mailing-lists/. Click on the list that
you wish to going, and subscribe. As with the Canadian lists, some List Moderators for In-Character lists
will want to follow-up with some character background and with your Storyteller to confirm that you are
playing an active character.
Northern Winds
Northern Winds is an entirely Internet-based domain. If you live in an area with no local domain, and you
have Internet access, you may join the Northern Winds domain. Members of this domain regularly meet
online and even have their own geographic area within the global sanctioned chronicles. Their games, like
any other sanctioned Camarilla game, are open for any members to participate – even those who are not
members of the Northern Winds domain.
To join the Northern Winds domain, contact the National Coordinator at [email protected] with a request to
join, including your current residential location (in case we have a new Domain forming near you). The
National Coordinator will either put you in touch with a local group that you might not have been aware of,
or make the arrangements for you to join the Northern Winds domain. Remember that while Northern Winds
members do participate mostly online, they still follow the same rules of conduct as any other member – only
the medium changes.
Live Action Role-play
There are two types of Camarilla sponsored games: sanctioned games and troupe games.
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The Sanctioned Chronicle
Sanctioned games take place within one of Canada At Midnight’s global sanctioned chronicles and use the
framework, setting and rules established by White Wolf and the club for that chronicle. When you have a
character approved for play in a global sanctioned chronicle, you can take that character to any games held
within that Venue anywhere in the world, all as part of the same shared game history and setting. ‘All the
world is a stage,’ after all, and you are the player! Sanctioned play often restricts certain character types based
on rarity or other factors – the process to be approved for a rare or unusual character type is described in
Section Four of this Handbook in the section about In-Character Education and Special Character Approvals.
In these chronicles we focus on story, from moments of personal horror to great world-spanning epics that
involve thousands of players. Sometimes your character may accomplish her goals, and other times she may
fail spectacularly, but both fit equally well into the grand story we weave together. Either way, the goal is to
have fun and make new friends!
Troupe Games
Troupe games are run independently of the global storyline with each one forging its own world and setting.
This allows the storyteller to include any character types, alternate settings or cataclysmic upheavals they
wish since the effects are limited to only the setting specific to that troupe. Troupe play is still limited to
members of Canada At Midnight, and the Code of Conduct still applies, but the tighter focus and greater
flexibility can make for a more dynamic game that can be very enjoyable.
Games which are not run as Camarilla events, of course, are not governed by Canada At Midnight’s rules in
any way, shape or form, even if such a game is coincidentally made up of, or run by, individuals who are also
Camarilla members. Such games are completely independent and do not affect Canada At Midnight’s global
sanctioned chronicles or result in the organizers or participants earning club rewards for their efforts.
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Section Two
Our Organizational Structure: From
Local Domain to Global Conquest
* Editor’s note Canada does not currently use Regions, but the information is kept here for future reference
and to help members understand their interactions with the U.S. Camarilla. If Canada does use regions they
will most likely be West, Central, East regions.
Canada At Midnight is a worldwide organization with thousands of members. In order to make the club more
manageable, it has been divided up into organizational units, each with a coordinator to handle administrative
tasks. The smallest units are called Doamins, which consist of a city and the immediate surrounding area. A
region consists of all the domains within a geographic region, usually one spanning several provinces, or
states in the US. Each element of that structure is more fully defined later in this section.
Parallel to this administrative structure is a similar one for the storytelling aspects of the club. The smallest
storytelling unit is called a venue, and these exist within a domain. Each venue runs a specific genre of White
Wolf game, be it Requiem, Awakening, Forsaken, Mortal, or Changeling. These games are either held within
the Global Chronicle, or as Troupe games. Domains, regions and nations also have a storyteller who
administers the sanctioned chronicle much like the coordinators handle out-of-character administration.
A chain of command has been established to facilitate orderly communication within the club. While any
member is free to approach any officer in the club, members are strongly encouraged to use this chain of
command when seeking official decisions or rulings. The Chain of Command is explained further below.
Job Descriptions
Coordinators
Coordinators are the ‘bureaucrats’ of the organization at each level, from Domain to Region to National
Council. They are elected by the members of their group, or in the case of National Council Members, by
the Domain Coordinators Council. These individuals are responsible for many duties, including:
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Keeping the Records of their group, including meeting minutes and attendance, updated
membership lists for their group, member’s prestige logs, financial records, charity events and social
events held.
Granting, or recommending members of their group for prestige as per the Prestige Guidelines found
in Section Three of this Handbook.
Finding Sites for Games and Social Events.
Chairing Group Meetings.
Ensuring that Member Education occurs so that members are aware of their rights and
responsibilities, and that members know how to track their prestige and use the CRD.
Reporting on the welfare of the group to the Coordinators above them in Organization on a Monthly
basis. Domain Coordinators reports are due on the 14 th of the month, and National Officers reports
are due on the 28th of the month. The National Coordinator’s reports are due on the last day of each
month for the month previous. For example, in reporting for September, DCs reports are due on
Oct. 14th, National Officer’s reports are due on October 28 th, and the NCs report is due October 31st.
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Ensuring that all members, new and old, have a voice representing them to National Council at all
times, and that all members are aware of their rights and responsibilities within the organization.
This included being able to tell people where to find information.
Enforcing the Code of Conduct within their domain, and being responsible for Arbitrations between
members of their domain when situations are brought to them.
To be accountable and transparent to their membership, and to share information about their group
and the National Organization.
To provide their groups with edited copies of their reports to promote their accountability and
transparency.
Making sure that all members feel welcome and have fun!
Coordinators may designate Assistants to help them with any of their duties. In fact, it is highly recommended
that a group coordinator utilize the skills of members of the group to assist them in their duties.
Storytellers
The Storytellers in Canada At Midnight are the ones responsible for running the venues and Storytellers also
have a structure similar to the Coordinators. It is up to a Domain whether they will have elected VSTs or
appointed ADSTs to run each venue within the group. Once that decision is made, the chain goes up to DSTs,
and the NST. These Storytellers are all elected by their groups, or in the case of the NST, by the Domain
Storyteller’s Council. The NST also appoints ANSTs to oversee each Venue in the Global Chronicle.
Storytellers all the way up the chain are responsible for:
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Creating Venue Style Sheets for their venues and creating a rich game world for the players to
become involved in.
Being familiar with the Character Creation Rules and the Rules to ensure smooth game play for all
players.
Reporting on the welfare of their group’s game to Storytellers above them in Organization on a
Monthly basis. VST and ADST reports are due on the 1 st of the month for the previous month,
Domain Storyteller’s reports are due on the 7th of the month, and the NSTs reports are due on the
28th of the month. For example, in reporting for September, VST/ADST reports are due Oct. 1 st,
CCs reports are due October 4th, DSTs reports are due on Oct. 7th, and the National Storyteller’s
reports are due on October 28th.
Sending an edited copy of their report (with plotkits and IC information removed) to their Presiding
Coordinator to facilitate communication between the two bureaucratic chains of the organization,
and to allow for the Coordinator to grant the Storyteller’s Prestige Recommendations. Tracking
and Reporting XP for characters in play in the sanctioned game.
Ensuring that characters in the sanctioned game have the appropriate approvals for special items on
their character sheets and educating members about the approvals database and CRD.
Providing plot kits and reports to the rest of the Storytellers so that the Global Chronicle is truly a
global event.
To be accountable and transparent to their membership, and to share information about their group
and the National Organization.
Making sure that all members feel welcome and have fun!
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Canada’s Organization
Venues
A venue is a storytelling unit that exists to better manage characters and games within the sanctioned
chronicle, and is based on each separate genre within the World of Darkness. A Venue Style Sheet (VSS)
defines each venue’s scope and character focus.
Structure
A venue exists within a single domain, with all of its members generally belonging to that domain. The Venue
Storyteller (VST) is elected by the members of the venue presides over that venue and has storytelling
authority over all characters assigned to that venue. Some domains choose to have appointed ADSTs for
each venue instead.
Joining a Venue
When a Camarilla member creates a character for play in the sanctioned chronicle, the member assigns that
character to a venue by notifying the venue storyteller and domain storyteller. If the character assigned to the
venue is a primary character, as defined by Canada At Midnight gaming supplements, then the member
becomes a member of that venue and is allowed to vote for the venue storyteller. If the character in question
is not a primary character, then the venue storyteller still has authority over that character, but it does not
entitle the member to a vote in the VST election.
Once a character has been assigned to a venue, changes to that In-character assignment are governed by the
transfer policy described later in this section. A character may be re-assigned to a venue outside of the
member’s domain with the approval of her domain’s venue storyteller, the venue storyteller for the venue in
the domain she wishes to join, and the ANST of that venue. Characters may be assigned to a Venue outside
of the player’s Domain at character creation with the approval of the Storyteller in charge of the Venue.
Venue Style Sheets
*Editor’s note, anywhere it mentioned Regional Storyteller (RST), for the time being are replaced with the
ANST of the Venue in question and the NST.
Every venue within the global sanctioned chronicle must have a venue style sheet that has been approved by
the domain and regional storytellers. The venue style sheet describes the scope of the venue; including what
character types are allowed to join the venue, if any, and the theme and mood of games run as part of this
venue.
A game’s style should always reflect its venue style sheet. Therefore, the players and venue storyteller should
periodically review the VSS together, and submit any proposed changes to the domain and regional
storytellers for approval. The storyteller chain may detail other requirements or limitations for a venue style
sheet.
Creating a New Venue
Members may create a new venue by writing a venue style sheet, selecting an initial venue storyteller, and
having the new venue approved by the domain and regional storytellers. If a venue already exists within the
domain for the same genre in the Sanctioned Game (Requiem (Vampire), Forsaken (Werewolf), Awakening
(Mage), World of Darkness (Mortal), Changeling), then at least eight members must commit to assigning
primary characters to the new venue, removing them from the VSS of the first Sanctioned game.
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Keep in mind that the greater the number of venues within that genre already approved within the domain,
the more scrutiny the regional storyteller will apply during the approvals process. Players may consider
forming a second venue to explore a different style of game or when the administrative load requires another
venue storyteller for that genre. Work with your domain and regional storyteller to determine the solution
that works best for everyone involved.
Once a venue has been approved, a venue storyteller will be elected or an assistant domain storyteller will be
assigned.
Domains
A domain is a geographic area defined by Canada At Midnight Canada National Council. Most domains are
likely to be the size of a mid-sized city (or a few counties in less populated areas); some may be larger or
smaller.
Structure
The members in the domain elect a Domain Coordinator (DC) and Domain Storyteller (DST). The Domain
Coordinator deals with the domain’s administrative tasks as listed above. The Domain Storyteller (DST)
administers Canada At Midnight global chronicle within the domain. Both often have assistants, and both are
expected to work with one another and their counterparts on the Regional and National Staff to keep the
entire region running smoothly. Their assistants are appointed, and their tasks and duties are defined by the
needs of the domain.
Membership
Members who reside within the boundaries of a domain belong to that domain unless they have obtained
special approval as described later in this section. Members who live outside the boundaries of any domain,
but are near enough to travel regularly to the domain may join the domain if they wish. They may also seek
the approval of the National Member Coordinator, the National Coordinator and the Domain Coordinator of
Northern Winds to join the Independent Members Domain.
Any member may join a domain in which they do not reside with the approval of the Domain Coordinator
and National Member Coordinator and National Coordinator, provided that domain is still in the same region.
Examples of when this is appropriate include a member remaining in his home domain while attending school
away from home, a member spending a short time out of province before returning, or a member who
frequently changes residences but remains fairly close to a central point. Other situations may also arise, and
the club relies on the discretion of the coordinators involved to work out a reasonable solution for everyone.
Northern Winds: The Independent Members Domain
When a member resides outside the boundaries of any domain, he must become a member of Northern Winds
Independent Members Domain. Structurally, the independent member’s domain is identical to a normal
domain.
Domain Officers
Northern Winds has its own Domain Coordinator and Domain Storyteller.
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Venues
Northern Winds has its own venue storytellers or Assistant domain storytellers. Members from all Domains
are welcome to attend Northern Winds games, whether with a visiting character, or by creating a character
specifically for the Northern Winds Venues.
Boundaries
The Northern Winds Domain has no defined geographic boundaries. Any member that is not within a
geographic area of any domain (50 km from the nearest domain) is automatically a member of the
independent domain, and exceptions to that rule are handled in exactly the same way, as they would be in the
case of a domain.
Beyond Domains
Beyond the domain level are the larger structures of the organization.
Regions
A region is a geographic area defined by Canada At Midnight Council that contains many domains. The
regional staff coordinates efforts between domains and organizes region-wide events, such as charity drives
or regional conventions. All members residing within the geographic area of a region are automatically
members of that region. Any exceptions to this policy require the approval of both regional coordinators
involved and the national coordinator.
National Council
The Canadian National Council is an elected body of six members who represent the interests of the
membership of the Organization. The National Coordinator and National Storyteller coordinate efforts
between the regions and between Canada and other Nations. They also perform national administration tasks,
while the National Council sets Canadian national policy along with various administrative tasks of their
own. All members living in Canada are automatically members of Canada At Midnight unless they have the
approval of the Canadian National Coordinator, the Club Director and the National Coordinator of whatever
nation in which they would like to hold membership.
National Coordinator
The National Coordinator is the President and CEO of Canada At Midnight Canada Fan Club. The NC’s
responsibilities include:
•
•
•
•
•
Chairing National Council Meetings. The NC, as President, does not vote on any matters brought
before National Council.
Ensuring that the Constitution and Bylaws are maintained and up-to-date and that members are
following both Canada At Midnight’s Constitution, but also the Laws of Canada.
Coordinates with the NC’s of the other National Affiliates to ensure that policy documents such as
Prestige are in line with other affiliates.
Being the top of the Coordinator Chain of Command. They are responsible for dealing with any
complaints made against any Coordinators within Canada At Midnight Canada, except for those
made against National Officers (excepting the VNC).
Acting as a Signatory on Club Bank Accounts’
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•
•
Ensuring that all members have up-to-date Camarilla Membership Cards.
Being available to answer questions that potential members may have about the organization.
Overseeing the National Membership list, updating it, and providing this list to White Wolf
Confirming Membership Transfers between domains.
• Administering Membership Benefits such as Membership Class and Prestige Log Reviews.
• Assisting members who wish to start a domain with the required paperwork and liaising with the
surrounding domains in regards to domain boundaries.
• Marketing Canada At Midnight where there are no domains to find out if there are enough interested
members to begin a domain.
• Developing materials for membership education.
• Ensuring that they are available to assist all other coordinators in the completing their duties.
The NC currently has several Assistants. They are:
•
•
ANC Prestige: completes MC reviews for those members applying for MC 9 or higher, and for
Domain Coordinators
ANC CRD: collects information of new members to be added into the CRD, assists members with
difficulties with the CRD and Approvals DB, is the liason to Global Tech and White Wolf for all
CRD, Apps DB and WW login issues.
Vice National Coordinator
The Vice National Coordinator is the Vice President of Canada At Midnight Canada Fan Club. The VNCs
responsibilities include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Creating, Marking, and Tracking the Completion of all Ordeals.
Ensuring that documents are in place for the Education of members about the many facets of the
organization.
Stepping into the position of NC if the National Coordinator is unable to perform their duties
Being the arbiter of all Appeals to Disciplinary Actions by National Officers, whether they are from
the National Coordinator or National Storyteller
Dealing with any Complaints filed against National Officers, other than complaints against the
VNC. Complaints against the VNC are filed with the NC.
Tracking Domain Status Reports and recording information about the disbanding of any groups.
Acting as a signatory on Club Bank Accounts.
Ensuring that they are available to assist all other coordinators in the completing their duties.
The VNC currently has several assistants. They are the:
•
•
•
•
Deputy Vice National Coordinator: Primary Assistant to the VNC; takes over their responsibilities
should the VNC be unable to perform their duties.
AVNC Ordeals: responsible for hiring ordeal markers, tracking passed ordeals, and communicating
with members about the status of their ordeals.
AVNC West: responsible for membership education, arbitrations and investigations of complaints
on behalf of the VNC west of Ontario.
AVNC East: responsible for membership education, arbitrations and investigations of complaints
on behalf of the VNC east of Manitoba.
National Finance Coordinator
The National Finance Coordinator is the Treasurer of Canada At Midnight Canada Fan Club. The NFCs
responsibilities include:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Keeping full and accurate records of the assets of the Fan Club, and giving full reports to the Board
of Directors of the Club’s financial status when requested.
Ensuring an annual audit of all of the Corporations books are done in a timely fashion.
Being the primary signatory on all bank accounts held by the Club, and dispersing funds in a timely
fashion when they are requested after a review of the request.
Ensuring that all Corporation filings with the appropriate agencies are made in a timely fashion, and
that the Corporation is complaint with all relevant Canadian legislation.
Keeping track of all of the Corporations legal documents, and negotiating such contracts when they
are up for renewal.
Setting annual membership fee rates for Canadian Members.
Commercial ventures of the Corporation, such as the sale of merchandise.
Assisting all coordinators with any legal issues that they may come across.
The NFC has several assistants. They are:
•
•
Deputy National Finance Coordinator: Primary Assistant to the NFC; takes over their
responsibilities should the NFC be unable to perform their duties.
ANFC By-laws and Government Compliance: Helps to ensure that the Corporation is in line with
all legal requirements.
National Resource Coordinator
The National Resource Coordinator is the Secretary of Canada At Midnight Canada Fan Club. Their
responsibilities include:
•
•
•
•
Acting as the recording secretary for all National Council Meeting, including taking minutes and
recording all votes cast.
Holding the Corporation Seal.
Facilitating Communication between all groups within Canada At Midnight, including but not
restricted to: the arrangement and maintenance of all email lists, websites, IRC channels,
organization of the membership database (in conjunction with the NC)
Running all elections for regional and national level positions, including posting the initial call for
election, accepting applications, posting applications to the DCs, and counting all votes. Maintains
records of all official correspondence between all levels of the organization.
The NRC has several assistants. They are:
•
•
•
Deputy National Resource Coordinator: Primary Assistant to the NRC; takes over their
responsibilities should the NRC be unable to perform their duties.
ANRC Translation: Ensures the translation of all Documents put out by the Club into both official
languages.
ANRC Website: Responsible for ensuring the maintenance and updating of the National Website.
National Storyteller
The National Storyteller is a member of the Board of Directors of Canada At Midnight Canada Fan Club.
The NST is responsible for:
•
•
•
Managing all aspects of the National Sanctioned Chronicle, including all venues and associated rules
and addenda.
Leading the National Storytelling Council.
Coordinates with the NSTs of the other National Affiliates to ensure that addenda documents such
as MC experience are in line with other affiliates.
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•
•
•
Being the top of the Storytelling Chain of Command. They are responsible for dealing with any
complaints made against any Storytellers within Canada At Midnight Canada.
Being the final arbiter of all rules and storytelling issues in Canada within the Sanctioned Chronicle.
Organization of National-level Sanctioned game plot kits.
The NST has several assistants. They are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Deputy National Storyteller: Primary Assistant to the NST; takes over their responsibilities should
the NST be unable to perform their duties.
ANST Requiem: Responsible for all aspects of the Vampire: The Requiem Sanctioned Chronicle
within Canada
ANST World of Darkness: Responsible for all aspects of the Mortal World in the Sanctioned
Chronicle within Canada.
ANST Forsaken: Responsible for all aspects of the Werewolf: The Forsaken Sanctioned Chronicle
within Canada
ANST Awakening: Responsible for all aspects of the Mage: The Awakening Sanctioned Chronicle
within Canada
ANST Changeling: Responsible for all aspects of the Changeling: The Dreaming Sanctioned
Chronicle within Canada
ANST Dark Places on the Map: Responsible for overseeing any place within Canada that does not
currently have a Domain
Other Canadian Councils
The Canadian Organization also included two councils beyond National Council/ The Board of Directors.
They are:
Storytelling Council
This council is made up of the NST, the ANSTs, and all of the DSTs. They discuss rules addenda, national
plot kits, and work together to ensure a seamless National, and Global, chronicle. This Council also votes
for the NST
Domain Council
The Domain Council is chaired by the NC, and is made up of all of the DCs. This council votes for all
members of National Council except for the NST. They may also, with a 2/3 majority vote, petition National
Council to overturn a decisions made by Council within three months of the decision being made. Specific
details are in the Constitution and Bylaws Document.
CAiNE
CAiNE, or the Canadian Annual National Event is, as its name implies, an annual gaming event. It is held
usually in March or April and runs for four days (Thursday to Sunday). Each year the event is held in a
different city and it is a multi-venue event. Bids are solicited in January or February a year prior to a group
running the event, and National Council votes each year in late March to decide which city who submitted a
bid will host CAiNE. The city to host the following year’s CAiNE is announced at the Closing Ceremonies
at the convention each year.
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If your city would like to submit a bid for CAiNE, the bid guideline is listed on the National Website
(http://camarilla.ca)
The Annual General Meeting
Canada At Midnight Canada Inc, as a legal Canadian Not-for-Profit Corporation, must hold a yearly Annual
General Meeting (AGM). This meeting is a legal requirement for the Club to hold according to Canadian
Law, and must be held in or before July each year. The AGM is held at the Canadian Annual National Event
(CAiNE), in March or April each year. It is an opportunity for the general membership to enact policy and
procedure changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Organization. The AGM is run by the National
Coordinator or their designate, and all minutes are kept by the NRC or their designate.
Several months before the AGM a call for motions will be put out by the National Resource Coordinator,
who will gather all of the motions put forward by members in good standing. These motions may call for a
change, deletion, or addition to the Constitution or Bylaws documents; they may call for the empowerment
of National Council on an issue, or may call for a reversal of a decision made at a previous AGM. Motions
must state the section of the document they are looking to change, with the current wording, and state the
proposed wording as it will appear in the document if it passes.
Once all of the motions have been gathered, the NRC will send them out to the General Membership, with a
call for each motion to be seconded by another member in good standing. Once the motions have been
seconded, the agenda for the AGM is set.
At least two weeks prior to the AGM, the NRC will release an announcement of all motions across the
national announce list. Please bear in mind that motions may be amended at the AGM.
Because any member has the right to vote at the AGM, whether they are present or not, every member is able
to proxy their vote to another member of the organization so that individual may cast a ballot on each motion
on their behalf at the AGM.
How to make a motion:
When it is time to do so, the NRC will send out a notification that motions are being accepted and the duration
of the acceptance period. If you have an idea of a motion 1) Review the document you want to update to see
what the current rules in place actually are. Sometimes the things we think are rules are not in fact written
as we think
2) Copy the current wording of the section of the document you specifically want to change
3) Draft your proposed wording. The specific wording used is what will be going into the governing
document should the motion pass, so if you are uncertain as to how to phrase the motion to achieve
the results you want it is a good idea to seek assistance from one of the many members who are
willing to aid in this matter.
4) Review the motion that should look something like this:
Motion to change:
Handbook: How to make a motion, 3. (with the current text here) to:
Handbook: How to make a motion, 3. (with your proposed text here)
5) Optional – write a brief statement describing why you wish to have this change in place. If your
motion is a valid motion this statement will be released to the membership with your motion.
6) Email it to the email address designated in the instructions that the NRC sent out.
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If the motion is not valid:
As per our constitution, with any motions that are struck due to not being a valid motion the board will
issue a statement as to why each motion was officially struck. This statement will be issued to the
individual(s) who submitted the motion(s) that were struck and to the general membership. The statement
to the membership will include a summary of each motion with the reason(s). The board may offer the one
who submitted the motion 1 week to rewrite it in a way to make it a valid motion with the following
stipulations.
• The board must supply the writer with a summary of what a motion is and can be to aid in the rewrite.
•
•
The board may assist in rewriting at the submitter’s request but is not obligated to do so.
The one who resubmits the motion must be the original person who submitted it
The motion must be in the same vein as the original motion. This is a rewrite, not a whole new
motion.
Setting up a Proxy Vote:
All Members in good standing of Canada At Midnight Fan Club, Inc. are able to vote at the AGM, whether
they can attend or not. If a member is unable to attend, they are responsible for setting up their own Proxy
Vote. In order to register a proxy vote, the member must:
1. You must have a valid, PAID membership at the time of the AGM (March). If you have a Trial
Membership you are not eligible to vote. Please ensure you have paid your DC with enough time for your
DC to notify National of your change in status.
2. Choose someone who does have a valid, paid membership to carry your proxy vote.
3. Email the National Resource Coordinator and National Coordinator at: [email protected], and
[email protected] the following information: Your Name and Camarilla Membership Number; Your desire
to proxy your vote to another member; the name and Camarilla Membership Number, if applicable, of the
person who will be carrying your Proxy.
See? EASY! And a good way to ensure that your voice is heard!
Be aware though of these few things:
1.
The person carrying your votes does not have to be from the same Domain.
2.
The person carrying your votes must be a member in good standing or will not have a personal vote.
3.
The person carrying your vote must be present at the AGM to cast said votes.
4.
Clarify your voting instructions with the person you are proxying your vote with. If you do not give
them instructions they may vote as they see fit in your name. If there is something that may change the way
you would vote, be sure to specify it as motions can change on the floor.
The Global Organization
On the global level, the Club Director and Master Storyteller guide the organization. These officers establish
global policy, coordinate the efforts of national officers and serve as the stewards of the club and the global
sanctioned chronicle.
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Transferring Membership
There are times when a member may wish to change venue or domain membership. This may be due to a
change of residence or just a preference for a different style of play. Each of these transfers follows a single
overall set of guidelines.
Domain Transfer Policy
Each transfer to a new domain must be approved by the coordinator responsible for the group you are moving
from, as well as the coordinator responsible for the group you are moving into. A coordinator with jurisdiction
over both locales must also approve the transfer. In Canada currently this means the National Coordinator in
the case of a transfer between Domains.
For example, a cross-country move from the domain in Victoria to the domain in Fredericton would involve
the domain coordinators, regional coordinators and national coordinator-a seemingly formidable chain of
officers, but generally a formality in the case of a physical move, just to be sure that all relevant records are
properly transferred.
Venue Transfer Policy
A transfer between venues while maintaining the same domain membership is identical, except that it
involves storytellers rather than coordinators. Each transfer is approved by the new and old venue storytellers,
as well as by a storyteller with jurisdiction over both venues (ANST: Venue). The character being transferred
must also meet all the normal requirements for the new venue, including character type. This also works for
transferring between venues that are not within the same domain. Notification for any passed items with
approval numbers on the character sheet must be given to the VST who approves the transfer, and the DST
of the domain. Any pending approvals become the responsibility of the Storyteller chain that the character
is being transferred into.
Rarely will a member be barred from such a transfer, with the officers’ involvement generally being to ensure
a smooth transfer of records and other data. Attempting to transfer in order to gain approvals, or to avoid a
pending disciplinary action or investigation is an exception, and may result in additional sanctions.
Starting a New Group
Canada At Midnight is always willing to assist members in forming new domains if there is no existing
domain nearby. Canada At Midnight website offers ideas and resources to help you recruit new members.
Also, you can contact the National Coordinator who can help guide you through the formation of a new
domain. You can find a current list of National Officers and their contact information at
http://www.camarilla.ca
Managing Finances
Many local groups will raise and spend money to pay for gaming sites, office supplies, decorations and so
forth. Since Canada At Midnight is an affiliate of White Wolf Publishing, the handling and reporting of this
money can be quite important.
Domains, regions and other local Camarilla groups may not incorporate separately or otherwise separate
themselves legally from Canada At Midnight organization. They may, however, open bank accounts and
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otherwise handle funds independently. Such accounts should be opened in the name of the local group and
should always require two signatures to withdraw funds. For details or advice on how to set up a Domain
bank account, please contact the National Finance Cooridnator at [email protected].
Each coordinator report submitted for your group should also include how much money the group has at the
beginning of the month, all funds collected during the month (broken out by category) and all expenses for
the month (broken out by category), as well as the ending balance for the group. This allows the information
to be tracked, as we are legally required to do as an organization.
It should also be noted that while local groups may not require any payment for membership in the local
group beyond the normal membership fee paid to White Wolf, they might require a fee to cover the costs of
obtaining a site for the event or other expenses. These fees should be kept as low as possible, and all funds
gained in this way as well as the expenses they are used to pay should always be reported in the group’s
monthly status report. On occasion, local groups, regions, or even nations may host special events with a
larger fee, either to raise funds for Canada At Midnight or for a charity organization, but these events should
be the exception rather than the rule.
Our Ties to White Wolf
Trademarks and Copyrights
Because of our relationship with White Wolf Publishing, Inc., registered and active C.A.M. domains and
regions may use White Wolf terms and phrases in their newsletters, flyers, and other printed material. Each
trademarked term must be marked with a TM at least once in the document and attributed to White Wolf
Publishing, Inc. C.A.M. entities may also use all clan, tribe and any such sigils as well as any White Wolf
artwork after but not including Vampire: The Masquerade, Second Edition. This artwork may be used on
printed material (e.g., flyers, posters, brochures, but not T-shirts) as long as Canada At Midnight entities do
not receive compensation for the material. Individuals cannot trademark domain and character names that are
used in Canada At Midnight and in Canada At Midnight global chronicle. These names become the shared
property of all members of the organization.
Domains or members wishing to produce items for sale will need to contact the National Coordinator for the
requirements and restrictions relating to using White Wolf copyrighted material and the National Financial
Coordinator as the one responsible for merchandising.
Growing as an Organization
Recruiting ideas
Any organization like ours needs new members to keep things fresh, exciting, and to keep the club growing.
Here are a few tips for helping this process along:
First and foremost, each member, whether actively recruiting others or not, should strive to put forward a
good image of the club. Canada At Midnight is a growing club, but like any other organization, it requires
the individual efforts of its members to remain active, to continue to grow, and to expand. While not every
member is expected to be out actively recruiting new members, it is the responsibility of every member to
put forth the best possible image of their club and inspire increased interest from among the non-members of
the local community.
In order to do this, Camarilla members should be consciously aware of their behavior at all times and conduct
themselves accordingly. Further details on appropriate behavior can be found elsewhere in this document (for
example, under the Code of Conduct).
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For those who wish to actively see their local Camarilla community grow, there is a branch of the coordinator
chain specifically devoted to your interests. The Outreach Department, which falls under the National
Coordinator works actively to generate materials (including flyers, brochures, and even custom pieces for
conventions) and ideas (helping you plan or design your individual recruitment drive, if desired) to further
assist you in developing a recruitment campaign. These and other materials can be requested at any time by
contacting the National Coordinator.
Every effective recruiting campaign will consist of Design and Implementation stages. Designing an effective
recruitment campaign generally involves defining the scope and range of your intended efforts. Whether you
wish to canvas local gaming shops only, provide an informational booth or stand at a college campus event,
or even pursue a broader potential group. The volume and nature of materials and information to be utilized
in your recruiting efforts should also be considered in this stage. This will require at least a rough map of
what schools, shops, or hobby stores, etc. you think may draw people who are likely to be interested in the
games and venues we support.
Once you decide what is in your area, you can then decide which locations you want to specifically target on
this drive. If you lack time or manpower, you can target a single location, and possibly target other areas
individually later as well. Once you have sat down and worked out these sorts of details with your recruiting
support, you can move forward to Implementation. If you are having difficulty determining what locations
might be best, talk to store owners about their customers-they will be delighted to talk about their business
with you. If you still can’t decide, e-mail the Outreach team, and discuss your concerns with them. They’ll
be more than happy to help you decide how you might best proceed.
Implementing your efforts, while it may appear to be more time consuming will only be as successful as you
were in laying a plan while designing your recruitment drive. The implementation phase can consist of
posting flyers and domain meeting announcements, hosting gaming workshops, or even volunteering time at
gaming conventions either in an information booth, or by running an example game for potential future
members. Exactly what you choose to do is up to you, and should be based on the size and nature of your
local gaming community, as well as how much interest you think you can attract from other gamers and
others who might be interested. If your local group is involved with charity or volunteer projects at all, don’t
forget to include those as well-sometimes that can mean the difference between being another “gaming club”
and a club a potential member wants to be a part of. Try to express that we are not just gamers, but offer an
entire community to our members.
Once you have garnered the interest of a number of potential members, be sure to stay in touch with them.
Try to gently encourage them to come to domain meetings, games and other events, develop their interest in
our venues, and even more importantly, potential friendships and a feeling of community with existing
Camarilla members. Increasing the exposure of our club and building relationships with potential members
is and always will be the most likely means of success for recruiting and developing new members.
If you want more ideas on Recruiting methods or strategies, please contact the Outreach Team via the
National Coordinator.
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Section Three Prestige: How to
Get It and What It Does For You
Canada At Midnight relies on members who volunteer their time to provide all of the organization’s services
and events. Because members are not paid for their time and effort, Canada At Midnight has developed
several ways to recognize those who volunteer. The most common form of recognition is with the prestige
point system. Coordinators award prestige points for service to the organization. Prestige points are a
reflection of effort, time, and energy volunteered to Canada At Midnight. Prestige points are not awarded for
actions or events that result in experience point awards, monetary gain, or other forms of compensation.
Membership Class
Members who have earned prestige points can qualify for a higher member class, resulting in awards,
recognition in the organization’s publications, and more flexibility in character creation. Members who
advance in member classes also take on more responsibility for supporting the organization and helping other
members. While a higher member class does show distinction and grant some privileges, it does not give
members authority over one another. All members have the same rights within the Club, regardless of
Membership Class earned, however be aware that those with higher Membership Class are held to a higher
level of responsibility in regards to their understanding and adherence to rules and policies such as the Code
of Conduct and Conflict Resolution procedures. It is easy to become caught up in the race to gain another
member class by earning as many prestige points as possible; however, the true value of the time and effort
you volunteer is found in such intrinsic rewards as new relationships, completed projects, and leadership
experience.
Because prestige points lead to recognition and privileges in the organization, they can become a hotly
debated issue. A member may think it unfair that another member gains prestige for doing something he or
she cannot do. Some members, for example, cannot give blood for medical or philosophical reasons, so they
argue that some compensation should be given to them for not being eligible to earn prestige points for a
domain blood drive. However, members should remember that all prestige activities are voluntary, and there
are many other ways to help Canada At Midnight. If a member cannot donate blood, that member may
consider alternate things that the domain needs and focus on what they can do instead. A member who cannot
donate blood may instead help organize a book drive, find and clean a game site, organize a Walk-a-thon
team for the domain, design or maintain a database, or volunteer in other ways. There are many ways to earn
prestige!
If you would like to start a project, you should begin by discussing your idea with your coordinator. Your
coordinator can explain your domain’s needs and help you tailor your ideas to fit with the goals of the domain.
If you are not near a domain, you can get in touch with your regional or national coordinator and begin to
build a domain in your area. Building a domain is one of the most difficult things to do, but it is also one of
the most rewarding.
Reporting and Tracking
Members who wish to have their prestige recorded must regularly report their activities to their immediate
coordinator while retaining their own copy of their prestige log. It is important for members to maintain an
accurate and up-to-date log of their own prestige awards. The coordinator should report members’ prestige
in their monthly report so that the organization has up-to-date prestige records. The organization cannot track
prestige if said prestige is not reported, so make sure that your coordinator files their paperwork. If your
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coordinator has been reporting your prestige totals, the officers within the organization can often help you
restore lost records or verify your records if you move to another domain.
Your prestige log must be itemized. Each entry should include a date, activity description, award amount,
award type, award category, and the source of the award (report or website reference). If possible, use a
computer spreadsheet to automatically calculate a running total and reduce errors. A blank copy of the
Prestige Log spreadsheet can be found on the National website under “Resources”. It is preferred that you
use this sheet, and doing so will make your review go much more quickly at the National level!
Benefits
A member’s prestige point totals determine his or her Member Class (MC). Each MC gives the member a
title from Associate (MC 1) to Trustee (MC 15). While it is common for a member to earn fifty prestige
points a month, it takes a very active member to earn 100 prestige per month. Awards over 100 points per
month are often reviewed for appropriateness at the regional or higher level during the review process.
When members have enough prestige points to advance in member class, they should send a request for
increase in member class with their prestige log to their immediate coordinator (usually the Domain
Coordinator). The coordinator reviews the request and the prestige log to determine that all awards are fair
and consistent with other awards, then either grants the member class if it is within the range that coordinator
is able to grant, or passes the request to the next level in the coordinator chain for further review.
If a member loses prestige points through disciplinary action, that loss of prestige immediately results in a
loss of member class, if their prestige total drops below the required totals for their current MC. Members
may also lose full Membership Class(es) as a result of a Disciplinary Action – in such cases, the administrator
who is levying the DA will inform the member of their new prestige totals. All such loss of Prestige must be
reflected on a separate line in the member’s Prestige Log.
MC Chart
The following chart explains the requirements for each member class, including the amount of prestige
required for each level, its title, and the coordinator within the chain that must review and approve the
appropriate MC. Note that for Prestige awarded prior to April 2015, the “minimum” requirement should be
calculated as the total of all General, Regional, and National prestige.
Level of
required
coordinator approval
Member Class
Minimum
Associate (1)
0
Journeyman (2)
100
Domain Coordinator
Artisan (3)
300
Domain Coordinator
Contributor (4)
600
Domain Coordinator
Sponsor (5)
1000
Domain Coordinator
Steward (6)
1500
Domain Coordinator
Benefactor (7)
2100
Domain Coordinator
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Advocate (8)
2700
Domain Coordinator
Adviser (9)
3400
National Coordinator
Patron (10)
4100
National Coordinator
Mentor (11)
4800
National Coordinator
Luminary (12)
5400
National Coordinator
Executive (13)
6100
National Coordinator
Fellow (14)
6900
National Coordinator
Trustee (15)
N/A
Camarilla Council and WW
Awarding Prestige
Only the coordinator chain can award prestige, though they may base their decisions on recommendations by
the storytelling chain. The sole exception to this is the National Storyteller, who may also award Prestige to
Assistants, Domain Storytellers, and Project Leads.
The chart below clarifies who awards an officer or administrator’s administrative prestige:
Officer / Administrator giving the award:
Is responsible for awards to:
Domain Coordinator (DC)
DST, ADST, VST, AVST, ADC
Regional Coordinator (RC) awards:
ARC, DC, RST, ARST
*Currently Canada doesn’t have Regions
All National Council members (including self
as NC), DC, ANC
National Coordinator (NC):
National Storyteller (NST) *The NST is a member of National Council, and
such, has the privilege to award Prestige. He/She is the only ST in Canada with such
authority.
DST, ANST
Note: Any Canadian National Officer is responsible for awarding prestige to his/her assistants.
Prestige Awards
The tables that follow cover almost everything for which coordinators award prestige. If something is not
listed, there is also an “Exceptional Service” category at the end. It is important that coordinators award
prestige consistently to ensure fairness to all members.
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It is important to take the caps for each category into account, as awards in excess of these caps will be
removed during the review process. If a member deserves more prestige points for their efforts above and
beyond what is ordinary, they may be awarded points in the “Exceptional Service” category. These caps
encourage members to participate in a variety of different activities instead of focusing upon one area of the
club to the exclusion of all else.
Several individual line items also have specific caps for the same reason. These line item caps apply to the
awards given in any particular month (or event, in the case of the “Event Services” category). Thus, while a
member cannot receive more than 30 prestige points for donations to a specific charitable cause during a
given month, she may receive that award for the same cause during different months.
ADMINISTRATION (max of 80/month)
Only rarely should an officer be awarded the maximum allowable award for that position. Failure to perform
duties such as reporting, responding to e-mail, etc. should result in a lower award. Awards for assistants
should take into account the amount of work required for that position relative to other officers. Generally,
however, an assistant should receive approximately half the prestige of their immediate supervisor, based on
the workload they handle in that month. Members will only be permitted to receive Prestige from a maximum
of three offices per month, including Assistant positions.
National or Global level principle officer/administrator
0-50 per month
Members of Canada At Midnight Council.
Assistant to National or Global-level principle officer/administrator 0-50 per month
Any associate appointed by a member of Canada At Midnight Council who reports monthly, including
Special Project Leads. Awarded by the appointing officer. Prestige recommendations are to be included in
the monthly report and will be awarded as recommended unless adjusted by the national officer or denied
by the national coordinator.
Regional-level Principle Administrator
0-40 per month
Regional coordinator (RC), regional storyteller (RST). RST awarded by the RC, RC awarded by the NC.
Regional prestige. Note: Canada does not currently have Regions. This level of administration will be added
at a later date if needed, as determined by the membership.
Assistant to Regional-level Principle Administrator
0-40 per month
Any assistant appointed by the RC or RST who reports monthly. Awarded by the RC. Regional prestige.
Note: Canada does not currently have Regions. This level of administration will be added at a later date if
needed, as determined by the membership.
Domain-level Principle Administrator
0-50 per month
Domain coordinator (DC), Domain storyteller (DST), Venue Storytellers (VST). VST prestige is
recommended by the DST and confirmed by the DC. DST prestige is awarded by the NST. DC prestige is
awarded by the NC.
Assistant to Domain-level Principle Administrator
0-40 per month
Any assistant appointed by the Principal Domain Administrator who reports monthly. These include Assistant
Domain Storytellers (ADSTs), Assistant Venue Storytellers (AVSTs), and Assistant Domain Coordinators
(ADCs). ADST Prestige is recommended by the DST, and AVST Prestige is recommended by the VST; both
are awarded by DC. ADC prestige is awarded by the DC.
Committee Member
0-20 per month
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Members who participate in committees formed at the direction of the DC to plan ongoing Domain activities
such as social or charity events. Committees should meet no less than once per month, and must be headed
by an ADC. Prestige for committee members will be recommended by the ADC, and awarded by the DC.
CITY DEVELOPMENT (Max of 20/month)
City Development
0-20 per month
Individual working to form a group in a city currently without a Canadian Camarilla presence within 50
Kilometers. Must report monthly to the NC or designated assistant. Awarded by the NC. General prestige.
COMMUNICATION and Web Design (Max of 50/month)
As with officers, list moderators and IRC operators should receive awards in keeping with the amount of
work performed relative to other list moderators and IRC ops. Only the lists with the highest volume should
receive the maximum allowable award, while most should receive about half the maximum award. Prestige
awards for web design are very subjective and amounts should be decided with care. Important to note is the
complexity of the site, both in number of pages, quantity of information, and technical or dynamic elements
of the page. Only extensive, highly complex, dynamic websites should receive the maximum allowable
award.
Most websites are local and are thus awarded by a DC. The regional or national coordinators may request a
website for regional or national consumption - prestige awarded as a result must be granted by the RC or NC
respectively.
Camarilla List Moderator
0-10 per month per list, max 10
Moderator of an e-mail list on the Canadian mail server (Sympa). Awarded by the Domain Coordinator or
National Resource Coordinator.
Other List Moderator
0-10 per month per list, max 10
Moderator of a general e-mail list NOT on Canada At Midnight mail server (such as a domain’s OC or IC
lists). Must be approved and tracked by the NRC or appointed assistant. Awarded by the NRC or DC. IC
lists must be approved by the appropriate level storyteller (such as the DST for a Domain level IC list).
Awarded by the NRC or DC. .
IRC Operator
0-10 per month
Operator for one or more sanctioned IRC channels. Awarded by the National Technical Administrator’s
office (U.S. Channels) or National Resource Coordinator (Canadian channels) and ratified by the National
Coordinator. Note that this award is limited to 10 per month, regardless of the number of channels that a
member Operates.
IRC Venue Supervising Operator
0-15 per month
Supervising operator for all of the channels of a particular venue. Awarded by the National Technical
Administrator’s office and ratified by the National Coordinator.
Website creation
5-30 one time
Includes initial creation of a website as well as major redesigns that change at least half of the existing site.
Website maintenance
0-15 per month
Includes making normal updates, handling trouble reports, fielding suggestions for improvements, etc.
Donating web space
0-10 per month
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Providing server space for the website to reside on. Also includes associated features such as e-mail boxes
and the like.
COMMUNITY SERVICE (Max of 70/month)
Most charity drives are local and result in awards of General prestige awarded by a DC or CC. The regional
or national coordinators may sponsor a regional or national drive - prestige awarded as a result must be
granted by the RC or NC respectively.
Donating blood as part of a Camarilla blood drive
25 per donation
Includes whole blood and partial blood donations. Partial blood donation refers to aphaeresis, i.e. plasma
or platelets. Any monetary compensation must be donated to charity in order to receive the prestige award.
Donor must provide proof to their domain coordinator that the donation of plasma (and money, if
applicable) was done. Blood can be donated a min. of every 56 days. Platelets can be donated every 2
weeks.
Transportation for blood drive
10 per trip, max 20
Includes transporting two or more members who donate blood. This may not be received in the same month
as a donation of blood (see previous).
Independent blood donation
15 per donation
Includes whole blood and partial blood donations. Partial blood donation refers to aphaeresis, i.e. plasma
or platelets. Any monetary compensation must be donated to charity in order to receive the prestige award.
Donor must provide proof to their domain coordinator that the donation of plasma (and money, if
applicable) was done. Awarded by DC.
Donating items as part of a Camarilla charity drive
1-10 per item, max 30 per charity
Includes any donated items. Must be part of a charity drive that has been announced to members of at least
one domain. Only very exceptional items (computers, furniture, etc.) should earn more than five prestige
per item.
Volunteer time as part of a Camarilla charity drive
5 per hour, max 30 per charity
Labor donated to charities as part of an organized Camarilla charity event or drive announced to at least
one domain. May include time spent at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, park cleanups, local libraries and
other charitable institutions.
Organizing charity drive
0-20 per drive, max 20
Organizing a blood drive, charity drive, volunteer event or charitable fund raiser. Must be approved by a
principle officer or administrator prior to the drive. Principle officers/administrators and assistants assigned
to charity functions are not eligible for this award.
Donating needed materials to Canada At Midnight
1-10 per item
Includes any items requested by Canada At Midnight. Must be announced to the members of at least one
domain so that anyone has the opportunity to donate.
Organizing Camarilla fund raiser
0-10 per event
Any event that raises money for the operation of Canada At Midnight. Ongoing or permanent fundraisers
should be delegated to assistants and awarded prestige in the Administration category. Principle officers,
administrators, and assistants assigned to fund raising functions are not eligible for this award.
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PUBLICATIONS & PR (Max of 50/month)
Most publications are local and result in awards of prestige awarded by a domain coordinator. The regional
or national coordinators may request a publication for regional or national distribution-any prestige awarded
as a result must be granted by the RC or NC respectively. Web publications such as Domain Newsletters for
ease of distribution would be included in this award, not under Communications.
Editing a Camarilla newsletter
10-25 per issue
Includes accepting and approving submissions, layout and design, proofreading, providing filler material,
etc.
Assistant Editor
5-15 per issue
Includes accepting and approving submissions, layout and design, proofreading, providing filler material,
etc.
Designing a Camarilla flyer / brochure
5-10 per flyer
Includes accepting and approving artwork, layout and design, proofreading, etc. If more than one person
assists, this award should be split between them.
Art or article published in a Camarilla publication
5-10 per article
Granted once per article written, not once each time published. The editor of a publication is eligible for
approving and publishing their own article only with special dispensation from the principle coordinator
requesting the newsletter, and only once per issue.
Grunt work for a Camarilla publication
0-10 per issue
May include assisting the editor with layout, design, proofreading, etc. Also includes copying, collating,
stapling, errand running, etc. associated with a newsletter, flyer or brochure. The editor of a publication is
not eligible for grunt work awards for the publication they edit.
Donations for a Camarilla publication
1-10 per item, max 25
Donations of photocopying, software, etc. used in the production of a Camarilla publication.
EVENT SERVICES
Events must be sponsored by an appropriate principle officer who then grants all prestige associated with that
event. A domain coordinator sponsors local events, a regional coordinator sponsors regional events, and the
national coordinator sponsors national or global events.
Camarilla-Sponsored Conventions (Max of 200/event):
These are multiple-day events operated entirely by Canada At Midnight. Must be sponsored as a convention
by a coordinator and a storyteller with jurisdiction and either regional or national authority.
NOTE: For CAiNE, the maximums may be exceeded at the discretion of the National Coordinator.
Organizing an event
0-20 per month, max 50.
Includes pre-con and post-con organizational work. Does not cover work done at the convention.
0 – 30 per month, max 200
Team Lead for National Event
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Team Leads are required to file a report with the ANC CAiNE. Prestige will be recommended by ANC
CAiNE, awarded by NC.
Assistant Team Lead for National Event
0-15 per month, max 100
For volunteering prior to an event; 5 per hour, maximum 100 per event
Volunteer at a convention
5 per hour, max 50
Any volunteer time donated at the convention, including setup, tear down, security, hospitality, cam table,
etc.
Organizing or speaking at a seminar or panel
0-15 per panel, max 50
Panel must be announced to the convention attendees and sanctioned by the organizers.
Narrating a sanctioned game at the convention
5 per hour, max 50
Includes the lead storyteller for the game and any appointed assistants. Official narrators must be identified
to the players at the game.
Playing an NPC in a sanctioned event game
5 per session
May not be awarded if the player elected to assign experience traits to a character for that game session.
Narrators for the game are not eligible for this award.
Donating needed materials to the convention
1-10 per item, max 50
Donating items necessary to operate the convention.
Camarilla-Attended Conventions (Max of 75/event):
These are multiple-day events operated by an organization other than Canada At Midnight, but with a
Camarilla presence approved by the organizers of the convention. Must be recognized as a convention by a
coordinator and a storyteller with jurisdiction and either regional or national authority. Feature Game of the
Month events also fall under this category.
Organizing an event
0-15 per month, max 40
Includes pre-con and post-con organizational work, both for Canada At Midnight presence or the
nonCamarilla portions of the convention.
Volunteer at a convention
5 per hour, max of 40
Any volunteer time donated at the convention, including setup; tear down, security, hospitality, cam table,
etc. for both Canada At Midnight presence or the non-Camarilla portions of the convention.
Organizing or speaking at a seminar or panel
0-10 per panel, max 40
Must be announced to the convention attendees and approved by the convention organizers. Includes
nonCamarilla seminars and panels.
Narrating a sanctioned game at the convention
5 per hour, max 40
Includes the lead storyteller for the game and any appointed assistants. Must be identified to the players at
the game. Includes only sanctioned Camarilla games.
Playing an NPC in a sanctioned game
5 per session
May not be awarded if the player elected to assign experience traits to a character for that game session.
Includes only sanctioned Camarilla games. Narrators for the game are not eligible for this award.
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Donating needed materials to the convention
1-10 per item, max 40
Donating items necessary to operate Canada At Midnight presence at the convention.
Camarilla Special Events (Max of 50/event):
These are special events operated by Canada At Midnight that do not meet the requirements for a
convention as previously detailed. Must be recognized and sanctioned as a special event by the regional
coordinator and storyteller.
Organizing an event
0-10 per month, max 25
Includes pre-event and post-event organizational work.
Volunteering at an event
5 per hour, max 25
Any volunteer time donated at the convention, including setup, tear down, cooking, etc.
Narrating a sanctioned game at the convention
5 per hour, max 25
Includes the lead storyteller for the game and any appointed assistants. Must be identified to the players at
the game.
Playing an NPC in a sanctioned game
5 per event
May not be awarded if the player elected to assign experience traits to a character for that game session.
Narrators for the game are not eligible for this award.
Donating needed materials to the convention
1-10 per item, max 25
Donating items necessary to operate the event.
STORYTELLING SUPPORT (Max of 20/month)
Most storytelling assistance is local in nature and result in awards of General prestige awarded by a DC. The
regional or national storytellers may request assistance for regional or national plots or events-any prestige
awarded as a result must be granted by the regional coordinator, or National Storyteller, respectively. All
awards in this category should be awarded only in cooperation with the storyteller staff.
Storytellers operating in their own sphere of responsibility are not eligible for awards in this category. For
example, storytellers within a particular domain are not eligible for additional awards for work done inside
that domain, as it is part of their storytelling duties. Assistance provided to other domains would still qualify.
Submitting an accepted plotline
1-10 per plotline
Must be approved by the accepting storyteller. Full plot kits should receive the full award while plot ideas
and partial plot kits should receive a lower award.
Submitting an accepted NPC
1-5 per NPC
Must be approved by the accepting storyteller. Fully-detailed NPCs with backgrounds, motivations, etc.
should receive the full award while bare character sheets with brief story notes should receive a lower
award.
Playing an NPC in a sanctioned game
5 per session
May not be awarded if the player elected to assign experience traits to a character for playing NPCs the full
game session.
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Mentoring a new player
5 per formal session
Includes providing advice and help with character creation, role-playing hints, setting and background
information, etc. to any player new to this particular venue or to Canada At Midnight organization. One
session should be at least 30 minutes. Must be approved by the mentored player as well as the awarding
coordinator.
Attending a storyteller meeting by request
5 per meeting, max of 10
The storyteller staff must have requested your presence.
Narration/ST Aid
5 per full session
Narrator may not be part of the domain or domain storytelling staff, but may receive for narration duties
during a sanctioned game. It may include check-in table as well as narration, but must be for the full session.
ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICE (Max of 40/month)
Securing a game/meeting site
10-20 per site
Locating a new site and making arrangements for Camarilla use. Only awarded once per site. If two or more
people assisted, split the award between them. Principle coordinating officers and assistants assigned to
organizing games or site maintenance are not eligible for this award.
Providing a game/meeting site
10 per game
Acquiring a game or organizational (Domain) meeting site and providing it to Canada At Midnight free of
charge. Includes providing one’s own home for games. If two or more people assisted, split the award
between them. Members who receive this award are not eligible for "Securing a game site" for the same
site.
Set up and/or clean up a game/meeting site
1-5 per game, max 20
Awarded once per game/meeting. Members who both set up and clean up still receive the award once for
that event.
Organize small social event (5-14 persons)
5 per event, max 10
If two or more people assisted, split the award between them. Principle coordinating administrators and
assistants assigned to events are not eligible for this award. Only official Camarilla events with a presiding
coordinator qualify for this award.
Organize large social event (15+ persons)
10-15 per event, max 30
Principle coordinating administrators and assistants assigned to events are not eligible for this award. Only
official Camarilla events with a presiding coordinator qualify for this award.
Assist with large social event (15+ persons)
0-10 per event
Principle coordinating administrators and assistants assigned to events are not eligible for this award. Only
official Camarilla events with a presiding coordinator qualify for this award.
Attend organizational meetings
5 per meeting, max 10
Officers and administrators required to attend a meeting due to their position are not eligible for this award.
Members attending a meeting for a domain or other group of which they are not a part are not eligible for
this award unless their presence was requested to contribute to the meeting.
Transporting 3+ members to a sanctioned event
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5 per trip, max 20
Note: the “three people” does include the driver. Yes, the minimum distance requirement has been dropped
– this is to encourage carpooling! Be green!
Providing lodging for out-of-town members for an event
5 per person, max 20
Must be for the night before and/or the night after an event. Awarded once per person per event.
Obtaining business sponsorship
20 per business
Awarded for successfully soliciting a business sponsorship for Canada At Midnight, including events,
domains, etc. Only awarded once per business per half calendar year (once in Jan through June, one in July
through Dec).
Special Projects
5-15 per month
These projects may include but are not limited to assisting an administrator in the compilation of prestige,
character sheets, check in tables, research, etc. but do not include jobs that should be assigned to an assistant
in that chain. For example, doing check-in for a game when not a part of the coordinator staff or aiding with
transcriptions during character audits when not part of the storytelling staff. If the project is persistent it
should be awarded as an Assistant under administration. This award may not be claimed more than twice
per calendar year for the same duty.
MISCELLANEOUS (Limited by Sub Category)
These awards are awarded by the domain coordinator under very specific circumstances.
Recruiting a new member
10 per member, max 50
New member must attend at least four games and obtain a Camarilla membership number. If two or more
members are responsible for the new member, split the award between them.
Early renewal
50 per renewal
Awarded to a member who renews before their expiration date. May only be awarded to each member once per
calendar year.
Ordeals
Each Ordeal may only be claimed for Prestige once, and only when it has been
passed. A member may only claim prestige for an ordeal if all of the pre-requisite
ordeals are done. Please see the Section on Ordeals in the Education Chapter for
more details.
Varies per Ordeal
Membership Handbook Ordeal
100
Ordeal of Constitution & Bylaws
100
Ordeal of Coordination
100
Ordeal of Narration (note: there are several, broken down by Venue. Each Ordeal
50
may be completed for Prestige)
Ordeal of Creation (either CWoD or NWoD version – you cannot claim Prestige
100
for both)
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EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE (Max of 50/month)
A regional coordinator or National Council member may award up to 50 prestige to an individual who has
performed far beyond the guidelines listed elsewhere in the prestige system.
Examples and Ideas
Example 1: A member wants to support Habitat for Humanity (a non-profit charitable group). The member
works with his or her domain coordinator and Habitat for Humanity to lead the domain in an event to help
build a home for a local family. Habitat for Humanity organizes the overall project, but the domain
participates on behalf of Canada At Midnight and Habitat for Humanity is aware of it. The member should
receive between 0 and 20 prestige, depending on the amount of effort involved for organizing the charity
drive, and each participant should receive five prestige per hour of time they spend helping out (to a maximum
of 30 prestige each).
Example 2: A member makes a monetary donation to Habitat for Humanity while wearing a Camarilla Tshirt,
but not as part of an organized Camarilla presence involve. This is not a prestige-earning activity.
Example 3: A member goes with a friend to a church sponsored event to sandbag for a flood watch. The
member mentions that he is a member of Canada At Midnight, but the event was not planned in conjunction
with a coordinator and was not announced to other Camarilla members to organize a significant Camarilla
presence. This is not a prestige-earning activity.
Example 4: As in Example 3, but the member calls several Camarilla members and sends an e-mail to the
local domain mailing list asking for help. He ensures that the organizers know of Canada At Midnight’s
effort, but there is no coordinator involved due to the urgency of the situation. Each participant should receive
5 prestige for each hour contributed, including time spent sandbagging or calling other members to assist.
Example 5: At a regional event, a member offers to help and is asked to help with cleaning up after the event.
It takes one hour. The member should earn 5 prestige for their effort.
A Note on Member Class
While member class is earned through accumulating prestige points, it represents much more than that. It is
a symbol of dedication and service to the club and its values. When accepting a new member class, you are
agreeing to serve as an example of this service and dedication to the other members of the club. The higher
one’s member class, the more one is expected to act as a leader, maintain a positive attitude, and set a higher
standard of ethics and responsibility.
With this in mind, member class is not guaranteed to all who earn the requisite number of prestige points,
and can be removed if a member abuses the privileges of their member class or consistently creates conflict
within the club (outside the confines of Canada At Midnight global chronicle). Member class is most
definitely a privilege, not a right.
Responsibilities of High MC members of Canada At Midnight:
Contrary to previous practices attaining your MC 9 or higher MC class in Canada At Midnight isn't just
about entitlement to more XP on the character sheets. Applying and being accepted as an "Advisor"
member places the onus of a higher standard of behavior and stewardship of the club.
High MC members are expected to:
• Not just follow the CoC and the rules, but to exemplify them.
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• Be generous with their time and energy towards the club.
• Be active in votes and motions on a local, regional and national level.
That being said, the stewardship to high MC members also includes their behavior in-game. A good game
involves dynamic play that gives all characters a sense of risk as well as a potential for success.
Unfortunately the extra XP that is applied to their characters can create a serious stagnation within a local
game if these powerful characters aren't used judiciously. Lower MC characters are often daunted by PCs
with 300 + more starting XP and will simply not attempt to "rock the boat" in-game so they can keep
playing their characters.
As a result of this observed pattern, high MC members are expected to make extraordinary choices with their
characters that can keep the game dynamic and interesting.
High MC characters should:
• Create in-character openings for lower MC characters in their history.
• Allow themselves to exemplify the themes of the game.
• Chose dramatic courses of action that may put their character at risk.
• Work with the local ST team to make sure that their presence isn't causing stagnation in the game.
If a member feels or demonstrates that they cannot act in any of the above outlines, or feels like they must
"play to win" they should be encouraged to make characters at lower MCs.
Section Four
Membership Education: How to
Navigate the Bureaucracy
In Canada, the National Coordinator, in conjunction with the Vice National Coordinator and the National
Storyteller, is responsible for a variety of education projects. These officers provide resources and
information for their members about the responsibilities of membership, the coordinator and storyteller
offices, and other topics relating to Canada At Midnight as a society, and these documents can be found on
Canada At Midnight Canada website at http://www.camarilla.ca . Members are encouraged to be well
informed, and to provide incentive, prestige is awarded for completing ordeals that test a member’s
knowledge. As well, a variety of documents relating to Canada At Midnight global chronicle are available to
members both on the Canadian website, but also at http://camarilla.white-wolf.com/MST.
The Ordeals
The official education limits in Canada At Midnight are the Ordeals. These are tests, all open book, designed
to give the person attempting them a greater understanding in both Canada At Midnight, and the game
mechanics used. There are currently ten Ordeals available, which are available in electronic format at
http://www.canadaatmidnight.ca/wordpress/?page_id=50,
or
by
requesting
them
from
[email protected]. Ordeals may be submitted, including multiple ordeals at the same time, to the web
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address: [email protected]. You must ensure that you follow the instructions for each ordeal, and
include your Name, Camarilla Number, Domain Number and Name, and the Name of your supervising
Coordinator.
Who Has to Write Ordeals?
All members are encouraged to write the ordeal in order to familiarize themselves with the Structure and
Organization of Canada At Midnight. As of April 2015, there is no requirement for officers or administrators
to have completed the Ordeals in order to hold office.
Ordeal Parties
An interesting way to do the Ordeals is to have an 'Ordeal Party'. They are pretty simple to organize and are
enjoyable as well. Confirm with your Coordinator on what you want to do, and then it is as easy as contacting
a few members, informing them of your plan and getting the preparations done. Make sure you have one, if
not two, hardcopies of all documents required for the ordeals being written available at the time. Having one
or two people clustered around your computer all researching a topic is hard enough, having ten is downright
impossible. If possible, refreshments would be nice. Gaming is, after all, a social activity and so are Ordeal
Parties.
Just remember, make sure all people write the answers in their own words. See the remarks on plagiarism
below to drive this point home. Discussion of the questions can also lead to comprehension of the material
a lot quicker. Having people trading ideas is a powerful thing, and answers that seemed difficult to find can
be located with less effort.
On a side note, this type of activity may be worth prestige. Look it up, you are going to be looking through
the Handbook for the Ordeals, anyway.
Mentoring
Another way to encourage people to do the Ordeals is to mentor. Older or more experienced players who
have completed the Ordeals can offer to help those who have yet to do so. Mind you, this does not mean
showing them the answers, as the act of searching encourages the information to assimilate that much easier.
Rather, a gentle nudge in the correct direction will aid the member in their investigations. This is especially
true for the '”Membership Handbook Ordeal" and " Narration Ordeal”, which can both take a fair bit of
looking through the Handbook, addendums and appropriate “Mind’s Eye Theatre" books to find correct
answers.
Ordeal Overviews
Below you will find a quick overview of the Ordeals in current use. They are free to members to write—
there is no cost associated with them. New members, and even older members, are encouraged to complete
them to increase their understanding of all aspects of the organization. Members should remember to use the
applicable documents and addenda to the rules when attempting some Ordeals. National addenda can clarify,
and in some cases overrule, some of the Handbook and MET material.
Membership Handbook Ordeal
The Membership Handbook Ordeal is the basis of all other ordeals. The only document required to write this
ordeal is the Membership Handbook, which gives all of the information required to be informed about the
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organization. It is designed to test a member’s knowledge of the information provided in the Membership
Handbook, ensuring that the member understands what Canada At Midnight is about, how the organizational
structure works, who to go to for help with all aspects of the club, and what rights and responsibilities each
and every member of the organization has.
Constitution and Bylaws Ordeal
This ordeal is meant to familiarize members with the legal documents that are the basis of Canada At
Midnight Canada Fan Club, Inc. This document includes very detailed information about the structure and
responsibilities of the Board of Directors and their election, the organization and running of the Annual
General Meeting, prestige awards and disciplinary actions, report structures and deadlines, along with other
topics. The Constitution and Bylaws are a document that all members should familiarize themselves with, to
ensure that they are aware of the responsibilities that the officers of all levels have to the organization, and
what rights they, as members, have.
Coordination Ordeal
The goal of this Ordeal is to help prepare new Coordinators for the many situations that they may face in
the process of doing their job. It also gives them an opportunity to consider the things that they will need to
deal with on a regular basis.
A Coordinator can face many challenging situations. From problem players, hurt feelings, racist attitudes to
something as seemingly simple as filing Domain Reports. These are all issues that a Coordinator will face.
This ordeal helps prepare new Coordinators by giving them situational question to think about, so that if they
one day encounter the issue they will have an understanding of how to deal with it.
Narration Ordeals
The Ordeals of Narration are designed to test a member’s knowledge of not only the various rules mechanics
of the games, but also their knowledge and understanding of the responsibility of being a Storyteller in
Canada At Midnight. The former Narration Ordeal has now been broken into a number of smaller Ordeals:
one for each Venue, plus one that addresses general Storyteller knowledge. These Ordeals deal with three
essential topics.
1. Rules mechanics: this section will test a member’s knowledge of the rules of the various games.
2. Communications: this tests the member’s knowledge of the required communication of being an ST.
3. Performance and Responsibility: these questions test the members understanding of how to deal with other
members and other ST's.
These Ordeals are highly recommended for those looking to be Storytellers, Narrators, or those simply
wishing to display their knowledge of the Storytelling side of Canada At Midnight.
Creation Ordeal
The creation of a good solid background gives a character depth and purpose. This Ordeal is designed to
show the member how to give their character that depth through a consistent background as well as defined
goals and the motivation to accomplish them. As a bonus, members who complete this ordeal are awarded 5
experience points to apply to a Primary character. There is no prerequisite for taking this Ordeal.
Members will review how to come up with a character concept, and how to develop a background,
motivations and personality for that character. This can ensure that characters are not 'two-dimensional' and
have a life of their own.
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Players will also learn how to establish connections with other characters in the global game, and how to
complete the character sheet and use the character's background to justify the allocation of creation dots and
experience points.
Ordeal Prestige
Each Ordeal may only be claimed for Prestige once, and only when it has been passed
Re-Write Policy
Ordeals that are not passed are returned to the member. Any questions answered incorrectly or incompletely
are noted, and the member should correct or expand on his/her answers as required. They may then return to
ordeal to be re-evaluated.
After Your Ordeal is Done
Once you have completed your Ordeals, why not act on your knowledge and get a little prestige for it by
becoming a marker for an Ordeal? You can contact the AVNC: Ordeals at [email protected] for more
information. Members are always welcome to assist in this field.
Plagiarism and Fraud
Don't. Pretty simple, right? You do it and get caught, you will be punished. Here are some definitions, for
the more technically minded of us out there. The Oxford Dictionary defines Fraud as 1) criminal deception,
a dishonest trick, 2) a person or thing that is not what it seems or pretends to be; and to Plagiarize as 1) To
take and use another person's ideas, writings or inventions as one's own.
The Ordeals are Canada At Midnight's way of ensuring that the people who are running each group have an
understanding of management, conflict resolution, and the Constitution and Bylaws. They are also meant to
ensure that the people running our LARP games have a clear understanding of the material and rules they
need to be effective, thus directly copying in part or whole another's words means no thought went into any
of the answers and comprehension is not there. Groups of people working together and discussing the Ordeals
is acceptable as long as each person writes the answers in his/her own words.
For the electronic savvy, 'Cut and Paste' is not an option, and is easy to detect. Any member found guilty of
plagiarism will be subjected to a Disciplinary Action by the VNC as the person responsible for their creation,
marking, and tracking. Disciplinary Actions will be considered case-by-case based upon the severity of the
situation, up to and including the following penalties:
• The member will be docked a number of prestige points equal to the Ordeal's reward.
• The member will fail the Ordeal and will be unable to resubmit the ordeal for a period of six months.
• The member will be suspended for six months from holding any leadership position within the
organization.
Any member who thinks his or her Ordeal was copied without their knowledge may appeal to the Vice
National Coordinator.
Additional Information
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Completing the Ordeals will not give a member everything they need to help in making a well-rounded
character. They will help, mind you, but in order to make the in-game experience more memorable and
enjoyable, members should do research into areas that their characters know. You don't have to be an expert
on your character's life experiences, but knowing just a little will give a lot of flavor to the character, and the
game as a whole.
Perhaps your vampire is from 19th century Chicago. Some knowledge into who was who back then is very
appropriate. Who was the mayor, the crime boss, or even what was important in the world at that time? Maybe
your werewolf is familiar with the Egyptian mythos. Research the topic. Who was the god/goddess for
healing, or luck? Even small amounts of knowledge in a subject can add an air of authenticity to a character
and contribute so much to the game's atmosphere.
Additional education will also give you a wonderful plethora of ideas when it comes to costuming as well.
Some Camarilla members are authenticity buffs, knowing what kind of lace goes around the gentleman's
cuffs circa 1530,which pirate sailed the Caribbean when they were given the 'Kiss', etc..
Research is the key, and the internet an amazing tool to assist the knowledge thirsty member in finding out
information on diverse topics ranging from local facts from a hundred years ago, the significance of
Australian Aboriginal 'Dream Time', the ancient practices of Celtic druids, or the artistic merits of
NeoClassical versus Impressionism.
Characters grow. Simply put, the more knowledge a player has on his/her background the more developed a
character will be. The simple Roleplaying that we know and love becomes a rich tapestry, inter-woven with
all of the characters and their backgrounds to become the 'living story' we all strive to create.
Game Education
White Wolf's World of Darkness is a gothic-punk setting in which crime and violence are commonplace and
the day-to-day struggle makes people more callous and self-serving. In this world, werewolves, vampires,
mages and other supernatural creatures are real, even though they keep their presence hidden from mortal
eyes. These creatures move through the shadows, advancing their own agendas while seeking to understand
a world where each secret learned only suggests even greater mysteries still unknown.
This World of Darkness is the conceptual stage for our global sanctioned chronicles. Players create Mortal
or Supernatural characters and then set of to explore the world, discover its secrets, and even influence events.
The Global Chronicles
The global sanctioned chronicles each extend throughout the world. Once you create a character and have it
approved by your storyteller, you can portray it online, at local games or at other games held around the
world. Players and storytellers around the world weave a common story that links individual games together
into a massively multiplayer environment shared with thousands of players. The events in your local game
can cause ripples across the nation and around the globe.
Since not all White Wolf games are set in the same time and place, there may be more than one global
sanctioned chronicle being played at the same time, each in its own universe. For example, the World of
Darkness tabletop game setting differs slightly from the World of Darkness live action setting. As a result,
Canada At Midnight's live-action and tabletop chronicles are separate; that is, while actions in your local
live-action game may have an effect on a live-action game in Australia, no game set in the live-action
chronicle will ever interact with any game set in the tabletop chronicle.
The Global Sanctioned Chronicles also offer the possibility of some cross-venue play, with the appropriate
approval being granted. What this means is that if your Vampire is trying to forge an alliance with the
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Forsaken or Mages, they will have the opportunity to do that in-game! All such approvals, as well as
approvals for special items or characters, must go through the Approvals Database. Instructions on how to
use this Database are included later in this section.
Creating a Sanctioned Character
As a member of Canada At Midnight, you can create a character for any (or all) of the global sanctioned
chronicles. We recommend that you begin by familiarizing yourself with at least the basics of the rules and
setting for that chronicle, as that will make you feel more comfortable as you portray your character. It is also
important to talk to your storyteller to find out what character types are appropriate for the games you would
like to participate in. It might create some difficulty if you arrive at a vampire game expecting to play your
mage or werewolf character, after all.
Canada At Midnight uses the game rules and setting information published by White Wolf for our sanctioned
games, but with the addition of a Camarilla supplement that specifies which optional rules are being used,
issues rules updates for out-of-print products that may be used in some Camarilla chronicles, and describes
any restrictions or modifications that may apply to the character creation process.
Rare or unusual character types, powers and abilities may need approval from more than just the storyteller
for that game, so be sure to consult with your storyteller before the last minute to see if you need to allow
time for special items to be approved. You may want to consider making sure that your first character is a
more commonplace character type, though, so that you can get see the global chronicle from a normal
perspective before trying the more unique, and usually difficult to portray, creature types.
It is important to work with your storyteller to create your character. This allows you to fit into the local and
global chronicle and shared history, identify which concepts will work well with the game you are about to
participate in, and to watch for any pitfalls or errors that might keep you from enjoying the game. This also
makes it easier for the storyteller to give your character the final approval needed before entering a sanctioned
chronicle.
Remember that your character is entering a complex game involving thousands of players and their characters
spanning the entire globe. You will be able to spend many years exploring it without learning its secrets or
exhausting its possibilities.
Creating a Persona
Canada At Midnight encourages you to exercise creativity and imagination when building characters and
portraying them. We encourage you to research history, explore costuming, and think about your character's
personality and motivation. A rich and detailed background can make the difference between a bit part in a
play and a central player in the combined tapestry of our shared story.
Canada At Midnight encourages members to create unique and original characters. Known figures, both
fictional and real, have a place in the World of Darkness, but not everyone can be named Strahd or Lucian.
While such characters can serve as inspiration, we ask that you not copy figures from history, movies,
literature or elsewhere. Create your own fictitious characters and build unique and interesting stories around
them so that we can participate in a new and refreshing world of adventure.
While writing your character's background, you can contact other players and ask if they are interested in
linking character histories together, whether you were friends, enemies, brothers or simply a casual meeting
in the past. Background links help to tie your character to the existing chronicle, and it may draw you into
stories that you would never have discovered on your own. This is also an excellent way to make new friends,
so don't be shy! You should always get permission from the player of any other character you wish to add to
your background.
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The characters you create are yours and yours alone until you introduce them into a Camarilla chronicle.
Once you portray your character interacting with other characters, it become a part of their experience just as
your character will be influenced by them, sometimes in ways that you could not predict. Any character in a
Camarilla chronicle has its history and future inexorably linked with the other characters in that chronicle. A
character, once introduced, cannot be removed from that shared fabric without disturbing the histories and
actions of others. Because of this, character histories and actions introduced to a Camarilla chronicle cannot
be withdrawn or trademarked.
Special Approval Items
In the global sanctioned chronicle, you can explore many different character types, elements, and items. Your
local venue storyteller can approve many of these concepts. However, some concepts are considered rare,
and they require additional levels of storyteller review before they are approved for entry into the game. The
special request process has been designed to ensure game balance and fairness for the requesting player and
all other players.
In Canada, there are five levels of approvals. For Canadian Players, only High, Top, or Global approvals
need to be in the approvals database and require an approval number to be in play. Players are encouraged
to have approval numbers on all items Mid or higher, however it is not a requirement at this time because
Mid Approvals do not require approval outside of the domain level.
Approval Level Required Storyteller Who Can Approve
Low
Venue Storyteller
Mid
Domain Storyteller
High
Assistant National Storyteller (Venue specific)
Top
National Storyteller
You can find approval levels for all rare concepts, elements, and items in Canada At Midnight's Rules
Supplement. All such NWOD Rules Addenda can be found on Canada At Midnight Website, at:
http://www.canadaatmidnight.ca/wordpress/?page_id=995. The Addendum for Masquerade can be found at:
https://c-m-masquerade-larp.obsidianportal.com/wikis/rules Requests without published Mind's Eye Theatre
rules always require a minimum of Top Approval. Top Approval is required for the use of, or connection to,
White Wolf Signature Characters. Additionally, any NPCs that cannot be created under the approved
character creation rules also require Top approval.
In order to put an approval into the approvals database, you must sign onto the Mind’s Eye Society (MES)
Portal at: http://portal.mindseyesociety.org/ The link for the Approvals Database will appear on the dropdown
menu under “Legacy Tools”.This will take you to the link to the approvals database. Once there, if you want
to submit a special request, you can prepare by taking the following steps:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Research how the concept fits within the White Wolf genre and Mind's Eye Theatre materials, as
well as the VSS that the request is being made for.
Learn the details of the global sanctioned game that relate to your request.
Create a balanced background story and a balanced sheet for the character, element, or item.
Accept that special approvals are a privilege and not a right.
Demonstrate your responsibility and solid game ethics as a player and member within Canada At
Midnight.
Be flexible about your request.
When you are ready to submit your request, you should always present your ideas to your character's direct
storyteller. In most cases, this will be a venue storyteller. The VST will review your request based on the
following criteria:
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•
•
•
•
Suitability to the local venue as per the VSS.
Compatibility with published genre materials and the global sanctioned chronicle.
Demographic Balance
The responsibility and ethics of the player.
Once you submit your approval, it must go up through the chain of approvals to the level that it ends at.
However, at each level from the bottom up, each Storyteller must approve your submission for it to go to the
next level. What this means for a Top approval item is that three Storytellers before the NST get to comment
on your application, ask you questions and for justifications before it gets to the person that has final say over
whether the approval is granted. The more times the Storytellers must come back to you with questions, the
longer your approval will take.
In order to make this process flow as smoothly and quickly as possible, you can ensure that fewer questions
are asked of you by making sure that your submission is well researched, and that there is a clear and
meaningful justification for your approval request right in the original submission. As an example, if you are
playing a Wolf-Blooded who wants a silver dagger and bullets because you know what is out there, and you
mix it up with your Forsaken all the time, make sure that you have a reason for wanting those items other
than ‘I want to kick some butt!’
Section Five
The Code Of Conduct: Your
Responsibilities as a Member
Code of Conduct
Most organizations that provide benefits to their members expect in turn that their members will act
responsibly. This is true of the nations in which we live, the companies for whom we work, and the schools
which we attend. In this, the Canada at Midnight is no different.
In an ideal world, Canada at Midnight members would strive to act with respect for themselves, each other,
and their communities at all times, resolving problems rather than creating them, and showing care for those
around them. While we recognize that no member is able to maintain such lofty goals at all times, it should
be every member’s intent to strive for this level of excellence at all times.
This Code of Conduct is intended to clearly outline the minimum standards that members of the Canada at
Midnight are expected to uphold in order to provide a positive and enjoyable environment for everyone.
Failure to abide by these standards may result in temporarily or permanently losing some or all of the benefits
of membership.
These standards do not supersede any law or statute that may be in effect in your area. If a rule in this
document conflicts with a legal statute, the statute always takes precedence. However, this Code of Conduct
should still be followed as much as is allowed by the law. If a member has violated a legal statute, the Canada
at Midnight will cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by legal authorities.
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Perpetual Responsibilities
There are a select few behaviors that are unacceptable to the Canada at Midnight regardless of when or where
they are performed. These perpetual responsibilities apply to all members at all times, regardless of whether
they happen to be participating in a Club activity at that moment. This does not attempt to limit any member’s
behavior regarding issues which are solely personal in nature, but should guide how a member deals with
issues related to the Club.
A word about social media:
As we have already noted, Canada At Midnight is not attempting to “rule your life”. However, the Club
does attempt to create a social space that is free from harassment or bullying, and that is safe for all of its
members. In that regard, when posting or commenting on the internet through any form of social media
(i.e. Facebook, Livejournal, internet forums, websites, etc.) the Perpetual Responsibilities of the Code of
Conduct and the Harassment Policies will be considered to be in effect if:
- the medium being used is clearly meant for Club interactions (e.g. the Canada At Midnight
Facebook page, a Domain Facebook page, a forum that is being used to discuss upcoming AGM
Motions, a Domain website, etc.)
OR
- the content of the message is in a public space but clearly directed toward C.A.M. (or other
Affiliates’) activities
Note that private spaces (e.g. a “friends-locked LiveJournal post) are not considered to be covered by the
Perpetual Responsibilities clause unless you are posting on someone else’s space (to be clear: if you are
posting on another members’ FB timeline/page in a manner that is abusive and/or harassing, and it is in
regards to Club activities, that member may choose to utilize the Conflict Resolution procedures outlined
in this chapter of the Membership Handbook).
Please note that the Club will not involve itself in disputes of a personal (i.e. non-Club-related) matter between
two or more individuals in the case of conflicting opinions, beliefs, or other non-C.A.M. topics or disputes.
However, in all matters of conflict between two members, the Coordinator staff (or designates) are available
upon request by the involved parties to facilitate a mediation should it be desired. This policy is only in effect
in regards to Club interactions. It is not meant to be used to police non-Club relationships or interactions
where both people happen to also be members of C.A.M.
Be REAL First
At all times, keep in mind that the game is only a form of entertainment; things that exist or happen within
the game are not real and should not be portrayed as such. The Canada at Midnight does not claim that
vampires, werewolves, mages or other supernatural creatures actually exist. Members should not portray their
characters at non-game events, and it is essential that members do not make the mistake of confusing another
member’s actual personality or attitudes with that of her character.
Maintain our Reputation
Members at all levels of the Club are expected to represent the Club respectfully when dealing with
nonmembers. This is of particular importance when you are in a position of acting as a representative of the
Club (e.g. giving an interview to local media, speaking with non-Club staff at a convention). To that end, the
following guidelines and limits apply:
- be honest with the information that you give and comments that you make about the Club, whether
those are positive notes, or criticisms of the Club.
- Be civil in expressing your opinions and thoughts. You should avoid abusive language whenever
possible.
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-
You are permitted to express criticisms, dissenting opinions, and disagreement about the Club, its
policies and procedures, decisions of officers and administrators, or other members. Once again, you
are expected to do so in a manner that avoids abuse, bullying, threatening, or harassing behaviour.
Members should be aware that negative interactions with those such as hotel staff, non-Club volunteers at
charity events, etc. while you are easily identified as a member of the Club (e.g. while wearing a badge or
some other signifier that you belong to C.A.M.) can have a negative impact on the Club as a whole, even
if you are acting as an individual. When in public, try not to “freak out the Muggles” with things such as
loud discussions of the “Crone murdering babies”, that the newly-Embraced child Vampire “must be
destroyed”, the way your Werewolf pack “really ripped the crap out of those Pure with our claws and
teeth”, or yelling at the departing bad guys: “Hey, you forgot your guns!”
Exercise Honesty
Members should be honest in their dealings with the Club. Members should not present information they
know to be false or questionable as fact to the organization or to any officer or administrator acting in their
official capacity. Likewise, officers and administrators should be honest in their dealings with the
membership, to whom they are accountable. Please note that it is not dishonest to decline to answer a question,
particularly when dealing with in-game or confidential subjects. Members are not required to show their
character sheet to anyone who is not an ST, assistant ST or Narrator for the Venue that the character is playing
in. Members may at times choose to tell “tall tales” which present a possibly distorted perception of their
characters’ capabilities to other members (e.g. while talking at social events) – in Canada at Midnight, this is
not considered to be a form of cheating. Should you misuse such information by bringing it in-game and it
turns out to be wrong, this is not the fault of the player who told you the story!
What is “metagaming”?
Strictly speaking, “metagaming” is the use of information about a character or in-game situation or action
that was learned Out of Character to affect In Game actions or situations. Metagaming may be a form of
cheating (e.g. hearing some people talking before game about a plot to jump your character, and acting upon
it, either by gathering your own “posse”, ambushing one of their characters, or choosing to play a different
character even though you are already in costume). Metagaming may also be used in a positive manner,
such as not attacking the character of a member who has just joined the Club, or allowing said member to
“reverse” a mistaken action that his character ought to have known would be unfavourable (e.g. the Elder
player allowing the brand-new Neonate player to back up his “Yo, how’s it hangin’?” greeting to the
Archon, and explaining quickly Out of Character that one would never do this at the Justicar’s Salon).
Metagaming may or may not be considered cheating. Generally, if you are using the information to benefit
your character, then it is cheating, while if you are benefiting the character of a new player, or allowing him
to reverse a mistake, then it is not.
Avoid Abuse
Members are expected to avoid behavior (in person, via email or otherwise) to reasonably cause another
member to fear actual physical harm, significant mental distress, or property damage to another member, nor
should they actually cause such harm. Members should avoid uncivil behaviour such as name-calling,
swearing, yelling, and use of slurs against race, gender or sexual orientation, as these may be a violation of
the Code of Conduct.
Avoid Discrimination
Discrimination by race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender or any other class protected by
law is strictly prohibited, be it verbal or otherwise. Members should also avoid discrimination based on length
of time in the Club or member class.
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No Rumor Mongering
Members should avoid spreading information that is harmful to other members, whether in person, by email,
or via any other medium. This is particularly true of any secondhand or potentially incorrect information. If
you have such information that may need to be investigated, report it to the appropriate Club officer rather
than spreading it as rumor, as officers are still able to collect such information as part of an investigation.
During Club (C.A.M.) Activities
While attending a Canada at Midnight event or otherwise participating in Club activities, members are
expected to demonstrate respect for themselves, other members, and the club as a whole. If a situation arises
where this becomes difficult or impossible, even if another member’s violation of the rules is the cause for
this difficulty, it is better to take a step back and take a break until the situation has improved than to make
things worse by also violating this Code of Conduct. Taking a few minutes to rest, asking a coordinator to
address the situation, or even leaving the event are all viable options to keep things from escalating until you
have the opportunity to manage the conflict reasonably.
What is a Club Activity?
Events
A Canada at Midnight event includes games, socials, domain meetings and the like. Members attending the
event are presumed to be participating in a Club activity as long as they are on the site of the event (even if
they are having a personal conversation, for example). The beginning and end of the event are determined by
the presiding coordinator, and will generally include time for setup, cleanup and so forth. Please note that
events hosted by other Affiliates (e.g. Mind’s Eye Society in the U.S.) are still considered to be Club
Activities.
Electronic Forums
Participating in any electronic forum sanctioned by the Club, including email lists, IRC channels, discussion
forums, and so forth, is a Club activity. For clarity, it is recommended that any forum used predominantly by
Club members explicitly indicate whether or not they are a sanctioned resource.
Official Activities
Any time an officer or administrator is performing their official duties, or when you are dealing with an
officer or administrator in their official capacity, this also counts as a Club activity. This includes an officer
or administrator publishing a decision, requesting information, stating opinions or any other communication,
so long as it relates to their duties as an officer or administrator. It also applies to a member questioning an
official decision, replying to a request for information, responding to opinions, or to any other communication
with an officer or administrator about their duties. Any in-character interaction as a part of a sanctioned Club
chronicle is also included as a Club activity.
Physical Contact
Consensual contact, such as handshakes, is a legitimate part of any social interaction, but any form of
nonconsensual physical contact should be avoided. Even something as simple as a hug may be unwelcome.
Always err on the side of safety.
Be Courteous of Others
Members are expected to be courteous and cordial whenever they are not actively portraying a fictional
character. Members should not denigrate personal, political, or religious viewpoints, and in fact are
encouraged to avoid debates on volatile topics such as politics or religion. Members should not threaten
members, bystanders, or others.
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While role-play often involves disrespectful or even rude or offensive behavior between fictional characters,
members should take reasonable care to prevent these actions from being viewed as disrespectful or abusive
outside the game. If a member expresses that a particular subject matter is offensive, even within the context
of the game, then discussion of that subject matter should cease or be taken elsewhere, though members
should also exercise discretion when expressing that material is offensive and not use this rule to halt
discussions on food, cars, game rules, or other trivia.
Be Honest
Members should be truthful when dealing with other members. If there is a need to keep information
confidential, members should politely decline to answer questions rather than lie. Canada at Midnight does
not tolerate cheating or other unethical behavior at any event.
Know When to Stop
When a member calls for a time-out, all game-oriented activity in the immediate area must stop immediately.
Emotions can run high in the midst of role-play and it is every member’s responsibility to be able to stop
before things get out of hand. Any member may call a short stop for any reason, though a prolonged break
should be handled by turning your character over to a storyteller to complete the scene so as not to disrupt
the game while you step away from the situation.
Substance Abuse
Members should not participate in any Canada at Midnight activity while visibly impaired by any mind
altering substance, including alcohol. This does not apply to medications being taken as directed by a
physician, but medication (or lack thereof) is never an excuse to act irresponsibly or violate the rules.
Illegal Activities
Members should avoid any illegal activities while participating in any Club event. Any member who risks
liability to Canada at Midnight or harm to other members through illegal activity risks not only Canada at
Midnight action but also being reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
No Drinking Blood
Canada at Midnight does not condone the drinking of blood in any fashion or under any conditions. While
some of the fictional characters we portray may drink blood within the fantasy setting of our games, members
are expected to know the difference between fantasy and reality. Discussion of drinking blood outside of this
fictional context is not permitted.
A note on the “no drinking blood” policy: many of the newer members to the Club have questioned this
policy. Some have asked “why does this even need to be mentioned?”, other have commented “but I like my
steak rare!”. We ask that members understand that this policy came about as a reaction to incidents outside
of the Club which had a great deal of impact on the Club due to media exposure (for details, simply Google
“Florida vampire killings” – this happened not long after the Club was formed under the name of “Canada
At Midnight”). Once again, what a member does in his personal life, including dietary choices, is none of the
Club’s business, and we do not intend to dictate such to any member – we simply are directly that it be kept
away from Club activities.
Canada at Midnight Sites
To maintain Canada at Midnight’s relationship with the hotels, rental halls, campsites, and other locations at
which we hold events, members are expected to follow the guidelines set by the site owners. Breaking rules
set by the owners or managers of the site is considered a breach of the Code of Conduct. It is expected that
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members will not intentionally cause property damage, disturbances of the peace, or engage in other actions
that may damage the Canadian Club’s ability to do business with the site in the future. The owners or
managers of the site make the final determination of what is or is not a violation of their rules.
While there are many rules that apply only during Club activities, the expectation to follow the guidelines set
by the site owners applies even before and after events. As long as you are at the location of the event, the
site rules apply, unless the site owner/manager decides otherwise. This includes the entire boundaries of the
site, including areas not in use by the Club. For hotels, for example, the site rules apply both in rooms being
used for games, at the registration tables, and even in private rooms (though private rooms are still not Club
activities).
The No Harassment Policy and Procedure
Canada at Midnight is committed to providing members with a social environment free from behavior that
creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive social environment. Harassment is generally defined as engaging
in vexatious behaviour that is known or ought to be reasonably known to be unwelcome. Engaging in any
unwanted conduct regarding race, religion, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender, or nationality is
strictly prohibited. Sexual harassment also includes physical contact, lewd or sexually suggestive comments,
off-color language or jokes of a sexual nature, and other verbal, written, pictorial or physical conduct relating
to sex or sexual conduct.
It is important to note that Canada at Midnight games involve role-playing situations where players portray
characters in a gritty, fictional world. Players may encounter situations where a character would engage in
potentially offensive behavior as part of this fictional world. While the game should never be an excuse to
engage in harassment, members are encouraged to take this into account when reacting to in-character
activities.
Please note that in order to help prevent sexual harassment issues from arising out of In Game actions, Canada
at Midnight requires that all sexual interaction between characters must be agreed to by all players of the
characters involved in the interaction. This means that if a character is being sexually assaulted in any manner
(i.e. through use of Seduction roles, mind-affecting powers, physical overpowerment, etc.), the player of the
character must agree to the action. If the player does not agree, the action immediately fails, and the scene
ends.
Members are encouraged to immediately address any harassment issue by first informing the offending party
that their conduct is unwelcome. While it is preferred that the member do this directly, they may ask a third
party, such as a nearby coordinator, to assist if needed. When a member has been informed that their behavior
constitutes harassment, the behavior must cease immediately.
If the harassment continues, it should be reported to a coordinator immediately. All complaints of harassment
will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Investigations will be handled confidentially with information
distributed on a need-to-know basis and with all reasonable efforts made to respect both the accuser and the
accused. If it is determined that harassment did occur, the Canada at Midnight will take appropriate steps to
prevent a repeat occurrence such as formal counseling or disciplinary action up to and including expulsion
from the Club.
Retaliation against members who complain of harassment is forbidden.
The Canada at Midnight Alcohol Policy
Canada at Midnight is required to maintain general liability insurance as per membership vote at the 2015
AGM. This requires a specific alcohol policy that will cover all sanctioned events that are to be covered by
the insurance. This includes but is not limited to games, socials, and meetings. For the purposes of this
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policy, there are two kinds of club events: General Events and Special Events. General events are the regular
events held by each individual domain.
General Event Policy:
•
Any event at a location covered by our insurance policy may not have alcohol being be served or
consumed while the event is in progress.
•
If a domain chooses to hold their event in a licensed location that serves alcohol, such as a bar or
pub, that specific event will fall under the insurance for that location and not under our insurance
policy. In this event the following policies must be followed:
o
There must be a designated ‘Sober’ Coordinator for every event. This person must remain
alcohol free and has the authority to level Disciplinary Actions over the course of the event.
This person may be appointed on a per event basis and can be a different person for each
event so that no individual is unduly pressed into fulfilling this role.

This person does not have to be a regular coordinator but must be aware of the
Code of Conduct that they are expected to enforce.

The identity of the Sober Coordinator must be made known to all attendees.
o
Alcohol may not be consumed at any event by a member who is below the legal drinking
age for the Province in which the event is being held. If a member who is under the legal
drinking age is found to be consuming alcohol they will be immediately removed from the
event by the Designated Coordinator and their minimum punishment will be an automatic
suspension of at least one month.
o
Members who are over the legal drinking age who are found to be facilitating an underage
member’s access to alcohol will be immediately removed from the event by the Designated
Coordinator and their minimum punishment will be an automatic suspension of at least one
month.
o
Members who are over the legal drinking age who drink to excess may be asked by the
Designated Coordinator to remove themselves from the event if their behavior violates the
Code of Conduct. If they refuse to leave the event the Designated Coordinator has the right
to remove them peaceably from the event and give a Disciplinary Action appropriate to the
situation.
o
Members must adhere to all policies of the event location (e.g. “no alcohol in specific
areas”, “closed containers only”, etc.). Failure to do so may result in the immediate removal
of the member from the event as it may be a violation of Provincial Liquor Laws.
o
o Any situation that requires the Designated Coordinator to remove a member from an
event due to any of the above policies will require no refund of any site or admission fees.
Special Events:
This category includes conventions we host, such as CAiNE and GRIM, and any CaM attended Conventions.
If alcohol is wanted at these events it is up to the organizers of the event to ensure all legal requirements are
in place to allow the alcohol. .
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•
The organizers of any events we host that allow for the consumption of alcohol must ensure that all
legal requirements are in place, and provide proof of this to National Council, prior to the event
being considered a CaM sanctioned event.
•
The organizers of any events we host that allow alcohol must arrange special event insurance that
allows for the consumption of alcohol to be put in place for the event, and provide proof of this to
National Council, prior to the event being considered a CaM sanctioned event.
•
Players must ensure that if they choose to drink at a game session that they do not become
intoxicated. If they do they will be asked to leave by the designated Coordinator as described in the
General Event section.
•
A Storyteller may remove a player who is intoxicated so that other's enjoyment of the game is not
infringed upon.
•
The designated Coordinator is required to remove any player who is intoxicated so that other's
enjoyment of the game is not infringed upon.
If a player is repeatedly in the position of having to be removed they will be banned from participating in
events where alcohol is being consumed; with the exception of the AGM portion of CAiNE. This banning
is only able to be imposed by National Council, but may be recommended to them by anyone with evidence.
If a CaM hosted convention does not permit alcohol to be consumed in any unlicensed part of the convention
it will fall under the general liability held by the club. This includes any designated convention space,
including hospitality, and any official parties outside of those held in bars, pubs, or other licensed facilities.
Weapon Props Policy
For our games to be interesting, fun, and successful, we must be able to set the mood of each venue and get
into the role-playing experience of 'being' our characters. Costuming and props often play a large role in
helping us to suspend disbelief and 'become' our characters, and to believe in others characters as well.
All kinds of props are required to promote a sense of realism and flow to the game that we play. From puppets
to forests to thrones to walking sticks, each prop helps us to believe in the world we are creating. One of the
categories of props is Weapon Props. By their very nature we must be extremely careful with what types of
these props we use, and where we use them. As with all of the policies in this book, it is important to use both
common sense and courtesy when implementing the policy into practice.
The policy for Weapons Props is as follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
The Presiding Coordinator of the game event is responsible of approving all potential weapon props.
In deciding to approve a prop, the Presiding Coordinator must consider the remainder of this policy,
and also consult with the Presiding Storyteller to determine whether the character has the appropriate
approval to have the weapon being discussed, and that the weapon prop is appropriate for the scene.
If a prop is not approved for use, it must be put away in a safe location or removed from the site
immediately. There is no appeal to the Presiding Coordinator's decision.
All potential props must be for weapons approved by the presiding storyteller with all of the required
approvals up the storyteller chain. Potential props must be accompanied by the statistics for the
weapon and an approval number if it is required.
No real weapons of any kind may be used as weapon props, and should not be brought in for
approval. Real weapons brought to an event must be removed from the site immediately if requested
by the presiding coordinator.
Under no circumstances are toy or replica guns to be used as props.
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v.
Weapon props are not to be approved for use if a game is held in an open-air or public venue. If
games are held in private spaces the props must be removed if the player leaves that space, and must
remain within that enclosed environment. vi. Weapon props may not be used to touch or strike
another player. Doing so is in violation of the Code of Conduct and will be dealt with as such.
General Safety
Members should conduct themselves in a safe and orderly fashion while at events. Any action within the
game that could cause injury, property damage, or alarm to bystanders should be described rather than acted
out. Members shall not hold the Club or any officer or administrator liable for personal loss or injury while
attending events.
In-Character Offences
Although the organization runs on the honour-system in regards to character sheets and changes therein for games, as
well as keeping IC and OOC information separate, there are checks and balances in place to ensure that those not
meeting the expectations of the honour system have consequences. As such, the following has been put into place to
suggest consequences for the actions of players who do violate the honour system. Please note that the XP amounts listsed
are for reference purpose only, and are not a strict rule. For instance, someone who has misplaced a Discipline dot,
putting something at 5, rather than 4 should not likely be penalized as a Severe Offence unless they have been given
previous warnings.
Minor Offences
•
•
A character sheet is one to five points overspent
Accidental use of out-of-character information in game
Suggested Consequences
•
•
A formal warning
No experience awarded for the night
Moderate Offences
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A character sheet was six to ten point overspent
Uses of out-of-character information in game that may disadvantage another character
Portraying a special approval item without the appropriate level of approval
Portraying a character without storyteller approval
Arguing with an officer during an event, such as a storyteller during game
Two Minor Offences during the same incident
A Major offence which was clearly accidental and which the player goes beyond the call of duty to correct
Suggested Consequences
•
•
•
No experience awarded for the month
Up to 6 negative experience
Removal of characters from play for up to a month
Major Offences
•
•
A character sheet is 11-25 points overspent
Using a character to "avenge" or to retaliate against someone who may have been involved in the death or
removal from game of one's previous character
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•
•
•
•
Knowingly portraying a character that has been desanctioned
Abusing the rules to take advantage of a new or unknowledgeable character
Two Moderate Offences during the same incident
A Severe offence which was clearly accidental and which the player goes beyond the call of duty to correct
Suggested Consequences
•
•
•
•
•
Permanent desanctioning of the character involved
No experience awarded to any of the member's characters for the month
Negative experience awarded to other characters
Limitations on special approval privileges for up to six months
Inability to hold Camarilla offices for up to six months
Severe Offences
•
•
A character sheet is more than 26 points overspent
Deliberately forging an XP log, such as by predating the character's creation date by a significant amount
Two Major offences during the same incident
Suggested Consequences
•
Permanent desanctioning of all the member's characters
Mitigating factors are if there are more than one offence, i.e. two moderate offences and a Major offence, it is considered
a Severe Offence.
Section Six
Conflict Resolution: Playing Nicely in
the Sandbox with Others
People disagree, sometimes forcefully, and Canada At Midnight members are no different. When a member
experiences conflict with another member, or has concerns about an officer, the Club offers members ways
to voice these issues and seek resolution in a constructive manner. This process focuses on open
communication, fair play, and treating all members with dignity and respect.
Game vs. Reality
Always remember that players are different from the fictional characters they portray. Some of the most
vicious characters are played by kind and considerate members who are quite willing to step out of character
and talk to you as a fellow member. Be sure not to confuse issues within the fiction of the game world with
issues that exist in reality.
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Steps in Resolving Conflict
A note for “older” members of the Club: the following guideline makes changes to the past systems of
resolving conflict. Please note that this guideline is to be used regardless of whether your concern is with a
general member of the Club, an officer, or an administrator. Steps in the Conflict Resolution process which
are considered to be “optional” will be marked as such. Otherwise, please do not skip steps in the process!
Step one: the 24 Hour Rule (optional, and can be used at any
time in the process!)
It can happen to anyone: sometimes, we get caught up in the emotions of a situation. Tempers may flare, and
the people involved in the discussion may misinterpret what is said, or the feelings and intentions behind it,
especially when the discussion is across e-mail or another electronic text medium. In these situations, it can
be very helpful to step away from the conflict, and come back to the discussion after tempers have cooled,
and some time has passed. Yesterday’s passionate and heated argument can seem harmless the next day. This
is the reason for the 24 Hour Rule.
In brief, the 24 Hour Rule is a formal request for some time out and away from a situation that he finds
stressful. Any member may enact the 24 Hour Rule for themselves at any time during a Club activity or event.
It is not meant to be used as a tool to silence others! Using the 24 Hour Rule as a means to manipulate the
system rather than resolving disputes may lead to Disciplinary Action.
A member may only enact the 24 Hour Rule in regards to themselves. Members who observe that someone
is struggling with their emotions may recommend to that person that they use the 24 Hour Rule, but cannot
enforce it. You may choose to take less than 24 hours before returning to a discussion when you have enacted
the 24 Hour Rule, if you feel that your own emotions are in control enough to attempt resuming the discussion.
Please note that a presiding Coordinator or List Moderator may call for a Thread Kill on a particular topic
across a Club-sanctioned e-mail list or other electronic medium such as Facebook pages. This is not an
enactment of the 24 Hour Rule.
Should you enact the 24 Hour Rule, your responsibilities are:
- to step away from the discussion. This does not mean that you must leave the game site or event,
however it does mean that you must stop participating in further discussion about the dispute.
- To remain away from the discussion. If the discussion is taking place across an e-mail list or in a chat
room, this does not mean that other members must stop discussing the topic, but that you should avoid
the e-mail lists or chat room where the discussion is taking place until your own emotions have cooled
and settled.
- To let people know when you are ready to continue the discussion. This may be longer than 24 hours.
Note that there are time limits to using the 24 Hour Rule. This is to avoid other people from being “tied up”
in a dispute. If the 24 Hour Rule has been called regarding an Out of Character (OOC) issue, then it may be
enacted for a maximum of seven days. If it is regarding an IC or in-game issue, then the limit is 48 hours.
If the 24 Hour Rule is enacted during a role-playing scene, and the scene cannot proceed without violating
this rule, there are two options:
- the presiding Storyteller “freezes” the scene until the situation is resolved
- the presiding Storyteller decides to continue the scene to its conclusion. In this case, those members
who have enacted the 24 Hour Rule will turn over their characters to the Storyteller, who will portray
those characters for the remainder of the scene.
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If you have enacted the 24 Hour Rule for a particular dispute, and someone attempts to discuss the subject
with you, politely remind them that you are avoiding the subject for the next 24 hours. Should the person
continue to try to discuss the subject with you, seek out the assistance of the presiding Coordinator.
Step Two: Open Discussion (not optional)
The most effective way to resolve most disagreements is open and honest communication. Therefore,
before moving to the step of filing an official complaint about any member, officer, or administrator of the
Club, members must take the first step of attempting to calmly discuss the issue at hand, and try to come up
with some level of understanding and agreement.
While a face-face discussion is often ideal, and provides the greatest opportunity for understanding, this
may not always be possible or practical due to distance, time, or discomfort in dealing with conflict.
Members have a number of other options open to them:
-
Utilize e-mail, IRC, or any form of instant messaging client.
Have a telephone conversation, or video chat.
ask a third party to be with you to act as a support person. If you use this, please be careful not to
“gang up” on the person with whom you are disagreeing! The idea here is to have someone who can
quietly watch or listen to the discussion, and help calm you, or keep you from feeling less anxious.
Members should attempt to approach disagreements with an open mind, and make an honest attempt to
listen to the other party’s point of view during the discussion. Remember that the goal is to settle the
disagreement, not escalate it!
A note on “open communication” in harassment situations:
In situations which might be deemed as harassment, the requirement for “open communication” is limited.
The member who feels that he is being harassed is only required to inform the potential harasser that his
behaviour is unwelcome. This may be limited to a simple “I do not like it when you… Please stop.” This
message may be delivered verbally, or if a person feels uncomfortable with a verbal approach, through
email. It is suggested that if you feel harassed, you make sure that a Coordinator is present to hear your
statement of “please stop” – if sending such a message through e-mail, please cc your direct Coordinator.
Note that if you have been told by another member that your behaviour makes them uncomfortable, and to
stop, any further incidents of that behaviour towards that member will be considered to be harassment, and
may be subject to Disciplinary Action.
Step Three: Mediation (does not apply to harassment situations)
If initial attempts at open communication are not successful, members should consider asking for a third
party to act as a mediator. The mediator does not need to be a Coordinator; this can be any person that all
parties who are involved in the disagreement can agree upon to act in this role. Mediation may take more
than one session. The mediator is not empowered to levy Disciplinary Action – again, the goal is to reach
some form of consensus or “middle ground” in the dispute.
Note that mediation is not recommended for situations involving harassment.
Some notes on mediation:
- it doesn't need to be done as a face-face. Yes, "in person" is usually the best option, as it is easy to
misconstrue tone over either phone or e-mail, but if the situation is too heated, or one of the people really
cannot stand to be in the room with the other, doing an e-mail mediation process may be the best option.
- 54 -
- the mediator's job is not to take sides. It can be difficult not to get drawn in, especially if one person in the
situation is perceived to be "attacking" the other for whatever reason. Many people have a natural
inclination to try to protect the "victim", and can throw off the balance of mediation.
- the mediator's job is to make sure that both parties have a chance to be heard, and to help them negotiate a
solution. This is where being a mediator and being a Coordinator can clash, as the Coordinator's job may
be to determine whether there is a situation that needs to have a DA put into place. Mediation is not about
finding guilty parties, it is about finding solutions to problematic situations.
If you are mediating a discussion, some skills that you need to bring to the table:
- the ability to "reframe" a conversation point.
Sometimes, the things that a person says, and what they mean to say can be two very different things.
Things get "lost in translation" from one person to another. As a mediator, part of your job is to facilitate
the discussion - if it seems that one person is hearing something different from what the other is trying to
say (e.g. an apology turns into a snide comment), you need to be able to step in and reword. This is where
the famous "counselor phrase of 'what I hear you saying is...'" comes in, trite or clichéd as it may seem.
- the ability to calm or diffuse a situation.
Mediation is not locking people into a room and letting them fight it out. Your job as a mediator is to
help people talk things out calmly. At times, this may mean that you have to tell someone to calm
themselves, and you may have to ask or direct people to take a break from the conversation. It's best if you
can give them a suggestion: go grab a coffee and come back, take a quick walk around the block. Noting
that "it seems like we could all use a few minutes' break..."
- the ability to referee a discussion.
You need to set the ground rules at the outset of the meeting: no abusive language, no threats, no
yelling, everyone gets a chance to talk, remember to try to work towards a solution, etc. You may also need
to go so far as to remind people not to interrupt or bully the other person in the mediation. Both sides need
a chance to express their feelings, their perception of the problem, and offer solutions.
Mediation sessions need to be a place where people feel that they can speak freely to a problem. This may
mean taking a looser interpretation of certain clauses in the MH (such as the Rumour Mongering "rule").
The mediator is going to have to have a clear understanding of this though, and where the limits are. This
may mean that people in the mediation session do not get to speak about "what other people said" unless
they are willing to have those people come in to speak to their own comments. The mediator is going to
have to get both people to focus on what those of us in the "biz" refer to as "I statements": "When this thing
happened, I felt embarrassed."; "I get very upset by people wearing military insignia incorrectly, as I feels it
dishonours our military. This is dear to me, because my brother died in service." And the mediator will
need to be able to encourage people to stay away from accusations and "you statements": "You always
think you're smarter than everyone else when it comes to this stuff."
It's complicated, and tricky. Mediation may take more than one session (in fact, unless the problem is
something really simple (e.g. "Oh hey yeah... the rule actually does state <blah>. Sorry - I'll be sure to
check it next time, if you'll agree to give me the time and space to do so.") then mediation almost *always*
takes more than one session. Even if you seem to find the solutions in one sitting, it’s best to schedule a
follow-up session for a week or two down the road just to see how well the proposed solutions are actually
working.)
Step Four: Arbitration / Complaint
When all else has failed, members may look to the officer and administrator chain to resolve disputes in the
form of a formal request for arbitration or a complaint. Members are cautioned that skipping straight to a
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complaint or request for arbitration without having attempted open communication and/or mediation will be
considered to be in violation of the Conflict Resolution procedures. Whether complaining about the behaviour
of another member, or about the performance of an officer or administrator of the Club, the complaint
procedure is the same.
i) Who do send my complaint to?
The first step in filing a complaint is to determine where to send the complaint. In all cases, the person who
is the subject of the complaint must be sent a copy of the complaint letter. Canada At Midnight does not
support anonymous complaints, and you may not file a complaint on behalf of a third party, though multiple
members may file a collective complaint regarding a single issue. In such a case, all those who are
complaining about an issue or incident must be cc’ed on the complaint e-mail.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
If the complaint is against a member of the Coordinator staff, your complaint is filed with their
supervising Coordinator.
If the complaint is against a member of the Storytelling staff, your complaint is filed with their
supervising Storyteller.
If the complaint is against a member of National Council, your complaint is filed with the Vice
National Coordinator.
If the complaint is against the Vice National Coordinator, your complaint is filed with the National
Coordinator
If the complaint is about another member who may be cheating, your complaint is filed with the
presiding Storyteller of that game (VST or ADST), with a copy to your DST if the behaviour
occurred in a Domain that is not your own.
If the complaint is about another member’s Out of Character behaviours (e.g. violations of the Code
of Conduct or Harassment policies) at a local-level event, your complaint is filed with the offending
member’s Domain Coordinator, with a copy to your DC if the subject of the complaint is not from
your own Domain.
If the complaint is about another member’s behaviour at a larger event, such as a convention, or
Feature Game of the Month, your complaint is filed with the presiding Coordinator of the event (i.e.
the Convention Lead), with a copy to your Domain Coordinator
If the complaint is about behaviour on an electronic forum such as IRC or an e-mail list, your
complaint should go to the List Moderator, Forum Moderator, or Channel Op, with a copy to your
Domain Coordinator
ii) What goes into a complaint?
The complaint should include the following details:
•
•
•
A statement that completely describes all aspects of the problem, including why no agreement was
reached if the open discussion and mediation stages were attempted with the person in question.
Copies of any emails or other relevant documents.
A suggestion for resolution, whether this be a change in someone’s conduct, a disciplinary action,
apology, termination of office, or something else so that it is clear what you are seeking.
A list of all parties involved and their contact information.
Complaints are usually filed via email for efficiency and convenience, but can also be sent by postal mail, by
hand, or otherwise, so long as the exact same written copy is delivered to the presiding officer and each other
involved party.
It is critical that the complaint contain all the information that you want to be taken into account. While that
officer is able to investigate further if there are questions, the only way to ensure that any particular piece of
information is considered is to include it in your original complaint. Given that this is often a lot of
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information, it is also important to pay attention to presentation; including a summary in long or complex
documents can make your complaint much more effective. If needed, another member can assist in preparing
the complaint.
Matters that have been escalated to the level of a complaint are treated very seriously. Members should take
care that hearings are only requested after a sincere attempt to resolve the problem without a hearing, and
should begin the hearing process recognizing that the presiding officer may not agree with their point of view.
Attempts to use the formal hearing process as a means of intimidation or retaliation generally result in
disappointment.
Once a complaint has been filed, the presiding officer may pass their duties on to another officer, such as an
assistant or colleague. In these cases, the officer accepting this delegation becomes the new presiding officer,
though they are still subject to the same supervision and review as any other instance of delegation.
iii) What happens next?
Gathering Information
Once a complaint has been filed, the presiding officer proceeds to gather any information necessary to make
a decision. This should include requesting statements from all other involved parties, but may also include
collecting information from other sources such as other members who may know about the situation, copies
of emails or chat logs, or other related documents. In many cases, particularly when handling a complaint
about an officer’s performance, this investigative step is very brief, especially if the presiding officer is
already familiar with the situation. Members filing a complaint should remember this and be sure that all
relevant information is included in the original complaint.
Members are expected to cooperate and make a reasonable effort to provide information when requested.
There is no requirement to provide copies of personal data, copies of non-Club emails, or other private
information, though they may choose to contribute these items if they wish. Emails, chat logs, and copies of
other communications that are part of a Club activity (as described in the Code of Conduct in this Handbook)
should be given to the presiding officer upon request. If you believe that a request may have no relevance to
the hearing, or you have privacy or confidentiality concerns, you may address those concerns through the
presiding officer’s chain of command as necessary.
In most cases, the presiding officer should be able to complete this process in two weeks. If it will take longer,
the presiding officer should notify the involved parties of the delay and try to estimate when it will be finished.
At a minimum, the presiding officer should send an update on the status of the hearing every two weeks. If
more than two weeks passes without any contact from the presiding officer, then the involved parties should
ask for an update, and if none is forthcoming, they should contact that officer’s supervisor and work with
them to improve communication.
Final Ruling
After gathering all relevant information that the presiding officer is able to access, the presiding officer will
issue a decision about the dispute. This decision should be sent to all involved parties and their direct
coordinators, and the presiding officer for future reference should retain a copy. It should include a summary
of the situation, an explanation of the reasons for the decision, and any action being taken. The ruling should
also include a description of evidence collected in addition to the complaint, if any, and copies may be
provided as appendices to the ruling, though confidentiality or other reasons may prevent copies of evidence
from being included.
The decision may include disciplinary action for one or more parties ranging from a formal warning up to the
limits of the presiding officer’s authority. If they believe greater disciplinary action is warranted, they may
escalate the action by forwarding their recommendations up through the appropriate chain of command. The
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decision may also request one or more parties to either perform or avoid certain actions, though this requires
the agreement of those parties. If a member is asked, but declines, then the decision should be modified to
replace that request with something else – often with further disciplinary action.
iv) What if I don’t like the final ruling?
The last method of Conflict Resolution is the Appeals Process. This level of resolution occurs when a
disciplinary action or resolution of a complaint is unsatisfactory to the members involved. When this is the
case, they may appeal the decision to the next level of the chain of command, which will re-investigate the
situation, discuss with the original officers why the decision was made the way it was, and rule on the appeal.
Appeals to decisions made by the National Coordinator or the National Storyteller are made to the Vice
National Coordinator. The Vice National Coordinator’s ruling is final; the only way to overturn the VNC’s
decision is by a majority vote of the Domain Council, as per the Bylaws. Appeals must be sent within two
weeks of receiving a ruling.
General Guidelines for Filing Complaints
1) Proper procedures for complaints, arbitration, or appeals, must be followed-- this includes going up the
chain of officers from DC to NC or VST to NST. Without the appropriate, accepted, and in-place
procedures being followed, higher-levels of the chain will not deal with the situation, but will inform you
to follow proper procedure. If you want to find out how to use the process, refer to the details in the
Handbook sections above.
2) Officers will NOT accept second-hand complaints made ‘on behalf of another member’ as valid. Every
member has the same access to both their Domain officers and to National Council. Any and all questions
or concerns should be brought directly to the appropriate person.
3) Officers will not condone or participate in the investigation of issues that are solely based upon a
personality conflict between two (or more) individuals. If an officer investigates a complaint against
another officer and finds personality conflict to be the only basis for the complaint the complainant may
find themselves minus prestige for falsely complaining, especially if they did not go through the
documented the arbitration process first.
4) The onus of providing documented examples of behaviour for any complaint is originally on the
complainant, including all dates, emails, and witnesses (if the event was public), and contact information.
The investigating officer will then contact those on the other side of the issue for their documentation.
5) Anonymous complaints will NOT be accepted for consideration. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Filing False Complaints
Filing False Complaints are a serious breach of the Code of Conduct and the investigating officer will not
take them lightly. Any complaints that are filed that are found to be false will be handed to the Vice-National
Coordinator for consideration. Upon completion of an investigation by that office if the complaint is still
found to be false, the individual who filed the false complaint will be given consequences fitting to the
severity of the false complaint. These consequences may include, but are not restricted to, the stripping of
prestige, and suspension from all Camarilla Activities.
Disciplinary Actions
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A Disciplinary Action is handed out when the Code of Conduct, as written out in this Document, is broken
by a member. The presiding coordinator of the event, or the list moderator of an email list, is responsible for
dispensing the disciplinary action and informing the National Coordinator of the situation. The National
Coordinator and National Storyteller may also hand out a disciplinary action as a result of their investigations
into a complaint, and the Vice National Coordinator may alter the Disciplinary Action of the National
Coordinator or National Storyteller as the result of an Appeal.
Disciplinary Actions will vary depending on the situation, but may include:
Formal warnings
• Suspension from games, participation in email lists or IRC, or from attendance at Camarilla Events.
• Loss of Prestige or Membership Class
• Suspension from holding offices within Canada At Midnight
• Expulsion from the organization. This action, while severe, is also a last resort in the vast majority
of situations.
Note that with the exception of Expulsion, no Disciplinary Action may prevent a member from voting in
matters of the Club. If a member is under suspension during a voting matter such as a Domain Election, it is
the duty of the current Domain Coordinator to contact the suspended member to inform his of the upcoming
vote, and ensure that he is aware that he may: attend the organizational meeting at which the vote is to be
held, proxy his vote to another member, or submit the vote by writing or e-mail to the Domain Coordinator.
Who can levy a Disciplinary Action?
The full details of limitations on Disciplinary Actions can be found in section 2.4 of the Constitution.
Members should be aware that the presiding officer or administrator may designate an assistant who is
empowered to levy DA’s on his behalf, however should an assistant levy a disciplinary action against a
member, it must be reviewed and ratified by the assistant’s supervising officer or administrator as soon as
possible. A quick guide to who may levy which type of DA:
Type of DA
Who can Levy
Notification or Review?
Suspension from Global Lists,
Presiding List Mod, Forum Mod, Notification to NC and DC
Forums, or IRC
or IRC Channel Op
Suspension from local OOC
Local presiding List Mod, Local Notification to DC
electronic forums (e-mail lists,
Domain Co-coordinator,
message boards, etc.)
National Coordinator (for
National lists)
Suspension from local IC
Local presiding List Mod,
Notification to DST and VST
electronic forums (e-mail lists,
Venue Storyteller, Domain
message boards, etc.)
Storyteller, Regional or National
Storyteller
Immediate removal from game / Local presiding Coordinator or
Notification to DC
event site (for up to 48 hours past designate
the end of the event)
Removal of Convention
Local presiding Convention
Notification to DC and NC
privileges
staff, as designated
Immediate suspension of
Local presiding ST
Notification to DST and NST,
review and decision by NST if
character from play (for up to 48
the character is to be permanently
hours past the end of the event)
desanctioned
Removal of Prestige or
NC, VNC, RC, DC, or CC of the Only to the subject of the DA.
Membership Class
offending member, NST.
Ongoing suspension from game
NC, VNC, RC, DC, or CC of the Only to the subject of the DA.
or social events
offending member.
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Ongoing suspension of a VST, DST, RST, NST
character from play at games
Desanctioning of a character
VST, DST, RST, NST
Removal from an administrator
NST may remove a DST or
position (VST, DST, DC)
VST, NC may remove a DC,
DST may remove a VST
Ban from holding assistant or
NC, NST
administrative positions for up to
1 year
Only to the subject of the DA.
Only to the subject of the DA.
Only to the subject of the DA.
Only to the subject of the DA.
International Disciplinary Actions
Members of the CCFC who are visiting participating in Club activities outside of the country continue to be
held to the Code of Conduct, and are also expected to abide by the rules and policies of the Affiliate they
are visiting. This includes adhering to the Global Communications Policy when participating in activities
such as e-mail lists and IRC games. Members who violate such policies may be subject to Disciplinary
Action.
In order to ensure adherence with the laws governing Canadian Not-for-Profit Corporations, any
Disciplinary Action from outside of Canada which will affect the member's participation in activities within
Canada, or which have a possibly permanent affect (e.g. desanctioning of characters, docking of MC or
Prestige) must be reviewed and officially levied by either the Canadian NC or NST as appropriate. Below is
a quick guide as to who can levy what sort of International Disciplinary Action.
Please note: it will be the general policy of the NC and NST to uphold any recommendations for Disciplinary
Action from an "outside" source unless:
1)
there is a clear case of bias against international members
2)
the DA recommended would violate Canadian policies on the limits of DA (i.e. is for a
suspension that would prevent the member from participating in voting matters of the Club)
A Canadian member who is presented with any DA from outside of the Canadian administration chain must
ensure that he informs both his local administration (ST or Coordinator as appropriate) and the NC or NST,
as appropriate of the DA and the circumstances that led to it. Canadian members who face international
Disciplinary Action are required to inform the presiding administrator of the Canadian policy, and provide
the contact information of their local administrators (ST or Co-coordinator) and the NC or NST e-mail
address as appropriate.
In the case of character desanctioning or suspension of membership privileges, the DA is considered to be
in effect from the time that the member is notified by the local presiding administrator. The only exception
to this is a suspension that would prevent a member from participating in voting matters. Any Canadian
member who is found to be telling international administrators that they can't face international DAs due to
national constitutional bylaws as an attempt to avoid a DA may face further sanctions levied by the
Canadian National Coordinator.
Appealing a Disciplinary Action
The appeal of a Disciplinary Action is handled in exactly the same manner as appealing the decision on a
complaint. When a member disagrees with a Disciplinary Action that has been levied against him, he may
appeal the decision to the next level of the chain of command, which will re-investigate the situation,
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discuss with the original officers why the decision was made the way it was, and rule on the appeal.
Appeals to decisions made by the National Coordinator or the National Storyteller are made to the Vice
National Coordinator. The Vice National Coordinator’s ruling is final; the only way to overturn the VNC’s
decision is by a majority vote of the Domain Council, as per the Bylaws. Appeals must be sent within two
weeks of receiving a ruling.
In Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the Membership Handbook. Please keep a reference copy of this available for
yourself at all times so that you can keep stay informed. Updates to this book will occur, and when they do,
please be sure to get yourself an updated copy for your records.
This Handbook is a basic guideline to Canada At Midnight. There are many documents, referenced
throughout this guide that will give you a far more detailed description of many of the different aspects of
the Organization. Please refer to these documents in order to more fully understand the ins and outs of the
group, both as a member and as a player.
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