Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws
October, 2004
1. General Rules: Issola Foam-Fighting follows all rules and
regulations printed in the 2003 edition
of The Dagorhir Handbook, with the following exceptions:
1) Forbidden weapons include, but are not limited to: nets, lassos, pungee sticks, nunchucks,
tonfas, double-ended daggers, crossbows, whips, darts, bolos, throwing stars or shuriken,
throwing axes, and poison.
2) Double-ended weapons, such as quarterstaves, may have green stabbing tips, but both ends
must pass as green or neither will pass as green.
3) The maximum unpadded length of a swung weapon is 30 inches, but the recommended
maximum unpadded length for most swung weapons is 18 inches. No swung weapon may
have more than 1/3 of its overall length unpadded.
4) Yellow weapons consist of javelins. The head and neck are off-limits to yellow weapons. A
javelin is considered broken if it is thrown and the head of the javelin strikes anything (the
ground, a player, a shield, etc.). If a javelin is thrown and then a player catches it (and
assuming the head does not happen to strike anything), or if the javelin is simply dropped, it is
not considered broken.
5) White weapons include arrows and rocks. Arrows may strike the head or neck, and a strike to
either location results in death unless the hit was made to an area covered by a helmet or other
head armor. Rocks may strike either the head or the neck, but have no effect if they strike the
neck. If an arrow is fired and makes contact with any person or object other than the ground,
it is considered broken. If an arrow is fired and only hits the ground, or if an arrow is simply
dropped, it is not considered broken and may be fired again.
6) Yellow and white weapons must be used half-drawn (arrows) or thrown with half-force
(javelins and rocks) at ranges closer than 15 feet.
7) A player may wear or carry one shield and one buckler (on opposite arms if the shield is worn
or carried on an arm) or wear two bucklers (on opposite arms).
8) A buckler is defined as a shield that is worn on an arm with a maximum height of 18 inches
and a maximum width of 18 inches. The minimum height and width of a buckler (or any other
shield) is 12 inches.
9) A standard shield is defined as a shield with a maximum height and width of 28 inches.
10) A tower shield is defined as a shield with a maximum height no greater than the distance
between the wielder's chin and ankles and a maximum width of 36 inches.
11) Back-blading (holding or wielding a weapon upside-down) in combat is prohibited. A person
striking back-bladed with a weapon can put far more force into a blow and has less control
over the weapon, which increases wear on the weapon and makes the possibility of injury
more likely.
12) Anvilling shall be defined as laying a weapon on a shield, another weapon, a body part, or the
ground to avoid taking damage. Anvilling is prohibited and will result in the weapon being
"broken" (the weapon must be dropped).
2. Heralds: Complete detailed rules on Heralds (referees), their duties, and their rights and privileges are
listed in The Dagorhir Handbook. However, the importance and authority of the position warrants a
basic summary of the responsibilities and powers of Heralds. Also, additions and changes to rules
concerning Heralds are included below.
Heralds are Issola Foam-Fighting referees. Heralds are the primary authority on the battlefield. Their
duties include, but are not limited to:
- Ensuring the safety of all Issola Foam-Fighting participants and spectators
- Keeping the battle flowing smoothly
- Explaining, interpreting, and enforcing the rules of play
- Mediating disagreements on the field / ruling on the validity of questionable hits and possible
rules violations
- Serving as timekeepers and scorekeepers
- Informing players of what battle scenario is next, explaining the rules of the scenario, and
defining the borders
- Recognizing/rewarding exceptional characterization or sportsmanship by players.
In addition to these duties, a Herald in Issola Foam-Fighting is further required to inform the
Council of repeated or serious rules violations by a player. The Herald is also expected to share
his/her opinion on the rule-breaker's actions, and to make recommendations as to what disciplinary
measures would be most appropriate.
To allow them to fulfill their responsibilities, Heralds have the authority to:
- Call a freeze to combat, almost always for safety reasons
- Rule whether a hit was "good" or not, and determine what should happen (should the player die,
lose a limb, etc.)
- Penalize rules violations (a player stepped out of bounds and stepped back in, a player anvilled to
avoid taking a hit, etc.) and disruptive behavior (players arguing on the field, player using
abusive language, etc.) with consequences the Herald feels are appropriate (yellow flags –
detailed in Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws #9, player is dead, player temporarily loses the right to
use certain weapons, etc.)
- Remove a player from the field for several battles or exclude a player from the entire session for
more serious or continued rules violations or disruptive behavior (red flags - detailed in Issola
Foam-Fighting By-laws #9)
- Remove a player from the field for several battles or the entire session if the Herald suspects the
player’s health to be at risk from continued activity (signs of heat exhaustion, player ill from
medication or bad food, etc.) (blue cards - detailed in Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws #10)
A Herald's decision on the battlefield is final. The decision of a Herald can only be overruled by a
majority vote of a quorum of the Council or a majority vote of the other Heralds, if any. A Herald's
decision should never be challenged during a battle.
3. Membership Ranks: Membership in Issola Foam-Fighting shall be organized by rank, as determined
by the Guild Council. As a member increases in rank, he/she will be given greater prestige, greater
responsibility, and the opportunity to wield a wider variety of weapons. Listed below is a description of
the ranking system used by Issola Foam-Fighting, as well as the additional privileges afforded to each
member as they increase in rank and the requirements the member must meet to progress to that level.
Certain requirements, such as the number of meetings a member must attend to advance in rank, may be
waived by a 3/4 majority vote of the Council if special circumstances apply. For example, a new
member may move into the area and join the organization after years of experience in another foam-
fighting group. If the member met the other requirements, he/she might be allowed to progress to an
equivalent rank in a shorter period of time than usual. However, new members are only allowed to come
in at rank 3 or below. Privileges may also be selectively restricted by a 3/4 majority Council vote in
certain cases. For example, a rank 3 member qualified to use armor who also has an allergy to iron
might be restricted from wearing chainmail.
Rank 0 – Conscript
- Privileges: The member may only use standard blue weapons (swords equally padded on both
sides of the blade or cylindrically-padded clubs) 32 inches in overall length or shorter.
A member of this rank may use group-owned loaner weapons for the first six meetings
he/she attends. After six meetings, the member will not be allowed to use group
weapons until the member achieves rank 1.
- Requirements: The member must have been given a summary of the rules by a member of the
Council and must have completed and signed all necessary waivers and forms.
Rank 1 – Recruit
- Privileges: The member may use standard blue weapons (swords equally padded on both sides of
the blade or cylindrically-padded clubs) and may test for the use of single-sided blue
weapons and/or daggers (green-only weapons 15 inches in length or less). A member
may use group-owned loaner weapons for the first six meetings he/she attends after
achieving this rank.
- Requirements: The member must have been given a summary of the rules by a member of the
Council and must have completed and signed all necessary waivers and forms.
The member must also have paid all organizational dues. A 2/3 majority vote of
the Council is required for the member to qualify for single-sided blue weapons.
Rank 2 – Grunt
- Privileges: The member may test for the use of flails (blue weapons which include a short length
of cord) and/or blue exotic weapons (axes, maces, mauls, and other non-standard,
non-single-sided, and non-flail blue weapons) and/or standard red weapons (swords
equally padded on both sides of the blade or cylindrically-padded clubs) and/or
standard shields.
- Requirements: The member must have attended at least 6 meetings after having achieved rank 1.
A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is required for a member to advance to this
rank. A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is also required for the member to
qualify for the use of flails and/or blue exotic weapons and/or standard red
weapons and/or standard shields.
Rank 3 – Regular
- Privileges: The member may test for the use of double-ended weapons (quarterstaves and other
such weapons) and/or single-sided red weapons and/or bucklers and/or leather or
chainmail armor (provided the armor conforms to Issola Foam-Fighting armor
standards).
- Requirements: The member must have attended at least 8 meetings after having achieved rank 2.
A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is required for a member to advance to this
rank. A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is also required for the member to
qualify for the use of double-ended weapons and/or single-sided red weapons
and/or bucklers and/or leather or chainmail armor. A member of this rank must
have their own costume which must conform to (or preferably exceed) the
minimum Issola Foam-Fighting costume requirements.
Rank 4 – Man at Arms
- Privileges: The member may test for the use of yellow weapons (javelins) and/or red exotic
weapons (axes, maces, mauls, and other non-standard and non-single-sided red
weapons).
- Requirements: The member must have attended at least 10 meetings after having achieved rank 3.
A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is required for a member to advance to this
rank. A 2/3 majority vote of the Council is also required for the member to
qualify for the use of yellow weapons and/or red exotic weapons.
Rank 5 – Veteran
- Privileges: The member may test for the use of polearms (glaives, halberds, spears, and any other
weapon over 15 inches in total length where the cloth-covered striking surface is less
than 1/3 of the total length of the weapon and/or the length of the weapon exceeds the
member’s height) and/or tower shields. Members of this rank may are also allowed to
serve as Heralds (referees) at organizational meetings. Only Councilors and members
of this rank and higher may serve as Heralds.
- Requirements: The member must have attended at least 12 meetings after having achieved rank 4.
The member must demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with all
organizational rules and regulations, as well as the ability to recognize how to
safely use all Issola Foam-Fighting weapons. A 3/4 majority vote of the Council
is required for a member to advance to this rank. A 3/4 majority vote of the
Council is also required for the member to qualify for the use of polearms and/or
tower shields.
Rank 6 – Elite
- Privileges: The member may test for the use of white weapons (bows, arrows, and rocks) and/or
plate armor (provided the armor conforms to Issola Foam-Fighting armor standards).
- Requirements: The member must have attended at least 14 meetings after having achieved rank 5.
The member must demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with all
organizational rules and regulations, and must qualify . The member is also
required to defeat one rank 6 member in single combat. Both combatants use one
blue sword each, with no armor or shields. The member must kill his opponent
and not die himself to win. The member will be given three attempts per meeting,
each with a different opponent, if possible. If the member does not defeat one of
his three opponents, he must try again at the next meeting. A 3/4 majority vote of
the Council is required for a member to advance to this rank. A 3/4 majority vote
of the Council is also required for the member to qualify for the use of white
weapons and/or plate armor.
Issola Foam-Fighting members of visitor status do not fall within this ranking system. Visiting members
may not use group-owned loaner weapons or any other organizational property. A visiting member must
have been given a summary of the rules by a member of the Council and must have completed and
signed all necessary waivers and forms, but is not required to pay organizational dues. A visiting
member must test for the use of any weapons, shields, and/or armor he/she wants to use, as per the rules
listed in the appropriate rank category (rank 0, rank 1, etc.). However, the member may only use his/her
own weapons, shields, and/or armor, and will only be allowed to test for weapons, shields, and/or armor
which are available to members of rank 3 or lower. More information on members of visitor status can
be found in the Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article II - Section 1, Sub-Section 4.
4. Additional Duties of Officers and Council Members: In addition to their regular duties, officers and
Council members are also expected to be able to:
- Arrive early for meetings and special events to help set things up
- Stay after meetings and special events to help pack things up and clean up the meeting area
- Contribute time, effort, and ideas to help in promoting the organization and attracting new
members
5. Special Elections and Vacancy Filling: During the lifetime of the organization, occasions may arise
where, due to either resignation, impeachment, or other unforeseen circumstances, organizational offices
or positions on the Guild Council may be left vacant. If vacancies do occur, the following provisions for
special elections shall be applied. Procedures shall vary depending on the type of position(s) to be filled.
Officers: If an office becomes vacant, the other officers are expected to take on the responsibilities and
perform the duties of that office until the next scheduled election. However, if one or more offices
become unoccupied, and the vacancies prove to be too much of a hindrance, the highest-ranking officer
has the option of calling for a special election where all vacancies shall be filled. This election shall be
scheduled to take place at the next meeting where a quorum of active student members is present. If for
some reason all offices are vacated, the Council shall schedule an election for all offices at the next
meeting where a quorum of active student members is present. Procedures for these elections and the
qualifications of the candidates otherwise follow the normal rules for elections detailed in the Issola
Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article V - Section 1.
Council members: If there are ever fewer than three Council members, new Council members must be
appointed until there are at least three before any further business may be conducted by the Council. If
for some reason all Council positions have been vacated, then a vote must be taken to elect three new
Council members at the next meeting where a quorum of all active members is present. Candidates must
meet the requirements in the Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article IV - Section 2. Candidates
should be rank 3 or higher, or the highest rank possible if there are no organizational members of at least
rank 3. Candidates must be nominated and seconded by other organizational members. No self-
nominations or self-seconding is allowed. Each active member may cast a vote for up to three
candidates. The three candidates with the most votes are elected to the Council. In the case of a tie
between two or more candidates, another vote will be taken for only those candidates. If still tied, all of
the tied candidates are elected to the Council, even if this puts the number of new Council members
above three. If the positions of Guild Master or Weapons Master ever become vacant, the position(s)
should be filled at the next meeting where a quorum of the Council is present. The procedure for these
election(s) and the qualifications of the candidates otherwise follow the normal rules detailed in the
Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article V - Section 2.
6. Meeting Structure: The structure of a normal meeting of the organization shall proceed as follows:
1) Members just arriving will sign in, and then participate in informal warm-up activities, duels, or
small battles.
2) After most members should have arrived, usually 15-30 minutes, the president (or highest-
ranking officer present) will call to order the business portion of the meeting, assuming that a
quorum of active members is present. If a quorum of active members is not present, the
president may simply make any announcements that need to be made and then adjourn the
business portion of the meeting. If a quorum is present, the meeting will proceed as per the
normal rules for parliamentary procedure detailed in Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws #8. If no
officers are present to chair the business portion of the meeting, organizational business may
not be discussed or voted upon.
3) After the business portion of the meeting has been concluded, the rest of the meeting will
typically be devoted entirely to larger battle scenarios, with periodic water breaks, until the end
of the meeting.
4) At any time during a meeting, the Council may break off to discuss or vote upon issues it is
concerned with, assuming a quorum of the Council is present.
This is how a typical meeting will be organized. Individual meetings may be scheduled for specific
purposes, and thus may follow a different format.
7. Meeting Times and Locations: Issola Foam-Fighting shall endeavor to hold regular meetings (practice
sessions where organizational business may or may not be discussed depending on whether or not a
quorum of active members is present) at least once a week, with the frequency, dates, and times of the
meetings dependent on the interest and schedules of the organization’s members. The Guild Council, by
a simple majority vote, shall determine the dates, times, and locations for all organizational meetings,
and shall do so with the goal of establishing a schedule which is as convenient as possible for the
greatest number of members. Special meetings (usually foam weapon building sessions, feasts,
tournaments, or inter-organizational events) may also be scheduled from time to time. In the event of
foul weather or other unsafe field conditions, meetings will be conducted in an suitably equipped indoor
facility, if one is available. If a suitable indoor facility is unavailable, and if a majority of those Council
members present agree that the weather/situation will make activities unsafe or too inconvenient, the
Council is required to cancel the meeting. If no Council members are present, a majority of those
officers present must decide whether or not to cancel the meeting. If no Council members or officers are
present, members are strongly urged to stop their activities and leave at the first sign of foul weather or
any other potentially hazardous situation.
8. Parliamentary Procedure: Parliamentary procedure for Issola Foam-Fighting shall be fairly informal.
The usual procedure for conducting business in a normal meeting of the organization or in a meeting of
the Guild Council shall be as follows:
1) The president or highest-ranking officer present, or in the case of a Council meeting, the Guild
Master or the Councilor chairing the meeting in the Guild Master’s absence, will call the
meeting to order provided the necessary number of members is present. He/she will then read
any announcements which need to be made.
2) After all announcements are made, the officer or Councilor chairing the meeting shall open the
floor for the discussion of old business.
3) Once discussion of any old business has been concluded, the officer or Councilor chairing the
meeting shall call for any votes scheduled for that meeting to be taken.
4) After any and all scheduled votes are taken, the officer or Councilor chairing the meeting shall
open the floor for new business to be introduced.
5) Once all new business has been discussed, the officer or Councilor chairing the meeting may
then adjourn the business portion of the meeting.
The procedure for voting in Issola Foam-Fighting shall also be largely informal. Normally, when a vote
is taken, a simple show of hands will be the format used. Further, any member may, before a vote is
taken, request that a secret ballot format be used instead. If this is the case, each voter shall write their
choice on a blank, folded piece of paper, and give them to the officer or Councilor chairing the meeting.
The officer or Councilor shall then tally the votes, whether they are taken by hand or by ballot. The
officer or Councilor’s count must be confirmed by a randomly chosen organizational or Council
member. Any voter may, at any time before the end of the business portion of the meeting, call for a
recount of any vote taken at that meeting. Only members who actually took part in the original vote may
vote again (if the vote was taken by a show of hands).
9. Disciplinary Measures: Penalizing typical rules violations and unacceptable behavior from group
members during most organizational meetings usually falls under the jurisdiction of the Heralds (see
Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws #2). The ruling of a Herald can only be overturned by a majority vote of
a quorum of the Council or by a majority vote of the other Heralds, if any. The penalties for rules
violations and/or disruptive behavior by organizational members are determined by the Herald(s) on a
case by case basis, as the Herald(s) deems appropriate. One of the most common penalties a Herald will
use are yellow and red flags. A yellow flag is basically a warning. A Herald will usually give out a
yellow flag for repeated minor rules violations and/or disruptive behavior, as well as more serious
infractions. For example, a player may accidentally hit another group member during combat with the
flat of his/her blade (which is less padded). The Herald may just inform the player that he/she happened
to flat and just move on (especially if the player is new). However, if the player continues to hit with the
flat of the blade after two or three such warnings (or perhaps only one if the player is very experienced),
the Herald may give them a yellow flag. If the player flats again, the Herald may give him/her another
yellow flag, and so on. If a player receives three yellow flags in a session, that player automatically
receives a red flag. A red flag may also be given out for a serious or obviously intentional rules
violation, breach of safety, or disruptive behavior (player gets angry and throws a punch, player takes a
swing at someone with the unpadded length of a weapon, player harasses bystanders, etc.) If a player
receives a red flag, he/she is automatically excluded from the remainder of the session, and may be
subject to further disciplinary action depending on the nature of the offense(s), at the discretion of the
Council. All yellow and red flag distributions will be recorded by the Herald who assigned them, and
will be kept in the records of the organization, mainly in order to assist the Council in identifying,
correcting, and hopefully preventing future rules violations and/or disruptive behavior from any
offending members. Heralds may also assign other penalties for rules violations and/or disruptive
behavior in addition to, or in place of, yellow or red flags. For example, an experienced player familiar
with the rules may have been observed swinging a sword held upside down (back-blading). In addition
to a yellow flag, the Herald may declare that the offending player is dead for the duration of that battle.
Penalties for rules violations and/or disruptive behavior that are available to Heralds include, but are not
limited to:
- Offender’s weapon(s)/shield(s)/armor is considered broken for one or more battles
- Disallowing the use of certain weapons/shields/armor/equipment for one or more battles
- Offender is ruled to have sustained one or more wounds (of a type and to a zone of the body as
deemed appropriate by the Herald)
- Offender is ruled to be dead for the duration of the current battle
- Running laps (This penalty is often used if a player hits another player in the head with a weapon
not allowed to do so. The first offense typically results in one lap. The second results in two,
and so on. If the person hit decides that he/she ducked into the blow or was otherwise at least
partially responsible for the hit to his/her head, that person may waive the lap(s) that the offender
is assigned.) (Heralds cannot force a player to run laps, and a Herald will not ask a player to run
laps if the Herald believes the player’s health would be compromised by doing so. The Herald
also will not ask a player to run laps if the player says they do not feel well or do not want to.
However, any player who is assigned laps and does not feel like running them may either do
them at a walk or leave the session. (If a player feels too weak to run laps, they’re probably too
weak to participate in battles.) Any player who begins to fell tired, weak, nauseous, or unwell in
any manner while running laps, or during any other Issola Foam-Fighting activity for that matter,
should take a break, possibly get some water, and seek medical attention if the player in question
feels he/she requires it.)
- Exclusion from one or more battles
- Exclusion from the entire session (red flag)
If more serious or chronic rules violations occur, the Guild Council reserves the right to take disciplinary
action against the offender. Acts that warrant disciplinary action from the Council include, but are not
limited to:
- Not following rules laid out in The Dagorhir Handbook, the Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution,
or the Issola Foam-Fighting By-laws
- Disobeying organizational and game-related directions from Issola Foam-Fighting officials or
SIUE officials
- Any action which directly compromises the safety of group members or spectators
- Disrespectful or unsportsmanlike conduct
- Inappropriate or disruptive behavior
- Illegal drug use, or any other activity taken during organizational events which is illegal under
federal, state, or local law
If a member of Issola Foam-Fighting commits any of the above-mentioned offenses, a simple majority
vote of a quorum of the Council is required for disciplinary measures to be taken. Typical disciplinary
measures available to the Council include, but are not limited to:
- Running laps
- Exclusion from one or more battles
- Exclusion from one or more meetings
- Temporary or permanent reduction in organizational rank
- Temporary or permanent loss of privileges (offender might not be allowed to wear their own
coat-of-arms, offender might not be allowed to go on group excursions where they would be
representing the organization to others, etc.)
- Expulsion (Expulsion is the most serious punishment possible, and rules concerning it may be
found in the Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article X - Section 1. Expulsion is typically
only considered either for serious offenses (such as illegal activities or activities which threaten
safety) or for repeated rules violations, and expulsion is never the first course of disciplinary
action to be considered.)
10. Medical Flags and Health Concerns: While the safety and good health of its members is the primary
concern of Issola Foam-Fighting, foam-fighting is a full contact sport and thus the possibility for
property damage, serious injury, and/or loss of life exists. That is why all members are informed of the
possible hazards of engaging in Issola Foam-Fighting activities and are required to sign waivers stating
that the member in question has been informed of the risks involved and will not hold any Issola Foam-
Fighting member(s), Issola Foam-Fighting official(s), or SIUE staff or official(s) liable for any property
damage or injuries that may result from participation in any Issola Foam-Fighting activities. The
waivers also state that the member in question will not hold liable any Issola Foam-Fighting member(s),
Issola Foam-Fighting official(s), SIUE staff or official(s), or bystanders for any further injuries or
negative consequences which may result due to efforts to provide life-saving or other medical
assistance to the injured member in question. Issola Foam-Fighting also recommends that all members
have adequate medical insurance before participating in any organizational activities. Members of
Issola Foam-Fighting are responsible for looking after their own health and well-being, and
acknowledge that the risk of property damage, personal injury, and loss of life exists. That said, Issola
Foam-Fighting, as stated above, considers the safety and continued good health of its members to be its
primary concern. Toward that end, Issola Foam-Fighting has several rules and procedures designed to
protect the health and well being of its members:
- No Issola Foam-Fighting official can force a member to participate in any activity that the
member feels is either too dangerous or likely to negatively impact the member’s health. If a
member perceives a potentially hazardous or unhealthy situation or activity, the member should
inform a Herald or other Issola Foam-Fighting official(s) and/or refuse to participate in the
activity.
- In order to prevent cases of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, sunburn, and other
maladies associated with strenuous outdoor physical activity, all members of Issola Foam-
Fighting are encouraged to bring a supply of fresh water to all organizational meetings, to take
frequent water breaks, to wear sunscreen, and to take a break at any point that they feel tired,
weak, nauseous, or unwell in any way.
- Heralds may issue blue flags for noticeable medical problems which may occur during the course
of a combat session (player is stumbling on the field, player takes a solid hit to the head with a
thinly padded portion of a weapon, player throws up, etc.). A player who receives a blue flag
must sit out of all combat and other physical activities for a period of at least 5 minutes. If the
Herald who issued the blue flag believes the player to be well enough to enter combat again (and
if the player agrees), the player may then continue fighting. If not, the player remains out of
combat until the Herald believes the player to be well enough to reenter the session. Blue flags
are not a penalty and do not adversely affect the member or their standing within the
organization. If a player receives three blue flags in one session, the player will be excluded
from the rest of the session.
- If a member has suffered from serious or repeated illnesses, injuries, and/or other health
problems, Issola Foam-Fighting requires that the member provide the Council with a signed
statement by a licensed physician affirming that the member in question has no medical problems
that would endanger the member’s health and/or increase the risk of serious injury if the member
were to participate in a full contact sport such as foam-fighting. Once such a statement is
requested, the member in question will not be allowed to participate in any organizational
activities until he/she is able to provide it. Situations which require such a physician’s statement
include:
- member receives more than four blue flags during a period of one month
- member receives more than eight blue flags during a period of three months
- member passes out or is knocked unconscious during an organizational meeting
- member suffers a coronary (heart attack), stroke, seizure, or other serious medical
emergency
- a simple majority vote of the Council deems a physician’s statement to be warranted
11. Drug Policy: Issola Foam-Fighting is an athletic organization that strives to foster physical fitness and
good health in its membership. Unlawful drug use by any member of the organization will NOT be
tolerated. A list of most drug-related offenses, as well as the recommended disciplinary measures the
Guild Council has at its disposal for punishing such offenses, is given below:
- If the offender is found to be in possession or under the influence of any substance deemed illegal
under federal, state, or local law, the Council shall
1) Inform the proper authorities (local law enforcement, SIUE staff and/or security, etc.)
of the offense
2) Ban the offender from the current organizational meeting
3) Call for a vote to expel the offender
- If the offender is found to be under the age of 21 and in possession or under the influence of
alcohol, the Council shall
1) Inform the proper authorities (local law enforcement, SIUE staff and/or security, etc.)
of the offense
2) Ban the offender from the current organizational meeting
3) Call for a vote to expel the offender
- If the offender if found to be drinking alcohol or to already be under the influence of alcohol
during a combat session, the Council shall
1) Dismiss the offender from the meeting
2) Call for a vote to expel the offender
- If the offender is found to be drinking alcohol on SIUE property during an organizational event,
the Council shall
1) Inform SIUE staff and/or security of the offense
1) Dismiss the offender from the meeting
2) Call for a vote to expel the offender
The only acceptable forms of drug use by group members are limited to the following:
- Over-the-counter medications (aspirin, decongestants, etc.)
- Prescription medications (only permissible if taken by the individual for whom the medications
were prescribed)
- Consumption of alcohol by group members at organizational events is permitted ONLY if all of
the following circumstances apply:
- The individual is over the age of 21
- The event is one which does not involve combat or one at which the possibility of
combat has passed (feasts, festivals, dinners at tournaments after all the day’s battles
have ended, etc.)
- The event does not take place on SIUE property
- The individual has access to a designated driver if the individual will require
transportation after the event
Consumption of alcohol under these circumstances is permitted, though it is still discouraged.
12. Use of Group Funds: While the treasurer is responsible for the storage of group funds and the
maintenance of financial records, the decision of when and how to use group funds must be made by all
the officers of Issola Foam-Fighting. A 3/4 majority vote of all the officers is required to approve the
use of group funds for organizational business. The officers are then required to inform the Council
whenever an expenditure of group funds is made, and the treasurer is further required to make his full
records available to any organizational member who requests to see them. If an instance occurs where
the use of group funds is required quickly (unexpected expenditures on an official trip, previously
unknown fee(s) for using a facility for organizational business, etc.) and not all officers can be reached
in time, a unanimous vote of all present officers is required to approve the expenditure.
13. Membership Fees: In order to provide fund to cover organizational expenses, Issola Foam-Fighting
members are required to pay a membership fee in the amount of $5.00 per year. This fee is to be paid
either within one month (or six attended meetings, whichever is greater) after the election of new
officers at the beginning of the SIUE fall semester or, in the case of a new member, within one month
(or six attended meetings, whichever is greater) of first joining the organization. These funds may be
used for organizational expenses which include, but are not limited to:
- Costs for the use of facilities and/or equipment for organizational activities
- Costs for advertising and promotion of Issola Foam-Fighting and/or its activities
- Construction or purchase of equipment and/or materials for general use by all organizational
members
- Construction or purchase of equipment and/or materials to be given to organizational members
(as an incentive to join the organization, as a prize for doing well in a tournament, etc.)
- Refreshments to be served at organizational meetings
- Food, lodging, and travel costs for members when on official organizational trips
Failure to pay the requisite membership fee within the one month (or six attended meetings) of time
allotted may result in exclusion from organizational activities until the fee is paid, or other such
penalties as are deemed appropriate, at the discretion of the Council.
14. Clean-up: Issola Foam-Fighting endeavors to always show respect to those who support and host the
organization’s activities. Thus, Issola Foam-Fighting is determined that its members make certain that
any area used for an organizational event or meeting is left looking as good, if not better, than it did
before the group arrived. Toward that end, all Issola Foam-Fighting members are required to take
anything they may have brought to an organizational event or meeting with them when they leave.
Issola Foam-Fighting members are likewise required to properly dispose of any refuse they may have
generated before they leave an organizational event or meeting. Council members and officers are
further required to stay after organizational events to straighten up the area and dispose of any refuse
left behind by either organizational members or anyone who may have used the area previously. Other
Issola Foam-Fighting members are encouraged, though not required, to stay after organizational
meetings and help the officers and Council members clean up.
15. Group Contact Information: Issola Foam-Fighting shall strive to always keep its members informed
of schedule changes, events, and other important news which concerns the organization, and to provide
a way for group members to contact Issola Foam-Fighting officials in the event the members have any
questions to ask the officials or any information to pass on. The method used to accomplish this will be
whatever is most convenient for the Council, the officers, and the membership. Currently, Issola Foam-
Fighting maintains a webpage (address - www.angelfire.com/realm3/clanissola) both to advertise the
group’s activities to prospective members and to post organizational information for group members.
The website is linked to a forum where members may post messages to communicate with group
officials and with each other. Issola Foam-Fighting also currently maintains an official group email
account (Issola_Dagorhir@yahoo.com). Access to this account will be made available to all officers
and Council members. Maintenance of both the organization’s website and email account is the
responsibility of the vice-president, as per the Issola Foam-Fighting Constitution, Article III - Section
1, Sub-Section 2. Phone calls and emails may also occasionally be used by group officials to contact
members about group-related activities and information.