126 lines
4.5 KiB
Plaintext
126 lines
4.5 KiB
Plaintext
CONSTITUTION
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DENVER AREA WICCAN NETWORK
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I. PURPOSE
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The Denver Area Wiccan Network (hereinafter called DAWN) has
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as its primary foci networking and the coordination of teaching
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of matters pertaining to the Craft. DAWN may also serve as a
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central network for coordinating activities between and among
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Wiccan groups within the Denver area. Subsidiary functions will
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be defined as necessary by the governing bodies of DAWN.
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II. SCOPE
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DAWN will restrict its activities within both topical and
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regional limits. Regionally, it will serve the area within a
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reasonable driving distance of Denver, Colorado. Topically, it
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will serve only the Wiccan, or Craft, community within this area.
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DAWN is willing to aid or work with other similar Pagan groups,
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but DAWN is not willing to serve as a clearing-house for them,
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nor for other Occult groups.
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III. GOVERNANCE
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DAWN will be made up of a Board of Directors (necessarily
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small), a Steering Committee (necessarily larger than the Board),
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and the general membership which shall consist of any coven or
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member of the Craft community wishing to be a member of DAWN.
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The function of these bodies, and the rules which govern them,
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will be covered by the Rules and the Bylaws of DAWN.
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IV. AMENDMENTS
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In order to amend this document, the proposed change must
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receive the votes of at least 80 percent of the Directors and
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must receive at least 80 percent of the votes cast at a proper
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meeting of the Steering Committee, both bodies having received
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at least 20 days notice of the proposed amendment.
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V. DEFINITIONS
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A. Craft, Wicca, or Witchcraft -- A magical Pagan or Earth
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religion including diverse traditions derived from many cultural
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sources. This religion usually worships at least one primary
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deity who is feminine, and may also have a masculine deity or
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deities. Some extant sources include Alexandrian, Celtic, Circle,
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Dianic, English Traditional, Faerie, Family Traditional, and
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Gardnerian Witchcraft. DAWN specifically excludes the Shamanic,
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Native American, and Native African religions from its definition
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of these terms.
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B. Earth religion (or Paganism) -- A religion, possibly
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prehistoric in origin, a major tenet of which is a belief that we
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must live in harmony with the Earth and all its creatures.
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C. Coven -- Any small group of Pagans, affiliated
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primarily for religious goals and purposes, which meets regularly
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for the purpose of holding Esbats, holding Sabbats, teaching, or
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for any other activity having a direct connection with Paganism.
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D. Esbat -- Meetings held once or twice each Lunar month.
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Most Covens hold Esbat at the Full Moon. Many hold Esbat at the
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New Moon or the Dark of the Moon (the three days preceding the
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New Moon).
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E. Sabbat -- Meetings held at the eight major seasonal
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demarcations: the Equinoxes and the Solstices (commonly called
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the Quarter Days) and at the "time of power" of each season
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(commonly called Cross-Quarter Days); the Cross-Quarter days fall
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at or about the beginnings of the months of February, May,
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August, and November. All individual names for these holidays
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are optional.
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F. Magic -- The art of changing consciousness through
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disciplined and systematic use of the will and other natural
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forces. Some common goals in magic are healing, guidance,
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protection, and insight.
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G. Occult -- Occluded or hidden, secret; the study of
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hidden or secret knowledge. Secret societies include college
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fraternities, the Masons, and the Rosecrucians. DAWN is not a
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secret society. Its proceedings are open, but the privacy of its
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members will be protected.
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