Welcome to the Order of the Pelican in Caid
You have just been invited to join the Order of the Pelican in Caid. You are probably confused, delighted, scared, elated, stunned, and uncertain how to proceed. This booklet is an introduction to the decisions you need to make before your elevation, and a taste of what will happen afterwards. This will not answer all questions, but it should give you a starting place. It specifically addresses the customs and traditions of the Kingdom of Caid. Customs vary throughout the Known World, so things are slightly different elsewhere.
If you have any questions, call, write, or e-mail either a Companion of the Order that you feel comfortable talking to, or the Secretary of the Order.
Over the years, the ceremony has evolved from “surprise the candidate and swear her in”, to “inform the candidate well ahead of time, and provide great flexibility in matters of announcement, vigil, and ceremony”. This can translate to a sometimes bewildering set of options. The following topics seem to cause the most concern and questions.
Announcement. This is your news to tell or share. The Order and its members are expected to keep the news of your impending elevation private unless or until you indicate otherwise. We expect you to extend the same courtesy to other candidates who have not yet been elevated.
Privileges and Responsibilities. After you have accepted elevation to the Order and before the time you are actually elevated, you will learn more of the privileges and responsibilities which fall on members of the Order. Members of the Order will generally be happy to discuss their thoughts and experiences with you. The vigil is, among other things, a formal mechanism for doing this. However, until you are actually elevated, you will not normally be made privy to the confidential business of the Order, and you will not normally be asked to participate in ceremonies as part of the Order.
Planning the Ceremony and Vigil. Your elevation ceremony is important to you and also to the Order. Your ceremony is also our ceremony and represents part of who and what we are. It provides the Order an opportunity to publicly recognize, celebrate and welcome candidates to our Order. In the past few years, Pelican candidates have often chosen to hold a vigil before the ceremony. The next sections of this booklet address the ceremony and the vigil in detail.
The time and place of your elevation is at the pleasure of the Crown, but they often leave the decision to you. If a particular event or type of event has special meaning to you, you may request that of the Crown. However, please remember that the choice must be made by the Crown since they alone can elevate you. If the suggested event is not within the tenure of the Crown that has decided to admit you to the Order, they can only pass on their recommendation, to be acted upon at the pleasure of their successors. This is generally not a problem, but you should be aware of it.
The ceremony will occur during Court. The Master of Ceremonies for Court is the Crescent Herald, who works out how the Court events will be scheduled. He (or she) also has the words to all the ceremonies. You should request a copy of the ceremony from Crescent. Depending on the event, Crescent may or may not actually officiate.
Once a decision has been made as to the time and place of your elevation, please notify the Pelican Secretary. This might be done by the Crown, however it is always good to double check. The Secretary will notify the other Companions of the Order so that they can be present at your elevation.
Here is a sample of choices you can make:
• Many candidates have had members of their household process in with them, carrying a banner with the candidate's arms.
• It is common to have one or two Companions of the Pelican (called escorts) come back from their place at the foot of Their Majesties' thrones to accompany the candidate. If you want to do this, who would you choose?
• Many candidates have arranged with friends to provide music or song as they walk forward.
• Would you like to memorize the oath of fealty beforehand? In English or in another language appropriate to your persona? If the latter, then you need to arrange for the translation.
• Do you wish to be dubbed by the Queen's scepter? The King's scepter? A sword? No dubbing at all?
• Are there other bits of regalia or pageantry you want?
Your medallion. Traditionally, your medallion will be provided for you by a member of the Order. The Secretary and the Crown will arrange for it.
Your Scroll. As you probably know, your elevation entitles you to a scroll. Normally, you will be given a promissory scroll at your elevation. If you tell the Scribe Armarius afterwards that you in fact want a scroll, then it will be assigned. However, if you wish it to be presented at your elevation, you may make arrangements with an artisan to have it ready in time for your ceremony. Once an artisan has accepted the commission, either you or the artist should notify the Scribe Armarius who will arrange for the scroll to be checked, sealed, signed, and delivered for your ceremony.
What is a vigil? The vigil is an optional event held prior to an elevation in which the candidate is given time to reflect and to be surrounded by close friends and members of the Order. It is not intended as a celebration, but as quiet time. While the candidate is not required to have a vigil, many find it useful as a respite from the chaos that can often surround an elevation.
Why do we have vigils? The vigil provides a quiet place for the candidate to contemplate what it means to join the peerage. It also allows members of the Order a private forum to offer words of wisdom and advice to the candidate before his/her elevation. It also provides an echo of a medieval elevation to knighthood.
Is it required? No, but it has become customary.
What happens in a vigil? Members of the Order will drift in and out during the vigil, offering moral support and words of wisdom. This may be the first time you meet some of the Companions of the Order. At some point, the Crescent Principal Herald will read the Invocation (Appendix 1). Their Majesties and/or Highnesses often also attend briefly. The candidate may choose to have a book and pen available for visitors to write best wishes and words of wisdom. Sometimes the candidate or a friend arranges for refreshments for those attending the vigil, but this is not a requirement nor is it expected.
Who can come to a vigil? The Members of the Order and the candidate, of course. Some people choose to restrict their vigils to only Members of the Order, while others choose to include all peers and/or those people who are close to the candidate. It is the candidate's choice as to who they wish to attend the vigil, though it is often recommended that some time be set aside only for Companions of the Order. The Secretary will inform all other Companions about the candidate's vigil, though the candidate may also send invitations if he or she wishes.
Where is the vigil held? The vigil is held in a private place, away from the rest of the event. It is often shared with other candidates that will be elevated that day to the same Order, particularly if it is in a room provided by the event autocrat. At other times, it could be in a closed pavilion, in which case the candidate can provide his/her own. If the candidate wishes a vigil, he/she should inform the Secretary of the Order, who will arrange with the autocrat of the event for a place for the vigil.
When is the vigil held? The vigil is usually held early in the day at the event. It has also been done the night before, or even the weekend before the event. A "virtual vigil" (done on-line via e-mail) has been done for one candidate (to the Laurel) who lives thousands of ocean miles away from the rest of the Order. It is the candidate's choice as to when the vigil will be held.
The elevation ceremony itself contains elements of:
• Theater (there is an audience watching),
• Recognition (your work has been noticed and appreciated)
• Law (your rights and responsibilities within the Society are changed)
• Tradition (Society, Caid, and historical precedents are all represented)
• Heraldry (you are being granted a Patent of Arms, and the ceremony is performed at court with heralds organizing it),
and probably other things as well.
A common ceremony choice is for the Order to be called forward by the herald. When they are all assembled, one person stands up and asks Their Majesties if it is their will to increase the numbers of the Order. The monarchs say yes. Once given leave, that Companion, and possibly others, will go to the back of the room and then escort the candidate forward, as the herald announces the candidate’s name. When they reach the royal presence, all the escorts fall to the sides (allowing the audience to see), and the candidate goes to kneel on the pillow before the thrones.
The ceremony itself begins. It includes receiving a medallion and a scroll or promissory. You should pass the latter to a Companion kneeling behind you, who will see that it gets to a member of your procession or to you later. Among the last acts is swearing an oath of fealty, either between the Crown's hands, or on a sword. Swearing fealty is optional, but usual in Caid. You may choose to be dubbed. This is done with a scepter or sword. (See Appendix 2 for the Oath of Fealty.)
At the end, you will be charged to greet your companions. If you are the only elevation at that time, you lead the group to the back of the hall for hugs and congratulations. If there are other candidates, you join the group kneeling, and your procession, if any, should leave.
Don't miss your entrance cue. The event herald prepares a list of what will happen when during court. You or a designated friend should find out what court business precedes your elevation (by one or two). When that piece of business starts, you and any procession members should start gathering in the back of the hall or immediately outside. If you plan to wait in the vigil room, have your friend fetch you in time to be near court when you are called forth.
Let the audience see what is going on. If you have a group of people accompany you, arrange with them either to move to the edges of the hall to stand, or to kneel once they have gone as far as they will or can go.
Vocal Projection. During the ceremony, you are speaking to the King and Queen. If you can, speak forcefully enough for the audience to hear you. But don't worry about it. The Herald will make sure the audience knows what is going on.
Cameras and videotaping should be unobtrusive.
This tells how the Order governs itself. As of 1998, Caid was the only Kingdom with Order statutes or charters (the Laurels have one, too). But other kingdoms may have something similar. It is a public document that explains how the Order functions -- the mechanisms for voting on candidates, the mechanics of calling meetings and getting the word out, the function of the Secretary of the Order, definitions of active and inactive members, issues of confidentiality and other things. A copy of the Statutes is given to Their Highnesses so that they may read it and find out how we function. But in particular, it helps the members of the Order remember from year to year “how things get done”. It is our organizational memory.
Their Majesties, of course, are free to call whatever meetings they wish, including meetings of the peerage, collectively or by Order, whenever they choose. The Pelican Statutes are not intended in any way to hinder them, dictate methods, nor limit Their Majesties' powers. However, given that the SCA is structured to have a total change of rulers every few months, the Statutes provides a continuity of tradition and action for the Order that is independent of Their Majesties' experience or inexperience in the role.
The members of the Order in Caid are expected to provide the postage and photocopying money to fund the mailings of the Order (meeting notices, ballots, minutes, and notification of candidate elevations). This is a few dollars per person per reign, and is handled by the Secretary.
The Order calls two meetings a year to discuss candidates, approximately mid-way through each reign. This is generally held at a Companion's home, usually on a Sunday. Their Majesties are invited. Other than Their Majesties, only members of the Order may attend the candidate discussion portion. Dress is modern. Generally there is a potluck at 11:30 a.m. and then the meeting starts around 1:00 p.m. You do not need to bring your "feastware". The custom of late has been for the newest companions of the Order to bring a bottle of "bubbly" (alcoholic or nonalcoholic, at their discretion) to toast them with.
Be prepared for a full day's meeting. You will be sent an agenda ahead of time. Names and topics may be added at the time of the meeting, though candidate names added at a meeting will not be discussed until the following meeting. If you are unable to make a candidate meeting, please write the Secretary concerning anything you would like mentioned at the meeting. All companions will be sent a copy of the minutes, and those not present will get an absentee ballot. The latter must be returned promptly to complete the tallying.
After the selection of a moderator, the first business is always the discussion of candidates, one at a time. Mailed in comments are read and are followed by a discussion of the members present. Any member can make comments both for and/or against the candidacy. After discussion of the candidate is concluded, polling is conducted among those members present. This is done by secret ballot. Two members of the Order count the votes and the results are announced. Acceptable votes are "yes", I support a recommendation to the Crown; "no", the candidate is not ready at this time; and "abstain", I do not choose to express an opinion on this candidate. The Secretary will tallies the absentee ballots with those cast at the meeting. If the total exceed the minimums defined in the Order's statutes he will prepare and forward a formal recommendation for elevation to the Crown. If it is apparent from the discussion that a candidate has little or no support, the Order may choose to bypass the polling to save time. Some members of the Order also feel that a record of a negative polling result may adversely affect the candidate at a future discussion.
After discussion of candidates, the Order reviews the "Watch List" (see Appendix 4) to either add or delete names. Since individuals on the Watch List are not candidates for admission to the Order, no discussion of their qualifications takes place. Names may be added to the Watch List by any member of the Order and may be removed by a majority of the members of the Order present at the meeting.
Next, the Order moves on to other business. This may address general issues, changes to the statutes, changes in procedures, etc. If a vote is necessary to resolve a discussion item, it is usually conducted by a show of hands and requires only a simple majority.
The selection of a site and date for the next meeting is usually done at the end of the meeting. The date is chosen by a consensus of the members present with consideration given to the Kingdom's calendar of events. The site is chosen from among those volunteered. If a consensus can't be reached, a ballot is included with the mailing of the minutes. After compiling the ballots returned, the Secretary of the Order includes the date/site selected with the results of the polling on candidates.
Other meetings may be scheduled to address specific topics or projects, and committees might also be formed. Membership on these committees and attendance at special meetings might or might not be restricted to Pelicans, as required.
While much that the Order does can be public knowledge, candidate discussions of the Order are confidential, should be considered privileged information and should be kept within the Order. The Statutes addresses this in detail. Keeping the candidate information confidential protects the feelings of candidates discussed so that, hopefully, no one is embarrassed or suffers hurt feelings. It is also courteous to the Crown. Remember that they are the ones who do the actual elevating. The Order only discusses and recommends; it should not steal the Crown's thunder in creating a new peer by having it talked about openly before they have made a decision. As mentioned earlier, the Order will likewise keep confidential the information that a candidate is to be elevated until that person tells the Order that the information can be public.
It is important to remember that pavilion walls are not real walls. Discussions at events that are overheard by non-Pelicans are as much a breach of confidentiality as intentionally discussing confidential information with a non-Pelican. Think twice before discussing confidential information in a public environment and if it is absolutely necessary, exercise due diligence to insure it remains confidential.
You know you haven't changed but others sometimes feel you have. You tend to get the respect you earn — the medallion can sometimes predispose people to respect you (or not, it works both ways), but it does not of itself keep that respect.
Up until now, you've generally been treated as an individual. You will find that now you are often referred to as part of a group, with motives, attitudes, and opinions attributed to you because of that. Sometimes another Companion may do something ill advised, and you may be judged “guilty by association”. Try not to let it bother you. You are not obliged to defend someone simply because he or she is a Pelican. We are all individuals with our own foibles and frailties.
Caid has not traditionally been filled with Pelican apprentices, though there are more and more these days. One certainly does not need to be an apprentice before becoming a Pelican nor will being one automatically help. We suggest that you take some time to get used to your new position, determine what being a Pelican means to you, before rushing into taking a apprentice or several. If you wish to do so, fine. The individuals involved, not the Order, determines the Pelican-apprentice relationship and its terms. Pelicans commonly give yellow-colored belts to their apprentices, but that belt color is not restricted. Only white belts are restricted, to knights. In the SCA, the 18th century term "protégé" is commonly used to distinguish a Pelican's apprentice from a Laurel's apprentice.
The Secretary maintains an address list of the members of the Order, with e-mail addresses, if desired. Please let him know if your entry needs updating. This list is also distributed to the other Companions.
For those Companions with e-mail, there is an SCA-wide mailing list, <Pelicans@egroups.com>, for members of the Order of the Pelican. It serves as a forum for the discussion of any topic except discussion of candidates. The list was founded September 1998, and is a moderated, members only list. Once you have been elevated, you may subscribe. There are several ways to subscribe to either SCA-PELICANS or SCA-PELICANS-DIGEST. The easiest way to subscribe is to go to http://www.egroups.com/group/Pelicans and sign up using the automated process. Of course, if you wish, you may subscribe directly by sending email to <Pelicans-subscribe@egroups.com>. The list administrator may be contacted at <Pelicans-owner@egroups.com>.
For those Companions with e-mail, there is also a Caid-wide mailing list. This is <caid_pelican@egroups.com>. This is a low-traffic list used for distributing information, other than candidate discussion, in a timely manner. It is the policy of the Order of the Pelican in Caid for new members to be automatically added to the list. Members of the Order not wishing to participate on the list may choose to unsubscribe after being added by the list administrator. If the list administrator does not automatically add you to the mailing list after your elevation, then go to http://www.egroups.com/group/Caid_Pelican and follow the prompts to sign yourself up. The list administrator may be reached at <Caid_Pelican-owner@egroups.com>.
The purpose of the Caid Pelican e-mail list is to facilitate the discussion of non-candidate specific issues among the members of the Order. This could include items such topics as fealty, regalia, policy or a general discussion of peerage requirements. It also serves as a way to make announcements to a large number of the Order's membership as quickly as possible, e.g. dates or sites of meetings or the Crown's decision of when/where new members will be elevated. This electronic mailing list is not to be used for candidate discussion. Candidate discussion is solely to be held at the Order's meetings or through the non-electronic distribution of meeting agendas or minutes by regular mail. Members of the Order who discuss specific candidates on the mailing list will be censured.
Basically, by continuing to do what you have been doing. There is teaching at Collegium, autocrating events, serving as officers, and encouraging people to use their talents and develop their skills. But in general, how you choose to serve the Kingdom is something you should consider as an individual. It is your decision. However, it is also okay to take a break and let others take the lead.
This is probably among the first questions a new Companion to the Order asks, and it is among the hardest to answer. The criteria that the Order measures against are listed in Corpora (see Appendix). While undoubted service is necessary to get the Order to recommend for admission, it is not sufficient. Some people are very active and high profile. Others work more in the background, and are steady contributors over a long period of time. Some people have good social skills, others may need to work on those skills. Some people are good administrators; others need more practice.
Some candidates may have all the peripheral skills, but the primary service still falls somewhat short. Other candidates may have the service experience, but not enough members of the council are familiar with their work. Perhaps the perception of some members is that a particular candidate needs some maturity, or time for previous bad behavior to be forgotten. Perhaps a candidate is not particularly active at the moment, or perhaps no one has recommended him recently. Perhaps the candidate does not have a strong advocate on the Council, or perhaps there is someone with vocal objections.
All of these factors are weighed by each individual on the council. And sometimes the vote that looked so favorable at the meeting ends up with not quite enough votes to trigger a recommendation. Other times, a brilliant recommendation letter might carry a candidate.
Thus, the standards for recommendation are measured on many scales in addition to quantity of service, and each companion votes, after consulting with his or her peers, according to his or her own judgment. And the Crown, after consultation with the Order, acts in accordance with their own conscience and best judgment.
How can you be a Good Example (for you have surely been singled out as one)? What does fealty mean? What does it mean to be a Companion of the Pelican in the SCA? What is honor? What is the appropriate place of historical authenticity within our Society? We cannot answer these questions for you. You must find your own answers, and that often involves discussions with people from all over the Society. The questions are worth asking, and worth finding your own answers.
In keeping with the requirements for membership in the peerage, as stated in SCA Corpora, to set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct, to respect the Crown of the kingdom, to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora; the Order of the Pelican of Caid encourages all peers to maintain their membership in the SCA.
Again, congratulations. We are proud to welcome you to our Order. Remember that becoming a Companion of the Pelican is not an end in itself, but rather a chance to join with others to bring more enjoyment to the Society. This booklet should give you a good basis to plan your elevation and to know what you are getting into. However, if you have any questions (we're sure you will), please feel free to seek the advice of other members of the Order, the Pelican Secretary, or the Crescent Principal Herald.
Appendix 1
The vigil is an optional preparation to elevation to the Order of the Pelican. As a further option it may include at some appropriate and convenient time an invocation. This should be given by the Crescent Herald or some other senior herald.
I have come to address you, concerning certain aspects of the Peerage you are about to enter. Many say that it is an honor to be made a Master of the Pelican, and it is surely that. But it is more than that: it is a heavy responsibility, which you take upon yourself not in gladness, but with sobriety and sincerity.
The Order of the Pelican is unique among the three Orders of Peerage. Every Peer of the Realm, be he Knight, Laurel or Pelican is expected to serve the Kingdom and Society. But the service expected of a Pelican is far greater than that expected of the other Peers, and greater still than that expected of the populace at large. To accept elevation to the Order of the Pelican is thus not to accept an honor, but to accept the burdens implied in your new status.
As a Peer of the Realm, you must endeavor to live, as you have until now, by the rules of courtoisie, of gentle behavior. This courtly ideal is your guide in your conduct with others: to deal with them justly and fairly, to be gracious and courteous to all, to be an example of worth to whom other can look.
Each Pelican has the responsibility of service, performing to the best of his ability and then -- and then -- to that point of performance where sacrifice is required. A Pelican must want to do good works, must be willing to do them, and will do them more frequently and more extensively than his friends who are not Pelicans.
To accept elevation to the Order of the Pelican is to accept these responsibilities. I pray you keep these words in your heart, as you prepare for your new status.
Appendix 2
Place you hands between Their Majesty's for the Oath of Fealty
(As an option, the candidate may swear fealty on the Great Sword of State.)
Here do I swear by mouth and hand fealty and service to the Crown and Kingdom of Caid:
to speak and to be silent,
to do and to let be,
to come and to go,
to serve and to teach,
in such matters as concern this Realm;
in need or in plenty,
in peace or in war,
in living or in dying,
until the King depart his throne,
or death take me, or the world end.
So say I, [Candidate]
And this do We hear, Master (Mistress) [Candidate].
and We for Our part,
swear fealty to you and to all your household,
to protect and defend you against every creature with all our power,
until we depart from Our Throne,
or death take Us, or the world end.
So say we [name], King of Caid.
And so say we [name], Queen of Caid.
Appendix 3
Below are provisions from the Corpora of the SCA relating to the Order of the Pelican. The complete governing version of the document is part of the SCA Organizational Handbook and may be found online at www.sca.org/docs/corpora.hbk.html.
(4) The Crown may elevate subjects to the Peerage by granting membership in one of the Orders conferring a Patent of Arms, after consultation with the members of the Order, and in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. Restriction: to advance to the Order of Knighthood, a Knight of the Society must bestow the accolade.
1. General Requirements: Candidates for any order conferring a Patent of Arms must meet the following minimum criteria. Additional requirements may be set by law and custom of the kingdoms as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Crown.
a. They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom.
b. They shall have consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.
c. They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm.
d. They shall have demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being as authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power.
e. They shall have shared their knowledge and skills with others.
f. They shall have practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances.
g. They shall have made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of period forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society. They should also participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
2. Order of Precedence Within the Peerage. The Crown may establish the order of precedence within the peerage according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. However, the Chivalry, the Laurel and the Pelican are of equal precedence and must be considered as one group.
3. Departure from the Peerage
a. Resignation. Any member of an order conferring a Patent of Arms may resign from that order. To leave a Patent Order, the member must send a written resignation to the Crown, the Principal of the Order (if any), the Principal Herald, and the Board. As membership in Patent Orders is bestowed by the Crown, no "interchangeability" exists from one order to another (as Knight to Master or Laurel to Pelican), and the acceptance of a person who has so resigned an order into any other order is solely at the discretion of the Crown according to the laws and customs of the kingdom.
b. Degradation and Reinstatement. The Board reserves the right to degrade a person from the Peerage. However, kingdom law may define conditions and procedures under which a recommendation for such action may be made to the Board. Unless stipulated otherwise by the Board, the Board's decision in such a case applies only to the matter at hand, and nothing prohibits a person who has been degraded from any order of the peerage from being elevated to the peerage at a latter date, should the Crown determine that the person in question now meets the requirements of VII.A.1&4.
4. Patent Orders. The following institutions are established for all kingdoms in the Society. A Patent of Arms may be conferred only upon a person being admitted into one of these. Each candidate for a patent order must satisfy the general requirements in VII.A.1, as well as the specific requirements listed here.
c. The Order of the Pelican. Members of the Order of the Pelican may choose to swear fealty, but are not required to do so.
(1) The candidate must have attained the standards of service to the Society or any of its branches equal to that of his or her prospective peers, which is above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.
(2) The duties of the members of the order include:
(a) To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.
(b) To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the Laws of the kingdom and the governing documents of the Society.
(c) (If the member has sworn fealty to the Crown) To support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(d) To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(e) To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Pelican.
Appendix 4
A "watch list" is a means by which individuals are brought to the attention of the members of the Order of the Pelican, but who are not ready to be formally recommended for elevation to the peerage. It enables members of the Order to keep an eye on individuals as their level of service increases and they develop the other society skill and knowledge required of a peer. The Order of the Pelican in Caid instituted a Watch List at its January 2003 meeting by adopting the following provisions which were subsequently modified at its January 2007 meeting.
The Order shall maintain a "watch list" to bring to the Order's attention individuals performing service to the Society whose service has not yet reached the level required for elevation to the Peerage.
The Watch List shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Order and shall consist of the following information: the individual's name, local SCA branch, date of addition to the list, and the name of the member of the Order requesting the addition. The Secretary of the Order shall include the complete Watch List with the minutes of each meeting.
Being on the Watch List is neither a requirement nor a guarantee with regards to future candidate discussion.
The Watch List shall be reviewed at each of the Order's meetings after candidate discussion has concluded. To remain on the Watch List, an individual should be seen by members of the Order as continuing along a path leading toward peerage. No movement within the two years of being added to the list shall be seen as failure to meet this requirement. The status of each individual on the Watch List shall be determined by a consensus of those attending the meeting as to whether or not the name should remain on the list. Members of the Order who feel an individual should be included in candidate discussion at the next meeting may volunteer to write the required recommendation letter. Any member of the Order may request that an individual be added to the list, either at the meeting or in writing to the Secretary of the Order prior to the meeting.
The requirement of maintaining Confidentiality, as detailed in the Statutes of the Order of the Pelican in Caid, shall apply equally to the Watch List as it does to candidate discussion.