hi.. *smile*.. what follows are the conditions for becoming a candidate for the office of Governor.
<ul>
<li>To be a Governor... you must be a citizen and maintain your own account.  The Governor's account is not your personal 
account...  but belongs to the citizens of the site.
<p>

<li>The Governor must be of even temper and disposition.  They must realize that the Governor is primarily there to
help the site grow and operate.  The Governor's primary duties do not include punishment, banishment, and blocking.  Those
are secondary concerns.
<p>

<li>The Governor is elected for minimum term of 1 year... and will continue to serve until:
<ul>
<li>You violate the <a href="http://soi.hyperchat.com/chat/perm/rules.htm">SOI rules</a>..
<li>leave...
<li>resign...
<li>Are recalled by me or a 3/4 majority of the citizens of the site you manage.
<li>Fail to win a majority in a subsequent election.  (A subsequent election can be held after 1 year, if
33% of the citizenship requests one.)
</ul>
<p>

<li>The position of Governor carries with it several main responsibilities:
<p>
<ol>
<li>To reduce my workload and keep problems from reaching me as best you can.
<p>
Keep in mind that the purpose of setting up 'sister sites' to SOI is two fold.  To increase the amount of flexibility
afforded to its citizens, yes, but also to reduce the amount of stress I have as I try to cope with the large
size of SOI.  The Governor should be working to support me as best they can.  If the Governor feels that they cannot
support me in a decision I make, they should resign quietly and support the process of a new election.
<p>

<li>To manage the site as best you can for the good of all citizens.
<p>
Anyone can join and when they do, they have a right to use the system up until the time I say that the don't.  The
Governor cannot revoke a citizen's account.  If the Governor feels revocation is warranted they may forward me
any and all information associated with the incident and I will make a determination.  The Governor should publically 
support any decision I make in response to any incidents I investigate, although they should feel free to 
make recommendations and comments to me as they think is necessary/proper. 
<p>

</ol>
<p>

<li>The position of Governor carries with it the responsibility to manage the common areas of the site for the good of the 
entire site.   This includes decorating the entrance... the admin account rooms... the mailroom.. and the default 
backgrounds.  The admin account can also be used to set up 'areas of the country'.. which are basically 
categorizations of along the lines of room themes.
<p>
While special links and postings can be made in support of majority or minority factions within the site.. at no 
time should a common area be declared off limits to particular individuals or groups.  The common areas may be 
designated for individual purposes and those purposes enforced... but all enforcement needs to be judged against the 
rule and a persons action.. without being colored by who an individual is or is not...
<p>

<li>
Keep in mind that when you decorate the common areas of the site.. you must use material that you own and are 
willing to license to the site for the life of the site... or.. you must obtain from the copyright holder a license to 
use the material for the lifetime of the site...
<p>
You cannot use material to decorate the site that is not yours and for which you have not obtained a license to use 
for the lifetime of the site...
<p>
It is your responsibility to use material that you have a legal right to use.. and.. you may be held liable if 
you use material for which proper permission has not been obtained in the same manner that you are held liable for 
material you use in your personal account...
<p>
Any material that is used for the site is considered a donation to the site.  You make a decision to 
take your work away because you get mad or are no longer "in office".  If you do not want to donate the material to the site, DON'T USE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
<p>

<li>The position of Governor carries a special responsibility to act in a fair manner in all situations.... And 
by this i mean that you should render decisions impartially and that matters involving official sactions should be 
handled privately and kept private..... There will be no public announcements of bannings, blockings or 
anything else... and if something has to be said in public ... it can only be when it has become obvious that 
the affected parties are 'going public' and a response is necessary to provide a complete story of the events...
<p>
If someone is to be banned or blocked.. it is simply done.. without fanfare and without making a public spectacle... 
<p>

<li>The admin account should be used for official site purposes only... you should not create any 
rooms for personal use... you should not create any nicknames for personal use.. and you should not use the FTP 
served space for personal use... 
<p>

<li>If there are any disputes at the site.. you should be the one people talk to first... and your goal should 
be settling the dispute in fair manner... 
<p>
Ideally... You should only contact me if you are having a technical problem with the site.. or a situation with a 
person has gotten to the point that you wish to discuss having someone banned or booted...
<p>
I will tell you in advance that booting people from a site is extremely rare and can only be done if they 
violate one of the SOI rules... so.. in situations where something is occuring other than a violation of an SOI 
rule... then a more likely 'penalty' would be blocking someone from a room.. or.. putting someone on permanent ignore.
<p>
<b>I cannot stress enough that everyone who has paid for the use of the site should have every opportunity to do so... </b>
<p>

<li>Last... the admin account comes with the ability to boot non-citizens from the site....
<p>
If a non-citizen is causing trouble.. you simply click on the * of their post.. and a blocking button 
will appear... 
<p>
If you push the button..and the person does not disappear..that means they either have a dynamic ip address... 
they have disconnected their ip session and dialed back in..to get a different IP.. or.. they are a citizen in disguise 
and cannot be booted... 
<p>
If it is one of the first two.. just keep booting them... if it is a citizen and cannot be booted.. you will 
have to contact me for assistance...
<p>
It only takes a second for you to push the button.. so.. if it is a non-citizen with a changing ip you will eventually
wear them down and they will go away... 
<p>
One other important note about this.. you should NEVER.. EVER say to a visitor.. "STOP OR I WILL BOOT YOU"... If 
someone deserves to be booted.. you just boot them.. period... 
<p>
Justice should be swift and silent... and handling the sitution without warning will confuse the person..and 
make the booting more effective.. rather than starting an argument which makes the booting less effective..by making 
the person more determined... 
<p>
Unlike citizens.. you can use your better judgement in determining whether or not it is appropriate to boot a 
non-citizen...
<p>
</ul>

Anyway.. that is it.. if you understand and agree to all this.. You are eligible to hold the office of Governor!
<p>
Thanks.. love..seph
<p>
<hr>
<p>
<i>Last Updated: 9/12/98