from Amtgard.com:
Step 1: Pick a Name
Before you can get started with contracts, you need a name, of course. Once you have a couple of ideas in mind, you should stop by the Amtgard Atlas or do a search on the Amtwiki to make sure the name you want hasn’t already been used. Multiple chapters with the same name is confusing!
Changing your Chapter’s Name
Since all chapters have a contractual relationship with Amtgard, Inc., name changes need to go through the Burning Lands Board of Directors. You can get more information at the Board of Directors page. Step 2: Sign a Contract
Starting a group that uses the name Amtgard requires a contractual relationship with Amtgard: Kingdom of the Burning Lands, Inc. This is the legal entity that represents Amtgard as a whole, and also happens to be the original Amtgard Kingdom based in El Paso, Texas. As mentioned above, if your group ever changes name you’ll need to have your contract altered. Here is a copy of the current contract for you to use: Chapter Contract Step 3: Create Your Chapter Heraldry
Now that you have a name and a contract, you should develop a heraldic device unique to your chapter. Most chapters have a heraldry somehow related to their geography, their name, or an important event in their formation. Some have heraldry that just plain looked cool. Be as creative as you like! All that matters is that the heraldry is unique.
If you’d like more information in Heraldry, take a look at the Amtwiki article on Heraldry. The Amtwiki also has a a page showing heraldry for all parks. Step 4: Talk to Your Kingdom
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to start talking to the Kingdom your Chapter will be a member of. Kingdom’s hold sway over geographic regions, so there’s likely already a Kingdom for you to join over your area. The Burning Lands will help you get the contact info of the right people when dealing with contracts. If you’re really far-flung, you may be eligible for sponsorship by a number of Kingdoms or the Burning Lands itself, or you may remain a Freehold. Again, the Burning Lands will help you through these issues when you start your chapter. Here is a list of the current Kingdoms of Amtgard.
What is this “Shire” business?
Amtgard Chapters (also called Parks, lands, or groups) are given a designation based on the number of active players. The exact requirements varies somewhat from Kingdom to Kingdom, but here’s a brief guide to the active player ranges:
Shire; 0-5 players required Barony; 15-20 players required County; 21-30 players required (only used in the Golden Plains) Duchy; 30-40 players required >Principality/Grand Duchy; 60-75 players required (requires subgroups in some Kingdoms) Kingdom; 75+ players required, as well as several other factors
Regardless of size, a group can’t advance beyond Shire status without a sponsoring Kingdom.
_________________ "Passion overrules Reason" wizard's rule #3 of the Terry Goodkind series "Sword of truth"
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