Governance

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the policy-making body within the Preternatural Society. It consists of the External Advisers and the Board of Directors, and overseas the vision, mission, scope, and future of the Society. It is less involved with the inner mechanics and running of the Society, and more concerned with the positioning of the Society in a wider socio-political and economic system. It’s members are from all walks of life, of the finest integrity, and insure that the path for the Preternatural Society is true and steady. Often interacting in collaboration and in chorus with other organizations, yet unafraid to stake its position in the best interest of its members, the Preternatural Society is a node in the socio-political fabric of Elyria, and the Steering Committee insures that the Society thrives in such a tumultuous environment.

External Advisers

External Advisers are highly respected individuals who are not active members of the Society that attend Board meetings as observers with 0.5 voting power. They are invited guests and are conferred the honorary title of Inspector during their role with the steering committee.

Board of Directors

Comprises of all Administrative level positions throughout the Society. Board members have equal voting power of 1.0 votes per seat, and any member of the board may table proposals for projects, expeditions and/or experiments.

Administration

Administrative rank titles delineate an Active Member’s commitment to the practice and operationalization of the ideals of the Society. Each member of the administrative body is a research-active member of the Society, and a trusted member of the community at large. Members who hold administrative ranks are committed and responsible towards the charge of their title. Administrative positions afford the honorary rank of Detective or higher, depending on research track record.

Director

A member of the Board of Directors, the inaugural director of the Society is none-other than Professor Neva de Silva. As the founder of the Society, she is steadfast in assuring that the Preternatural Society is the preeminent organization for professional researchers, experimental crafts people, explorers, archaeologists, tomb raiders, religious and occult scholars, and whomever else interested in the organized, systematic, and transparent pursuit of knowledge, with the greater goal being the betterment of society and the advancement of culture for all people. Also a Principal Investigator in the Society, Neva de Silva is still a very active field researcher and one would rarely find her on the Society premises, often off and away on seemingly mythical research expeditions.

Deputy Director

Charged by the Board of Directors to ensure the day-to-day running of the Society, the Deputy Director represents the Society at the highest echelons in the Kingdom, and is the primary administrator when dealing with both internal and external forces that concern the Society. The Deputy Director sits on the Board of Directors and is always of Principle Investigator ranking.

Associate Director, Finance

The Associate Director, Finance is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all financial aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from arranging the contracts and payments of freelance service providers, to dictating the pension return interest rate for active and contributing members, to administering and allocating research funding, as well as the investment of Society income external of the organization. The Associate Director, Finance reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director, Recruitment, Membership & Alumni

The Associate Director, Recruitment, Membership & Alumni is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all personnel aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from indoctrinating new members, to tracking members on extended field surveys, to maintaining the messaging board services and more. The office also administers disciplinary actions for errant members. The Associate Director, Recruitment, Membership & Alumni reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director, Operations & Field Support

The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all facility aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from managing the laboratory and research spaces, to maintaining adequate security of Society property and members, both on the premises and in the field. The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support also handles other active operations of the society that require a martial touch. The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director, Research

The Associate Director, Research is always a senior Principal Investigator and is an active researcher also charged to represent the best interests of the research community within the Society. The Associate Director, Research also coordinates the Society’s intelligence and clandestine operations. The Associate Director, Research reports directly to the Deputy Director and also sits on the Board of Directors. The Associate Director, Research position is the only position voted for democratically by all active Society members, but must me if Principal Investigator rank.

Academic Rank

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigators are experts in multiple disciplines. They conceptualize, plot, forecast and manage all research conducted by the Society towards a focused vision and tangible outcome. They are in charge of the overarching research areas such as alchemy, demonology, etc. They are considered paragons above and beyond their respective fields, and are also highly respected members of Elyrian society. Principal investigators are afforded complete autonomy to set research agendas, are assigned a retinue of Detectives to help with the conducting of their research, are given a monthly research stipend, and can apply for residency within one of the Society’s complexes in order to conduct continuous research.

Detective

Members of the Detective rank are generally known to have been Society members for an extended period of time, are respected experts in their discipline, and would have published at least three pieces of original research as a primary author, or would have designed or led at least three major expeditions or experiments. Detectives are afforded the opportunity to recruit Inspectors to work on aspects of their research project. Detectives are expected to uphold the highest ideals of the Society, and are charged with managing the hands-on research agendas set by the Principal Investigators they work for. Detectives have full access to all the facilities afforded by the Society, and may propose original research within the scope of the Society research agenda. Successful applications by qualified Detectives will be granted a one-time research stipend, dependent on the expected cost and scope of the endeavor. A succession of successful grant applications towards a focused yet multidisciplinary thesis will allow Detectives to apply for Principal Investigator rank.

Inspectors

Neophyte members start with the rank of Inspector, and generally show promise in a research discipline, be it theoretical, experimental or field-based. In order to be considered for Inspectorship, a certified degree or equivalent is required, otherwise proof of equivalent professional experience in lieu of an academic degree will be considered. Inspectors conduct research under the supervision of an Detective. Inspectors are free to choose whichever Detective they would like to work with, so long as the selected Detective reciprocates. It is best that an Inspector chooses their supervising Detective wisely, as the Inspector is obligated to complete at least one major research task for the Detective before release. Once an Inspector has completed a significant portfolio of research projects for Detectives in the Society, they may consider applying for Detective rank promotion. New authors who publish in the Rusted Quarterly are afforded the Inspector title automatically. Inspectors are afforded access to Society common areas at all times, free entry to all Society events and conferences, as well as free use of laboratories and research facilities through a research proposal application, approved by a Detective..

Nominals

Active members are afforded the use of pre and post-nominal letters, in designation to their rank and service. Members are encouraged to use the following forms. When listing multiple nominals, list order should follow rank of distinction from highest to lowest. Use of nominals are optional and are to be used at the member's discretion.

For example, Neva de Silva’s full title within the Society would be:

• Dr. Neva de Silva, P.I., E.i.C., P.R.Q.

Here, de Silva’s nominals denote that she is the Director of the Society (Dr.) and an Active Member of Principal Investigator (P.I.) rank, is the Editor-in-Chief (E.i.C.) at the Rusted Quarterly, and has reviewed a minimum of 3 manuscript submissions for the journal to achieve Peer of the Rusted Quarterly (P.R.Q.) status.

The following pre- and post-nominal designations afforded to Active Members include:

Pre-nominals

• Director : Dr.

• Deputy Director : d.Dr.

• Associate Director : a.Dr.

Post-nominals

• Principal Investigator : P.I.

• Detective : Dtec.

• Inspector : Ispec.

• Editor-in-Chief : E.i.C.

• Editor : Ed.

• Peer of the Rusted Quarterly : P.R.Q.