[SCA-AE] lawsuit and changes

[Phoebe Sharp]

It is actually every kingdom within the United States, not just the East and AEthelmearc. From the FAQ, which is available here:
http://www.sca.org/BOD/announcements/settlementFAQ.pdf
Cheers - Tiercelin
 Why is the SCA asking the Kingdoms for money? 
The SCA corporate office simply does not have this much in cash, assets or cashable dollars. While the corporate office of the SCA has managed the burden of our shared liability to date, it has been the entirety of Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. that has been liable for damages under this lawsuit. In order to the meet the terms of the settlement without financially crippling the SCA, its subsidiaries or any single branch, it has thus become absolutely necessary that each Kingdom located in whole or in part in North America, both Pennsic and Gulf Wars, and the subordinate Corporate level checking accounts contribute an equal percentage of their separate total cash assets to the settlement and associated legal fees. The other wars will contribute as part of the Kingdom through which they report. Why are all the Kingdoms liable?
The 2009 lawsuit was brought against the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and thus included all of the SCA. In order to meet the terms of the settlement without crippling the SCA or any single Kingdom, all Kingdoms will be required to contribute. 
Are branches outside North America expected to contribute? 
No, Kingdoms and affiliates outside of North America are not being required to contribute to the settlement (although voluntary donations would be gratefully accepted!). First, the affiliates were not named in the lawsuit. Second, these branches were incorporated under different tax IDs and non-U.S. jurisdictions, with their own Boards of Directors and responsibility for their own financial matters and insurance policies. With regard to Canadian Provinces, the SCA is incorporated as a foreign non-profit corporation so that Canadian branches are part of the overall Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.