Proposal for the creation of a Chancellery of Honours

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

I would like to propose the creation of a Chancellery of Honours for the purpose of developing a formal Talossan Honours System for the betterment of the nation and her culture. Furthermore, the encouragement of activity from new and existing Orders of Knighthood for the betterment of Talossa. If created, The Chancellery would be charged with the investigation of proposed Honours to determine appropriateness and necessity of said Honours creation while also ensuring how & where proposed Honours would fit within the Talossan Honours System. If the Honour meets the expectations of a formal Talossan Honour, the notion would be brought before the Honours Policy Committee—a group consisting of a designee from the Armed Forces Command, the Royal College of Arms, and a representative of one of the Provinces (on a rotational basis) and then, if approved, is moved before the Cabinet for an Act for the Creation of Honour to be drawn up. On the Seneschal’s advice, the documents and drawings for the new honour are presented to the King for his consideration where, only with his signature on the relevant letters patent and the design sketches does the new honour officially become extant.

Thoughts?

[Ián Tamorán S.H.]

This is a thoughtful suggestion, but - alas - flawed (IMHO).

It presupposes firstly that Talossan Honours should exist, and secondly that such Honours would be of real benefit to the expansion and daily functioning of Talossa. I, for example, am delighted that I have S.H. - but in the presence or absence of that honour I, personally, would behave in the same way. That is, S.H. or not, I would be intellectually stubborn, stupidly erudite, always (I trust) polite, disgracefully ignorant of our splendid language, and born in 1945. Not all of these can be changed.

..."For Brutus is an honourable man..." .... and look what happened to him!

Honour cannot be imposed from outside: it is only an individual's interior, personal honour that matters.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

I’ve just been amazed at the push back for all things Monarchy-related. I mean, we are... I thought... a Monarchy. We have a King... a hand full of things that have barely even been used. Yet, no Honours (that are actually given) anymore, no Admiralty, and everyone seems scared or turned over to anything any other Monarchy might have. Why? Why be a Monarchy if we are afraid to use the trappings thereof?

[Ian Plätschisch]

I see where you are coming from, and I do advocate for some kind of system of honors myself, but this program does seem too convoluted and bureaucratic for it’s own good.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

I’ve tried less convoluted and people had problems to. It gets to the point you don’t waste your time contributing your ideas

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Dec 25, 2018 10:50:31 GMT -6 Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu said:

I’ve tried less convoluted and people had problems to. It gets to the point you don’t waste your time contributing your ideas

In that case, you just go ahead and do what you want and if anyone has any problems with it, os povënt peschar upp 'n corda.

[Lüc da Schir]

I don't really count myself among those that are concerned that Talossa might somehow be "less cool" because less awards are being awarded in recent times (...although that's certainly a story for another day); what I could see myself supporting, though, is some kind of mechanism to suggest/recommend to the King the awarding of titles of nobility or chivalry, from time to time, in a similar way to the United Kingdom.

About some kind of civil honours that Ian mentioned, I'm honestly pretty agnostic on that. We can already award the Senatorial Medal of Honour if we feel that someone deserves some kind of public recognition that hasn't been offered elsewhere; that has been done fairly recently, and who knows, it might happen again soon.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

For Example:
The Most Regal Order of Talossa

Awarded for Donations of financial in nature, benefiting Talossa directly. The benefactor will be inducted into the Most Regal Order of Talossa as per the following criteria: Knight Companion (KCT) and above entitle the awardee to the prefix 'Sir' or 'Dame.’ Donations may be cumulative over time and the level can increase over time. The six awardable classes with post nominal letters are Knight Grand Cross (GCT), Knight Commander (KDT), Knight Companion (KCT), Knight (KT), Companion (CT), Officer (OT), Member (MT), and Medal (OTM). For each subsequent award, the Citizen moves up one class. The highest class, Knight Grand Commander (GDT) is reserved for the Monarch and therefore not awarded. This order is not hereditary. For each subsequent award, the member moves up one class.

This order is not hereditary, meaning that the induction of any Citizen into this order is valid only for the lifetime of that Citizen.

How to Obtain
For donations to The Kingdom of Talossa, the benefactor will be inducted into the Most Regal Order of Talossa.

The levels of induction for the Order are as follows ($USD):
Medal, Most Regal Order of Talossa (OTM) - Donations up to, and including $50.
Member, Most Regal Order of Talossa (MT)-. Donations ranging from $51 up to, and including $100.
Officer, Most Regal Order of Talossa (OT) – Donations ranging from $101 up to, and including $150
Companion, Most Regal Order of Talossa (CT)- Donations ranging from $151 up to, and including $200
Knight, Most Regal Order of Talossa (KT) – Donations ranging from $200 up to, and including $250
Knight Companion, Most Regal Order of Talossa (KCT) – Donations ranging from $251 up to, and including $300
Knight Commander, Most Regal Order of Talossa (KDT) – Donations ranging from $301 up to, and including $400
Knight Grand Cross, Most Regal order of Talossa (GCT) - Multiple (at least three) Donations at the Knight Commander Level

Donations may be cumulative over time and promotion within the Order will be given as a member reached the next tier. However, only six promotions per Citizen are allowed.

[Iason Bitxichë Taiwos]

I dunno. Isn't this like Sealand, who'll sell you certificates of nobility? ("Be a Lord or Lady of Sealand for $30! We'll send you this certificate of authenticity! Makes a great gift!) My sister once bought me a Star Registry thing for Christmas, so apparently there is a star somewhere called "Jason Tyus". (She also adopted a manatee for me one year.) I'm all for raising funds for the kingdom,but I'm content to wear a homemade cardboard placard reading "Talossa's lowliest pauper". I dunno, I'm a cheap bastard,but when the Greatest Thing Money Can't Buy starts charging me money, I'll slink back to my free Ohio Benitian subculture

[Iason Bitxichë Taiwos]

Fifty dollars for OTM?

[Vitxalmour Conductour]

I know it is not how you intended it, but this is a fantastic way to shame the poor through the flaunting of wealth. Any so-called "honour" that can be purchased is entirely unhonourable. I stand in ambivilance with the others on the general idea, but spit with hatred upon this detail.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Actually, this a model based off (almost straight across) from the Royal Manticorian Navy’s fundraising Order that isn’t designed to be a “purchased Honour” but to recognize those contributing to the betterment of the organization. Trust me when I say, not a ton of people do it and it’s done because they believe in what’s being done. Even the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels requires annual contributions to remain active. That might be the way to aid in raising funds for the Kingdom but again, when I see how hostile people can be at ideas for improvement and adding flavor & cultural elements that make actual successful organizations and governments, it does give me pause. That no matter what is said contrary, when changes to status quo are suggested, they can be so aggressively attacked and struck down that it makes those that might want to contribute stay quiet... thus dampening cultural development and holding the nation back.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Dec 26, 2018 21:49:20 GMT -6 Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu said:

For Example:
The Most Regal Order of Talossa

Awarded for Donations of financial in nature, benefiting Talossa directly.

Creating decorations purely as a fundraising initiative would be an interesting idea. Other countries do that with their passports, but Talossan nationality should not be cheapened in such a way...

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Dec 27, 2018 14:02:43 GMT -6 Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN said:

Dec 26, 2018 21:49:20 GMT -6 Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu said:

For Example:
The Most Regal Order of Talossa

Awarded for Donations of financial in nature, benefiting Talossa directly.

Creating decorations purely as a fundraising initiative would be an interesting idea. Other countries do that with their passports, but Talossan nationality should not be cheapened in such a way...

If done for that purpose, I would think the best way to go would be for annual contributions... like the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels... to not only not cheapen it but aid in the continued financial stability of the nation.

[Ian Plätschisch]

I caution against the use of “Sir” or “Dame” for any but the very highest orders.