Our Charter

Our Charter
(subject to change over time)
(This post will be edited soon to add more. In the process of proof reading and correcting. So, if things are missing; do not panic! We are on it!)


Our Mission Statement
The purpose of Twi’lek Society is to promote multi-generational fandom and appreciation of STAR WARS through acts of charity, and to encourage creative costuming as custom characters and canon characters representing the twi’lek race and other “lekku based” races of the Star Wars universe.

Creative writing is also encouraged, in the form of short fanfiction, which can be shared on our forums. Twi’lek Society is primarily a costuming organization devoted to celebrating the Star Wars saga. We are not a role-playing site.


Article I: Membership Requirements

A) Membership Details

Twi’lek Society is an equal opportunity organization and will not discriminate against existing or prospective members on the basis of; race, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, religion or philosophy. In order to gain full membership one must be a minimum age of eighteen (18) years of age and own an approved Twi’lek or lekku-affiliated costume from within the Star Wars canon or non-canon genre. See the costume standards, or Costume Reference Library, linked on our website, here:

(Link Pending)

Twi’lek Society is a costuming home for fans of the Twi’lek race. We welcome custom and canon Twi’lek, Torgutas, and other lekku based species. Other twi’lek and lekku based species that are custom and canon costumes accepted include force users and non-force users such as: Jedi, Sith, dancers, warriors (including freedom fighters),  Non-Mandalorian Bounty Hunters, civilians, and Pirates / Smugglers. These costumes must represent Twi’lek and lekku species-affiliated characters from any of the STAR WARS movies or from any era within the Expanded Universe (and legacy universe) including books, games, comics, and animated series.



Twi’lek society costume club, in addition to accepting custom and canon Sith, Dark Jedi, and Grey Jedi costumes for full membership, also accepts within its ranks custom and canon Twi’lek or lekku species-affiliated costumes of the following types, from the Old Republic Era, Movie Era, and post-Movie eras:

1. Non-Mandalorian Bounty Hunters
2. Pirates
3. Civilians
4. Sith Assassins
5. Warriors or freedom fighters (As shown Clone Wars TV show)

Other costumes associated with Twi’leks, both canon and custom

versions of the following classes / sub-classes of the SWTOR and related eras including the following:
Bounty Hunter: Powertech and Mercenary (non Mandalorian only), and Imperial Agent: Operative and Sniper.
Dancer
Companion
Sith
Jedi
Civilian/ NPC


Movie-era and Expanded Universe-era smugglers that are Twi’lek or Lekku based species also accepted costumes within Twi’lek society. However, costumes representing a canon or customization of a canon, of an non lekku species, are not authorized for membership in Twi’lek society.


All costumes of these types, canon or similarly-constructed custom versions thereof, must be shown to be affiliated with the Twi’lek or lekku based species.

Movie-era and Expanded Universe-era smugglers that are Twi’lek, or Lekku based species, also accepted costumes within Twi’lek society. However, costumes representing a canon or customization of a canon, of an non lekku species, are not authorized for membership in Twi’lek society.

All costumes of these types, canon or similarly-constructed custom versions thereof, must be shown to be affiliated with the Twi’lek or lekku based species.


When depicting A custom Character for Twi’lek Society, the character must reflect Star Wars universe costuming and will be expected to represent integrity in its construction that George Lucas himself would expect.

All newly-approved costumers of these types of characters will not receive an alternate designation number when approved, however, will receive the standard Twi’lek Society designation.

For example: One member sends out a character for approval after his/her first character approval. That person will still keep their membership number.

1. Official Membership requires a minimum age of 18.

2. Applicants must be legal adults. Official Membership, also referred to as "Full"

Membership, is defined as a costumer with a TS number with an approved costume. Forum Members, persons who have joined Twi’lek Society on the forums only, must be at least 13 years of age. Persons under the age of 18 attending events are required to have a parent or guardian present.

b. Forum Members are not Official Members, and therefore cannot represent Twi’lek Society (by wearing a costume) at any approved TS event (charitable events, events supporting and promoting Star Wars, conventions, etc.) However, those who are forum members only may assist TS  at such events by working as handlers or in other support capacities. TS  t-shirts (that do not indicate the words “Official Member”) and/or other items bearing the TS logo are strongly encouraged for wear by Forum Members at events, however, are not required.
(Shirts will come soon!)


c. All persons utilizing the TS forums are required to have, as a minimum on their forum profiles, their age and Clan region (or general location). This information shall serve to assist forum administrators in identifying users within the TS forums. Also, posting an introduction stating your location can assist further in this regard.


2. Forum Membership status may be granted to those who do not possess a costume yet wish to participate in an event or on any existing web forums if the following criteria are met:


a. Prospective member meets the minimum age requirements.

b. Adheres strictly to all codes of conduct set forth within this charter.





3. Membership Approval

a. Forum members are approved by the High Council (Sou’kora).

b. Official members of TS are recommended for approval by the TS Costume Judges. Final approval of membership is at the discretion of the Sou’kora. (See Article II, section B, The Costume Judging Process).


4. Official Member privileges

Official Members, in addition to being considered full members of TS, are also eligible to troop as full members, vote within TS elections, and purchase TS Official Member merchandise (See Article IX).

a. Forum members, while they cannot purchase Official Member merchandise, can still purchase other merchandise offered. Forum Members may also participate in trooping events as handlers, photographers, and table staffers, however Forum Members may not troop in costume while representing TS. Forum members cannot participate in TS elections.

b. Official Members may not troop in an unapproved costume while representing TS. A request may be asked to the Sou’kora to be able to troop in an unapproved costume while representing Twi’lek Society on a case by case basis, with the understanding that the member requesting this action enter with the unapproved costume into Tsu’kagrei..(Approval Trail)

c. Official Members agree, as part of their full membership status within the club, that their likeness in approved costume may be used for club promotional purposes, including but not limited to posts on social media and club literature. This rule also applies to persons no longer active within the club; images of former members in approved costume during their active membership may also be used for the purposes of promoting Twi’lek Society.


4. Official Member privileges

Official Members, in addition to being considered full members of TS, are also eligible to troop as full members, vote within TS elections, and purchase TS Official Member merchandise (See Article IX).

a. Forum members, while they cannot purchase Official Member merchandise, can still purchase other merchandise offered. Forum Members may also participate in trooping events as handlers, photographers, and table staffers, however Forum Members may not troop in costume while representing TS. Forum members cannot participate in TS elections.

b. Official Members may not troop in an unapproved costume while representing TS. A request may be asked to the Sou’kora to be able to troop in an unapproved costume while representing Twi’lek Society on a case by case basis, with the understanding that the member requesting this action enter with the unapproved costume into Tsu’kagrei.(Approval Trail)

c. Official Members agree, as part of their full membership status within the club, that their likeness in approved costume may be used for club promotional purposes, including but not limited to posts on social media and club literature. This rule also applies to persons no longer active within the club; images of former members in approved costume during their active membership may also be used for the purposes of promoting Twi’lek Society.


5. TS Pika (Loved One)

Full members of TS with children that wish to troop along with their parents at events may do so; Minors under the age of 18 may be considered Pika of TS; Pika are not full members, but may costume at conventions or events along with a parent/guardian who must be an Official Member of Twi’lek Society.

a. The Society accepts no responsibility for the well being of any Pika at events where the Society is represented.

b. The Official Member of TS that is the parent or Guardian of the minor in costume representing TS must be present at all times, and is responsible for the conduct of their TS Pika.

c. Costumes of TS Pika are not judged, however, builders of such costumes are encouraged to follow the same standards as would be adhered to when constructing a costume for Official Membership within Twi’lek Society.


B) Meetings and Event Planning

There are no regularly required meetings and no membership dues collected by Twi’lek Society. TS is strictly a non-profit organization devoted to charitable causes and assisting similar organizations at events upon request.

• Event planning is coordinated within our website forums. However, TS members residing in a local area may wish to organize a special meeting prior to an event for planning purposes.


TABLE DUTY AT CONVENTIONS AND SIMILAR EVENTS

As outlined in Article III, subsection 3, part A of this Charter, an event such as a convention, in which TS has a table or other similar display, cannot be left unmanned during the operational hours of the event. As such, Clans, or other persons planning a convention or other event in which TS shall have a table, shall create a table duty roster in the forums where the event planning is being conducted.

1. Table duty roster shall be in one-hour increments, and shall cover the entirety of the operational hours of the event.

2. Members committing to table duty must arrive on time to represent Twi’lek Society for their scheduled one-hour shift. Proper notification and communication with a Sou’kora, other leaders, or Official Member attending the event is required if a member cannot attend a scheduled table-duty shift, as planned on the TS forums, due to an unforeseen circumstance.

3. Table duty shifts, just like all memberships within Twi’lek Society, are on a voluntary basis. Representation of TS at a table during a convention by a member is indicative of a person's desire to serve TS as a club.


Article II: TS Costuming - Approval Process / Judging Protocol

A) APPLICATION PROCESS – Tsu’kagrei

(How to apply to Twi’lek Society for Full Membership.)

1. Potential Applicants are encouraged to post a Work in Progress (WIP) thread on the TS forums. Here, the general membership of TS can share their experiences and offer suggestions for costume development. Recruits can ask and get answers to their costuming questions.

a. While encouraged, posting a WIP thread is not required. However, be aware that the costume judges will be evaluating costumes based on written and posted costume standards. Recruits whose costumes do not meet the TS costume standards may be asked to upgrade or modify their costume before having their costume approved for TS membership. Posting a WIP thread is meant to help avoid costuming issues.

2. Once a potential applicant is ready to submit their costume for judging, thus becoming a TS recruit, they should upload pictures of their costume to an offsite photosharing site (such as PhotoBucket, Flickr, etc.). They will then send their costume photos to the Membership Officer or Sou’kora; either via PM on the TS forums, by facebook PM(Select admins via our FB groups), *or by email (see Sou’kora or Membership Officer section of the TS website to contact via email)(SOON TO COME!).*

a. Photos sent for judging should be of sufficient quality and resolution to allow the TS costume judges to clearly and easily evaluate the costume. Photos should be unaltered (no photoshopping of any kind, including rotoscoping of lightsabers). Finally, recruits are encouraged to take their photos against a plain and contrasting background (a single color wall, siding, brick wall, green screen, etc.)

b. Required photos for the costume application:

(the following full body poses should be without a robe, if robe is a part of costume)

i. front

ii. back

iii. right side

iv. left side

-For Right and Left side poses, the arms should be raised if there are any costume components of note that would otherwise be covered if the arms were at the side and at rest.

-Additional photos for costume application:

v. a pose with a robe (if applicable)

vi. a post WITHOUT a mask/helmet (or other costume component that would cover the face) (if applicable)

vii. any close up of a costume component where there is insufficient contrast to easily evaluate the costume component in question (examples would be: gloves, boots, lightsaber, etc.)

viii. an action post that would be preferred for the official membership picture

c. The costume application should also include information about the costume. Such information may include, but is not limited to:

i. materials used in construction (for soft (leather, pleather, fabrics, etc.) and hard parts (fiberglass, ABS/HiPS plastic, etc.))

ii. colors of various components

iii. commentary on any costume components that were hand crafted versus purchased in a store

iv. any modifications that were made to, otherwise, Earthly components (examples may include: motor cycle boots, toy weapons that were modified to appear real, masks and or other wear purchased from commercial sources, etc.)

3. The recruit will then wait to hear from one of the judges (with correspondence that may require clarification of components, additional pictures or upgrades/modifications to the costume) or from the Sou’kora granting full membership to TS.