Beer Meister Inauguration Ceremony

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(Group assembles, with all BellAholics holding their drinks.)

outgoing Beer Meister: Do you, (name of incoming BM), swear to uphold the grand traditions of BellAholic imbibement, candidate bribery for membership, and annoy all members with email so that new beverage activities are schedule

incoming BM: Why the hell not.

outgoing BM: Do you, (name of incoming BM), swear to drink with your fellow BellAholics so as to uphold an example for others that life in the gutter is preferable to other forms of existence, especially if the gutter runs down an ice block or contains Ajax surrounded by spilled beer?

incoming BM: You forgot gutters of Jager!

outgoing BM: Do you, (name of incoming BM), promise to worship the Beverage Gods and live by our holy scriptures, as stated in the BellAholic Bible?

incoming BM: Wasting Beer is NOT an option!

outgoing BM: Can you remember any other commandments?

outgoing BM: I was lucky I remembered that one. I need another beer! (Group yells and cheers as the incoming Beer Meister finishes his/her beer and is quickly given another one. After the new beer is given, everyone gets quiet again so that the ceremony can continue.)

outgoing BM: I see you have a new beer -- So, by the power flaunted by me, the outgoing Beer Meister, I propose a toast! (Group raises their beverages high in the air.)

outgoing BM: To the new Beer Meister of the BellAholics! May the Beverage Gods approve of our new Beer Meister (name of incoming BM), and rain beverages upon us, or at least pour them in our general direction! Abbondanza!

incoming BM: Abbondanza!

group in unison: Abbondanza!!!!

Articles of Responsibilities, Nomination, Election, Impeachment, and Resignation

As with many groups of a fair size, some amount of coordination is needed for the BellAholics. This is where the Beer Meister comes in. When a new chapter is started, the first person starting the chapter is Beer Meister by default. As the group grows, and reaches 20 members or more, it's time that the Beer Meister be elected to serve a one-year term. The Beer Meister is the main point-of-contact for the group to communicate and coordinate functions.

Article I. Responsibilities of the Beer Meister

Responsibilities (any of these may be delegated to willing and able members):

1. Asking for beverage activity calendar suggestions from the group -- promote communication and interaction in the group -- getting the when/where information needed so that the BellAholics can meet each other.
2. Conduct, record, and distribute the progress and results of all votes taken.
3. Appoints a BITCH (BellAholic Imbibement Translator and Constitutional Harbinger).

Article II. Nomination of the Beer Meister

The beverage activity calendar will announce on November 1 that it is time to pick a new Beer Meister and that nominations are being accepted.

1. Only members from the chapter involved are allowed to nominate.
2. The present Beer Meister is NOT allowed to be a nominee.
3. The nominee(s) must be members of the BellAholic chapter that the nominee(s) are part of.
4. Nominee(s) are sent to the mailing list of that chapter.
5. Nominee(s) are seconded on the mailing list of that chapter.

Article III. Election of the Beer Meister

On November 7th nominations close and voting begins.

1. Only members of the chapter involved can vote.
2. You may change your vote at any time until the vote ends.
3. You may bribe members to vote for or against any nominee.
4. The vote will end at midnight EST on November 30.
5. The nominee receiving the most votes is the new Beer Meister, and the outgoing Beer Meister shall announce the winner to the group in the first week of December.
6. At the BellAholic Pearl Harbor Day celebration, December 7, the new Beer Meister is sworn in by the outgoing Beer Meister.

In rare instances, there may be difficulties with the Beer Meister in performing his or her duties. Therefore, a system for replacing a Beer Meister has also been put into place.

Article IV. Impeachment of the Beer Meister

If the Organizer fails in his or her duties, impeachment may occur.

1. Three BellAholics agree to commit mutiny, rally together over several beers, and send an email announcing their mutiny that the Beer Meister must be impeached.
2. The three will organize a vote to impeach the Beer Meister. Members will have 2 weeks to vote.
3. If two-thirds of all votes received agree to the impeachment, the Beer Meister is overthrown.
4. The previous Beer Meister then conducts a new vote to select a replacement. (See Articles II and III.)
5. The ousted Beer Meister shall not whine and generally act like a child. Instead, they shall drink many beers and think of how they could have gotten someone else to do the work for them.

Article V. Resignation of the Beer Meister

If the Organizer can no longer perform his or her duties, they may choose to resign..

1. The current Beer Meister shall conduct a vote to select a replacement (See Articles II and III).
2. If the current Beer Meister is so lame that they fail to conduct a new vote prior to resigning, the previous Beer Meister shall conduct the vote and temporarily take over the duties until a new Beer Meister is elected.