Membership Manual Change: Age Requirements Revised

[Cassie Dainar]

As our community continues to grow and evolve we are committed to looking forward at the organizations future and make the necessary adjustments to ensure it thrives. Our recent Membership Survey confirmed the average age of membership is mid-thirties and at this time we don’t believe it is appropriate to have minors interacting socially without parental consent.

As of today our membership requirements regarding age, as published in our Membership Manual have changed. The new age required for membership at TarValon.Net, Inc will now be 18 years old, unless specific conditions are met, see below. The update. (Note: these are being posted simultaneously so there may be a short delay before this link updates)

To become a Citizen, you must fill out an application, in addition to meeting several criteria. These include:

• Read this section of the Membership Manual about our Community.
• Be at least 18 years of age, or, have the direct and written consent of a Parent or Guardian who is a member in good standing of TarValon.Net, Inc.
• Have an account with at least 25 posts on our boards.

Now those specific conditions: Potential members under the age of 18 must receive consent for membership from a parent or guardian who is also a member of TarValon.Net, allowing us to verify that consent. Potential members will be required to receive written consent, via email from their parent or guardian which will then be retained by or Director of Membership.

Please note: Existing members who are under the age of 18 will be grandfathered in and retain their membership as required by Article 7 Section 1 of our Bylaws.

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

I think this is a wise and sensible change. Thank you very much for keeping us informed. 🙏

 

[Delara Morellin]

This feels like a sensible change, thank you

 

[Viktara Fen]

Seems quite a reasonable change.

 

[Atane Valthon]

Very reasonable change, and past due, imo. So, thank you.

 

[Amylia Lerato]

Seems super reasonable, but I do have some questions. What does it actually mean to be "grandfathered", I couldnt find a definition in the bylaws. Also does this mean I can't be raised to novice until I turn 18? (To be clear I turn 18 in under 2 months so that's fine, just would love to know).

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

Seems super reasonable, but I do have some questions. What does it actually mean to be "grandfathered", I couldnt find a definition in the bylaws. Also does this mean I can't be raised to novice until I turn 18? (To be clear I turn 18 in under 2 months so that's fine, just would love to know).

I think grandfathered might be an American term if you aren't familiar with it by now. It basically means this new law doesn't apply to you, and yes you can become a Novice any time you please.

I was going to join the Tower once a long time ago, but found it too difficult to navigate it all. I really dislike reading large amounts of text on a screen, so every time I tried to join, I was like aaaa my eyes. If there was a YouTube video that showed a step by step guide on how to join the tower and do everything that needs to be done, I'd probably join... for now I am happy as a permanent Citizen, sipping on tea as I watch the Aes Sedai weave their webs.

 

[Amylia Lerato]

I think grandfathered might be an American term if you aren't familiar with it by now. It basically means this new law doesn't apply to you, and yes you can become a Novice any time you please.

I was going to join the Tower once a long time ago, but found it too difficult to navigate it all. I really dislike reading large amounts of text on a screen, so every time I tried to join, I was like aaaa my eyes. If there was a YouTube video that showed a step by step guide on how to join the tower and do everything that needs to be done, I'd probably join... for now I am happy as a permanent Citizen, sipping on tea as I watch the Aes Sedai weave their webs.

Thanks so much ❤️

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

Looks like a good change to me!!

 

[Arella Mathara]

I was going to join the Tower once a long time ago, but found it too difficult to navigate it all. I really dislike reading large amounts of text on a screen, so every time I tried to join, I was like aaaa my eyes. If there was a YouTube video that showed a step by step guide on how to join the tower and do everything that needs to be done, I'd probably join... for now I am happy as a permanent Citizen, sipping on tea as I watch the Aes Sedai weave their webs.

This is all you need to read to learn how to join the Tower

How do I join the Tower?
Joining the Tower makes you a Novice or a Recruit - and a Tower Initiate. The only difference between Novice and Recruit is the title, and you can even request a title change at any time.

If you wish to apply for entrance to the Tower, you must first meet the following requirements:

1. You have been a Citizen for 30 days.
2. You have found two Tower Sworn to sponsor you.
3. You are at least 18 years old.

If you meet those requirements, and you have decided that you are ready to become a Member of the Tower, please fill out the

Tower Application Form

What to include in your application
• Contributions here at TarValon.Net
• What you like about our community
• What you hope to gain from joining the Tower
• How you plan to contribute
• Past experience with volunteer work
• Whatever else you find relevant to include

Letting the Hall get to know you helps a lot when they're casting their votes

Hope that helps!

 

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

Agreed, this change seems quite sensible.

 

[Idine Espanyas]

Thank you for this change.

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

This is all you need to read to learn how to join the Tower


Hope that helps!

Yeah, but to become Accepted, Aes Sedai, its not that simple. I remember (a long time ago I admit) reading about it, and it required a lot of work and an entire re-read of the series to take a test, etc.

 

[Polegnyn Nemeara]

Besides the average age of our current community, could someone explain why this change was made? Seems like we’re excluding a significant demographic that even the show allows for. What teenager is going to ask their parent for permission and not simply find another community to participate with?

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

Besides the average age of our current community, could someone explain why this change was made? Seems like we’re excluding a significant demographic that even the show allows for. What teenager is going to ask their parent for permission and not simply find another community to participate with?

I am curious as well, my guess is legal reasons so they have no liability in what is discussed here. So even if someone were to say make an account, lie about their age, the site would still have no legal liability for what they say or do here. I honestly have no idea though.

 

[Tree]

Seems super reasonable, but I do have some questions. What does it actually mean to be "grandfathered", I couldnt find a definition in the bylaws. Also does this mean I can't be raised to novice until I turn 18? (To be clear I turn 18 in under 2 months so that's fine, just would love to know).

Thank you for asking! Ephrem pretty much covered the term "grandfathered", which is probably most helpful. I could take a stab at breaking down Article VII section 1; it defines community and by "receiving acceptance" (membership), you're in. For a more nuanced legal understanding, I am not your girl.

Also, a very happy birthday in advance!
As a leo, I won't remember between now and then as it is not my birthday. #leolife

Besides the average age of our current community, could someone explain why this change was made? Seems like we’re excluding a significant demographic that even the show allows for. What teenager is going to ask their parent for permission and not simply find another community to participate with?

Another great question and thank you for asking! This change was went through a community-wide in depth discussion a few years back, well in advance of the show actually premiering when we were all fan-girling over the confirmation it was real! Topics that came up ranged from our actual membership demographics to safe-spaces, and included long discussions on the evolution of the community and how it is geared not solely toward a fandom. When we were originally founded it was very much a matter of "I want to be an Aes Sedai, then you shall be one!" Since the 2001 inception of TarValon.net, we've grown into a lot more than just a fan organization with some light RP- we used to seriously care is someone in this thread for instance would have called me Tree rather than Tree Sedai- like really care. At the time the hope that we would be seeing an influx of new members, including a conversation regarding different age groups was also discussed and ultimately no changes we made at that time because we didn't have a clear picture of what the future would hold. The discussion was shelved. Fast forward to today, we don't want to leave everything on the shelf sitting to gather dust so, after assessing the concerns raised at that time with the actual demographic shifts in the community and specifically new membership it was decided to take the next step and make this update to the age requirements. This will allow us greater ease when offering services to our existing and active membership with what the numbers confirm will be minimal impact to potential new membership. This is not an action aimed to bar access to anyone but instead to put standards in place that better align with the community, its members, and its objectives as they stand in 2023.


I hope that helps break down the why a bit better and again, thank you for asking, it is an important question.

 

[Polegnyn Nemeara]

This is not an action aimed to bar access to anyone but instead to put standards in place that better align with the community, its members, and its objectives as they stand in 2023.

… by barring access


Want more adult-oriented activities? Great. Have them while possible. But you can still do that while allowing younger folx to join. Just wait until JCon roles around and you tell a brand new teenage fan of the show that they have to be 18 to join TarValon.Net. You’ll never see them again. Then suddenly our average age is going to be 40 then 50 and so on. Use the survey to see where support is needed; not hog-tie the community.

Eta: Does anyone here really think all the SoA focus months are for the current adult community? No. We have enough life experience to realize this world isn't all sunshine and daisies. They are for that young individual trying to find an identity and a place that feels like home, that home is what one makes it, understands and accepts them for who they are while they navigate all the crap life is only beginning to throw at them. This change is barring them of that opportunity.

 

[Cassie Dainar]

There is also the legal aspect of things. If Novice Julie is 16 and hanging out a lot with Joe Gaidin (42) there could be accusations of impropriety by her parents that we would have to deal with. If Novice Julie is Bill Sedai’s daughter we can have legal consent documented that he is taking responsibility for monitoring her activities to the degree needed. History has shown that there are exceedingly few new members under 18 anyway. This limits our liability with little impact on actual people.

We have lots of aspects that are friendly for all ages, but this group as a whole is focused on interpersonal relationships, and with out older demographic it is not legally sound to have the mix of adult and minor.

 

[Polegnyn Nemeara]

Totally understand that, too. Fix the pervy behavior and remind Joe Gaidin he better keep the conversation public and rated-PG at best. We already have guidelines and consequences in place to handle icky or illegal behavior.

 

[Alyria Ess]

Furthermore, the type of moderation that used to be present in this forum is no more. We're all pretty much flying free, bound by honour and the bylaws.

Going to put my Liability Sedai hat on, but there is no real way for us to manage our spaces to ensure they are entirely safe for minors, and as such we cannot enter into that risk. No amount of disclaimers and moderation can assure 100% safety, so we're not doing it.