Charter of the AmericanInklings

Revision: Rev 001 Effective Date: February 5, 2026 Status: Living Document

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Preamble

We, the members of AmericanInklings, come together to form a fellowship dedicated to the cultivation and celebration of creativity and intellectual discourse. Inspired by the original Inklings of Oxford, our group seeks to encourage and support the development of literature, music, visual arts, and performing arts. Through mutual critique, discussion, and collaboration, we aim to foster artistic excellence and innovation, revealing truth and beauty from a perspective deeply rooted in Christian faith.

"We meet on Friday evenings in my rooms..." ~ C.S. Lewis, describing the original Inklings gatherings

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Article I: Name

The name of this group shall be AmericanInklings.

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Article II: Purpose

The purpose of AmericanInklings is to:

1. Encourage Creative Endeavors: Provide a supportive environment where members can share and critique works in progress in literature, music, visual arts, and performing arts.

2. Foster Intellectual Discussion: Engage in meaningful discussions on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to art, philosophy, theology, and cultural trends.

3. Build Camaraderie: Cultivate a sense of fellowship and mutual respect among members, encouraging lasting personal and professional relationships.

4. Promote Artistic Excellence: Uphold high standards of quality in all artistic endeavors and support the continuous improvement of members' skills and knowledge.

5. Reveal Truth and Beauty: Use our creative works to reveal truth and beauty, inspired by Christian teachings and values, reflecting the principles and aspirations of the original Inklings.

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Article III: Membership

Section 1: The Pub Model

AmericanInklings operates as "The Pub," a fellowship structure inspired by the original Inklings' gatherings at the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford. The Pub contains:

• Tables: Intimate creative circles of 2 to 5 members
• Rooms: Alliances of Tables that choose to share together
• Untabled Members: Approved members not yet seated at any Table

Section 2: Eligibility

Membership in The Pub is open to individuals who are passionate about literature, music, visual arts, or performing arts and are committed to the goals of AmericanInklings.

Section 3: Application and Acceptance

There are two paths to membership:

Path A: Table Invitation (Primary)

1. An existing member invites an individual to join their Table
2. The invitee submits an application including a sample of their work and a brief statement of their artistic and intellectual interests
3. An Administrator approves the application
4. The new member joins The Pub and the inviting Table simultaneously

Path B: Direct Application (Secondary)

1. An individual submits an application including a sample of their work and a brief statement of their artistic and intellectual interests
2. An Administrator approves the application
3. The new member joins The Pub as an Untabled Member
4. The new member may then: receive Table invitations, request to join existing Tables, or create a new Table

Section 4: Participation

Members are expected to actively participate in their Table's activities, discussions, and collaborative projects. Untabled members are encouraged to find or form a Table to experience the full benefits of fellowship.

Section 5: Member States

• Tabled: A member seated at one or more active Tables, with full participation in Table and Room activities
• Untabled: An approved member not seated at any Table, visible to all Table members for potential invitation

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Article IV: Meetings

Section 1: Multi-Level Gatherings

Meetings occur at multiple levels within The Pub:

Table Meetings: Intimate critique and discussion sessions among Table members. Frequency is determined by each Table.

Room Gatherings: Cross-Table events for Tables within a shared Room. Organized as desired by participating Tables.

Pub Events: Fellowship-wide gatherings for all members. May include workshops, readings, exhibitions, and celebrations. Scheduled weekly or as determined by Administrators.

Section 2: Location

Meetings may be held in person at a designated venue or virtually, as determined by the organizing body (Table, Room, or Administrators).

Section 3: Format

Meetings will include time for members to present their work, followed by constructive critique and discussion. Additional time will be allocated for broader intellectual discourse and social interaction.

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Article V: Structure and Leadership

Section 1: Administrators

Role: Administrators oversee the overall health and operation of The Pub.

Powers:

• Approve or deny membership applications
• Grant Administrator status to any member
• Revoke Administrator status from other Administrators (except the Founder)
• Intervene in conduct violations or disputes
• Dissolve Tables or Rooms in extreme circumstances
• Create Pub-level events

Selection: An existing Administrator may designate any member as an Administrator.

Founder Protection: The Founder's Administrator status cannot be revoked by other Administrators.

Section 2: Table Hosts

Role: Each Table has one Table Host who shepherds their Table.

Powers:

• Name and rename the Table (names must be unique across The Pub)
• Invite any Pub member (tabled or untabled) to join the Table
• Approve or deny requests to join the Table
• Remove members from the Table
• Create a new Room (becoming its Room Host)
• Request Room membership on behalf of the Table
• Withdraw the Table from a Room
• Step down, triggering nomination among Table members

Selection: A member becomes Table Host by creating a Table, or by nomination from a Table member followed by approval from all Table members.

Vacancy: If a Table Host departs without a successor, nomination is triggered automatically. If no Host is installed within 40 days, the Table dissolves.

Section 3: Room Hosts

Role: Each Room has one Room Host who coordinates among its Tables.

Powers:

• Name and rename the Room (names must be unique across The Pub)
• Coordinate Table admission votes (Room Host plus all Table Hosts vote)
• Initiate Table removal votes (requires majority of Table Hosts)
• Step down, triggering nomination among Table Hosts

Selection: A member becomes Room Host by creating a Room, or by nomination from a Table Host in the Room followed by approval from all Table Hosts.

Vacancy: If the Room Host's Table departs, nomination is triggered among remaining Table Hosts.

Section 4: Facilitator

A Facilitator may be elected annually to assist Administrators with organizing Pub-level meetings, maintaining communication among members, and ensuring smooth operation of fellowship-wide activities.

Section 5: Committees

Special committees may be formed as needed to manage specific projects, events, or initiatives.

Section 6: Decision Making

Decision	Who Votes	Threshold
Install new Table Host	All Table members	Unanimous
Table request to join Room	Room Host + all Table Hosts in Room	Unanimous
Remove Table from Room	All Table Hosts in Room	Majority
Install new Room Host	All Table Hosts in Room	Unanimous
Charter amendments	All Pub members	Two-thirds majority

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Article VI: Activities

1. Workshops and Seminars: AmericanInklings will organize workshops and seminars led by members or guest experts to enhance skills and knowledge in various art forms.

2. Collaborative Projects: Members are encouraged to collaborate on multidisciplinary projects that combine literature, music, visual arts, and performing arts.

3. Public Exhibitions and Performances: The group will host public events, such as readings, art exhibitions, concerts, and film screenings, to showcase members' work and engage with the broader community.

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Article VII: Christian Faith Perspective

1. Foundation: Our creative works and discussions are grounded in Christian principles, aiming to reflect the truth and beauty of God's creation, His written Word, and the revelation of His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ, His Son.

2. Inspiration: We draw our inspiration from God, the Creator of all things and the giver of the creative process within us, and seek to use our creative gifts and talents in a manner that honors Him. We strive to impact the world for God's glory and the betterment of humanity, following the example of the original Inklings.

3. Expression: Members are encouraged to explore and express their faith through their art, creating works that reveal the deeper truths of the human experience through the lens of Biblical teachings and an active relationship with God, facilitated by faith in Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Article VIII: Amendments

This charter may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing at least two weeks prior to the vote.

All amendments shall be recorded in the Revision History at the end of this document.

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Article IX: Confidentiality

1. Confidentiality Agreement: All members agree that any works in progress, ideas, or discussions shared within the group are confidential and shall not be disclosed outside the group without explicit permission from the original author.

2. Plagiarism Prohibition: Members agree not to use or plagiarize any material shared by other members without proper attribution and permission.

3. Visibility Levels: Confidentiality extends to all visibility levels. Works shared at Table level remain within that Table. Works shared at Room level remain within that Room. Members must respect the author's chosen visibility.

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Article X: Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of AmericanInklings, any remaining funds or assets shall be donated to a nonprofit organization that supports the arts, as determined by a majority vote of the members.

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Article XI: Tables

Section 1: Definition and Purpose

A Table is an intimate creative circle of 2 to 5 members. Tables are the primary unit of fellowship, where members share works in progress, offer critique, and build lasting creative relationships.

Section 2: Formation

Any Pub member may create a Table. Upon creation:

• The creator becomes Table Host
• The Table enters "Forming" state with a 40-day period to reach 2 members
• The Table Host names the Table (must be unique across The Pub)

Section 3: Size Limits

• Minimum: 2 members (active)
• Maximum: 5 members (full)

When a Table reaches capacity and additional members wish to collaborate, the solution is to create a second Table and join the same Room.

Section 4: Table States

State	Members	Description
Forming	1	40-day period to reach 2 members
Active	2 to 4	Normal operation
Full	5	Cannot add members
Dissolving	1	40-day period to recruit (triggered when dropping from 2 to 1)
Dissolved	0	Table no longer exists

Section 5: The 40-Day Rule

When a Table has only one member (Forming or Dissolving state):

• A 40-day period begins
• The clock does not reset for activity; only adding a second member resets it
• Warnings are sent at 14 days and 3 days remaining
• If no second member joins within 40 days, the Table dissolves
• The remaining member becomes Untabled

Section 6: Multiple Table Membership

A member may belong to multiple Tables simultaneously. When viewing content from multiple Tables in the same Room, the member sees each piece of content only once.

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Article XII: Rooms

Section 1: Definition and Purpose

A Room is an alliance of Tables that have agreed to share together. Rooms expand the circle of fellowship beyond a single Table while maintaining manageable intimacy.

The name honors the "Rabbit Room" at the Eagle and Child pub where the original Inklings gathered.

Section 2: Formation

Any Table Host may create a Room. Upon creation:

• The creating Table Host becomes Room Host
• If the founding Table is active (2+ members), the Room is immediately active
• If the founding Table is forming (1 member), the Room enters "Forming" state with a 40-day period
• The Room Host names the Room (must be unique across The Pub)

Section 3: Joining a Room

1. A Table Host requests to join an existing Room on behalf of their Table
2. The Room Host and all existing Table Hosts in the Room vote
3. Unanimous approval is required
4. Both forming and active Tables may join Rooms

Section 4: Room States

A Room's status is determined by whether any of its Tables are active (have 2+ members):

State	Condition	Description
Forming	No active Tables	40-day period for a Table to become active
Active	1+ active Tables	Normal operation
Dissolved	0 Tables	Room no longer exists

Note: A Room becomes active when any of its Tables becomes active (reaches 2+ members), not based on the number of Tables.

Section 5: Leaving and Removal

Voluntary Departure: A Table Host may withdraw their Table from a Room at any time.

Removal: A Table may be removed from a Room by majority vote of all Table Hosts in the Room.

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Article XIII: Work Sharing and Visibility

Section 1: Visibility Levels

When sharing a work, the author chooses who may view it:

Level	Audience
Table	Only members of the selected Table(s)
Room	All members of all Tables in the selected Room(s)
Pub	All fellowship members
The World	Anyone, including non-members

Section 2: Default Visibility

• Tabled members: New works default to Table level
• Untabled members: New works default to Pub level

Authors may change the default when saving or at any time thereafter.

Section 3: Changing Visibility

Authors may expand or restrict visibility of their works at any time. The author controls their content.

Section 4: Works and Table Departure

When a member leaves a Table, their works are withdrawn from that Table's visibility. The author retains the works and may share them elsewhere.

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Adoption

This charter was originally adopted by the founding members of AmericanInklings on February 5, 2026.

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Signatures

By participating in AmericanInklings, members agree to uphold the principles and goals outlined in this charter.

Founder:

Steven D. Mikel ____

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Revision History

Revision	Date	Description
Rev 001	February 5, 2026	Initial charter with Pub Model governance structure

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This is a living document. As AmericanInklings grows, this charter will evolve to meet the needs of the fellowship while preserving our core values and mission.

"Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?" ~ C.S. Lewis