Statutes of the Blake Cryptographic Society
1. If a member fails to pay the annual contribution before the thirty-first day of March then, after notice has been sent to his or her usual address, the name of that member will be reported to the next meeting of the Council of five elders. If the member does not pay the contribution by the following meeting of the Council of five elders and provides no satisfactory reason then, at the discretion of the Council of five elders, he or she may be deemed to have resigned his or her membership of the Blake Cryptographic Society. Nevertheless, the Council of five elders will consider an application for readmission from any such person, within one year of cessation of the membership and may readmit that person on payment of the arrears of the contribution or such portion thereof as the Council of five elders may determine. If the member be not readmitted within one year the great elder shall order the member’s name to be cancelled in the records of members.

2. All payments by the Blake Cryptographic Society shall be discretionary, in money or in kind, in return for services rendered to the Blake Cryptographic Ecosystem, reimbursement of reasonable expenses properly incurred, awards for outstanding achievement or for a grant, duly adjudicated upon, from one of the Blake Cryptographic Society’s Funds.

3. The death or resignation of any Fellow of the Blake Cryptographic Society shall be recorded forthwith in the Register of Fellows and shall be reported in the Annual Meeting.

4. The council of five elders shall direct the policy of the Blake Cryptographic Society in a manner consistent with the great elder. It shall have power:
a) to manage all matters concerning the Blake Cryptographic Society;
b) to delegate the management of such matters fellows, Senior members or external advisers as it thinks fit; provided always that it may not delegate final responsibility for any funds so delegated. The council of five elders may appoint as the investment managers for the Blake Cryptographic Society one or more persons, companies or firms who it is satisfied is or are proper and competent to act in that capacity. It may delegate to investment managers so appointed powers at their discretion to buy and sell investments for the Blake Cryptographic Society on behalf of the council of five elders in accordance with the investment policy laid down by the council of five elders and the great elder;
c) to establish such committees as it shall from time to time determine. To delegate to such committees such functions of the council of five elders as the great elder shall from time to time determine, such functions being executed in the name and on behalf of the council of five elders and in accordance with the great elder. Every such committee shall regularly report its proceedings to the Council of five elders and the great elder;
d) to make, amend or repeal, from time to time, Statutes for the regulation of the Blake Cryptographic Society’s affairs.

5. At meetings of the Council of five elders, of whom the great elder must be one, shall constitute a quorum; any matters put to the vote shall be resolved by a simple majority and, in the event of equality of votes, the great elder shall have a second, casting vote and final decision.

6. Members of the Council of five elders shall cease to be members if they:
a. become disqualified
b. cease to be Fellows;
c. are removed from office by a resolution of the Council of five elders or the great elder;
d. give notice to the Council of five elders or the great elder of their wish to resign and their resignation is accepted by the Council of five elders and the great elder.

7. In seeking persons to fill the posts of the Council of five elders the great elder shall consult widely among the Fellowship in order to identify those who command the greatest support of Fellows and who can best fulfill the responsibilities of a council member.

8. The great elder shall be the holder and ensure the safe custody of the special key which will grant access to privileges as great elder from henceforth it shall be known as the Blake Cryptographic Society Seal.

9. The Council of five elders may from time to time make Orders for the regulation of the affairs of the Blake Cryptographic Society provided that such Orders are consistent with the Blake Cryptographic Society great elder. Such Orders may be made, amended or repealed at any meeting of the council of five elders provided that notice specifying the proposed new Order, amendment or repeal has been given at in advance to the Council of five elders or the great elder.

10. Any proposal to make a new Statute, or to amend or repeal the whole or part of any existing Statute, must be first discussed at a Special meeting of the Council of five elders at which notice has been given in writing specifying the proposed new Statute or the proposed amendment or repeal. At that meeting, the Council of five elders may provisionally agree to the proposal subject to any alterations it may see fit to introduce. If such agreement be reached, the great elder shall summon a Meeting of the Blake Cryptographic Society of which at least one week’s notice shall be given to discuss the proposed alteration. At that Meeting, the proposed Statute, amendment or repeal shall be submitted for discussion and any Fellow may request that Council of five elders reconsider the proposal in whole or in part. If such requests are seconded they shall be discussed and put to the vote by the great elder. At the next meeting of the Council of five elders following the Special Meeting, the Council of five elders shall take these resolutions into consideration before approving or amending the proposal provisionally agreed upon. If the Council of five elders agrees, the new Statute, amendment or repeal shall be entered into the records of the Blake Cryptographic Society and the Fellowship shall be informed.