PART 3: Section 5. Friends, Youthand Kinderfolk(Nonvoting Memberships)

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5.1 Friends, youth and kinderfolk are the nonvoting members of the society, except where noted.

Friends

5.2 Friends are nonvoting members who have not sworn an oath of troth, who may have simply a keen interest in Germanic culture or who may want to remain informed, but who at any rate are themselves in good standing and have a sponsor who is a trothed Freeholder in good standing.

5.3 If for any reason a trothed Freeholder resigns, or is found to be not in good standing, and he or she has sponsored one or more friends, these friends will not lose their nonvoting membership status, but will be placed in the charge of the Freehold freyr or freya, who will act as their sponsor on an interim basis until they find another sponsor or become voting members.

Kinderfolk

5.4 Children, or kinderfolk, are perhaps the most important of Freehold members, being central to many kindreds and families; they are our link to the future, our legacy, and the Joy of the Ancestors.

5.5 Children are numbered as members of the Freehold, but do not have a vote at thing, althing or in general, although there may be children's gilds or groups in which they may have a vote as kinderfolk.

Freehold Youth

5.6 If it is a kindred's wish, and when the kindred parents or guardians deem it, a child may be declared a youth by the kindred or guardian at the Freehold thing, althing, or shire moot, no sooner than the age of 12 and no later than the age of majority or until the youth is self responsible.

5.7 Being declared a youth by a parent or guardian can be considered to be a limited grant of parental consent. Specific conditions and limits to the body and nature of this consent are to be set in writing at that time by parents or guardians, and given to the Freehold writer or other wita.

5.8 Youth who wish to vote must swear the Freeholder's Oath with parental consent .

5.9 Trothed Freehold youth shall have a vote at thing and althing and in almost every respect have the same rights and privileges as any Freeholder.

5.10 When the Freehold youth reaches the age of majority, or becomes self responsible, he or she will be declared a full Freeholder at next thing, althing or shire moot.