Some feel it is important that The Augustan Society, Inc., have a clear vision of what it wants to become. In a perfect world, this would come first, and all other planning would be in service of that goal. In this world, the [[Board]] has shown a fair amount of indifference to such long-range plans, much to the frustration of [[Consuls]]. They have The Board has created a [[Five-Year Plan]] (and handed maintenance off to the [[Eagle Council]], but this does not strike Consuls as sufficiently "long".
Edward Ellsworth Jones (1927‑19931927–1993) wrote: "When the administrator feels himself to be the sole driving agency, and finds himself chiefly engaged in arousing those who are apathetic and coercing those who are antagonistic, there is something vitally wrong with the administration. An executive should find himself engaged chiefly in directing the energies which create themselves naturally in all parts of the business, and in finding the proper outlet for the eager upward striving of the ranks below."
There are two ways to take this advice:
# That Consuls should sit on their hands, facilitating only those programs which have support. Their advocacy should be limited to reminding the membership on occasion of each program they value that is dormant for lack of support; or
# That Consuls, desirous that the Society become at least successful enough to move out of their dining room, should advocate with both Board and membership for such programs as they believe would be of benefit to the Society.
This "Centennial Vision", and the "Proposals" it contains, are Consuls' effort to promote and recommend action in accord with the latter of these. They recognize that such is beyond their contractual role, but feel moved to extend their duties for the reasons above, if no not others.
Consuls will welcome additional input, or the Board resuming this responsibility, or best, that they delegate it to the [[Eagle Council](assuming that group can get a grip on the Five-Year Plan). The term title "Centennial Vision" is adopted to avoid confusion with the [[Five-Year Plan]], the [[Long-Range Plan]] (since abandoned), or the [[Vision Statement]], and because it would not, alas, be surprising if it took until at least 2057 to achieve.
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