The '''Annual Convention''' of The Augustan Society, Inc., will be has traditinally been held in person on or after 18 about the date of the [[Annual Meeting]], which has been set as the second Saturday in August of each calendar year. Normally, this is centered around the Saturday on or next following the 18th, but there is no reason why it could not be delayed further, perhaps much further, for good cause.
There are also valid reasons — usually financial — for canceling the Annual Convention some yearsat times. It remainsMore importantly, however, the policy due to membership residing in all corners of the [[Board]] globe, it has been realized that we should strive to hold the event annuallygreater participation will be had at conventions held online.
The 2021 Annual Meeting was the first to be held via Zoom videoconference, which was found generally satisfactory. It is planned to continue to hold the Annual Meeting this way for the foreseeable future due to greater accessibility.
What follows is historic information about how in-person conventions were held in the last few years of same, against the date when this again becomes desirable;
==Hosts==
The location of the Annual Convention is presently rotated about the United States based on the availability of volunteer hosts. The intent is not to repeat in the same region on consecutive years, and to eventually see all regions represented in proportion to the membership. There is no prohibition against meeting outside the United States, but one would not expect such a proposal until there was a substantial membership in such other country.
[[Headquarters Staff]] have offered might be asked to host the Annual Convention in Orlando when a Host or location become unavailable during the year of the convention, or when it's decided to avoid the expense of an out-of-town convention. Should this not happen for an extended period, it may be prudent to hold a convention in Orlando occasionally that new Directors might tour the storage facilities and thus obtain a better understanding of the challenges at Headquarters.
Once a [[Headquarters]] has been opened, it is recommended that the Annual Convention be held in that location every other year, with the pattern of varying locations observed in the off-years.
The Annual Convention normally spans from Thursday to Sunday. Normal events are:
* 18 August, whatever day of the week that might be
:*The [[Annual Meeting]] is called to order at 10am, then immediately recessed to the Saturday of the Convention at that location. This opening session may be held at or near [[Headquarters]], or in any convenient location.
* Thursday:
:*An informal welcome dinner, organized by the [[Host]], paid by the attendees;
* Friday:
:*Meetings of [[Sub-Groups]] and [[Committees]];
:*Presentation of papers;
:*The [[Fellowship|Fellows]] dinner. Nominally restricted to Fellows, others may attend as the guest of a Fellow.
* Saturday:
:*The recessed [[Annual Membership Meeting]], including (regardless of a quorum being had):
::*The announcement of the results of the [[Elections]];
::*Consuls' annual A [[State of the Society]] addressfrom the outgoing Chairman (or President if no Chairman has been elected), or his appointee.:*A meeting of the [[Board|Board of Directors]]. At this meeting the new [[Directors]] will be installed, outgoing Directors excused, and such other business as may come before the Board(this presumes the election was held and all new Directors can be installed). This meeting will replace the usual meeting time of the third Saturday.
:*The Annual Banquet, semi-formal or formal, generally including:
::*Presentation of [[Fellowship]] insignia earned in the prior yearto those in attendance;
::*Presentation of the [[Awards|Balling or Metzler Award]] for the prior year;
::*After-dinner talk or film, attendance warranting.
* Sunday:
:*Social activities, generally focusing on the host city.
The above is history, not prescription. Especially considering the present gap in conventions, it may well be that an entirely different format might be more apt when they resume.
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