Many organizations grant honors, and The Augustan Society, Inc., is no exception. Since 1966 most of these have been Fellowships. This article reviews the system of Fellowships and how the Society grants them.
Fellowship in the Society is not a membership organization, yet Fellows have much in common, and a [[Dean of Fellows]] organizes social and educational activities involving Fellows.
==Classes of Fellowship==
Fellowship, fifth class
These ranks are divided into the senior and junior ranks. Armigerous Fellows holding first class and higher are eligible for appointment to membership in the [[Order of the Augustan Eagle]] (OAE). Fellows may use the [[Postnominals|postnominals]] FAS unless they are also a member of the OAE, but should continue to use FAS outside the Society. Members are elected to Fellowship and promoted as their contributions warrant. There is no schedule for such awards, and may happen at any time. A formal presentation of Fellowship and a gratis presentation of insignia will be made at the following [[Annual Convention]] if the Fellow attends.
Members are elected to Fellowship and promoted as their contributions warrant. There is no schedule for such awards, and may happen at any time. A formal presentation of Fellowship will be made at the following annual convention if the Fellow attends.
==Insignia==
File:fas-hc.gif|Fellowship, ''honoris causa''
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==Qualifications for Fellowships==
Fellowship is available to all Society members in good standing[[Good Standing]], and to select non-members who have made substantial contributions in four equally important areas:
*Volunteer time, which generally means service on a [[Board]], Council, or Committee;*Articles, reviews, and letters published in the Society's [[The Augustan Omnibus|journal]];*Financial contributions, including the direct donations and donations in kind, such as books or expenses; and*Recruitment of new members.
The Society considers these cumulative contributions, tracked back to 2007 (as far as reliable records are available) to established standards and determines to whom shall be granted Fellowship or promotions in rank. No petition is required to qualify. Fellowships are a gift from a grateful Society rather than a contest or a prize to be pursued. The minimum qualification for Fellowship is set at such a level that not more than half the members are expected to hold Fellowships at any time. This is not unreasonable, as one would naturally expect a Fellow to be "above average" for a member. The separation between ranks is set as such a level that not more than half the Fellows are expected to hold ranks of FAS/1 or better at any time. This is not unreasonable, as one would naturally expect a Senior Fellow to be "above average" for a Fellow.
The minimum qualification for Fellowship is set at such a level that not more than half the members are expected to hold Fellowships at any time. This is not unreasonable, as one would naturally expect a Fellow to be "above average".
==Calculations for Fellowship and Promotions==
Consuls [[Headquarters Staff]] will track each member’s contributions as measured by the point values established, and will recommend election or promotion to the Board at each regular meeting for those members. Only members in good standing Good Standing may be elected or promoted.
===Point values===
Points are established and adjusted by the Board as seems necessary. Care should be taken that the points awarded in each category are not too many or too few. Consuls suggest small Small incremental adjustments are suggested whenever one category represents more than half the total points, or less than 5% of total points (but consideration should be given to the potential for fraud, such as recruitment bringing more points than the cash used to obtain such). Present values are:
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===Points required for each rank===
The Board will establish the number of points for Fellowship 5th class and a multiplier for successive ranks. The number of points for FAS/5 should be set high enough that not more than half the members qualify for Fellowship. The multiplier should be set high enough that not more than half the Fellows qualify for Fellowship First Class. The present values are:
*1040 points for FAS/5
===Election and Promotion of Fellows===
[[ConsulsHeadquarters Staff]] will review the point scores each month as part of their preparation of the Board [[Agendae|Agenda]]. Those members in good standing Good Standing who have received sufficient points for election or promotion will be added to the Agenda, along with a brief description of the nature of their contributions.
Normally, these nominations will be placed in the [[Consent Calendar]], as they are unlikely to be controversial.
After electionor promotion, Consuls [[Headquarters Staff]] will send a letter of congratulations and a [[Certificate of Fellowship]] signed (electronically) by the President and Secretary, and bearing the [[Seal of the Corporation]]. Both will indicate the rank held and . The letter will extend an invitation to receive the insignia at the following [[Annual Convention]]. Otherwise they will be eligible to purchase the insignia.
Should the honoree be unable to attend the Annual Convention in the calendar year of the award, the presentation may be delayed until the following year.
==Honorary Fellowship==
Honorary Fellowship, Fellowship ''honoris causa'', may be granted to those who are not members of the Society four for causes felt sufficient by the [[Board]]. Such an awardee may use the postnomial FAS/hc, and to wear Honorary Fellow's lapel pin shown above.
[[ConsulsHeadquarters Staff]] will track the contributions of non-members in parallel with their tracking of member contributions, using the same point values.
Those non-members who have achieved at least 2000 points shall be added to the next available Board Agenda as an item of New Business (not the [[Consent Calendar]]). Directors may also nominate candidates for reasons they feel compelling. If a significant portion of their contribution is not something tracked by the Fellowship system, the 2000 point minimum is waived. (Point minimum per Board Policy, June 2013)
Society members are not eligible for consideration for Honorary Fellowship.
Upon election, Consuls [[Headquarters Staff]] will prepare a letter of notice signed by the President and a [[Certificate of Fellowship]], both indicating the rank and the former explaining the privileges appertaining thereunto.
==Activities==
Fellows and their guests are invited to attend the Fellows Dinner during the Society's [[Annual Convention]], as well as other occasional activities.
==Resignation of Fellowship==
Fellowship may be resigned, either by sending a written resignation to Headquarters (email is accepted), or by returning the Certificate of Fellowship without explanation. Such resignations are effective immediately upon receipt, even if a later date is specified. Written messages threatening to resign if the Society fails to do something are also taken as immediate resignation.
There has not yet been a case of restoration of Fellowship. One supposes that the Board would have to consider a petition for restoration, but Headquarters Staff are directed to say that resignation is irrevocable. That said, a repentant member's contributions would be tracked from the date of his resignation, and election considered should he again reach the threshold for FAS/5.
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