For medium-range planning, the [[Board|Board of Directors]] of The Augustan Society, Inc., has delegated responsibility to the [[Order of the Augustan Eagle]], which is to say the [[Eagle Council]], and assigned them the task of developing and maintaining an rolling '''Five-Year Plan''' for the Society. The Eagle Council, in turn, has created of themselves a Committee-of-the-Whole to consider and recommend changes to the Five-Year Plan. At present, the Eagle Council lacks sufficient members to obtain a quorum, and the [[Board|Board of Directors]] has assumed temporary responsibility for maintenance.
The January 2016 draft of the plan follows, with marked updates through July 2018. [Bracketed] notes are from [[Headquarters Staff]]:and are not part of the adopted plan.
'''The Future of the Augustan Society —FIVE YEAR PLAN'''
This document presents a plan for The Augustan Society, Inc. to continue to stabilize and grow according to its [[Mission Statement|mission]]. With a mind toward the organization's 75th anniversary, this plan also includes some long-range desired outcomes, but the focus of this report is on actionable and measurable items that may be undertaken during the next five years.
==PART TWO - MISSION STATEMENT==
'''The Augustan Society, Inc. promotes the study and traditions of [[Chivalry|chivalry]], [[Genealogy|genealogy]], [[Heraldry|heraldry]], [[History|history before AD 1700]], and [[Royalty & Nobility|nobility]] by providing unique, high-quality resources, including a [[Library|library]], [[Communications|publications]], and Services services for members and the public.'''
<ol type="I">
<li>[[Communications Calendar]]
<ol type="A">
<li>An internal schedule of all planned communication with members and the public will allow for smooth and predictable times to share information, for planning ahead to promote initiatives, and reasonable deadlines for inclusion in communications. The schedule may be developed with assistance and input from the [[Communications|Communications Department]].</li>
<li>The schedule should include:
<ol type="1">
<li>''[[Augustæum]]''</li>
<li>Fundraising</li>
<li>Board Nominations</li>
<li>Calls for Content for Publications</li>
<li>Invitation to [[Annual Convention]]</li>
<li>''[[Rosarum]]'', the newsletter of the [[Noble Company of the Rose]], published irregularly</li>
<li>''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]''</li>
<li>Announcement of new publications
<ol type="a">
<li>Include in ''Augustæum''</li>
<li>Flyer to be included in mailings</li>
<li>Advertising where appropriate for subject</li>
<li>Review copies of publications sent to relevant reporters, news editors, bloggers and book reviewers, with follow up to ask for reviews and endorsements</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Email Newsletter</li>
<li>Social Media Updates</li>
<li>[[Main Website]] Updates</li>
</ol>
[''Note: Due to the apparent lack of an audience, [[Headquarters Staff]] have discontinued updates. They are willing to resume if anyone is interested.'']</li>
</ol></li>
<li><span id="Expanded Volunteer Involvement">Expanded Volunteer Involvement</span>
<ol type="A">
<li>An Offsite Volunteer Coordinator is needed to match non-local volunteers to tasks. This is not expected to conflict with the work of the [[Dean of Studies]]</li>
<li>An Onsite Volunteer Coordinator will be needed to match local volunteers to tasksonce a public facility is had.</li>
<li>Increase in members' volunteering
<ol type="1">
<li>Research as a paid service and also as an assist for staff</li>
<li>Fundraising</li>
<li>Digitizing in support of [[Back Issue Sales]]; cross-check of OCR documents [''Note: Two volunteers One volunteer now working.'']</li>
</ol></li>
<li>''Indicators of success: number of volunteer hours donated. The [[Eagle Assistant Chancellor]] to report the total to the [[Eagle Council]] annually.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Financial Management and Development
<ol type="a">
<li>''Indicators of success: active member(s) contribute time and effort needed to accomplish annual fundraising campaign''</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
<li>Establish and promote annual campaign for specific goals
<ol type="1">
<li>2014 - Augustan Library Fund [''´Note: there is no defined purpose for this fund. The amount collected remains in the General Fund.''] <ol type="a"> <li>This pilot project aimed to collect $10,000 in FY 2014</li> <li>This campaign and collected $2,284</li>
<li>''Indicators of success: participation from 95% of membership, meet 50% of goal''<br>[''Note: [[Headquarters Staff]] feel strongly that it's counterproductive to claim that failing by 50% is success.'']</li>
</ol></li>
<li>2015 - Augustan Library Fund [''Note: 2015 saw an "Annual Fundraiser" unrelated to the Library. Funds collected remain in the General Fund.'']</li>
<li>2016 - Augustan Special Collections Fund (to repair, rebind or replace volumes in unusable condition) [''Note: This turned into a solicitation to benefit the general fund and balance the budget.'']</li>
<li>2017 - Augustan Headquarters Fund (to purchase permanent location) [''Note: No such fundraising has begun as of July. [[Headquarters Staff]] feel a purchase is unlikely in this decade, barring a six-figure donationwas conducted.'']</li> <li>2018 - suggestion needed, no fundraising was conducted</li> <li>2019 - suggestion neededHeadquarters Building Fund, no fundraising was conducted</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Continue "Buy-A-Box" campaign until all books are unpacked [''Note: Perhaps the goal of "all books and other materials are properly shelved"?'']
<li>A $10,000 donation was made in 2011, with the stipulation that it be used to fund the expenses incurred cataloging the book collection.</li>
<li>An online book catalog has been established</li>
<li>Over 35,300 000 books have been were cataloged to dateby 2022</li>
<li>This project is managed by the [[Librarian]]</li>
<li>The establishment of a publicly accessible [[Library]] location would allow the Librarian to recruit and supervise volunteers to work on the project</li>
<li>It is estimated that between 1525,000 to 2535,000 volumes remain to be cataloged.</li> <li>''Indicators of success: all books and ephemera cataloged at a rate of 10% per year'' [''Note: The current rate of cataloging is approximately 300 volumes per year, or 1% to 2% per year. Increasing this rate to 10% of the collection will require work to be transferred from Headquarters to volunteers or other projects discontinued or transferred away from Headquarters. It is patently unrealistic, though obtaining a public Headquarters could help substantially.'']</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Establish perennial campaigns for general support
<li>Trusts, Wills and Life Insurance, life annuities
<ol type="a">
<li>Mention of these donation options may be made in regular member communications. [''Note: The [[''Augustæum'' Editor]] will publish such when received, either as articles or separate sheets.'']</li>
<li>A direct mail project is recommended, with a letter to be sent to all members suggesting that the Society be remembered in wills, trusts and life insurance, with relevant information such as tax ID. [''Note: It would be imprudent to publish the Society's Tax ID number. It may also be wise to defer this until 501(c)(3) status is restored.'']</li>
<li>A direct mail project is recommended, with a letter to be sent to all members suggesting that book and ephemera collections and personal papers be donated to the Society
<ol type="i">
<li>''Indicators of success: mailing sent on annual basis, mentions made three times annually in various publications.'' [''Note: ''[[Augustæum]]'' and [[Social Media]] will publish this once these programs have been launched, the ''Omnibus'' will not.'']</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
<ol type="a">
<li>Historically, the annual fundraiser has aimed to replenish this fund, which is used for operating expenses.
<li>Donations that are not received for specific purposes are placed in this fund. [''Note: In 2015 & 2016, such unspecific donations are being were placed in the [[Annual Fundraiser]], with the same effect.'']</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
<li>Public Relations
<ol type="A">
<li>Memberships in scholarly organizations [confirmed 2016-9]</li> <li>Board members attend relevant events and conventions, representing the Society [confirmed 2016-9]</li> <li>Work to promote and advertise those publications that would attract new members or inquiries [new 2016-9]</li>
</ol></li>
<li>[[Headquarters]]
<ol type="A">
<li>Suitable location to be found</li>
<li>Headquarters Building Chairman to be named and to assist in search</li>
<li>Possible renovations or building maintenance to be performed before move in [''Note: Staff expect this to be a non-trivial expense, but a necessary one as it will be quite difficult to reach the walls, floors, and ceilings after move-in, and we would at the least need to replace acoustic tile ceilings. A possible grant to support this work has been identified.'']</li>
<li>Need for furniture, office supplies and equipment; budget tbd for these expenses [''Note: Most such items are already on hand.'']</li>
<li>Staff Development
<ol type="A">
<li>Paid staff or [[Executive Director]] position has been discussed [''Note: As has an An unpaid Executive Director, was discussed without action. An Executive Director would require a [[By-Laws]] amendment.</li>
<ol type="1">
<li>It may be prudent to reach for a part-time clerk rather than a full-time Executive Director.</li>
<li>Consideration of this position should wait until move into [[Library]] is complete and needs of organization can be better assessed.</li>
<li>[[Consuls]] are were unsure if a paid [[Executive Director]] is was needed, necessary, or affordable. It may well be They suggested that competent clerks could perform most of the Society's administrative work, with volunteers covering matters requiring expertise.</li> <li>A post-Metcalf plan needs to be established. [[Note: The office of Consul will be discontinued on 31 December 2017. The Metcalfs intend to continue in most of their other elected and appointed positions, but at a lower level of effort.'']</li>
<ol type="a">
<li>Capture institutional knowledge and directions for processes in the [[Staff Wiki]] [''Note: In progress; on schedule to complete first draft by Completed in December 2017.'']</li> <li>Determine how to handle transition from the present [[Consuls]] Metcalfs once they retire. [''Note: They have elected to "retire" at the end of 2017. This does not mean that they will abandon their other roles, including landlord.'']</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
<li>Fill vacancies in leadership positions[''Note: Filling vacancies with persons holding other offices is counter-productive.'']</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Membership
<li>Membership drive
<ol type="a">
<li>Identify subgroups of potential members, e.g: college history students, members of specific orders of chivalry, New England Colonial Genealogist[also individuals who have contacted the Society for research or back issues]</li> <li>Research past programs, members, publications to analyze for success, new ideas, better understanding of membership interests and needs [''Note: This study should cover the period before 2007, as no program since has had any positive impact on membershipsave the website.'']</li>
<li>The [[President]] will be reaching out to Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honors society, for articles. This may prove a worthy model (positive or negative) for other such.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Geographical chapters (long term goal)
<ol type="a">
<li>A study of member residences (in US and Canada) suggests that some areas may already have reached sufficient membership density to make this possible, the New York area in particular.[Such groups have since dispersed as our membership drops.]</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Special interest groups membership increased (long term goal). This is already the immediate goal of the lineage groups and an explicit assignment of the Deans.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>[[Member Interest Survey]]
<ol type="1"><!-- ??? status of review-->
<li>[[Headquarters Staff]] suggests it's about time to send out another round to those who did not at first reply — though perhaps, given the largely electronic nature of our communications, it would be sufficient to contact members by email. [''Note: The [[Dean of Studies]] agreed to prepare an online survey, but work has stopped due to illness.'']</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
<li>[[Wiki|Staff Wiki]]
<ol type="A">
<li>Updates would be done on an as-needed basis. [''Note: [[Headquarters Staff]] conduct continuous review, but support from officers and committees is needed.'']</li>
<li>Infrastructure to be developed by Bruce Metcalf. Updates to be entered by responsible volunteers. [''Note: The infrastructure is here, now we need officers and chairmen to input or update their pages. Some technical help is still needed, as above.'']</li>
<li>Regular review of content to be scheduled as part of communications calendar. [''Note: By whom? The [[Webmaster]] is conducting continuous review, but there's essentially no input from others.'']</li>
<li>Regular promotion of specific content to be scheduled as part of the [[Communication Communications Calendar]], i.e.: including a link to the nominations section when [[Board]] nominations are mentioned in print to members. [''Note: See remark about limiting access above.'']</li>
</ol></li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
==<span id="Part 4"></span>PART FOUR - STUDY & TRADITIONS==
<ol type="A">
<li>[[Royalty & Nobility Committee]]</li>
<li>Nobility - [[List of Current Royalty]] [Note: The R&N Committee has amended this to be a list of ''fontes honorum''.]</li>
</ol></li>
<li>OTHER
<ol type="A">
<li>[[Insignia Sales]] [Note: The only insignia sales at present are of Society insignia and those only to eligible members.]</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
<li>Chivalry Newsletter — Tabled for the time being.</li>
<li>[[Roll of Arms Reprints]] [Note: Images need colorizing and blazons need translation. Production will be trivial once those tasks are complete.]</li>
<li>[[Online Armorial]]</li>
<li>[[Ordinary of Arms]]</li>
<li>Online [[Online Heraldry Index to Arms]] — This is presently idle as we focus on the Armorial and Ordinary, but would be revived if a volunteer were found. [Note: The Index, Armorial, and Ordinary have been combined into a [[Study Groups|Study Group]] and a Coordinator named. Work is progressing.]</li>
<li>''[[Rosarum]]'' (formerly the ''Noble Company of the Rose Newsletter'')</li>
<li>[[Descents from Antiquity Study Group|Descents from Antiquity]] — A major revision is in progress, as time permits. [Note: This has been converted from a Committee to a [[Study Groups|Study Group]]. A final report has been submitted, and no new work has been proposed, resulting in the group being dormant.]</li>
<li>Increase variety of media in which publications are presented (paper, digital, etc.) (long term goal) [Note: The [[Augustæum Editor]] is preparing has been asked to prepare a sample issue as time permits.]</li> <li>[[Reprint Sales]]</li>
<li>[[Used Book Sales]]</li>
<li>[[Online Store]]</li>