We must do the simple and obvious things to keep us ahead of the near future; budget planning, our new web sites, new technologies … and most particularly, developing those who will succeed us in our offices.
But we must also be willing to embark on large, long-term projects. We need projects with the potential to keep the attention of our members, and we need large achievements to garner the attention of the world, or at least our segment of it. In this category of large projects I place our [[Online Public Access Catalog|Library Catalog]], our budding books program, the [[Rose Training Program]], [[Descents from Antiquity Study Group|Descents from Antiquity]], ''The [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms|The Augustan Society Roll of Arms]]'', and others yet unimagined. What shall those projects be?
We have a unique position in the world, especially in the United States, as a champion of the continuity of history — and history as a guidepost to contemporary life, not as a collection of irrelevant antiquities or a list of dates and kings. We are uniquely qualified to present the lessons of history and the other Augustan subjects to the modern world, and to serve as a vital part of the modern world.
I propose that our primary focus should be to expand our educational offerings. The [[Knights Training Program]] is a good example of this. We need to develop similar programs for the study of Royalty & Nobility which show how these concepts remain relevant. We need to develop a Heraldic training program, perhaps based on the previous program which led to the designation of '''Certified Registered Heraldists'''. We need a [[History]] program that does more than shine a light on ancient times, but shows how history can illuminate the present. And it’s not too soon to begin plans for the development of [[Museum]] exhibits—perhaps traveling exhibits to extend our reach beyond whatever [[Headquarters]] we might establish. [Note: The Museum has since been discontinued and the collection is in the process of being disposed of.]
We must also invent new programs, new tools to assist the researcher. We have made small steps in this direction with our list of [[Recognized Orders of Chivalry]] (and Organizations of a Chivalric Nature); we have proposed a list of [[Recognition of ''Fontes Honorum''|Recognized ''Fontes Honorum'']]; and there may well be many other tools of this sort we are uniquely qualified to develop. In every field but genealogy—which is now well attended by commercial enterprises—scholars will benefit from the organized reference material we could assemble.
Should we be ashamed of what little we have done? Is the recent history of The Augustan Society one of bitterly small successes?
I think not. Recall that in the half-dozen years since our reorganization, we have published two volumes of ''The [[Augustan Omnibus|The Augustan Omnibus]]'', two dozen issue of ''[[Augustæum]]'', registered three dozen armorial achievements, replaced an embarrassing, half-finished web site with a strong and dramatic web presence, added a working online store, launched two social media sites, begun the work of cataloging our [[Library]] collection, and continued the 40-year work of the [[Descents from Antiquity Study Group|Descents from Antiquity]]. We have improved our [[By-Laws]], simplified our structure, codified our procedures, standardized our forms, greatly strengthened our financial position, and placed a number of wise and dedicated members on our [[Board|Board of Directors]] and on the various committees.
These are no small achievements. They will not just serve us well as we address the challenges of the future, they are necessary prerequisites. They have been possible in part because we stood upon the shoulders of giants—and not just one. While [[Founder|Rodney Hartwell]] deservedly gets the lion’s share of the credit, there are hundreds of other members who have each made their contribution to the whole, and to whom we also owe our thanks. Remember that we now stand among them, and will be judged according to our works.
Despite all this good work, I find myself increasingly disturbed by the lack of [[Planning|long-range planning]] in our organization. Indeed, I am disturbed by the lack of ''interest'' in long-range planning, or even short-range planning. For example, it is now late August, and we haven’t even begun work on next year’s [[Budget]], despite needing to mail out renewal reminders in less than six weeks.
In particular, I am disturbed by the lack of planning for where the Society’s [[Headquarters]] will go when we can no enjoy the use of [[Consuls]]’ the Metcalfs’ dining room... and living room, and spare bedroom, and den. We have long outgrown the time when our Society’s physical presence could be contained in someone’s residence, and we approach the time when even our office functions cannot be so contained. Present Consuls The Metcalfs are patient, but they have a right to expect the Society to be constructively and effectively addressing this problem.
This isn’t the only long-range plan that needs attention, but it is one that will kill the Society if it is not attended to in time. This is an immediate challenge, not one that can be put off until the next decade. We must begin at once to address it—either by developing new sources of revenue or by adjusting our goals and activities.