*The [[Genealogy|Genealogy Department]] still has no chairman, and we are limping along, reviewing lineages on an ad hoc basis. We do have a plan to sponsor a [[lineage report generator]] in our open source genealogy software (Gramps), which should greatly aid the production and standardization of same.
:*The [[Descents from AntiquityStudy Group|Descents from Antiquity Project]] Project is moving ahead with a new set of charts as fast as Ye Editor can keep up. We still await a report explaining how all of the Egypt-to-Charlemagne theories were disproved.
*The [[Heraldry|Heraldry Department]] is likewise nearly idle, but for a couple of Committee logos and the [[Arms Registration Committee]], which is generating a great volume of correspondence, but few registrations — some having been in review for over a decade. ''(Note: The Arms Registration Committee was merged into the Heraldry Committee in 2016.)''
:*Under new [[Omnibus Editor|Editor]] John Tibbetts, ''[[The Augustan Omnibus]]'' now appears to be on a strong footing and ready to progress in all ways but having sufficient submissions to maintain the present size and frequency.
:*Slow progress is being made on the new [[Descents from AntiquityStudy Group|Resource Kit]] charts and [[Germond|Germond’s book]]. This is balanced by a complete lack of action on both [[Vigil]] and a proposed volume on Chinese royalty.
:*Our [[Main Website]] continues to grow as time is made available for it. The [[Online Store]] site continues to generate revenue, but is in severe need of a technology upgrade. The [[Online Public Access Catalog|Library site]] is purring, thanks to the excellent software in use. Our one failing is that we have not been able to figure out how to install the [[Staff Wiki]] on the server. Perhaps someone will step forward to help with this.
The concern stems from the tendency of some on this Board to disengage, and to “let Bruce handle it”. It was also a major disappointment to us when the Board exempted themselves from the obligation to support the programs they advocated.
It is possible to run an organization like this with a weak board and a strong executive director. It requires an executive who can garner the trust of the Board and who can dedicate the needed skills. Unfortunately, while Consuls may have your trust in abundant measure, we do not have all the skills this Society needs, nor are we available to put that many hours of time on task. More worrying, should either of us be struck down, we do not believe the Board is ready to articulate the tasks needed and to generate the salary that would be required to replace us. Thus relying on an individual or two—even were they as worthy as [[Founder|Rod Hartwell]]—is in the long term, a formula for failure.
However, with a strong Board that is actually running the organization, office staff need be only that. Hiring someone to run the printer, mail the magazines, and update the web site is a far more manageable task than finding an executive director—and one far more affordable.