Difference between revisions of "Communications Vision"

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The Communications Department of The Augustan Society, Inc., is charged with the production of print publications, online publications, reprints, back issues, websites, social media, and email services.
 
The Communications Department of The Augustan Society, Inc., is charged with the production of print publications, online publications, reprints, back issues, websites, social media, and email services.
  
 
 
  
 
==Periodicals==
 
==Periodicals==
Line 7: Line 6:
 
===''[[Augustæum]]''===
 
===''[[Augustæum]]''===
  
'''Proposal: The Society should work toward publishing the members newsletter on a monthly schedule, presuming sufficient funding and material enough for four pages are available.'''
+
'''Proposal: The Society should work toward publishing [[Augustæum]] on a monthly schedule, presuming sufficient funding and material enough for four pages are available.'''
  
'''Proposal: The Society should conduct a survey to test the level of interest in publishing the members newsletter electronically, and a decision made about the value of devoting the time needed to reformat (versus publishing as a PDF file).'''
+
'''Proposal: The Society should conduct a survey to test the level of interest in publishing [[Augustæum]] electronically, and a decision made about the value of devoting the time needed to reformat as HTML (versus publishing as a PDF file).'''
  
Consuls have been authorized by a previous administration to conduct such an email survey. They are presently looking to combine this with a [[Member Interest Survey]] under the auspices of the [[Dean of Studies]].
+
[[Headquarters Staff]] have been authorized by a previous administration to conduct such an email survey. They are presently looking to combine this with a [[Member Interest Survey]] under the auspices of the [[Dean of Studies]].
  
 
===''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]''===
 
===''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]''===
  
''The Augustan Omnibus'' is the present title of the Society's scholarly journal. As such, contents are restricted to items of enduring value that have appropriate citations in standard format, and to reviews of relevant books, websites, and software. Occasional exceptions are permitted, and recent ones have been memorial tributes to passed members, essays on philosophy, and topical fiction. Also included are occasional official statements from the President, Editor-in-Chief, or Editor, and letters to the editor, which should pertain to the journal and items published therein. Ephemeral items or those not scholarly in nature should be referred to ''[[Augustæum]]''.
+
'''Proposal: The Society should reduce the publishing frequency of ''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]'' to annual; targeting 36 pages/issue minimum, until such time as the Society's finances and the rate of submissions are able to support an increased frequency of the same minimum size.'''
  
'''Proposal: The Society should continue to publish ''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]'' at not less than 36 pages/issue, and to increase the frequency to as often as quarterly as submissions and staff may support.'''
+
To aid in fundraising, advertising is accepted. Historically, these have primarily been support ads from members, but there is also a history of commercial advertising of relevant products and services. To date, this has largely been a reactive program, with only occasional calls for ads, resulting in a fill rate insufficient to the need for filler copy.
  
To aid in fundraising, advertising is accepted. Historically, these have primarily been support ads from members, but there is also a history of commercial advertising of relevant products and services.
+
'''Proposal: The Society should establish an [[Advertising Manager]] under the auspices of the [[Finance Committee]] or [[Treasurer]] with a charge to ensure that sufficient ad copy is available for the layout needs of ''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]'', and that done, to maximize income.'''
  
'''Proposal: The Society should create the office of [[Advertising Manager]] under the [[Fundraising Committee]] to promote and process both support ads and commercial advertising, the latter perhaps including fly sheets.'''
+
===''[[Rosarum]]''===
 +
 
 +
'''Proposal: The Society should continue to publish ''[[Rosarum]]'', the newsletter of the [[Noble Company of the Rose]], at such frequency and size as that group is able to support with copy and funding.'''
  
  
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===''The [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]]''===
 
===''The [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]]''===
  
The Society's program of [[Arms Registration]] is of limited value if those registrations are not made public in some way. The [[Online Armorial]] is one tool for this, but it is not the only one. It is also suitable to use published rolls as a general fundraiser, as has been done in the past.  
+
The Society's program of [[Registration of Arms]] is of limited value if those registrations are not made public in some way. The [[Online Armorial]] is one tool for this, but it is not the only one. It is also suitable to use published rolls as a general fundraiser, as has been done in the past.  
  
 
'''Proposal: The Society should publish additional volumes of the [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]] as registrations permit.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should publish additional volumes of the [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]] as registrations permit.'''
Line 42: Line 43:
 
===''A Continuation of Paget's ''Ancestry of the Prince of Wales===
 
===''A Continuation of Paget's ''Ancestry of the Prince of Wales===
  
This monumental effort has been published in 24 parts in various publications of both the Augustan Society and the Octavian Society. It will take a substantial effort to scan, OCR, reformat and publish, and may run to perhaps 800 pages (more if the author continues to submit material).
+
This monumental effort has been published in 24 parts in various publications of both the Augustan Society and the [[Octavian Society]]. The author has stated that the next installment will be his last. It will take a substantial effort to scan, OCR, reformat, and publish. The result may run to perhaps 800 pages and require multiple volumes.
 +
 
 +
'''Proposal: The Society should work to publish Germond's ''A Continuation of Paget's "Ancestry of the Prince of Wales"''.
  
 
===''Vigil: A Knight's Training Program''===
 
===''Vigil: A Knight's Training Program''===
Line 48: Line 51:
 
This would be based on the Van Dusen program of the previous century, after a substantial edit. It would be best if the [[Rose Training Officer]] were on the editorial group, or better, headed it.
 
This would be based on the Van Dusen program of the previous century, after a substantial edit. It would be best if the [[Rose Training Officer]] were on the editorial group, or better, headed it.
  
===''Descents from Antiquity Resource Kit''===
+
'''Proposal: The Society should work to publish ''Vigil: A Knight's Training Program'', and if possible, to do so in support of the [[Knights Training Program]] of the [[Noble Company of the Rose]].'''
  
The original set of charts is now obsolete, all potential lines having been disproven. A new set of charts (and accompanying sources) will be prepared once additional potential lines are identified.
+
===''Augustan Lineages''===
 +
 
 +
This would be a series, each volume containing a number of descents from some worthy (or perhaps the [[Society of Descendants of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem|Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem]]). These would be a combination of lineages published and those submitted to qualify for various [[Sub-Groups]].
 +
 
 +
'''Proposal: The Society should work to publish a series of volumes of collected lineages from those submitted or previously published.'''
  
 
===''Guide to Orders of Chivalry''===
 
===''Guide to Orders of Chivalry''===
Line 57: Line 64:
  
 
'''Proposal: The Society should publish the ''Guide to Orders of Chivalry'' and see that it is updated as necessary.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should publish the ''Guide to Orders of Chivalry'' and see that it is updated as necessary.'''
 
===''Royalty of China'' by Joseph Uphoff===
 
 
Under deveolpment.
 
 
===''Royalty of India'' by Joseph Uphoff===
 
 
Under development.
 
  
 
===''The Little Manual of Heraldry''===
 
===''The Little Manual of Heraldry''===
  
This work is poorly organized, eccentric in coverage, and printed in black & white. It deserves a thorough revision and color artwork. The existence of a large backlog of the third edition should not discourage this effort.===''The [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]]''===
+
This work is poorly organized, eccentric in coverage, and printed in black & white. It deserves a thorough revision and color artwork. The existence of a large backlog of the third edition should not discourage this effort.
  
The Society's program of [[Arms Registration]] is of limited value if those registrations are not made public in some way. The [[Online Armorial]] is one tool for this, but it is not the only one. It is also suitable to use published rolls as a general fundraiser, as has been done in the past.  
+
A new version, once the structure has been determined, could be printed in ''The [[Augustan Omnibus]]'' in chapters as each is completed.
  
'''Proposal: The Society should publish additional volumes of the [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]] as registrations permit.'''
+
'''Proposal: The Society should work to publish a new edition of ''The Little Manual of Heraldry'' that is better organized, more comprehensive, and in color throughout.'''
  
'''Proposal: The Society should reprint the first three volumes of the [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]] in color.'''
 
 
'''Proposal: The Society should publish special rolls for [[Sub-Groups]] of the Society, such as the [[Noble Company of the Rose]], as those Sub-Groups request.'''
 
  
 
==Sales==
 
==Sales==
Line 83: Line 79:
  
 
'''Proposal: The Society should convert all former publications to electronic form; first as PDF files, then as text files with improved illustrations where possible.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should convert all former publications to electronic form; first as PDF files, then as text files with improved illustrations where possible.'''
 +
 +
The PDF files will permit us to reprint both the whole magazines, and individual articles on demand. This will eliminate the need to keep a backlock of stock.
 +
 +
Converting these to text files will permit us to bring them up to modern standards, enhance the photographs and illustrations, and make large-print editions available. This will also be a requirement if we are to develop full-text searching in support of researchers.
  
 
'''Proposal: The Society should create independent issues of back issues published as part of the ''Augustan Society Ominbus'' so that they may be sold separately.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should create independent issues of back issues published as part of the ''Augustan Society Ominbus'' so that they may be sold separately.'''
Line 89: Line 89:
  
 
'''Proposal: The Society should continue to offer [[Reprints]], creating and expanding reprints on a topical basis. Single-article reprints should be phased out as stock is exhausted.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should continue to offer [[Reprints]], creating and expanding reprints on a topical basis. Single-article reprints should be phased out as stock is exhausted.'''
 +
 +
It may prove prudent to develop a system whereby individual articles may be ordered, but this may take substantial work to develop and deploy.
  
  
Line 110: Line 112:
 
'''Proposal: The Society should obtain an email server that is tailored to the unique needs of the Society. This may be a commercial product, or a custom application running on a Society server.'''
 
'''Proposal: The Society should obtain an email server that is tailored to the unique needs of the Society. This may be a commercial product, or a custom application running on a Society server.'''
  
The email server should support the current email addressing scheme, perform spam filtering, and encourage the creation of groups (such as Directors or members of various Study Groups).
+
The email server should support the current email addressing scheme, perform spam filtering, avoid looking like (or being) a source of spam, and encourage the creation of groups (such as Directors or members of various Study Groups).
  
 
If possible, it should also permit Headquarters to receive most mail in a common inbox accessible by all HQ staff who could either deal with each, or transfer it to another staffer more suited to respond. It must also allow for the storage of emails sent and received in a structured manner so that any staff member could research conversation threads without regard to who participated in them.
 
If possible, it should also permit Headquarters to receive most mail in a common inbox accessible by all HQ staff who could either deal with each, or transfer it to another staffer more suited to respond. It must also allow for the storage of emails sent and received in a structured manner so that any staff member could research conversation threads without regard to who participated in them.
 +
  
 
----
 
----
 +
  
 
:*[[Library Vision|forward to Library Vision]]
 
:*[[Library Vision|forward to Library Vision]]

Latest revision as of 15:36, 24 August 2018

The Communications Department of The Augustan Society, Inc., is charged with the production of print publications, online publications, reprints, back issues, websites, social media, and email services.


Periodicals

Augustæum

Proposal: The Society should work toward publishing Augustæum on a monthly schedule, presuming sufficient funding and material enough for four pages are available.

Proposal: The Society should conduct a survey to test the level of interest in publishing Augustæum electronically, and a decision made about the value of devoting the time needed to reformat as HTML (versus publishing as a PDF file).

Headquarters Staff have been authorized by a previous administration to conduct such an email survey. They are presently looking to combine this with a Member Interest Survey under the auspices of the Dean of Studies.

The Augustan Omnibus

Proposal: The Society should reduce the publishing frequency of The Augustan Omnibus to annual; targeting 36 pages/issue minimum, until such time as the Society's finances and the rate of submissions are able to support an increased frequency of the same minimum size.

To aid in fundraising, advertising is accepted. Historically, these have primarily been support ads from members, but there is also a history of commercial advertising of relevant products and services. To date, this has largely been a reactive program, with only occasional calls for ads, resulting in a fill rate insufficient to the need for filler copy.

Proposal: The Society should establish an Advertising Manager under the auspices of the Finance Committee or Treasurer with a charge to ensure that sufficient ad copy is available for the layout needs of The Augustan Omnibus, and that done, to maximize income.

Rosarum

Proposal: The Society should continue to publish Rosarum, the newsletter of the Noble Company of the Rose, at such frequency and size as that group is able to support with copy and funding.


Books

The Society has the capacity to become a publisher of scholarly items, and doing so cannot help but enhance our reputation in our fields. Print-on-demand technology (assuming a reliable small-batch binder can be identified) and pre-publication sales will limit the investment required to that needed for promotion and advertising.

Proposal: The Society should institute a program of book publishing, both leveraging the material already on hand and inviting original work.

The Augustan Society Roll of Arms

The Society's program of Registration of Arms is of limited value if those registrations are not made public in some way. The Online Armorial is one tool for this, but it is not the only one. It is also suitable to use published rolls as a general fundraiser, as has been done in the past.

Proposal: The Society should publish additional volumes of the Augustan Society Roll of Arms as registrations permit.

Proposal: The Society should reprint the first three volumes of the Augustan Society Roll of Arms in color.

Proposal: The Society should publish special rolls for Sub-Groups of the Society, such as the Noble Company of the Rose, as those Sub-Groups request.

A Continuation of Paget's Ancestry of the Prince of Wales

This monumental effort has been published in 24 parts in various publications of both the Augustan Society and the Octavian Society. The author has stated that the next installment will be his last. It will take a substantial effort to scan, OCR, reformat, and publish. The result may run to perhaps 800 pages and require multiple volumes.

Proposal: The Society should work to publish Germond's A Continuation of Paget's "Ancestry of the Prince of Wales".

Vigil: A Knight's Training Program

This would be based on the Van Dusen program of the previous century, after a substantial edit. It would be best if the Rose Training Officer were on the editorial group, or better, headed it.

Proposal: The Society should work to publish Vigil: A Knight's Training Program, and if possible, to do so in support of the Knights Training Program of the Noble Company of the Rose.

Augustan Lineages

This would be a series, each volume containing a number of descents from some worthy (or perhaps the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem). These would be a combination of lineages published and those submitted to qualify for various Sub-Groups.

Proposal: The Society should work to publish a series of volumes of collected lineages from those submitted or previously published.

Guide to Orders of Chivalry

This valuable guide has been withdrawn due to the data within having become obsolete over time. It should be a straightforward matter to edit, and if each Order were to get a separate page or pages, keeping it up to date in future should be easy.

Proposal: The Society should publish the Guide to Orders of Chivalry and see that it is updated as necessary.

The Little Manual of Heraldry

This work is poorly organized, eccentric in coverage, and printed in black & white. It deserves a thorough revision and color artwork. The existence of a large backlog of the third edition should not discourage this effort.

A new version, once the structure has been determined, could be printed in The Augustan Omnibus in chapters as each is completed.

Proposal: The Society should work to publish a new edition of The Little Manual of Heraldry that is better organized, more comprehensive, and in color throughout.


Sales

Back Issue Sales

Proposal: The Society should convert all former publications to electronic form; first as PDF files, then as text files with improved illustrations where possible.

The PDF files will permit us to reprint both the whole magazines, and individual articles on demand. This will eliminate the need to keep a backlock of stock.

Converting these to text files will permit us to bring them up to modern standards, enhance the photographs and illustrations, and make large-print editions available. This will also be a requirement if we are to develop full-text searching in support of researchers.

Proposal: The Society should create independent issues of back issues published as part of the Augustan Society Ominbus so that they may be sold separately.

Reprint Sales

Proposal: The Society should continue to offer Reprints, creating and expanding reprints on a topical basis. Single-article reprints should be phased out as stock is exhausted.

It may prove prudent to develop a system whereby individual articles may be ordered, but this may take substantial work to develop and deploy.


Internet

The Augustan Society Website

Proposal: The Society should monitor and update the Main Website on an ongoing basis to ensure that it remains complete and correct.

The Augustan Store Website

Proposal: The Society should monitor and update the Online Store website on an ongoing basis to ensure that the offerings are complete and correct; that they have full contents data; that the genealogical titles have surname lists; and that pricing reflects current costs.

The Forum; an Online Forum

Proposal: The Society should establish an online forum in some suitable venue, possibly the Main Website, wherein public conversations about the Society and Augustan topics are encouraged, as soon as a moderator and suitable rules may be established.


Email Systems

Proposal: The Society should obtain an email server that is tailored to the unique needs of the Society. This may be a commercial product, or a custom application running on a Society server.

The email server should support the current email addressing scheme, perform spam filtering, avoid looking like (or being) a source of spam, and encourage the creation of groups (such as Directors or members of various Study Groups).

If possible, it should also permit Headquarters to receive most mail in a common inbox accessible by all HQ staff who could either deal with each, or transfer it to another staffer more suited to respond. It must also allow for the storage of emails sent and received in a structured manner so that any staff member could research conversation threads without regard to who participated in them.