Changes

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'''

:* [[Five-Year Plan#ADMINISTRATION & INFRASTRUCTUREPart 3|Administration & Infrastructure]]:* [[Five-Year Plan#STUDY & TRADITIONSPart 4|Areas of Study and Traditions]]:* [[Five-Year Plan#SERVICESPart 5|Areas of Service]]

'''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.'''

==<span id="Part 3"></span>PART THREE - ADMINISTRATION & INFRASTRUCTURE==

<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>Digitizing in support of [[Back Issue Sales]]; cross-check of OCR documents [''Note: Two volunteers One volunteer now working.'']</li>

<li>''Indicators of success: number of volunteer hours donated. The [[Eagle Assistant Chancellor]] to report the total to the [[Eagle Council]] annually.</li>

<li>The Investment Fund is currently earning approximately $1112,000 annually with a very cautious approach to investment that is yielding about 45% [annual] return.</li> <li>''Indicators of success: continue to gain 45% [annual] return.''<br>[Note: The [[Assistant Secretary]] would like to see growth of the principle of this Fund, above and beyond said return.]</li>

<li>2014 - Augustan Library Fund [Note: What is the purpose of this fund, and how is it different from the Headquarters Fund below? 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>

<li>2015 - Augustan Library Fund [''Note: 2015 has seen 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: [[Headquarters Staff]] feel a purchase is unlikely in this decade, barring a six-figure donationNo such fundraising was conducted.'']</li> <li>2018 - suggestion needed, no fundraising was conducted</li> <li>2019 - suggestion neededHeadquarters Building Fund, no fundraising was conducted</li> <li>2020 through 2024 - No fundraising attempted.</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 by cataloging the book collection.</li>

<li>Over 36,200 000 books have been were cataloged to dateby 2022</li> <li>This project is managed by the [[Librarian]] at Headquarters</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 700 300 volumes per year, or 1% to 2% per year. Doubling that 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 may prove more practicable once the post of Assistant Secretary is abolished.'']</li>

<li>Mention of these donation options may be made in regular member communications. [''Note: The ''[[August&aelig;um'' Editor ]] will publish such when received.'']</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</li>

<li>''Indicators of success: mailing sent on annual basis, mentions made three times annually in various publications.'' [Note: ''[August&aelig;um'' and [[Social Media]] will publish this once these programs have been launched, the .''Omnibus'' will not.]</li>

<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><!--REVIEW PROGRESS-->

<li>Memberships Organizational 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>

<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>Paid staff or [[Executive Director]] position has been discussed[''Note: An unpaid Executive Director was discussed without action. An Executive Director would require a [[By-Laws]] amendment.</li>

<li>Consideration of this position should wait until move into [[Library]] is complete near and needs of the organization can be better assessed.</li> <li>[[Consuls]] are The Assistant Secretary was 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>Capture institutional knowledge and directions for processes in the [[Staff Wiki]] [''Note: In progressCompleted in December 2017, with ongoing updates, corrections, and additions.'']</li> <li>Determine how to handle transition from the present [[Consuls]] Metcalfs once they retire. [''Note: They have elected Mrs. Metcalf has retired. Mr. Metcalf will step down to "retire" not later than the position of [[Office Manager]] by the end of 2017. This does not mean that they will abandon their other roles, including landlordAugust 2024.'']</li>

<li>Fill vacancies in leadership positions[''Note: Filling vacancies with persons holding other offices is counter-productive.'']</li>

<li>Identify subgroups of potential members, e.g: college history students, members of specific orders of chivalry, New England Colonial GenealogistGenealogists [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 membership save the website.'']</li> <li>The [[Omnibus EditorPresident]] 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. [Note: This task now transferred tot he President]</li>

<li>A study of member residences (in US and Canada) suggests that some areas may already have reached there is no area with sufficient membership member density to make at this possible, the New York area in particulartime.</li>

<li>Staff suggests it's about time to send out another round to those who did not at first reply — though perhaps, given It is the largely electronic nature responsibility of our communications, it would be sufficient to contact members by email. [Note: The [[the Dean of Studies]] is now preparing an online surveyto conduct regular surveys of member interests. No schedule for such has yet been proposed.]</li>

<li>Keep the [[Main Website]] updated [''Note: This is being done weeklycontinuously, with additional updates as information is received.'']</li> <li>Web banners [''Note: Our websites are not presently set up to display banner ads. Amending them will be incur a non-zero cost.'']</li> <li>PDF Brochures to promote membership targeted to those interested in our five main topics[''Note: Work on these has been assigned to several Directors without results, responsibility now lies with the Marketing Committee (presently attached to the office of Secretary).'']

<li>Standard print ads for use in advertising [''Note: For greater impact, ads need to be tailored to each target audience.'']</li>

<li>[[Wiki|Staff Wiki]]

<li>Updates would be done on an as-needed basis. [ ''Note: The [[Headquarters StaffAssistant Secretary]] conduct periodic editsconducts continuous review and updates, but support this will end at the end of August. Support from officers and committees is needed.'']</li> <li>Link to Wiki would be regularly provided to all members, perhaps in the ''[[August&aelig;um]]'' and in the members section of the [[Main Website]]. [''Note: An alternate recommendation is that access be restricted to officers with a "need to know".At present, the Staff Wiki is open to the world as the [[Webmaster]</li> <li>Infrastructure ] does not know how to be developed by Bruce Metcalfrestrict it. Updates As a result, there is a good argument 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 neededmade against publishing the URL at this time.'']</li> <li>Regular review of content to be scheduled as part of communications calendar. [''Note: By whom?The [[Assistant Secretary]] is conducting continuous review, but there's essentially no input from others, and that office will be vacated by the end of August.'']</li> <li>Regular promotion of specific content to be scheduled as part of communication calendarthe [[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>

<li>A survey of members to be undertaken to determine necessity [''Note: Assigned to [[Dean of Studies]]; not conducted.'']</li> <li>Content can be digital version of ''[[August&aelig;um]]'' [''Note: The change from printed to online format has been completed.''</li> <li>Use of service such as Constant Contact can yield useful data about member interests and allow for automated management of email lists[''Note: Such programs requrie a constant stream of content; we can barely get [[Annual Report|Annual Reports]] submitted.'']</li>

<li>Routine review of web content on periodic basis, perhaps to be assigned to various committee and board members by [[Webmaster|Webmasters]]. [''Note: This is presently being done by the Webmaster with no support.'']</li>

<li>Establish a [[Forum]] for discussion on the [[Main Website]]; moderator needed. Permitting the Moderator to screen and delete posts will be essential. [A Forum Moderator This was appointed and the Forum is now onlinedone, albeit with only post facto screening and deletionthen abandoned due to a complete lack of participation.]</li>

==<span id="Part 4"></span>PART FOUR - STUDY & TRADITIONS==

<li>Nobility - [[List of Current Royalty]] [Note: The R&N Committee has amended this to be a list of ''fontes honorum''.]</li>

<li>[[Heraldry Index, Ordinary, and Study Group]]</li> <li>[[Armorial & Ordinary Study Group]]</li> <li>[[Philatelic Study Group]]</li> <li>[[Medals & Decorations Study Group]]</li> <li>[[Photograph Collection Study Group]]</li>

<li>[[Insignia Sales]] [Note: The only insignia sales at present are of Society insignia and those only to eligible members.]</li>

==<span id="Part 5"></span>PART FIVE - SERVICES==

<li>Furniture/Equipment [Note: Most needed Enough furniture and equipment is already on handto begin. Additional shelving and furniture for additional volunteers and researchers will be needed to keep pace with growth and activity.]</li>

<li>Research services [Note: The [[Librarian]] does not consider this to be a Library activity, though the Library would certainly support such a program.]</li> <li>''Indicators of success: location selected and established by end of 2014 (needs revision): cataloged books are shelved at library location and available for use and/or loan. Purchase of space is a long term goal, possibly beyond the 5-year scope of this document.'' [Note: Cataloged books are already shelved, but this includes only about 20% of the collection at present.]</li>

<li>Book - Uphoff, ''Chinese Imperial Genealogy From the Five Emperors through the Qing Dynasty'' [Note: Copy not yet received.]</li> <li>Book - ''Vigil, a Knight's Training Program'' [Note: While Under preparation by the [[Noble Company of the Rose]] promised support and participation, it has not been forthcoming.]</li> <li>Book - ''The [[Augustan Society Roll of Arms]]'' Volume IV [Note; [[Rolls Editor]] named in 2016.]</li>

<li>''The [[Augustan Society Roll Rolls of Arms]]'' is mostly self-funding, thanks largely to print-on-demand technology. Promotion will likely require more funding than printing. Pre-publication sales should help with that. [Note: The switch from volunteer to paid artists will oblige this program to generate a profit to pay for the registrations that never received an emblazonment.]</li> <li>[[Rolls Editor]] has resigned without replacementVolumes I thru III are being reprinted first, in full color, with Volume IV and beyond being deliberately delayed until after the first three are released. [Note: A new Rolls Editor has been named.]</li>

<li>Additional off-site volunteers are needed to edit could be helpful in editing the output of the OCR software and to reformat the material for reprinting.</li>

<li>[[Roll Online Armorial and Ordinary of Arms Reprints]] [Note: Images need colorizing &mdash; Presently under development, delays are the result of limited volunteers and blazons need translationa lack of cooperation from the Heraldry Committee on blazon translations. Production will be trivial once those tasks are complete.]</li> <li>[[Online Armorial]]</li> <li>[[Ordinary of Arms]]</li> <li>[[Online Heraldry Index to Arms]] &mdash; This A very large file has been created; it is presently idle as we focus on the Armorial and Ordinary, but would be revived if a volunteer were foundtoo large to place online. [Note: The Index, Armorial, and Ordinary have been combined into a [[Study Groups|Study Group]] and a Coordinator named. Work It is progressinghoped that an online database engine can be obtained to make this data available.]</li>

<li>Increase variety of media in which publications are presented (paper, digital, etc.) (long term goal) [Note: The [[August&aelig;um Editor]] is preparing has been asked to prepare a sample issue as time permits.]</li> <li>[[Reprint Sales]]</li>