Difference between revisions of "Order of the Augustan Eagle"

Latest revision as of 03:24, 6 April 2024

The Order of the Augustan Eagle is a dependency of The Augustan Society, Inc.

Aims of the Order

The Order of the Augustan Eagle was established to serve as the court of honor of the Society. This body has also been charged with setting Membership Privileges and establishing the Warrant of Precedence. The Eagle Council will sit not less often than annually to conduct their business. Members use the postnominals "OAE" within the Society and do not use FAS as that is a prerequisite. It is appropriate that they continue to use only the postnominals "FAS" for all purposes outside the Society.

Note: This group is not an order of chivalry, nor should any claim to such be countenanced.

Charter

The Order is chartered by the Board of Directors as follows. The Eagle Council may petition the Board to amend its charter, and the Board may impose amendments to the Charter, or may revoke it entirely.

The Order of the Augustan Eagle and all property and funds (whether derived from dues or otherwise) belong to The Augustan Society, Inc., whose operations are governed by its By-Laws and Standing Rules. The Society's Board of Directors shall confirm appointments to the Eagle Council, and delegates to that Council such powers only as are referred to in this Charter, in the Rule of the Order, and by resolutions of the Board. No Member of the Order is liable for any charge, responsibility, or encumbrance other than his dues to the Order, nor is he entitled to any right, privilege, or service other than those set out in the Rule of the Order.

Rule of the Order

as amended October 2021

1. Membership in the Order is solely by invitation of the Chief of the Order.
2. Membership in the Order is limited to 24 members.
3. Any qualified person admitted by the Chief of the Order will be a Member of the Order.
4. Individuals who have satisfied the following conditions:
   1. Are members in good standing of The Augustan Society, Inc., and
   2. Have been members of The Augustan Society, Inc., for at least five years, and
   3. Have registered their arms with the Society, and
   4. Are Fellows First Class or better of the Augustan Society, Inc.,
   • may be admitted to Membership in the Order in the following classes, that is to say:
   1. Life Members of the Order who, upon petition to the Order, will pay life dues.
   2. Annual Members who, upon petition and yearly thereafter, pay dues.
5. The expression “Member” or “Members” wherever used herein, will be deemed to refer to and include the above, except where such classes may be specifically and distinctly referred to.
6. The Chief of the Council of the Order, may also admit to the Order as Honorary Members and/or Patrons any such eminent individuals as he may deem fit to be accorded such honor.
7. Any individual who ceases to be a Member or Honorary Member by reason of resignation, default, or any other cause must return his Certificate of membership and insignia and cease to use any description or insignia implying connection with the Order.
8. There shall be three insignia of membership:
   1. The Collar: the collar insignia is composed of 18 eagles in link, meeting at the key piece, a reproduction of the membership insignia of the society, and suspended therefrom the coat of arms of the Society, gold finish enameled in black, red, and white.
   2. The Breast Badge: the breast badge insignia is composed of the shield of the Society's arms (Or, gutté de sang, an eagle displayed sable, enhaloed argent) upon a gold starburst.
   3. The Lapel Pin: the lapel pin insignia is a miniature of the shield of the Society's arms (Or, gutté de sang, an eagle displayed sable, enhaloed argent).
9. Membership.
   1. An individuals who accepts Membership will submit an Entry Fee of $100.00, and an Insignia Fee that will be determined annually based on the member’s choice of insignia then available.
   2. Except as provided below, Members will pay annual dues in the amount of $25.00 per year, due on 1 January of each year and becoming delinquent on 1 February.
   3. An individual who petitions for Life Membership will submit a Life Dues amount based actuarially upon age and annual dues, and thereafter be exempt from payment of annual dues.
   4. Honorary Members need pay no dues.
   5. The membership of any Regular Member who is two years delinquent in the payment of dues will be discontinued.
10. The Collar of the Order
    1. The Collar of the Order may be purchased by any Member at a price based on cost.
    2. The Collar of the Order may be leased for an amount equal to 10% of the purchase price per year.
    3. Responsibility for maintaining and repairing any leased Collar shall belong to the member.
    4. Members who have leased a Collar until their lease payments total at least 125% of the then-current purchase price will be granted ownership of the Collar with no further payments due.
    5. Members who fail to make lease payments by due date must return the Collar to the Society at their expense within 30 days.
11. Notice of resignation of any Member must be given in writing and, unless otherwise expressed, will be deemed to take effect from the 31st of December following receipt thereof.
12. If the Council of the Order considers that any Member's conduct is contrary to the interests of the Order and/or injurious to its reputation, it may terminate his Membership without assigning any reason and/or explanation. Any person whose Membership is terminated under this rule will forfeit all the privileges of membership and all rights against the Order.
13. No Member will use the Order or his Membership therein for business purposes.
14. The Council of the Order:
    1. The Council which will govern the Order will be appointed by the Chief of the Order.
    2. The Members of the Council of the Order:
       1. Chief of the Council of the Order, who will be elected by the membership from their number.
       2. Grand Marshal, who will arrange the meetings
       3. Grand Chancellor, who will be the administrative officer of the Order
       4. Vice-Chancellor
       5. Secretary General
       6. Receiver General
    3. A quorum of the Council of the Order shall consist of not fewer than one-half (1/2) of the number of members authorized above. Members of the Council may grant proxy to other members of the Council.
15. When the Chief of the Order is unable to secure enough volunteers to form a quorum of the Eagle Council after reasonable effort, he may rule without a council, or appoint a Grand Chancellor to do so, assuming all duties and responsibilities of the vacant offices, provided that written notice be given to the members with a final invitation to volunteer.
16. Members of the Order are accorded the postnominal initials OAE for use within the Society. Members of the Order will not simultaneously use the postnominal initials FAS, which are to be preferred outside the Society.
17. Members of the Order have the privilege of using the collar insignia of the Order in illustrations of their personal armorial achievements, such use to conform to good heraldic usage, wherein the pendant shield may be included along with other honors below or at the side of the shield in small representation, or members may encircle their coats of arms with the Collar of the Order.
18. This organization is not, and does not claim to be, an order of chivalry.
19. These rules may be altered, revoked, or supplemented at any time by majority vote of the Council, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors of The Augustan Society. These rules and all alterations will be mailed to all Members, and all Members will be deemed to have full knowledge and to have subscribed to them.

Membership

Prerequisites to Membership in the Order are:

1. Membership in good standing in the Society
2. Fellowship, first class or better
3. Personal arms registered with the Society
4. Appointment by the Chief of the Order

Membership is limited to 24 members.

Headquarters Staff will periodically identify members who have met the qualifications to the Chief of the Order, or the Chief of the Order may ask for confirmation of qualifications. This is an important step to avoid embarrassment.

The Chief of the Order will then issue an invitation to membership. He may attach a petition form, but such is not required.

Once Headquarters Staff are notified of an appointment and acceptance, they will again confirm that the prerequisites have been met and that there is space for an additional member. They will then contact the appointee and ask for submission of the entry fee if it has not already been received.

Upon appointment, acceptance, and payment, Headquarters Staff will issue Certificates of OAE Membership over the signatures of the Chief of the Order and Eagle Grand Chancellor, and provide such information and prices about insignia as are available. Insignia must be purchased separately from membership, as it is not included.

Headquarters Staff will then add the name of the inductee to the membership list and notify the Eagle Council.

Membership will be terminated upon:

• Resignation, which must be in writing, including email
• Failure to pay annual dues for two consecutive years
• Death

Insignia

The insignia of the OAE is a collar of eighteen eagles Sable with gold links and the shield of the Society arms pendant from a disk of the Medal of Membership.

Officers

These six senior officers sit as the Eagle Council:

1. Chief of the Order, who is elected by and from the membership of the Order
2. Eagle Grand Marshal
3. Eagle Grand Chancellor
4. Eagle Vice-Chancellor
5. Eagle Secretary General
6. Eagle Receiver General

Two additional junior officers are off-Council positions:

1. Eagle Assistant Secretary General, normally the Assistant Secretary of the Society
2. Eagle Assistant Receiver General, who is generally the Assistant Treasurer of the Society

The Order operates under a Charter and Rule of the Order granted by the Board of Directors.

The various officers have few specified duties. One hopes that this omission will be remedied.

At present (2023), there being insufficient volunteers to obtain a quorum on the Eagle Council, the Order is operating under the administration of the Chief of the Order, acting alone. Calls for volunteers will be repeated each year until a return to normal operation is seen.

Finance

Initiation and annual dues are set in the Rule of the Order. Prices for insignia are set by Headquarters Staff as necessary given the cost of replacement stock and shipping.

The finances of the OAE are held by the Society, but are accounted for separately. The monies held are divided into two accounts:

• Eagle General Fund, for all monies not restricted in the account below
• Eagle Insignia Fund, for monies held in reserve to purchase additional insignia (which cost may exceed annual income)

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