Difference between revisions of "Fellowship"

Latest revision as of 13:11, 2 November 2023

Many organizations grant honors, and The Augustan Society, Inc., is no exception. Since 1966 most of these have been Fellowships. This article reviews the system of Fellowships and how the Society grants them.

Fellowship in the Society is not a membership organization, yet Fellows have much in common, and a Dean of Fellows organizes social and educational activities involving Fellows.

Classes of Fellowship

While originally there was only one rank of Fellow, time and need have caused that number to grow to nine. These are, in order of descending rank:

   Senior Fellowship
   Fellowship, summa cum laude
   Fellowship, insigne cum laude
   Fellowship, magna cum laude
   Fellowship, cum laude (no longer granted, to be abolished when no more holders exist)
   Fellowship, first class

   Fellowship, second class
   Fellowship, third class
   Fellowship, fourth class
   Fellowship, fifth class

These ranks are divided into the senior and junior ranks. Armigerous Fellows holding first class and higher are eligible for appointment to membership in the Order of the Augustan Eagle (OAE). Fellows may use the postnominals FAS unless they are also a member of the OAE, but should continue to use FAS outside the Society.

Members are elected to Fellowship and promoted as their contributions warrant. There is no schedule for such awards, and may happen at any time. A formal presentation of Fellowship and a gratis presentation of insignia will be made at the following Annual Convention if the Fellow attends.

Insignia

The insignia of Fellowship is today an oval lapel pin bearing the Augustan eagle. The tincture of the field indicates rank. The old Fellows pin, an outline of an eagle, will continue to be available while supplies last, and may be preferred by those who do not wish to display their rank.

Informally, the pin of the most senior rank held may be worn on the lapel. Formally, the pin of the most senior rank held may be worn on the ribbon of the membership medal.

Qualifications for Fellowships

Fellowship is available to all Society members in Good Standing, and to select non-members who have made substantial contributions in four equally important areas:

• Volunteer time, which generally means service on a Board, Council, or Committee;
• Articles, reviews, and letters published in the Society's journal;
• Financial contributions, including the direct donations and donations in kind, such as books or expenses;
• Recruitment of new members, in proportion to their contributions; and
• Other considerations at the discretion of the Board.

The Society considers these cumulative contributions, tracked back to 2007 (as far as reliable records are available) to established standards and determines to whom shall be granted Fellowship or promotions in rank. No petition is required to qualify. Fellowships are a gift from a grateful Society rather than a contest or a prize to be pursued.

The minimum qualification for Fellowship is set at such a level that not more than half the members are expected to hold Fellowships at any time. This is not unreasonable, as one would naturally expect a Fellow to be "above average" for a member.

The separation between ranks from FAS/5 to FAS/1 is set as such a level that not more than half the Fellows are expected to hold ranks of FAS/1 or better at any time. This is not unreasonable, as one would naturally expect a Senior Fellow to be "above average" for a Fellow.

The multiplier between ranks above FAS/1 is fixed at two (2).

Calculations for Fellowship and Promotions

Headquarters Staff will track each member’s contributions as measured by the point values established, and will recommend election or promotion to the Board at each regular meeting for those members. Only members in Good Standing may be elected or promoted.

Point values

Points are established and adjusted by the Board as seems necessary. Care should be taken that the points awarded in each category are not too many or too few. Small incremental adjustments are suggested whenever one category represents more than half the total points or less than 5% of total points (but consideration should be given to the potential for fraud, such as recruitment bringing more points than the cash used to obtain such).

Present values are:

Points will be awarded for books that represent original work. Editing or reformatting will not qualify. Authors of books must choose if they want time or page credit when they begin work.

Points required for each rank

The Board will establish the number of points for Fellowship 5th class and a multiplier for successive ranks.

The present values are in flux, as we try to achieve two goals:

1. That half of all members are eligible for Fellowship, and

2. That half of all Fellows are eligible for Fellowship, first class.

To these ends:

• The threshold for Fellowship 5th class are adjusted up or down by 1% each month.

• The multiplier for ranks between Fellowship 5th class and 1st class are adjusted up or down by 1% each month.

• The multiplier for anks above Fellowship 1st class is set to two (2).

Election and Promotion of Fellows

Headquarters Staff will review the point scores each month as part of their preparation of the Board Agenda. Those members in Good Standing who have received sufficient points for election or promotion will be added to the Agenda, along with a brief description of the nature of their contributions.

Normally, these nominations will be placed in the Consent Calendar, as they are unlikely to be controversial.

After election or promotion, Headquarters Staff will send a letter of congratulations and a Certificate with the signatures of the President and Secretary, and bearing the Seal of the Corporation. Both will indicate the rank held. The letter will extend an invitation to receive the insignia at the following Annual Convention. Otherwise they will be eligible to purchase the insignia.

Should the honoree be unable to attend the Annual Convention in the calendar year of the award, the presentation may be delayed until the following year if they so request.

Honorary Fellowship

Honorary Fellowship, Fellowship honoris causa, may be granted to those who are not members of the Society for causes felt sufficient by the Board. Such an awardee may use the postnomial FAS/hc, and to wear Honorary Fellow's lapel pin.

Headquarters Staff will track the contributions of non-members in parallel with their tracking of member contributions, using the same point values.

Those non-members who have achieved at least 2000 points shall be added to the next available Board Agenda as an item of New Business (not the Consent Calendar). Directors may also nominate candidates for reasons they feel compelling. If a significant portion of their contribution is not something tracked by the Fellowship system, the 2000 point minimum is waived. (Point minimum per Board Policy, June 2013)

Should a candidate be declined for such honor by the Board, they must improve their score sufficiently to equal the next higher rank before they may be nominated again. (e.g.: A non-member with enough points for FAS/3 who is denied honorary fellowship may not be nominated again until his points are sufficient for FAS/2.) If nominated for untracked cause, they must make an additional untracked contribution to be nominated again.

Society members are not eligible for consideration for Honorary Fellowship.

Upon election, Headquarters Staff will prepare a letter of notice signed by the President and a Certificate of Fellowship, both indicating the rank and the former explaining the privileges appertaining thereunto.

Activities

Fellows and their guests are invited to attend the Fellows Dinner during the Society's Annual Convention, as well as other occasional activities, as may be organized by the Dean of Fellows.

Resignation of Fellowship

Fellowship may be resigned, either by sending a written resignation to Headquarters (email is accepted), or by returning the Certificate of Fellowship without explanation. Such resignations are effective immediately upon receipt, even if a later date is specified. Written messages threatening to resign if the Society does or fails to do something are also taken as immediate resignation.

There has not yet been a case of restoration of Fellowship. One supposes that the Board would have to consider a petition for restoration, but Headquarters Staff are directed to say that resignation is irrevocable.

That said, a repentant member's contributions would be tracked from the date of his resignation, and election considered should he again reach the threshold for FAS/5.

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