Octavian Society
The Octavian Society was originally quite independent of The Augustan Society, Inc. It shared an Executive Director (our Founder), and it would not be surprising to learn that their publications were produced at Augustan Society Headquarters, but there was no official link between the two.
The impetus for the creation of the Octavian Society was an attempted takeover of The Augustan Society by a dissident group. The Society has suffered three such (to this writer's awareness), and this was the second and most serious. While turned aside, it gave Society principals cause for concern, as there was no way for a non-profit membership organization to prevent such a "takeover" if the majority of the members wished it. The Octavian Society deliberately avoided incorporation and non-profit status, and was run as a sole proprietorship by Rodney Hartwell. In this way, his control was certain.
The Octavian Society drew heavily from Augustan ranks, if perhaps biased toward those felt more trustworthy. Much good work was done, primarily through publication of the Journal of Ancient & Medieval Studies or JAMS as it was commonly called. Documentation hasn't yet been found, so it's unclear if there were profits, and if those went to the Augustan Society or just into Hartwell pockets. Given that running The Augustan Society was not a secure source of income, one rather suspects the latter, which was entirely legal and proper.
Falling dormant as Rodney Hartwell slowly succumbed to his final disease, the Octavian Society passed to his sole heir, Jessica Hartwell. She, not wishing to operate the group, gave the Octavian Society, JAMS, and such other assets as might be found to The Augustan Society. Thus The Augustan Society is now in the situation of owning a for-profit business. This isn't unknown in the non-profit world, nor is it a problem, so long as the tail doesn't begin to wag the dog. As the Octavian Society has been left dormant, and Augustan recognition of Octavian honors suspended, it is not presently an issue.
However, should The Augustan Society falter, and be unable to continue financially, there is the option of transferring their assets to the Octavian Society, and leasing the operation of that group to some willing operator. This would permit the Octavian Society to continue most Augustan activities and publications, while leaving the Augustan Society as a shell to gather income until such time as they were able to resume operations.
