Meetings in Chapter
Meetings of the members of the Noble Company of the Rose, a dependency of The Augustan Society, Inc., are called a Meeting in Chapter.
Meetings in Chapter shall be held annually at the call of the Magister Rosae. The primary business to be conducted a this meeting is the selection of the Magister Rosae for the coming year, though other reports and business maybe brought before the body at that time. This is also the normal time to formally induct new members into the Company, and often to invest members in various cooperating Orders of Chivalry.
A quorum is the majority of the Members. The sole essential item of business appropriate to such meetings is the election of the Magister Rosae for the coming year. In years when no Meeting in Chapter is held, or when a quorum is not obtained, Headquarters Staff will arrange for such election by mail ballot, this in concert with the Society's annual election when possible.
Given that all records of Meetings in Chapter before 2007 have been lost, there is little guidance available about how to conduct the meeting, or what business should be considered in order. All that is clear is that the body may not usurp the responsibilities granted to the Rose Council or the Board. It would be appropriate for this body to adopt resolutions asking the Magister Rosae, Rose Council, or Board to consider some matter of interest.
Given that the election of the Magister Rosae must be confirmed by the Board, any official transfer of power must wait for that confirmation. That said, a ceremonial transfer of office is generally not inappropriate.
Since 2022, Meetings in Chapter have been held via videoconference, with a telephone option for those not online. Given the adoption of technology, the wide geographical spread of the membership, and that the Society has also moved their Annual Meeting online, it is expected this to be the new normal.
