Sub-Groups Vision
Consuls vision for the future of the Sub-Groups of The Augustan Society, Inc., is:
Sub-Groups of the Society are of three types:
- Senior Sub-Groups
- Lineage Groups
- Unrelated groups
If the third items seems odd, it is because several organizations with related goals have been given to the Society, and others are widely associated with the Society due to having had common management during the time of our Founder. This page also mentions groups that have been renamed, merged, or abolished as a permanent record of former activities.
Senior Sub-Groups
The senior sub-groups are distinguished by having a variety of requirements for entry, which in all cases now includes membership in the Society in Good Standing, Arms Registration with the Society, an entry fee, insignia, and annual dues.
What they do not have in common are parallel job titles or any sort of job descriptions. This causes confusion about who should do what, and has permitted some to think their roles are purely ceremonial.
Proposal: The Society should oblige the Order of the Augustan Eagle and Noble Company of the Rose to align their offices and define job descriptions for them.
Order of the Augustan Eagle
This serves as the Society's court of honor, and is one of the highest honors granted. It is limited to 24 members, plus the President in his capacity as the Chief of the Order of the Augustan Eagle. It is governed by the Eagle Council, to whom has been assigned the responsibility to set Member Benefits, the Warrant of Precedence, the Five-Year Plan, and to have the right of first consideration of any amendments to the Mission Statement and Vision Statement. While it is called to meet not less than annually, the addition of the Five-Year Plan responsibility has caused some to advocate for quarterly meetings.
Proposal: The Eagle Council should be called to meet not less than quarterly until the Five-Year Plan stabilizes.
In recent years, most participation by Eagle Council members has been via proxy, despite the meetings being held via teleconference, largely negating the value of their offices.
Proposal: The Order of the Augustan Eagle should repeal the provision of the Rule of the Order that permits proxies at meetings.
Noble Company of the Rose
This exists to foster the true ideals of chivalry. Members fulfill their duties to their fellow men through an active practice of the Code of Chivalry and by individual and concerted charitable activities, and to sponsor and maintain the Rose Chapel at Headquarters (when possible). Meetings in Chapter were at one time called annually to elect the Magister Rosae for each year, and to conduct other business. This has not happened in some time.
Proposal: The Noble Company of the Rose should return to their former practice of Meeting in Chapter each year during the Annual Convention.
The Noble Company is governed by the Rose Council. It is called to meet not less than annually.
In recent years, most participation by Rose Council members has been via proxy, despite the meetings being held via teleconference, largely negating the value of their offices.
Proposal: The Noble Company of the Rose should repeal the provision of their Rule that permits proxies at meetings.
Lineage Groups
The lineage groups are distinguished by the requirements for entry, which do not include Augustan membership, and which do include lifetime membership, insignia, and in most cases a proven descent.
Proposal: The Society should name Deans for each of the Lineage Groups, and to encourage them to organize sufficiently that they may contribute to Society programs with more than their entry fees.
Proposal: The Society should consider the creation of additional Lineage Groups in areas not presently served by another organization, and where there is sufficient member interest to suggest that the new group would be a productive part of the Society's programs. It may be prudent to hold off on this proposal until existing Lineage Groups have at least a Dean.
Society of Descendants of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Membership is in three non-exclusive classes:
- Crusader Class — for those who are recognized members of an Order of Chivalry recognized as having fought in the Holy Lands during the Crusades (or legitimate descendant organizations);
- Outremer Class — for those who can prove descent from someone who lived or fought in the Holy Lands during the Crusades; and
- Pilgrim Class — for those who can document having made a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands.
Society of Descendants of Ireland
Membership is in two exclusive classes:
- Hereditary Class — for those who can prove descent from three generations who lived in Ireland; and
- Royal Class — for those who can prove descent from an Irish King or High King.
Society of Descendants of Scotland
Membership is in two exclusive classes:
- Hereditary Class — for those who can prove descent from three generations who lived in Scotland; and
- Royal Class — for those who can prove descent from a Scottish King.
Society of Descendants of the Conquest
Membership is in two non-exclusive classes:
- Conqueror Class — for those who can prove descent from William the Conqueror; and
- Companion Class — for those who can prove descent from one of the Conqueror's recognized companions.
International Chivalric Institute
This was organized by our Founder to encourage discussion of chivalric issues. It's primary manifestation was the monthly ICI Members' Newsletter. The relaunch of this newsletter, perhaps under the Chivalry Committee may be worth considering.
Heraldry Society of the USA
This was organized by our Founder for purposes not entirely clear. Two issues of a newsletter are held. It has been inactive for quite some time.
If enough records are available, it may be worth organizing a "final report" of this group's activities and then formally merging it into the Society.
Octavian Society
This was organized by our Founder as an emergency backup for the Society, and was a sole proprietorship. This was in (over)reaction to a movement by some dissident members to take over the Society and take it in a direction our Founder felt unacceptable.
There is a non-zero possibility that this may be needed again, perhaps as an umbrella organization who would purchase the Society and operate it, perhaps on a for-profit basis, with more stable management than the Society can muster.
The primary activity of the Octavian Society was to publish the Journal of Ancient & Medieval Studies (JAMS) annually for a couple of decades. A few issues of their newsletter have been located, but a decision on reprinting them should wait until the bulk of the issues are available for review.
JAMS may be worth reviving once The Augustan Omnibus is on a solid footing and diverting appropriate articles will not harm it.
