Consuls
In Roman civic administration, two Consuls were elected to manage the affairs of the city. Each had broad powers, but every act was subject to veto by the other Consul. This was the model chosen for the administration of The Augustan Society, Inc., in 2007, and is the foundation for consular authority and limits. Obviously, they also serve at the pleasure of the Board under contract, and under Board direction through the President.
The logic for having two persons share what would normally be one executive director is that the job is felt to be larger than one person might manage (especially considering it is a volunteer position), and because the only viable candidates identified in 2007 was a couple, both of whom were long-time members having joined the Society in 1974. Their skills and competencies are largely complimentary, and while it would be inaccurate to describe their administration as being without conflict, these are in nearly all cases resolved between them without recourse to Board authority.
Consuls may style themselves differently as circumstances permit, especially when dealing with those outside the Society who may not be familiar with the term "consul". "Executive Director" is generally preferred for this, and may be employed by either Consul.
Contract
Consuls work under a Consular Contract, renewed (usually with revisions) for each calendar year. For a brief period of unrest, their contract was month-to-month, but that now is behind us.
Their contract includes an honorarium. This is mean to compensate them for the space used by the Society within their home, and for the additional expenses of operating Society equipment. It is not meant as compensation for their time—they serve as volunteers.
Honorarium
The honorarium was set at $2 for 2007, doubling each year thereafter. In practice it has been increasing in a 1-2-5 sequence, thus the ninth year of the contract will be $1000 each rather than $512. This has been done with the knowledge and agreement of the Board. Consuls stand ready to revert to multiples of two if the Board wishes.
The logic for the exponential honorarium is that at the time the first contract was signed, $2 was a significant fraction of Society reserves. The predictible increases were intended to give the Society both the incentive and the time needed to obtain a Headquarters outside the Consuls' home; not to impoverish or take over the Society (though should this continue, that would be the effect). Consuls will negotiate lower increases if the Board demonstrates concrete progress toward the goal of an independent Headquarters facility.
Duties
In general, the duties of the Consuls is to perform all work of the Society under the direction of the Board. This includes some specific roles:
- Attendance (by one) at each meeting of the Board or Executive Committee
- Service as Editor-in-Chief of Society publications ("Editor-in-Chief" being the style of the Chairman of the Communications Department)
- Eagle Administrator for the Order of the Augustan Eagle in cooperation with the Eagle Council
- Rose Administrator for the Noble Company of the Rose in cooperation with the Rose Council
- SDLKJ Administrator for the Society of Descendants of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Dean of the SDLKJ
- SDI Administrator for the Society of Descendants of Ireland in cooperation with the Dean of the SDI
- SDS Administrator for the Society of Descendants of Scotland in cooperation with the Dean of the SDS
- SDC Administrator for the Society of Descendants of the Conquest in cooperation with the Dean of the SDC
- Librarian
- Curator
- Making themselves available to the Board and Membership as appropriate
That said, it is desirable that most of the duties of the Administrators above will be transferred to the Councils or Deans. It would also be desirable to name others to the role of Librarian and perhaps others, but these will likely have to wait for a Headquarters to be obtained and for local volunteers to become known.
It has also become customary for one of the Consuls to deliver a "State of the Society" address at the Annual Membership Meeting. Often the Board will direct that copies be distributed to either the Board or the Membership.
