Fellowship
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 organizes social and educational activities involving Fellows.
Contents
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:
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.
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 will be made at the following annual convention if the Fellow attends.
Honorary Fellowships
An honorary Fellowship, Fellowship honoris causa, may be granted to those who are not members of the Society. Such an awardee may use the postnomial FAS, and to wear Honorary Fellow's lapel pin shown below.
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 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.
Insignia
The Fellows' pins are:
Fellows pin
Fellowship, summa cum laude
Fellowship, insigne cum laude
Fellowship, magna cum laude
Fellowship, honoris causa
Fellowship, first class
Fellowship, second class
Fellowship, third class
Fellowship, fourth class
Fellowship, fifth class
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; and
- Recruitment of new members.
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".
Activities
Fellows and their guests are invited to attend the Fellows Dinner during the Society's Annual Convention, as well as other occasional activities.
