Ex domo M. Moravius Piscinus consul designatus Quiritibus SPD:
I wish to extend my best wishes to all of our members in this holiday season, and further to offer my thanks and congratulations to everyone for their participation in our societas over this past year and most recently in our elections.
Over the course of the next few days, before taking office, the newly elected magistrates will once more assess the development of our societas, where it is presently and in what direction they may wish to take it. Previously our focus had been on recruiting new members to our societas, as though we might measure our progress by a growth in numbers. Active participation on our lists was another measure by which our magistrates looked towards the progress of our societas. The transfer over to our new list format reduced the number of subscribed members, while not particularly reducing our list activity. We have continued to gain new members and activity on the lists has diversified somewhat. In short, the effect has been to bring our numbers down to a core of active participants.
Meanwhile there was a backlog of contributions from our members that was waiting to be posted to our website. That problem is now being corrected. The website, I feel, is a better measure of our societas? development and progress. It displays for all to see what our societas produces. In that, it also shows a progress of our members in what they are individually achieving in their studies, that reflects how our societas as whole supports and fosters personal development. Here is where we need to place greater emphasis, working collectively to assist fellow members, resulting in an expansion of our website and an improvement of its quality. That in the end will lead to a growth in our numbers as well.
The Societas Via Romana is a collective effort by all its members. At this time I wish to invite all members to reflect upon the nature of our societas. What do you consider SVR to be, what do you wish to see it become? Then I would like to see everyone posting to our Comitia list, voicing their opinions on what needs to be done to further our development. Really that is a personal matter and that is what I most wish to hear about. What does membership and participation in SVR mean to you? What do you hope to receive by being a member of our societas? And then, how can we better provide for our members?
Di deaeque nos semper ament.